Thank you to everyone for reading this story, it's much appreciated and thank you for your reviews :-)
Diclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who...
Rose walked into her room and sighed with relief as she saw her reflection in the mirror. Her face was free of wrinkles, her hair its usual peroxide blonde colour (with frustratingly obvious brown roots) and she felt, physically, much healthier, despite her extreme tiredness.
She went into the en-suite bathroom and had a long, warm shower, taking time to clear her mind, collect her thoughts and prepare herself.
She knew that she should talk to the Doctor about everything. She knew she needed to talk things through with him but, even after all the monstrous aliens she's fought, all the futuristic robots she'd defeated, this was the most terrifying thing she'd ever had to do. Talk about feelings.
She turned the shower off and sighed, still thinking deeply as she dried herself, she got dressed into some comfortable jeans and a t shirt, then rubbed her hair with a towel but left it damp. She had no energy whatsoever.
Dragging her feet, she slumped into her room and fell onto her bed in a lump. You would've though, after sleeping for days on end, she would feel as bright and awake as ever. But as she leaned her head back into the soft, welcoming cushions, she felt like every ounce of energy and effort had been removed from her bones. She kicked off her shoes and got tucked up under the warm covers, and smiled at how happy she felt. And then the full extremity of the situations hit her in the face with a bang.
I'm going to live forever.
Her grin widened, and her stomach did a few flips. She was going to spend forever with the Doctor. Rolling over, she thought the moment couldn't be any more perfect. Well, it turned out it could.
With a small creak, the door opened, and the smell of tea wafted into the room. The reassuring smell that never failed to remind her of home. Both her homes. And reminded that she was safe, that she had someone beside her to catch her if she was falling...
Groaning, she sat up and watched the Doctor put the tea down on the bedside table. He stood beside the bed, deliberating his next move nervously.
"How are you feeling?" He asked.
"Tired." She laughed.
"Lazy." He smirked.
He laughed at her expression of mock-offense, then swiftly climbed into the other side of the bed, wrapping her in his arms and squeezing her tightly.
"I thought I'd lost you." He whispered, the ghost of his worry echoing in his voice.
"You didn't." She said, suddenly strong and clear, despite her growing weakness. "And you won't. I promised you forever, and forever it shall be." She grabbed his hand and squeazed it.
He leaned his head on top hers and pulled her closer.
"Go to sleep, you must be exhausted." He said, worry still in his voice, as if he didn't want to let her go, in case she got lost forever.
She snuggled herself against him and closed her eyes, wishing that she stay in this exact position forever.
Rose had woken up feeling refreshed and ready to go, and the Doctor had decided to take her to see the beaches of the planet Dargin, a planet famous for its hot, sandy beaches and sparkling, blue oceans.
She stepped out of the TARDIS wearing pink shorts, a white vest top, and sunglasses. The Doctor followed, in his usual brown pinstripe suit and sneakers. He grabbed her hand and led her down the beach.
It was full of laughing families, squabbling children, and smitten couples, all of whom were from so many different species that you simply couldn't keep count.
For a few hours they just wandered around aimlessly, enjoying the gentle heat of the sun and the cool, ocean breeze on their skin. The sun began to fade behind the endless ocean, and soon people began to walk back up the beach and into the towns.
Peaceful, they stood side-by-side, staring at the glittering ocean. Everything was silent. Rose closed her eyes and took a deep breath, smelling the salt of the water as it filled her nose. The water gently lapped onto her toes, tickling her feet.
"Rose!" The Doctor screamed desperately.
Panicked, she was dragged out of her reverie, and she frantically spun round. Her heart began to race as she failed to find him. Suddenly, she spotted, just a bit further up the beach, a blur of flailing arms and legs.
"Doctor!" She yelled, running clumsily up the uneven sand.
"Rose!" He shouted again, his voice becoming more and more distant.
"I'm coming!" She cried. She could see a few people surrounding him, hurriedly dragging him away. He was powerless against their combined strength.
She heard a metallic, scream-like voice from behind her, and span around to see. Her breath was caught in her throat as she saw the same image as the reccuring symbol, the two circles. The dark, threatening black cricle encasing the light blue, glaring circle. She screamed, and called for the Doctor, momentarily forgetting that he was the one in peril.
"Shhh, it's okay." Said the voice in her head.
She had voices in her head?
"I'm here, don't worry, wake up, Rose."
Her legs gave way, and she collapsed onto the floor, only to open her eyes and find herself in her own bed, the Doctor's comforting arms around her, making her feel instantly calm.
"I-where-what?" She mumbled.
"It's okay. You just had a bad dream, that's all." He told her.
"But I was...we were..." She couldn't work out how it had just been a dream. It had all seemed so real... "Well that was...odd." She said, coming to her senses and feeling increasingly more alert and happy.
He smiled the smile that always made her insides melt, then jumped up and straightened his tie.
"I think you need a break. I'll take you somewhere nice-where we won't have to run anywhere." He smiled.
"That sounds nice." She laughed, relieved.
"I was thinking...Dargin. Beautiful, sandy beaches, gorgeous glittering oceans and-"
"No!" She cut him off, panicking.
"Why not?" He asked, confused.
"I...that's where...in my dream we were there...somebody tried to take you...and that symbol..." She choked, tears welling up inside her eyes.
"Okay, don't worry, we'll go somewhere else!" He said, concerned and puzzled but willing to do what would make her happy.
"Can we go and visit my mum?" She asked, a sudden wish to see her mother overwhelming her.
He smiled at her happily. "Of course."
Hands in pockets, he strode out of the room, and the whirring of the engines a few minutes later suggested that he had already set the TARDIS to land back in London, near her Mum's flat.
She couldn't wait to go home.
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