Not saying anything, the Doctor continued to glare at Owler. For now at least he doubted that he even had the ability to form words, as his mind was still screaming in turmoil over what he had stupidly been about to do. Kissing Rose would have been a huge mistake. So in some part - a very small part, he was actually grateful for Owlers 'timely' arrival. But there was still a part of him... namely his weak, wanting, treacherous hearts, which ached and craved and suffered, because he no longer held her in his arms. Around him he felt the movement of time, a gentle sway, enough to bring clarity to his mind again, and he pushed away all thoughts of love and need and... perhaps not all thoughts. Even he was not able to push away the memory of Rose completely. But he could pretend. He was good at pretending.
His quick smile leapt to his defence. "So, we meet again." He glanced over Owlers shoulder."On your own this time.?"
Owler lowered his head for a second then looked directly into the Doctors eyes. "I came to apologise for my foolishness... I should not have behaved in such a way."
"No you shouldn't." The Doctor agreed. "Running around with pointy sticks... you'll only put someones eye out."
Owler glanced away slightly, as if he had grown accustomed to hearing similar criticisms. "I offer blessings of good fortune to you both and thank you for listening to my words."
"This apology... your idea was it.?" The Doctor cocked his head with interest. "Or your fathers.?"
Owlers head lifted so that his eyes, which were filled with flames of gold, burned into the Doctors. "My words and thoughts are mine alone." He said defiantly.
The Doctor gave a lazy smile. "Okay then... apology accepted."
He braced himself before turning to look at Rose. He didn't know what he would see in her eyes, that was the worst part. What if she stared at him with loathing, disgust, hate... or worse still what if she didn't. He had to be prepared for every eventuality and he only had a hearts beat (or in his case two) to do it in. Pretend he thought, pretend, go on you can do it. But then he was looking at her, and dying on the inside. Confusion. That's what he saw before she hid it away from his prying eyes. Hurt and worry and confusion. Like a bitter pill he swallowed down the pain that writhed within him, a punishment for what he had done, or almost done... he wasn't sure.
"Rose." He said, amazed at how normal his voice sounded. "You remember Owler... on the bridge, too big for his boots." He flashed a quick grin to Owler. "No offence."
Rose moved forward. "Yeah, I remember." She didn't look at the Doctor, but instead walked across to Owler and offered her hand. "Forgive and forget eh.?"
Silently Owler took Roses hand, lifting it to his lips and brushing a soft kiss to her fingers. Letting her hand go he stared deep into her eyes then smiled warmly. It was the first real smile either the Doctor or Rose had seen from him, and it had the unexpected result of making him even more handsome.
The Doctors skin prickled as he watched Owlers eyes flicker with interest over Rose, taking everything in at once, her hair, her eyes, her smile, her curves. The Doctor looked away. He knew he had no right to feel jealous. But he felt it. It ripped though him, invading every cell of his body like a poison that would slowly, painfully kill him if he let it. Briefly he considered ripping Owlers head off - that would at least make him feel better. But he reluctantly dismissed the idea... for now at least. However, he wasn't just going to stand there and watch him make goo-goo eyes at HIS Rose. Even if she wasn't... his.
"Owler." He said a little too loudly. "I was thinking, nice day like this, we shouldn't waste it indoors. How about we see what your fathers up to.? I'm sure he'll be delighted to see we've..." He struggled to find the right words. "...well anyway I'm sure he'll be delighted."
They walked together, the Doctor and Owler, toward the doorway that led out into the bright sunlight. Then the Doctor heard a step behind him and he turned to look at Rose who was about to follow them.
"Er... Rose." He said softly. "Maybe you should stay here."
"Stay.?" Rose repeated with a frown. "But you just said..."
"I know but - you should rest." He attempted a grin, and hoped he pulled it off. "Big party tonight remember."
Rose stared wordlessly at him, then she nodded bleakly and walked back to where the small fire burned, as the Doctor and Owler left her.
