This is for all those lovely people at Time and Chips. Thanks to all my reviewers, and remember, the more you review, the more I feel compelled to write. So keep it up!
Chapter 2Rose stepped gingerly out of the TARDIS. She spun around and examined the 'public waste convenience' from which she had just alighted.
"Wow!" she exclaimed.
The Doctor stepped out. The curved door slid shut behind him. He stood by Rose's side.
"It's different, I'll grant you that."
"Is it one of those ones that opens after a certain amount of time? I think it is. I remember a girl in my school had an unfortunate incident in one of those once," smirked Rose. She giggled, covering her mouth with her hand.
"Wasn't funny really. Middle of the high street. She was 'indisposed' and pop! Poor girl nearly died of embarrassment."
"What's the point of that then? Cheap thrills for the masses?"
"Not quite," laughed Rose, "it's supposed to stop you from getting up to anything sordid." Her eyes sparkled mischievously.
The Doctor coughed uncomfortably, looking at the non-existent watch on his wrist. He grabbed Rose's hand. "Right, let's be off."
They wandered across the square, skirted around the small park in the centre and turned a corner. The narrow street that greeted them was bustling with traffic, both pedestrian and vehicular. They stood there, taking in this vista of 21st century urban life.
"It all seems so unreal, and so small. The places we've been, the things we've seen, the universe is so much more than all this, bigger than they will ever know… and still, they bustle on, enveloped in their own lives, wrapped up in their own petty problems… That used to be me… Normal…" Rose trailed off.
She squeezed the Doctor's hand. "Thank you."
"For what?"
"Everything"
The Doctor shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "Well, you're welcome. I mean it."
Rose smiled at him affectionately. Her gaze returned to the busy street. Her face lit up.
"Come on!" she said, pulling the Doctor along. "We're going shopping!"
The Doctor groaned.
"Don't be such a sourpuss. It'll be fun. Besides, you're paying!" She headed off in the direction of the nearest clothes shop.
"But I don't have any money!"
Rose stopped in her tracks. "Oh. That makes both of us," she said dejectedly.
"Sorry."
Her face brightened slightly. "Well, we can still look, right? Relax, hang out without having to save the universe or flee from certain death. We can browse, and take our time."
"A relaxing afternoon in the company of one Rose Tyler. Doesn't sound too shabby."
He gave her hand a quick squeeze. "Take as long as you like."
"Rose, I don't want to be a moan, but it's been four hours. Can we sit down for a while?"
"Four hours? Oh my god, I'm soooo sorry. Has it really been that long? It's just been quite a while since I went shopping."
"No need to apologise. Letting me rest will more than make it up to me."
She noticed a small café across the road, with several tables set outside in the sunshine.
"How about there?" She pointed. The Doctor nodded and the pair made towards the café.
"Hope they don't expect us to buy anythi-" The Doctor turned to Rose, only to discover that she was no longer by his side. He looked behind him in time to see her stoop and pick something up off the ground. Straightening, she jogged up to him.
"Guess who just found €20!" she exclaimed, displaying her find with pride. "Somebody out there must like us!"
She motioned back to the café. "C'mon, I'll treat you to a cappuccino."
The Doctor snorted. "You think I'd drink that muck? Earl grey, all the way."
"Earl grey for two it is then!" she declared.
Her fingers worked their way into his as the continued on.
"I think it was this way."
"Okay then, you lead." Rose had to increase her pace to keep up with the Doctor's purposeful stride. They arrived on the square of Georgian houses.
"That's funny." The Doctor looked puzzled. "I was certain we left it here."
"Maybe it's on the other side of the square, and we just can't see it," suggested Rose helpfully.
"Hmm. Okay, let's cut across the park."
It was almost dusk, and the sky was tinged a faint pink, as the small wisps of cloud drifted lazily across it. As they strolled through the small wooded park, Rose slipped her arm through the Doctor's. The walked by the small pond, where several ducks drifted about aimlessly, paying no heed to the couple.
They came to a gate in the railings that ran around the parks' perimeter, and were suddenly back on the square, facing the setting sun.
Shielding his eyes with his hand, the Doctor peered up and down the street. "There it is."
It was getting chilly and they both felt tired, and relished the idea of what was, for want of a better word, home.
They hurried along the pavement, past an elderly lady with a small yappy dog. It barked at them.
"Stop it Cornelius or you shan't have any supper!" she snapped. The dog stopped barking, but continued to eye them suspiciously.
When the arrived at the TARDIS, the Doctor pulled open the door.
When he hesitated, Rose gave him a playful push. "Hurry up."
They both stumbled into the darkness, and the door slid shut after them.
End Chap.