Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who.

Domestics

The Doctor had been grinning at her for nearly half an hour. He'd taken time to read Reinette's letter and mourn for her, as he mourned for all the people he'd lost, and then he'd come to find Rose. She'd waited for him in the library, curled up in her chair in front of the fire. He'd settled into his chair, but hadn't picked up his book. Instead, he'd been staring and grinning at her for half an hour. Finally, Rose couldn't stand it anymore.

"What, Doctor," she asked, turning toward him and dropping her book to her lap.

"Rose Tyler," he said. "We were quite domestic today."

Rose arched an eyebrow. He sounded so pleased. She hadn't expected that. She wondered how. "Oh?"

"Yeah," he replied, still grinning. "Oh, look what the cat dragged in. The Oncomin' Storm," he repeated her words, eyes dancing playfully. "You sounded just like an annoyed wife whose husband had just come draggin' in from a party," he teased.

Rose's heart skipped a beat. Did he just refer to her as the wife to his husband in a domestic scenario?

"Wh-what?"

"Yeah," he said fondly. "You scolded me." He chuckled delightedly.

Rose frowned in concern. "Are you drunk," she asked cautiously, laying her book on the table beside her.

"Rose. Of course not. I don't get drunk." His indignation would have been adorable if she wasn't so bewildered. "Well, not unless there's ginger, but I haven't had any ginger today."

"But you're so happy about it," she said, brow wrinkling in confusion. "And it's…domestic. You don't do domestics," she reminded him.

"We've done domestic before," the Doctor said nonchalantly. "Christmas at your mum's. That was domestic."

Rose blinked. That was true. "But…"

"Our first date was chips. Dates are domestic."

Rose's breath caught. What was the Doctor doing?

"And inviting your boyfriend to live with us? That's pretty domestic," the Doctor said seriously.

"He's not my boyfriend," she corrected automatically.

"Your best friend, then," the Doctor corrected, leaning forward.

"Not my best friend, either," Rose said, leaning toward him too.

"Well, would inviting Shareen to live with us be domestic enough, then?"

"She's not my best friend either, Doctor," Rose said. "I live with my best friend already."

The Doctor's grin widened. "That's pretty domestic, too, Rose Tyler," he whispered.

She smiled finally. "It is pretty domestic, Doctor. And that's okay," she asked, nervously twirling her hair around her finger.

"Just said it was," the Doctor replied, stretching out his hand for hers, squeezing gently when she placed her hand in his.

"So," Rose said, wanting to clarify. "You're happy that I scolded you today because it's domestic?"

"Well," the Doctor said, drawing out the word. "Yeah. You said it like you knew me," the Doctor explained before hesitating. "You did know that I hadn't really come back from a party drunk, right, Rose? You knew I would never go to a party when your life was in danger?" His eyes searched hers beseechingly.

"Of course, Doctor," Rose said, squeezing his hand tenderly. "It's why I said it the way I did. I was playin' along so you could get close to the droids."

The Doctor sighed contentedly, releasing her hand so he could move to the arm of her chair. "That is why I'm so happy. We are pretty domestic sometimes, Rose," he said seriously. "You know me so well." He trailed off thoughtfully.

"Of course I do, Doctor. Best friends, yeah," she asked, looking up at him.

"Yeah," he replied softly, staring into her eyes as he stroked his thumb over her knuckles.

Rose wasn't at all surprised when the Doctor used their linked hands to pull her into his embrace. She adjusted her position in the chair so she could lean comfortably against him and sighed as he moved his free hand to stroke through her hair.

"You know I would have found a way back, too, right Rose? Even if the fireplace hadn't been there."

Rose pulled away just enough to look into his face. Doubt lingered in his eyes, and Rose wanted to erase it.

"I know, Doctor, because I know you," she said gently.

"I would never have let you get hurt, Rose," the Doctor said, drawing her back into his arms and tucking her head under his chin.

His tone reminded her of another time, another place, another Doctor. I could save the world but lose you. Rose smiled as she settled into his arms. She knew that, but it was nice to hear all the same.