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'Cause I can't help crying,

And I wont look down.

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She couldn't stay. Not now. Not after the awkward situation he had thrown them both in to. It was just too much. He'd probably scared the living daylights out of her, coming on to her like that. She'd probably blame him, accuse him of being heartless and cruel, demand for her to take him home because she couldn't live with him now. Not when he'd broken her security. Her trust. Best to head it off at the pass, he decided. No matter what she said, this couldn't go on.

The Doctor heard the shuffle of feet in the doorway as he pulled down a lever. The TARDIS lurched in objection, but he remained standing, working with the controls. He heard Rose at the door and didn't look up.

"Pack your bags," he commanded harshly, slamming his fist down on a button with more force than was needed. He looked up and met her eye severely. "I'm takin' you home."

Rose, shocked by his words, stood and blinked at him. That hadn't been what she was expecting, ad the words she'd rehearsed on the way here were forgotten.

"W – what?"

"You heard me," he retorted, darting around the console so that his broad back was facing her. He couldn't look at her. Give her all the opportunity she needed to turn away and run from him.

"But... why?"

She was restricted to mono syllables. She heard the words, but they didn't make sense. He couldn't be serious. Not after... what she had said wasn't that bad. She just sounded like she didn't want him – after he'd taken a huge risk in letting her know how he felt. Oh, God, he was serious.

"'Cause," he shot back over his shoulder. His voice was so loud and coarse it could have physically cut her.

"'Cause why?" she pushed, stepping forward to him. He walked away, yanking on a lever. The TARDIS lurched again and Rose stumbled; he made no attempt to help her up. Didn't even look at her. Didn't even glance up.

"You know why," he answered. He was angry. It was in his voice, his manner, his eyes. Brimming out of him like a violent volcano. "This isn't the life you want."

"'Scuse me, isn't that for me to decide?" Rose challenged, fighting fire with fire. All right, so she may not have done the most sensible of things, but taking her home was a bit drastic. She wouldn't go, she decided. She'd never go.

At her reply, he did look up. His eyes were such a swirling torrent of rage she actually took a step backwards.

"My TARDIS, my rules," he retorted, locking her gaze. "Besides, you've made it quite clear about the sort of life you want."

"But... that was... a mistake!" she tried at last, anger turning to desperation. He couldn't take her back. He'd promised he wouldn't, not until she said so.

"Too right. And it's not a mistake I'm going to be making again any time soon."

This was a nightmare. What, nine words to bring him to this? Bring them both to this devastating end.

The TARDIS shuddered to a halt before an eerie stillness hung in the air. The Doctor looked at her with blazing eyes.

"Here we are," he sniped, his voice sharp. "Back home. Nice and safe with mummy and the life you used to lead. Before I met you. Now out."

Rose blinked at him, tears pricking at her like thousands of tiny needles. She wouldn't cry in front of him. She couldn't believe it. He couldn't be serious. That look he was giving her, a look she had seen many a time to the aliens around them... it wasn't meant for her. That angry, hard, disgusted look that had cut his face when he'd seen the Dalek in Van Statten's. And now she was on the receiving end of it, she felt lower than scum.

The Doctor crossed his arms and looked to her pointedly.

"Well, what you waitin' for?" he barked. "Door's waiting for you, and I ain't goin' anywhere 'til you're off this ship."

"But... you can't..." she was stumbling now, looking for excuses, finding something to hold on to. He was just angry, over-reacting. He wasn't serious. The threatening tears screamed at her and dissolved down her cheeks, searing everything in their path as they did so. She felt so helpless and lost, trapped with the look of pure venom that was shooting from his eyes. Her face showed her pain and she didn't care.

"Can too," the Doctor countered. "I know this isn't the way either of us pictured it, but when it's time, it's time, Rose. It's been great knowing you and I've had one hell of a laugh. But some things are just not meant to last, and this is one of them. I'm just... pre-empting the inevitable. You already know this is where you want to be."

"Right. That's it." Rose looked around the TARDIS for something – anything – that would keep her here. She wished she had a pair of handcuffs, or a rope, to tie herself to the ship. He wasn't just going off and dumping her. He'd shown her too much, and she'd be damned if she would just let it go. Not seeing anything of use, she turned and stalked back to the corridors of the TARDIS. There had to be something...

"Where're you goin'!" the Doctor cried, starting off after with an angry pace. "I told you to go!"

Rose tried a door. Locked. With aggravation, she jogged on. Next door, locked. Locked, locked, locked. It was like the TARDIS was keeping her in the corridors, with the Doctor not far behind. Like she wanted them to fight without anything in the way. Rose ran desperately, throwing herself at the doors, not even sure why or what she was looking for. She just knew she had to bury herself as deep in the ship as was possible, keep herself safe.

