Rose woke as she felt the sunlight fall over her body. She fidgeted and became aware of a warm hand on her hip, beneath her night dress. Confused she put out a hand to push her assailant away only to be met by an oddly familiar double beat. She opened her eyes to look at the Doctor's face, his features softened by sleep, making him even more handsome in her eyes than ever. She had never woken with him before, even when they shared a bed he would be up and gone before she woke the next morning. She lay there, just enjoying the closeness, allowing her arms to slip down to his waist and pull him a little closer. She committed every line and crease of his face to her memory, the soft feathery marks around his eyes, the worry lines bearing his many years of strain, each of them beautiful for what they represented.
"Are you going to stare at me all morning?" came the sleepy rumble as the hand on her waist moved to the small of her back and pulled her against him.
"Didn't know you were awake?"
"Neither do I yet," he said, his eyes still closed but a smile playing on his lips, "This is nice."
"Mmmm," murmured Rose tucking her head so her nose pressed gently to his, her fingers drawing up his back to draw intricate patterns on his shoulder. The shrill ringing of her alarm clock startled them both out of the sleepy states and the Doctor quickly pulled away.
"I'd better get going, don't want your mum walking in and getting any ideas," he said scrambling out of bed and back into his clothes.
Rose tried desperately to contain her disappointment, "Yeah, S'pose. I guess I'll be seeing you at the service then."
"Definitely," said the Doctor moving to the door but then he turned around and came back to her, bending his head down to give her a swift kiss on the cheek, "Wear your hair long, it looks nice long."
Without another word he left the room and a rather flustered Rose touching her cheek in disbelief.
Rose stood outside her cousins room, waiting for the bride to emerge. She fidgeted in her dress, the lace already itching and the heels killing her feet. She heard familiar footfalls behind her and felt an odd sense of calm spread over her, she didn't know how he did it but the atmosphere of the room always shifted when he entered it.
"You look like little Bo Peep," said the welcome northern accent, "You really should dress like that more often."
"Do one you…" Rose's reply was cut off as she turned to him and her jaw fell open. Gone were the Doctor's traditional black clothes to be replaced by a gorgeous Victorian, velvet dress coat over light coloured trousers. A silk cravat and shirt made up the ensemble, he looked like Rose had always pictured Lord Byron. Her heart skipped several beats and she had to remind herself to breathe.
"Wow! You look amazing!" she said before she could check her own words.
The Doctor blushed slightly and lowered his gaze, walking over to her, "I didn't know if you'd like it or not, I can't remember the last time I dressed like this. You sure its okay, not too old fashioned."
Rose dipped her head to see his eyes, "You look fine, better than me anyway."
"Oh I don't know, that's high fashion on some planets," said the Doctor trying not to giggle as he fiddled with the puffy lace on her shoulder, "Oh Rose what have they done to you?"
They both descended into a fit of laughter that had them gripping on to each other for fear of falling over. Rose enjoyed the richness of the velvet beneath her fingertips and kept her hand on his arm long after they'd quieted. The Doctor was regarding her appearance more carefully now and she felt slightly uncomfortable under his scrutiny.
"You're not wearing any jewellery."
"I'm what?" said Rose, lost in the closeness of him and not expecting his sudden comment.
"You haven't got any jewellery on."
"Didn't have anything to go with it," said Rose, "Don't own any delicate little necklaces of anything, they're hardly useful when you're trying to over through an alien government."
"Shame. A delicate necklace could actually set that dress off quite well."
"Well its too late…"
Rose was again cut off as the Doctor pulled a silver chain hung with nine tear drop shaped pendants from his breast pocket. He held it out in front of her for her to examine. The stones in the pendants changed colour in the light, purple to pearl, to blue and then pink. It was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen in her life.
"Doctor?"
Without a word he leaned forward and fastened it around her neck, his fingers brushing the base of her hairline and sending delicious jolts of electricity through her as he pulled away. He looked down at the necklace and gave her one of his customary grins.
