~oOo~

It was just past ten when Rose finally made it back home. Sometimes she wondered why she had thought dealing with tetchy scientists would make an ideal career. There was a deadline coming up for their newest tech gizmo with the prototype due on Monday, and they still weren't done. Luckily, Rose knew a thing or two about tinkering.

Work today had been a welcome distraction from the Doctor, or rather John Smith. This morning bantering back and forth with him while having tea had transported her back to when they were traveling together. And she realized just how much she had missed him, missed the ease with which they interacted.

Then he opened his mouth again, and she was reminded of why she had left. Oh, she didn't think that the Doctor had actually done anything with Madame du Pompadour, although not from lack of trying on the mistress's part. He was a notorious flirt, but he never did anything about it. Rose seriously doubted that there would have been a kiss between the Doctor and the Uncrowned Queen of France if she hadn't initiated it.

But with his eye being so easily caught so soon after Sarah Jane and promises of 'never you', she couldn't trust him not to abandon her. She still cared about him. How could she not? So the next morning when she had gone to check on him and he was acting like everything was back to normal, understandably she had been shocked.

He'd never once mentioned France on a spaceship again. He had loved Reinette so much that he'd been willing to spend his life on the slow path with her and then he had not said one word about her after that. He hadn't even mourned her after that first night. Rose didn't know who she felt worse for: Reinette for being forgotten so easily, the Doctor for forgetting so easily or herself for knowing that the second she walked out those doors she wouldn't even be a memory.

A week later, after much thought, Rose decided to leave on her own terms. Yes, the Doctor had protested her leaving, but he hadn't stopped her, hadn't even really tried. Going back to her mum's flat was hard, but she made her own way, sort of. There was a scholarship from the Jagrafess Endowment (thanks to Jack) that had financed her studies through University. Rose knew then that she could do this, and she never expected to hear from the Doctor again.

Then came the flowers: pink and yellow roses every year on her birthday and the anniversary of the day they met. No card, but she knew who they were from considering that particular type of rose wasn't found on Earth. No word from him though, at least not directly.

Jack had introduced her to Martha, and the other woman had been standoffish because the Doctor had never shut up about his lost Rose. She had been flabbergasted that he'd spoken about her. If he missed her so much, why hadn't he just come to visit her? Her curiosity was almost overwhelming, but her pride and her desire to make something of herself kept her from reaching out to him, for a little while at least.

On the day she graduated Uni, she came home to her flat and found a blue and silver wrapped package on her kitchen table. Inside was a silver necklace with a pendant that shone like the night sky.

That time he had left a note.

I am so very proud of you.

Always yours,

The Doctor

She wore it around her neck every day for two weeks before she mustered up the courage to call the Doctor. Her super phone was back in her mum's flat along with her TARDIS key, but she still remembered the number five years later. As the phone rang, her whole body trembled. How would she feel hearing his voice again? How would he feel about her calling?

There was a soft click as someone answered the phone. There was a distinct sound of the Doctor's laughter in the background, and the girl who answered the phone was giggling. "Thank you for calling your friendly neighborhood TARDIS, this is Jenny speaking. How can I help you?"

Rose was shocked. Part of her had assumed that the flowers and the necklace that the Time Lord hadn't moved on. She knew those thoughts were selfish. He needed to move on the same way she did. "Sorry, this is Rose," she said after a moment's pause. "Can you just tell him that I said thank you for the necklace? I really love it, and I'll treasure it always. Gotta go."

"Wait, what's happening, Mu…." Rose hung up before Jenny could finish her sentence.

After that she had thrown herself further into her human life on the slow path, no longer wanting to live in what could have been. Even through her ups and downs it had been fantastic so far.

Now the Doctor was back, or at least John Smith was. Three months and he would be gone again. In the meantime, Rose had the chance to visit with someone that she had been missing very much. Slipping out of her shoes and grabbing the Doctor's suit out of the closet, she headed down to the basement.

Once inside the console room, Rose felt like the TARDIS had wrapped her in a tight, loving embrace. Her fingers caressed the coral struts. "I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to say a proper hello earlier. Your unconscious pilot had me a bit distracted."

The TARDIS hummed, and Rose smiled. "I missed you too. Just so you know. Sometimes I think I missed you more than him. Because we all know that you're the one in charge." Tinkling laughter filled her head as she plopped down on the jump seat. The Doctor's pinstriped suit was folded in her lap. She wondered if he still carried his sonic in the same pocket of his jacket that he had done when she had traveled with him.

Reaching a hand into the left breast pocket she found the sonic and what felt like an old piece of paper. She pulled both of them out and was surprised that the paper was actually a battered photograph of her and the Doctor on New Earth. It looked old and worn, like it was handled often. Turning it over, she noticed writing on the back. It was written in Gallifreyan and the TARDIS didn't translate.

