Hiya peoples! Lovely lush fluffy funny chapter for ya's here, hope you all likeee. This is where the fun begins! Oh, and sorry if I seem a bit hyper, I'm reeeally excited and majorly thrilled about... something. You don't need to know (Wink wink Beth).

Anyhoos, enjoy, and please review to make my perfect life even more perfect!

Donna xxx

Chapter Five - It's Still True

Rose sat on one of the sofas upstairs in the hub, watching as the Doctor typed furiously at a computer below her. She felt like she was in a dream, couldn't really believe that she was back in the world she called home, with the man she loved just a few feet away. Years of hard work all boiled down to this, and to be honest, it was just as good as she'd hoped. Yes, she'd had her heart broken. Yes, she'd struggled to remain cheerful day after day in that parallel universe, felt like giving up so many times. But when she had felt like abandoning her efforts, she had pictured this very situation in her head, and it - he - was what had kept her going.

It was like that old saying that Mickey's gran had used to use all the time. What was it...? The end justifies the means. That was it. The old woman had been great - Rose just wasn't so sure about her grandson. She had been quite happy with Mickey all those years ago, but it had never really been love. Not for her, anyway. But for him, apparently, it still was. The looks he kept throwing in her direction weren't lost on her, but they made her slightly nervous - she just didn't care for him in that way.

She was head over heels in love with the Doctor - even if he didn't know it yet - and there was no way Mickey would stand a chance. She was just worried that he might try something drastic... but no. He wouldn't do anything, and even if he did try, the Doctor would be there to sort it ou-

"DAMN!"

Rose was brought crashing back down to earth and out of her thoughts by a loud curse from downstairs, and immediately she leapt up off the sofa to peer over the balcony to the Hub below her. She was slightly worried - until she caught sight of the Doctor, arms folded, scowling defiantly at a computer. So much for being her protector, the man who could always sort everything out in a calm, dignified manner.

"Compu'er behaving badly, Doctor?" she called down, unable to hide her smirk. That sulky expression on his face was so adorable, "Finally found somethin' you can't fix?"

His mouth opened in shock, "Wha...?"

His voice was high pitched with fury, "I... The... How dare...?"

He ran a hand through his hair as he searched for something to say, and then he finally gave up, deciding that he had no case, "Yeah."

With a grin, he darted up the stairs and threw himself down next to Rose, who had seated herself again immediately after determining that it wasn't urgent.

"Hello." he said simply, looking into her eyes, and if possible his smile got even wider.

"Hi." she gazed right back at him, and for a moment they both felt a connection between them although nothing had been said. Rose felt the heat rise to her face as she blushed, and hastily cleared her throat.

"So, erm... bit quiet around here."

Was it just her, or did he look a little disappointed?

"Where is everyone?"

"Um... Ianto and Gwen decided to go for a drink; Donna hastily joined them when she realized Jack was staying here, and Jack himself I think is in his office... I dunno about the rest."

The rest being Mickey and Martha, "I know where our lot are, the important ones..."

Rose raised her eyebrows, "Ooh, scathing, Doctor. Meaning the other two are unimportant... Do I detect a note of jealousy in your voice?" She had meant it to be entirely playful, but the Doctor immediately sat up straight beside her, and turned in his chair so he was facing her properly.

"Shouldn't I be?"

They were silent, both of them so absorbed in the other's eyes. Rose could feel the intensity between them, and hoped to God this was leading where she wanted it to. It certainly felt that way, and after the Doctor spoke again, oh so softly and sincerely, it sounded that way too.

"Rose, why did you work so hard to come back here?"

Her eyes roamed his face, and she bit her lip nervously, trying to see past his unfathomable expression and think of what to say next.

"Surely you know?" she said, her voice a mere whisper. She was suddenly aware of how very close they were sitting, having subconsciously shifted nearer and nearer as the conversation progressed.

The Doctor swallowed loudly, and he maintained their eye contact albeit shakily.

"Um..." he joked, nervous, still in the same soft voice, "Too many zeppelins? I dunno, erm... Cardiff's excellent nightlife? The fact that-"

"Doctor." she cut him off quietly, seriously, She couldn't bare to hear him joke right now, this was too serious, "Don't. Just... don't."

