It took a while for her to find the strength in her exhausted body to be able to stand, but eventually, when the river of tears coursing down her cheeks finally began to dry up, and teardrops no longer shone in her eyes like liquid crystal, she pulled herself shakily off the floor and back on to her feet. She was still upset, as she had every right to be, but she knew that nothing more than sore, reddened eyes and a streaming nose would be achieved if all she did was sit and cry whilst she waited to be dragged home by the Doctor like a disobedient child. No, she couldn't do that; she wouldn't let him take away her new life full of adventure just to send her back to the estate that was no longer home. She was going to fight for her place on board the TARDIS, on board her home, and she was going to stay, wanted or not.

As far as she could see, she had two options. The first was to lock herself in her room and refuse to come out until he promised she could stay.

Not very practical, she thought to herself, he can sit and wait for millennia for me to come out, no matter how many regenerations it takes. I can't. Not a fair fight at all. Besides, I doubt I could get enough food together to do that.

The only other option she had was to talk to him, find out why he had suddenly made this decision and see if there was anything she could do to change his mind.

But you know how stubborn he is, that hasn't changed a bit. He's good at keeping secrets too. What do you really know about him after all? He hasn't told you much, but you know he's the only one left. May be that's why he means so much to you, your Doctor, the only one left, cos you like the idea that you can keep him safe, like a guardian angel or something. It makes you feel special doesn't it? You feel like more than just Rose Tyler, the girl from the Powell estate. He makes you feel wanted, makes you feel like you belong, and you like that feeling. Except he doesn't want you any more does he? For some reason he wants rid.

She remembered then the look he had in his eyes when he had told her he was taking her home. His chocolate brown eyes, normally so full of warmth and feeling, had been cold as steel, devoid of all emotion. Not like the Doctor at all really. He had put the barriers up and withdrawn, determined not to give her truth or justification for his actions. There must have been a very important reason for that, one that she didn't quite understand yet. But she would. Her Doctor was hurting, and she wanted to know why. She wasn't going to let him push her away like he did everyone else. She wouldn't let him go without a fight; there was no way in hell that she would ever let him believe that he was alone. He had her now, his Rose, his companion. His, always.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

The Doctor paced up and down the length of his room, beginning, in his anxiety, to wear a hole in his carpet. Easily fixed, he thought, as he continued to count how many seconds it had been since he had last heard a sound from Rose. Her sobs, which had echoed like some kind of grotesque melody around the TARDIS, had stopped about ten minutes ago. Since then, silence. It was making him edgy. He knew she hadn't done anything to the TARDIS, he would have felt it if she had. No, he was more worried about what she may have done to herself, or what she might now be planning to do to him.

"Deep breaths now Doctor," he said aloud to himself, "how much damage can one human girl really do to you? Actually, no it's probably best not to think about that, just keep counting, 667 TARDIS, 668 TARDIS, 669 TARDIS- oh, hello Rose, what can I do for you? Need a hand with all your shoes?"

Rose stood silently in the doorway, just watching him. There was no need for him to turn around yet; he could feel the intensity of her stare in the way that the hairs on the back of his neck began to prickle, and he had no desire to look in to those eyes while they still held such passionate fury in them, because if he did, he would change his mind in an instant.

"You know what I want Doctor" she said calmly.

"I thought you said you were joking about me seducing you? Really Rose, make up your mind will you? I know everyone says you should play hard to get, but honestly, this is getting ridiculous!"

He began to laugh, but stopped abruptly when he realised how un-amused his companion was.

"Not the right time for a joke then I guess? No? Okay then! So, what do you want?"

"Some honesty for one thing Doctor. I want to know what you're feeling, what's wrong with you."

"You want me to tell you, honestly, how I'm feeling right now?"

"Yeah, that's all I want Doctor."

He turned to face her, expression grave.

"Scared" he said simply.

That was the last thing she had been expecting, and it must have showed.

"You might want to close your mouth before you end up swallowing a fly Rose. It's quite simple really. You've gone from almost hysterical to deathly calm in little over ten minutes, and I for one find that slightly unnerving. There, I've told you how I'm feeling now. Was there anything else?"

"No Doctor, that was all. I guess I'd better go and pack."

She turned away from him and was almost out of earshot when he called out to her.

"Rose? I just thought of another feeling I'm experiencing right now."

"What's that then?" she said, with the merest hint of annoyance in her voice. When would he ever take her seriously?

"I think its love," he said, scratching his head for a moment before declaring loudly, "yes it is love, definitely love. I love you Rose Tyler!"

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

A/N: How was it then? Did you like? Please, if you did, just drop me a review! I love to hear from you, and I will respond to any comments, questions or suggestions you have for me. Don't sit in silence, make a writer happy today!

Until next time…..

SmileyHalo