Chapter 22

The Doctor stood at the foot of the main staircase of the Tyler residence, buttoning his shirt cuffs. He had swapped his usual pin-striped suit in favour of a smart tuxedo – for the occasion of the night – but he still resolutely wore a pair of his favourite converses despite the strictly, formal dress code.

The notion of a party seemed a fun idea to the Doctor – a welcome break in his hectic life - and there was also the added privilege of escorting a beautiful woman there. He smiled to himself – thinking of Rose fondly – right now he felt the luckiest man alive. Yet deep within, he still felt an underlying sadness that he was never truly able to revel in happiness, not even for one night.

The Doctor hadn't originally planned on hanging around for too long – when the TARDIS had landed a few hours earlier – but he had then felt he owed it to Rose's parents not to disappear off with her immediately afterwards. Pete and Jackie had been thrilled to see their daughter alive and well and had shown nothing but gratitude to the Doctor for bringing her back to them safe; Jackie had even tried to shower him with kisses but he had dodged, expertly, out of her way.

Once the hugging and kissing had subsided Rose had then introduced her parents to baby Nathan. Jackie had been instantly smitten and was all for the idea of adopting him, a playmate for her unborn child. Pete however had needed a little more convincing but eventually he had accepted Nathan into the family and had agreed to raise him as their own son in the event that they couldn't find his biological parents. Everything had worked out just as Rose had fervently been hoping, during the trip back.

The Doctor now adjusted his collar and tie impatiently, Rose was certainly taking her sweet time. There had been no sign of Jackie for over an hour either. Both she and Rose had done a vanishing act a short while after dinner, leaving the Doctor to engage Pete in conversation – over a few whiskies – as Mickey had excused himself to go and hunt out a suit that fitted the formal criteria and Jake had then headed off home to change with the promise that he would be back later in time for the car that would arrive to collect the Tyler's'.

The sound of clicking heels and the waft of hairspray from the landing above caught the Doctor's attention. Jackie had appeared looking – to the Doctor – uncharacteristically glamorous with her hair piled up and wearing big dangly, diamond earrings and a necklace of even bigger, glittering diamonds, "that must have cost Pete a small fortune", he muttered, shaking his head with mock disapproval.

"Jacks, the limo has arrived", Pete called out to his wife as he came striding out into the hallway and stopped in silent awe, watching her delicately making her way down the staircase. "You look stunning babe, that spa break has worked wonders for you", he held his arm out to her – as she reached the bottom step – and she took it, giggling. She had never felt so elegant in all her life despite the fact that she was nearly six months pregnant.

"I'm so excited Pete, is it going to be a big do?" Jackie asked as she twirled, showing off her gorgeous satin, midnight-blue dress. "I've got butterflies I'm so nervous."

"Yeah I reckon so; The Williams' are very well connected. I'll introduce you to Helen, Geoffrey's missus. The pair of you can talk shopping or something along those lines. Anyway I'm sure you'll have a great time, champagne and cocktails", he stopped, dropping his eyes to Jackie's ever growing bump. "Well not for you, perhaps next time." He smiled and kissed his wife's hand.

"Fantastic", Jackie squealed, "who needs alcohol to have a good time when you're keeping such good company. Oh what about the Doctor though, he's the only one of us who doesn't have an invite?"

"Oh don't you worry about me Jackie", the Doctor made his presence known by stepping out from behind the stair rail that partially concealed him, "I have my trusty psychic paper that will get me in anywhere. It never fails, well rarely." He produced the handy wallet - containing blank paper - from his pocket and held it up so Jackie could see.

"Dr John Smith…who's he?" Jackie asked suspiciously.

"One of the many alias's I go by", the Doctor grinned and tucked the psychic paper back in his pocket.

"Well Dr Smith, I must say you scrub up quite well." Jackie laughed.

"You don't look so bad yourself, nice change from the baggy tracksuits I'm used to seeing you wear." He returned cheekily, expecting a slap at any moment.

"I suppose coming from you that's flattery", Jackie scowled but she wasn't really insulted.

"Come on Jacks, I'll take you out to the car." Pete started ushering her gently away towards the front doors. "Rose should be along in a bit; the Doctor can wait for her." They left the Doctor alone once more but not for long.

"You alright Doc?" Mickey called from overhead.

