After John and Rose finished their drinks, he got the journal out to show Rose, hoping she wouldn't slap his face and run out. He hadn't really written that much but he had begun writing around the drawings as he'd tried to associate events with them. Rose looked through the few pages, then saw a drawing she recognised, the round device she had dreamt about.

''I've seen this John, in my dreams. The last time, you were standing there, how can you explain that?''

''I can't, how can we both possibly dream of the same things? I need to think about this Rose, carefully. Sometimes, like I said, you're there and sometimes Martha. Now tell me about your dreams, see if they are the same.''

They were so engrossed in talking about their dreams, Rose almost missed the curfew until she heard the bell.

''You should go now, I'll see you tomorrow and I want you to think about something.''

He put his arms around her and they kissed.

''What's that then? Are we going out tomorrow night?''

''If we must, invite Martha and I'll meet you at the pub but I'll see you for afternoon tea, at four.''

''Yeah, ok now I have some money but I'll have to tell Martha it was part of my savings or she'll wonder where I got it from.''

''Yes, if you think that's best. I want you to think of maybe staying with me, on Friday night?''

''Oh. That's a big step John, I'll have to think carefully about that before giving you my answer. You don't need to know now, do you?''

''Oh no Rose, take your time by all means. Maybe you should read that book you borrowed from matron eh?''

''Yes John, I think I should. Goodnight then and I'll try and remember more of my dreams and you can write them down for me.''

''Oh I will, goodnight my sweet Rose and I'm sorry we spent so much time talking tonight, I didn't give you my full attention but I can make up for it tomorrow.''

''I'm sure you will John. Now I have to go or I may get caught sneaking back to my room late.''

They kissed again and he had to finally let her go.

After Rose didn't come back, Martha debated whether to go down to the kitchen instead of staying on her own. She was sure she had known where her room-mate had gone, there was no question about it now, they were spending time in his room and the book was a dead giveaway. There would be no other reason Rose would be wanting to look up such things, she was under the illusion she was a poor serving girl from the less wealthy part of London and she'd never had a boyfriend.

Martha was certain that wasn't true, she'd heard the Doctor mention someone called Mickey who had been Rose's former boyfriend before she'd run off to travel in the Tardis. She knew how he must have felt. Rose got back to her room and hoped Martha wouldn't ask her loads of questions again, she had plenty to think about now, trying to remember her dreams for one so she could tell John. Now she knew this was right but she was still trying to come to terms with the fact she'd only begun having these dreams after she'd become his maid.

The next few days, Rose and John continued having tea together, Rose managing not to get caught and ignoring glances from Martha. Timothy had been to see John in the classroom, disappointed he couldn't find anything more out about him or Rose. Rose had been reading the book she had borrowed whenever she could, still not understanding some of it but too embarrassed to talk to matron or Martha about it so she was still practically on her own but how could she talk to John about it?

She really wished she could see her mother but it could be weeks before the headmaster allowed her to have an extra day off and now, she really wanted to wait until Christmas. She decided to brave it and speak to matron but she left it until the Thursday afternoon, she had to give John her decision because she would have to plan this carefully. She would need his help because he would have to set his alarm very early so she could be in the kitchen at the time Martha would come down to get his breakfast and pretend she hadn't been able to sleep but that wouldn't work more than once or twice and he'd asked her to stay both nights and think carefully about Sunday.

They had talked more and more about their dreams but on the Thursday night, Rose hadn't had any, well not that she could recall. John was excited though as he let her in to join him for tea.

''Ah, Rose, come in. Come and see how far I've got with my journal. Did I tell you, I've discovered that all this is taking place in 2006 and 2007? That's almost 100 years, imagine that but last night, I dreamt something else. All those faces, the ones I drew altogether, they're me.''

''What?'' asked Rose, about to take a bite out of half a cream scone. ''How can they be you?''

''I can't explain it but somehow, I started out as one of them, then when something happens to me, I can change.''

''Wow, how does that happen then?''

''I have no idea. Isn't it exciting though? To be able to change?''

''I dunno John, it sounds a bit scary to me. Don't you want to know what I've decided about tomorrow night?''

''Yes indeed Rose, what have you decided?''

''I talked to matron, about the dilemma I find myself in. I want to stay with you, I didn't mention your name so don't worry about that. She told me to follow my instincts, to not let my heart rule and to remember my status in life. Fat lot of good that is, she's been married, she should know this kind of thing.''

''Never mind Rose, at least you sought some advice. I promise I won't take advantage of you but how are you going to explain your absence?''

''I don't know and I have to sneak my nightclothes down here somehow.''

''Oh I don't know, I'm sure I can find you something to borrow for the night. You don't wear your maids outfit now for working in the infirmary.''

''I know, matron gave me another uniform, she said there had been two of them working there before she arrived, luckily it was just my size. Anyway, it's the weekend, maybe I'll just stay over on Friday and see what happens? I was planning on being in the kitchen early so no-one would suspect where I've been.''

