Putting her things in the car, Jon drove further up the river and they sat for a while, he had put some picnic chairs in the back of the car and a rug and they sat by the river, choosing to sit on the rug, it so reminded Rose of their visit to New Earth, not that long ago, when he had just regenerated and now here they were, laid side by side, arm in arm, a repeat of that time and he was new again, not regenerated but changed. They talked for a while, Rose was trying to find out what he was making them for dinner, he said it was already prepared and just waiting to go into the oven while she took her bath, he had bought her some luxurious bath oil and he said she had to spend at least an hour in it, he wanted to smell the fragrance on her and he had got her some French perfume. Not only that, he also said he had a surprise for her.
Rose didn't think she could take any more surprises, the weekend away had been a surprise enough plus last night had come out of the blue, she thought she was safe for another week but it wasn't to be. If she could get him to change his mind somehow, to put it off but she knew he wouldn't, not now when he had gone to these lengths to put her in the mood. Could she feign illness, feel unwell? Maybe not, he would think it was his cooking and take her to the hospital. She was running out of ideas while she had been waiting for him earlier and she was desperately trying to come up with some new ones. Some of his old tricks might have worked but she wasn't clever enough to pull anything like that off and she would have to adapt them to suit her needs anyway.
As they lay on the grass, Jon got up to fetch the cooler box and Rose discovered he had brought afternoon tea of strawberries and cream and some non-alcoholic wine, he was really spoiling her, how could she think of trying to make up excuses? It was inevitable, it was going to happen if he kept this going, picnic by the river, him cooking dinner, buying her bath oil and perfume, he was going above and beyond what was necessary and the fact she had bought a very alluring dress and planned wearing very little beneath it, if she wasn't ready now she never would be, he was leading her on, she was just following and he was trying everything he could think of to make it happen. Wouldn't that justify the end result? Claim he led her on, led her to believe it was what she wanted? She did want it but not like this, not when he was Jon but Jon was also The Doctor so if Jon wanted her, so did he.
She remembered at the beginning of all this, he had said he wouldn't be mad at her and if he showed affection it was what he really felt so maybe this was how he really felt but could never tell her, after all, he was the same man. He must have known he was going to leave it all up to her, she just had to decide if he was worth it. After weeks of agonising over it, it came down to one thing was she willing to give herself over to him?
Jon was looking at her, feeding her a strawberry dipped in cream, she must have looked miles away to him. She smiled when he asked what she was thinking about.
"I was thinking about tonight, did you remember to get the candles?" she asked, picking up a strawberry, dipping it in the cream and putting it in his mouth, then going to kiss him, hoping no-one was around.
He let the strawberry melt as Rose kissed him, she thought it was their most romantic kiss to date as she let go and he smiled.
He said it was the best kiss they had ever shared.
"Rose, that was the best kiss ever, would you like to do that again?"
He reached for another strawberry.
Rose started laughing as he dipped the strawberry in the cream, put it her mouth but just before, gave her a quick kiss before putting it in her mouth then kissed her again. They were both laughing as they continued in turn until they ran out of strawberries. Rose was more than in the mood now. They lay back for a while, Rose was on her side, brushing his hair back that had fallen loose, wanting to let it down. It was nearly five when they finally left, going for a walk to where there was a bend in the river. Jon was taking photos of her, Rose was making faces at him as they both tried to get in the same one.
When they got back to the apartment, Jon wouldn't let her in either the lounge or the kitchen, saying it would spoil the surprise he had set up. Rose couldn't wait to see what he had been preparing. She was allowed into the bedroom and Jon gave her the perfume he had bought her, saying the bath oil was in the bathroom and he was going to run the taps for her while she got undressed. Rose was hanging up the dress she had bought after he left the bedroom when he called to say the bath was running and not to be long. She went into the bathroom in just her underwear to find him testing the water temperature, a large towel nearby, a bathrobe behind the door, scented candles at the foot of the bath and an overload of bubbles. He turned the water off, testing it again and declared it just right.
Then he unfastened her bra and helped her out of her panties, looking at her and letting his eyes do all the talking. Then taking her hand, he helped her into the bath, making sure it wasn't too hot for her as she sank into the bubbles. Rose thought it smelled gorgeous. She closed her eyes for a moment and Jon asked if the bath was okay.
"Right, I'm going to finish preparing dinner and get everything set, I'll check on you in about say, forty minutes? That will give you another ten minutes to get out and dried then you go get dressed for me and wear that perfume I got for you. I'm really looking forward to this, since you told me you loved me and you started wearing that ring. Now I'll leave you to it Sweetheart, I'm going to let you enjoy this, although I would enjoy watching you take your bubble bath even better but I promised to make dinner for you. I want you to be totally relaxed."
Rose did indeed enjoy her bath. It had been ages since she had the time to relax, opting to take showers in the Tardis and since she had been living in this alternate reality (for want of a better phrase) and hoped she would get another chance quite soon. Her mind drifted to thoughts of the upcoming evening, she was really going to do this? Shouldn't she be feeling that she should fight this off? He was so loving and kind as Jon and deep inside, so was The Doctor, he just couldn't express himself and now he wanted to express his love as a Human male, he had said he wanted her to know him as a Human. Well, that's what she was going to do, more then ever now. She meant what she had said, if she was going to loose something that precious, she wanted it to be with him, Jon was The Doctor and she could never want it to be with anyone else other than him.
Rose was just closing her eyes, the aroma from the oil was getting over-whelming, she could feel herself sinking into the bubbles even more when a knock came on the door, bringing her back to reality, well this reality.
"Sweetheart, are you okay in there? Can I come in?"
The door partly opened and Jon popped his head around the corner of it.
"Rose, dinner won't be long. Do you want me to come back and help you out of the bath? I don't want you slipping when you get out."
Rose nodded.
He took a few steps nearer and could see her under the bubbles and Rose did nothing to try to hide herself.
"You're so beautiful, this makes me want to get in there with you right this minute."
He smiled and leaned down to kissed her, then made a circle in the water, revealing some parts of her. Pleased with himself, he made another circle, then he smiled again.
"I'll come back in five minutes to help you out so don't get out on your own, you'll be all slippery. I want you in one piece, sex kitten."
He touched her with his finger, kissed her again and went out, leaving the door open. Rose assumed he was checking on the dinner or maybe getting changed before she did. She wanted to change on her own, didn't want him to see her before she was wearing that dress. This was like a dream, she hoped she wasn't dreaming, not when they had been working up to this. She had never wanted to give herself to Mickey, not the way she did with Jon. This was just perfect and so far this evening he was being the perfect gentleman. He could after all just dive in the bath with her or drag her out and force her but no, he was being Prince Charming and she liked it.
When she had been possessed by Cassandra, her thoughts had been conveyed when Cassandra had leapt into The Doctor, he must have known then what he meant to her. Was this for him though still like being possessed? The thought was still making its presence known in the back of her mind and it couldn't be shaken. She was literally two hours at the most away from her life changing experience, this was a fine time to still have any doubts. If she did have doubts, should she still be contemplating going ahead? She had come this far, to falter at the last hurdle so near from the finishing line of the end of the play. Was she giving in to the temptation to please just herself or pleasing both of them?
