Companion Appreciation Day
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Part 5
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Lunch was an enjoyable affair, the Doctor serving Rose and giving her a special desert. When Rose proclaimed she was stuffed to the gills with food, the Doctor suggested reading a book. However, there was a twist to his suggestion.
"Read a book?" Rose asked, almost unbelievingly. "Isn't that a bit domesticated for you?"
"I know how you enjoy them… well, when I tell you stories – so I thought that maybe you… I dunno… would like it if I read you a book." He shrugged, slightly sheepish.
Rose smiled at that. "You're right about that, I would like it – very much."
"There we are then! Help us out; what do you want me to read you?"
Rose tapped her finger against her chin. "How about 'Romeo and Juliet'?"
The Doctor half frowned and rubbed his hair idly. "Romeo and Juliet? Are you sure you wouldn't like Titus Andronicus better…?"
"Aurgh, Doctor – I can't believe you would suggest that as a comfortable, nice story!"
The Doctor shrugged. "Different floats for different boats, I guess."
Rose sighed, shaking her head. "Isn't it 'Different strokes for different folks'?"
The Doctor frowned. "Then what's the one with the floats and boats one?"
"It's 'Whatever floats your boat' I'm guessing," Rose replied with a giggle.
"Well, there we are then! You can do that the other way too," the Doctor responded with a nod. He looked seriously at her for a moment. "Are you serious? Romeo and Juliet?" He paused. "It's going to take hours," he added.
"Exactly," Rose laughingly concurred, clapping her hands with delight.
The Doctor sighed. "Will you be able to stand my Shakespeare?" he asked warily.
"Of course! Your Shakespeare is absolutely gorgeous," assured Rose, smiling warmly and shyly up at him. It was a look that the Doctor thought utterly adorable and cute.
"Thank you, milady," he beamed, bowing. "Shall we retire to the fireplace room?"
"Of course!" She accepted his arm and he led her to said fireplace room. Entering, it was utterly breathtaking. The room was stuffed with couches and bright, fluffy pillows. There was a warm, cackling fire in the centre, casting a lovely glow around the darkened room. There were no lights in that room – the electricity would be too harsh. Instead there were candles and the fire ever present glowing away. If its occupants were cold, the fire would be warm and pleasant – if they were hot already, the fire would simply not bring forth heat at all.
Today, Rose was slightly chilled and she made her way to the very front long couch and snuggled up on it, eyes bright. She curled her hand under her cheek, watching the Doctor as he grabbed Romeo and Juliet off the shelf and put his glasses on. The Doctor smiled at her gently and slowly made his way over to the couch she was lying on. He reached over and his fingers gently brushed her cheek. She smiled up at him in return, melting his insides. He leaned down, hesitated, and when she didn't back away, slowly and lingeringly kissed her, making her shake, her breath gone.
"That story," she whispered, sliding her hand around to touch his jaw. The Doctor closed his eyes to get lost in the passionate sensation that threatened to overwhelm him.
"That story," he murmured, reluctantly straightening.
"Go sit in the chair," Rose whispered, letting him go. He obliged, walking backwards.
He opened his book as she lay back and stared at him.
He let the sitting arrangement last as long as it took to read the prologue. He shot straight up and in two steps reached her, wrapped his arms around her body and lifted her up, cradling her against his chest. He walked back to the chair, her in his arms. The chair was cozy and roomy enough for two, so he cuddled her as he began his reading.
He whispered the words sometimes, very gently, and stared into her eyes while speaking the parts he had memorized. Rose lay in his lap, head resting against his shoulder, hand nestled against his chest and closed her eyes to get lost in his soothing, gentle voice. She smiled when the Nurse kept interrupting Lady Capulet, she came closer when Romeo whispered his love for Juliet – her own Romeo bent and lightly kissed her in between words. Rose listened solemnly to the Doctor's passionate voice as Romeo refused to leave Juliet's balcony and her eyes took on a special kind of glow and a smile tweaked at the corner of her mouth as Romeo and Juliet confessed their love before the Friar Laurence.
She let out a peaceful sigh – the first noise she had made since the Doctor had begun – as the Doctor ended the act and took a sip of water from the cup that had mysteriously appeared to keep his throat wet. "This is perfect," she murmured quietly, gazing into his eyes. "Thank you."
"We should do this more often – you just thanked me." He leaned over and squeezed the hand that rested quite comfortably against his chest. The smile she gave him still left him breathless.
"I wouldn't mind if you did – though maybe next time you could read me A Midsummer's Night Dream?" Rose asked hopefully.
