Ch 3

"Alright, a quick change in the TARDIS, and then I'm taking you out on the town. Did you know Barcelona has a town?" The Doctor asked as he fitted the key into the lock on the TARDIS door.

Rose smiled, and shook her head. "I can't believe how different you are."

He simply grinned at her.

She and the Doctor had frolicked in the water for hours, and had eaten chili dogs on the beach. He had never eaten one before, and sharing that first experience with him was like watching a child take his first steps. It was an adorable moment to add to her memory bank. And now, she stood shivering cold and sandy as she waited for him to open the door.

"Beat you to the shower!" He said and yanked the door open.

Rose grinned, "You're on."

The two of them squeezed through the wooden doors together. However, it was the Doctor to reach the shower first. He grinned at her, and pulled the curtain closed. "No peeking!" He cried as he turned the nozzle.

Rose shook her head. Though she'd love a peek, she decided to figure out what she was going to wear for this occasion, and hurried down the hall, through the door on the left, up the stairs and around the bend to her room. She shuffled through her walk-in closet when suddenly her hand rested on a familiar black leather jacket.

It had been his. She gasped at first, and tugged her hand back as if she had touched something hot. And then the tears gathered in her eyes.

She reached up and tried to tug it down, but it seemed to be caught on the hanger, and her height was no match for the task.

"Come on!" She cried, tears choking her voice.

A hand reached out next to her and pulled the jacket down. Rose turned and found the Doctor in nothing but a towel wrapped around his lower half . "Here." He said, "I thought you might have wanted it."

Rose delicately took the jacket, and hugged it tight to her chest. "I don't even have a picture of him." She whispered.

The Doctor wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and Rose broke down completely. She hadn't properly grieved for him, she had held so much back… she had always tried to be strong, always had to be strong. She wasn't a useless, in-the-way girl who needed saving all of the time. She was Rose Tyler, and right now she was grieving for a man who had been her friend, a love, and most importantly, her life. He had been her everything, and right now all she needed to do was cry. She buried her face into his bare shoulder, her small shoulders shaking her body. The Doctor stroked her hair soothingly until she quieted. "It's okay." He whispered.

"Doctor?" She sniffled.

"Yeah?"

"Thank you."

He rubbed her shoulders. "Don't mention it."

XXX

Rose checked her reflection in the mirror for a final glance over. The little black dress she had bought back in London for her and Mickey's first year anniversary still fit like a glove. She checked the corners of her eyes for signs of rogue eye liner, and then made her way to the center console where she was sure to find the Doctor. Her heels tapped loudly down the hall as she walked.

He was where she thought he'd be. His legs were sticking out from under the console, his sonic screw driver blasting at something. She cleared her throat.

He slid out, and looked up. "Wow."

"Do you like it?" She asked, and gave a little spin.

He tried to get to his feet, but smacked his head on the console along the way as his eyes never left her. "I love it! What's the occasion?"

"I thought you were taking me out?"

"Oh. I thought you might not feel like going out after…"

"It'd be good to get off of this ship for awhile."

He brushed himself off, as he was dressed in his long brown coat and held out his arm. "Fantastic! Shall we go?"

Rose circled her arm through his, and they left together.

XXX

The sand felt wonderful beneath Rose's bare feet as she and the Doctor walked the shoreline. She had abandoned her shoes long ago, and laughed as her three-inch wedge heels dangled around the Doctor's neck as he walked beside her. He was happy she had taken off the shoes; for she had been rivaling him in height, something he declared, should never be. The lavender water was now a muddy purple, almost black against the dark navy sky.

"Does this count as our second date?" Rose asked as she nibbled on a silk-like crystal thread similar to Cotton Candy.

"I think so." The Doctor replied with a mouthful of the sweet stuff. "Hard to believe there's only been two." He moved his jaw awkwardly, the crap was gluing his mouth shut.

"This is nice." Rose said, stopping and starring out at the water. "Taking a break."

"Yeah," He said, and took her hand.

She rested her head against his shoulder.

"You're beautiful, Rose." He said, looking down at her.

She smiled up at him. "So are you."

Neither was sure how long they stood there together, not talking, just being with each other. It was a rare moment where nothing needed their attention. They could just be for one night.

XXX

The Doctor walked Rose all the way to her bedroom in the hotel. It was here that he removed his arm from hers. He smiled down at her. "Good night, Rose."

"Good night, Doctor." She leaned up and kissed his cheek.

He placed a hand to his face where her lips had been. "You've never done that before."

"No, before it was on the mouth." She said, "But, technically, it was Cassandra."

He smiled, and then turned away. She had the sudden urge to ask him if he'd like to stay the night with her, but he was already walking to his own room. It wasn't like she hadn't thought about sex with the Doctor before, it was just that there was always something going on, someone needing help. Dare she call him back? Would he come? If they took this step, would it mean as much to him as it did to her? Were they even ready? They had been on two dates, and hadn't even kissed yet. She knew him, and she loved him, but…

She loved him?

Loved this new Doctor? Where had that come from? Just a few hours earlier she was grieving for her old Doctor, and now she loved this one? She needed time to think on that one. She did like him a lot, but she wasn't sure if she was ready to love again. She walked into her room and got ready for bed.

Rose nestled into her pillows, and soon was fast asleep.