Chapter 3: A Little More Human

The sunlight streamed through the pink curtains in Rose's room. She blinked and stirred trying to focus here gaze on the room around her through the sun. She glanced at the clock sitting on her night stand.

"11:30," she mumbled beginning to sit up.

She stiffened as she realized she wasn't alone. The Doctor was still asleep leaning against the frame of her bed. His arms were wrapped around her, and his chin rested on his chest. Rose relaxed as she looked at his sleeping face. She had rarely seen the Time Lord sleeping during any of their travels, and took a moment to examine his face. He looked younger, less haunted by his past, and even a little relaxed. She gently removed his arms from around her, and got off the bed. She decided to leave him sleeping.

Rose walked downstairs pondering how she wanted to approach her relationship with the new, new, new Doctor. She had come to the conclusion that she couldn't just jump into a relationship with him. She trusted him, she really did, but she still didn't know that much about him. How much of him was the Doctor, her Doctor? Was he different in any way from the full Time Lord? All these questions swirled through her mind as she entered the kitchen.

Jackie greeted her enthusiastically as she scooped up another spoonful of baby food and put it up to Tony's lips. She was glad to see her daughter looking relaxed, and rested.

"Rose good to see you up. I made eggs, toast, and sausage if your hungry."

Rose moved to sit down at the island in the middle of their fancy kitchen. Sometimes Rose missed the simpler days when they lived in there little flat at the Powell Estates. The lavish parities, and endless money unnerved her. She pushed her thoughts of her old home aside as her mom placed a plate piled high with food in front of her and them went to back to Tony.

"Where's the Doctor"? Jackie asked cheerfully as she tried to spoon another bite of baby food into Tony's mouth. The little boy fussed, and waved his tiny arms in an attempt to fend off his mother. Rose, however, was stuffing her face. She had not realized how hungry she had been.

"He's still asleep upstairs," she replied trying to seem as nonchalant as possible. She didn't want her mom to know that he had fallen asleep in her room. Thankfully Jackie didn't ask anymore questions, and instead said, "Well I'll keep a plate warm for him till he wakes up."

Rose finished her food quickly, and made her way back upstairs to her room. The Doctor was still slumped against her bed frame, fast asleep. As quietly as she could Rose opened her dresser and pulled out a pair of jeans, a blue shirt, and under garments. She ran to the bathroom and shut the door before stripping down and turning the shower on. The warm water felt relaxing as it washed over her in a light drizzle. It was the first real shower she'd had since she had gotten back to the parallel world, considering she had barely showered before rushing off to Torchwood a few days before, and she savored the feeling of truly being clean again.

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The Doctor woke with a start from his dream muddled sleep. He swung his arms wildly trying to fend off the invisible phantoms that plagued his dreams until he finally grasped that he was safe, and back in reality. He breathed heavily trying to clear his head. The dreams must be a side effect of the regeneration he thought, stretching his weary limbs. The dream was already starting to fade from his memory. Finally when he had calmed himself he decided to get up. He groaned as he swung his legs over the side of the bed, his sore body screaming in protest.

"Doctor?"

The Doctor looked towards the voice, fear that Rose had seen his outburst sweeping over him.

"Rose…" he said giving her a small smile, "Good morning."

"Morning," Rose replied giving him a weary look. "I was just wondering if you wanted to go shopping to get some clothes…. since your going to be staying.." Rose's voice trailed off and she stood there rocking back and forth, and shifting her gaze from the ground to him.

"Oh lovely. I would love to," the Doctor replied quickly standing up and walking towards Rose. "Allons-y!" he said as he began walking out of the room, and down the hallway to the stairs.

Rose trailed slowly behind watching him carefully. The Doctor noticed she wasn't following and stopped in the middle of the hall.

"Something wrong Rose?" he asked innocently.

"I could ask you the same thing," Rose mumbled giving him a queer look.

"Nope. I'm fantastic," the Doctor replied beaming at her.

Rose flinched as she recognized his previous incarnations favorite catch phrase. The Doctor didn't seem to notice his mistake, and instead turned back around and began walking again.

"Doctor," Rose called.

"Yes Rose Tyler," the Doctor responded stopping again and turning to her.

"Maybe before we go anywhere you should get something beside pajama's on."

He smiled sheepishly as he realized he was still in the flannel pajama's Pete had lent him.

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After a shower, change of clothes, and breakfast the Doctor and Rose drove into London to do some shopping. The Doctor sat in the passenger seat fidgeting uncomfortably at the unfamiliarity of the whole situation. The only thing that kept him seated in the car was the sight of Rose relaxed in the drivers seat as she maneuvered the car down the streets. Her beautiful blonde hair brushed her shoulders, and her finger tapped the steering wheel to the beat of some pop song he didn't recognize playing on the radio.

"Do you want to get more suits?" she asked glancing at him out of the corner of her eye.

She had noticed him staring at her. The expression on his face made her heart skip a beat. He had only looked at her like that a few other times since that fateful christmas day when their brand new relationship had began.

"Hmm," he said shaking his head slightly and turning to look out the window to hide his embarrassment. "Oh yes. Suits would be nice."