The Doctor rolled his eyes playfully. She was certainly milking CAD for all it was worth. "Yeah, right."
Rose smiled playfully and reached up to wrap an arm around the Doctor's neck. She tugged him down and leaned in very close, smiling secretively as she looked at him seductively. "Please?" she whispered, opening her mouth just wide enough for him to see her tongue curl deliciously at him. She looked at him meaningfully.
The Doctor swallowed hard. How did she do that? She had him wrapped round her little finger and she knew it. "Want to ditch Romeo and Juliet right now and start on that one?" he asked, smiling, lowering his face enticingly and seeking his reward.
Rose smiled back and obliged by slowly raising her head closer to his. She closed her eyes as his smooth and warm lips met hers. "I think we should stick to Romeo and Juliet – leave Midsummer's Night Dream for another time," Rose suggested softly, leaning back slightly to gaze into his eyes and trace the curve of his face.
"Then let me finish," the Doctor teased before leaning down to kiss her again.
"I'm not stopping you," Rose whispered back, smiling.
The Doctor only quirked a grin and cleared his throat before returning to the abandoned book upside down on the side table. Rose closed her eyes as she began, lost in the deepness and colours of his voice once more. She could tell which character said what easily, because there was a clear voice change that happened when he switched. Lord Capulet sounded wheezy, fat and old – a voice which made Rose snicker when she had first heard him – Romeo had the tone of a dreamer, quiet and reflective, naïve and brash. Juliet sounded young and graceful, slightly unsure and afraid but definitely in love. The Nurse… she sounded like a mother hen clucking – a very good impersonation on the Doctor's part. Tybalt was ridged and harsh.
With a sigh, she settled back in her boyfriend's arms, comfortable and at peace with the world as she listened. She loved his 'thees' and 'thous' so much, and she found herself captivated by the different tones and swiftness he used.
The Doctor's eyes began to soften as he started to read the fight. Then, when Mercutio was about to die, he shouted the words so loud that Rose jumped slightly, even though she knew it was coming. Now Romeo turned angry and sad. Rose grew sad too and listened solemnly as the Doctor told her about Romeo's banishment. She hid her face in his shoulder when Romeo was about to kill himself – and then! to her relief, Friar Laurence interjected with unbeatable logic.
The Doctor went on about Romeo and Juliet's one night together – then it was time for him to go. Rose listened with her eyes closed… until the moment of departure. Then the Doctor looked straight in her eyes and quoted perfectly, "'Farewell, farewell, one kiss and I'll descend.'"
Rose smiled and murmured back, "'Art thou gone so? my lord, my love, my friend! I must hear from thee every day in the hour, for in a minute there are many days: O! by this count I shall be much in years ere I again behold my Romeo.'"
The Doctor blinked – she had surprised him again. "You know it?"
"It's a famous quote." She shifted slightly on him to get more comfortable.
"Do you know much more after that?"
"Sure. A few lines." She smiled, teasing him.
"How 'bout we see as far as we can go?" the Doctor suggested.
"Fine. You're next," Rose commented idly.
The Doctor had to smile at that. "'Farewell! I will omit no opportunity that may convey my greetings, love, to thee.'"
Rose idly drew hearts against the Doctor's chest, murmuring softly, "'O! Think'st thou we shall ever meet again?'"
The Doctor captured her free hand in his gently and examined it tenderly. "'I doubt it not; and all those woes shall serve for sweet discourses in our time to come.'"
"Sir, that was very good," Rose interrupted. "Very good indeed."
The Doctor chuckled. "I thought you were going to say, 'Sir, you do wrong your hand too much.'"
Rose raised her eyebrow. "Where does that lead?"
"To a few snogs," the Doctor admitted, smiling.
"That I can live with," Rose murmured, reaching up.
"I concur," the Doctor agreed, bending down to finally meet her waiting lips with his.
"Will you please continue?" Rose asked sweetly when they had separated.
"You mean with snogging or with the play?" the Doctor murmured with a quiet chuckle, pausing to rub his nose against hers.
"The play, actually," Rose murmured back, kissing his nose.
"I need my second snog," was his whispered protest. She smiled and gave it to him.
"Now we can continue?"
"Yes." The Doctor coughed to clear his throat again and continued reading from the book.
"Oh wait."
"What?"
"Your glasses are sliding off." With her forefinger Rose managed to slide the glasses as gently as he could back on the bridge of his nose. "Must have been from all of those kisses," she teased, giggling.
The Doctor grinned at her, pausing for a moment. He was definitely falling in love with that giggle… and with her.