Jon seemed to have already made his mind up and was definitely not having any second thoughts about it. Just then, he knocked on the door, even though it was already open and he picked up the towel and held it in front of her, holding his arm out to help her out and wrapped the towel around her, kissing her shoulders from behind and gently touching her as he started to dry her. Rose hadn't seen him come in, her eyes had been closed but as she turned, she noticed he was wearing black trousers and a white shirt with brown pinstripes, open most of the way down and she really hoped he'd not been preparing dinner like that. He looked so sexy, Rose just wanted to collapse with him right there on the bathroom floor.
Still holding her with one arm, he pulled the plug from the bath, then making sure she took the towel, blew the candles out, wrapped his arms around her and led her out of the bathroom into the bedroom that was filled with vases of red roses. Rose couldn't believe what she saw, he must have been hiding them in the lounge and got them out while she was in the bath. She just turned to him and kissed him, telling him she loved him. When she looked on the bed, laid out was a very revealing pink knee length nightdress, a single red rose laid on it. The dress was still on its hanger, she hadn't wanted him to see it, maybe he hadn't noticed it. The lacy, almost see-through white panties she had bought were still on the dressing table as he told her he would leave her to get dressed, kissing the back of her neck before he left.
She wasted no time getting dressed, opening the bottle of perfume, the type with the old fashioned pump spray that she thought she was going to swallow at one point, it had a really strong scent and must have cost a fortune, it was not the imitation stuff or from the local supermarket either, it was real French perfume and she sprayed it all over her neck and down her cleavage. Then she put her panties on, not that there was much to put on, then the dress, slipping on her low heeled black shoes last. She managed to fasten the clasp of the necklace he had bought her and surveyed herself in the wardrobe mirror she was dressed to kill, wearing no bra accentuated her cleavage, they were slightly over the top of the dress to what they should be but only Jon was going to see her, no-one else, this was the night, the night she gave herself to him. She wanted him to want her.
Bracing herself for the impact she would hopefully have on him, she left the safety of the bedroom and walked into the lounge just as he was lighting the candles. Soft romantic music was playing quietly and he looked around as he must have smelled her perfume. She had decided against wearing any make-up or lipstick, she didn't want to make herself look cheap and she had swept her hair back.
He stepped towards her and kissed her cheek, taking in the scent and whispered, "You look stunning Sweetheart. Here let me help you into your chair."
He pulled a chair back from the table and made sure she was properly seated.
He disappeared into the kitchen returning with two plates and put one in front of her. She didn't know where he had learned to cook but it looked very delicious and Rose didn't want to spoil its presentation by putting her fork into it. It was as delicious as it looked and as she finished she complimented him on his cookery skills. The best he could manage in the Tardis was toast or pancakes, not that they ate much in there, maybe he just never got the chance. He cleared the plates away and asked if she would some dessert, Rose thought she was going to burst after that dinner but smiled and said she would love some.
While Jon cleared the table, he sat Rose down on the sofa and turned the music up slightly, gently lifting her feet and taking her shoes off, saying he'd be back in a moment and when he came back, he poured some more wine and handed a glass to her, seating himself on the edge of the sofa. Rose had pulled down the top of her dress just as far as it would go without actually taking it off, revealing even more of her. Jon had just stared when he came back into the room as she was lying there.
He leaned down and kissed her and told her she looked beautiful, the most beautiful he had ever seen her as she put her arms around his neck after undoing the rest of his shirt buttons. Then he helped her up and said they should dance. He went to choose a track to dance to and Rose couldn't believe it was Glenn Miller's Moonlight Serenade, the one they had danced to in the Tardis before he had changed and as he helped her up and they began to dance, very closely, Jon trailing kisses down her neck. She wondered if he really remembered they had danced to it before as her arms were around his back, pressing close to his bare chest, her head resting on his shoulder as he whispered in her ear he loved her.
It couldn't have been a more perfect end to a perfect day, the river picnic, the bubble bath and the dinner, now the smooching to romantic music. They danced for the next three tunes, all slow, spending more time kissing and touching than actually dancing, Rose could feel his chest brushing against her, more like just moving their feet in time to the music. Jon's hands on her back and, his lips on her ear, whispering she smelt gorgeous, smelling her neck then moving his face to smell where she had sprayed the perfume down her cleavage.
After dancing silently, Jon breathing in the perfume, he whispered in her ear, "You are driving me crazy Rose Tyler, you look and smell just amazing, shall we go lie on the sofa for a while? Why don't you go get out of that dress and go put that nightdress on I bought for you? I'll be waiting right here for you when you come back Sweetheart. Here, let me unzip your dress for you and unfasten your necklace."
He partly unzipped the dress and took the chain off, handing it to her.
"You won't be long will you Sweetheart?" he asked as she kissed his cheek and he got an eyeful of her as the dress was coming away now it was unzipped.
"No, I won't be long. You really went in a shop and bought that nightdress?" she smiled at him. "I bet you got some funny looks, what with your long hair tied back and all."
"No, I showed them a photo I took of both of us together, asked an assistant to help me choose. I don't think she recognised me though, she didn't say anything. Then when I walked into the florists and bought all those red roses, they thought I'd lost my girlfriend and was trying to win her back. Oh, and I've got something else for you too when you come back in. You do want to come back in here, you don't want me to come to the bedroom with you, do you? Only it's still quite early, we can cuddle on the sofa for a while, have some more wine although I'd better not have any more, only the non-alcoholic, I'm driving in the morning."
He kissed her cheek back as she left the room.
Rose went back to the bedroom and changed into the nightdress he had bought for her, it was just the right length, she wondered how he had known her size, he must have noticed it on one of her dresses. She decided to take off her panties, make it more exciting then she picked the rose up carefully and smelled it, putting it back on the pillow. This was really happening to her and she didn't feel nervous, she felt giddy and excited at the prospect and Jon had been right, you just had to go with it, allow it to happen. She really wished that nagging feeling would go away, the one that was telling her it was not The Doctor she was going to be with but he was, she had to get rid of the idea.
Looking at herself in the mirror, the nightdress had a v-neck and showed off even more than the dress had done and there was a slit up one side, showing her thigh. She walked back into the lounge to find Jon lying on the sofa, his long legs stretched out, arms behind his head, just like she had seen him before and he was wearing even smaller boxers than she had seen before, well you couldn't really call them boxers at all. He had drawn the curtains, turned off the lights and just two candles were burning on the table behind the sofa. He got up, loosened his hair and took her hand and with the other, he traced his finger up the slit of her nightdress, touching her hip, finding she was wearing nothing underneath and smiled, leading her to the sofa. He gently lay her down, tracing his finger between her cleavage and kissed them.
He slid around the other side of her, still touching her soft flesh as she put her hand on his chest. He took her hand and held it over his heart, she could feel it beating fast, she had often wondered what it would be like to feel both his hearts beating. He leaned down to kiss her as she flung her arms around him, his hand sliding under the slit of the nightdress and she could feel his fingers moving. He watched her face as she closed her eyes at the pleasure he was giving her, then for a few second she opened them again, saw the smile on his face as he enjoyed every second as much as she did. As he moved his fingers away, he kissed her neck and she looked at him and said she wanted him to take her to bed.
