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chocolatequeennk · 2 years ago

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Forever Timeless, 10/24

Summary: Two months after the Dalek Crucible, the Doctor and Rose are getting used to having the biggest family on Earth. As they visit Leadworth in 1996, Victorian England, a mysterious desert planet, and Elizabethan England, those family and friends often help in unexpected ways. But no matter where they go or who they’re with, it’s always the Doctor in the TARDIS with Rose Tyler–just as it should be.

Ten x Rose, Donna x Lee

Betaed by @rudennotgingr, @pellaaearien, and @jabber-who-key

Tagging @doctorroseprompts for 31 Days of Ficmas. This uses the Gift prompt, and probably others.

Part 7 of Being to Timelessness

AO3 | FF.NET | TSP

Ch 1 | Ch 2 | Ch 3 | Ch 4 | Ch 5 | Ch 6 | Ch 7 | Ch 8 | Ch 9

Chapter 10: Merry and Bright

The biscuits were still warm on the table when everyone started getting ready to go into town. Mickey patted his coat pockets, then pointed at the stairs. “I forgot that I left my gloves drying in our room. I’ll be right back.”

��Bring Tony with you when you come,” Jackie said. “He wanted to play with his toys while we cleaned up, but it’s time to go now.”

“I don’t think he’ll argue,” Mickey called back over his shoulder.

The room he shared with Martha was on the first storey at the end of the hallway. He was about halfway down the hallway when the door swung open. Mickey leaned against the wall and watched Tony tiptoe out of the room.

The boy closed the door softly, then turned to leave. He froze when he saw Mickey, then clasped his hands behind his back and smiled at him.

Mickey pointed at the door, and Tony slunk back into the room. Once he was inside with the door shut, Mickey looked at the boy.

“What were you up to?” he asked, though he was pretty sure he knew.

Tony opened his mouth and closed it a few times. Mickey raised an eyebrow, and he slumped. “Looking for presents.”

“Presents you’re not supposed to open until tomorrow morning?” Mickey pressed.

Tony looked down and heaved a big sigh. “Yeah.”

“Do you think your mum and dad would take you to Santa’s workshop if they knew I’d found you in my room?”

“No.” Tony’s voice wobbled a little, and Mickey crouched down so he could look him in the eye.

“I won’t tell her I caught you if you promise not to do it again.”

Tony lurched forward and wrapped his arms around Mickey’s neck. “I promise!” he swore.

“All right, then let’s go back downstairs.”

oOoOoOo

Rose took the Doctor’s hand as they left the house. “I was going to ask how far we’ll have to walk, but I can already hear the music,” she observed.

“We’re right at the centre of the action,” he said, swinging their hands between them. They stopped by the skating pond and he pointed at the large wooden lodge with a sleigh parked in front. “I bet you can’t guess what that is,” he told Tony.

“Santa’s workshop!”

Pete grabbed Tony’s hand before he could run off. “We’ll see everyone back at the house at 4:00,” he said, then he, Jackie, and Tony made their way to the workshop.

The Doctor spun around and looked at the remaining bunch. “Right! I think the rest of us can find something to do. There’s skating, obviously, a snowman building contest over in the park, and you can even hire a sleigh and go for a ride.” He pointed in the general direction of each attraction as he spoke.

Rose took his hand. “We’ll meet you back at the house at 4:00, like Pete said. Have fun, everyone.”

She tugged the Doctor away from the group towards some shops she’d noticed flanking Santa’s workshop. “I was thinking we could get everyone an ornament,” she said. “It’s a special holiday, celebrating our first Christmas all together as a family. Plus it would be nice to have some ornaments on the tree that actually belong to us.”

“Excellent idea,” he agreed.

A young salesperson dressed in a candy cane striped uniform greeted them at the door of the quaint shop. “Welcome to the North Pole Depot,” they said. “May I offer you a basket?”

Rose looked around at the shop, her mouth falling open when she realised how large it was. “It’s like it’s bigger on the inside,” she said under her breath.

The salesperson heard, though, and a grin stretched across their face. “I know, isn’t it incredible?” they asked. “I don’t know how they get everything in here.”

The Doctor turned slowly, his eyes narrowing. “This is…” He bit his tongue. Even if he was right and someone had used dimensionally transcendent technology to make this shop bigger on the inside, it didn’t really matter.

He took the proffered basket. “Thank you.”

“Do you remember the last time we browsed a Christmas shop?” Rose asked as they started down the central aisle.

Before he could answer, she pointed at an ornament on a nearby tree. “Oh look! For Mum and Pete.”

The Doctor took the “New Home” ornament and put it in the basket. Then he considered her question, looking around the shop as he did. “I don’t see any other Doctors this time.”

“I still wonder what you decided to give future me for Christmas,” she said. She cast a sideways glance at him. “I mean… what kind of present do you think you might give?”

The Doctor raised an eyebrow. “As far as fishing goes, that wasn’t even remotely subtle,” he said dryly. “You’ll find out what I have for you in the morning, just like everyone else.”

He shifted his hand and rubbed his thumb over the remembrance band. Besides, I already gave you your real Christmas present, he reminded her.

Rose shivered. Every time the bracelet activated, it sent a charge over the bond.

An’ I love it, she agreed.

The Doctor hummed happily in the back of his throat, and Rose leaned against his arm. “Let’s finish shopping and then go see what other adventures we can find.”

oOoOo

When they got back to the house, the Doctor held up their shopping bag and shook it gently. “We got a surprise for everyone,” he said, quickly handing out the ornaments.

“Since it’s our first Christmas together as a family, we thought it would be nice if everyone had an ornament to hang on the tree,” Rose added.

Martha placed her miniature stethoscope on a branch at eye level, then gave Rose a hug. “Thanks for always remembering,” she whispered.

She didn’t have to finish the sentence; Rose knew. “Thanks for always remembering I’m not just a soldier.”

Rose returned the hug, then accepted thanks and hugs from everyone else. Tony wrapped his arms around her legs and gave her a big kiss when she bent down.

The Doctor pointed out a perfect spot for the Santa they’d gotten him. While everyone was occupied, Rose quietly went upstairs for some solitude.

She took a deep breath after she closed the door behind herself. She wasn’t used to constantly being with this many people—not ones she actually knew, at any rate. Growing up in London had meant there were always people nearby, but it was easy to ignore strangers.

“You can’t really ignore a house full of people, especially not when you all want to use the loo at the same time,” she murmured, remembering the line and the good-natured bickering that morning as they’d gotten ready.

She’d just settled in with her book when the door inched open. She could tell the Doctor was still downstairs, so she leaned to the side to see who was on the other side of the door.

“Tony?” she said in surprise when she saw his big eyes peering up at her. “I thought you were decorating biscuits.”

His small hand was still wrapped around the doorknob. “Um… Mummy wanted to know… if you want a star cookie or a snowman cookie?”

It was obviously a fib, and Rose raised her eyebrow. “Did she?” she asked, gesturing for Tony to come inside.

He nodded enthusiastically, a bright smile on his face. Rose would almost have believed him if his eyes weren’t darting back and forth. “Yeah!” he said. “And if you want green or red frosting. And sprinkles!”

Rose pursed her lips, pretending to think about it. Then she levelled a gaze at her little brother. “Or maybe you’re trying to find the prezzies?” she suggested.

Tony bit his lip. “No?” he said, his tone making it a question.

Rose wanted to laugh, but she managed to keep a straight face. “You know Mum and Dad have those hidden so you get surprises tomorrow morning,” she reminded him. “If you find them and open them early, you’ll make them sad.”

“But I want to know!” Tony said.

“And you will. Tomorrow.”

He huffed and flopped onto the floor. “Too long.”

Rose looked down at him. “Do you want me to tell Mum you were trying to find your gifts?”

“No!” Tony covered his face with his hands, like that would keep him from getting caught.

“Then promise me you won’t do this again.”

Tony groaned, but he rolled over and stood up. “Promise,” he said grumpily.