"So…," Rose began. "How much do you remember of our travels?"

"I remember everything," he replied turning towards her, "For example I remember our first date we had chips. You paid."

Rose smiled at this.

"Yeah because your cheap," she said with a small chuckle. "What else do you remember?"

One the way to the store the Doctor recounted many different tales of their adventures, and even some of his adventures with Donna and Martha. The two laughed as they joked about past encounters with some of the more crazy aliens, and cursed all their close calls with some of the more dangerous creatures that haunted the stars. By the time the car was parked Rose's smile had reacher her eyes, and her face held hope again.

"Looks like I'm paying again cheapskate," Rose joked, nudging the Doctor in the arm as they walked into the department store.

He beamed at her in response.

"I don't have any money."

Rose just shook her head and grinned at him as they made their way to the mens section of the store.

"Is this the same store you used to work at over in your world?" he asked looking around at the familiar settings.

Rose nodded. "This one, fortunately, never got to meet you," she said with a smirk, referencing the first time the met.

The Doctor stuck out his bottom lip out, and gave her his best pout. Rose ignored it and moved over to a rack and began looking through the different shirts lined up on it. The Doctor followed suit and picked a nearby rack to begin digging through. He scowled at the lack of selection the store offered. It was nothing like the vast closets of the T.A.R.D.I.S. He sighed as he picked up out a light blue button up shirt to examine. This would just be another of the many adjustments he would have to make to fit in to human life.

"Doctor what about this," Rose called.

The Doctor turned and saw she was holding a brown suit almost identical to his original one.

"Oh brilliant!" he exclaimed walking over to her to examine it more closely.

"You should try it on and make sure it fits," Rose said as she began rummaging through the clothes again.

The Doctor looked around till he spotted the changing rooms close by. He weaved his way through the crowds and ducked inside one of the changing rooms, shutting the door behind him. He removed the blue jacket and pants he was currently wearing, and slid into the ones Rose had found for him. They fit comfortably. The Doctor examined himself in the mirror. He thought the suit looked good on him, but he opened the door and ducked out to see if Rose would agree. She had moved on, and was now looking through shoes. In her hands were a pair of cream converse. The Doctor smiled to himself sadly. She was attempting to gather the components to his old outfit.

He walked casually over to her, catching her by surprise as he tapped her on the shoulder. She turned to face him her smile faltering for moment before fixing itself firmly on her lips again.

"Do you like it?"

"It's perfect," he replied turning to show off for her.

She laughed and handed him the pair of converse she was holding.

"How about these? I thought you might like a pair that matched your old ones."

The Doctor took them from her and squatted on the ground as he removed his red converse from his feet and slipping the cream ones on in their place.

"They're a size to small," he said removing them from his feet and handing them back to her.

Rose placed them back in the box they came from and grabbed the next size up.

"Here try these."

The Doctor slipped the new pair on and relished the familiar feeling of his favorite pair of shoes.

"Do you like them?" Rose asked tentatively. "I can find something else if you don't."

The Doctor shook his head.

"I love them," he sighed giving her an appreciative smile.

She smiled back and gathered the box for him to put them in. They continued to gather more clothes until Rose was satisfied the Doctor had enough clothes to last him for a few months. He had protested when she had presented him with several pairs of regular tee-shirt, but she had insisted he couldn't just go running around in the same two suits everyday.

"I still don't see why I need so many pairs of shirts," he grumbled as they stood in the check out line.

"I already told you," she explained for the third time, "Normal people don't wear the same thing everyday."

The Doctor didn't argue, but continued to sulk as he collected the bags. Rose handed the cashier the money Pete had given her, and collected her receipt. The two headed back to the car. The Doctor desperately wished he had money so he could do something special for Rose. It had been so long since they had done something fun together. He made a mental note to talk to Pete Tyler about where he could get a job. They both rode home in silence thinking about the strange couple of days they had had.

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When they got home there was an air of excitement. Jackie was talking with a group of people in the foyer when she spotted Rose and the Doctor standing by the doorway.

"Rose, honey you're just in time!"

Rose gave her a puzzled look.

"Just in time for what mum?"

"To help me plan the party," she exclaimed.

"Party?" Rose asked growing more confused at her mothers words.

"Yes party silly. Your father is throwing a party to celebrate the success of Torchwood."

"Oh…" Rose said dumbly.

Before she could say anything else Jackie grabbed her arm and whisked her away to talk with people who were, the Doctor could only guess, party planners. Rose gave him an apologetic look before vanishing into the crowed of people. The Doctor shrugged to himself, and took the bags of clothes upstairs to the room the Tyler's had given him. He set the bags down, and sat down on the floor with his back against the bed. The exhaustion of being a human with a recently regenerated body took its tole on him. He felt his eyes grow heavy until they finally closed, and he sank into a deep sleep.

Hey guys! This is my first authors notes for this story! I'm so sorry it took so long to finish this chapter. I hope you guys enjoy it, and I will try and be quicker in the future with chapter updates. I would really appreciate some feedback on the story so that I know what you guys would like me to improve on for future chapters.