Helping her up, he blew out the candles then he picked her up and carried her to their bedroom, the sheets were now pulled back as he lay her down and hovered above her.
"Do you want to lie on top of me first Sweetheart?" he asked.
Rose nodded and he rolled to one side, taking her with him until she was fully on top of him, just managing to slide down his brief shorts and pulling up the hem of her nightdress so the both could feel each other.
Rose remained calm, she thought she would have panicked but he was so gentle, so loving, not rushing her or forcing her. He was taking his time, letting her adjust to the fact of what they were about to do together and Rose knew now the moment had arrived, she was going to do this because she could never love anyone the way she did him, Jon and The Doctor were the same person. She stroked his cheek then kissed it, he buried his face into her neck, smelling the strong perfume which was surely fanning the flames of passion as they kissed, Jon calling her name, telling her how much he wanted her as they moved together. Then she told him one word 'now'.
As he turned her onto her back, he looked down and asked if she was sure. She nodded and said she was. As she lay there, enjoying the sensations she got when he started to do what he normally did, just being gentle, she could feel the excitement building to where she would normally tell him to stop but he was right, she just had to relax and go with the feeling and he was making it happen. She felt something she had never felt before, a new sensation was taking over her body as he continued and it was overwhelming her.
She wanted to scream out but was afraid to, she stifled the scream, digging her fingers into his back then lower down, pulling him towards her as they both moaned then the waves crashed over her, she could feel something different as she shivered through this strange feeling that had come over her as she tried to calm herself, her heart racing, wanting the sensation to last until it finally began to subside, slowly. It was the most wonderful feeling she had ever had in her life and she knew what had happened.
Jon was kissing her neck as he slowly came away from her, whispering her name. Rose could feel the sensation was still lingering when he asked if she was okay. She knew she would never be the same again and she told him as much.
"Rose, my love, are you alright, you're quivering. Was it okay, I didn't hurt you did I?" he asked as he moved slightly to one side to kiss her.
"No, I feel strange, it was wonderful, I don't know why I was so scared, I wish I hadn't waited now if that was what I was missing withholding myself from you. Was I okay? I didn't do anything wrong did I? You were right, I just needed to relax and let it happen and I'm sorry now that I made you wait for me. I've never felt like that before, it was amazing, you are amazing."
Rose saw the love in his eyes and knew she had done everything perfectly, there was no doubt in his mind it was otherwise.
"Oh Rose, you're the one that was amazing, I thought you would stop me at the last second and pull away. This is just the beginning my love, it can only get better now we've had our first time. Tell me, what has been the best part of the day, besides this of course? Was it the strawberries and cream or the bubble bath? I so wanted to get in that bath with you my sweet and every Sunday evening, I'm going to run you a bubble bath and we'll both get in it, you'd like that wouldn't you Rose, wouldn't that be nice?"
He leaned over to start kissing her neck, moving the material of the nightdress.
Rose had her arms around his back, moving one of them further down to his and smoothing her hand over it, then sneakily pinching even lower to which he looked up for a second, then went back to what he was doing. Rose liked this new intimacy they had but it was only going to last a week if he didn't want to continue when he changed back. At least she had something to remember him by, because now, she could never give herself to anyone else, not that she was planning on it but would she regret later in life if she did meet someone that she had readily given herself to someone else? Even if he regenerated again and she hated him she would always remember him like this, as Jonathan Smyth, her lover. She could never imagine him looking anything other than he did now, his long hair, his gorgeous brown eyes, his slim sexy waist and when he stood in front of her. No matter how much he changed, it would still be him, she had to accept that and maybe she wouldn't be sexually attracted to him anymore like she was now, but she would always love him deep inside.
The smell of her perfume had not faded and it was making Rose sleepy and she knew they had to make an early start in the morning. Jon lifted his head and asked what was wrong when she moved her hand from him.
"This has been the best time of my life but it's made me feel sleepy and we do have to leave here early in the morning. I think that bubble bath relaxed me a bit too much and the smell of this perfume, I'd really love us to continue this some more but I don't want to fall asleep on you. You do understand, don't you?"
"Oh Rose, of course I do, it's understandable, all this excitement. Why don't we swap places and you come and get comfy on me, I don't want to squash you or anything. We could wake up a bit earlier in the morning to continue if you like?"
"Mmn, that would be nice," she said as they swapped places and she settled on him, not bothering to pull her nightdress down which he seemed to like.
ooooooooo{silversurfer60}ooooooooo
She was drifting off to sleep when he said her name.
"Rose, Sweetheart, you know when I gave you that ring it meant I'd ask you properly when the time was right?" Rose managed a sleepy 'yes'. "Well I was going to ask you on the night the play closed you know but you made me very happy tonight Rose."
He kissed her neck and she moved her head to look at him.
"Rose, Sweetheart, will you marry me? You make me very happy and I would be even more so if you say you will. Will you Rose, will you be my wife?"
Rose thought she was hearing things, they had just made love properly for the first time and here they were, lying touching each other and he'd actually asked her. How could she say no after all this? He had only said before he changed not to actually get married, nothing about accepted his proposal. She propped herself up, looked at him, kissed him and said "Yes."
After even more kissing and Rose suddenly no longer as tired as she thought, they gently made love again and Rose finally drifted off to sleep, happier than she had ever been. They didn't wake any earlier the next morning and had to rush around, Jon gathering all the roses to take back with them while Rose tidied the kitchen and other little things before they left, they were not going back the next weekend with them moving in. On the way back, Jon asked if she wanted a proper engagement ring.
"Jon I think you fully intended this to be an engagement ring all along, didn't you?"
Jon kept quiet, more or less admitting his guilt.
"Okay, you got me. I just didn't think you would accept if I came out and asked you weeks ago, but now everyone has got used to it and so have you and I thought it would make it easier and it did. You're not mad at me are you, or did you already know what I was planning? Say you're not mad at me."
Rose would have kissed him if he hadn't been driving.
"No, I'm not mad at you, how could I be? Well, we had better make some plans now unless you want my mother hi-jacking our wedding plans?"
"Let's talk when we get back because I sort of already made some plans including that holiday I said I'd book for us, just after the play finishes. How do you feel about it being a honeymoon instead?"
Boy did he know how to drop things on her at the last minute! He certainly had a talent for it. First the whole having sex thing then the proposal last night, both as she was about to go to sleep, now this.
He went on to tell her that they would go back to London next Wednesday as planned but to get married. They would get a marriage licence when they got back and get married on the following Saturday then go off on their holiday. Rose was worried about her passport but he said it would be okay, he had booked the holiday in both their names. They talked excitedly the rest of the way back, planning on telling no-one of their plans except for Jackie. Rose rang her mum when they got back and of course she wanted to give him a lecture on taking care of her daughter which Rose said came as standard.
They couldn't make that many plans with not getting married locally but Jon thought it was best if they did it in London so her mother wouldn't have to travel again and they were going back anyway. Rose said she was going to try her mother's wedding dress on when they got back, she really wanted to wear it but was afraid it would need taking in as it may be too big for her. Jon said she could at least try and they would have time for her to get another one if needed. Jackie was going to tell all their relatives so all they had to do was just go to the registry office when they got back.
