The taxi arrived, Alec having unsuccessfully been able to keep Rose from kissing him until the cab driver beeped the horn. When they arrived at the restaurant, Rose was surprised it was the one where he had taken her on their first date.
"Old Romantic," she whispered in his ear as he was holding out her chair for her.
They even ordered the same food as they had done that first time. Alec reminded her that it was exactly three months since that first date. Rose said she couldn't believe it was that long and it seemed like no time had passed at all. Not that long ago, time had passed for her in an entirely different way. Now spending it with Alec seemed endless. She stared across the table at him all the while, talking non stop about everything that came into her mind, about choosing a house, what neighbourhoods they were going to look in, how far it was to get to work for Alec, decorating only if needed, did they have enough furniture, they'd have to get new carpets and was sending Alec's head dizzy just listening to her.
"Rose, sweetheart, please slow down, my head's spinning listening to you. I'm going to order another drink then I need to talk to you."
Rose stopped and smiled at him. "Hope it's going to be about the other birthday present I have for you?" she teased. "Speaking of which, I have one for you to open now." She went into her purse and brought out a small square box covered in silver paper tied with a pale blue bow. The tag read "To Alec, with all my love."
Alec undid the wrapping and opened the box. It was a small pocket watch with an unusual symmetrical design on the front. Rose had seen it when she was looking what to buy him. She has passed the antique shop a few days before and stopped to look in the window and seen it. It was old and very expensive but Alec was worth every penny it had cost. She had thought the design reminded her of the symbols on the console of the Tardis and could have almost passed for Galifreyan. She had never been able to read any of the stuff on the monitor.
"Turn it over Alec," she said.
He turned it over to see 'I love you' engraved on the back.
He took it out of the box and tried to open it but it seemed stuck. He looked at Rose and said "Sweetheart, it's, well the most unusual gift I've ever received and I really don't know what to say. Where did you find something like this? I really love the design on it but sweetheart, it doesn't seem to open."
Rose looked dismayed. She had opened in the shop and it was fine or she wouldn't have bought it. She held out her hand for Alec to pass it to her. It opened and it had the same design on the watch itself although the wrong time as it needed winding.
"You're just all fingers and thumbs, Inspector," she laughed and handed it back to him. "It needs winding up, it doesn't run on batteries."
Alec looked at it, fascinated by the design and seemed slightly taken aback. He'd seen that design before. "Rose, sweetheart, I've seen this design before you know."
"Yes, I thought you might, that's why I bought it for you. It's not what you think it is though, how could it be? I've seen similar but nothing like that before."
Alec fingered the watch, closed it and put it into his top jacket pocket, the chain just hanging out. "Rose, it's the best present I've ever had because it's from you and it's perfect." He reached out for her hand over the table top.
The waiter came along and cleared their dishes away and asked if they wanted to order anything else. Rose said she wanted some ice-cream so they ordered for two. While they were waiting, Alec took her hand again.
"Rose, there was one other thing I wanted to talk to you about but maybe not here, maybe when we get home when you give me my other present?"
"You can talk about anything Alec, you know that. We could move over to a quiet table and talk after our ice-cream," as the waiter arrived with it.
They both smiled at each other. The restaurant was quite full and Alec was getting nervous over something, Rose could tell. Alec never got nervous, he wasn't the nervous type, was he? She wondered exactly what he was looking nervous about.
They moved over to a quiet table in the corner of the bar area and Rose insisted she only drink tonic water from that point, saying she wanted a clear head for later so Alec also got a non-alcoholic drink as this was a birthday he actually wanted to remember for a change having been trying to forget his birthday even existed until now. He wanted to remember this one only too well. They sat hand in hand as far away from prying ears as they could. Alec got the watch out of his pocket again telling Rose it was the best and most wonderful present he'd ever been given. He'd regretted not knowing Rose when it had been her birthday but promised he'd make up for that next year. For the first time in very long time, he was making plans with someone, the woman he loved and long term plans at that.
As they sat hand in hand making plans, Alec decided to just come out with what he'd been wanting to say all night.
"Rose Tyler, you know you drive me crazy and have done since the day we met. I know it's only been three months and you might think it's too soon " he trailed off.
Rose put her other hand in his and just said, "Out with it, Inspector, you're not one for beating about the bush so this has got to be a first for you, just tell me what you want to say."
"Rose, sweetheart, you made me happy again when I thought I'd never be, you told me your greatest secrets and trusted me." He went into his inner jacket pocket and pulled out a tiny box and opened it.
Rose's eyes were wide open as she stared while he opened it, it was a diamond and sapphire ring, sitting on the tiny cushion and sparkling. She couldn't speak.
Alec looked at her and took her right hand and said "I don't need you to answer me right now Rose, I just want to ask you to wear this and when we're both ready, I'll ask you again, properly, because I'm ready now" as he slid it on to her finger.
Rose took his hand and steered it towards her left hand, held it out and whispered "Then ask me now, Inspector."
Alec placed it on her left hand and said, "Miss Tyler, will you do me the honour of marrying me?"