"Mickey, yeah I'm super, just waiting for Rose. You don't know how long she'll be do you?"

"Nope sorry mate, but I'll tell you one thing, you're a lucky guy. I've seen the dress; it'll take your breath away, trust me." He laughed and ran down to meet the Doctor.

"You don't mind then?" The Doctor was concerned that Mickey was behaving falsely happy.

"It's not a problem, I've moved on. I got tired of waiting." Mickey sniffed. "Anyway I was thinking me and Jen get on alright, she makes me happy and we said we'd meet up again sometime. Never know there might be some kind of future there."

"Well I'm really happy for you", the Doctor was sincere.

Mickey nodded, "so I'll see you two outside in the car, yeah." He slapped the Doctor on the shoulder as he passed.

"Rose!" The Doctor cupped his hands to his mouth.

"Yeah just coming", she shouted back. In truth she had been ready for some time but she was steeling herself to go out onto the landing and face the moment when the Doctor would see her wearing her fabulous dress for the first time. Deciding that she couldn't put the moment off any longer, she stepped onto the landing and with more confidence than she felt made her way down the corridor to the top of the staircase.

The Doctor whistled an old tune to himself as he waited, then all of a sudden he found that he could no longer whistle for his lips had turned oddly dry and he could not make a sound. The beating of his two hearts was the only sound he heard, echoing in his ears, beating out a rhythmic, vigorous samba. Beads of perspiration had started to form on his brow too and he moved his hand to mop it but he could not take his eyes from the exquisite image of beauty and perfection that stood before him, dressed in soft, red satin and smiling a dazzling smile.

He licked his lips trying to moisten them so that he may speak. "Rose…", although he could speak he found that he was lost for words. How could he even begin to describe how incredibly beautiful she was to him, words just weren't enough. Not even Shakespeare could have found the words to lend him at that moment so he said the first thing that came into his head. "Rose…I…don't want to hurry you but the car's waiting." Rose's disappointment was visible and it cut the Doctor to see her so shattered but he couldn't find the words even to apologise, he hated himself just then.

Rose clunked down the stairs – all thoughts of elegance and sophistication gone – the Doctor obviously didn't care what she wore or how she looked. She could have just thrown on a baggy t-shirt and a pair of old jeans and have bed hair and still she would have got the exact same reaction, nothing.

Tears threatened to spill from her eyes but she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing her cry, she would shrug it off and have fun anyway. What did it matter that the Doctor was giving her the cold shoulder again? If he wanted to play silly, childish games let him.

She slipped her arm through his without a word and he thought it best to take her straight out to the waiting limo, trying to avoid anymore unpleasantness. Rose determinedly chose to sit in between Mickey and Jake and the Doctor sat opposite, trying not to glance at her frosty expression which she was badly disguising by gritting her teeth into a smile. This was going to be a long ride, he sighed.

The limo pulled up outside the grand gates of a huge mansion – larger even than the Tyler residence – and the driver rolled down his window in order to speak into the intercom. Mechanism buzzed and the gates swung inward, permitting entry. They drove up the long stretch of driveway and saw a gathering of several other limousines ranging in size and colour.

The driver parked up and everybody climbed out, Pete helping Jackie negotiate her way safely out onto the gravel driveway. The Doctor waited until last to climb out and by then Rose had gone off in a huff, accompanied by Jake and Mickey.

"Brilliant", he said to himself, "it couldn't be going better"; he rolled his eyes and jogged after the stream of people going in through the front doors. He caught Rose up as she walked through the entrance – Jake and Mickey on each arm – but he was then held up as a big, burly man asked for his invitation. With an impatient wave of his psychic paper, the Doctor was allowed to pass and he found himself in the large hallway beyond but he could no longer see Rose.

Many rooms led off of the hallway and the Doctor wasted some minutes searching through them, at one point catching sight of Pete and Jackie, but he was disappointed although hardly surprised to discover that Rose wasn't with them and continued his search of the huge mansion.

Frantically he dashed into another room opposite the one he had just left and whipped his head this way and that, trying to spy a glance of Rose. Then he heard a distinctive sound that made his hearts leap, the sound of Rose laughing somewhere nearby. He followed the sound and started pushing his way, rather rudely, through the crowd and was relieved to find her, sitting beside the buffet table, cocktail drink in hand. She was no longer with Mickey and Jake though, instead she was now accompanied by a man who the Doctor instantly felt a great loathing for.

