Chapter seven.

There was a muffled pounding sound. Rose grumbled for it to go away, five more minutes, anything to not have to get up and face being in that cold cell again.

Wait…cold?

Why was she so warm, and…comfortable?

Rose's eyes shot open as the events of the previous day flew into her mind. She jumped up with a smile.

She was going to see the Doctor again today.

She was still fully dressed, and filthy. Her oily and dirt clogged hair stuck out unattractively in odd angles, but she didn't care.

At least not yet. Not when her beloved Doctor was at the door calling for-.

Hang on, that wasn't the Doctor's voice. It was a stranger.

A stranger speaking in Gallifreyan.

The Doctor wouldn't do that to her, he would keep speaking in English, just as he did even after he implanted the language into their brains.

At least whatever the Doctor did to put the language into their heads was still working. It would be nice to learn everything so easily.

But the question was still there, and it was one that made her heart speed up, and her tongue licked her dry teeth in anticipation as she slowly crept towards the door.

Lock the doors for everyone but me.

She pressed her ear to the door, wishing it had a peephole.

Whoever was behind it was mumbling in annoyance, and rocking back and forth on the soles of his or her feet, judging by the shadows through the crack between door and floor.

The person knocked again and a male voice called out, "Miss Tyler if you please, would you come and take this?"

She had no idea what "this" was. It could be anything. Maybe this man was the guard she had taken this room from? She glanced guiltily at the now filthy bedspread, freshly strewed all over the floor in her haste to get to the door. She hoped that it wouldn't be a problem.

But the Doctor said he'd take care of everything, right?

She shook her head in answer to the man's question, forgetting that he couldn't see her.

"No," she said in a small voice.

"Excuse me?"

She realized that she had spoken in English. She was used to her words being translated automatically by the TARDIS, and it would take some getting used to, trying to speak a second language. English was the only one she ever really knew until now, the only one she ever stored in her brain.

She cleared her throat and went over how to say what she wanted in Gallifreyan in her mind before she said it.

"I said no," she repeated, stronger this time. "I was told not to open this door for anyone but the Doctor."

When the Doctor spoke Gallifreyan, he had sounded almost like he was singing. The smooth tones flowed melodically from his gentle lips. However, when Rose spoke it, she sounded harsh, ruff, and forced to her own ears. Nothing like what the Doctor, or even this man before her, sounded like.

Maybe that was part of the accent?

Yet another thing she never had to care about before.

She intentionally left out the part about the Doctor possibly sending someone, thinking the man could just claim to be that very someone based solely on her words.

She heard a sigh, and something that sounded like, not again. Before she heard heels clicking as if he was standing at attention. Then he said in a monotone, that sounded tired and rehearsed, but mostly annoyed, "Trust me and go to bed."

Rose laughed and opened the door.

Trust the Doctor to take his own antics so seriously. She was just glad this man had understood her accent.

The man was wearing the same red robes that everyone else had. It seemed to be the standard uniform, but he had golden sashes that crossed each of his shoulders.

He was holding out a bundle of something bright red and pink to her.

She took it attentively.

The moment the parcel was removed from her hands, the guard bowed lightly and left without a word.

She closed the door again, making sure to lock it. Then she unfolded the garment across her bedspread.

It was a robe. A long, silky, bright pink, and red robe. An odd choice of color combinations, but somehow fitting for this place. It was much slimmer than the ones all the men seemed to wear.

She smiled to herself. Now at least she had something clean to change into.

The room had three doors to it. One was the entrance, the second, a spacious closet mostly filled with red robes (did these people ever wear anything else), and lastly, a bathroom, complete with shower and towels. Rose had never been so happy to see a bathroom before in all her life, and she was even happier to find that the bathroom looked mostly like the ones she was used to on Earth.

She chose to never think about her less than pleasant experiences of how she had to do her business in the jail and decided to enjoy what was going to be the best and longest shower of her life.

she stripped off her clothes. They were so tattered that she had to peel them back, layer by layer. She avoided the mirror but couldn't avoid the state of filth her limbs and chest were in. The water was the perfect temperature on the first try. Rose stepped in and moaned in pleasure as the water soothed her tired and sore muscles. She stayed like that for a while, praying the hot water wouldn't run out. Then again, she mussed, she was essentially living in the king's home. She doubted the hot water could ever run out based on the previous glamour she'd witnessed.

She couldn't escape following that thought until it's doom. She stood frozen, transfixed while her brain scrambled to remember everything the Doctor had told her. As hard as she tried, she could only remember bits and pieces of his long explanation. She needed to hear it again. Maybe even more than that. She recovered enough to mindlessly go through the motions of taking a shower. Her mind never quitted.