''Ah, so you've already given it so thought then?'' he asked, trying to kiss her neck as she finished the remainder of the cakes.

''Well you wanted to know and I have to be sure you don't let me sleep in late or I really will be in trouble when Martha brings your morning tray on Saturday.''

John smiled. He had wondered all week what her answer was going to be. Rose was stirring all kinds of feelings in him, more than Reinette or any of his other girlfriends had, not that now he remembered much about them, had they really just been for show, to prove he could get himself a lady friend? He took the tray, made sure Martha wasn't around and left it on the table outside the door.

He had figured Martha would be getting suspicious if he kept doing that but he didn't want anything to change, Rose having tea with him was one of the highlights of the day but he'd have to have some deviance in his new routine sooner or later before Martha began to ask questions. He had also thought about what Rose had said a few nights ago when they had begun discussing about being seen in the village together.

If people saw them sitting outside the pub, which by now was beginning to make them all cold, since Martha had tagged along on Tuesday night and last night they'd finally gone to sit inside though Rose swore she would never get the smell of smoke out of her hair and clothes, it would soon get around the rest of the village and into the school for real. John had laughed when they'd got back and told her she still smelled wonderful though Rose doubted it and it wasn't her turn to get a bath until Friday evening so before joining him that night, she was going to have a quick wash to try and get rid of some of it.

During the week, Timothy had tried to avoid his tormentors, almost getting caught by John outside the classroom a few times but the others had backed off in time, leaving the boy standing there, puzzling at why he couldn't sense any more about the teacher. He was dying to get back in John's study but couldn't come up with another excuse so he decided Rose would be an easier target if he paid a visit to the infirmary. Not that he needed much of an excuse, Baines and Hutchinson were giving him a permanent headache anyway so he planned going during the morning break on Friday morning.

After Rose had left the infirmary on Thursday afternoon, Joan was finishing the tea she had made herself, having been in the kitchen for some scones and jam and seen Martha in there, wondering why the maid had two cups and saucers and extra cakes, she thought about her conversation with Rose.

What had suddenly brought her new assistant to asking such questions about men? Rose had mentioned a man she had said she'd met on the bus to town and she'd seen her go out with Martha but they had both reportedly been returning with John the last two nights but still, he was probably only being polite and escorting them back though why he'd stopped inviting her, she couldn't understand. Had it been because she wasn't ready to accept the invitation to join him as a co-worker?

Well she couldn't, she had been hoping to go out with him as more than that but did he think she was too hasty to refuse to join the staff who worked under her? Maybe she should have a re-think, the village dance was looming, a week on Saturday and although tickets could be bought at the door, she would have liked for him to have it all arranged and invite her a few days before at least, not as a last minute afterthought but if that's what it took, she would be willing to still go with him.

After their tea, Rose and John kissed for a while until it was time for Rose to leave.

''John, I'm not sure it's a good idea, for me to have tea with you every night. Who have you said joins you?''

''No-one, the question has never been raised, don't worry so much. Have you remembered any more of your dreams you want to tell me about?''

''No, I can't remember any more, I will tell you when I do. How's your journal coming along?''

He didn't want to tell her. He'd had a very disturbing one the other night and wasn't sure he should share it but he had to write it down, it all had to mean something, it was like putting the pieces of a puzzle together.

''I'll tell you later but you need to be prepared for something.''

''Sounds serious, I hope you're not trying to put me off still sharing it with you?''

''No, of course not Rose, we agreed we would tell each other but I don't want to upset you.''

She put her arms around him, leaning her head on his chest. ''You won't and you shouldn't keep these things to yourself. Were they really bad things?''

''Yes and I have a very strange feeling about it, I can't explain it though but you were a very intricate part of it, you were there.''

He'd thought about it most of the day, of how to tell her they had been caught up with silver creatures who were intent on making everyone like them and they'd only just managed to escape, in a fury of flames and by climbing a ladder made of rope to a large flying contraption like a balloon but much larger and the worst thing was, they were on another world, one where neither of them belonged, with no way of getting back to their own.

Rose said goodbye and that they wouldn't go out again that night, she would do some more reading and John would write down his dreams before he completely forgot them, not that he thought he'd do that in such a hurry. He was sure the dreams would remain with him for some time but he was determined to try and lessen the effect it may have on Rose, since in his dream there had been another woman, one with blonde hair who had seemed less than kind and they had been in a large mansion but Rose seemed to know her and he wondered if it was her mother or another version of her. Rose had seemed upset but the worse thing was, they had seen a man electrocuted in front of them as the creatures had smashed windows to get inside and people were running everywhere and screaming.

One thing had fascinated him though, Rose had said her father had died when she was young but as they'd escaped the onslaught, a man had jumped out and Rose had called him 'dad'. Should he tell her everything but it had all been on another world? She seemed strong, not one who would be put off so easily and she may take comfort in the fact some version of the father she had lost was still out there, somewhere.