Rose didn't know his name. He always ordered under the name of "the Doctor", and nothing more. He came in every day of the week except on Thursday. On the weekdays he just came in for a short amount of time; only to buy his coffee and go. On the other two days he would stay for a while, sometimes order a pastry or muffin to go with his drink, and sit in the corner booth by the window with a book. He always ordered the same thing though. Grande café mocha with whole milk, extra whipped cream, with two cup sleeves and on Saturday he'd also have a chocolate-chip scone (sometimes more than one).

He was a quiet sort of fellow, but always said hello to her when he ordered. Rose would give him a smile, but he hardly ever returned them fully. He always seemed so… tired. Well, isn't that why people drank coffee in the first place? To wake them up? Rose hoped one day he'd return with a smile that reached his eyes.

It was a Wednesday when he did.

"Here you go, Doctor," Rose smiled to him as she handed him his order—the usual, but with an extra shot in his coffee today.

He looked up at her with a surprised expression on his face—and then he smiled. A real smile too, one that made his whole face light up.

"You called me 'Doctor'," he said in a happy tone.

"Well, that's the name you put on your order," Rose returned. "Would you rather have me call you something else?"

"No, no," he grinned. "Just 'the Doctor.'"

"Then I hope you enjoy your coffee, Doctor."

"That I will, miss," he said and gave her another smile before he left.

—

Every day after that he always gave her a smile.

—

It was raining on Sunday.

"Bye, Jack! See ya tomorrow!" she called to her coworker, as she grabbed her coat. Rose only worked from six to eleven in the morning on Sundays.

"Catch you later, dear," he winked at her in return.

Rose pulled her coat collars up in an attempt to shield her face from the rain. She had just ducked out the door with her head down when she bumped into someone.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" she said quickly.

"No, it's alright," a familiar voice said. "Entirely my fault. Forgive me."

Rose glanced up and saw the Doctor smiling sheepishly down at her through the rain. It seemed he too had forgotten an umbrella.

"Hello," she smiled. "I know you."

"Hello," he grinned and then nodded to the shop behind them. "Are you leaving?"

"Yeah, I just got off," Rose said as she brought a hand up to shield her eyes from the rain.

"Oh, right," he nodded. "It's Sunday isn't it?"

"Yup," Rose said and popped the 'p'. The Doctor nodded again and then stayed silent. The rain was continuing to fall and slowly drenching Rose at the same time. She couldn't help it but shiver.

"Oh! Oh, goodness me I'm being very ungentlemanly," the Doctor said quickly and took his long brown coat off. "You're soaking wet. Here take my coat."

"No, that's fine," Rose shook her head. "I'm just heading home."

"Would you mind if I walked you home then?" the Doctor offered. "We could use my coat as an umbrella."

Rose giggled, "Really?"

"It's the least I could do for getting you wet."

"I don't think you control the rain, Doctor."

"I could," he smirked and quirked an eyebrow. "You never know."

She laughed and then said, "Alright then. If you insist."

"Doctor's orders," he quipped and held his coat over his head while extending his arm so that she could move under it as well. Rose rolled her eyes at his pun.

"I set you up for that, didn't I?" she smiled.

"Yup. Sorry."

Rose laughed again and huddled closer to him.

"What's your name?" the Doctor asked. "I never did ask."

"Rose," she smiled.

"Nice to get your name, Rose," he said with a manic grin. "Run for your life!"

Together they ran through streets and toward Rose's flat, both of them giggling all the way. The Doctor held his coat over her the whole time, and directed her around larger puddles whenever they came across them. Rose couldn't keep the smile off her face.

"Well, here we are," Rose said once they reached her door.

"Right. Yes. Good," the Doctor huffed, catching his breath back.

"Thanks for providing me with a sorta umbrella," Rose smiled at him.

"Anytime," he grinned and then paused a bit before saying, "I'll see you tomorrow?"

"'Course," Rose said. "Someone's gotta fill your complicated coffee order."

"Oi, it's not that complicated."

"Two cup sleeves?"

"I've got sensitive hands!" the Doctor defended himself. "And I don't want to burn these beautiful fingers."

He dropped his coat on his head so that he could free his hands in order to display them palms-up in front of her.

"Yes, they're very pretty," Rose giggled. The Doctor gave her a wink.

"So until tomorrow, Rose?" he smiled.

"Until tomorrow."

With that said the Doctor gave her a bow and then scurried away into the rain. Rose smiled to herself as she watched him scamper off before finally going into her flat to dry off.

—

It was raining again next morning. She left her flat, and to her surprise, found the Doctor waiting for her a by the curb. This time, he held a large blue umbrella over him.

"What are you doing here?" Rose called to him.

"I was heading to the shop!" The Doctor said happily and went over to her. "And I thought to myself; why not see if my favorite barista needed an umbrella?"

"Oh, aren't you a charmer," Rose giggled.

"Does that mean you'll let me walk you to work?"

"Of course," Rose said and offered him a hand. "You can be my personal umbrella man when it rains."

The Doctor grinned widely and threaded his fingers through hers. He gave her hand a small squeeze before leading her away to the coffee shop.