Disclaimer: I wouldn't know the first thing about buying rights to a show.

A/N: Doctor/Rose, obviously. Don't know which Doctor though, so I leave it up to your imagination. Surprisingly not inspired by an actual necklace. Hope you likey enough to review. Hehe, shameless plugging, but what can I say? I'm shameless. Enjoy!

The Necklace

It is rumored that there exists in the universe a necklace that, if worn, renders absolute and undeniable beauty of the wearer to the eye of the beholder. The necklace was supposed to exist only in myth, but when three strangers walk among myth themselves, fanciful tales such as the one above become true.

The Doctor, Captain Jack Harkness and Rose Tyler were three such strangers. And the necklace happened to fall into their hands during one particular adventure in which the simple existence of the necklace had been the cause of all sorts of havoc on the planet of Poshtaran where sexuality was already exaggerated and didn't need any other sort of boost. Like a necklace that made the wives of world leaders irresistible to other world leaders. Nothing caused a good bit of world chaos like a spurned heart.

Pretending to be a duke and a duchess, the Doctor and Rose had tricked the necklace from the current president of Maselini. Truth be told, it had all been thanks to Jack, especially when it had turned out that the president had been exactly his type. Add the necklace and the man had been a goner.

Now, in their magic machine of time, they were laughing joyfully with their success. They always seemed to be laughing. Jack still wore the necklace under his coat.

"Tell me he's not just gorgeous." Rose crowed at the Doctor.

"Okay, he's not." The Doctor complied, a glint in his eyes.

Rose laughed off what was, unless Time Lords were immune, a lie of his making.

"Where to next? Jack?" The Doctor cheerily changed the subject.

"Oh, anywhere." Jack replied, too happy to care. He slipped the necklace off as the Doctor became distracted with the controls.

Still chuckling, Rose took the necklace into her hands. "It's not even pretty." She murmured in wonder. And it wasn't. Rather unremarkable and plain at that. On a brown leather string was a collection of off-white pebble-like beads and a horn-shaped tooth-type brown stone in the center. "It's ugly actually." Rose and Jack laughed in mirth. "But the things it can do." She murmured in awe when they were through.

Jack knew exactly what it was that she happened to be wondering. His eyes slid to an oblivious Doctor and then back to Rose. A mischievous smile overtook his features. "Well," he muttered as he stood, and plucked the necklace from her fingers, "I'll take that then."

"Good," Rose murmured in disappointment. Behind the jump seat, though, Jack leaned down and clasped the necklace onto Rose. "What are you doing?!" She protested, her hands at the clasp.

He stopped her taking it off and smiled. "Your chance to shine, Rosie. Although," his voice lowered to a whisper, "To me, you already do."

And he shimmied towards the door to watch what transpired. He whistled loudly to capture the Doctor's attention. He succeeded a little too well, causing the Doctor to hit his head as he pulled it out from under the console. "What?" The Doctor asked crossly, rubbing his head.

Jack smiled as the Doctor's eyes fell on a nervous-looking Rose, but his smile quickly transformed into a frown when the Doctor reacted no differently than usual. "What is it?" The Doctor asked.

Fidgeting, Rose spoke with a tremble in her tone. "Oh…Jack. Nothing, just Jack."

The Doctor scoffed good-naturedly. "Should have figured. You alright?" He asked suddenly in concern. Jack winced for Rose. What had he done? Her face had fallen, all hope faded. She was wiping her palms on her knees nervously still.

"N-nothin'." She murmured, attempting to smile and failing miserably. "Just wonderin' about that necklace."

"What about it?" The Doctor looked just the tiniest bit worried at her sudden change in attitude. He placed his tool down and leaned back against the console, crossing his arms.

Rose, her arms wrapped around her center, shrugged. "Just…you know, if it works on you…or whatever."

The Doctor smiled brightly. "That all?" Jack could have smacked him just then.

Rose seemed caught but nodded dimly.

He chuckled. "I was just having Jack on. Time Lords aren't immune. Works on all semi hot-blooded creatures."

"Oh." Rose didn't seem to know what to say. Her cheeks flushed bright red, and her eyes grew moist. She started to stand when the Doctor seemed to notice something was amiss.

'Finally,' Jack thought grimly.

The Doctor sprung forward and grasped her hands. "Now, what's really bothering you?

"Nothin'" Rose muttered. "Just tired."

She tried to pull her hands away, but he wouldn't let her. "Rubbish answer." He murmured, making her sit back down next to him. "I know you way too well, love."

