Yo!

I can't pull that off, can I? Never mind lol. On with the story xx

Chapter 4: Infatuation

Rose smiled warmly at the photograph in her lap. It was an old one, frayed at the edges, but it held some fold memories of her teen years. She set it aside, and looked inside the box again.

Her mother had given her this shoe box on their last visit, saying it was a few things she'd found when she was clearing up. She'd said she thought Rose might want to keep them, "you know, memories."

And with all the adventures they'd had lately, laughs they'd shared and tears they'd shed, this was the first opportunity Rose had had to open the box and look at the contents. She'd taken time away from the Doctor and his tinkering to go to her room and play over the memories in private. All these things: photos, a worn diary from when she was fourteen, a letter she'd written to Jimmy Stones but never posted, and so many more things, made her feel suddenly very old. All these things seemed to be from another life, even someone else's life...

"Never known you so quiet."

Rose jumped a little and turned to the voice behind her, her eyes shedding a few tears that had been building up. The Doctor stood facing her at the foot of her bed, his eyes full of interest and concern. Rose smiled and beckoned for him to come and sit next to her. He obliged, looking over her shoulder at the box of trinkets.

"My mum's box, just... stuff from before."

She picked up a 'best friends' key chain from the collection and stroked it affectionately with her thumb. "'S'stupid, really."

The Doctor shook his head and stroked her arm soothingly. "No, it's not. It's important to you."

He reached to her bedside table and passed her a tissue. She accepted it gratefully. The Doctor sighed quietly, and looked down at the bed. He noticed the picture she'd set aside, picked it up, and discreetly put it in his pocket, before leaving Rose alone with her thoughts.

When he was back in the control room, he took a look at the photo. It showed Rose, about seventeen years old, fresh faced and smiling, not a care in the world. The Doctor smiled affectionately at her beaming face, but his smile fell at the sight of the figure whose arm was draped around her.

He'd felt a little guilty about Mickey ever since the latter had decided to stay in the other universe. Neither he or Rose had really spoken about it since the fateful day, and if he was honest, he was happy about it. In the end, he'd respected the guy, but there was just something about him. Something that made the Doctor extra protective of Rose, like he had to put himself between her and Mickey. And he didn't like that about himself.

As he sat there, gazing up at the TARDIS's time rotor, he felt his beloved ship brush against the back of his mind. He always felt her presence, but it was a rare occasion when she actually asserted herself to talk to him directly.

**Why are you obsessing over things that don't matter any more?**

The Doctor sighed and shook his head. "I don't know," he said quietly.

**Theta, I can see inside your head; don't lie to me.**

The Doctor sighed in frustration. "How do I know if I'm infatuated?"

**You said yourself often enough that you don't feel those type of emotions.**

He nodded vigorously, trying to convince himself as much as his ship. "That's right. Humans experience infatuation. I am a Time Lord. I do not."

**You know that's not true.**

He groaned. "I know."

The TARDIS tickled the back of his head with a tinkling laugh. **Then why deny it?**

"You know why!" he snapped.

"Who are you talking to?"

The Doctor jumped at the sound and looked round to find Rose stood watching him, her face recovered from her emotions earlier.

"Rose, I... didn't hear you come in."

She nodded, concern spreading across her face.

"Are you okay?"

He nodded, a false smile fixed on his lips. He suddenly sprang to life and flew around the console, pulling levers and pressing buttons. The TARDIS shuddered and groaned, and landed with a little thump. He looked over at Rose expectantly, who grinned at is eagerness. She grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the doors. He jumped at the contact of her hand in his, her warm skin against his cool palm. He soon found himself outside at their destination, watching Rose lapping up her surroundings in amazement.

The TARDIS had landed in a beautiful meadow with neatly cut grass, neat circular lakes trimmed with purple brick, thin dark trees covered in delicate shimmering leaves and blossoms that had their own wings and flew away from the branches on a whim. The horizon was littered with miniature purple-blue mountains covered with diamond-shine snow. The sky was pale purple, and shone down on the pale grass, making it gleam and shimmer and shiver with life.

"The Galapta Meadows on Cierach 9," the Doctor told her. "Not very well known, so it's usually pretty quiet. Best sunsets in the galaxy, though."

Rose beamed at him, all traces of sadness gone from her face. The Doctor was pleased at that. He didn't like to see her upset.

They walked hand in hand under the delicate boughs of the mystical trees, through the meadow. Rose sighed contentedly, and leaned her head on the Doctor's shoulder. The Doctor froze. No, I'm not infatuated. I'm really, really not...

He suddenly found himself being pulled to the floor arm-first. Rose had found the perfect spot for them to watch the sunset, in the long grass on a hill overlooking a glassy lake below. They were under the shade of two delicate trees, blowing their blossoms hither and thither. The sun was setting over the raggedy mountains on the horizon, and Rose gazed at the scene laid out in front of her in wonder. But the Doctor only had eyes for her.

Rose grinned as violet light shone from the setting star, and squinted a little as vast rays of sunlight spread over the valley. She shielded her eyes by leaning her face into the Doctor's shoulder, making his hearts race. He looked down at her, cuddled into the lapels of his jacket. Her hair had blown over her cheeks, and a few lilac blossoms settled in it, decorating her wonderfully. The Doctor smiled, and absent-mindedly picked the flower from her hair. He froze, his eyes wide when he realised what he was doing.

Stop it stop it stop it!

Rose sighed happily into his shoulder, making him shudder with excitement. He closed his eyes and focused.

I'm not infatuated, I'm not infatuated, I'm not infatuated...

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