The Doctor's voice filled the room before Rose could ruminate on the photo for too long.

"Ok, so I have a couple of rules or maybe guidelines for dealing with human me."

Rose looked up at the view screen and was greeted with his smiling face. Reflexively she grinned back, curious to see what 'rules' he had for her.

"First, don't let me hurt anyone. Not that I think that I would, but you know how humans are. Two, don't let me get involved in current events. Can't risk damaging any timelines and since you are a former companion I have every confidence that you already knew that. Four, no wait three, you, I'm not sure exactly how my subconscious will work you in, but if for some reason I am utterly rude to you…"

"I won't be surprised in the least," Rose muttered.

"Sorry in advance. Rude and not ginger, that's me. Four, pears. I hate pears. John Smith is just a made up character, don't let him eat a pear. I really don't want to wake up in three months and taste that."

Rolling her eyes, she sniggered, "You really shouldn't give people stuff to use against you."

"Five, don't let me invent anything or write anything that could alter the course of human history. Six, don't let me see the TARDIS. It might be too much for John Smith to take, and I don't fancy being carted off to the insane asylum. Seven, no wait six, yes six, the TARDIS is powered down and she won't be able to access all of her rooms so don't push her just because you want to go ten-pin bowling or watch a film from 2539 or something. Seven, I'm allergic to aspirin but I'm not sure if this human version of me will know that. So try and get me to take another type of painkiller if I need one. I don't want to regenerate from a medical accident. Again."

Rose snorted and was glad that she had come downstairs and checked with the TARDIS before giving him anything earlier. She'd opened the door expecting to have to go all the way to the med bay to get some weird alien medicine cleverly disguised as something human but had instead found a good old bottle of paracetamol. Or at least she had found the American equivalent of it.

"Eight! Please know I don't expect you to take care of me. I presume that the TARDIS will set me up with some sort of vocation. Oh, or maybe you can get me a job at a little shop. I love a little shop, great places to meet people shops are." He paused, and he swallowed. "Nine, if this isn't Rose and you see her, don't tell her that I'm here and not me. I don't want her burdened with me if she doesn't have to be. Ten, if this is Rose, I left you a separate message. Again I'm sorry. If I am with you, it's probably because the TARDIS knows how much I miss you, and because she misses you as well."

Tears prickled in Rose's eyes. Why is it that he could be so open in videos or holograms but not to her face? And what was in the other message that the Doctor had left for her?

The Doctor cleared his throat. "Anyway, eleven. Thinking back to things that I probably shouldn't see or have contact with; anything trans-dimensional, like the pockets on my suit. Oh, or my sonic, my psychic paper or anything alien. You'll figure it out. Twelve, while I'm human I won't have the ability to regenerate. If it becomes likely that I'll die, open the watch. It will make me traceable but rather that than me dead for good. Maybe…" He shook his head. "Thirteen, the watch. Keep it close to you. I'm trusting you with my life here. It has a perception filter on it so I won't notice it or, you know, try and open it early.

"Fourteen, it would probably be a good idea for Jack to stay away while the Family is tracking me. If they get their hands on Jack Harkness, the consequences could be potentially devastating. So keep him away. Fifteen, if you have no idea who Jack Harkness is just stay away and don't look him up. Sixteen, if for some reason you do look him up even though I asked you not to, ignore the flirting. He's like that with everyone. And I mean everyone… doesn't matter if it's animal, vegetable or mineral. Seventeen, I'm sorry, Jack, but you know it's true."

Rose couldn't help but laugh, and she couldn't wait to show Jack this video.

"Eighteen, if I say or do anything embarrassing while I'm John Smith, please remember that he's not me. I mean he'll have little bits of my personality, possibly, but that's it. He's not me. Although…. Some things may bleed through. Nineteen, Jam! I really like jam and bananas and tea. Please make sure that I don't overindulge because I doubt that human me will have the superior metabolism that the Time Lord me has. Twenty, I will be 100% human, please keep that in mind. Twenty-one, back to the watch, please don't lose it or Time Lord me will be gone.

"Twenty-two if you open it when I'm not around it may attract attention to us that we don't need. And finally, twenty-three, if they find us, open the watch, bring me back. I'll trust your judgment here." He moved to turn off the camera but then stepped back so that his whole face filled the screen. "Thank you for this. Really, thank you."

The screen went blank. Rose let out a deep breath, and then she started to giggle. Those giggles turned into full blown laughter. Oh, that message was so purely him. After a minute the laughter subsided and she yawned; time for bed. It had been a long day, and she needed to digest everything that had happened. Not to mention that she didn't even want to think about what she had agreed to with John tomorrow, not without a good night's sleep first.

