She dressed carefully, not sure if her choice of attire was entirely sensible. There was always a... a tension between herself and the Doctor, and sometimes she felt it more than others. But something different was happening here, something that had been in the making for a long while, she suspected, and something that terrified her as much as it excited her.
The Doctor's face, as she rounded the corner still in two minds about her dress, made her certain she had made the right choice.
"You like?" she asked, laughing and twirling around for him to get a better view.
The Doctor picked his jaw up from off the floor. "Absolutely stunning. Where did you pick that up?"
She scratched her ear, expression sheepish. "Can't quite remember."
He knew she was lying but he didn't care. The floaty material, a many hued red with tiny, sparkling gems glittering here and there, clung to her figure. Legs that were normally encased in jeans or tracksuit bottoms were for once on display, matching the hint of cleavage.
"You don't look so bad yourself," she added shyly.
He glanced down. "It's just clothes."
"It's more than clothes. I didn't think you owned anything that smart."
He shrugged, swallowing as she stepped closer and her perfume filled his world. She touched his shoulder, the fabric of his suit softer than she had expected to the touch. He gestured to the door. "Dinner?"
She pushed open the door and gasped. He'd set up a table for two, candles, elegant wine glasses, the lot. He ushered her into a seat.
She met his eyes across the table, a lump in her throat. "Thank you Doctor," she murmured. "This...means a lot... to me."
He smiled, and pulled back the lid of the tureen. It was exactly as she had expected it to be: completely unrecognisable. She followed his lead, loading her plate with the strange mixture of... things. Tentatively taking a bite she was relieve to find that despite their alien appearance, whatever it was he had cooked was actually quite delicious.
He poured a red liquid into her wine glass. "Try it," he said, before taking a deep draught from his own glass.
She did as instructed. It was red wine, not her normal tipple, but pleasant enough. She suspected it was rather more expensive than the bit she had previously tasted, purchased from the Sainsbury's wine-rack.
They sank into the twin armchairs that faced the fire after eating, pleasantly full. After watching the dancing flames for a while he felt moved to speak. "I can see what you humans like about Christmas after all. I mean, it's a bit of an effort to do everyday... but it's nice for a special occasion."
"This isn't really Christmas though," she said, feeling she had unfairly represented a pretty major religious celebration. "Christmas is just my excuse."
He cleared his throat. "I believe that another excuse Christmas provides involves presents."
"I 'ope you 'aven't got me anything," she said, "Because all this's been the best Christmas present I could ever've 'ad."
He sighed. "All this 'oh-you-shouldn't-have' is one Christmas tradition I can do without," he said. He stood up and paused for a moment, uncertain. "Do I have to blindfold you, or will you keep your eyes shut?"
There was a devilish look on her face. "Depends what you 'ave in mind," she purred, and the laughed at her own absurdity. The Doctor merely looked thoughtful for a moment.
"Promise you'll keep them shut?"
"Yeah." She closed her eyes obediently, ignoring the pounding of her heart in her chest.
It felt like an eternity before he spoke again. All the hairs on the back of her neck stood up as he whispered in her ear: "You can open your eyes."
"It's... uh..." she swallowed to clear the lump in her throat, "It's beautiful."
It was a silver locket, fairly small, the sort that could be worn all the time and remain unnoticed under a tee shirt. A tiny pink gem glittered at the centre of an ornate design carved into the front of it. She stared at it for a moment and realised it was a flower. A rose, to be precise.
"It's empty," he said, "But I know a great artist who can do you some portraits for it. Of whoever, whatever you want."
"Thank you," she said, ashamed to find her eyes were full of tears.
"You're welcome, Rose," he replied softly, glad he had elicited such a response. He wiped away a tear that had spilled from her overloaded eyes onto her cheek with a callused thumb.
She sniffed. "I, uh, I got something for you, too." He closed the jewellery box and put it on the small table next to the chair as she stood up and guided him into her vacated seat. "Close your eyes."
He obeyed and heard her move away. There was a rustle; he thought she was near the tree. Maybe pulling something out from underneath it...?
"Stop trying to guess what I'm doing." He heard her take a deep breath. "You can open your eyes now."
He opened them. She was chewing her lip nervously, a box in her hands wrapped up in coloured paper. He seemed confused. "You 'ave to unwrap it," she explained.
"Oh." He took it from her and tore the wrapping paper, revealing an exquisitely wooden box. He opened it gently. Inside there was a pocket watch, open to reveal the face and hands.
"I couldn't think of anything to get you," she confessed, "But a watch seemed... right for a Time Lord. And you can put a picture in the other side. Of whoever, whatever you want. Guess great minds think alike?"
He smiled, taking it out of the box and closing it gently. "I like it."
She picked up her jewellery box and opened it again to reveal her locket, smiling. "Would you mind...?" she asked.
He shook his head and took the necklace from her, placing it gently around her neck. She enjoyed the feel of his fingers sweeping across her neck as he did the clasp. He turned her around gently to see how it looked.
"Beautiful," he said, although his eyes were locked on hers rather than the locket, making her wonder to what exactly he was referring.
He was too close to her, his face full of an emotion she didn't dare to name, eyes dark. He was still holding her by her arms, his grip ever so slightly too tight.
"'Appy Christmas Doctor," she said, because she had to say something.
"Happy Christmas Rose," he agreed. He was still gripping her arms.
Something snapped inside her as she watched him, frozen with indecision for once. The Doctor, who always knew where he was going and what he was doing, didn't have a clue what to do, for once.
So, for once, she was going to make the decision for him.
She kissed him quickly, on the lips. His eyes closed for a brief moment and she kissed him again, lingering a little longer this time.
"Rose..." he whispered, "We can't..."
"Why not?" she asked, her voice cracking.
"It's not right."
She made a sound somewhere between a laugh and a sigh. "Not right?"
"I shouldn't... you're my companion. You shouldn't be anything more to me than my companion." His forehead was resting against hers now, his hands sliding to her waist.
"Why not?" she asked again, kissing the tip of his nose with infinite gentleness.
"It's my rule."
"Why? What kind of a rule is that?" She kissed him again.
"...Rose..."
"I love you." It was a bald statement, in tone more like something she would shout in an argument, not a whispered declaration.
It seemed to decide him. He kissed her fiercely, pulling her close to him in a rib-squeezing embrace. When he broke away there was still the same intense look in his eyes. "I love you too. But if we do this... if this is what you want..."
"Do what?" she asked, a smile playing around her mouth.
He understood what she was referring to, but shook his head. "Not that. I meant... I meant acknowledge..."
"The feelings?" she prompted.
"The feelings," he agreed, "That we have for each other. There's no going back, is there?"
She kissed him a third time. "Why does this 'ave to be so complicated? I love you. You love me. What else matters?"
He appeared to consider this for a moment, and smiled. "Nothing." He laughed. "That's why I love you, Rose Tyler. You look at the universe in a different way."
She shook her head. "You think too much."
"You're right," he said, laughing now, his mood as always changing lightening fast. His lips met hers again. "Less thinking."
"I 'ope that's the sonic screwdriver in your pocket," she said, when they broke for breath.
"It's in the control room."
The devilish grin was back. "So... I take it Galifreyan anatomy...?"
"You should know. You've left that xeno-biology book out in the Library enough times."
She blushed. "Well, I 'ad to wonder. With you having two hearts an' all..."