“Good. Now go back down there and decorate cookies before she wonders where you’ve been.”

oOoOo

The night of Christmas Eve was almost exactly like what Rose remembered from her childhood. They had shepherd’s pie for dinner, then some of them played board games while others watched movies.

Around half eight, Jackie led a protesting Tony upstairs. “Santa won’t come until you’re asleep,” she reminded him, making Rose shake her head.

Just like when I was a kid.

Jackie didn’t return until after nine, and she looked exhausted when she did. “I thought you were a handful with Christmas,” she told Rose, “but Tony…”

Jenny leaned forward slightly. “What was Mum like, Gran?”

Jackie smirked. “Well, she was a champion at seeking out any presents I’d hidden away, for a start. It was a challenge every year to find new places to hide them.”

“I wasn’t that bad,” Rose protested.

Mickey snorted. “Right, and that’s why Jackie asked us to hide them in our flat one year.”

“You were like that until you were 12,” Jackie agreed. “But that year… that red bicycle showing up on Christmas morning… Either you enjoyed the surprise so much that you stopped looking, or you just grew out of it.”

A different Doctor twirled through Rose’s memory, spinning around the console with a manic smile on his face. “Who says I’m not—red bicycle when you were twelve.”

Behind her, her current Doctor took a big gulp of tea, probably to hide his smug smirk. Rose leaned back against him and squeezed his hand. “The bike was special,” she agreed.

“I hope Tony grows out of it,” Jackie said fervently.

“You should be like my dad,” Donna said. “He always forgot to buy presents until Christmas Eve, so there was no chance for me to poke around looking for ‘em.”

“Oh, but you can’t shop the sales that way!” Jackie protested. She sighed and looked at the tree. “I’m not looking forward to staying up late to put the presents under the tree. That’s always the hardest part of Christmas Eve.”

“We can do that,” Rose offered. “We don’t sleep as much as the rest of you—no reason for you to lose sleep when we can do it just as well.”

“Are you sure?”

The Doctor nodded. “Rose is right. We don’t sleep as much as the rest of you.”

“Thank you, sweetheart.” Jackie yawned and looked over at Pete. “If they’re going to take care of the presents, I’m going to bed.”

Pete set down his mug and stood up. “If having a three year old has taught me anything, it’s to grab onto any chance at more sleep.” His dry remark drew chuckles from everyone.

At the foot of the stairs, Jackie looked at the Doctor and Rose. “Tony takes forever to fall asleep,” she warned. “You’ll have to wait another hour yet before you can put the presents out.”

The Doctor pulled his sonic screwdriver out of his pocket. “Or I could just sonic him into his room,” he suggested jokingly.

Jackie narrowed her eyes. “I think you’re joking, but if not, no.”

“Of course not,” he agreed. “It’s not safe to lock people in their rooms.”

“I have a feeling Christmas morning is going to come a little earlier than I’d like,” Martha said after Pete and Jackie went to bed. “I don’t think Tony is going to wait until a decent hour to open all of his gifts.”

Jenny laughed. “Definitely not. I caught him in my room yesterday, trying to find where Gran had hidden them. I told him I’d tell her he’d been looking unless he promised not to do it again.”

“Wait a minute,” Mickey said. “That’s the same thing I made him promise when I caught him in our room this afternoon.”

Rose’s shoulders shook with repressed laughter. “And me,” she added.

The three of them exchanged looks before everyone broke into muffled laughter. “That little sneak,” Donna said. “Promising the same thing to all of you, and then going out and doing it again anyway.”

Rose tilted her head. “Maybe, maybe not,” she said, thinking about the exact wording of the promise she’d gotten from Tony. “Did you ask him not to sneak into any more rooms, or did you ask him not to do it again?”

When Jenny and Mickey exchanged a glance, she knew what the answer was. “Yeah, me too,” she said. “So technically, he kept his promise. He never went into Jenny’s room again, or yours or ours.”

Mickey shook his head, then he stood up and held out a hand for Martha. “Well, if he’s that determined, we know he’s going to be up at the crack of dawn. And in that case, we’re going to bed.”

“Yeah, us too,” Donna said as she and Lee stood up.

“And me,” Jenny agreed. “I’ll put the milk and cookies out before I go upstairs.”

“We’re not telling Mum, right?” Rose clarified as Jenny walked into the kitchen.

Mickey snorted. “Definitely not.”

After everyone else went upstairs, the Doctor and Rose quietly left the house and walked back to the TARDIS. “Maybe we should have offered to stash everyone’s gifts for them,” the Doctor mused as he opened the door.

“And take away all the fun Tony had trying to figure out where Mum had stashed them?” Rose replied.

“True… but we wouldn’t have had to tell Tony they were here.”

Rose laughed and opened the storage cupboard just off the console room. “We can do it that way next year,” she said as she handed the Doctor the box of unwrapped gifts.

Her phone buzzed as she was reaching for the wrapping paper. “Oh, I hope that’s Jack finally ready to come join us,” she said as she pulled it out.

“Finally free,” she read aloud. “Come on, let’s get him the coordinates.” They dropped the gifts and paper off in the library, then continued on to the console room.

The Doctor leaned against a strut and watched Rose work. She moved around the console with a surety that most Time Lords with twice her experience wouldn’t possess.

“Bad Wolf makes it easy,” she said absently as she swung the monitor around.

The Doctor shook his head, but Rose held up a finger. “Let me get this right first.”

She looked at the monitor, then her phone, and back again before she finally hit send. “There, that’s done,” she said, sliding the phone into her pocket.

“There, you see,” the Doctor said, taking her hand as they walked back to the library. “It’s complicated—it doesn’t take much to send someone to the wrong planet, or the wrong century.”

“Yeah, it’s a complex system,” Rose agreed. She tugged on his arm, and glancing down, he caught her teasing smile. “But you’ve been using it for centuries—I’m not sure that’s really a good excuse for you.”

The Doctor pushed the library door open. “I think she sends us off course on purpose,” he retorted as Rose walked past him. The TARDIS chimed, and they both laughed.

Rose hip checked him. “No matter where we go, I love it. Now let’s get these presents wrapped.”

Nearly an hour later, they crossed the snow-covered garden and carefully opened the back door. With everyone in bed, the house was almost completely silent.

“T’was the night before Christmas,” the Doctor whispered, “and all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.”

“Exactly,” Rose agreed. “But this time, we’re St. Nick.”

The Doctor set the box down just outside the living room and pointed his sonic at the closet where Jackie had hidden her gifts. He heard Rose shuffle carefully into the dark living room, and then saw the light when she turned a lamp on.

A sudden wave of amusement caught him by surprise. He turned and stuck his head into the room, wondering what had tickled her.

He raised his eyebrows when he saw the empty plate that was supposed to have cookies left for Santa. Rose put her finger over her lips, then pointed at the floor under the table.

Two little feet stuck out, and the Doctor had to press his lips together to hide his laughter. He bent down, and sure enough, his little brother-in-law was passed out under the table, probably from the sugar crash after eating the entire plateful of cookies.

You start getting out the gifts, he told Rose as he scooped Tony up. I’ll take this guy to bed.

The Doctor had just disappeared around the corner at the top of the stairs when Rose heard a quiet pop behind her and felt a shift in the air. “Hi Jack,” she said, shooting him a quick smile over her shoulder. “Help me get the presents out?”

Jack grinned back at her. “Anything for you, Rosie.”

Rose rolled her eyes but didn’t respond to Jack’s flirting. It was just Jack—something she’d known for years. “Come on, let’s get this done. Then we can talk for a bit.”

They were just putting the last gift out when the Doctor finally returned. “One toddler finally back in bed,” he half-whispered. His gaze shifted to Jack. “And one Torchwood operative finally with us.”

Rose sat down on the love seat and the Doctor joined her. “It did take you a bit to get here,” she said to Jack, seated on a plush chair across from them. “With space-time coordinates, I thought you’d arrive right after we sent them.”

Jack ran his hand through his hair. “Yeah, the Vortex felt off tonight—it was a bit of a bumpy ride. I’m just glad I got here within the hour.”