And then an iron-like hand closed around her wrist and she was pulled to a stop. She hadn't even heard him behind her. But now she wheeled around to face him, mascara staining her tears and determination set across her face. He was practically shaking with anger, his entire demeanour shouting it at her like the war call of an army.

"You're hurting me!" she snapped, wrenching her arm from his grip. For a second – a second – the anger flickered and fell away. But then it was back, as severe as ever, and he made a swipe at her again.

"Good!" he spat, his reactions no longer a part of his concious mind. He wasn't even really angry at her. Angry at life, at the universe, at fate, at himself. Anything but her, really. She hadn't done anything wrong. But she was there and she was fighting against him and it was the only thing he had. The idea of getting her off the ship had been spontaneous and bitter, not something he'd meant. But now it was stuck in his mind it was all he could think about, no reason, no resolution. Get – her – out. Three words whizzing around his head like a deflating balloon.

The slap had come out of nowhere. It was the last thing he expected. His cheek stung with the residue of raw bitterness and he stood for a moment, panting, completely unaware of what was going on. He dropped her wrist and gaped, not at her, but past her, unbelieving of his own actions and reactions. She was sobbing, too – sniffing with exhausted fear and anger. His eyes flicked to her. Had he done that?

Thought returned. He could feel again, properly this time, and he realised what he had done to her. Oh, God. His own little sweet Rose, terrified of him, hurt by his own hands. He wanted to reach out to her, take her in his arms and calm her, shield her from the pain. But he was the problem. How could he fix that?

As their gaze locked he took in her in entirely. The furious fear she was wearing made his hearts crack under the strain of knowing it was his fault. Something unfamiliar stung at his eyes, something raw and painful. It had been a long time since tears had ever come to him.

"I'm so sorry," he choked, his voice broken with the strain of fighting back. She looked away from him, and he broke. "Oh, Rose. My Rose. I didn't mean – I was just – "

Rose looked back to him with a hurt frown. She licked her lips and held her breath before looking to the ceiling and fighting back her tears. She reached to wipe her eyes, though the action was fairly redundant. Her anger ebbed away and she was left with the aftertaste of sorrow – hurt by what the Doctor had done, but understanding and pleased he seemed to be thinking clearly.

She looked him in the eye and tried not to cry.

"I know," she whispered back with sincerity. "I'm sorry."

The gaze was held for only a few seconds before the Doctor started forwards and cupped her cheek, his touch gentle, his movements calm. He searched her face silently, his eyes roaming hers, before pulling her towards her and sweeping her into a hug, body to body, mind to mind and soul to soul.

"Don't be sorry," he pleaded, closing his eyes. "Don't be scared. Don't be hurt. I was angry," he reasoned desperately into her hair, holding her so tight in his arms he never wanted to let go. She practically felt the air squeeze from her – but she hugged back, her hands reaching for his shoulders. "Angry and stupid and... I wouldn't have left you. At most, I would have calmed down and come back. I'll never leave you."

It was a lie. He would have left her and calmed down and wondered about going back. Always wanting to but never quite managing it – until she faded into existence in the back of his mind. Thank God she'd had the sense to stop him. Thank Rose.

He squeezed her tight again before pulling back and slipping his hands to her cheeks. She was smiling at him. Albeit, it was weak – but it was a smile. He didn't deserve her. Not in a billion years. He tenderly brushed his thumb over the stain of tears that had stormed her face, his cool fingers calming the rawness of her skin. She closed her eyes against him, breathing in slowly to calm herself.

After a moment or two, the Doctor swallowed the emotion that had built up in his throat. His pride included. He slowly leant forwards and planted a soft kiss to Rose's forehead, his apology spilling out with the tenderness of his lips. After a moment or two, he pulled back again. Rose's eyes were shining up at him – but not with tears.

"Doctor, I – "

"No, Rose," he interrupted, shaking his head. "You have to know. I'm sorry. Sorry for all of this, for everything. It was just stupid and assuming and I was being an idiot – you're not ready for this."

"You sure you don't mean you're not ready?" she countered, blinking up to him. "'Cause I'll tell you something, Doctor – I am. An' you know it."

For once he was lost for words.

He looked down, watching her, his hands on her cheeks. She was reading him like an open book, he realised. No one had done that before. Beautiful, intelligent, funny Rose. She had changed before his very eyes, like a butterfly from a chrysalis, and now she was something he could call his own. All his. His Rose.

His Rose sighed. She gave a small smile then reached a hand to one of his on her cheek.

