Love

Rose had a book open on her lap – it was Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. She'd read it before and loved it, but couldn't bring herself to enjoy it right then. It wasn't because she was sad, or angry. It wasn't because she suddenly hated the story. It was none of those reasons.

The reason why she couldn't concentrate, why the world could end and she probably still wouldn't notice was because he was near her.

The Doctor was sitting on the other end of the sofa in the library with her. The fire was crackling - the only sound to be heard in the bigger-on-the-inside ship. He was reading his favorite Dickens novel – a sly grin on his face.

She could sit there for an eternity memorizing his every freckle, crinkle and angle and never ever get bored.

Suddenly, he turned to look at her and she jumped in surprise and embarrassment. She led her eyesight back to her book and prayed pathetically that it was the right side up this time.

"Rose? Are you all right?" a genuine concern in his voice.

Bugger, upside down.

"Yea' yea' fine," she said quickly.

She could hear some rustling but refused to look up from behind her book for fear that he'd see the blush on her cheeks.

"Rose." his voice sounded a lot closer that time, didn't it?

Deciding to risk it, she looked up and squeaked when she realized the Doctor had not only inched closer to her – he was right in front of her.

He smiled tenderly as he took her book away and laid it gently on the table behind her. Doing so caused him to graze not only against her arm and shoulder, but made his face inch dangerously close to hers.

Instead of inching back he remained near her – she could feel his breath on her neck and it made her shiver.

"Doctor?" her tone was nothing more than a whisper but the word was loud in the quiet library.

"Rose," in her name there echoed so many emotions. He said her name right before taking the final inch toward her lips, covering them with his.

It was like nothing she had ever felt before. She'd been kissed before, but she realized how foolish she had been in calling her previous experiences as such. She felt the kiss in every inch of her being – from the crown of her head to the tingling in her toes. His tongue searched for hers and they mingled together naturally, like they had done this a thousand of times before.

But they hadn't – so, as much as it was simply gorgeous to be kissing him, there was tentativeness in her response to him. Her hands stayed firmly on her lap, gripping each of her thighs, while one of his hands rested on the armrest she sat against and the other grazed her arm.

He separated himself enough to murmur, "Is this…okay?" There was actual worry in his voice.

She pushed away her insecurities at being the human shop girl and closed the distance between them to capture his lips in another kiss. Because even though there were those worries lingering beneath her skin, there was no way that she was missing out on experiencing him the way she had always wanted to.

Instantly, like a wave unleashed, her hands left their place on her lap to tug gently at his hair and trace her fingertips across his neck and collar bone. He trembled beneath her touch and she smiled in their kiss, making him do the same.

Eventually they separated enough to their breath mix, the tingling of each other's kiss still on their lips.

Rose looked up into his deep brown eyes and just had to ask…

"Doctor…how…I mean…why…" she wanted to ask so many things: why me? why now?

She saw the spark of recognition at everything she wanted to ask and couldn't.

"Because…you're Rose," and it really did appear as simple as that. She felt her mouth open slightly at this silent declaration.

Then he smiled mischievously as he said, "Besides, I saw you staring and reading your book upside down, so I know you fancied me." He huffed proudly.

Rose chuckled (because he wasn't wrong) and smacked him on the chest.

Laughing, they continued with their most novel distraction and new favorite hobby.

I actually wrote this as part of my Christmas gift to my bf - he supports and enables my addiction! He also said I should share it with me fellow shippers. Be safe and have fun everyone!