“Space hopper,” the Doctor said under his breath.

“One that you tuned up,” Jack rejoined.

“Oi, you can’t blame this on me. If you start with a scooter, not even the world’s best mechanic could turn it into a Ferrari.”

Rose had only been half-listening to their bickering. Jack’s comment about the Vortex seeming off had sent a shiver down her spine; she had a feeling that was important somehow.

She shook herself out of the pensive mood when she felt the Doctor’s question over the bond. “Come on then,” she said to Jack. “What have you been up to?”

The TARDIS hummed around her as they settled in for a long winter’s chat.

oOoOo

After staying up until three in the morning talking to Jack, Tony’s excited shout and the pounding of his footsteps down the hallway came early even for Rose. She rolled over and pulled the duvet over her head, hanging onto it when the Doctor tried to pull it back.

“It’s too bloody early to be awake,” she grumbled when she finally gave in and sat up.

“Rose, I am a Time Lord. I understand more about time and how it works than almost anyone else in the universe. Even I know there is no convincing young children that Christmas morning can be too early.”

The gravity with which he gave that little speech made Rose laugh. “All right, fine,” she said.

“Besides, once we get downstairs we can open presents.”

Rose swung her legs out of bed and grabbed her dressing gown. “Oh yes!” she said, purposely sounding just like him. “I can’t wait for you to see what I got you.”

They were the first adults downstairs. Rose went into the kitchen to start the coffee, letting the Doctor keep Tony company—and keep him out of the gifts.

It might have been the aroma of coffee floating up the stairs that brought the rest of the adults downstairs, more than the sound of Tony’s excited chatter. They all filed through the kitchen for a cup before making their way into the living room.

“Mr. Jack!” Tony shouted when Jack made his appearance. “You came!”

Jack laughed and swung Tony up for a hug. “You bet I did, kiddo. I wouldn’t miss a family Christmas.”

“We’re glad you could make it, Jack,” Pete said. He scanned the room quickly, then smiled. “It looks like everyone’s here. Shall we get started?”

“Yeah!” Tony darted around his father and grabbed the first package he reached. “Presents!”

Pete read over his shoulder. “That one is for Martha. Can you take it to her?” The little boy’s shoulders slumped, but he dutifully walked it across the room to Martha.

“Thank you, Tony!” she exclaimed as she took the gift in bright red and green striped paper. She pulled the bow off the top and handed it to him. “I think you deserve a prize for being so helpful.”

Tony grinned and put the bow on top of his head. “You’re welcome!” he said, then darted back to the tree and the pile of presents his father had made for him.

The Doctor shook his head as he enjoyed Tony’s antics. It had been a very long time since he’d been around children that young.

He had his own pile of presents to open, another thing he hadn’t experienced… well, ever. He and Rose enjoyed their small Christmas celebrations with one meaningful gift each. This was a whole different level.

“The shirt boxes wrapped in the snowman paper are from me and Pete,” Jackie said. “We’ll open those last.”

The Doctor picked up the box and shook it gently, but outside of a soft rustle, there was no indication at all of what it was.

“We’ll open them last,” Jackie repeated firmly.

Rose took the box from him and set it on the coffee table in front of them, and then set another package down next to it. Open that one next to last, she told him.

The Doctor couldn’t resist. He picked that gift up too, turning it over in his hands.

“It’s in a box, love,” Rose told him, rolling her eyes. “You’re not going to figure it out unless you have x-ray vision.”

She watched for a moment, until he picked up a different gift and started unwrapping. Then she turned to her own pile, starting with the one from Martha.

Rose had opened half her gifts when the Doctor nudged her over the bond. She looked up and smiled when she saw Jenny had their gift in her hand. He’d shown her what he’d gotten for Jenny at the jeweller, and she’d approved completely.

Jenny stuck her finger under the flap of paper and slid slowly, releasing the tape. Rose shifted in her seat, and the Doctor wrapped an arm around her shoulders and smirked down at her. Be patient. Not everyone rips wrapping paper off like you do.

Rose sighed and leaned back into the couch to watch. Jenny finally peeled back the festive red and green paper. She looked at the long, white box for a few moments, then looked up at Rose and the Doctor.

“Well, open it!” the Doctor said, making Rose laugh and poke him gently in the ribs.

“Be patient,” she said, sticking her tongue out at him.

“I’ll open it now, if you want.”

Rose and the Doctor both turned to look at Jenny, and she laughed at them.

Jenny pulled off the lid and her eyes widened.

“What is it, sweetheart?” Jackie asked.

Jenny lifted the watch out of the box and held it up. “It’s gorgeous! Thanks, Mum and Dad.”

The Doctor bounced lightly in his seat. “We thought… time was the perfect gift.”

It was symbolic in more ways than one, and when tears welled up in Jenny’s eyes, he knew she understood everything he was saying. The watch represented her heritage as a Time Lord, but it was also the gift of time. The time to decide what she wanted out of life, without him peering over her shoulder trying to get her to choose what he thought was best for her.

Jenny set the watch down carefully and crossed the room to hug him. “Thank you,” she whispered.

The Doctor held her tight. “I’m proud of you,” he told her. “I am so very proud to call you my daughter.”

Jenny squeezed him even tighter, then she sighed and let him go. She gave Rose a quick hug, then went back to her own seat.

The Doctor tried not to watch Rose when she finally got to his present. She opened the paper slowly, far more slowly than her usual zealousness. He knitted his brows together and then rolled his eyes. Of course she was dragging out the process. She wouldn’t get to the actual gift for years at the rate she was going.

Rose smiled at him when he finally focused his attention on her. Finally, she ripped off the paper with a satisfying shhhh noise.

Rose raised her eyebrows when she saw the standard box meant for clothing. “What did you get me?” she asked the Doctor under her breath.

“Why don’t you open it and find out,” he suggested, keeping his voice equally low. Not that anyone was going to overhear them—the entire room was a cacophony of happy noise as everyone opened gifts and thanked the givers.

Rose pursed her lips, but she dutifully lifted the lid on the box and pulled back the tissue paper.

The Doctor’s hearts raced when she picked up the burgundy jumper and shook it out. One of yours? she asked, though they both knew the answer.

One of yours, he corrected. Because I’m that Doctor too, and I loved you then. He paused. Also, it’s possible I like seeing you in my clothes.

Rose blushed and folded the jumper back up. I still need to get a suit like yours, don’t I?

The Doctor had just taken a drink of his coffee and he started choking when some of it went down the wrong pipe. The vision of Rose wearing his suit was just as appealing now as it had been the year before.

Rose pounded him on the back. Once he quit coughing, she pointed at the package he still held, the one from her. “Open that next!” she insisted.

The Doctor looked at the gift, then at Rose’s irrepressible smile. “How do you always manage to outdo my gifts?” he asked as he tore the paper open. “Every year, I think I’ve given you the best gift, that it can’t be topped… and yet you manage it.”

She giggled madly. “Oh, I wouldn’t necessarily say I topped your gift this year. But I can definitely say it’s not something you’ve ever gotten before.”

He raised an eyebrow, then opened the box. At first all he could see was a flash of red gold. He reached into the box and as soon as he touched it, he knew.

“You didn’t,” he said, his voice flat.

“What is it, Doc?” Jack asked.

“Yeah, come on Doctor,” Mickey chimed in. “We’ve all been showing off our gifts.” He paused, and his face turned a little green. “Unless she’s given you some kind of sexy underwear or… something. I don’t think any of us want to see that.”

“No thank you!” Jackie said vehemently, making everyone laugh.

The Doctor rolled his eyes. “It’s nothing like that. Just… Just Rose ribbing me, as usual.”

He pulled the gift out, draping it over his fist so everyone could see what it was. There was a moment of silence, then howls of laughter burst out of everyone.

“Put it on!” Martha insisted after wiping tears from her eyes.

“I will do no such thing!” the Doctor protested.

“Oh, come on Doctor,” Pete said. “I don’t know the story behind this, but I have to admit I’m curious to see what it looks like.”