Neither of them spoke for a moment, the tiny distance between them feeling like miles. Finally, Rose found the words.

"On that day, three years ago, Doctor, when we were..." her voice trembled, and she took a moment to compose herself, shaking her head slightly to pull herself together. This needed to be said.

"On the beach. In Norway, when we..." she sighed, finding putting this into words so hard, "Doctor, that was the worst day of my life - because that was the day I lost you. The day I lost my whole world."

He wasn't looking at her, but she soldiered on nevertheless, knowing that she would never have the guts to say it again. This was her only chance.

"When you disappeared- well, just beforehand, I said... well, you know what I said. But what I wanted you to know was..." she was losing confidence, and she squeezed her eyes shut for a second before stiffening her resolve and carrying on.

"That... That it..." her voice wasn't as strong as she had planned, "Well, it's still true. I never stopped... loving you."

Had she really just said that? Oh God, he still wasn't meeting her gaze, he was still looking down at the floor. Had she offended him? Had he forgotten that she'd said it on the bay? Had he wanted to forget it? Did he feel the same about her? If he didn't, would he not ask her to come with him when he left? Bugger. There was nothing but silence for a few painfully long seconds, before she could stand it no more.

"Doctor?" she asked in the same quiet voice, and at last he looked up at her. He didn't quite know what to say, how to put into words what he was feeling. He wanted this more than anything in the world, in fact it was all he had wanted since the day that had destroyed him three years ago. And although in his heart, truly, he loved Rose, he didn't know how to admit it.

Nine hundred years he had been alive, and never had a person affected him so much as her. Sure, companions had come and gone, but not until Rose had he ever felt a real connection with them, never had anyone helped him so much. She had undoubtedly made him a better person, shown him things about himself that he could never have dreamed. How to care about people, how to be more compassionate. How to slow down once in a while, how to enjoy the simpler things in to live... and how to love.

That was it, really. For the first time in his life, The Doctor was in love. And for the first time in his life, he was ready to admit it.

He looked up, right into Rose's brimming eyes, and gave her a tiny smile. One single, fat tear finally spilled over, and he reached up to delicately brush it off her cheek with his thumb. Neither of them said a word as he moved his thumb to steady her trembling lower lip; neither of them needed to. The moment was truly amazing, and as he leaned in even closer to her, he whispered, oh so softly, the thing that made it absolutely perfect.

"I love you too."

And then the gap was closed. And then his lips were on hers, in a kiss so tender and passionate that Rose was surprised she didn't just melt right then and there.

It was tentative at first, as the two of them got used to the feel of each other, got used to the fact that this was happening after they had wanted it for such a long, long time. But after a short while they were used to it, needed to feel closer still, and so when Rose deepened the kiss he responded eagerly, wrapping his arms around her as it got more intense and passionate.

After what felt like hours - or was it just a few seconds? - they finally broke apart, gasping for breath.

"Oh my God." Rose breathed.

"I know."

Was all he could manage. They both had huge smiles on their faces; their eyes found each other's, and after a few seconds an incredulous laugh suddenly escaped from Rose.

"I just kissed you."

"I just kissed you."

Utter joy was encompassing both of them; neither of them could keep the smiles off their faces and neither of them could think of anything to say except: "I love you." at exactly the same time.

They just stared at each other, their connection never stronger. So what if they had had their hearts broken, been apart for three long years? So what if every day had been harder than the last, if both of them had completely disintegrated after losing one another? They were together now, they would be forever, and that was all that mattered.

"Oh, jeez." a drawl from the other side of the room suddenly tore them from their thoughts. They both jumped, and spun around to see the Captain exiting his office and looking across at them with his eyebrows raised.

"So you two have jumped on the 'love' bandwagon too?" he asked as he went down the stairs, "Honestly, I thought you would know better than that, Rose."

Jack paused, and considered for a moment, "But Doctor, not you so much. You've always been weak."