"It suits you," he said.
"Thank you," said Rose at a loss for anything else. What happened next she would never have expected from her friend and she would in time relate the emotion more to the story than to the pendant.
"It was my grand-daughter's," said the Doctor softly, "Her name was Susan, she was about your age, well looks wise at least. I found this in the TARDIS a while ago, it was made on Gallifrey, my planet. Seemed a shame to just leave it unworn, I've wanted you to have it for a while now but didn't find a chance to give it to you."
Rose flung her arms around him tightly and buried her head into the velvet of his shoulder, sobbing with joy at the gift, "Thank you Doctor, thank you so much. I can't believe you've given it to me, it must mean so much to you."
"Then all the more fitting that it be worn by the person who means so much to me too," he said pulling back and planting a soft kiss on her forehead, "I'd better get the chapel but I'll see you after the service ok. Have fun being bridesmaid. Keep the first dance for me ok?"
"Ok," said Rose as she watched his back retreating down the corridor, running a finger along the cool metal against her chest. Rose knew she was in deep trouble.
The service was the most entertaining thing the Doctor had seen he decided, the bride fluffed her lines, the groom nearly fainted twice, one of the little bridesmaids tripped on her dress and sent a floral display tumbling into the lectern which then toppled towards the font leaving a clearly very old and well loved bible half drenched in Holy water. Alongside the hilarity the Doctor took great pleasure in occasionally kicking the pew in front of him causing some ancient relation of Rose's to turn around and glare viciously at the snotty little five year old sitting next to him. The Doctor always flashed her one of his customary grins and she had begun to grin back. I've pulled. He thought to himself. Rose stood at the front of the aisle looking decidedly pissed off as the service dragged on. She shoot several looks in the Doctor's direction, each time her smile slightly more pained than the last. As the bride and groom left the chapel, Rose took the opportunity to squeeze the Doctor's shoulder gently as she passed by.
If the service had been entertaining the reception was even better.
"Its bloody Braveheart," he murmured to Rose beside him as they moved to take their seats facing each other at the long tables. Mickey sitting to Rose's right and Jackie to the Doctor's left. Rose giggled as she regarded the ageing, hairy men milling around, dressed in kilts and all the rest.
"Behave," she said as the first course was brought out.
"Make me," said the Doctor, turning his attention to the strange salmon concoction on his plate. He nearly choked as he felt a small, silk stockinged foot creeping up his calf, passed his knee and along his inner thigh. He shot Rose a warning look but she was looking away casually, completely contrary to what her foot was currently doing. Her toes crept dangerously higher and the Doctor swore she'd never been so bold in all her life. She drew the smallest point of her big toe along the centre of his trousers and the Doctor noticeably blushed. Stop that right now young lady. He thought, willing her to develop telepathy as quickly as possible. Clearly though, that stage of Rose's evolution was yet to come as she pressed down with the ball of her foot, forcing the Doctor to suppress a growl. She shouldn't be able to make him feel like that. Well two could play at that game. Unseen by anyone else in the room he slipped his hand under the table and grabbed hold of her slim ankle. Rose's eyes met his, startled and she tried to wrestle her foot away but he held it fast. He ran his thumb from her ankle bone to the centre of her foot and then pressed down without warning. Hot, pleasant electricity shot straight up Rose's leg to her centre and she let out the tiniest squeak, blushing furiously. Where had he learned to do that?
Mickey looked at Rose, concerned and then over to a very smug looking Doctor. The Doctor raised his glass at the boy and then turned his attention to one of Rose's uncles who sat beside him. Talking as if the passed few minutes hadn't happened. Rose looked on silently as she begged her heart hammering so fast, her whole body had tensed with desire and it was all she could do not to throw herself across the table and snog him senseless. The Doctor could feel her eyes burning him, wishing he could regret the course of actions that had got them here but not being able to.
