AN: Sorry I missed a few days. I got blocked, then life encroached on my writing time.
After James set Rose back down, an employee hurried over to them, mobile in hand. "Excuse me, are you soulmates? And you just found each other here?"
They nodded.
"Then… would you mind if I took your picture and posted it to our Facebook page and Twitter account?"
James and Rose exchanged a glance. Her cheeks were pink, but he could see her agreement in her eyes. "Yeah, go ahead," he told the young woman.
He pulled Rose close, and when she snuggled against his side and wrapped her own arm around his waist, his heart beat double-time. He knew he probably had a goofy grin on his face, but frankly, as long as Rose stayed by his side forever, he didn't care.
Once the photo was taken and they'd accepted the well-wishes of the other customers, James grabbed Rose's hand. "Want to get out of here?" he murmured.
She slung her bag over her shoulder, then squeezed his hand. "Yeah."
Out in the street, they broke into giggles. Rose hip-checked him, that flirty smile on her face again. "All the times I imagined us meeting, I never thought it would be your lack of punctuality that gave you away."
"If this is my reward for being chronically late, I might never be on time again," James teased. "All the times I imagined us meeting, I never thought you'd knock your coffee over at the sight of me." He ran his hand through his hair. "Though I am devastatingly handsome of course, so I suppose I can't blame you."
Rose rolled her eyes at him, but James caught her gaze lingering on his hair, once he'd spiked it up. Her golden brown eyes entranced him, and he found himself blurting out, "Guess that makes us a stunningly gorgeous couple."
To his surprise, instead of laughing or accepting his compliment, Rose bit her lip and looked at the ground. "Rose?" She looked up at him through her eyelashes, and the insecurity in her eyes tugged at his heart. "Hey." He put a finger under her chin and encouraged her to look up at him. "You are beautiful, love."
Finally, her eyes lit up. James brought her hand to his lips and brushed a kiss over her knuckles. Then he laced his fingers through his own and led her towards Regent's Park, which was just around the corner.
The high of their first meeting lasted all afternoon. They strolled through the park hand-in-hand and took a ride on the canal down to Camden Market. The sun shone down on them as they laughed through shared memories, finally able to fill in the blanks that couldn't quite be told in short messages written on forearms.
James had completely lost track of time when he felt his stomach growl. "Blimey, is it dinner time already?" He pulled out his mobile and his eyes widened when he realised it was almost eight o'clock.
He glanced around, then grinned when he spotted the perfect place. "Chips, Rose Tyler?" he suggested, pointing to the chippy behind her. He laughed when she nodded, then practically dragged him into the cafe.
"Does it feel a bit odd," she asked once they'd gotten their food and sat down, "knowing someone so well when we just met?"
James watched with horrified astonishment as she liberally doused her entire meal in vinegar. "I think it's a good thing the fish is already dead," he said, "because otherwise, it would be drowning."
Rose shot him a look. "You can't drown a fish, you plum—they live in the water."
"Ah. Quite right."
He took the bottle from her and sprinkled a judicious amount of vinegar, just over his chips. Rose stuck her tongue out at him, and for about the hundredth time that day, James wondered how long he had to wait before it would be appropriate to kiss her for the first time.
"Anyway, to answer your question, we didn't really just meet, did we? I mean, face to face, sure. But we met 15 years ago when you drew a cat on my arm."
Rose groaned. "You are so sentimental about that cat. I can actually draw better things now, you know."
James took her hand and squeezed. "Of course I have a sentimental attachment to it. That scribble made me yours."
He heard her breath stutter in her lungs, and she dropped the chip she was holding and looked up at him.
"James," she breathed.
His heart raced. "Rose… You've told me, so many times. I wanted to wait until I could see your face, but I thought you knew… Rose Tyler, this is my first chance to say it, and I'll never let another chance go by. I love you."
Tears clung to her eyelashes, and he wiped them away with his thumbs. Her lips parted when he touched her face, and he leaned down slowly. "May I?" he whispered.
"Always," she replied, then tilted her face back and pressed her lips to his.