Once they were gone Rose closed her eyes for a second. Determind that even though she was alone, she would not cry. She wouldn't. Ever. That was something she just wouldn't... she put a hand over her mouth and bit back the tears that threatened. But she did not cry.
She pushed back a curtain hanging in a doorway and walked through to a small room with a soft low bed on the floor. She lay down on it and curled up in her misery. Her head was spinning with everything she didn't have answers to. He couldn't really have been about to kiss her, she told herself, not really. She must have got it wrong. Even now as she tried to go over it in her head she couldn't exactly remember how it had happened - or hadn't happened. She'd probably got carried away with wishing that he would kiss her and twisted it somehow. It was no wonder he had wanted to get away from her. She groaned with self pity, and buried her head in the soft pillow. She wished that she was back at home, on her own bed, in her own room, on her own world. She wished that she had never even met the Doctor.
She opened her eyes at the moment of that thought, and knew she was kidding herself. She wouldn't change a thing, not one single moment of time that she had spent with him. A small smile played at the corner of her mouth before growing into a beaming grin. She felt as if her heart was about to burst. She loved him. And what's more - he HAD been about to kiss her. She was sure of it.
"Rose.?"
She thought she heard her name, but wasn't sure. Pushing it to the back of her mind she turned over sleepily. Anyway, her alarm clock hadn't gone off.
"Rose.!"
Okay, she had heard her name. She opened one eye, then the other, and gave a rich lazy smile. The Doctor was leaning over her, his face all handsome and... she smiled wider than before.
"Hello Doctor." She pushed a hand through her hair. "I feel like I've been asleep for a week."
"That would be the Varrah Flower." The Doctor explained as he took her hand and pulled her up off the bed."It's scent has a calming, restfull effect, especilly on those not used to it."
Rose rubbed her eyes, still sleepy. "That honey smell you mean.?" She yawned a little. "The flowers that grow in the Tree Temples.?"
The Doctor nodded as he watched her, unable to tear his eyes away. "Yes. The Harkuns grow the flowers there to promote tranquility and meditation in the Temples."
Rose shook her head awake and took a few unsteady steps, before grabbing the Doctors jacket sleeve as she stumbled over her feet. "Bloody dangerous thing to do if you ask me."
"Dangerous.?" The Doctor frowned.
" Growing knock-out flowers at 200 feet up."
The Doctor smiled. "Like I said, the Harkuns are used to them - you're not."
"What about you then.?"
"Oh I'm immune." He beamed.
"Course." Rose nodded her head."You would be." She realised at that moment that she was still clutching on to the leather sleeve of his jacket. She let go and smiled to herself.
The Doctor was quick enough to see the smile, and clever enough to see that there was something hiding behind it. But he decided not to press her on what it was she was keeping from him. He was just glad she was talking to him at all after the idiot he'd made of himself earlier.
"Hungry.?" He asked.
Rose didn't have to think about it. "Starved." She said. "Honestly I could eat a..." She thought about the options, then smiled. "...Sahtahrian Bellox - a whole one."
The Doctor's eyes widend. "Really.? Well, I don't think the Harkuns have any on the menu - but I could ask them."
Rose grinned happily and punched his arm."Don't you dare.!
It was dark outside, but a giant white moon and a thousand million stars illuminated the purple night sky. A warm breeze blew through the village, like an afterglow of a hot summer day, and the air was filled with a banquet of wonderful things. Camp fires burned everywhere, and around them sat people busy in conversation, laughter and dancing. Rose could hear music too, a tribal sound of drums and pipes that made her blood tingle.
As she and the Doctor continued walking they came upon a group of children happily chasing eachother, and screaming with delight in their games. One girl ran up to Rose, her tail swishing wildly, and with the blessings of the Goddess, offered her a garland of yellow flowers. Rose put them over her head and glanced to the Doctor, who was unashamedly smiling at her.
"They're not going to make me fall asleep are they.?" Rose asked.
"Nope." He shook his head. "They're perfectly harmless." He reached out and removed one of the flowers from the garland, pushing it into Roses hair. "They're given as a complement - to those considered as beautiful as they are."
