Rose Tyler has been in this damn restaurant for an hour now.

Fifteen more minutes, she tells herself, and I'm out of this stupid place.

To be fair, Lancaster's isn't stupid. It's her favorite restaurant in town. It's the place she and her mum always come when she makes it down to visit, because they have the best chips in the universe. Honestly, she's never had a bad meal here, not even one bad memory. Until today, that is.

Jimmy promised he would never stand her up for a date again, not after the last two times in a row. She doesn't care how fit he is, no one is worth being stood up three times.

She supposes it's possible he's just late. The traffic is awful out at this time of day. Thirty more minutes then, she thinks, avoiding eye contact with the waitress, Kathy, who keeps giving her that look. The one they give those pathetic people who get stood up but stick around, hoping. It's a look she's very familiar with by now.

There is no way he'd stand her up again. Right? No decent human being stands their girlfriend up this many times. No, he'll be here. Of course he will.

RTRTRTRTRTRTRTRTRTRTRTRTRT

The server comes back in twenty minutes.

"You ready to order yet, love?" she asks, entirely too gentle for Rose's already wounded sense of pride.

"A few more minutes," Rose says, just managing to meet her eyes and keep her voice from wavering. Kathy gives Rose a soft, pitying smile and a nod before backing away.

Everyone around Rose keeps sneaking glances at her now. Knowing glances, full of pity. She hates them, but she finds it in herself to keep from putting her head down on her arms and having a good cry right here in the middle of her favorite restaurant.

RTRTRTRTRTRTRTRTRTRTRTRTRT

Ten more minutes and Rose is almost ready to get her purse and walk out.

I said thirty minutes. It's been thirty minutes. That wanker is an hour and a half late.

She's working herself up into an absolute rage when Kathy returns with her pity and her pitcher of water. She doesn't even ask if Rose wants to order this time, she just reaches out to fill her empty glass for the fourth time.

Just as Rose is lifting her hand to tell Kathy not to bother, that she's going home anyway, a lanky bloke slides into the seat across from her. He smoothly takes her hand and places a kiss on it.

"I'm sorry I'm so late, love, I got caught up and work and the traffic is terrible out," he says, loud enough for everyone in Lancaster's to hear. His dark brown eyes seem genuinely apologetic. He lets her hand go and gives Kathy a bright, disarming grin. Kathy beams back at him, filling his glass with water and rushing off to give them some privacy. Rose doesn't miss the relieved smile she shoots over at them.

She focuses back on the man across from her, face drawn up in confusion. She begins to question him, but he cuts her off.

"I know I'm unacceptably late. I'm so, so sorry." He leans in close like he's going to kiss her cheek, but instead whispers to her, "I'm James – go with it, yeah? Whoever stood you up is an idiot."

And for some reason, she does. This bloke is trying to save her from all the pity and sympathy that everyone in the whole restaurant is giving her, and he isn't hard on the eyes, either.

He's different from Jimmy The opposite, really. Even from the few moments she saw him standing, she can tell he's got a good few inches on him. He's got thick, wild brown hair. Where Jimmy is bulkily muscled and looks every inch the rock star he wants to be, James is lean and long like an academic, his spectacles perched on the bridge of his nose. A light dusting of freckles across his cheeks has Rose biting back a grin.

All in all, he's one of the most gorgeous blokes Rose has ever set eyes on. So she goes along with it, of course she does. Who in their right mind wouldn't?

"I'm Rose," she breathes just as he leans away. He gives her a beautiful smile, all joy and bright white teeth. She's returning it before she even knows what's happening.

"Well, you could've at least texted," she says with a glint in her eye.

"My phone died," he shoots back, devastating grin still on his face.

"I suppose I'll let you off – this time," she finally concedes.

"I'll make it up to you, I promise," he assures.

They drop their voices down to a much more normal decibel, their little show proving successful.

"So, Rose, what brings you to Lancaster's tonight?" he asks. His eyes are full of curiosity as he takes a long drink of water, Adam's apple bobbing in his throat when he swallows.