~oOo~

When his hair was as perfect as he was going to get it, he stepped and appraised his choice of attire; burgundy converse, dark blue jeans, vest top under a t-shirt with a moose emblazoned on the left breast (did they have moose in this part of Colorado?), black hoody and a short black trench coat. He thought he cleaned up nicely.

He had spent a good part of the morning wandering the small town. A few miles away there was a bustling ski resort town with five star restaurants and posh shops, but this one was the epitome of small town Americana. There was one smallish supermarket, four hole-in-the-wall diners, a few specialty shops, a library in what looked to be a large old house and a police station.

Just outside the main square was Pinnacle Enterprises, the company Rose worked for. It was by far the largest building in town and the only thing he'd been able to find out about it so far was that it was some sort of think tank. That, and it was one of the two largest employers for local residents, the other being the coal mine located in the opposite direction of the ski resort.

Small town life, this is what he'd come up here for, to escape from the fuss and bother of city life and to bypass the tourist spots. A quiet spot to write his book, that's what he wanted to find here, and if it came with the added bonus of Rose Tyler, well so much the better.

Grabbing his keys off the side table, he stepped in to the hallway and locked the door behind him.

The Range Rover was downstairs, and even though it was only about a half a mile from his flat to Rose's house he chose to drive. It was a cold night, and he didn't want to battle with the ice again. Besides, this way he could take Rose to a nicer restaurant than the ones within walking distance.

In a matter of minutes, he was bounding up the stairs to her door. His knuckles rapped out 'Shave and a Hair Cut' on the wood to let her know that he was there and waiting. There was a shuffling inside, and he heard two quick knocks answering 'two bits' to his greeting. He smiled as she opened the door.

"Can't leave it unfinished," Rose laughed and stepped aside to let him in. "You're right on time. Wasn't expecting that."

His mouth went slightly dry as he took in her appearance. Her blonde hair in a messy up do and green cable knit sweater with large brown buttons and a dark muffler wrapped around her neck made her look like the epitome of casual elegance. The sound of her clearing her throat brought him out of his reverie.

Blinking for a second, he smiled at her. "Well, I was eager to see my new friend. And dinner. I'm a bit famished. So yes, enthusiastic about dinner with the beautiful lady of the house who is just my friend."

"Riiight," she countered, quirking an eyebrow. "So, did you have any idea where you wanted to go for dinner?" Quickly grabbing her coat off the back of a nearby chair, John helped her put it on. "Such a gentleman." Her lips twitched as she tried not to smile.

"Just trying to make up for my rudeness earlier, and I have a few ideas about dinner. There's a French place up near Bear Lodge. I'd love to see if the American version stacked up to the real thing. And I hear that they have dancing."

Rose looked him over appraisingly and then shook her head. "The food there is great, but you're a bit underdressed for that place. Both of us are. Black tie only, and yes, the dance floor is very nice." After buttoning her coat she stepped out onto the stoop. He followed her out and for the first time noticed that there was no key lock on the door. Instead, there was what looked like a biometric key pad.

"Are you sure that's safe? I mean, a really good hacker could easily pick a biometric lock." John pulled out a pair of glasses from his coat pocket as he bent over to study the device.

Rose snorted. "Not this one, it needs six types of identification in order to open the lock. Besides it deadlock seals after two failed attempts to open it, alerts the authorities and contacts me immediately."

"Impressive," John replied, nodding. "Who designed it?"

"I did." Rose was down the steps and already heading down the driveway when he stood back up. "Are you coming?"

Rushing to catch up with her, he wrapped a hand around her elbow, gently guiding her to the passenger side of the car. He helped her inside and then shut the door before going around and sliding into the driver's seat. Once they had pulled out onto the street, he chanced a glance over at her.

"When you say that you created the door lock thingy, do you mean you yourself did it or the company you work for? Your card said you were in research and development."

"Both, actually." She sounded chuffed. "I had this… friend, and he loved to tinker. I guess it rubbed off. So when I went to Uni to get my business degree, I took some mechanical engineering classes. Turns out I had a knack for it, and I changed my major. Minored in business. The rest is history."

A feeling of pride enveloped him. He asked her a few more questions about her childhood as they drove the short distance to a burger joint he had scoped out earlier. To say that he was awestruck with her 'rags-to-riches' would have been an understatement. Rose Tyler was remarkable, and John could easily see himself falling for her. When he put the car in park, he was a little disappointed that she didn't wait for him to come round and open her door. He really was trying to be on his best behavior after yesterday's rude behavior.

Rose appreciated that he held the restaurant's door open for her and pulled out her chair for her. So far, John Smith had proved himself to be a polite and magnetic man and he was doing his absolute best to charm the pants off of her. She couldn't let him, though; it would add further problems to her current disaster of a love life. Okay, disaster wasn't the right term. It was just convoluted.

