Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who.

Counting Kisses

It started with Adam. The Doctor had teased her relentlessly about him being her boyfriend even after they'd dropped him off. So, Rose had to tease him back. Somehow it became a game. Rose would deliberately flirt with local aliens just to see if the Doctor would tease her about it. He always did. Soon, he was flirting and Rose was teasing him. Then, Jack joined them, and the game escalated.

Somehow, Jack knew he was involved in a game no one had explained to him, and probably never would, but that was okay. As long as he could keep traveling with these two amazing people, he wouldn't mention how the Doctor teased Rose when she flirted with him, how Rose teased the Doctor when Jack flirted with him, or how they both seemed to be keeping score.

Even as their relationship changed, even as they grew closer, the game continued. Even though the Doctor and Rose preferred flirting with each other, they were both unwilling to lose the game. On the Game Station, until everything went wrong, the Doctor was winning, thanks to Lynda.

But then the Doctor regenerated, and Rose wasn't sure if he was the even the same man, and all thoughts of the game flew from her head. Until New Earth.

"So, Rose," the Doctor began. "I know it was Cassandra, but does her using your body to kiss me, and using my body to flirt with you count for you, or for me?"

Rose stared at him for a moment, startled. "Um…" Oh. The game. "Well, I think it counts more for you than for me," she said cautiously. "After all, the rules of the game never covered kissing." She was blushing, but her eyes never wavered from his.

He smirked. "They could. Then it would count for both of us."

Rose smiled. "Okay. So, we're still even, then, since Jack kissed both of us."

The Doctor shook his head. "Lynda with a y," he reminded her.

Rose frowned. "You kissed her?"

The Doctor blinked, startled by her the accusation in her voice. "No. Of course not. But she flirted with me."

"And you flirted back." Rose smiled fondly at her best friend, whom she was more than a little in love with, before sighing heavily. "So, you're still winning."

"Yep," the Doctor replied, popping the p.

Rose laughed. "All right," she said, accepting the challenge. "Does Mickey still count?"

This time, the Doctor frowned. "Yes, but only half points!"

Rose chuckled. He still didn't like her ex. "Okay."

And so, the game continued.

Then Mickey called with a crisis, and Rose met Sarah Jane. She liked the woman, really. There weren't a lot of people who knew what it was like to travel with the Doctor. But Rose wondered what she was doing, traveling with a man who'd leave her, just drop her off like yesterday's garbage. So, Rose did what she always did. She confronted him, and he promised he'd never do that to her, and she believed him. The raw pain in his eyes told her that if he had a choice, he'd never leave anyone behind. She understood him a little better that day.

Back on the TARDIS, Rose sat on the jump seat and watched the Doctor tinkering. Mickey had finally gone to bed, and Rose was relieved. She wasn't sure how to begin this conversation, but then the perfect opening came to her.

"So, does Sarah Jane count half for you then, the way Mickey does for me?"

The Doctor grunted in pain as he hit his head on the console. A giggle escaped Rose's mouth before she clamped her lips together. He rubbed his head as he sat up gingerly from where he'd been lying on the grating.

"What?" The Doctor's eyes were wide as he stared at her from his seat on the floor.

"Well, exes only count for half points," Rose said casually, eyes sparkling with mirth she hadn't felt earlier in the day.

"Exes? Sarah Jane and I weren't…we didn't…"

Rose giggled again at his awkward explanation, and the Doctor relaxed.

"Sarah Jane isn't my ex, Rose. But she can count for half points if you want," he said seriously, eyes swimming with an unnamed emotion, and Rose realized the game had just changed.

Rose swallowed heavily. "Okay, then," she replied, trying to keep her voice light. "Previous companions and exes count for half points."

"So, who's winning?"

Rose smiled cheekily, trying to get him to smile in return. "I kissed that local on Yent VI, and we decided that kisses count for two points, so I am."

The Doctor finally smiled. "I'm not sure you should get points for that, since you got us thrown in prison."