"I had a date with some loser," she responds after a moment. She's not quite sure what to make of this man yet. He seems fit and friendly, but why would he swoop in and try to save a complete stranger from a bit of embarrassment?

"He just stood you up without a word?" he asks, incredulous. The idea seems preposterous to him.

Rose's eyes drop down to the table, cheeks heating up.

"Yeah," she says. "Not even a text. He was supposed to be here an hour and a half ago."

She hadn't meant to tell him all that. Something about him makes her want to tell him everything.

Somehow, she manages to lift her gaze and sneak a peek at his face. She's surprised at what she finds there. There's no pity. He clearly doesn't think she's pathetic for waiting so long for someone who clearly wasn't going to show.

"Well, he's the biggest loser on Earth," he says decisively. Rose can't help but laugh at the contempt in his voice.

"Yeah, you're right," she agrees.

"Do you usually save people from the embarrassment of being stood up, then?" Rose asks, changing the subject with a cheeky grin.

He lifts an eyebrow, looking up at her. "No, I can't say I do. I just… It just felt right."

Rose bites her lip, nodding. "Well, thank you. I was just about to do the walk of shame out of here when you sat down."

"I'm very glad I got here in time, then," he says. Rose blushes for a very different reason and looks down at her menu. In all her extra time here, she never actually decided what she was going to eat.

"What's good here?" James asks, scanning the options again.

"Everything," Rose says. "I've never had a single bad meal here. Best food in town. You've never been here before?"

"Oh, no. I'm not from around here," he says with a small shake of his head. His hair bounces gently. Rose can't help but want to touch it. It looks so soft.

"Well, a really safe bet is the burger. They have the best chips I've ever had."

"I love chips," he says. He's very agreeable, this bloke.

"Burger it is," he declares, shutting the menu with flourish. He slides his glasses off and puts them in the pocket of his jacket. "And for you?"

"I think I'm going with the burger too, actually. I've not had one in ages," she says. Her stomach rumbles to emphasize just how starving she is, it seems. She didn't even really realize before how hungry she is. Now that she knows though, it's nearly painful.

"So, who are you?" Rose asks after a few beats of a natural, comfortable silence.

"I'm Doctor James Noble," he says with a wide, proud smile. He ruffles his hair, distracting her momentarily again.

"Doctor?" Rose says, shocked. He seems terribly young to be a doctor.

"You think I'm too young to be a doctor," he says, smirking.

"Well," Rose mutters, shifting in her seat, worried she may have offended him.

"It's okay, I get that a lot. Apparently I look a bit younger than I am. I'm 27. I've only just become a doctor, actually," he says. That infectious smile is back, and Rose is incredibly grateful that she hasn't managed to offended him.

"Like a medical doctor?" she asks. The scent of food around her is trying to distract her from the conversation, but she resists, giving him all her attention.

"Oh, no," he says with a shake of his head. "I'm a professor of engineering."

"Really? Whe –" Rose is cut off by Kathy sliding back up to their table.

"What can I get for you two tonight?" she asks, beaming at them.

"Oh! I'll have a cheeseburger with chips, and just the water is fine," he says, handing her the menu with a word of thanks.

"I'll have the same, yeah," Rose says, smiling at Kathy. She nods and is off again to put their orders in.

"Doctor James Noble," Rose says, rolling the words around in her mouth. "It has a nice ring to it, I'll give you that."

"Thank you! All of my mates actually refuse to call me doctor. It's entirely unfair." He pouts. Dear god. How did she not notice that bottom lip before now? He has the fullest, most delicious bottom lip she has ever seen. She's overcome with the urge to bite and suck on it (which is an inappropriate thought to have about a complete stranger, she knows).

"Well, I'll call you Doctor all you like," she promises. His eyes light up, and she knows she's in trouble. She wants to see his eyes light up like that all the time.

"Really?" he asks, leaning toward her on his forearms in excitement.

"Of course," she says with a nod.

"Thank you very much," he whispers. He leans back in his chair, relaxing once again.

