"Who were you talking to?" Rose asks curiously, taking David's hand as they begin walking to her house.

"Hm? Oh, no one, I suppose. Martha wanted to know about the homework from Mrs. Smith," he says in a way he hopes is dismissive.

"Ooh, Martha Jones? She's pretty, and I think she fancies you. Not sure why, mind you."

David's nose wrinkles. "I don't think so." He likes Martha, and she's a great mate, but he wasn't interested in her.

"Whatever you say, space-jerk," she replies with an eye roll thats lacking malice. Rose squeezes his hand for a moment, and David's brow furrows at the butterflies cultivating within his stomach.

"Hey, what's with the look?" Struck out of his reverie, he glances at Rose's face peering up at him.

"Just thinking about how short you are, blondie."

"Huh, I bet you were, giant," she bumps his shoulder with hers, and he enjoys the fleeting flutter of his young heart.

"There you two are! I was just getting worried. Slow walkers, the pair of you," Jackie Tyler's voice invades Rose's ears, and she races over to give her mum a quick hug, stepping aside as David does the same. She lets out a giggle at how disgruntled he looks after her overbearing mum ruffles his hair affectionately and pushes up his glasses.

"Now, go watch some telly while I put some supper on, yeah? I promise, no burning and no adding to the recipes."

"Got it, mum. Thanks," Rose grabs David's elbow and drags him into her flat's dingy but homey living room.

After a while, Rose leans her head on his shoulder and ignores the catch in her own breath when he begins to play with her hair softly. She's almost drifting off to sleep when she hears, "Supper will be ready in a mo. I'd suggest getting washed up-" she stops. "Well isn't that adorable! Let me get my camera, no, no hold still Rose!"

Groaning, Rose can feel David raising his head from where it rested on top of hers. Groggily, they untangle their limbs from one and other, shutting off the telly and pointedly ignoring Jackie's pout.

After supper, Rose's older brother Jack comes home from football (A/N: American soccer) practice. He gives Rose a quick one-armed hug and slaps David on the back lightly.

"Was that John Master guy giving you trouble again, Rosie? You just ring me up if he does, and I'll make him wish he was never born," he pauses as he looks at David's bruising knuckles. "Although, unless he's been punching walls, I'd say little Davie here already beat me to the punch... literally."

David grimaces as Rose gasps. "David Doctor, that better not be what I think it is." At his silence, she continues, "you idiot! You tactless idiot!"

"I'm sorry, I truly am, but I just got angry, Rose! I couldn't just let him say condescending things about you," he finishes kind of lamely.

"So you clocked him?!"

David gives a pained nod, wincing when he whacks his shoulder. Beside him, Jack whoops, "way to go, little nerd! I knew you had it in you!"

Rose leaves it at that, but treats him decidedly cooler for the rest of the evening, but still resting her head on his lap during their annual Star Trek: The Next Generation marathon. And David supposes he's okay with that. At least he defensed Rose, and she's not too angry.

A/N: I'm sorry for that wait, but I actually forgot that I started this story... more to come, boys and girls.