When they got to the theatre, they tried not to make it too obvious, they still had a week to go and needed to keep it quiet but Kay could tell Rose was keeping something secret to herself and asked what it was. Rose was reluctant to say anything and kept tight lipped.
Then something strange happened when they got home that night, well strange to Rose, she thought about the watch, thought about showing it to him to see his reaction and she went to get it out of its hiding place. She walked into the bedroom and told him she wanted to show him something, a watch that had been passed down to her. He took it from her and opened it and nothing happened. Rose was horrified, he should have changed back. He had seen the look on her face and said it was okay, he didn't need the watch. He told her he had begun to remember things for weeks, going back to their weekend away and he hadn't said anything, he was enjoying the experience but he still was human and was going to stay human. Rose said he couldn't, they were a year or so in the past and danger was coming. He said because that was in their future, those things would still happen and his old self would still take care of it but Rose still couldn't work it out.
He asked her if she wanted him to remain human, what was he asking her, was he kidding, it was what she had always wanted but not at such a cost he wouldn't be there to save the world every time something happened. She was panicking, still feeling guilty that wanting him to be human was going to put the whole planet in danger and when she said as much, he said it would all still work out. Rose couldn't believe the man she loved could act so casually, not care about changing back and why was the watch empty? It was supposed to contain all his memories and who he was yet he knew before she showed him it, he said his memories had come back yet he hadn't said anything?
He knew there was something wrong by the look on her face and the way she just wanted to go to sleep, saying she was tired, it was late and they could make up in the morning. Jon seemed satisfied as they kissed and Rose fell asleep.
ooooooooo{silversurfer60}ooooooooo
The next thing she knew Jon was calling her name. "Rose, come on Sweetheart, we have to get going or we'll be late back to go to the theatre."
"What? What do you mean we'll be late back, it's only five minutes away," she replied sleepily, not wanting to be disturbed but then she woke up with a start. What did he mean? Then she remembered, it must have all been a dream and she didn't want to share. What had she been dreaming? What part was real, the fact they actually made love last night or the part where he asked her to marry him? How could she ask him? Come right out and say, oh by the way did you ask me to marry you last night? She didn't think so. She would have to wait for him to say something.
Rose realised they were still at their apartment just outside London and looked up at Jon who had somehow managed to get from underneath her and was getting dressed. He saw the bewildered look on her face and went back to the bed. Rose was looking well out of it.
"Sweetheart, are you okay? You look confused, what's wrong. Were you having a dream? Tell me what it was about and maybe you'll feel better." He leaned down to kiss her.
Rose didn't know what to say, how could she tell him? Instead she just said, "It's all fading now but can I ask you something?"
He kissed her cheek and whispered "Yes."
"I wasn't dreaming about last night was I? Just to make sure, we had strawberries and cream with some wine down by the river yesterday afternoon, yeah?" Jon kissed her cheek, whispering a 'yes'. "Then we came back here, you ran me a bubble bath and you bought me red roses and French perfume and this nightdress?" She knew that was right, she was sort of wearing it.
She waited for him to say something else but he seemed to be waiting for her.
"Then we had dinner, we danced and I changed into this and when I joined you on the sofa, we kissed and then you took me to bed? How am I doing so far?"
Jon didn't seem to want to divulge any information, he was busy kissing her neck. He looked up.
"Rose, you really should get dressed because we are going to be late back by the time we've had breakfast Sweetheart. What's wrong? Why are you going over what happened last night? Oh, you think what we did last night was a dream?"
Rose felt herself blushing. "Rose, it wasn't a dream, we did go all the way and you were truly amazing and afterwards, well the strong perfume and that bubble bath you had made you sleepy and you settled on me and fell asleep. I tried to wake you half an hour ago but you were fast asleep so I just managed to get from beneath you without waking you. Now we really do have to go, I'll put the flowers in the kitchen to take back with us, they'll be okay until we get back if I wrap them up again, don't want to waste them so while I do that you can get dressed. You might as well leave your new dress here, we'll sort things out when we get back."
Rose was feeling disappointed in one sense but not in another, at least he could still change back, she must have been dwelling on the subject too much leading up to last night, she had gone to sleep with it laying heavily on her mind. She knew now she couldn't let him remain Human, not if he wasn't going to care about what happened. How could she live in the past knowing the future was bleak without The Doctor? Left alone to get dressed, she tried to shake the dream off, she was glad that she hadn't been dreaming of actually being with Jon but sad because they hadn't got engaged but perhaps it was for the best, it would only have lasted a week anyway.
They got away from the apartment and were a little late back that they had to wash Jon's hair at the theatre but at least they weren't getting stared at so much now. Rose thought Kay might have had something to do with that. A week to go and despite Rose's weird dream, she had time when they got back to find the watch and decided to put it in her lingerie drawer, hoping Jon wouldn't get too personal and go looking in there. Who knew what he did while he was in there on his own? He might have a 'thing' for going through her underwear! She would know if he had found the watch. She was just hiding it right at the back of the drawer when he called to say it was time to leave.
An ordinary week, at the theatre at least, no more was said about them being together, it had blown over since Rose announced her impending departure. Their love for each other was growing stronger now they were fully with each other, Rose no longer afraid of giving in, Jon not having to hold himself back any more and Rose figured a few more days wouldn't harm if it all had to end next Monday night. It was a shame they had to be finishing on a Monday, but that was the date they had chosen. If it had been Saturday, it would have all ended then but having Sunday off and going back for one last night seemed strange. If the play was contracted for a certain amount of performances and they had Sundays off then Rose supposed it made sense.
It gave her one extra day and night with Jon because she was determined to have that last night with him, give him the watch the following morning and stand there and let it all end, well maybe not but it was a 50/50 chance. Now she didn't have to hold back any more, there was no need to give him the watch on closing night, closing night had meant to be the night they were together and that had passed. She had planned to get him to open the watch before they were meant to be together but that was no longer the case.
On the Friday, they all had to be in early as the entire cast and crew were all going to sit down together and view the recording of the live broadcast, the first time they would see themselves on the stage together. Rose was looking forward to it, sitting arm in arm with the man she loved, watching his amazing stage performance. Everyone was buzzing with excitement at seeing themselves on the big screen that had been brought in and members of the public were offered tickets for it and some of the cast were going to answer questions afterwards, including Jon.
Rose just hoped no personal questions would be asked though, he was seemingly more outgoing about their relationship since their new shared experience, he had even taken to kissing her when he came off stage for a hair or make-up change just as he left to go back on. There seemed no point in hiding away in his dressing room now, just a few more days to go, four performances and after, it would all be gone unless somehow the Tardis had arranged someone else would have played Jon's part.
Not caring an audience were sat behind them, Jon's arm was around her shoulders and her head was resting on him, looking at each other and smiling at the lighter scenes when everyone thought they were funny. There was loud clapping from the theatre audience as well as on the recording and people calling for Jon to stand up and take a bow, which he refused to do at first until he got a pinch on the bum from Rose! Taking to the stage afterwards, the cast began answering questions, having to refuse to answer those that were not about the play but Jon was asked about his favourite scene and had to admit he had more than one but if he had to choose, then the deposing scene where he is fighting over the crown and Rose knew that was her favourite too.