The Doctor looked at Rose, and that was his mistake. She had that smile on her face, the same one that always convinced him to do whatever she wanted.

He groaned. “All right, but I’d better not hear any cameras,” he warned.

He sighed again and then put the wig on.

Rose doubled up laughing. “I don’t know why you’re so upset,” she said, gasping for air. “You always said you wanted to be ginger. I just made it possible.”

The fringe draped into the Doctor’s eyes and he flung it back over his forehead. “I said I wanted to actually be ginger,” he said. “Not wear some monstrosity of a wig.”

“Well at least now you can decide if you think it’s a good look for you,” Donna suggested.

Finally, all the gifts were opened except for the mysterious gifts from Jackie and Pete. Mickey was the first to rip into his, but as soon as they heard one piece of paper tear, everyone else started.

“Mum, what did you do?” Rose asked when she saw blue knit fabric.

“Just pull it out and you’ll see.”

Everyone took their gift out of the wrapping and shook it out. Rose stared at her jumper in the box for a little longer. She’d always managed to avoid ugly Christmas jumpers before, but it seemed her luck had run out.

She finally lifted the jumper out of the box to take in its ugly glory. The blue and white badly designed Fair Isle pattern depicted the Bumble from Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer.

Looking around the room, she realised everyone had a Christmas jumper. She thought maybe she knew what was going on then, and she looked back at her mum.

Jackie was beaming, holding her own ugly jumper—hers was Mrs. Claus in the bathtub. Rose glanced at Pete’s and wasn’t surprised that his was Santa having a beer.

“We wanted to do something to make us feel… like a family,” Jackie said. “So when you get ready for dinner, I want everyone to put your jumper on—and no complaining,” she added, glaring at Jack.

“Would I complain? Did anyone hear me complain?”

“You’ll have to keep it on, too,” Mickey retorted.

“Well now you’re just taking the fun out of it,” Jack complained. He must have caught the look on Jackie’s face, because he quickly held up his hands. “Kidding, kidding!” he insisted. “I’ll wear the jumper.”

“I think it’s breakfast time,” Lee said, making everyone laugh. But they left behind the pile of presents and discarded wrapping paper and took their seats around the dining table.

After breakfast, Mickey and Martha slipped out the front door. Rose nodded as she saw them disappear—they were the only couple who hadn’t had an hour to explore the town, just the two of them.

“Who’s going to help me with the turkey and all the fixings?” Jackie asked.

Jenny grimaced. “I would, but…”

Jackie shook her head. “Thank you, sweetheart, but…”

“But we’d rather Christmas dinner wasn’t served charbroiled,” Jack finished.

Rose felt a little pang in her heart as she watched the Cardiff members of their family laugh at a shared joke, one she wasn’t privy to. “It’s all right, Jenny,” she said. “Mum probably won’t tell you, but she used to burn everything, too.”

“Here now,” Jackie protested. “I’m not out here telling everyone your secrets. For that, you can work on the stuffing. There’s an onion that needs to be chopped up”

In the end, it was Jackie, Rose, Donna, and Lee working on dinner while everyone else found other ways to spend the morning. As Rose cut the veg for the stuffing, she could hear a movie going in the living room and a toy car racing up and down the hallway. It was the kind of holiday family gathering she’d always seen in movies but never actually experienced.

She’d just finished sautéing the ingredients when her mum called her name. “What is that alien of yours up to, Rose?”

Rose turned so fast she nearly knocked the pan off the stove. “Where is he?” she asked, then she realised that her mum was standing at the kitchen window.

Rose crossed the kitchen and looked outside. Jenny and Jack had started a snowman, and it looked like Mickey and Martha were just getting back from their walk and were joining in.

So far she didn’t see… Then she found him. He was sitting on a bench on the opposite side of the garden, and he had something metal caught between his teeth as he used the sonic on the device he was holding. A device that looked an awful lot like…

“Oh lord,” Donna muttered. “He’s built a snowball catapult.”

“Or slingshot,” Rose agreed. She left the window and walked over to where the coats hung by the door.

“But there’s not a snowball fight going on,” Jackie protested.

“Not yet,” Lee said, making both Rose and Donna laugh.

“What are you doing, Rose?”

Rose finished pulling on her winter boots and looked up at her mum. “I’m not staying in here if there’s going to be a snowball fight,” she said.

Donna and Lee were both reaching for their coats, too, and Jackie shook her head. “You’re all mad,” she said, a repeat of the declaration she’d uttered many Christmases ago. But this time it was said with affection instead of derision.

“Yeah.” Rose crossed the room and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “And you love us.”

“God help me, I do.” She pointed at the three of them. “You make sure that alien gets hit at least once, you hear me?”

“Yes ma’am!” they chorused as they stepped outside.

Donna squeezed Lee’s hand, then tilted her head to the right when he glanced over at her. He nodded subtly, and she left his side to sneak behind the garden shed.

When she was safely hidden, she peered around the corner at the Doctor. He was still facing Jenny and Jack, that bloody catapult in his hand. Donna grinned as she collected a handful of snow and carefully patted it into a snowball.

A moment later, she pumped her fist victoriously when her snowball hit the Doctor square in the back. He jumped, then spun around wildly looking for where the attack had come from.

Donna ducked back behind the corner of the shed just in time to avoid being caught. A moment later, she heard another splat. The Doctor’s loud squawk of protest told her he’d been the target again.

“Why are you all ganging up on me?” he whinged.

She jumped back out into the open and threw another snowball. “Don’t try acting innocent,” she told him. “We saw you making that catapult thing—we just thought we’d beat you to the punch.”

Faster than Donna had expected, he scooped up snow in his gadget and spun around to fire it at her. The cold snow hitting her in the chest shocked the air out of her, but then she narrowed her eyes at him. “Oh, it is on now, Space Man.”

The lines were quickly drawn. Mickey and Martha joined her and Lee. Rose sided with the Doctor, of course, and Jack and Jenny joined on their side to keep the numbers even.

Donna lost track of time as she pelted snowballs across the lawn. Everyone was shrieking and laughing and yelling threats at each other.

“Oi, you lot!” Jackie hollered from the back door an untold amount of time later. “Get in here and get cleaned up. Dinner will be ready in half an hour. And don’t forget to wear your jumpers.”

Rose shivered as she shrugged out of her winter coat and left it in the kitchen with everyone else’s. “I don’t think anyone will mind wearing your jumpers,” she told her mum. “I know I won’t.”

“Me either,” Martha agreed, followed by Jenny and Mickey.

“Oh fine,” Jack grumbled, drawling out the sound. “I suppose a warm jumper might be nice right about now.”

“Who won the snowball contest, by the way?” Jackie asked as they all headed for the stairs.

Mickey was the first to start laughing, but they all joined in quickly. “There was too much chaos to settle a winner,” he said.

“But we all got the Doctor at least once,” Donna added.

“Then I think I won,” Jackie said. “I got exactly what I wanted and didn’t have to get wet.”

Everyone laughed again as they walked up the stairs, even the Doctor.

Twenty minutes later, they all returned to the dining room. Pete and Jack helped Jackie get all the food on the table, and when it was ready, she nodded and they all sat down.

After all the food had been passed and the plates were full, Pete stood up, his wine glass in hand. “I think a toast is in order,” he said. “To new beginnings and a family found.”

“To new beginnings,” Donna said, looking at Lee.

“To a past remembered,” he added.

The Doctor watched the exchange, a lump in his throat. Watching the two of them was bittersweet. He hadn’t had anyone to hold him up after he’d lost his family—his entire planet.

Rose rested her hand on his knee, and he relaxed. He hadn’t had anyone right away, but the TARDIS had made sure he’d found the perfect person pretty quickly.

He took her hand and laced their fingers together. Thank you, he told her.

Always.

oOoOo

Once the Christmas pudding was demolished and the dishes had been moved into the kitchen, everyone moved into the living room. The Doctor smiled at the crowd of them lounging on the couches and the floor, all wearing the ugly Christmas jumpers from Pete and Jackie. Before he could say anything, he heard a shutter click.