"So, I told you mine. You tell me yours?" He reaches up to tug nervously on his ear and if she's honest, it's almost too adorable to handle.

"I'm Rose Tyler," she begins once she collects herself, "I study criminology part time."

"Oh, yeah?" he says, genuine curiosity in his voice. "What's your dream job, then?"

"I'd like to be a DI one day," she says. He nods his head slowly.

"You'll make a brilliant DI," he says with such confidence she almost doesn't question why he believes that. He doesn't even know her; how could he possibly know she'd make a good DI? "What do you do with the rest of your time?"

"What?" she asks, not following him.

"You said you're a part time student," he clarifies.

"Oh, right! I'm a sales associate at H&M," she says, finishing off yet another glass of water.

"Maybe I could pop by and have you help me out with my wardrobe then. I'm afraid I'm a little rubbish when it comes to clothing, and I really need to get some new suits," he says, a slightly strange mix of sheepishness and hope in his tone. Rose flashes him another smile. Blimey, her cheeks are going to be aching from all this smiling.

"I'd love to, Doctor," she says. He smiles so wide that she actually worries it's hurting him.

"Thank you, Rose Tyler."

She has to look away from his face after a moment. He's like sunshine. She wants to bask in his warmth for as long as she possibly can. Unfortunately, she's also had about four glasses of water and desperately needs to excuse herself.

"I'm afraid I need to go to the loo," she says with a slightly awkward chuckle. "I've had about a thousand glasses of water tonight."

"Oh! Of course," he says, jumping up from his seat. Rose pushes her chair back and stands as well.

"I'll be right back," she promises. He gives her a nod and a smile as she walks away.

Once Rose is in the loo, she slides her phone out of her purse and sends a quick text to her roommate, Martha.

Boy have I got something to tell you when I get home

She smirks, putting her phone away and quickly finishing up in the bathroom.

RTRTRTRTRTRTRTRTRTRTRTRTRT

Kathy returns soon with their food, fills their drinks, and leaves quickly once again.

Rose inhales, breathing in the aroma of the chips. The tang of vinegar and salt is familiar and comforting. She watches James's face as he bites into his first chip. He grins over at her, clearly impressed that her claim of "best chips in the universe" reins true. He shoves more chips in his mouth, chewing slowly, the muscle in his jaw clearly visible as it works up and down.

"They're amazing, right?" she says, delighted at his reaction.

"They're alright," he teases. When he takes his next bite, a small moan actually escapes his throat. He catches himself and coughs, grabbing his water and drinking half of it in one go. Rose pretends she can't see the pink staining his cheeks.

They chat through their dinner, learning this and that about each other. She learns that he had actually wanted to be an astronaut when he was little. He was so obsessed with the stars that he actually earned the nickname "spaceman".

She tells him about her irrational fear of mannequins, and how the ones at work creep her out to no end. He was adopted when he was young, just old enough to have vague memories of his birth family, but she doesn't actually learn anything about his biological or adoptive family. While she does mention her mum back home in London, she thinks the story of her father's death is a little heavy for a surprise date with a complete stranger, so she keeps that one to herself. Once they finish their meals, she notices a strange expression on James's face.

"D'you want to maybe… get some pudding," he offers, rubbing the back of his neck in an attempt at being casual. Rose grins, nodding. She isn't eager for the night to end just yet, either.

"They have a great cheesecake here," she says with a glint in her eye.

"I love a great cheesecake, me," he says. She notices that, once again, they both seem to have drifted towards each other, the two of them both leaning across the table as far as the comfortably could from their seats. She clears her throat and leans back, breaking the spell. He seems to remember himself and follows her example. He runs a hand through his hair, which, honestly, should be illegal.

When Kathy comes back, they request two slices of cheesecake. Kathy gives them a wide smile and promises to return soon. Rose honestly isn't sure why Kathy is so happy that James showed up, but she has to admit she's sweet.

Soon they have their pudding, and James is moaning again when it touches his tongue. This time, they both blush, looking away from each other awkwardly. They focus on eating for the moment that it takes the awkwardness to melt away. Before they know it, they're chatting like old friends again.