Later when they were in his dressing room, Jon still thought Rose was a little off balance since she woke up on the Monday morning and had left her, thinking it was all the excitement of finally being together and their impending move but they had a few minutes to themselves so Jon closed the door which Rose took as he wanted a snogging session which she was definitely up for but he told her he really wanted to know what had been wrong all week and he was worried about her.
"Rose, you have to tell me what that dream was about when you woke up on Monday morning because you thought we were here, you were disorientated, that's just not like you at all. You normally wake up with me and we always at least kiss, even when we have to set off to come back here but I couldn't wake you. Can't you tell me Sweetheart? If you can't tell me, then I can't help you. Please Rose, let me in?"
He held her back at arms length but how could she possibly tell him? Tell him he's not Jon, that he's The Doctor? A few more days and he would know anyway, why worry him? But he was worried, more now than ever, even when she had been zoning out on him, which she had managed somehow to stop doing recently but it wouldn't stop him. She had to feign the idea to him she had forgotten parts and just tell him part of it, that would appease him for now, until he opened the watch. She went for it, hating not being able to tell him everything because he would probably take her to the nearest hospital for evaluation if she did. Then she would never get him to open that damn watch. There were still times she wished that she hadn't instigated this elaborate game that involved the entire world. Talk about not doing things by halves! She had gone the whole hog on this one!
"Jon, honestly, I'm okay now. It's all this excitement, that's all, the moving, our first time, I'm fine now. It was just when I woke up, I wasn't sure if that whole day hadn't been a dream, it was so perfect, you were perfect but I knew I'd fallen asleep and I thought you had woken me up once and said something else to me but you hadn't and I couldn't remember what was the dream and what had happened. You do understand, don't you? Haven't you ever done the same? Had a dream that was so real, it was hard to come back to reality?"
Rose looked at him, hoping this version would satisfy him for now. It wasn't that far from the truth, she had just omitted part of it, the part that would get her locked up probably, then the world would be in danger.
Jon pulled her back into his arms and kissed her forehead.
"Oh Rose, I understand, of course I do. You did fall asleep on me but I didn't wake you until that morning. What did you think happened and what caused you have a dream that made you think you were somewhere else when you woke up?"
How could she tell him she thought he had actually asked her to marry him and they had been making plans for it?
"I thought you had woken me to tell me about the holiday you were planning, that you'd booked it and it was ." Her voice trailed off, should she mention the word 'honeymoon'? Perhaps not. "It was just a dream, it didn't really happen, I know that now, I was just confused, that's all."
"Rose, I haven't booked it yet, I was going to book it but since we'll be going from London, I thought we'd get back first, I'll book a last minute one, give you a few days to settle in. That's okay, isn't it? You just came back from Spain, didn't know if you wanted to go back so soon anyway. Thought I'd make it maybe one on the islands instead of the mainland. How about Majorca? That isn't where you went was it? Would could stay in Palma, then we could take a boat to the other islands. Would you like that Sweetheart?"
Rose thought that would be perfect, if they actually ever got there though.
"So what about Barcelona? I thought you were going to take me there?"
"Of course I'll take you there, we'll go for two weeks, one week in Palma and one going to different places, is that okay?"
Rose said that would be great. She still knew it would never happen but if they were still talking, she might get to see the planet.
Saturday afternoon, just before the matinee, Rose had just finished his hair and make-up after he got his first costume on when Kay came in, nodded to Jon and smiled at Rose. She wondered exactly what was going on when Jon put his arms around her.
"Rose, we have arranged a little surprise for you, Kay came to me and said she felt bad about how everyone, including her, had been treating you and wanted to make up for it so, Kay is going to see to my costume changes, the others are going to cover hers and you, my love, are taking a seat in the audience to watch the performance live. I know you saw the recording yesterday but I wanted you to actually see it live. I made a huge mistake that time when I said about being out there and I saw the disappointed look on your face. So you go and find Nigel and he'll show you to your seat, it's all been arranged, then you can come backstage during the interval and tell me how you are enjoying it."
Rose was astounded they could actually pull this off without her knowledge, especially getting the assistant manager, Nigel in on it who was personally going to escort her to a seat. No wonder Jon had said for her to hurry with his make-up today, she thought he just wanted some extra time with her and it was a good thing she had dressed fairly decently, not her usual work clothes. Jon gave her a kiss on the cheek and told her to get going, there was less then twenty minutes to go. Rose gave Kay a hug equivalent of her own and hurried to the front of the theatre to find Nigel, who was waiting for her.
"Ah, there you are Rose, I was wondering where you had got to. We've saved one of the best seats for you out of the ones we keep in reserve. It's right by the stage when Jon sits down while he's resting. Thought you might like that!"
Rose managed a 'thanks' and allowed herself to be directed by one of the ushers, Sally, who Nigel had called over and they made their way though the audience who were still talking in the foyer when they should have been taking their seats and sure enough, her seat was right by the stage when Jon sat down in one of the scenes and passed by in several others. When the play finally started, she knew this was better than watching the broadcast, seeing Jon actually on the stage, pass right by her several times and then the scene where he was dressed all in blue robes, he was sat inches from her and just before he got up, he turned and smiled at her.
When the interval came, Rose hurried backstage just in time to tell Jon how much she was enjoying it, actually sitting in the audience and went back to her seat after they managed to find a minute and a quiet corner for a few kisses. The second half of the play was even more enjoyable with their favourite scene and he seemed to enjoy it more than usual. When it came to the end of the final scene and the players came to take their bows, the audience, including a slightly over-awed Rose, called several times for Jon to come back on stage and cheered louder than with any of the others, he really had been the star.
Rose made her way backstage, she still had a tear in her eyes from his last scene, actually seeing him there and falling in front of her eyes, she never even noticed if anyone else was feeling the same. At the sight of Jon, still standing around talking in the costume he'd been wearing, the long white gown and his hair flowing, Rose just ran up to him and put her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek telling him he was amazing. When they got home later that night, Rose showed him just exactly how much she had enjoyed sitting in the audience and debated if she should show him the watch, not let him open it but decided against it, just in case he did open it, she had two more nights left with him as Jon, three if she left the watch until the morning after the final performance.
It was the first time in weeks they hadn't gone straight off afterwards to London and Jon said they should use the time on the Sunday to pack things they weren't going to be using then go out for lunch. Rose agreed but there wasn't really that much to pack, Kay was going to be taking some of it and the rest, well Rose intended leaving behind since it wasn't really hers and she assumed that everything provided for her would be returned to the Tardis but she had to agree to go along with it.
Sunday night, Rose was rather sad there was just one more performance left, one more night after this one with running her fingers through Jon's long hair, the long hair that had made him so attractive to her that had probably enhanced their relationship and she was going to have to get used to him having short hair again, hopefully back to its uncontrollable self that stuck up when you looked at it or when he ran his fingers through it. She wondered if he'd been in a part that had not required him to have long hair if she would have fallen as hopelessly in love with Jon as she had done but she already loved The Doctor, now she loved him more and hoped that somehow he could now return her love.
When they got to bed, Rose couldn't bear it any longer, that after tonight, they had one more night together and after they had made love, she buried her head in his shoulder and hung on to him. Jon of course wondered what was wrong, especially after last Monday morning but when he asked her, she didn't want to talk about it and he could tell she was trying not to cry. She had to make him believe it was because they were leaving what had been her home for two years and he did up to a point.