"Right." He settled back in the chair, trying to get comfortable for at least the next hour or two.
He talked about Paris coming to ask for Juliet's hand in marriage and Juliet then going to Friar Laurence for help, and watched Rose as she bit her lip when he spoke of the potion that was harmless. As Romeo fought with Paris in the cemetery Rose waited with baited breath – a fact the Doctor found absolutely fascinating. Romeo killed Paris, and Rose almost cheered, her eyes were so bright. It was alive for her – it didn't matter that she'd read it all before, it was as alive as anything. But alas! Romeo drank the poison moments before Juliet awoke, and when she saw her husband dead beside her, she threw herself upon his dagger. The Doctor glanced at the silent girl in front of him and noticed the silent tears that stained her cheeks. She leaned against his shoulder as he paused in the tale to comfort her – wrapping his arms around her gently, murmuring sweet nothings in her ear. He gently wiped at her tears.
"I know, Rose… I know," the Doctor murmured quietly, just holding her and stroking her hair. Rose buried her head in his shoulder and cried softly; Shakespeare always affected her this way. The characters had been so real, so loving, so lovable, and so friendly… and to find them dead… it was more than she could stand. "It's all right, my sweet. There, there… wipe your tears," whispered the Doctor gently once Rose had stopped crying. He handed her a hanky and helped her mop them up.
"Want me to go on?"
Rose nodded silently.
The Doctor obliged and cradled her against his chest, feeling her sadness and wanting so desperately to get rid of it. He continued until, finally, there was but one line left. "'A glooming peace this morning with it brings; the sun, for sorrow, will not show his head: go hence, to have more talk of these sad things: some shall be pardon'd, and some punished,'" the Doctor quoted, closing the book quietly. His voice became very soft and sad as he almost absently stroked Rose's hair. "'For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo.'"
The room was silent for a few moments. Then, "Very good!" Rose applauded softly, now smiling. "Thank you," she whispered, cuddling closer.
"You're very welcome," the Doctor replied, merrily tickling her feet.
"Doctor," Rose choked out giggling, trying to get away from his touch. "D-D-doctor!" she suddenly screamed out, horrified.
The Doctor immediately stopped in his torture. "What?" he asked her anxiously, concern and fear in his Bambi-brown eyes.
"Nothing. Just wanted you to stop." Rose giggled at the glare he shot her.
"You'll pay for that, missy," the Doctor warned as he rubbed noses.
"Oh yeah?" she hissed against his skin, making his hearts leap and dance. She leaned forward and kissed him passionately and slowly on the lips.
"Ye—yeah," the Doctor mumbled against her, pulling her closer.
"Yeah?" Rose managed to say as she tore her mouth away from his and put it against his neck, teeth lightly scraping his Time-Lord-sensitive skin.
The Doctor couldn't speak – only intake sharply as her arms went around his back. He gave a little moan, sending Rose into a grin. "The things you do to me, woman," he muttered, his hands moving in a gentle caress on her back. His grip tightened when he felt her hair lightly brush his cheek.
Rose leaned back to look into his face and smiled. "What next, Shakespeare?"
"Next…" The Doctor suddenly jumped up, sending Rose tumbling to the floor. "Sorry, love," he murmured apologetically as he offered a hand for her to rise.
"Thanks," Rose replied, laughing as she brushed off her pants.
"No problem-o… okay, remind me never to say that again, Rose."
"Okay, never say that again."
The Doctor rubbed the back of his neck. "Why do I have the feeling we've had this conversation before?"
Rose shrugged and smiled. "Maybe we have."
"Most likely."
"Right. Now what?"
"Guess."
"A surprise?"
"Good job!" He seemed impressed that she had gotten it right.
"You're pretty predictable," Rose replied, enlightening him.
"Basically," agreed the Doctor. He glanced at the clock on the wall the TARDIS had so nicely provided for them. "Five O'clock," he mused. "Perfect."
"It says 'four o'clock', Doctor."
He tossed her a lazy grin. "Even better!"
Rose just shook her head and chuckled. "Nutter."
"Exactly. Wanna do me a favour?"
"I guess."
"Go and collect a nice bouquet of flowers outside. Carnations and roses would be lovely."
"Sure." With a grin Rose left the room in a hurry and ran out the TARDIS door, back on the flowery planet, the Doctor following her.
"I'll find you when you can come back!" the Doctor shouted. Rose didn't answer – but he could see her nod. "Have fun!"
He shut the TARDIS door, clapping his hands to congratulate himself. "Now… next plan in action…" he muttered as he darted down the hall.