Companion Appreciation Day

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Disclaimer: Own nothing, do I. Yoda CGI puppet, he is. Reminded of little frog, I am.

Due to much complaining, whining (would you like some cheese to go with your 'whine'?), popular demand and the giving in of this author, I hereby dub thee, Sir Chapter of the Third.

Your waitress shall be with you shortly to take your order. In the meantime…

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Part 3

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If you are just joining us and wish an appetizer…

aka,

Previously on Companion Appreciation Day…

"All in all," the Doctor commented when he had straightened because his back had protested, "A very good start to the day."

"Thank you," Rose whispered against his chest as he hugged her gently.

"My pleasure," he murmured.

"So what now?" she asked, intrigued.

"You get dressed, and I put the next plan into action," the Doctor teased enigmatically. Rose laughed when he practically flew out of the room.

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Rose did as bided by the Doctor and scooted off and out of the bed to her wardrobe. She dressed slowly, picking clothes that she thought the Doctor would like – no, love – and coming up with a pair of dark blue dressy, low-waist pants with a matching belt, and a silvery blue spaghetti strap top and a matching warm dark blue hoody that proved to be a little shorter than her shirt. She took time with her hair, putting it up into a tight, smooth, and pretty bun and curling it carefully. She wrapped a small digital watch (displaying army time) round her right wrist and dabbed her favourite perfume lightly on her wrists and just as lightly on her temples.

Rose slipped into her brand new white pair of Converse she had bought, mimicking the Doctor unconsciously. It was her first time wearing them, and to her surprise, they were even more comfortable than she had thought. She glanced down at her shoes and with satisfaction noticed that the white shoes set off the silver in her shirt. Pleased with the result of her toiling effort, Rose walked confidently to the door – pausing to admire the firmness of her shoes and the subtle flare of her pant legs – and opened it. She took a step out into the hall and wondered where the Doctor had gone.

With a happy, contented sigh, Rose bounded off to the console room. He was there, all right, despite his claim to 'put the next plan into action'. She felt her heart flutter hard in response to his slow, warm smile when he heard her approach; he did not turn around yet. Rose smiled; he was in a nice, dry tuxedo, free of grape juice stains. She took a few more steps nervously, and then he whirled around, catching her unaware.

The Doctor's mouth dropped to the floor when he saw her, as his eyes grew wider and wider as he continued to stare. Rose fidgeted under his gaze and smiled shyly, cocking her head to the side. "Something wrong?" she asked innocently, and couldn't refrain from the full-blown grin that was tugging at the corners of her mouth when she saw his expression.

He blinked a few times before cracking a grin. He stepped forward and swept her up off her feet and into his arms before she could blink. "N-no," the Doctor managed to stammer huskily, clutching her to his chest. "N-nothing's w-wrong." He coughed even as she lifted his face to see his. It was altogether too much for the poor Doctor who couldn't keep a reign on his feelings anymore than he could keep control over the TARDIS. Rose smiled and closed her eyes as his lips met hers suddenly, though gently.

"What now?" Rose managed to ask sweetly (though slightly breathlessly) after a few minutes.

The Doctor raised his head from where it had been buried in the neck of Rose and smiled. "You look absolutely beautiful and fantastic." The comment immediately earned a smile.

"Not what I asked," chuckled Rose as she tightened the grip she had on his neck.

The Doctor frowned. "Oh… right, sorry… Um, yeah. You'll find out," he teased.

Rose faked a pout. "I won't let you go if you won't tell me," she murmured gently in his ear. Her heart pounded out of sync when he smiled and pulled her closer.

"I…I don't think that would be… such a bad idea, Rose," murmured the Doctor as he smiled secretively and planted a kiss lightly on her nose.

Rose let go suddenly and pulled away. "What now?" she repeated.

The Doctor let go of her with a reluctant sigh. "Right, you'll see."

"I don't like surprises," Rose reminded him.

The warm smile he sent her gave her butterflies in her stomach and made her want to squirm. "You'll like this one."

Suddenly they jerked to a halt. The Doctor squeezed Rose's hand and she returned the pressure. Rose hadn't even realized what he had been doing as they had been talking. The cad. He grabbed his trench coat and offered it to Rose, much to her amusement, pleasure and surprise. As he helped her put it on, he squeezed her shoulders. "Part two," he said as he winked at her. Rose chuckled as his coat swallowed her in its height.

The Doctor offered Rose his arm and she took it as he smiled at her with enough love and admiration to sink a thousand ships. Rose lowered her eyes as they stepped out of the TARDIS and she immediately had an intake of breath.