And then he was gone, out through the door that led to the Hub's lower levels. The Doctor and Rose just looked at each other for a moment, before bursting into fits of laughter.

"Charming man, our Jack." the Doctor said cheerfully, before jumping up onto his feet and grabbing Rose's hand.

"Come on then!" he hauled her to her feet, before starting down the stairs back to the main Hub. "Now that that's taken care of I can have another look at this stupid computer." He darted over to the said computer, and immediately began fiddling with the back of the monitor.

Rose regarded him from halfway down the stairs, a smile playing on her lips.

"Now that that's taken care of?" she demanded, "What am I, just another item on your 'To Do' list?"

He dropped the sonic screwdriver he had been holding, and looked seriously up at her as she reached the desk.

"'To Do' list?" he asked quietly, and then, "Ow!" as Rose aimed a slap worthy of Donna Noble and Jackie Tyler combined at his arm.

"Eew!" she cried, " You! Have! Been! Spendin'! Too! Much! Time! With! Captain! Ja-"

He winced and shielded his face as she gave him a slap for every word, but as she aimed one final blow at him he was ready for her, and caught her by the wrist before she could make contact.

With a grin he pulled her towards him, and caught her in a kiss before she could complete her final syllable. He felt her smile against his lips, and immediately she slid her arms around his waist. They were so happy, so lost in the moment all over again, but then, just like last time:

"Oh, Jesus."

This time it was Donna, sweeping through the cog door with Gwen and Ianto close behind and an all too familiar expression of scorn on her face, "So the 'love' bug has caught you two as well, eh? I'm not surprised. I knew you'd succumb to it eventually, Doctor Domestic."

He and Rose stood side by side, feeling a little foolish at being caught in the act, as Donna started up the stairs towards the kitchen.

"Does anyone want coffee?" she asked, and they all nodded.

"D'you know how to use the machine?" Ianto called, and she nodded.

"Seriously, Ianto, you don't know how many PA jobs I've had. Making coffee comes as easily as breathing to me."

Gwen smirked, and leant against a desk.

"Lovely girl, Donna, even if her views on love are a bit... odd."

Rose grinned, sitting on a table opposite her, "Strangely enough, we got the exact same reaction from Jack."

"I can believe that." Ianto said, dropping into a chair to the left of Gwen, "He's always been scornful of..." he glanced to his right, "That sort of thing."

"It's mad, though, " said the Doctor, shaking his head, "Almost word for word."

"Yeah," Rose said casually, her chin resting on her hand, "For two people who hate each other so much, they sure share a lot of the same opinions."

"And intelligence," Ianto added, "They've definitely got an equal amount of wit. That's why it's so funny when they're going at each other, they're so clever."

"So similar," Gwen mused, "Personally, I think they'd make an amazing couple."

The other three's heads snapped up.

"That's just me, though." she added hastily.

"No, no, I agree." The Doctor said, "I've always thought that. If they'd just get over their airs and graces they'd realize how much they have in common."

"Well, yeah." Rose said, "But they'll never stop to figure that out, will they, they enjoy fighting too much. Whoever managed to get Donna and Jack together would have to be an absolute miracle-worker."

"I dunno." Gwen considered, "I reckon we could do it. How long have we got before you lot can go?"

"A week." The Doctor said, "You know Gwen, I think that could be long enough."

"Be somethin' to do, at any rate." Rose said, "A challenge is what we need, not much else 'appens around here..."

"Oi!" Gwen said sharply, "It does too! We're always-"

"Gwen, may I remind you that we just spent the afternoon in the pub." Ianto said, and Gwen nodded, admitting the fact.

"So, if we planned it really well..." Rose began, looking excited.

"And acted really convincingly..." Gwen continued.

"We can do it." Ianto finished, "We will. By the end of this week, Donna and Jack will be together, are we all agreed?"

"Agreed." they all said at the same time, just as Donna came back into the room carrying a tray filled with cups.

"What's agreed?" She asked mildly as she offered the tray around. The four of them blushed, before speaking all together once more, simultaneously saying the only thing that came to mind and the thing Donna was lmost likely to believe.

"Nothing."