He looked behind him and saw a camera resting on the mantel. “I set it on a timer,” Mickey explained. “Come on, join us for the next one.”

The Doctor darted into the group and laid down on the floor in front of all of them. He posed in what Rose called the “Titanic Pose,” then he used the sonic to trigger the timer on the camera.

A second later, the flash nearly blinded him. As soon as he could see again, he jumped up and grabbed the camera.

“My turn,” he said. “But first…” He pulled out his sonic screwdriver and fiddled with it for a moment, then pointed it at the camera. “Now you should all get copies of all the photos on your phones.”

He snapped a few quick candids as people pulled out their phones to check, then let Martha snag the camera from him.

“Come on, Tony,” the Doctor said, gesturing to the boy. “I bet we could run your new toy cars up and down the hallway, what do you think?”

“Yeah!”

Behind him, the Doctor heard the clicks of pictures being taken and knew their holiday memories would be well recorded.

oOoOo

Rose took her turn with the camera last, and she wandered the house, trying to catch everything. The glittering tree, the table with leftovers and remains of Christmas crackers scattered over it, Tony stretched out on his stomach trying to put together a puzzle… She didn’t want to miss any of it.

But finally she set the camera down on the table and leaned against the doorframe between the living room and the dining room. Everyone had moved into the living room, all stretched out comfortably on the couches and floor. It’s a Wonderful Life was playing on the telly, though she wasn’t sure anyone was really awake enough to be paying attention.

She felt that tug again, the same one she’d felt earlier while helping with dinner. It was the family holiday scene she’d always wanted when she was a kid… and she’d had to go flying through time and space to make it happen.

She felt the Doctor behind her before he tapped her on the shoulder. I have a surprise for you, he told her. Let’s go outside.

He already had his coat on, and he handed her hers. The familiar, almost giddy light of adventure lit his eyes, and Rose’s heart beat faster in response. She quickly pulled her coat on and followed him outside.

A gust of winter wind blew over the snow, and Rose shivered. The Doctor wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close, and Rose smiled up at him.

She’d been waiting for him to do something to acknowledge that it was Valentine’s Day, in their timeline. Keeping track of two timelines was always a bit tricky, and it was particularly confusing to be celebrating two different holiday seasons at the same time—one of which they had already celebrated a few weeks before.

The Doctor squeezed her hand. “Time travel does make life complicated at times,” he agreed.

“Yeah, but if the only complication is that I get two Christmases, I’ll take it,” Rose countered. “Where are we going, Doctor?”

He put a finger to his lips, then pointed at his ear. Rose cocked her head and listened, and a moment later, she heard it—the distant jingle of sleigh bells.

“Oh my god,” she whispered. In the dim light of twilight, she saw a sleigh turn the corner at the end of the street and start towards them.

The driver pulled the reins and the sleigh glided to a stop right in front of them. “All ready for you, sir,” he said.

“I tried to think of something romantic to do on a planet focused on Christmas and winter, and finally I decided that there was nothing more romantic than a sleigh ride for two.”

The Doctor offered Rose his hand and held her steady as she climbed up first. Then he jumped straight into the sleigh, not even using the step.

With a click of his tongue, the driver got the horses moving again. “There’s a blanket for you, and a thermos of hot mulled wine.” He glanced over his shoulder and winked. “And you can pretend I’m not here,” he added.

Rose giggled. “I was going to say that this felt familiar—the moonlit drive, cuddled up under a blanket with a hot drink to share. But he’s nothing like Ricard.”

The Doctor shook the blanket out and tucked it carefully over their laps. “I think Ricard was one of a kind,” he said dryly. “I’ve never met someone so intent on keeping even the most innocent of kisses from happening.”

Rose put her hand on the Doctor’s knee and leaned in. And were you thinking of innocent kisses when we were on that hayride? she asked.

He tugged on his tie. Wellllll…

Rose laughed and rested her head on his shoulder. I love that you stretch that out, even in your thoughts, she said. Does that mean that my first you would have sounded all Northern and gruff?

The Doctor pressed a kiss to her temple. Yep.

As they drove, what little light remained disappeared. Rose leaned back in the seat and watched as the stars came out, one by one. The Doctor listed them off as they appeared, occasionally adding a comment about a world in that system.

Rose waited, and finally her own Sun appeared. It was always one of the last, since it wasn’t very bright.

“There you go,” the Doctor murmured in her ear. “Earth. The old home.”

“Yeah.” Rose stuck her tongue out slightly in thought.

“What is it?”

“Well… I just realised that even though we’ve spent more time on Earth this year helping Mum and Pete get settled in, it still doesn’t feel like home. Or it doesn’t anymore, I should say.”

She paused, trying to put her thoughts together.

“It’s weird, is all,” she said after a moment. “Or maybe normal? Is this what it’s like when you move out? After a few years it almost feels like you never lived there?”

The Doctor shrugged. “Well, in a manner of speaking you haven’t ever lived there. This you, the one who’s had seven years of adventures with me, has never lived on Earth. You’re not the same Rose Tyler now as you were back then, and the person you are today…”

“Never lived on Earth,” Rose concluded. It brought up a memory that she and her mum had never really hashed out, and she resolved to talk to her about it soon. But for now…

“This is gorgeous, Doctor.”

He grinned down at her, and Rose’s eyes widened. “What?” she asked, knowing what that smile meant.

“It’s possible there’s a reason I wanted to take you on this drive.”

The sleigh pulled out of the wooded lane they’d been travelling and into an open meadow. Looking around her, Rose realised they’d also climbed a fair bit. She could see the lights of the town below them.

And if they’d climbed and were in an open place, he wanted them to have a view.

Rose leaned forward a little, eager to see whatever it was he had arranged. When the first glimmer appeared, she thought maybe she’d imagined it. Then a second joined it, clearer than the first.

The light in the sky seemed to be shifting. She blinked, and when she opened her eyes again, she gasped in wonder.

“Do you like it?” the Doctor whispered.

Flames of colour danced across the night sky, painting it shades of pink, purple, and blue. As the sky lit up in vibrant flashes of colour, the light caught on the fresh snow and reflected back onto the trees surrounding the meadow, turning them all shades of blue and purple as well.

“It’s gorgeous.” Rose tugged on the Doctor’s tie, and when he leaned down, she caught his mouth in a kiss that would definitely have upset old Ricard.

oOoOo

Two days later, their holiday was at an end. Rose checked the room one last time before she zipped up her bag and went downstairs.

Jack was sitting on the couch when Rose entered the living room. “Ready to go?” he asked. “Hang on,” he said before she could answer.

Rose glanced over at him and realised he was studying her intently. She looked down at herself, and it only took a second for her to know what he was thinking. “Jack—”

“I’ve seen that jumper before,” he said, ignoring her. His eyes were dancing as he stood up and circled her. “Yep, I definitely recognise this particular jumper.”

Rose rolled up the sleeve and pushed it up on her arm. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Now I’m wondering if you have a suit, too.”

On impulse, Rose decided to call his bluff. “I might, but you’ll never know,” she told him.

Jack’s jaw dropped, and Rose pushed past him to carry her suitcase out to the TARDIS.

She met Donna and Lee outside. “We just put our bags inside,” Donna said. “I think almost everyone is ready to go.”

Rose nodded. “So, back to the 51st century for you?”

Donna looked at Lee, and they both shook their heads. “We’d actually like to stay on Earth for a bit,” she said. “Contemporary Earth. Contemporary to my time,” she said finally, rolling her eyes. “Time travel gives me a headache.”

Rose arched an eyebrow. “Really?”

Donna nodded. “We got to talk to Jack yesterday. Lee really likes him—they have a lot in common, after all.”

Rose nodded. This was making more sense.

“Are you going to work for Torchwood?” she asked Lee.

He shrugged. “Maybe. I’m st-st-still… thinking,” he said.

Donna shook her head. “Plus he thinks he wants to meet my mum, poor man.”

Rose grimaced. Sylvia Noble was one of the least pleasant women she had ever had the misfortune of meeting.