Rose shrugged. "Rules of the game never stated anythin' about prison. Points for flirtin' and kissin', you said," she replied, grinning with her tongue in her teeth.

The Doctor chuckled. "All right, Rose. You're winning."

Rose really wished she could kiss the Doctor. Then they could both win. But she'd never say that. Standing from the jump seat, she bid the Doctor a good night and retreated to her room before she did something stupid, like confessing her feelings or snogging him until he couldn't see straight.

For Mickey's first trip, the TARDIS had landed on an abandoned spaceship with portals to France. In trying to stop the clockwork droids, the Doctor had to spend time with and question Reinette. He wasn't expecting her to snog him, but he allowed it, his thoughts going immediately to Rose and how he could finally say he was winning the game again.

Stepping out of the fireplace after the encounter, he crowed "Rose! I just snogged Madame de Pompadour!"

But Rose wasn't there. The Doctor couldn't believe she'd wandered off again. He'd wanted her to know immediately that he was winning the game.

It wasn't until much later, after they'd saved Reinette and France, and had gone back into the Time Vortex that the Doctor even thought of it. Mickey had gone to watch a sports match, claiming he needed something normal after such an adventure, and the Doctor and Rose were drinking tea in the kitchen. He'd read the letter from Reinette, and though he was sad that she'd waited for him, he was glad she'd led a full life anyway.

The Doctor had just taken a sip of his tea when he remembered. Swallowing hastily, he said "Oh! Rose, I just remembered."

"What," Rose asked cautiously, noting the excitement in his voice.

"I snogged Madame de Pompadour! Is that two points for kissing or does snogging count for more," he asked, a manic grin lighting up his face.

Rose stared at him long enough that it made the Doctor uncomfortable. Pain flashed behind her eyes, but she hid it behind a smile so quickly the Doctor thought maybe he'd imagined it. "I think it counts the same as kissing," she finally said. "Can't have you get too far ahead of me, can I?"

"Hmm. Okay," the Doctor replied, grin fading. "Are you all right, Rose?" The Doctor reached across the table and she placed her hand in his, squeezing his fingers lightly before standing from the table to rinse her mug.

"I'm all right, Doctor," Rose said. "'m just tired."

The Doctor watched Rose at the kitchen sink, noticed the way her shoulders slumped slightly, and the way her hands trembled. How had he not realized before how trying this day had been for her? Standing, he placed his hands on her shoulders, rubbing gently before turning her to face him. Sliding his hands down her arms, he clasped her hands in his. "Come on, Rose." Tugging gently, he led her from the kitchen to her bedroom, stopping just outside her door.

"Get some sleep, Rose. It was a long day."

Rose nodded. It had been a really long day, but she didn't want him to leave, and she couldn't ask him to stay. Offering a small smile, she bid him goodnight and tried to turn to open her door, but the Doctor hadn't released her hands.

"Doctor? Unless you're comin' with me, you're gonna have to let go of my hands."

The Doctor blushed lightly, and Rose stared into his eyes, waiting patiently, almost daring to hope.

"Right. Good night, Rose," the Doctor said, releasing her hands only to cup her face and place a soft kiss on her forehead.

"Good night, Doctor," Rose said with a soft sigh as she watched him retreat down the hall. Wondering what had just happened, Rose walked into her bedroom. Maybe it would make sense after she'd slept on it.

The next day, Rose dismissed the incident entirely. It didn't have to mean anything. So often, things between them didn't have to mean anything.

The TARDIS had taken them to a planet where they ended up saving the king from assassins who were trying to wipe out his entire line, and he'd been so grateful he'd insisted that they stay for a celebration. Rose and the Doctor had grinned at each other. They loved a good party.

