A-Levels and Aliens

Disclaimer: Nothing you might recognise belongs to me

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The trio spent the rest of that Wednesday chatting, eating and generally keeping Rose's spirits up. Jack had alerted Jackie who had come panting around and had immediately run to her daughter, trying to smother her in a hug, only to find Rose shying away; desperately grabbing onto the Doctor's hand. Jackie had stopped, her face confused and hurt until the Doctor and Jack had hastily explained the situation to her; making pains to point out that Rose wouldn't touch Jack either and it would take her time to regain her confidence. Rose had sat there, on the Captain's Chair in the control room, hating to see her mother looking so hurt but still unable to reach out and hug her. She loathed the feeling but knew she'd get through it with her best friend's help.

On the Thursday morning, Matt came round for a visit during one of his free periods at college. Rose had hobbled to the control room with the Doctor's help and was sitting watching him tinkering. Her legs were slowly but surely growing stronger and she was beginning to be able to walk short distances unaided. She refused to stay in bed during the day as it completely bored her out of her mind.

"Hey Rose," Matt said, coming and sitting down next to her, "How are you?"

"Fine, thanks," she said, happily, "How's college?"

"Same as always. We're missing you in History. When d'ya think you'll be back?"

"Hopefully next Monday. I'm getting really bored,"

"I'm making an effort not to be insulted," remarked the Doctor, from his pit.

Rose reached out with her foot and gently kicked him. "You know what I mean."

The Doctor gripped her ankle and began to tickle the sole. "Yeah, I do,"

"Doctor!" Rose wailed, trying to stop giggling, "Stop it. Please!"

He grinned but stopped, instead massaging the ankle gently.

"I'm gonna be so far behind," Rose sighed, turning back to Matt,

"We've not really done anything too much this week," he said, "The teachers are aware of your situation anyway,"

"What about it?" Rose asked, biting her lip worriedly,

"I told them you got mugged and beaten up a bit," the Doctor reassured her, climbing out and taking her hands, "It's not too far from the truth,"

"OK," Rose said, standing up and resting her head on his chest. He immediately dropped her hands and wrapped his arms around her in a comforting hug. "Matt, how are Kirsty and Lauren?" she mumbled, her voice muffled,

"They're waiting at the entrance to the Powell Estate," he told her, "They want to see you but…"

Rose sighed again before lifting up her head to look hopefully at the Doctor.

"Can I go out to see them?"

He hesitated and seemed to be wavering over his answer.

"Alright then," he conceded, "But don't be too long."

Rose nodded and he helped her walk slowly out the TARDIS and across the blowy forecourt followed by Matt, towards two waiting figures.

"Rose!" they both cried out happily, when she reached them,

"Hi," she smiled, leaning back against the Doctor, pointedly,

"Hi girls," he greeted.

The atmosphere changed suddenly as they looked at him. This was the first time they'd been face to face with him since they discovered the truth. "Hello," they muttered back,

"I'll come back for you in fifteen minutes," the Doctor told Rose lowly before giving her a squeeze and walking away. Rose perched on a stone barrier and faced her female friends.

"What's your problem?" she questioned, not unkindly,

"He's an alien, Rose," Kirsty said,

"And..?"

"He's not safe," Lauren insisted, "Not…normal."

Rose sighed. "How do you know that?"

There was silence for a few moments until she spoke again.

"There! You see, you don't know that! And I can tell you truthfully that he's completely safe. I love him and I trust him more than anyone else in the entire universe! Ad it hurts me to see you two being scared of him!"

"We're not…" Kirsty interrupted,

"Then what are you?" Rose cried, "Tell me!"

"I don't know," Lauren said, eventually, "I'm sorry, Rose,"

"Look, think back to when you first met him up 'til you found out the truth the other day. What were your impressions?"

Her friends thought.

"I thought he was amazing," Kirsty confessed, "I was almost ready to pinch him off you,"

"Yeah, I thought he was kind of a real version of a knight in shining armour!" Lauren giggled.

Rose smiled before sighing again. "So what's changed? I know he's an alien but he's a good alien, he's my alien. You can't say you didn't think there wasn't something odd about him."

Kirsty shook her head. "We were suspecting something especially after the incident last November and he got here so fast despite the fact he was travelling and not meant to be back yet and he knew so much about those aliens."

Lauren nodded in agreement. "We didn't like to ask in case it was all a big secret or something, you know?"

"The Doctor's still the same person," Matt piped up, from where he'd been silently standing, listening to the girl's conversation, "I've learnt that,"

"Yeah," Rose said, sending a thankful smile at her friend, "I'm not expecting you to embrace him with open arms, just give him a chance. And… and I hope this doesn't stop you wanting to still be my friend,"

"Oh God, Rose, no!" Lauren cried, springing towards her, "Of course we still want to be your friends! Nothing could stop us wanting that!"

Rose smiled happily before shrinking back as Lauren tried to hug her.

"Sorry, I'm just having a few touching problems at the moment," she apologised at her friend's hurt look,

"'Cause of what happened?" Kirsty asked, quietly,

"Yeah," Rose nodded, "The Doctor's helping me through it though. Just bear with me. The Doctor's the only one I'll let touch me at the moment."

Her friend's nodded sympathetically before Matt glanced at his watch and swore.

"We're gonna be late for next period!"