Rose was admiring her reflection in the bathroom mirror. She finally had the courage to use it, only once she became presentable.

She had just finished showering, and brushing her hair with a brush she found in the bathroom mirror. She hoped whoever owned the brush wouldn't mind. She was dying to brush her teeth and put on some makeup, but she was more than grateful to finally feel mostly clean and scrubbed free of all the grim and soot her body seemed to have magnetized in the jail.

She had just put on the strangely colored robe, and she was checking herself out.

The robe fit her very snugly, but not uncomfortably so. It clung nicely to her curves and the bright colors brought out the blond shade of her hair. She could tell that she lost weight while in prison, she was sure that this wouldn't have fit her this well beforehand.

She put on her flats that she was wearing since she arrived on this planet, but threw her socks away. They were disgusting, and the smell emanating from it was even worse. In addition to her socks, she also chucked the rest of her clothes out as she had previously promised herself that she would. It felt satisfying to be able to be in control of her own choices again.

She gave herself a pleasing nod of approval at her reflection and left the bathroom. She enjoyed the instant cooling sensation that she got from walking from a streamed room to the bedroom, and even more so when she could fully appreciate being clean.

She made the bed and straighten up the room as best she could, trying to remember exactly how it was before she tampered with it.

She was glad she wouldn't need her old decrepit clothes anymore, not with her new robe. She wasn't sure she was willing to admit it or not, but she was starting to get the appeal of the robes, especially when they weren't all red. They did have a certain comfort and style to them, and she really liked the way it looked on her and the way it felt when on.

Not as much as I like it on him though, she thought slyly.

She knocked on the door her mother was in, and a hushed, "who's there," could be heard from behind the door.

"It's just me Mum, are you about and ready?"

The door swung open revealing Jackie in a similar state to Rose. She was freshly showered and wearing a pale pink robe.

Rose thought it suited her nicely. Her mother really was beautiful. Her robe didn't cling to her as tightly as Rose's did, but she could still make out that she wasn't the only one who lost weight.

She frowned at her mother's stomach, remembering the hunger her mum had to go through.

She shook off the thought as she entered the room, locking the door behind her.

"D'you like it?" Jackie said, doing a little spin to show Rose the full extent of her Robe.

Rose nodded, "yeah, the color really suits you."

Jackie looked pleased, as she joined Rose sitting on the bed.

The room looked hardly touched; the large bed was made with the deep red coverlet perfectly stretched over the mattress. The matching curtains were drawn over large French windows, and the only other furniture in the room was the bedside table and a matching wooden wardrobe. It was identical to Rose's room.

She was really beginning to wonder if they had any individuality. They all seemed to wear the same clothes and sleep in the same rooms. Or maybe it was just these particular people. Maybe it was something to do with being a guard. She thought of the guards outside of Buckingham Palace. How they were all identical, stoic, and she realized, maybe these guards weren't so different after all. Maybe she finally found some common ground here.

"It's so good to just ter take a shower ya know? But I'd still kill for a cuppa." Her mum sighed deeply, undoubtedly fantasying about drinking a hot cup of tea.

Rose laughed gently. "I bet you would."

Her mom smiled at her, meeting her eyes.

They stayed that way for a moment. Jackie bushed a stray hair behind Rose's ear.

I'm so glad you're out of 'hat place." Jackie looked serious, but her voice was gentle. Jackie couldn't know how much Rose agreed. Not only about being out of a psychical place, but the emotional ground she tried to navigate yesterday. It was amazing what a simple night's sleep and a shower could do for your mind.

She sighed, "I guess I owe 'im for that. It seems I'm forever owin' that man."

Before they could say anything more, there was a knock at the door.

Rose and Jackie exchanged a nervous glance. Then Rose slowly got up and crept over to the door.

She didn't have a chance to even ask who it was before the Doctor's voice called out in hushed tones, "Rose, are you in there? It's me."

She grinned broadly and opened the door at once. The Doctor stood proudly, beaming at her.

"Oh, I knew this one would be just right for you."

She smiled flirtatiously. "Do you like it?"

She spun around to show him the full extent of her robe that was beginning to feel more like a dress.

"I really do."

He laughed, and she beamed back.

They were interrupted by Jack appearing behind the Doctor.

"Hey Doc, I'm not so sure about these ro-"

He paused as he looked up at Rose.

"Well hello there, you."

He took her hand and gave it a little kiss. The Doctor rolled his eyes and Rose blushed, but more from the Doctor's reaction than to Jack's affections.