She looked at Lee. “Remember what I said before you met my mum?”

He frowned, then rolled his eyes and nodded.

“Seriously, Lee. Sylvia makes my mum look tame.”

“Gramps is amazing though,” Donna interjected.

Rose smiled. “Yeah, Wilf is great. Maybe just camp out up on that hill of his,” she suggested, only half kidding.

She frowned. “I thought you were thinking about going back to the Time Agency though,” she said, directing this to Lee.

He scratched the back of his neck, and Donna jumped in. “Well, the last time he went on a mission for them, he ended up stranded in a computer for 100 years,” she said drolly. “I don’t blame him for not being keen on going again.”

Rose grinned. “Yeah, but that turned out okay,” she said, gesturing between the two of them.

Donna laughed and took Lee’s hand. “Yeah, it did. Still, no point testing fate.”

Jackie was the last one to enter the TARDIS. She paused in closing the door, staring out at the house and the snow covered garden.

Finally, she closed the door with a sigh and walked down the ramp. “This was exactly the kind of holiday I hoped for,” she admitted.

The Doctor preened a little. Praise from Jackie was always sparse.

Before he could feel too chuffed, she hugged Rose. “Thank you for making it perfect,” she said.

“But… what??”

Everyone laughed, and Jackie finally looked at him, a smirk on her face. “And you too, I suppose.”

The Doctor rolled his eyes. “You’re welcome, Jackie. Happy Christmas. And now… home.” He threw the lever and the TARDIS engines wheezed as she moved into the Vortex.

oOoOo

Once they’d dropped everyone off, Rose moved around the console, setting the coordinates she wanted. She felt the Doctor’s eyes on her and knew he was trying to place her mood—she was too, to be fair.

The time rotor moved up and down as the TARDIS moved them through time and space. Once it was still again, Rose gestured at the door and followed the Doctor up the ramp.

He opened first one door, then pushed the other open when he realised where they were. Rose wrapped her arm around his waist as they looked out at the Earth, slowly spinning in her orbit around the sun.

“Thank you,” she said finally.

The arm around her shoulders squeezed gently. “For what?”

“For… for giving me the kind of family that could have a holiday like this,” she said, fumbling a little for the words. “I’ve never… I don’t have loads of siblings or cousins. Mum and I spent most holidays with Cousin Mo, or my Nan and Granddad. I just…”

“Family isn’t always what you’re born into,” the Doctor said quietly. “Sometimes, family is the friend who suddenly appeared in your time ship, and the medical student you met on the moon.”

“And a daughter created from a tissue sample and a man you rescued from a wall,” Rose agreed. “So thank you for finding a family with me.”

The Doctor hummed softly, then tugged Rose so they were facing each other. “And sometimes, family is a brilliant, brave woman you find in a basement, being stalked by Autons. I never would have found this family without you, Rose—so thank you.”

#ficandchips #doctorroseprompts #ten x rose #31 days of ficmas #fic by nancy #cq's fic: forever timeless #being to timelessness #donna x lee #mickey x martha #all the holiday family fluff you could want

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ambertea · 3 years ago

Text

the photograph

Ten struggles to move past Rose after Doomsday. (Hurt, no comfort.)

(Read on AO3)

The TARDIS door swung shut, and his head weighed heavily against the wood.

The past week had been a blur of activity. Searching for something he knew was impossible – a way to crack through to a parallel universe without destroying two worlds at once. When he had finally given up on that, he’d spent his time in a desperate rush to try and talk to her, at the very least, to give her the goodbye he’d denied so many others.

After that had come Donna and the Racnoss, and he had been almost relieved to have a reason to push her out of his head. He hadn’t had to face the burning sickness in his gut, or the deep, heavy longing weighing down on him like a boulder.

Now—finally—it was time to grieve. But he couldn’t.

Seeing her crying in front of him so openly – hearing her I love you – and being unable to return either had been an all-consuming pain, a slap to the face, a kick to the gut. Somewhere along the way, though, the feeling had simmered, leaving him with only all-consuming exhaustion.

After Gallifrey had gone, something precious had been ripped from his brain. It was like losing his hearing – or perhaps more than that, as though his ears still worked but the rest of the world had grown utterly silent. Now, aching as he did, he thought he might have a matching wound across his chest.

Sighing, he turned and walked up the ramp, flicking some buttons on the console panel. The TARDIS was unnaturally still, her own grief gentle but devastating. He looked around and paused.

What was he supposed to do now?

For lifetimes, he had spent the time in between adventures in the library, blonde hair tickling his nose. He could just keep going – look for another planet, another time – but something about that felt disrespectful. He owed her his pain, at least. Really, he’d never given her anything else.

Purple was blurring in the corner of his eyes, and he groaned and stared towards it. Her shirt. Wandering over, he held it gently in his hand and tried not to think of the last time he’d seen her in it.

“What do you think?” She asked, spinning into the room. He froze.

She still had on the same shirt as yesterday, held tightly by a dungaree dress. Long boots slithered up to her knees, clinging to her ankles and exaggerating the length of her legs. Three buttons – one more than Cassandra! – had been pulled apart across her chest, cleavage peaking over the denim. If she so much as very slightly leaned forwards, he may well have an aneurysm.

“Bit…blue.”

She frowned, looking down at herself. “It’s my favourite colour.”

“Favourite colour? Humans are ridiculous.”

She laughed and then quickly ran away, her boots thundering across the grating. His hearts calmed down, just a little, but then she was back, her massive red rucksack clutched in her arms.

“You help me choose, then.” She said, unzipping the bag and rummaging through. He leaned back on the console and snorted.

“Rose. I am a 900-year-old Time Lord. I am not here to help you with your fashion.”

“Alright, so I’ll just stick with what I’m wearing.”

He gulped.

“S’pose I can help. If you really want.”

She rolled her eyes and threw a few tops across the floor, and he stepped closer to inspect them properly. The majority of them he had seen before, each one a different memory of a time he’d been left tongue-tied.

“What’s that one?” He asked, pointing towards a magenta top he had never seen before. She held it up to herself and frowned down, eying the crown painted over the chest. He nodded approvingly, positive that this, at least, would cover…. everything that needed covering.

“I think mum got it for me at Primark…” she looked at it doubtfully. “You like it?”

“Love it. Now hurry up, we’ve got places to be.”

She giggled, her fingers fiddling with the top of dungarees until the buttons popped open.

“What are you doing?” He choked.

She grinned. “Changing my top.”

He nodded quickly, his hand brushing through and then gripping at his hair.

“Yep, right, course. I’ll just, uh—” he spun away from her teasing smile.

His eyes fixed upon the TARDIS wall, and he tried his very best not to think about her with her top off.

“Alright, safe now.”

He turned back and groaned internally. How did she do this?

Bounding up the console, he flipped some buttons and switches at random, looking down at them mindlessly.

“What do you think of this? Will it do?”

Absolutely not.

“In the late 1970s? You'd be better off in a bin bag…”

He was standing outside her room.

The top was clutched in his hands, his arm tight and tense. It couldn’t stay in the console room forever. He may as well hang a banner over the struts, paint big black words declaring that she was gone. It had to be hidden away, along with the rest of her, and then could close the door on the happiest chapter of his life for good.

But first, he needed to open the door. Which was proving difficult.

His hand reached forward and hovered in the air. The doorknob glared out at him, shiny and menacing. He had faced down Daleks, Cybermen—the Devil himself. He could do this. With a grunt, he pushed the door open.

His legs stepped forwards as if separate from his brain – kicking away the clothes scattered across the floor. Rose’s room had always been an absolute state, but homely in a way no other room in the TARDIS had ever managed. Her life was scattered across the photographs hanging on the walls, precious ornaments she had collected strewn carelessly across her desk.

His shoulders tensed and then slumped. He could feel her.

She was here in this room, her presence dawdling in a way he had never fully understood or believed in. Her spirit lingered over her dirty makeup brushes, raced through her stack of grimy teacups, settled along her unmade bed. She may as well have been standing in this very room, just out of his eye line.

