"Let's give him one more surprise"
The Doctor hits a button and the engines rev up. They smile as they watch Charles Dickens's face on the monitor, and the TARDIS swings back into the vortex.
"So where to next?" Rose asks, stifling a yawn unsuccessfully.
"Feeling a bit tired, are we Miss Tyler?"
"Nah, nah, go on. No time to sleep when we've got the universe to see"
He sighs, amused. "You're no good to me when you're tired. Come on, I'll show you to your room"
"Ah. Here we go"
"It's a bit sparse, isn't it?"
"Just wait till the TARDIS works it's magic. Close your eyes and imagine what you'd like it to look like"
Rose looks at him sceptically.
"Come on, do as I say. Close your eyes"
"Alright…"
"You got a picture in your head?"
"Yeah…"
"OK, now open them"
She obliges and gasps. "I-it just changed!"
"All the TARDIS's doing. Though I must say, your interior design skills leave much for improving. It's a bit boring, isn't it?"
The room she created is quite small, with hardwood floors and soft pink walls. In the middle of the room is a plush king sized bed with a cream beaded quilt and fluffy pillows. There's a desk in the corner and another door leading to what Rose assumes must be the en-suite bathroom.
"So, this is my room then?" Rose asks unsurely, "It's mine? To stay?"
The Doctor smiles. The disbelief on her face is the same show as when he went back and gave her that bike. She seems to have a bit of a complex. He wonders what why.
"It's yours if you want it. I'll take you back to your mother's tomorrow to get some of your stuff, OK?"
He makes to exit but she stops him. "Um, Doctor? I've nothing to sleep in"
What a shame he's tempted to say, but controls himself. "Oh, right. I'm sure there'll be something in the wardrobe room. Goodnight Rose!"
Rose watches the Doctor leave, wondering if he's going off to bed too. I mean, for all she knows, he doesn't sleep. He is an alien, after all.
She takes her phone out of her back pocket and onto the desk. The only thing she could find resembling pyjamas in the wardrobe room was this sort of old fashioned silk gown. She closes the door and begins to strip, taking the gown into the bathroom.
Just a quick shower. Rose turns on the tap, half expecting to have to struggle with some kind of futuristic gizmo, but it's just a simple tap, same as any she's ever used before. The temperature is perfect though.
She watches the water snake down her body and thinks about the Doctor's words in that basement in Cardiff. I'm so glad I met you…
And she thinks about what might have happened. What if Dicken's hadn't barged in and saved their lives? Would she have kissed the Doctor? Would he have kissed her?
Rose sighs and reaches for a towel, drying herself.
The nightgown is long, trailing along the floor and with a sweeping neckline that's not wholly decent. It's ladylike, she decides, hoping into bed not bothering to dry her hair. She falls asleep, thinking of him.
He's thinking of her too, though he's not sleeping. He's showered and changed into a pair of dark sweatpants, shirtless. He makes his way to the library.
Hours later, he decides to check on Rose. He knocks softly on her door but she doesn't answer, so he opens it and steps in.
The Doctor feels a twinge entirely inappropriate place. Rose's hair, now dry, is fanned out above her, and the sheets have slipped down to her waist, revealing her peach silk nightgown.
She moans in her sleep and shifts slightly, scaring him into action. He scrambles towards the control room, determining to keep his mind off things by doing some repair work.
He's under the console when he hears her clear her throat. Rose has changed back into her ordinary clothes; she's clutching two cups.
"Thought you might like some tea. Two sugars, just the way you like it," she says with a wink.
It's a simple gesture, but it touches the Doctor. He's terrified how quickly this girl is warming her way into his heart.
"See you found the kitchen then," he opts for, "Haven't had breakfast yet, have you?"
"Nah"
"Good! I'm thinking we might make one stop before I take you home"
"What's that?"
"I was thinking, Paris for breakfast?" He starts setting the coordinates.
"Serious?"
"Dead serious!" then, holding out his arm, "Miss Tyler, shall we?"
She grins and takes it.
They step out onto the streets of urban Paris. "So I know where this is… but when is it?"
"Early 21st century. And if I've got it right… ah here we are. You'll love this place, best croissants in the world."
The building was cosy and ornate. They sat outside and Rose let the Doctor order for her.
"Ever been to France before, Rose?"
"Nope. To be honest, haven't really left London that much. Never had the money"
"Would you have? I mean, if you hadn't met me, would you want to?"
"Dunno. Me and my mate Shireen were talking about saving some money and doing a leg of Europe, but Jimmy left me so far in debt…"
"Who was Jimmy?"
"Bad news!" she laughs.
"Ex-boyfriend?"
"Yeah. Jimmy Stone, met him when I was ooh… seventeen? Dropped out of school for him"
"So what happened?"
Rose scoffs. "Why are you so interested then?"
"Just wondering"
"Well, leave it" she snaps, feeling herself clam up.
The Doctor frowns and files it away, making a note to ask her more some other time. The food arrives and he attempts to change the topic.
When they arrive back at the TARDIS, the unease has cleared and Rose is back to herself.
"Right, so! Back to your Mum's – by the way, what are you going to tell her?"
"What'd ya mean?"
"Where are you gonna say you've been? Where will you say you're going?"
"I hadn't thought of it," she says seriously, "Oh god- what am I gonna tell her? Hey mum, off time travelling with an alien in a little blue box?"
"Hey, don't knock it." The Doctor starts the rotor.
"Shall I say I'm going on a holiday? Travelling around the world? But then she'd want to know where I got the money… agh!"
"Well, better think of something quickly. Look, we've arrived"
They step out of the TARDIS to the Powell Estate.
"How long have I been gone?"
"About 12 hours"
"Oooh! Right, I won't be long, I'm just gonna see my mum. I'll just tell her I've spent the night at Shareen's., for now. See you later!"
Rose walks off, then pauses. He could just jump in the TARDIS, leave her there. She'd have no way of contacting him; she'd never see him again. But he wouldn't, would he?
"Oh- don't you disappear"
Wouldn't dream of it, he thinks.