Jackie however, burst out laughing. "'Hat are you suppose' to be then? A Christmas tree?"

To his credit, Jack played along. "Then I'll be the one everyone fights over on Christmas eve."

Turning to the Doctor he wined, "but come on, do I really have to wear this? Green is so not my color."

"That," said the Doctor pointedly, "is exactly why I chose that for you. I figured you'll have a harder time flirting your way around in that."

Jack looked completely affronted, "challenge accepted!" He declared.

The Doctor facepalmed with a groan. "Oh boy…"

"You picked all these out?" Rose asked.

"Yup. What do you think?"

Rose nodded enthusiastically, "there really good. I mean, aside from Jack's. It's strange, I never thought that pink and red would go together so well, but they do. Time Lords really have strange fashion sense though."

"Admit it though, your beginning to like it aren't you?"

Rose gently nudged him in the arm as a reply.

"Right, well, here's the thing." His grin suddenly faded and he peered over them seriously. "Tomorrow you'll have to go. I arranged for a team to take you back to earth in your correct dimension or adopted, your choice, and –"

"You can't!"

He blinked at her.

Rose didn't back down. "I just found you again, and this time, this time Doctor, I'm not leaving you. And I'm not letting you just drop me off somewhere, you can't!"

"Rose," he began slowly, the way one might approach a wild beast. "Rose, you…" he broke off, frowned, took a deep breath, and tried again.

"Rose, I can't leave here." He gestured to his royal garb and crown. "I kind of have responsibilities here, whether I like it or not, and I can't… I can't abandon my people… not again," he added quietly.

Rose took his hand. He didn't say anything; he just watched her holding him. "Doctor, isn't it obvious?"

He looked quizzical. "If you can't leave, then I'll stay."

She was surprised when her mother stayed silent at her declaration. But then again, her mother had been unusually quiet since they reunited with the Doctor.

Maybe she always knew it was leading to this.

The Doctor had his concentrating hard face on. No doubt working out if it was possible for her to stay or not.

At last, he said, "Rose, please, listen."

She shook her head. "No Doctor, I don't wanna hear how it's not good for me, or I'll be safer, happier, whatever. I need to be with you. I… you don't understand how it feels to be away from you… I…" she sniffed loudly, and took a large gulping breath.

He regarded her sympathetically. "Don't. Just don't."

She was surprised to see his eyes glisten.

"I didn't…I just…"

"Every day," he blurted, surprising her. "Every single damn day! I thought of you. Every single thing I did, I always thought, always, if Rose were here, what would she say? If Rose could see me pass this law, what would she think, if she was-"

He stopped, breathing heavily. He seemed too worked up to continue.

After a minute he muttered, "Just… just don't."

Rose hugged him, and he hugged her back tightly. Putting in all the pain and longing he had for her into it.

they stayed that way for a beat. Suspended between entering Jackie's room and the hallway. Jack shuffled his feet behind the Doctor in the hall. Rose reluctantly pulled apart. She needed him to see her face when she spoke next.

"Then let me stay. Please. I'll stay anyway; it doesn't matter, as long as I get to see you. It was never just about the traveling…not anymore."

"You can't, what about your home, your mum, my clone?"

She could tell that he wasn't really trying to get her to change her mind; she knew he just had to be sure.

Some things never changed. She spent their first two years together assuring him of her loyalty and love to him, and he still doubted he was worthy of it.

She would change that.

"He died."

A tear escaped her eye and she looked away. Not wanting to see the face of the other Doctor for a moment; wanting to remember John as he was.

She noticed that her mother went into the bathroom and Jack had left the hall, but she couldn't recall the sound of the door opening.

That was nice of them… to give them privacy.

"I'm sorry," he said gravely. "I didn't… how?"

"How?" She chuckled darkly, "he was too much like you, that's how. A weevil was an inch away from slashing Dad's heart out, and instead… well, like I said."

A few more tears burned through her eyes, falling calmly down while she was lost in a memory she would do anything to change.

"Too much like you…"

She sniffed loudly. "When he died, he told me to find you. Said he didn't want me to be alone. He said he knew how much you… how much you loved me, and he knew how alone you'd be. Said you never really forgot me."

"I'm sorry Rose, I'm so sorry. I knew that was always a possibility, with human life being so fragile, but I thought he'd at least have longer than that. Die of old age, it's not much, but it's a life."

Rose wiped her tears on her new robes.

"But Rose, your mum, Pete, Tony, you'll be leaving them. Would you really be okay with that?"

Rose took a deep breath and tried to shake the image of John with his throat mangled and bloodied from her mind.

"I made my choice a long time ago."