"Oh Rose, are you upset you're leaving? Please don't be, you have a new home now and a new life with me, together and I promise Rose, you'll love it, travelling to different theatres around the country and who knows, maybe other countries, you and me travelling the world. Just think Sweetheart, different plays, more challenges but I'll try to take parts as near to home as possible when well you know, when we decide to have a family."
He looked at her as though talking about having a family was a natural progression, he was making real long term plans and he really meant it.
Rose had tears in her eyes, none of it was going to happen except maybe they would still travel together but he had once told her he could never have a normal life but at least now he had seen what it could be like and what exactly he was missing. Jon could feel the tears coming down her face as she thought about what he had just said, wishing it would really happen. She could settle for a life like that with Jon, quite easily. He gently eased her to one side, wiping the tears from her eyes and asked what was really wrong.
"Don't shut me out Rose, it's not just leaving is it? It's something else, something you're not telling me. You are coming to London with me aren't you? You're not backing out now, you've given up your job and this flat, you're not having second thoughts are you? Please Rose, what can I do to make you stop crying?"
He had her held tightly, her head on his shoulder.
Rose managed to speak through her tears but it wasn't easy for her, she liked this life now, even though it had only been three months and now she was tempted to keep the watch hidden but that would mean leaving the Tardis behind and that would be selfish. She hated herself for deceiving him yet again.
"I'm sad about leaving yes, but I thought when the play was over, I was going to lose you. That's why when you wanted us to be together I said after the final performance because I thought if I gave in before, you'd go away and leave me and I'm sorry for even thinking that and now, we've been together properly for a week and you're still here. I shouldn't have done that, I know that now. I just thought " her voice trailed off and she looked at him.
"Rose, you thought once I ? How could you think that? I love you Rose, I told you so, then I gave you that ring, wasn't that enough to prove I love you? Please tell me you didn't think I would get you to give in to me then leave you? I'd never do that, you should know by now. Please Rose, don't ever think I'd leave you, I promised to take care of you and I will. You don't even have to work if you don't want to, it was just so you could be at the theatres with me but you can just as easily be in the audience every night. Sweetheart, I'm not mad at you for thinking I was just trying to get you to give in to me but I wasn't and I don't understand why you suddenly gave in, a week before you said. Why did you Rose, what made you change your mind and why are you telling me this now?"
Rose had got herself deeper into this than she had intended to, now she had to get out of it.
"I know you gave me that ring but I was still scared then last Sunday was so perfect I just knew it wasn't fair to wait any longer and if you did leave, then it wouldn't be because I wouldn't be with you."
"Did you think I'd leave you because you wouldn't be with me? I told you I'd wait but we were getting closer all the time, I just wanted us to try and it wouldn't have mattered if it didn't happen, it would have done eventually. We were getting nearer every time, I just thought the time was right. That bubble bath really worked didn't it? Go on, admit it, it was the bubble bath?"
He was trying to lighten her mood and tell her he wasn't mad with her.
Rose knew what he was trying to do and it sort of worked. She had to admit, the bubble bath had played a big part. "Jon, I'm really sorry, I guess I'm just nervous with moving and everything. I know you wouldn't do that to me and I do love you. You asked me on Monday morning what I was dreaming about and I didn't tell you it all because I didn't want you to take it the wrong way. Do you still want to know?"
"Of course I do Sweetheart, tell me what it was."
"I dreamed that I was just falling asleep and you woke me to ask me something. That's why I was confused when you actually did wake me. I thought I had dreamed the whole day. Jon I dreamed that you .."
Should she tell him? It might put him off for good but it didn't matter now, it would be all over tomorrow night anyway.
Jon looked at her and he seemed to know.
"Rose, are you trying to tell me that you dreamt I actually did propose to you? Is that it? Rose, you'd know about it if I did, believe me and we'll both know when it's the right time. I know why you looked disappointed now but I couldn't ask you by waking you up after we made love for the first time properly, that wouldn't be right. Oh Rose, I promised you I will ask you, at the right time and I will keep that promise. Now come back here and show me again how much you enjoyed my stage performance yesterday afternoon."
They snuggled up again and Rose showed him exactly what she thought about it again. The next morning, Jon did some more packing and Rose said she had some things in town to sort out, she was using the time to nip round and visit the Tardis as well and hoped Jon wouldn't see her but if he did, she was just going to say she was getting rid of some stuff and making sure there was room for it. Once back from town, she sneaked around the back of the building and opened the Tardis door. The ship seemed happy to see her, she hadn't had much time to visit lately.
Rose said they would be back soon, the following day and asked the ship if she had done the right thing, making him happy. The lights flashed and she assumed that she had. She tried again to ask if he'd be mad when he changed back and got no reply. Good, hopefully he would appreciate what she had done under the circumstances, he had given her very few ground rules of his own to follow but she had broken hers, that of not crossing the line but now, she didn't regret it despite her earlier fears and she hoped he would understand why she had, it was because she loved him and wanted him to have a normal life, even if it was for only a short time and he had, he had known how much she loved him.
She managed to get away without being seen and went back into the flat, Jon was making some lunch before they left for the theatre then Rose was going to wash his hair. Tomorrow, that long hair would be gone and she was going to get her fingers through it one last time tonight and maybe in the morning if she was lucky, before she gave him the watch. She just hoped her dream didn't come true and the watch was empty! They just had time after lunch to get together on the sofa for a while before they set off for the last time. The watch was still where she had left it and in the morning, she would show him it. Game over.
There was a lot of excitement and buzz in the theatre, they wanted the last night to be just right, therefore, there were bound to be some things that were going to be unexpected, someone would give in to the temptation to change something and make people laugh. Sure enough, one scene Jon was in, he whether by accident or not, threw something a bit too far and everyone laughed and the deposing scene went a bit too far and at the end, Jon took a bit too long with his death scene, rather elaborately. The audience loved it, they clapped and cheered more than usual, especially when Jon came back on and bunches of flowers were thrown at his feet, which he picked up and handed to the ladies and kept one for Rose.
Suddenly, he asked someone behind him to get Rose out onto the stage and someone called her.
"Rose, go on, Jon's calling you," to which she shook her head but several pairs of hands were shoving her towards the stage until finally someone led her on and she was standing besides Jon, who handed her the flowers and kissed the back of her hand to clapping from the audience. Rose was totally stunned. He led her off the stage but the crowd were calling him back. He obliged but after several more bows, he jokingly asked if they had homes to go to which they took good naturedly. When he finally got away, Rose was waiting and he just went up to her and kissed her in front of everyone, saying he'd wanted to do that since the first day and everyone was clapping as they broke the kiss.
He hurriedly got dressed and went to sign autographs for the last time, there was a party being held in the caf upstairs and Jon told Rose to go up instead of waiting for him but she insisted she stayed and said she wasn't going up without him. So ten minutes later, he came back in but instead of going to the stairs, he walked towards the stage. Rose didn't notice him nodding to one of the lighting crew and one of the stagehands as he led her towards the way onto the stage and Rose found herself standing on it again but suddenly, the lights went dim and the backdrop lit up and was the only light. Rose asked what was going on and she didn't see the singers take their place in the side gallery later either.