Rose blushed slightly, glad that the moonlight offered her some small protection from the Doctors intense gaze. She smiled cautiously at him as she slipped her hand into his, their fingers interlocking as she did so. The Doctor smiled back before he even realised what he was doing, but by then it was too late.
"Doctor.!"
A voice disturbed his thoughts, and the Doctor glanced around in time to see Kyte arrive at his side, her smile wide and her mood tangibley cheerful.
Rose looked her up and down, and with a blackening mood she noticed that Kyte was wearing even less than she had been earlier.
"Oh... Kyte, hello." The Doctor said, before being almost knocked back as Kyte threw her arms around his shoulders and kissed his lips in a over familiar greeting.
Stunned, Rose stood open mouthed as the Doctor let go her hand and made a grab for Kytes arms, pulling them from around his neck and then holding her firmly at arms length. For a moment he looked flustered.
"Friendly race, aren't they.?" He smiled at Rose as she glared darkly at Kyte, who seemed completely oblivious to Roses presence.
"I hoped I would see you again tonight Doctor." Kyte fluttered her long eyelashes. "I would have been so unhappy if I had not."
"Well." The Doctor said. "That's... um. Yes." He looked at Rose, his frantic eyes appealing for help.
Watching the Doctor fall apart like this, and finding it increasingly funny, Rose was almost tempted to let Kyte continue fawning over him. But at last she decided to take pity on him and moved forward, putting herself at the Doctors side, while she looked into Kytes eyes with a clear 'hands off or else' expression.
It was only then, with a petulant look to acknowledge Rose, that Kyte stepped back a little, and with a small sigh of relief the Doctor was able to release his hold on her. However her soft smile repeatedly strayed back to the Doctor. Infact Rose was just about to exhibit another display of what the Doctor called her ' ape manners', when they were joined by Ibroc, although even this failed to shift Kytes look of adoration.
"Kyte." Ibroc said softly. "Our guests would no doubt like a little Salloi wine with their food - perhaps you would be kind enough to fetch some.?" He suggested
The disapointment in Kytes face was obvious - even in moonlight. She nodded slightly. "Yes My Sage." Then disappeared into the night.
Shaking his head, Ibroc placed a hand on the Doctors shoulder. "You must forgive Kytes exuberance, she is young and this is her first season. It is a difficult and confusing time for her."
"Oh." The Doctor said, and then "OH.!"
"What.?" Rose said. "I mean sorry, but... what.?"
"Come sit by the fire, warm yourselves and eat well." Ibroc said, leading them both to a nearby campfire. The Doctor sat down with a broad grin on his face and Rose sat next to him with a frown on hers.
"Doctor, what's he mean.?" She asked.
"Apparently." He said, his silly smile growing wider still. "Young Kyte is looking for a mate. Now that she's old enough to... mate."
"You mean she wants to..." Rose couldn't finish the question, she just couldn't. So she asked another one. "But... why you.?"
"What do you mean - 'why me'.?" The Doctor asked, sounding hurt. "I happen to be a fine male speciman and... have you seen my ears.? It's no wonder the poor girl's driven crazy."
Eventually, when Rose had at last stopped laughing, she smiled at the Doctor and he smiled back. Then, remembering how hungry she was Rose looked at the food that was spread out before them. After a moment or two she opened her mouth to ask... just in case. But the Doctor cut her off before she had spoken a word.
"No Rose, they do not have chips."
Dejected, Rose picked up a small, pink, ripe (but as yet unknown) fruit. "Don't know what they're missing." She muttered to herself, and the Doctor smiled.
As he watched her he realised that he had fallen in love with Rose Tyler without even noticing. It had happened so easily, so naturally, that he couldn't remember when or how or why. But maybe that was how it worked. He didn't know. This was entirely new. Love was something uncharted. But the idea of having to make himself stop loving her - to make himself fall out of love. He was clueless as to how he could do that.
Which he had to admit, he found infuriating, considering how fantastically clever he was under normal circumstances.