"What was young Rose's dream job, then?" he asks, lifting an eyebrow.

"Well… I've honestly wanted to be a DI for as long as I can remember. I never really flirted around with being a firefighter or a princess or a vet like lots of kids." She bites her lip, fighting her instinct to look away from his clever eyes. They see too much. He looks like he wants to question her further, but he holds back, giving her a nod and a little smile.

"I can imagine a young Rose playing DI, solving cases right and left. Defender of the playground," he teases, winking at her. She laughs and rolls her eyes at him. He wasn't wrong though. Not that she'd give him the satisfaction of telling him that.

That expression is back on his face when they finish their pudding. He opens and closes his mouth a few times, searching for the right thing to say.

"They're about to close up, aren't they?" he asks, a little sad. She nods. He reaches across the table to brush his fingers along her hand. She shivers, but doesn't pull away. It's a very, very pleasant feeling.

"As much as I'd love to order a glass of wine and sit here a while longer, we should probably go so they can clean up and get home," Rose whispers. He nods, eyebrows furrowed. She can practically see the cogs turning in his head as he thinks.

"D'you think…" he begins, but drifts off, biting his bottom lip.

"Do I think what?" she encourages, leaning in towards him. He mirrors her posture, staring intensely into her eyes for a moment.

"Would you like to go out with me again? On a proper date that's actually meant to be the two of us?" he asks. His fingers twitch against the tablecloth. She thinks he probably wants to tug his ear or rub his neck again. She smiles, her tongue peeking out between her teeth.

"I'd love that, yeah," she says. He breathes out what sounds like a relieved sigh. She reaches across the table this time and he flips his hand, palm up and their fingertips brush together. She sucks a breath in through her nose, tugging her hand back just as quickly as she'd offered it up.

"I'll give you my number and you can text me with the details?" she says. He nods, sliding his phone out of his pocket and handing it to her after unlocking it. She puts her number in and hands it back, biting back a huge smile. She is already anxious for his text.

"I suppose we should pay and get out of here," he says. He glances down at his watch and his eyebrows shoot up. "It's even later than I thought…"

"My roommate is probably going mad waiting on me to get home," Rose realizes. She'll have some apologies to make when she gets back.

"I'm sorry," he says with a frown.

"No, that's okay. She'll understand," Rose reassures him. His frown melts away, turning into an easy smile. Good. She doesn't like to see him frown. His face is much more suited for huge smiles and laughter and happiness, she thinks.

They pay for their meal and make their way outside slowly, dragging their feet. Once they make it out, he walks her to her car. The car park is empty around them.

"I had a lovely time tonight," he says, leaning against her car.

"Me too," she says, biting her lip. She shifts her weight from one foot to the other. Something hangs in the air between them, but she isn't positive what it is.

"Can I… would you mind if I kissed you?" he asks, hands shoved in his pockets. His request shocks her. Even more surprising than that though, is her immediate response.

"I'd like that," she breathes. The corner of his mouth lifts. He takes a deep breath, stepping closer to her, and leans down slowly, giving her plenty of time and space to change her mind. She doesn't. His warm lips meet hers in a soft kiss. Much softer than she's used to. She kisses him back, leaning up on her toes to press a little harder against him. He smiles against her mouth and slowly pulls back, their lips parting with a tiny, satisfying sound, and her eyelids drift open. She doesn't even remember closing them.

"I'll see you soon?" It's a question. Another chance for her to change her mind. Of course she doesn't.

"Absolutely," she says. He nods, and makes his way over to his car. She slides into her own car, turning it on and cranking up the heat. She only just realized how freezing it is outside. As she goes to put her car in gear, her phone lights up. She glances down and sees an unfamiliar number. He can't have texted her already. Right? She doesn't let herself hope that he has. She unlocks her phone with trembling fingers.

How do you feel about mini-golf?

This is James, by the way.

A wide smile splits across her face.

I love mini-golf.