She bit her lip. "Really, it's nothing. Just…stupid. It's not important."

"Nonsense," he interrupted. "If it's got to do with you, it's always important." Jack was about to mentally congratulate the man's suaveness when the blasted alien had to go and open his mouth again. "Well," he dragged out the word. "Except that time you and your mate, Shania, were arguing about makeup. That wasn't so important."

Rose glared. "Shareen." She corrected him icily.

His grin stretched uncertainly. "I know, Rose. That was me…having you on."

Rose sighed. "Can I go to my room now?" She sounded bored, but they all knew she wasn't.

"Tell me what's wrong," he implored softly. "Was it Jack?"

Jack smirked. Rose started now. "No, not him."

"Then it was me." The Doctor seemed happy with the discovery at first, then frowned. "Wait, if it's me, what'd I-." He stopped, his eyes having finally caught sight of the necklace. "Oh." He said. And suddenly it was all so clear. He began to smile brightly again, and he put one fingertip on the stone. "You're wearing the necklace." He said cheerfully like a kid expecting to get rewarded for figuring it out.

"Yeah." She whispered miserably.

His demeanor didn't change at hers though. "And you're upset because I didn't notice a change?" He seemed excited at getting closer to figuring out the riddle that was Rose.

She looked away stubbornly, staring into space and revealing nothing.

"Oh, you are." He almost bounced with mirth. Again, Jack really could have smacked him.

Rose seemed to share the idea. She shoved him away and attempted to leave, but he held onto her. "Let me go." She exclaimed.

"Don't you want to know why?" He murmured softly.

His change in tone stopped her cold. She turned to look at him but shook her head, staying mute.

He continued, smiling softly. "It's because…" Still holding tightly to her hand, he turned in his seat, so she was leaning against his legs, albeit reluctantly. "Nothing happened," he whispered looking down at their hands where he was rubbing the back of her hands with his thumbs. "You didn't change."

She had given up the will to struggle but for words. "Please let me go." She pleaded.

"Almost done." He promised.

"Why are you tellin' me this?" She snapped half heartedly. "Why'd you think I'd wanna know you don't see me that way…that not even a bloody necklace can make you see me the way I see you?"

"And how is that?" He opened his knees and drew her closer until their hands were right at his chest.

She didn't move, but tears sparkled sadly in her eyes. "You're beautiful." She breathed hopelessly and sadly.

His eyes burned at her words with a fire, both happy and intensely sad. "And you think you're not?"

She blinked tears away. "You do." She argued insistently. "The necklace…"

"Yes, the necklace." He interrupted suddenly. "And what does the necklace do, Rose?"

She didn't seem to want to answer, but she soldiered through as if she knew they were getting somewhere. "It makes you see people…beautiful. Like, the most beautiful person you'd ever seen."

"Yes," he whispered and spared her a scientific perception-filter explanation for it. He paused as if waiting for her to come to what he saw as an obvious realization. "Don't you see?" He wanted her to figure this one out. When she couldn't, he seemed sad. "How can you not see yourself the way I do?" He mused sadly. "When you put that necklace on, and I looked at you…I did see the most beautiful person I'd ever seen. In all the universes. But…" He finally looked up from their hands to her eyes. "You didn't change. You looked the same as you always do. Do you get it now?"

Jack smiled. Oh.

Rose seemed to take a moment longer. "Oh." And she blushed furiously again but a smile accompanied it slow to grow but wide in the end. "I didn't think…"

"Clearly." The Doctor teased.

"Shut up." But she was smiling, new tears pooling in her eyes.

"I wish you could see yourself the way I see you." He murmured, pulling her closer.

She leaned against him until his head was nestled against her torso. He wrapped his arms around her as hers came up to cradle his head. "And how's that?" She half-whispered.

He waited a minute before leaning back, reaching up and unclasping the necklace. "See, no difference." He smiled and proceeded to clasp the necklace around his neck. He waited a beat while she looked down in amazement. "You?" He asked finally.

She shook her head mutely.

He grinned, pleased. "Good. That's how I see you. Any further questions?"

She grinned. "Yeah. Can we stay like this a bit longer?" She indicated their closeness.

"Oh yes." His voice was muffled against her again. "Just as soon as Jack…comes out of hiding…and minds to his own. Wanna come out already, mate?" The Doctor called.

Jack popped in from the corridor with a cheeky smile. "Do you mean it?"