Glimpses of Time

Chapter Five: The Cambridge Flat

By Lumendea

AN: I'm out of town this weekend so this your update for the week. A little fluff to cheer everything up!

…..

The Doctor maintained a fondness for Rose's Cambridge flat. She'd been moved out for years and he'd regenerated several times. Toying with the strings of his guitar, he lounged in the corner of the TARDIS and watched his wife adjust the settings of the TARDIS controls. Things were quiet. Bill was taking a break from traveling via the TARDIS to go on holiday with some mates the normal human way. The Doctor wasn't overly impressed by it, but Rose had encouraged it, remembering some of her own trips.

They were alone in the TARDIS and yet he couldn't help but think about Rose's old flat. He hit a sour note and Rose grimaced, turning to look at him. She raised a curious eyebrow and he responded by waggling his thick grey ones. He had much more impressive eyebrows than she did.

"What are you plotting?" Rose asked. She gave him a knowing look and leaned against the TARDIS console while he tried to look innocent. "I know that look, my love. Innocence does not become you."

"I believe that I might be offended by that statement, Darling," the Doctor said. None the less, he set his guitar to the side and stood. Smoothing his coat, he eyed Rose who watching him with a patient, but amused smile. "Very offended indeed."

"That's a shame," Rose cooed. "Yet, you didn't answer my question. What are you plotting?"

He didn't answer and instead stalked towards his wife. She tried to hide her smile but failed. Shaking her head, Rose turned back to the controls and adjusted the instruments again, having the TARDIS record some of the composition of the nebula around them.

"I was considering paying a visit to your old flat," the Doctor said. Placing his hands on Rose's hips, he pressed his torso to her back.

"The Cambridge flat?" Rose asked, sounding very surprised. "That's not a good idea."

"Your past self won't notice." The Doctor's breath ticked Rose's ear in that very dangerous way that made her knees quiver. "We could land the TARDIS during the summer and… reminisce."

"Why the flat?" Rose sighed. "It has nice memories, but really-" She moaned as he kissed her neck and leaned against the Doctor.

"It the first place you said you loved me."

"Not to you," Rose managed to say. She turned around in his arms and looked up at him with a soft smile. "It was much earlier in your timeline."

"It was to you," the Doctor replied, his voice deepening. "I still remember it vividly. I had come to see you for your birthday with plans to take you to the Hanging Gardens and you nearly drove all that out of my head with a glorious snog." He caught her lips in a long deep kiss, leaning Rose against the console. Her fingers twisted in salt and pepper hair. "Then," he whispered when he released her mouth to let Rose breath. "You said those gorgeous words to me. I'd been so angry with myself, relying on you in your past for support and then you told me that you loved me."

"I did," Rose said. She turned her face and kissed the corner of his mouth. "I do." She kissed his eyelids, one at a time. Then she drew back and he opened his eyes to look at her. "And I always will. Forever." The Doctor grinned widely. "But we don't need to go to the flat, Doctor."

"Come on," the Doctor said. "Your younger self will never know!"

"She might," Rose protested.

The Doctor looked at her, giving her one of those familiar looks. "Really? And if she does, what will she really think?" He leaned closer to her, wiggling his eyebrows slightly. "I have trouble believing you'd be offended by your future-self coming back there for a shag."

"No," Rose admitted with a smile. "No, I wouldn't be offended. I'd just be wondering how we ran out of rooms in the TARDIS."

"Well," the Doctor grinned at her. "We did do a spectacular job of that in my last body. Took our old exploring days to the next level rather brilliantly if I do say so myself."

"And you do."

"I'm smug this time around," the Doctor said.

"You've always been smug, my love," Rose laughed.

"Then please tell me that you aren't really only now noticing."

"I'm not," Rose assured him. Shaking her head, she nibbled on her lower lip and then sighed. "Alright, alright. I suppose one visit wouldn't hurt."

Grinning, the Doctor reached around her to enter the destination before Rose could change her mind.