"Yes, Detective Inspector Hardy, I will," as he placed the ring on her finger and kissed it.
There were completely unaware that there was a room full of people and no-one was taking any notice of them, thankfully. Rose looked at the ring on her finger and couldn't believe it, she thought she was dreaming. Alec actually wanted to marry her, Rose Tyler with her past life and all. That and he had gone out of his way to smarten himself up and shave his designer stubble as she called it to make himself look like the man she left behind so long ago now. He had no need to do that, she would have married him anyway. Knowing Alec Hardy, who wasn't a patient man, it wouldn't be a long engagement.
Excitedly they got a taxi home and after briefly kissing in the entryway Alec insisted she rang her mother, mostly because her mother had a reputation for slapping men and he didn't want to be one of them at any cost. He chased dangerous criminals for a living and he, Alec Hardy was scared of no-one, except Jackie Tyler and he'd not even met her yet, that came next week.
It was quite late and Rose wanted to leave it until morning and they would tell Ellie after their run and invite her and the boys out for Sunday lunch to celebrate. They didn't have a whole lot of people to tell really, except Jake who Jackie would be straight on the phone to demanding he goes down there and sorting out the man who dared to ask her daughter to marry him without her getting to pass her approving eye on him or not.
Rose faced the music, knowing her step-dad will still be up.
"Rose, is everything ok sweetheart? asked Pete, sounding concerned. "The last time you rang this late there was trouble."
"No Dad, everything's fine, it's just I'm excited because we have something to tell you." She squeezed Alec's hand, the one that wasn't feeling under her dress. "Is Mum there, you might want to put this on the speaker, I'm not telling you twice."
Her mother's dulcet tones graced the speakerphone, "Rose, what's wrong sweetheart? That Alec Hardy had better not have upset you again or I'll come down there and slap him, hard," she said. "Well, I'm waiting, you'd better tell me now and before you continue, because if he's upset you again, he'll know about it."
Rose knew very well not to interrupt her mother when she was full steam ahead. "No, Mum, he's not upset me, just the opposite. He's just asked me to marry him."
"WHAT?" came two voices together down the phone. "He did what?" asked Pete.
Her mother interrupted him. "He'd better not have got you into trouble Rose because then I will slap him and he'd better not think he's marrying you just for that reason either, are you listening, Alec Hardy?"
They were both grinning as Rose held out her phone and had put it on the speaker. Alec's other hand was still somewhere up her dress with its own agenda.
"Yes, Mum, he's listening, I think the whole of Broadchurch heard you."
"Engaged or not, Rose Tyler, you're not too old for a slap yourself you know. Well, what have you got to say for yourself, Alec Hardy?" Jackie continued.
Alec found his voice after the tirade that was coming from Jackie down the phone. Alec knew that Rose's parents weren't that much older than he was which made it slightly awkward and he knew she had told her step-dad how old he was but he wasn't sure he'd told her mum.
"Well, Mrs Tyler, I can assure you that I'm not marrying your daughter because I have to marry her, I asked her because I love her and want her to be my wife. When you come down here next weekend we'll have chance to meet and you will see my intentions are honourable."
"Yes, well and don't think I don't know you two are living together now either, Rose Tyler because your dad can't keep secrets from me. I got it out of him, eventually so don't try denying it. I suppose we'll be staying in your house when we come down then will we? Have you given notice on it? Is it clean and tidy if you're not there?"
"Yes, Mum, I've given notice on it and I'm living with Alec in his house until we find a place we both choose and the house is clean, Alec was round there today tidying up on his birthday."
Jackie obviously didn't know about the arrangements that had been made for Pete to buy them a house so Rose thought better than to put her foot in it. Let her dad do that.
"Oh, it's his birthday, how old is he then?"
"Mum, don't stop it. Can't you just wish him a happy birthday?"
"Sorry, happy birthday, Alec," she apologised, something she didn't often do with Rose's male friends. She continued. "Well at least he has a decent job I suppose so he can look after you properly. Are you going to rent another house or buy one? If you're going to buy one, I hope he can afford the mortgage payments, 'cos you're not paying for it."
"Mum, stop it will you? I wish I hadn't phoned now if I'd known. Leave him alone. I'm marrying him and that's it and he's still standing here so apologise to him now."
"Sorry," came a small voice over the speaker, "but when it comes to my daughter, you can't really blame me."
Alec looked at Rose. "Is she always like that?" as he kissed her forehead. Rose nodded.
"I heard that, Alec Hardy."
They both laughed.
"We'll see you next weekend Mum. Have you told Tony that Alec's a Policeman? He'll go crazy." She'd told Alec that her little brother had quite a collection of toy Police cars.
They said goodbye to Jackie and Pete then Alec took her in his arms. "I'm still waiting for my other present, Miss Tyler and don't think you're getting away with it."
"Then come upstairs, Inspector and collect it," as she took his hand and pulled him towards the stairs. "You lock up and turn out the lights and I'll go get it for you."
Alec had never worked so fast and he was only thirty seconds behind Rose as she wandered into the bedroom.