"We better get going then," Kirsty said, "See you soon Rose, yeah?"

"Hopefully I'll be in on Monday," she replied, "See ya!"

Her friends waved cheerfully and set off at a run, trying to make the fifteen minute walk in five minutes. Rose doubted they'd make it. She looked around, mentally measuring the distance between her and the TARDIS. It wasn't too far and she didn't particularly want to wait another five minutes for the Doctor to come and help her back inside. She could make it. She stood up unsteadily and began to slowly walk across the grey tarmac. Her legs trembled at every step but she persevered, determined to do this. The welcoming blue door of the TARDIS grew closer and closer until at last her cold hand closed over the wooden handle and she pulled open the door. The Doctor stood directly in front of her, hunched over the console, his back to her not having heard the door open. Rose tiptoed across the metal grating and quickly wrapped her arms around his waist, making him jump in shock.

"Hello," she murmured into his warm back, inhaling his familiar scent,

"Rose!" he said, turning in her embrace to face her, "How'd you get here?"

"Walked," she said proudly, moving her arms to loop around his neck,

"Well done!" the Doctor grinned, planting his hands firmly on her hips, "Everything alright?"

"Yeah, they still want to be my friends and I think they're gonna give you a chance," Rose said, moving closer to him,

"That's great,"

"Yup," Rose agreed, before reaching up and kissing him softly on the lips for the first time since her run-in with the Ziola.

The Doctor moaned in appreciation and gently deepened the kiss, making sure that Rose could pull away if she needed to, but she didn't. Eventually, the pulled away together and looked at one another, identical smiles on both their faces,

"I missed that," said the Doctor, kissing the tip of her nose gently.

Rose giggled. "Me too."

"What do you want to do now?" asked the Doctor, resting his hands on the bare skin that appeared between her trousers and top on her back,

"I want to… curl up with you and watch a good movie and eat lots of maltesers," Rose replied, playing with his nape hair.

The Doctor grinned. "Your wish is my command. You think of which film you want to watch and I'll go to the newsagents for some chocolates. Somebody ate all of our remaining stock."

Rose stuck out her tongue, making him laugh, before kissing him again. He released her, grabbed her purse and took off out of the door. Rose rolled her eyes. He always used her money!

Five minutes later, the Doctor returned to find her waiting patiently on the Captain's chair with a movie on pause at the beginning. He collapsed next to her, chucking the large bag of sweets onto her lap.

"What are we watching?" he asked, putting his arm around her as she settled comfortably, head resting against his shoulder, arm looped around his back.

"Miss Congeniality," she answered, opening the maltesers and feeding him one, "Thought I'd check if I got it right,"

"Bet you did," the Doctor said, sucking the chocolate off the sweet.

Rose took his right hand in her left and pressed play.

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Jack joined them about an hour later and sat next to them to enjoy the movie. He swiped a handful of maltesers from the bag that rested on Rose's lap and chuckled at her outraged cry.

A further half hour slipped by before the Doctor gently disentangled himself from Rose and stood up.

"I'm getting a drink," he said, "Anyone else want one?"

"Me please," replied both his companions.

He nodded and jogged to the kitchen, leaving Jack and Rose alone together.

"Where'd you go earlier?" Rose asked,

"Check up on the Ziola," Jack replied, "Unfortunately they were still alive."

Rose nodded but didn't laugh. She'd forgotten that the Ziola were still locked up in that house, courtesy of the Doctor.

"Sorry Rose," Jack said, after seeing her face,

"It's OK," she murmured, forcing a smile.

Her friend watched her for a moment. "Can I try something?" he requested, "You can stop me anytime you feel uncomfortable."

Rose nodded her consent and watched as he slowly placed his hand next to where hers rested on the seat. He inched it over until the sides of their hands were touching. Rose tensed but stayed calm, knowing that she wanted this and Jack wouldn't hurt her.

Jack next interlinked their little fingers and held it that way for a few moments until Rose's breathing had evened out.

"Don't forget to stop me if you need to," he reminded her,

"I'm OK," she breathed, a brave smile appearing on her lips.

Jack smiled at her before tugging their hands up to their eye line and carefully pressing their palms together.

"You still OK?"

Rose nodded, surprised to find that she actually was. She felt Jack curl his fingers through hers until they were grasping hands lightly. Rose beamed. She'd done it. Her grin was proudly reflected on Jack's face and on the Doctors'- who had come in unnoticed.

"Well done, Rose," he said, setting down the tray he carried and sitting next to her. He snaked his arms around her waist and pulled her onto his lap, taking care not to touch her ribs. She still held Jack's hand, now a little more firmly. The Doctor began to pepper light kisses on her neck and she shivered in delight.

"You're so strong, Rose," he murmured, his lips tickling her skin, "You're amazing…"

She turned to face him, a true smile being replaced by a smirk on her lips as she began to sing some familiar lines from the movie that they were half watching.

"You think I'm gorgeous, you want to kiss me, you want to hug me…"

The Doctor raised his eyebrows, a twinkle in his eye. Jack squeezed her hand, letting her know he was finding it to be funny.

"…you want to love me, you want to hug me, you want to smooch me, you want to…"

Rose was cut off by the Doctor's lips descending on hers. She moaned and clutched at his shirt with his spare hand.

This was bliss.

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