Trembling, he collapsed onto her covers and bowed his head in silent prayer.

He yearned for his earlier dullness. Whatever this was—this swirling vortex of misery and self-loathing—was clutching at his lungs, squeezing at his throat. Tears dripped down onto the duvet, and he wiped them away, sniffing.

A gleam of light dazzled in the corner of his eye, and he turned towards her bedside table. A metal-framed photograph of the two of them. He reached out, cradling it in his hands, and gazed down at their flushed, happy faces.

“Rose, we can’t take a selfie in the 50s.”

She pouted, juggling her phone between her hands. “They won’t even know what we’re doing!”

“Humans have been taking selfies since they were barely more than apes.”

“But not on a phone!” She exclaimed. “They’ll just think we’re…leaning close.”

He snorted. “That’s scandalous enough.”

Rolling her eyes, she put her phone back in her jacket pocket. He leaned against the wall and watched the street, trying to keep his face fixed in a pleasant smile.

The image of her, faceless, was still vivid in his brain. To see her without her usual vibrant expressions had been harrowing, like losing her whilst she stood right in front of him. For a second, he didn’t think he would ever smile again.

“You alright?” She said, shoving into his shoulder with a bit too much force. Her heels toppled, and she began to fall, and he quickly grabbed her before her face collided with the pavement.

“Those things,” he accused, pointing at her shoes “are dangerous.”

“And a bit painful.” She grimaced. “Pretty though, don’t you think?”

In truth, he’d barely glanced over her shoes, but nodded all the same. He still couldn’t get over her looking like this—it reminded him of the first time he’d seen her dressed up, a lifetime ago. He had been awed then, and he was awed now.

“Not great for running, though.”

“Nah, but we’re done for the day, aren’t we? We saved the day and all that.”

He raised an eyebrow. “We saved the day, did we?”

“I was definitely an important part of it.”

He hummed, crossing his arms. “Seemed to me like you were just standing about.”

“Yeah, well, I can’t do everything, can I? Spotted the TV thing before you. Anyway, we’re a team. We do things together.”

“So did we save the day when we met, then?”

“Oh, no,” she laughed. “That was definitely me.”

He drank in her joy thirstily, letting her calm strength wash over him until he felt a bit lighter. The tables were being cleared away, and a few merry couples had taken to slow dancing across the road. He glanced at Rose and saw her eying them wistfully.

“Okay,” he sighed. “I guess we can take that selfie.”

She squealed, her phone instantly out of her pocket, and wrapped her arm around his neck, pulling him closer. Her cheek was pressed up against his, soft and warm. He grabbed her waist and pulled her tight against himself, grinning along right with her.

She looked down happily at her phone, angling it so he could peer along with her. He looked absolutely besotted. But then, so did she.

“Would you do me the honour, Dame Rose,” he asked, bowing towards her and offering his hand “of this dance?”

“Sir Doctor, I believe I will.”

He hadn’t intended to return. The first time had been an allowable weakness, a natural stage of the grieving process. Going back felt wrong somehow, even inappropriate. He had never shared her room during her time with him, so what right did he have to it now?

But there was another woman on the ship, and if there was anything Rose had taken issue to, it was that. Especially with the way Martha had looked at him—no, that wouldn’t have pleased her at all.

He poked his head around the door, feeling oddly like he was intruding on the empty room. Stalking over to the bed, he picked up the photo of her on her bedside table. His fingers traced over the lines of his face, trying to call back the feeling of her skin.

He desperately wanted to know how she was doing, where she has. One part of him hoped she would forget him altogether—a bigger part begged her not to.

“I got a new suit.” He told her, nodding down to himself. “Blue.”

A knock rapped upon the door and he shot up, dropping the photograph. He cracked the door open slightly to see Martha looking at him curiously.

“Sorry—just wondering where the kitchen is?”

“There,” he nodded behind her, quickly instructing the TARDIS to shuffle the rooms. “Goodnight.”

“Is this your room?” She asked, and he ignored her, shutting the door behind him.

He hurried back over to the bed, inspecting the frame for any damage, but it was unharmed. Sighing in relief, he put it back carefully, and laid down, staring at it.

“It’s okay. It’s just one trip.” He whispered to her, feeling a bit silly but needing to say it all the same. “And I told her your name, just like you wanted to me to.”

She smiled back, frozen and wordless.

“Mickey all settled in?”

She collapsed onto the sofa and sighed, her eyes inspecting his face. He steeled himself. He had been waiting for this – for her to explode over Sarah-Jane and Mickey and his harsh words outside of the chip shop. It was why he had hidden away in the library, behind dense shelves of books. But as always, Rose had found him as if by instinct.

“I’m sorry.”

“You’re--what?” he spluttered.

She kept her eyes on the carpet, hands twisting anxiously around in her lap.

“I shouldn’t have said—what I said, earlier. I was just being stupid.”

“Not stupid.”

“Okay, naïve, then. I just thought me and you were…” she glanced up, eying him carefully. “I don’t know, special.”

“Special.” He echoed, letting it bounce around his brain.

“And it just made me panic. And think about what happens when I die.”

“Well, that’s a way off yet.”

“Yeah, but it’s just like—who’s going to remember me?”

He frowned. “What?”

“I don’t really have friends on Earth anymore.” She said, turning to him and keeping her voice quiet. “There’s not even any records of my life from the past few years. I’ve got mum, but after that—” she fidgeted, casting her eyes down at her hands “I dunno. My whole life might as well have not happened. No one will remember it.”

“I didn’t forget Sarah-Jane.”

“You might as well have. How often do you think about her? Really?”

He scratched the back of his neck, feeling awkward.

“And now you’ve invited Mickey, which is fine—” she paused, taking a deep breath. “But it feels like even your memories of me aren’t going to be just me now. You’re going to look back and remember Rose-and-Mickey.”

“Instead of just you.” He said slowly.

“Well, yeah. And I know it’s selfish—”

“Not selfish.”

“—self-centered, then. But I kinda hoped you’d remember me.”

She fell back, as though winded from her own words, and he looked at her thoughtfully. Rose’s mortality was a subject he rarely allowed himself to consider, but when he did, he was usually focused on its effect on him. He had always assumed she was too young to think about it with any real unease. He offered out his arm and she quickly snuggled into him, face buried in his suit.

“When you…go,” he said slowly, the words painful on his tongue. “I’ll tell people. Promise. The whole universe will get sick of hearing about you.”

She snorted gently into his chest.

“I’ll write books, even. Poetry. Make some art.”

“More art,” her muffled voice reminded him, and he smiled.

“Some more art. A whole museum full of Rose.”

He pulled her into a hug, wrapping his arms tightly around her back, and kissed the top of her head.

“I’ll remember you. How could I ever forget?”

“They’re back,” he said as he walked through the door. “They survived.”

He undressed quickly, his clothes piling on top of hers. He bounced onto the bed, gazing at her, lying on his front.

“Cult of Skaro.” He told her, brushing dust from the bedstand. “Dalek Sec turned human. Just like the Dalek you touched,” he sighed, looking down. “I tried to save him. I knew you’d want me to.”

Rose looked back at him.

“No, I’m all right. Well—” he hesitated. “A bit angry, maybe. Four of them managed to stick together. Why couldn’t we?”

He rolled over; eyes fixed on the ceiling.

“I know. We got rid of millions of them. Stopped them killing everyone, that made it worth it.” His eyes twitched over to her, and then quickly away. “I guess.”

“I don’t think you have Daleks, over in that universe. Shouldn’t do, anyway, although really who knows where they manage to get to? But even if there is one over there, you should be able to sort them out. Right in the eyestalk, remember? Only weakness.

“Although knowing you, you’d have them charmed before it got to that. Offered them tea or something. Given it a hug. God, Rose—I hope you’re being careful over there. Joining Torchwood is great, but risking your life is less fun when it’s just you. You probably know that by now, you trouble magnet. But I couldn’t bare if it if–” he paused, aching. “Although, I suppose I wouldn’t know anyway.”