So, the three of them ate the local food, danced the local dances, and had fun the way one could only with the Doctor. Mickey bowed out around midnight earth time, and went back to the TARDIS, but Rose was just getting started. She and the Doctor had been flirting all night, glad this was a planet where such behavior was not only accepted, but encouraged. Right now, he was winning, up just one point in their game. Rose knew if she could get a local to kiss her, she'd put herself ahead. Neither of them would ever cheat, so normally Rose was more discreet about her kissing, only informing the Doctor later that she had done it. Tonight, however, part of her was still reeling from the knowledge that he'd not only kissed, but snogged someone as beautiful and accomplished as Reinette, so, when the local she was flirting with leaned in, Rose didn't even think about moving to a secluded location. Knowing that the Doctor was not only in the room, but nearby, and feeling his eyes on her, Rose leaned in and snogged the local for all she was worth.

The poor fellow didn't even know what hit him. Rose's lips moved teasingly over his, her hands ghosting over his bare green head and shoulders. Rose felt his hands on her back, moving lower, and lower, until suddenly his hands weren't on her back anymore, weren't on her body anymore, and his lips were removed forcibly from hers. Rose blinked at the local, who was looking to her right with terror in his eyes.

Turning, Rose gasped. "D-Doctor?"

His normally gentle brown eyes were dark with fury and…jealousy. His smoldering eyes moved from the local to Rose, and though part of her wanted to flinch back, she resisted. The Doctor would never hurt her. Still not saying anything, he reached out and grasped her hand, pulling her along behind him until they reached the TARDIS. When the doors shut firmly behind them, he moved to stand on the other side of the controls.

"Doctor? What's wrong," Rose asked. "I was winning the game." Rose paused. "That's it. You're afraid of losing!" Her heart thudded in her chest. Oh, she hoped there was more to it than that.

The Doctor glanced at her sharply and swallowed heavily. "Yes, Rose. I'm so afraid of losing," he whispered hoarsely, crossing the room in just a few long strides. He stopped just in front of her, and his eyes betrayed the uncertainty that his rigid posture refused to give away.

Rose stepped toward him until they were almost pressed together. She gently took his hand in hers and cupped his face in her other hand, tenderly stroking his cheek. Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself. "Maybe we could win together, Doctor," she asked hesitantly.

The Doctor saw the apprehension in Rose's eyes, and knew that she was giving him the choice. In her eyes, he could see that she'd already made her choice. She'd chosen him, for some unfathomable reason, and he didn't think he had it in himself to deny her anymore. Somehow, what had started as a game had slowly evolved into so much more.

The Doctor leaned down slowly, giving her time to change her mind, but Rose met him halfway, lips pressing gently together. The Doctor's arms wrapped around her back and drew her firmly into his embrace, the feel of her body pressed to his causing him to slant his mouth more insistently over hers. Rose's hands moved to the back of his neck, sliding into his hair and causing them both to moan. When one kiss ended, another began, until both of them had completely lost count. Finally, the Doctor gentled the kisses and drew back, both panting lightly. Rose grinned and the Doctor grinned back, placing another gentle kiss on her lips before pulling away completely, taking her hand and leading her to sit next to him on the jump seat. He drew her into his arms and Rose went willingly, smiling teasingly at him with her tongue in her teeth.

"So, which of us is winning the game, then?"

The Doctor smiled almost smugly at the woman in his arms. "How many times did I kiss you just now?"

Rose thought for a moment. "I'm not sure, but I bet you know," she said expectantly, waiting for him to show off his brilliance.

"Nope," he replied, popping the p. "I've no idea," he said honestly, stroking his fingers lightly over the skin of her upper arm.

"So, what does that mean," Rose asked breathlessly.

"I think…" He paused, choosing his words carefully. "I think it means we've both already won."

Rose grinned, tilting her head to kiss him again, delighted when he returned the kiss with just as much enthusiasm. When she pulled away, she leaned her head against his shoulder and he tightened his arms around her.

The Doctor wanted to tell her that he thought he was still winning the game because he got to kiss her, but wasn't sure he could explain it properly. So, he just wouldn't mention it. He'd never understand how she could think herself a winner when all she got as a prize was a worn old Time Lord like himself, but for once, he wouldn't argue with her. If Rose Tyler wanted him, she'd have him—all that he could give her—for the rest of her life, and more kisses than she could count.