"But I'll be busy all the time, and people here don't know how to react to humans, you'll be an alien, an outcast."

She sniffed and took a shuddering breath. "That never seemed to stop you, did it?"

"Rose," he pressed voice hard. "Please, think about this."

"I have Doctor, oh I have, every day, and every night." She inched closer to him until she was only a mere few inches away.

"Every."

She gently brushed her hand through his hair.

"Single."

She inched her face closer and closer to his until she could feel his breath on her nose.

"Night."

She kissed him, passionately. Reveling in the feel of him. His lips, his taste, his smell.

She had been waiting far too long for something that should have been done years ago.

He kissed her back. Just as fervently. Pouring all his lonely feelings, all his nights spent missing her as much as she was missing him, and all his pain, everything into his lips as he slid out his tongue, requesting entry.

She parted her lips, Deeping the kiss. Her hands flew to his hair, running her fingers frantically through it while he massaged his hands over her back.

They were lost in each other. Completely and utterly absorbed.

They only pulled apart when Rose broke away to breathe.

"Damn," she panted. That was way more intense than the brief kiss they exchanged yesterday.

He was panting too, but grinning madly.

"If I," he panted again, "if I let you stay…" he took another breath. "Blimey… does there get to more of that?"

"And more," she hinted seductively.

"Rose, are you really su –"

"Yes!"

He grinned.

"I guess that's it then huh?"

She gasped, "You mean?"

"Yeah", he said still a little breathless. "If you're really sure, you can stay."

She screeched in delight and jumped back into the comfort and safety of his arms.

He lifted her up and twirled around.

When they broke apart he said, "mind you, your mother might have something else to say about it."

"Not sure that's true."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Think about it, she's never been so quiet."

"Hmm," he put his hand on his chin, "your right. You think she expected this?"

"Yeah, she knows how I feel about you…plus this was kinda the whole reason for trying to jump back to our old dimension in the first place, ya know?"

The Doctor gave her a strange look at her words.

"What?"

"Even if leaving your family is something your honestly willing to do for me…?"

"Yes…?" she pressed on.

He shook his head. "But then, what about the age gap, all the things that have changed about me since we last met, all-"

"If I kiss you again, will you stop asking stupid questions?"

She meant it to be a light statement to simply show him how little she cared about all those trivial matters, but he brushed her off.

"Rose, this is serious. A lot has changed, I changed…"

"Doctor?"

He met her eyes.

"Do you still love me?"

"Rose…"

"Please, please. Just…answer me."

He nodded, and she could see his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed hard. "Yeah, don't be stupid, of course, I do."

She grinned widely, tongue between her teeth. "That's all I ever needed to know. Now unless you don't want me here…?"

He shook his head violently, his crown wobbling dangerously.

"Don't even joke. I just have to be sure Rose; you understand that, don't you?"

She gave him a compassionate smile. "Of course I do Doctor, of course."

They were silent for a moment. Both trying to take in their new reality of being together after so long being apart, they were finally back together. This time, for good.

"You know, maybe once I tell your mum how we can come to visit her any time, she'll be more comfortable with all this."

Rose gaped at him. "What! How I thought you can't travel between dimensions?"

"Rose, think about it, how do you think they arrested you in the first place? They had to first travel to your dimension, and then back here."

"But how is that possible?"

"Oh but that's the best part!" He was practically jumping up and down in excitement.

Her heart rose at just seeing him so happy and like his old self.

"We can visit them any time now. Now that Gallifrey is back, we are able to monitor and control the flow of inter-dimensional travel, and the walls of the universe are reopened to those who have the power to use it.

Rose began to get excited too. "You mean we can visit them anytime? I get to stay here and I don't have to lose anyone?"

"Yeah," he grinned manically. "Mind you, I will not have a lot of off time, but you can always hitch a ride with someone else. And on all my off time I'll be glad to join you."

Rose couldn't believe her ears. Was this all really happening? Half of her was frightened that she would wake up in that dungeon, to find that all this to be nothing more than a blissful dream.

"Then what the hell was all that stuff about me leaving my family forever?"

He turned his head away. "It's still leaving them, Rose, just because it's not forever, doesn't mean it's not leaving."

She shook her head in disbelief. After everything, she had just said.

Later she thought. I'll explain to him later what he said wrong. Because there would be a later. Many many laters.

She felt like her heart would explode with sheer joy.

"So that settles it, I'm staying, and you can't get rid of me this time Mister."

"Oh," the Doctor mockingly scoffed, "like I would ever want to do that?"

He pulled her into his arms once more and quickly transferred the hug into another type of display of his affection for her.