"Jon, what's all this? It was bad enough you brought me on stage earlier so why are we here again? What's going on?"
"Rose, I said we would both know when the time was right. When I would ask you after I gave you that ring and you almost got this out of me last night but I've been planning this Sweetheart, with a little help so here we are, in the place we met and just spent three months in so I think this is the right time and place to ask you."
He went into his jacket pocket and brought out a small silver pouch then got down on both his knees.
Rose just stared at him, she couldn't believe what he was doing.
"Rose Tyler, you're not dreaming this, this is real. Rose, will you marry me, please, will you be my wife?"
He took a diamond solitaire ring out of the pouch then took her left hand and removed the promise ring and placed the diamond one on her finger and put the other ring on her other hand, just like Rose had asked him to do previously.
Rose almost lost her balance as she nearly stumbled, Jon caught hold of her. What could she say? She had promised she would give him her answer and it was only going to be for one night, so what was the harm? She looked at the ring, looked at Jon and said yes, only this time, it was no dream.
They fell into each others arms and kissed, Rose was vaguely aware there was some singing coming from above as the girls began a piece from the play but they continued kissing. Some of the stage crew were aware he was going to ask her and word soon got round that he had taken Rose on stage to propose to her and people were rushing down from the party to catch a glimpse. By the time they broke their kiss, there was wild applause and cheering coming from the side of the stage and the musicians were joining in the music. Rose just looked around and put her hand over her mouth, she felt like bursting into tears, she was so happy but also so sad this had actually happened and no-one would remember it, the spell would be broken in the morning.
They walked towards the wings to clapping, Jon was getting patted on the back as they made their way upstairs to even more loud applause and cheering from those who couldn't get downstairs in time. Everyone raised their glasses and wished them luck as they drank and were called upon to repeat the kiss they had shared on stage, which they were more than happy to do. When they finally got away, it was after midnight and Rose knew it was going to be too late to get him to open the watch now anyway so as they drove home for the last time, their home for three months, Rose was quiet but smiling and looking at the ring.
When they got back, Jon insisted they went straight to bed to celebrate. How could Rose refuse one last time? She let his hair down hair, the hair that would go back to normal tomorrow and they kissed as they fell into bed. That night was even better than their first as Rose wanted to remember it if it was going to be their last time together unless they did have time in the morning.
Rose was awake first, unusual for her but it must have been the guilt of having to get him to open the watch. She got up and went to the bathroom, mainly to reassure herself she had to do this, then went back in to find he had just woken up. She went to the drawer and took the watch out and sat on the bed. She hoped this time would be better than her dream.
"Jon, I want to show you something." She held up the watch as he looked at it. "This was handed down to me, it's very old and it's priceless and I want you to have it. It's also very unusual, see the pattern on it?"
She moved nearer so he could see.
He put his hand on it and looked at it. Rose expected some reaction from him or the watch but she was holding it too, maybe he had to open it on his own? She let go and kissed his cheek.
"It's got an unusual pattern inside as well, you should see it Jon, I want to give the watch to you because I love you. Do you want to open it?"
Jon looked at her and smiled. It was then that Rose got the shock of her life.
"Oh Rose, my sweet Rose, I would love to open it but first, there's something you need to know."
He kissed her again, still holding the watch then ran his finger on her cheek.
"Rose, how can I explain this to you? Well, to put it simply, I'm no longer Jon, haven't been for about a week, well technically I'm still Jon and I'm still human. It's me Rose, The Doctor. We were having such a special time, just the two of us, oh, I know I got the wrong year, discovered that when we met Mickey, his face was a picture when he saw us! I started remembering things, when you asked me when I'd done that interview and well, you know me, it got me thinking then I remembered more but you Rose, you looked after me, never left me and well, after I'd given you that ring you seemed so happy. I couldn't let you finish our adventure because, well, I liked it. For the first time, I knew what it was like to have an ordinary life and to be loved. Please Rose, please understand, I wanted this, more than anything. The Earth wasn't in danger, I knew it wasn't and I knew it was only for another week and I didn't want to spoil things for you. Oh and just whose idea was it I get to be in this play and have this long hair? If it was the Tardis, there will be trouble when I get back!"
Rose had remained silent throughout his revelation but she was thinking plenty. How could he not tell her before? There again, he was right, it would have spoiled it, the whole thing would have been over, that was why he had waited but it meant one thing, he was no longer being deceived by her, she was the one who had been deceived, the whole world had been deceived, he had turned the tables on her, played her at her own game by letting her think he was still Jon.
Right, what was she going to do about it, kiss him or slap him for fooling her? Who was she kidding, she had tried to fool him so they were even, 1-1 and they had both won. The Doctor had been experiencing being a Human male and she had got what she wanted, someone who loved her back but he still hadn't said he did, not since he just told her it was really him who she had made love to for the last week, given herself to him without reservation.
"So, you played me at my own game, that's just like you, I should slap you silly for letting me think you were still Jon but I suppose I'm just as guilty as you are, I let you lead me on because I wanted you to be Jon but you took advantage of what I wanted."
"No, I didn't take advantage, you gave in of your own free will, remember? You said so, you wanted me. You wanted both sides of me but you fell in love with Jonathan Smyth and you liked it, the long hair especially, which by the way, I seem to remember now sitting in a chair and having it stitched onto my own so would you kindly take it out for me please? That ship is so going to get it when I return! Where is she Rose, where's the Tardis? She must be close by, I've missed her, did she miss me?"
He saw the look on Rose's face, that famous look of hers that could melt blocks of ice or even icebergs and he knew he was in trouble.
Rose really didn't know whether to kiss him or slap him so she did both. She suddenly slapped his face and as he raised his hand to stop her from giving him another, she flung her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply. When they let go, he pulled her back into bed and they kissed again.
"I should be so mad at you for this you know and the Tardis is just behind this building, shouldn't you know that?"
"Not really, I still need to open the watch, pass it here and I'll open it."
"Oh no you don't, not yet, I'm not finished with Jon yet, you have some more explaining to do. For starters, what was all that on stage last night, don't go telling me I dreamt that as well because I have the proof, right here on my finger and if you change back now, this ring might disappear plus, when you change back, it could be awkward because you're in bed, naked with me and this flat might disappear and we find ourselves in the middle of the Tardis console room, like this and not forgetting what happens to the entire Earth when Jonathan Smyth disappears into oblivion after he proposed to his girlfriend on stage last night. So come on then, you have some explaining to do and you might want to get dressed before you actually open that watch."
He looked at her, he could still see her cleavage over the edge of the cami top she had put on when she'd gone to the bathroom, just barely covering them. Rose thought he was getting his final look before he decided it had all been part of the illusion and didn't think he was entitled to look again. If he thought he was going to get out of it that easily he was very much mistaken.
"Well, last night was real, I planned it after last weekend and the rings are real. It's up to you if you want to keep them but we won't be deposited onto the grating of the Tardis console room naked, I made plans for all situations in the event we were erm, in a compromising position when I opened the watch. Finally, Jonathan Smyth won't just vanish from the face of the Earth because he was never in that play. The play really did take place but in the future, in 2013, in that very theatre although it didn't stay there for three months, it transferred to another theatre and it ran from October 2013 to January 2014 with a break inbetween for moving the production. All the cast and backstage crew were real except you and me. I sort of 'borrowed' someone's identity in his personal timeline, it won't affect him, he'll still have a brilliant career and he'll become more famous and popular than you ever imagined Rose. You think you like him now but wait until a few years time and wait until you really do get to see him in that play! I think I did him a favour! Although he'll never know it."