Under the table, John's foot tapped nervously next to hers. The Doctor had hardly ever been nervous, especially around her, unless they were alone and he had unintentionally taken their flirting too far. That was when he awkwardly backpedaled. She had learned early on that the Doctor loved to flirt but that he rarely meant anything by it. Not to her, not to anyone really, and now she had gone and made herself a little bit sad.

"Everything alright? he asked, looking at her from over the top of his menu, his sexy specs perched on his nose once more. Why did he have to wear those things again?

She shook her head clear. "Just away with the fairies for a mo."

With a smile and a nod he looked back down at his menu. "So what's good here? I mean, I assume you've been before since there aren't that many restaurants in the vicinity."

As if on cue, a waiter that Rose knew set a basket full of chips and a bottle of vinegar down in front of her. "Thanks, Brock," she said, smiling gratefully at the young man.

"Usual to drink, Rose?" he asked, and when she nodded he turned to John. "And what can I get for your friend here?"

John flipped the menu over and perused the drink selections. "Banana milkshake, ta," he replied after a moment.

"Two banana shakes coming up. I'll give you two a moment to decide what you want." Brock headed back to the kitchen.

"Come here often then?" John teased, stealing a chip before she drenched them in the vinegar.

Rose shrugged. "Like you said, not many places to eat around here." She bit into one of the greasy potatoes. "Besides they have the best 'fries' for miles." As she said the American word for chips she made air quotes with her fingers, and he laughed. "Most places cut them too thin."

"That and the cute waiters." He nudged her foot with his.

She tightly pressed her lips together to keep from laughing. "I don't think Brock swings that way, John, but I'm sure that there is some lovely young man out there for you. I have this friend back in Wales that would love to meet you."

The surprised look on his face was priceless. "What no, no, no, no, no… I mean it looked like Brock fancied you is all. I like girls… women. I like lovely, mature women. Not too old, though. You know… young, fit, great smile, doesn't take herself too seriously. Oh, I've bolloxed this all up haven't I?"

Laughter spilled uncontrollably from her mouth. God, she missed laughing this much. She hadn't had anyone to really joke around with and tease since she moved here over a year ago. "You are such an easy mark."

Grinning, he pointed a finger in her face and wiggled it causing her to laugh harder. "And you are very, very mean, Rose Tyler."

The way he said her name caused her to slow her laughter. "Sorry," she giggled and drew in a deep calming breath. "Brock's a good kid, a sixteen year old kid, about half my age. He's already saving money to go to college. He wants to be a large animal veterinarian."

John gave her a crooked grin. "You seem to know a lot about him."

Shrugging again, she returned his smile. "Small towns are full of gossip. Everyone knows everyone else's business. See Lisa over there." She pointed to a brunette in the corner. "She's having an affair with her boss. Always been trying to shag her way to riches, and that bloke…" This time she pointed at a man sitting at the counter. "Got a bit of a gambling problem. Give it a week, John, and the chinwags in this town will spread your entire life story to everyone. Best to play things close to the vest, give them a little bit while keeping all the juicy bits to yourself."

A few minutes later Brock came back and took their orders. Their playful banter continued through dinner. All in all, Rose was having a great time. It had been so easy to slip back into their playful banter—way too easy. She'd all but forgotten that this wasn't the Doctor until he'd started asking questions about her family on the ride home.

"So, are your parents still back in London then?"

"Um, yeah." Rose bit her lip. "My mum, Jackie, lives just outside of town now. I bought her a house so she could get off the old estate. She does hair and plays Nan to my friend Mickey's girls."

She glanced at his profile, and he turned to look at her for a moment. "And your dad?"

"He died when I was a baby, hit by a car." Turning her head, she looked out the window.

Reaching over, he found her hand and gave it a squeeze. "I'm sorry."

She squeezed back. "It's alright, been a long time. What about your parents?" Looking back at him, she was curious for his answer.

"Ah yes, they died in a house fire several years back." This time she squeezed his hand before he continued. "My mum, Verity, was a Literature professor, and my dad, Sydney, was a watch maker."

"Must have been hard on you," Rose murmured, wondering if when he thought of those fictional people he thought of the family he lost in the time war.

"A bit yeah, but traveling was a distraction. And then the wanderlust took over. I'll have to tell you about my travels one day, Rose Tyler." He pulled his car into her driveway.

For a moment, Rose wondered what was going to happen now. This wasn't a date, and she prayed that John wouldn't try to kiss her. This was already complicated enough. Oh god, they were still holding hands. She quickly let him go. "I'd like that, but not tonight, John. I'm knackered. See you soon, though." She was out of the car and up the steps before he had a chance to say anything more than a quick goodnight.