Chapter Three

He was right. The TARDIS did not approve of Midnight. The black feline ball of endless energy decided immediately to wander around exploring everything she could reach. Though that wasn't much, considering how tiny she was.

The Doctor watched Rose laugh at Midnight's futile attempts to jump onto the console with an increasing sense of having made a good decision. Then they both laughed at the way the cat bounded off into the corridor, only for the TARDIS to immediately switch the corridor around mid-leap, so she'd find herself bounding into the console room again and again.

Rose suddenly hugged the Doctor enthusiastically and thanked him so much for letting her have Midnight. Now he felt like it was the only possible right thing to have done, and was so glad he'd done it. Her reaction alone was so worth it.

At that moment, the TARDIS dematerialised by itself and they fell onto the hard grill. It hurt like hell, but at least he'd thus shielded Rose from a similar fate.

When the room went still, they got up and the Doctor went straight for the monitor screen. But before he'd gotten two steps, the doors opened themselves and they could see a beach outside.

'What's going on?' Rose asked him, getting to her feet.

'We're still on earth, but... I reckon the TARDIS wants us out, don't ya think?'

She laughed.

'I think she wants Midnight out.'

'Us too. She probably wants to rework her interior to be more cat-proof. Which means us getting out.'

'Do we have to?'

'Why? What's wrong?'

'The TARDIS is mad at me remember? Doubly so now that we've got a cat..'

'..So you think she's landed somewhere bad to spite you?' He finished, amused.

'Could be.'

'Rubbish. She's not human. Doesn't think the way you do in terms of holding massive grudges. Come on, what could possibly go wrong with a little trip to the beach?'

'Knowing you, anything.'

He went to protest but she cut him off.

'Alright, alright, I'm coming. Can I just get into some swimmers first?'

'Sure. Don't take forever!' He called after her. She didn't deign to reply to that. Absently, he located and picked up the small feline before it tried to chew a few loose wires and found himself petting it - of all things.

It was low tide and the sand bank looked like an island joined by a causeway to the actual beach. Midnight delighted in investigating everything she came across, except a large flock of seagulls – for obvious reasons. But it seemed everything else wanted to be her friend.

The other exception was the waves themselves. She prodded at the foamy edge of a few, just as they lost momentum and slid back down the slight incline of sand. But there was no chance of her attempting to swim, of course.

Rose watched the cat and the Doctor watched both of them. She was wearing a blue bikini with a not-quite-matching sarong. Regardless, it looked stunning on her and no adorable kitten could seriously compete.

The novelty wore off and Rose turned back to him.

'Lets have a swim!' She said.

'You go. I'm not exactly dressed for it.'

She looked and noticed with annoyance that he was still in long pants and jumper with a jacket – on a beautiful sunny day like this of all times! Why couldn't he have gotten into some board shorts or something? Now that would have been an interesting sight.

'Who says you need to be dressed?' She replied cheekily. He gave her a look.

'Alright, why don't we walk on the sand bank?' She suggested.

He had a few misgivings about how long it would remain above-water. Then he estimated the tide and noticed it was going out.

'If you like.' He said casually, then unexpectedly took his beloved leather jacket off. Turns out he'd actually had on a t-shirt after all – hard to tell with the coat on. He took off his shoes as well, to better enjoy the feel of walking on the grainy sand.

Rose put her hand in his and they walked together, her steps having to quicken a bit to keep up with his long legs. Then they saw a large flock of seagulls milling oh so unsuspectingly on the sand bank.

'You know what we have to do now.' She said quietly, pointing to them.

'Yep. You up for it?'

'Definitely.'

'Quiet then.'

They slowly crept up closer, until it seemed the birds simply had to notice them.

'Run!' The Doctor yelled, and they did, whooping and laughing.

The gulls took to the sky before them, and scattered in the air above their heads in confusion. Then they all headed out over the sea and banded together, moving in sync like a school of fish. Only in the air, of course.

The two chasers came to a stop, still laughing, and watched the flock disappear to find somewhere else to go. Rose smiled at him and he gave her his usual wonderful grin in reply. All things considered, this was turning out to be a good day.

There was only one thing more she wanted to try and do.

It seemed the Doctor – not that he'd admit it – had been wrong about the direction of the tide. They were now standing on an island and Rose was laughing at his dilemma.

'It's not funny.' He insisted, taking in the rapidly dwindling dry space. Every wave seemed to inch closer and closer.

'It is!'

'I'm gonna get wet.' He grumbled.

'Serves you right for not wearing swimmers.'

She had an idea and went to the edge of the water, stepped in, and started kicking it towards him. His effort to dodge them proved futile and he gave her a look. She stopped, so as not to get him mad.

'Lets go then, before it gets any deeper.' He said.

'Lets not. You're gonna get wet anyway, might as well stay a bit longer.' She said, with a hint of pleading in her voice.

'Fine..'

The TARDIS' renovations wouldn't have finished by now anyway.

The water had now risen over their knees, and they were having great fun splashing each other and just talking in general.