The rest of the dinner passed amiably enough and as soon as she could Rose made a mad dash to the bar. The barman struggled to contain his amusement at Rose's dress but she shot him a look that could render him infertile with its venom.
"Vodka, straight up," she said.
"Make that two," said a strong Northern accent, "And keep 'em coming. You alright Bo Peep?"
"I think I slipped into a coma half way through the speeches," she said, not wanting to discuss their earlier 'game'.
Any further conversation was cut short by a very angry looking Mickey storming over to them. He stepped up to the bar between Rose and the Doctor, desperately trying to push the alien away.
"Do you want to dance?" he said taking Rose's hand in his own.
"Yeah I do," said Rose returning his smile then flicking her gaze to the Doctor behind him, "I promised you the first dance tonight didn't I Doctor?"
"I do believe you did Rose," he said, his hand descending over Mickey's shoulder to retrieve Rose's hand from his grip, "If I may have the pleasure?"
He stepped round Mickey and began to lead Rose to the dance floor but Mickey stepped in front of him, "If you happened to have forgotten she is MY girlfriend and don't think I don't know what you two were doing under the table earlier."
The Doctor ignored his final comment, seemingly more interested in searching for something on Rose's wrist, "No," he said after his examination, "No name tag on her, thought as much. You do know its illegal to try and own another human being these days Ricky Boy?"
Rose giggled, "I'll dance with you later Mickey. Come on Doctor, I've been dying to see how well you waltz." She led him to the dance floor and allowed him to turn her under his arm before pulling her close by her waist, moving her gently to the music. Rose pulled a stray piece of confetti from the collar of his shirt and flicked it away before smoothing down the cravat he wore.
"I can't get over how different you look in that get up, I like it," she said.
"Well don't get too used to it, this suit only comes out on very special occasions and my leather jacket will get lonely. Plus there's no decent pockets for the sonic screwdriver in this outfit. I feel naked without it."
"You made me feel nak…" Rose trailed off and blushed as she realised what she was going to say.
The Doctor lowered his head so his lips were right by her ear, "I'm an expert in human anatomy," he whispered, "Pressure point on your foot, pleasure source as you found out. Enjoyable?"
"What's got into you?" said Rose, her voice lower than she would have liked. She felt the Doctor let out a sigh next to her ear and suddenly the room seemed far too hot.
"I have no idea what you mean Rose."
The sound of the party began to fade away as Rose made her way through the maze of gardens surrounding the castle. Night had fallen and the stars were glittering above her. She felt odd seeing the stars from her home world again, they seemed even more beautiful to her now she had travelled amongst them. A chilly gust of wind blue across her skin and she shivered. A heavy warmth rested around her shoulders and she turned gratefully to her companion, pulling his jacket tighter around her. The atmosphere of earlier had all but disappeared as they had laughed and joked as friends at the party and fallen back into their familiar banter. Rose liked it that way.
"Thanks," she said, "Far enough away for you yet?"
The Doctor listened to the fading music and nodded, "Much better, getting a bit too domestic for me in there. I swear that great aunt of yours was coming on to me."
"Doctor! She's eighty-six!"
"Spring chicken," said the Doctor heading over to a nearby stone bench and sitting down. Setting down the bottle of champagne he'd been carrying on the ground beside him, "Do you think we'll be missed?"
"Nah," said Rose, sitting beside him and setting two champagne glasses next to her on the seat, "They were all too busy mooning over the happy couple. Come on then boy, get that bottle open."
The Doctor obliged, carefully opening the bottle without the cork flying off into the night and pouring them both a glass. Rose raised her glass to his and they clinked softly.
"What should we drink to?" she said, "I would say universal peace but then you and I would be out of a job."
"Oh so you plan on this being a permanent position then do you?"
"Of course, as I told you Doctor, you're stuck with me."
"Fantastic," said the Doctor, throwing his free arm around her shoulder and pulling her to his side, "Well then, we should drink to friendship, to us."