He pulled the pink covers up to his face, brushing them against his cheek. They smelt less of Rose now, after a week of his visits—he thought the TARDIS had probably washed them at some point, although he’d specifically asked her not to. Still, they were a comfort.

“When I first saw them,” he breathed. “I thought they’d come from the void. And I was horrified, of course. But not entirely. I thought, maybe—” he buried himself deeper in the covers, “but I guess not.”

“How did it feel?” She asked, her hand clutching his tightly. “Being a picture?”

“Sketchy.”

She looked at him sternly, ignoring his wide grin. He pulled her towards the cake table, but she tugged him back, her fingers digging slightly into his wrist.

“I’m serious.”

He gazed at her, wondering whether she truly wanted the answer. No, probably not. But her eyes were pleading with him, and she had just saved the day. Her wish, as always, was his command.

“Flat—no, I’m serious,” he said quickly, halting her open mouth. “Couldn’t really move. Couldn’t feel the TARDIS. Just stood there and…existed. It was terrible.”

Her eyebrows furrowed, and she tugged him a little closer.

“Those kids—”

“—are not okay, no matter how well they look now. It was like being trapped in my own brain. It was hard to work out what was real and what wasn’t. Even now—”

He stopped himself quickly, biting at the inside of his lips. She placed her hands loosely around his neck and kissed him gently on the cheek.

“Feels real to me.”

He laughed. “Can’t taste pencil?”

“Well,” she said, pulling him closer still. “Let me double check.”

“Rose,” he breathed, stumbling through the door. “Rose—Rose—”

He staggered across the room, arms out and craving for her.

“Rose—I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

He had left her. Again. A whole year under the Master’s brutal torture, but the worst pain of all had been staying away from her for so long. He clutched at her, his eyes devouring her face, the cold metal cutting into his skin.

“I couldn’t—I didn’t believe it—he was alive, Rose, and he was—” he struggled through his shallow breaths, trying desperately to articulate, to make her understand that he hadn’t chosen to stay away. “Rose, I was trapped. I spent every second thinking of you.”

She was looking at him, unmoved by his rambling pleas. He pressed his head against her, eyes squeezed shut, begging for her to understand.

“I wouldn’t leave you on purpose, you know I wouldn’t—I couldn’t—”

His eyes were streaming, but it felt so good to hold her close to him again. She was angry, she always was when they were separated, but she was here, and it was slowly relaxing him.

“I wasn’t the last. He was just hidden. I never thought—I was so alone,” he paused, smiling down at her. “Yes, I know. Apart from you, I meant. Does that even need saying?”

He ran his hand down his face. “No, I’ll be okay. I just needed to spend some time with you.”

He hugged her tighly, burying his face into her shoulder.

“How long did you wait?”

“5 and a half hours.” She gasped out, and he grimaced.

She was giddy with joy, and he realised suddenly just how frightened she must have been. What had he expected her to do, stuck on this space station? Wander around and hope one day he’d turn up?

“I’m sorry.” He said, pulling away. She looked down, but he pressed a finger against her chin, forcing it upwards. “Really.”

“It’s fine.”

He shook his head and stepped a little closer.

“I should’ve never left you. I never will again.”

He kissed her sweetly, and she stayed utterly still for a second before kissing him back enthusiastically.

They pulled apart and beamed at each other, their hands naturally gravitating together.

“We never did this,” she said, settling her head on his shoulder.

“What?”

“This,” she said, nodding at their clasped hands. “Us.”

He brushed the hair away from her eyes and then traced his fingertips over her lips. He had always loved these lips, loved the look, the touch—

“You never kissed me.”

He pulled his hand back and stared at her, confused. She shuffled out of his embrace, her sympathetic gaze grating at him.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” he scoffed. He had always been physically affectionate to her, every light touch a happy expression of love.

“You never told me that, either. Not once.”

He shifted in his chair, looking away.

“Why are you saying this?”

“Because I’m not sure you know.”

Martha left, and he thought maybe it was for the best. He had honestly liked Martha, found her intelligent and self-confident. But he knew she made Rose feel insecure, which was the last thing he wanted.

He spent his days curling up in her bed, chatting through their memories and finding joy in her smile. The universe had taken enough of his life. From now on, he would spend it with her.

“Doctor,” Rose said, settling heavily on the bed, “I’m worried.”

“About what?” He asked quickly, scooting up to her and taking her hand. She looked down at it with a frown.

“You’ve not eaten in a week. Not slept in months.”

He smiled. She was adorable. “You’re worried about me?”

She groaned, laying back. He mirrored her, studying her face.

“When was the last time you left the TARDIS?” She asked, and he frowned.

He’d forgotten he was on the TARDIS. He saw so little of it now.

“Are you getting restless? Because we don’t have to stay here. Maybe the library? You’ve always loved it.”

Her head towards him, and he was confused by the intensity he saw in his eyes. Maybe she was growing tired of his presence, sick of his constant rambles. He reached for his hair, nervous, and was surprised to find it down to his shoulders.

She reached towards him, and he stole her into his arms, trying to rub some warmth into her cold body.

“What about past the library?”

He frowned. “The console room?”

She groaned and rolled into his chest. He rubbed her back, trying to comfort her.

“What about the garden? We could plant strawberries for the summertime. Strawberries and ice cream for lunch, every day. Like a children’s book.”

“Why don’t you go outside, to plant strawberries?”

He pushed her away from him, bewildered, staring up at her with furrowed eyebrows. “Outside?”

“Grass. Sky. Stars.”

He let her fall beside him and stood up, angry.

“We can’t go outside. You know that.”

He glared at the wall opposite, his hands curling into fists. She brought this up so often these days, a constant argument that he never seemed to fully win.

“You need to,” she whispered behind him. “You need to go outside.”

He spun around. “I need to? By myself?”

She was very still on the bed, her eyes staring upwards blankly.

“Yes. God, Doctor, this isn’t you. When have you ever stayed still this long?”

He frowned at her. “But—we’re happy. Me and you, in the TARDIS. That’s what you wanted, isn’t it?”

She gazed up at him, looking pained. “Do you really think I would have wanted this?”

“Of course!” He shouted. “This is exactly what you wanted. Just me and you, no one else. Domestics. Love. All of that.”

“Love?” She whispered. “Is this love?”

He staggered back. He had always loved her, never faltering and never hesitating.

“What else could this be,” He asked, feeling tears rage in his eyes “but love?”

“Pain.” She whispered.

He fell back against the wall, sliding down until he was draped on top of the carpet.

“Pain?” He echoed, feeling an ache against his chest. “I pain you?”

“No,” she said from the bed. “No, never. But what about you?”

“Me?”

“How do you feel?”

He paused and took stock. Quite hungry, actually – and tired, which was unusual.

“Fine. I’m fine.”

She stayed motionless, and he stood up slowly, shaking the sudden fatigue from his limbs. She gazed up at him sadly.

“You need to move on. Get past me. Find someone else.”

“Someone else?”

He paced up and down the room, treading on both of their clothes.

“Snap out of it.”

He froze and turned slowly.

“Rose,” he muttered, “don’t.”

“I love you, Doctor.”

He stumbled slightly, exhaustion overtaking him. He sat down on the bed and froze. Slowly, he stood up and turned.

Her face was shattered across the bed.

“Rose,” he gasped out, his hearts racing. “No.”

“I love you,” she cried. He knew this—had always known this—but even now, saying his goodbyes, a flood of joy coursed through his blood.

He reached out to her and pulled her lips towards his. Her hands immediately went to the top of his head, grabbing at his head, moulding his body on hers. He clung to her back desperately, cursing their bodies for stopping them from moving even closer.

She pulled back, gasping for breath. He ran his tongue around his lips, tasting makeup and saltwater.

“I love you too.” He whispered into her ear.

He was on the floor, shards of glass scattered across his body. He brushed them off, slowly sitting up.

“Rose?”

The room was silent.

#i have been working on this for 2 days and i'm still not fully happy with it lol #but if i don't post now and just move on i never will #fics

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