"We've been through too much, Doctor," she reasoned wisely. "Can't just throw it all away now. Whatever happens in here, or out there, the only thing we've got is each other and that's all that matters. Right?"

He grinned stupidly, impressed. Oh, she was so much better. Better than anything, everything, he had come across before. He'd seen supernovas and tasted black holes. He'd been the end of planets and the beginnings of stars. He'd fought the bad guys and proved that even the tiniest effort can make the biggest difference. But none of it compared to her. It didn't even come close.

"Right," he laughed back, happiness spreading through him like the morning rays of a rising sun. "And, Rose – everything else, we can just forget. I'm sorry. You know I am. What I said: it was only to hurt you."

"Yeah, but I saw through you. Gonna take more than that to get rid of me!"

His smile was infectious and had passed to her. He slowly took his hands from her cheeks and found her hands, linking their fingers. The fact that he found no resistance just added to his pride in her.

"What, more than launching on you then practically kicking you out of the TARDIS?"

"Yup," Rose beamed as he began to lead her back to the console room. "A lot more. I'm here for life, Doctor, whether you like it or not."

"I love it," he answered quickly. Rose blinked and smiled to herself – it was a start.

They stopped in the middle of the corridor. Apparently not the console room, then. The Doctor reached out and pushed open the door. Her bedroom door.

"You're a good girl, Rose Tyler," he said happily, turning to her with adoration in his deep eyes. He tightened his hands around hers then leant forwards, speaking quietly in her ear. "Don't ever change. Not for me, not for this life, the TARDIS, your mum. Anyone. You're perfect – just the way you are. And I..."

Tell her, tell her, tell her...

"You what, Doctor?"

Tell her.

He hesitated, keeping her eye contact.

"I – "

Tell her!

Rose, who had seen that expression on his face before and felt – for once – that this was up to her, stepped up on to her toes and planted a kiss tenderly on the Doctor's cheek. She then stepped back, smiled shyly, released his hands and stepped into her bedroom.

"Do me a favour?" she asked softly hovering in the doorway. He couldn't answer. All he could do was look at her softly, following her with his eyes. His cheek burned where her soft caress ad touched him. He should have told her.

With a last smile she disappeared inside her room – but not before she grabbed the Doctor's hand and led him inside behind her. He swallowed as they walked over to her dresser, his hand so large around hers it was almost ridiculous. She stopped and reached out, picking up the perfume bottle he had been examining earlier. Slowly, her gentle eyes on his, she uncapped the bottle and squirted one spray to her wrist. After replacing the bottle she extended her arm out to her side. The Doctor glanced from her to her wrist, then smiled. A small nod of her head while she watched him was all the invitation he needed.

Stepping forwards, haw cupped a hand around her wrist and brought it to his nose. He breathed in, mouth ever so slightly open, smelling the perfume mingle with her own scent. As he closed his eyes, drawing in a slow, long breath, he realised what it would feel like to drown in her. Inhaling deeply, the enticing toxins danced around his head, spreading to all the corners of his mind. Without quite meaning to, he shifted her wrist to his lips and kissed her gently, seductively, his tongue grazing just lightly enough to take in the full flavour of the perfume. Of her.

The Doctor heard her gasp slightly at his touch and smiled, withdrawing his kiss. He brought his head up again to gaze at her, leading her hand to his cheek. He grinned at her, his eyes lighting up with mischievous wonder.

"Like it, then?" Rose asked quietly, her voice slightly cracked. He chuckled quietly, reaching for her other hand.

"Not as much as you," he replied, his eyes shining.

"Oh." She was smiling, obviously pleased with his answer. He ducked forward, making her hand slip from his cheek to his shoulder. He reached to tuck at the hair on her face, smiling gently as he did so, his fingers light against her skin.

"But that's all right, though," he added softly, drawing so close to her he could see the effects of his breath tickling her face. With a grin he hovered above her, just a moment, waiting to sink down and steal her lips away with his. "'Cause I love you."

And then there was no more talking as he pulled her to him and locked their embrace with a searing kiss, sending sparks of shivers coursing through her. His hand was gentle as he pulled her to him, deepening the kiss with a tilt of his head.

The TARDIS threw tender lights over the couple who were lost in each other, finally giving in to the temptations that had been wreaking havoc on their emotions. Because that was all they were, really. Two lost souls who had finally thrown caution to the winds and found each other.

In a strange blue box, hidden away in the back alley of a London street, the Doctor and his Rose began on a journey that would lead them far beyond any star they had touched before.

He didn't need the universe. He had her.

End

I was wondering if I should do a sequal to this... (un-songfic, that is), but I'm not sure. Let me know if you think so: I probably need something to take my mind of that other story I'm writing xD Hope you enjoyed, I know I did :)