Character/Pairing: Ten/Rose
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: The BBC owns all, I am merely borrowing.
Spoilers: Through The Satan Pit.
Author's Notes:Desperate to save Rose from a body snatching spirit, the Doctor resorted to establishing a forbidden bond between them. Now, he's just as desperate to keep them apart. When they visit a starlight festival for a little fun, he might very well get his wish. The much requested sequel to The Moonlit Cotillion.

In the wake of the Doctor's interference, Dorothy Hart furiously paced the procedural room. Every time she passed the dead insect, she would huff in rage. "Clever or not, that was too easy. I want immediate research on prevention. The Ambera must be protected!" She snapped her fingers.

Wringing his hands, the handler cautiously took a step closer.

"The festival is tonight. Find a replacement!" Dorothy ordered, her shrill voice echoing in the small room. "Immediately!"

But the handler stopped short before he reached the door, surprised by the sound of an alarm coming from the hallway.

"Oh, don't tell me he was clever enough to escape!" Dorothy bellowed. "We've got the best security in five galaxies!"

The Doctor dashed through the maze of hallways, leading Rose on a path that he hoped would turn into an escape route. He was already chiding himself for not paying attention to the layout of the building. He turned a corner and almost collided with several large men in matching pink lab coats. Skidding to a halt, he immediately propelled them in the opposite direction. There were confused employees and scattered equipment to dodge and Rose, still fatigued, was barely able to keep up with him.

"Just a bit farther," he encouraged, ducking to avoid a low hanging beam.

She nodded, squeezing his hand as he tugged her down the last hallway and through the lobby. They burst into the street, the sound of the alarm fading as they escaped. When they reached the market, the Doctor had to slow their pace in order to navigate the narrow alleys between stalls. The market was still crowded even as the merchants finished their last sales of the day. Rose was again startled by how happy everyone appeared.

"They don't know, do they?" she murmured.

"No. No, they don't." Finally spotting his ship, the Doctor sighed in relief. "C'mon." He had the key in hand when they reached the TARDIS and pounced on the controls as soon as they were inside.

Rose lingered near the door, watching him as he moved about the console. "Doctor?"

"Hmm?" he responded, grabbing the monitor to set new coordinates.

"Your hair."

"What about it? I'm trying out this new gel, but I don't think it's quite working for me."

"You've...um...gone gray."

"Rose, don't joke about something like that." He leaned across the console and released the parking brake.

She grabbed a railing to steady herself. "M'serious, Doctor. You're definitely gray."

Her serious tone caused him to jerk away from the console, frantically searching for a reflective surface. "What? What?!"

"The soot! You're covered in it," she explained, biting her lip to keep from giggling.

"Oh." Slowly, he lowered his hands from his hair, glancing aside to find Rose equally coated. "So are you." Clearing his throat, he flipped a switch and the ship settled. "You'd best get that off. Nice hot shower should do the trick. Then head to the infirmary. I should...uh...check an' make sure you didn't ingest too much."

"Why?" Worried, she inspected the dust that clung to her hair and clothing. "S'dangerous?"

"Oh, yes. Lots of unsafe particles in that stuff," he confirmed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Could even be axapaliotoseen."

"But we were out in it an' you never said..."

"Well...didn't want to ruin the moment." He gave her a small push toward the doorway that led into the depths of the ship. "Off you go! I'll meet you in the infirmary."

Rose hesitated. She was well aware that the Doctor often concocted excuses when he had plans he didn't intend to share. "What about you?"

"Oh, I'll do the same. Just need to check the aft stabilizers." He turned away to study a dial. "Make sure we don't drift off."

"That dial controls humidity," she observed, folding her arms.

"You remembered!" he exclaimed joyfully, before realizing he'd been caught in a lie. "I mean...yes. Of course it is. Just...testing your memory. Top marks. Job well done."

Rose was not one to easily give up pursuing the truth, but the soot had somehow trickled inside her clothing and she'd just narrowly escaped death by gigantic beetle. A shower sounded wonderful. "All right. But no dallyin'!"

"Oh." He gave her a half smile. "Wouldn't dream of it."

Her skepticism was still apparent, but she nodded and headed down the corridor.

He waited until she was out of sight and then turned to leave the ship. He paused outside for just a moment, resting his hand against the warm wood. "Keep her safe, old girl."

For once, Rose decided to let the ship take care of her laundry, depositing the dusty clothing in a hamper rather than the growing pile she intended to bring to her mum. She doubted the soot was as dangerous as the Doctor had implied, but she'd learned not to take unnecessary risks. There was plenty of scalding hot water to wash away the grime and she thoroughly scrubbed her skin.

She tried not to think about the kiss, but it was inevitable that her thoughts lingered on the details. She'd wanted to for so long and really the Doctor had been the one to initiate this new tradition, kissing her after they'd escaped from the impossible planet. She shuddered at the memory of that adventure and the beast who still haunted her darkest thoughts. The Doctor had insisted that the beast's prediction was a lie, but she saw how it had unsettled him.

Stepping out, she wrapped herself in one of the ship's fluffy towels and sighed happily at the soft comfort it provided. Suddenly, her heart began beating erratically, as if she was in the midst of a dangerous adventure and not safe aboard the TARDIS. Gasping, she pressed a hand against the wall to steady herself, taking deep breaths in an attempt to halt the inexplicable panic attack. She glanced down at the necklace and noticed that the pendant appeared to be glowing brighter. She had no idea what that meant, but her thundering heart did not bode well. Eventually the sensation faded and she hurried to get dressed, needing the physical reassurance of seeing the Doctor alive and well.

She reached the infirmary in record time, only to find the lights dimmed and the room empty. She ran to the console room, but that too was empty. Now there was a real reason for her heart to be pounding. Tentatively, she approached the door that led outside and opened it just slightly. Pink. She opened it wider. Lots of pink. An entire cupboard of pink.

Rose gasped.

The Doctor had parked the TARDIS in the cupboard, purposefully trapping her inside their earlier prison.