They were surrounded by a beautiful sunset. They were close enough that she could see it and nothing else unless she turned around. She did, and she was even more amazed. Beautiful flowers everywhere. In the air and sky, on the ground, everywhere, surrounding them. All different kinds – it was like a floral palace.

"I know you're not exactly a floral person, Rose," the Doctor admitted as she turned with tear filled eyes to look at him. "But maybe…" Rose throwing her arms around his neck and snogging him hard stopped him.

"It's beaut – " Rose began, but the Doctor didn't want to let her go that quickly. His arms went around her under his coat as he drank of her as deeply as he could. When he finally let her go she was trembling under his grip. She didn't let go of him as she rested her head against his shoulder and he cuddled her against his chest. "I-it's b-b-b-beautiful," Rose whispered stammering, still shaking, though with pleasure.

The Doctor chuckled softly as his chin rested gently on the top of her head. "Happy Companion Appreciation Day, Rose."

"Is this all you got?" Rose asked, raising her head to look at him, eying him incredulously.

"Nah… just a good start. Don't you think?" the Doctor asked her, smiling deeply at her.

"I do," Rose replied almost immediately with a sigh of contentment. The Doctor reached up around his neck to grasp her hand.

"Wanna stay here for a bit or go back?"

"Stay… at least for an hour or so."

"Then come on." With a tug on her hand he started walking towards a hill of flowers as petals fell down all around them.

Rose laughed and obliged, following the Doctor till he stopped, not far from where they had been. "Doctor?" she asked, peering into the mass of flowers. She could feel him holding her hand, but she could not see him.

"Right here," he whispered, tantalizingly close. Rose gasped in surprise as she felt her skin heat at the thought of just how close he was.

As if guessing her thoughts, the Doctor sat and tugged on Rose's hand. Nervously, Rose sat beside him, suddenly gazing directly into his eyes. What she saw in them made her blush even more. He laid back as if resting on a pillow and tugged her to follow suit beside him. She didn't hesitate until she finally managed to get on the ground. The ground itself felt bouncy, as if it was adjusting to her weight.

"Doctor?" she questioned, growing more nervous by the second.

"Don't worry, we're lying on flowers."

"Just flowers?"

The Doctor laughed softly. "Yep. No ground here. Just flowers."

This affirmation made Rose sit up so abruptly straight that it would have made her almost teeter over if not the Doctor had grabbed hold of her arm and held her steady. "Easy there, love. It's like a hammock," he explained cautiously. "We're perfectly safe… if we stay close together in the middle." His voice changed as if he liked that idea.

"Oh… okay," Rose answered, easily liking the idea as well.

The Doctor wrapped his arm around her shoulders carefully as Rose snuggled up against his chest. "Ahh," the Doctor said after a moment, breathing out slowly. "This is better."

"Is it really?" Rose asked him, not completely serious as she idly drew hearts slowly on his chest.

"Well, if I had it my way, you'd have a lot less layers on – " he started joking, but Rose glanced up at him, one eyebrow raised. "Ah, that… was kind of… uncalled for, wasn't it?" the Doctor asked, somewhat sobered from his joking mood. Rose gave a one-shouldered shrug and rested her head against his chest again.

"Your fault," she muttered, continuing to draw hearts on the Doctor's chest. After all, wasn't he the one who had offered his coat to her?

"Excuse me?" The Doctor had just rested his head back against the flower cushions and it came back up again.

"Nothing," Rose replied innocently, blushing. She accidentally poked the Doctor in the chest.

"Ouch!" he yelped as he gingerly reached with his free hand to rub the spot Rose had poked.

"Come on, you big baby," Rose giggled, gently raising a finger to tip up his chin to get him to look at her. Her leg rested lightly on his. "That didn't hurt, did it?"

"Nah," the Doctor braved, smiling as he wrapped his arm tighter around Rose and lifted her so he could kiss her gently.

"Mmm…" Rose breathed as she rested her head back against his chest, eyes still shut.

"Love you," he whispered.

"Love you too," she whispered back.

"In that case…" With a wicked grin and careful manoeuvring, the Doctor rolled Rose over until he was neatly on top of her.

"Wotcha…" Rose tried to say, but was running quickly out of breath. The Doctor's grin made it worse.

"You said…" The Doctor bent to carefully kiss her nose, "something about leaving after an hour or so?" Rose began to shiver and start as his tongue began to gently run over her neck.

"I think… I've changed my mind." With a chuckle, the Doctor lowered his head again as Rose wrapped his arms around his neck.

Well, it was obvious that Rose had changed her mind, for they did not leave one hour, or even two hours later.

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