"So you 'borrowed' " Rose couldn't believe who he actually meant. "Oh please tell me you didn't? You based yourself on David Tennant? You are so kidding me! I know I said you look like him, well most of the time but you saw he was in a play in the future and based all this on those events? Wow, will he actually know?" The Doctor shook his head. "No, I don't suppose he would. My mother got taken in on all this as well you know. I made a big mistake because I wanted her to see you in the play and she fell under the same illusion as everyone else and when I realised, I knew I was on my own, no-one to turn to. You told me to keep her out of it and I'm sorry."
Rose leaned into him and he put his arm back around her.
"You really should get dressed you know, you're not making this easy for me. Wait a minute, you really did propose last night? You meant it? You really love me, you, The Doctor, not Jonathan Smyth?
"Rose, I'm both, don't you get it? It's been me you've been making love with every night, it was me you gave yourself to, as Jon yes, I admit that but it was the only way I could be sure how I felt about you and I do love you, Rose Tyler. Now no more questions and come here one last time before we go back to the Tardis because I want you one more time as Jon with this long hair, although I might grow my own hair since it does things to you and turns you on."
They made love one more time with him as Jon, it seemed to make no difference to them, they really did love each other after all, it was just like Rose had said all along, taking a little intervention to get him to admit his feelings for her. Rose didn't want to take his hair extension out and as they came together, she was fingering his hair for the last time. They finally parted and he asked if she was okay. They got dressed, Rose got her own belongings together and she took the hair extension out and ended up having to cut his own hair as it had grown but she made sure it was well spiked up.
Just as they were leaving though, Rose had a couple of questions for him.
"So what happens to this flat and the other apartment? What happens to everyone else?"
"Well once I step into the Tardis and open the watch, the world will go on as normal but there will have been no Jonathan Smyth and the theatre will have been presenting a different play, your David Tennant will have been off doing whatever it was he was doing, a film I think, one of those Harry Potter ones, that's where he gets his real big break. Our home for three months will just become vacant, Kay just moved out, taking everything with her and the apartment in Richmond, well that's really ours."
Rose looked at him, it really was theirs? How had he managed that?
"You actually bought it? How?"
"Yes, it's ours, we can't keep going to your mother's every time we come back, we need a place of our own to relax so we'll go there every weekend, in our own time that is and don't worry about your mother, I think you'll find she likes me now!"
He kissed her once more as they left, walking around the back to the Tardis. Once inside, Rose sat on the jumpseat, well out of his way as he prepared to open the watch but before he did, he walked up to Rose and kissed her.
"I love you Rose, nothing is going to change that, nothing is going to change between us and we will have that holiday but I want to take you somewhere first."
He stepped back and opened the watch. A golden light surrounded him, Rose could hear voices, mostly his coming from it and in a few seconds, it was all over. He stood with a big grin on his face and walked over to Rose and kissed her.
"See, told you nothing would change, didn't I?"
He never gave her chance to reply as he flipped switches and released the handbrake. Rose was stunned, he really had loved her all along and they hadn't been living a lie, she really had given herself to The Doctor and she had felt guilty over nothing and now they had some sort of future together but she still wasn't sure he really had asked her to marry him but she could live with that.
"Rose, go put something nice on, we've arrived, I'm off to put my suit back on although when we get back I can wear those tight jeans and t-shirts you like if you want!"
Rose kissed him and went to get changed after asking if she had to dress up properly or just generally. When she came back, he nodded, took her hand and they stepped outside. Rose couldn't believe it! They were standing outside the same theatre on a cold October afternoon looking at a giant poster advertising 'Richard II' starring David Tennant as King Richard and it was an afternoon when the cast were answering questions afterwards and Rose actually got to speak to him and ask him a question which was what was his favourite scene and it was the same one as theirs had been and on the way back to the Tardis, Rose couldn't understand how no-one had seemed to notice how much the two of them looked alike.
Rose had wanted to go backstage and meet him so The Doctor had used his psychic paper to get them through and Rose recognised Kay, just about but of course Kay didn't know Rose and most of the cast were different since it was years in their future and she managed to get her programme signed by the man himself, remembering how eager fans were waiting outside and there she was, getting it personally signed and even he hadn't noticed how much The Doctor and he looked alike. Rose had her photo taken with him and hoped her phone didn't look too out of date for the time period.
When they were back in the Tardis, Rose couldn't thank The Doctor enough for doing that, it meant a lot to her, seeing the play for real and meeting the real star.
"Right, back to our own time then, we have some plans to make," he said as he released the handbrake.
"So what plans might they be then? My mother will be back to normal now, won't she and Mickey won't be there will he?
"No, everything's as it should be and when we've been to see your mother, we'll go to our new apartment, get used to it and then Rose Tyler, you have a promise to keep!"
"Oh and what might that be?" she asked as she swayed in front of him, trying to evade his attempts to kiss her to avoid answering her.
"You said yes to me, remember? We'll go tell your mother then when we've picked her up off the floor, we'll get that marriage licence and get married, that's if you still want to, you did accept Jon's marriage proposal, you can back out if you want?"
"Are you joking, no way, Doctor, you're not getting out on a technicality, you were Jon, you have to accept responsibility for your actions, Mr Smyth but there is one thing, how are we going to get a marriage licence exactly?"
"Oh, right, good question. Okay, well, I've got this friend in Scotland, back in 1961, he'll marry us, owns the local blacksmith's, says young couples go to him all the time to get married when their parents try to separate them, he owes me a favour from when I mended his anvil with my sonic screwdriver. Your mum can come if she wants."
Rose just laughed. "So you'll still take me to Spain, to Barcelona? For our honeymoon?" he nodded, kissing her forehead. "Oh and just before you changed into Jon, you promised you'd take me to the moon, remember?"
This time he really kissed her, picked her up and carried her to his room, then he changed the ceiling into the view of the Earth from the moon and they made love underneath the blue satin sheet, the only light coming from the view of the Earth.
"Oh Rose, I really do love you so much and I hadn't forgotten I promised to take you to the moon so here's what we'll do."
ooooooooo{silversurfer60}ooooooooo
A few days later, once Jackie had recovered from the shock of having The Doctor as her son-in-law, they all went off to see his friend the blacksmith and were married, holding hands over the anvil and afterwards, they dropped Jackie back off again, her not actually believing it was all true and that she was stuck with him now but promised she's slap him if he broke her daughter's heart or if he called her 'mum'.
Back in the Tardis, they kissed for a while after consummating their marriage, then he set the co-ordinates of the Tardis Spain, with a visit to Barcelona and afterwards, a stopover on the moon before carrying on to the actual planet of Barcelona. It was while they were on the moon, the doors open, safely inside the shielding the Tardis had provided, they made love on the moon's surface with a view of the Earth, just like the projection on their bedroom ceiling and just nine months later, Rose had their first child, naming her Astrid.
The End!