"To us," echoed Rose, contented against his firm shoulder, watching the night sky move around them. They sat in companionable silence for the longest time until Rose began to fidget against the Doctor's side.
"It's getting colder," she said pulling the jacket a little tighter.
"You little apes always get so cold," said the Doctor rubbing her shoulder to warm her, "We can go back inside if you want, rejoin the party."
"I like the going back inside bit. You got a mini bar in your room?"
The Doctor smiled and helped her to her feet, "Yeah I have, come on."
They headed back to the castle, taking the back doors to avoid the party-goers and reaching the Doctor's room with relative ease. It was only when they crossed the threshold that the companionable atmosphere became charged once more. Rose slipped the Doctor's jacket from her shoulders and lay it on the back of a chair, not wanting to turn and look at him for fear of giving herself away. She knew better though than to expect the Doctor not to sense the atmosphere and wasn't surprised to feel two warm hands on her shoulders.
"You're uncomfortable?" he said, he made it sound like a question but Rose knew it was more of a statement.
"What are we doing here Doctor?" she said, suppressing a shudder as his hands gently rubbed against her shoulders. She felt his fingers tense slightly at her words, he was fighting a battle as much as she was. This would change things, the point of no return. Flirting was flirting but the actual act, actually admitting it. Rose's thoughts were interrupted as she felt petal warm lips begin to creep slowly up her neck. She lifted her hand to run through his hair, tilting her neck to allow him better access. She moaned softly as he pulled back.
"Is this ok?" His voice sounded gruffer than usual but vulnerable at the same time. Rose realised how much it had taken for him to make the first move and she turned to him, searching his eyes and finding her own fear staring back at her.
"If we do...?"
"There's no going back," said the Doctor winding her in his arms and pulling her close, "I won't be able to let you go, I won't be able to stop loving you."
"Loving me?" said Rose, her voice a hoarse whisper as his lips descended slowly towards hers.
"Loving you," said the Doctor closing the final gap and pressing his lips to hers. Rose yielded instantly, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him as close as possible. His lips were warm and smooth and he kissed her so softly she thought she'd exploded if he continued. Sensing her need he ran his tongue along her lower lip before biting down gently, causing her mouth to open in a gasp. Taking the opportunity, he let his tongue tease hers, leaving her space to pull away but it wasn't needed. She duelled with him furiously, scratching her nails along the back of his neck in a vain attempt to pull him closer still. She moaned into his mouth and it was all he could bear. He pulled back, much to Rose's disappointment and held her at arms length.
"Rose, I…"
"Hush, I want it too," she said, stepping back and unfastening her dress so that it fell to the floor. She moved back to him and took his hand, guiding it her chest and letting him explore the swollen flesh. As his thumb flicked over her hardened desire she moaned and bucked towards him. It was all the persuasion he needed and he scooped her up in his arms before slinging her down on the bed, disrobing her and himself quicker than he ever thought possible. His eyes were black as he looked down at her, his self control wavering desperately towards failing but he had to be sure, this was Rose.
"My beautiful girl," he said caressing her cheek. He pressed a kiss to her lips before continuing, "Are you ready?"
Rose had to smile at the fragility in his voice and the love that made him ask, no one had ever asked her before. Her answer was simple, "I love you."
She watched the passion filled eyes darken further and then the delicious pain as her entered, forcing her to tighten instinctively around him. He moaned and gripped her close to him. They both knew they wouldn't last long, months of pent up passion had rendered them desperate and the rhythm built quickly. Frenzied and urgent they moved together, bodies meeting in perfect unison and their cries mingling into one. As Rose tightened and keened beneath him, the Doctor bit down on her shoulder and filled her, both of them trembling and crying with the power of their coupling.
"Love…Love You," he managed to stutter before collapsing down onto her, not wanting to pull away and lose contact. Rose held to him, his weight a comforting reality against her. She stroked his hair softly.
"Love you too my Doctor."