'Might as well have had that swim.' He said, looking at his soaked shirt.

She shrugged. 'Suits you.' She said accidentally, noticing the pleasant way it clung to his body.

He gave her an odd look, but it was interrupted by a wave knocking her over with a shriek. He helped her up, streaming with water, and her hair soaked. She'd have to wash it again.

'It's not funny!' She said.

'Maybe you should learn to stand upright. I thought you apes had figured that out by now.'

'Shut it you.'

'What?'

'I hate it when you call me that.'

'What?'

'A stupid ape.'

'Sorry.'

His apology, the second that day, surprised both of them.

'I take it the favour's definitely been paid off then?' He said, glancing at the tiny black creature back on the beach, perfectly safe.

'Not quite.'

'What more could you possibly want from me?' He asked incredulously. She didn't reply, giving what she thought was a coy look from under her lashes, which was misinterpreted as guilt.

'I don't care how cute it might be, I'm not going to fetch any long-lost puppies or goldfish and-' He began, and she shook her head impatiently.

'You don't get it do you?'

'Get what?' He said, genuinely puzzled.

Something occurred to him in the back of his mind but was quelled. By the voices of past Doctors, who muttered their disapproval.

He'd only started hearing them after the Time War, and he was grateful for the gaping silence they seemed to fill. Even if it meant unwelcome suggestions like now - that he seemed too emotionally attached to his companion. Perhaps they didn't understand how lonely he felt without her.

Then she slipped again, thanks to another largish wave, and would've fallen in if he hadn't reflexively caught her around the waist.

'Thanks.' She said breathlessly, then looked into his eyes. As if she could somehow get the message to him without being forced to say it aloud. Cause she knew that if she did, it'd all become so awkward and it could ruin everything between them.

They stood that way for what felt like a very long moment. She tried to lose herself in his eyes.. and to think she'd thought the sea was blue..

His arms still encircled her waist and they leaned imperceptively closer. A wave rushed around their legs, then another, then another, until all up to his waist was soaked, but he didn't seem to notice as her beautiful brown eyes captured his.

The voices, almost inaudible over the waves, reminded him that she was out of bounds. Despite any logical arguments about trying to continue the species he might have considered. A young human female – even if she'd recently dumped her boyfriend over the phone – was still as forbidden as it gets.

He might consider that Captain Jack - also far older than he looked - hadn't seemed to think so. And the laws that disallowed unions between Timelords – even half-castes like him - and "lesser" species might not physically exist anymore..

But still, it was a matter of principle, his predecessors seemed to tell him, and who was he to discard the laws of Gallifrey on a whim?

She saw his eyes become slightly distant and knew she'd lost. But the memory of the guard's hands still burned under her skin, even though she'd scrubbed it, and there were no marks or anything.

Having made up her mind to get over her nervousness and give it another try before the moment was lost completely, Rose threw her arms around his neck, stood up on tiptoe, and fervently kissed him.

The protesting voices vanished, his entire being sung her name in golden tones as he kissed her fiercely back. The word 'forbidden' didn't exist in his vocabulary anymore. Not ever.

He'd never been any good at taking orders anyway. Especially not from Gallifrey.

A wave upset their precarious balance, and they fell underwater but didn't think to get up again for another few moments, when the need to breathe became urgent. Nor did it occur to them to separate for long.

If perfect existed, it existed right now. Within the beautiful idea of Rose, and his mouth on hers tasting of salt, his nose brushing her cheek, and her wet body pressed so closely against his.

His skin burned so much where it touched hers, that he ought to be utterly consumed by the fire – yet wasn't. It was the kind of fire the surrounding seawater could have no effect on.

The fact that he had to lean forward a little because of the height difference didn't bother him. He traced his mouth down her cheek, then her neck. He felt her encouraging fingers try to thread through his hair – except that it was cropped too short – and then settle for sliding up inside his shirt to feel his rushed heartbeats, making him shiver.

'I love you.' He whispered into the curve between her shoulder and neck, and she murmured 'Fantastic', before drawing him into another scorching kiss.

Elsewhere, a sentient blue police box congratulated itself on its cunning in forcing him to take to Rose's side earlier, to come to her defence against a supposed 'grudge'. Then sending them off alone together on a beautiful beach.

A small black kitten played tag with the waves that gently slid up the beach, and pawed the foam bubbles in innocent joy.

Everybody happy?

I damn well hope so cause I'm on my final warning in regards to that assignment.

Ark Led is being far too modest for her own good. I'm amazed at how quickly she churns out fantastic quality stuff! Takes me forever to find something half decent to post - andthat's an assumption to say the least.

Anyhow, teacher giving me narky looks and has been rather irritable since Ben said the word 'paedophile' in front of her in reference to a character in the text we're studying.. which was followed by stunned silence, then hysterical laughter and enthusiastic applause from the whole class as she went as red as her hair and..

..I'd better just post already. Tell me what you think and do you reckon it wants a sequel?

Twas dedicated to Kaira's cat, who "coincidentally" is black and called Midnight.