A Place in Time (14/30)

[amberfocus]

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Chapter Fourteen:  Whole

Rose’s heart stopped. There he was, she had dreamed of this moment and he offered chips. It was sweet in a way, their first date had chips, but it wasn’t what she’d expected from their reunion. Him with his casual nonchalance. Oh, so he was going to be flip was he? Her eyes narrowed. Well, there was one thing he didn’t know about Rose Tyler.

She launched herself across the room and the Doctor opened his arms to her, but she dodged to one side, grabbing the bag of chips and thrusting one hand into it. Quickly she pulled out a chip and shoved it in her mouth. The noises she made while eating it were not ones anyone would have pegged as being related to eating at all. When she swallowed it, she turned back to the Doctor and said, “Did you know that bloody parallel universe I was trapped in did not have potatoes? I haven’t had chips in three years!”

The Doctor stared at her in shock. He had expected her to throw herself into his arms and she’d gone for the chips! How could she be so darn casual--? Oh. She was giving as good as she got. Of course she was. He’d forgotten that about her. “Rose,” he said.

“Hello, Doctor.” She smiled at him. “You know what was worse then that, though?” She kept her tone light and breezy.

“What?” He asked.

“No Doctor for me in three years.” And she couldn’t keep up the game any longer. Her voice broke on the last three words and tears threatened to fall from her eyes.

“And no Rose for me,” he said. “Come here.” And this time she flung herself into his arms and felt the comforting tightness of his embrace. Everything in her that had been dead for the past three years came to life. She felt the Doctor kissing the top of her head as he held onto her for dear life. After a long time he pulled back from her to look her in the eyes.

He smiled at her tenderly. “I missed you,” he said. Then he kissed her, his lips so soft and so hesitant, as if he were afraid that if he pressed too hard she might disappear into thin air. Rose was having none of it, and she pressed forward, deepening the kiss until she was satisfied with the intensity. Trapped in the current the Doctor gave in, kissing her so passionately and desperately that at first he didn’t hear Jack.

Jack cleared his throat loudly. “I said you two should get a room. And I have one in the back you can use if you’re in too much of a hurry. Wouldn’t mind joining you, either.”

Rose and the Doctor reluctantly broke apart. “No and no, thank you. You, Jack Harkness, I have a bone to pick with you.”

“What? Why? I got your girl back for you.”

“We’ll talk about it later. Right now, Rose and I are going to the TARDIS for some privacy.” The Doctor took her hand and helped her up onto the lift. The whir of the sonic screwdriver could be heard and then it began to rise.

They walked slowly back to the TARDIS arm in arm, so that Rose could hold the bag of chips and eat them while still staying connected to the Doctor. She had them finished by the time they reached the ship. As they entered the control room the Doctor noticed a note taped to the control screen. He grabbed it off and read it:

Dear Doctor–

I changed my mind. I’ll get myself home. You take Rose on some adventures and come back and find me in a while. I’ll expect to see you around 22nd July. Don't make me come hunt you down because I will. And don’t you screw this up. You tell that girl what she means to you.

Love, Donna

He looked up at Rose with a smile on his face. “We have the ship to ourselves it seems. Both my companions did a runner to give us privacy.”

“Hmm,” said Rose. “So what do you want to do?” She laid a hand against one of the support struts and the TARDIS hummed happily at her. “Hello, old girl,” she said fondly giving her a pat. “Glad to see me again?” The TARDIS responded by dimming the lights and turning on what looked suspiciously like mood lighting. “Missed you, too.”

“Let’s go park the TARDIS in Saturn’s ice rings. And then we need to have a serious talk,” the Doctor told her. “About our future.” It took only a few minutes to move the ship and then the Doctor opened the doors so they could look out on the vista before them.

“It’s beautiful,” said Rose.

“You’re beautiful,” he said. Rose’s breath caught. He took her hand and turned her to look at him. “I love you, Rose Tyler and I’m so sorry I never said it before and never got to finish saying it the day we said good-bye. When you were gone, I felt like half a man. You took my hearts with you the day I lost you. And I don’t ever, ever intend to lose you again. You were my life, Rose. You are my life. You make me whole.”

“I love you, too,” she said. “I tried to stop, but I never could. Part of me was missing, part of my soul. I felt like life on one tiny little planet could never be enough if you weren’t on it, too. Not when my heart filled the universe whenever I was with you. It was so hard being torn in half. We fit together into one piece. And I want to be with you for the rest of my life.”

“You will be. I promise you that.” He pulled her closer to him and kissed her and when they broke apart, Rose turned in his arms, pressing her back to his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and they stared out at the glittering view, like so many diamonds floating around them.

“I’ve missed this,” Rose said. “Just being together; just holding and staring at the universe as it drifts by.”

“Me, too,” he said. “I’ve missed so many things.” She felt him brush the hair away from her neck and his lips come down against the side of her throat. She tilted her head, granting him better access, and gave a little happy sigh. It was so good to be home.

Ch. 15:  http://amberfocus.livejournal.com/51493.html