Rose was humouring the man about something but what the Doctor was uncertain of as their voices although loud weren't audible above the hubbub of noise in the room. What the Doctor could distinguish from the conversation though was that Rose's male companion was enamoured of her and obviously thought he was in with a chance as he leaned in closer to her.

"Right, I think you've had enough", the Doctor took Rose's arm and pulled her to her feet.

"What? I've only had the one." Rose protested as she set her glass down.

"I don't want you hanging around the likes of him", he nodded in the other man's general direction.

The man puffed his chest out indignantly at being interrupted then he read the distasteful expression upon the Doctor's face and bristled. "Please Sir, do you mind, I was just sharing a very nice conversation with the young lady."

"No I don't mind, not in the least. Cheery bye", the Doctor grinned and walked away, taking a reluctant Rose with him. He wasn't sure where he was taking her as they jostled their way past other guests and he didn't care so long as Rose was as far from that highly dislikeable fellow as possible.

"Where are we going?" She yelled above the din of chatter.

"The garden, looks lovely this time of night", he answered without pause for thought. Come on." He squeezed her hand and took her out into the night.

Rose shivered as the cold touched her bare shoulders. The Doctor chivalrously removed his jacket and draped it around her and she smiled at him gratefully. They saw that they were not the only ones stepping out for some night air. Couples had left the noise of the party for the solitariness of the garden and were caught up in the romance of the evening, dancing in the moonlight.

Rose thought that she recognized one of the couples and was astonished to realise it was Mickey and Jen. "Jen Williams", Rose thought, "of course this must be her house." She pointed them out to the Doctor who gave her a sympathetic look and put his arm around her briefly.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah fine", she smiled. "I've got you."

"Yep you certainly have", the Doctor beamed, looking adoringly into Rose's eyes. "Rose there's something I have to say to you." He looked away, and then went on. "I suppose you've been wondering why I've been so cold with you, why every time we get close I push you away."

"It has crossed my mind yeah."

"I've lost everyone and everything I've ever loved, and that's my inevitable future. I can't allow myself to get too close to anyone especially you because it will cause untold hurt. When I lost you I had no choice but to carry on and with each day the pain grew less. Now I've found you again and it complicates everything, the more time I spend with you the more I grow to…" He paused taking a while before he continued. "We can't be together, it won't work, I'm sorry…

"I don't care that we can't be together forever", Rose put her finger to his lips to stop him talking. "I just want to make the most of the time we have now whether we have a few hours, months, years or whatever." She moved her finger away but the Doctor stayed silent, troubled by the conflict of his thoughts. Then he smiled, Rose was right, they should make the most of now.

The Doctor moved closer to Rose and reaching out put trembling hands around her waist – pulling her to him with a swift, decisive movement, the jacket slipping from her shoulders. Then he held her face in his hands and purposefully kissed her soft, warm lips. Rose gasped a little but then relaxed into the kiss, enjoying it immensely, melting with pleasure.

She ran her fingers through his hair as they continued to kiss passionately in the chill, night air under the stars. Now she knew for sure that he loved her even if he hadn't actually said, he had been going to just like that day on the beach. That day seemed a million years ago as their lips broke apart and the Doctor swept her up in his arms and whirled around with her, demonstrating such strength.

Rose laughed gleefully as they spun around and around and he laughed too, more than he had in months or perhaps even longer. The other couples – not including Mickey and Jen for they had disappeared inside – had stopped their dancing to watch but Rose and the Doctor didn't care that they were suddenly centre of attention; they only had eyes for each other.

The Doctor set Rose back down on her feet still laughing, then she twirled, lost her balance and fell, dissolving into yet more laughter as the Doctor stuck out a hand to help her up. She grabbed at his hand, missing a few times and then upon successfully meeting his hand she pulled him down to the ground with her. Startled, he sunk to his knees beside her and then grinned.

"You're drunk."

"I'm not", Rose giggled, "I already told you, I've only had the one. I'm just delirious with happiness."

"Sure I believe you, come on then let's go back inside; I fancy a banana daiquiri myself."

"Can't we stay out here, it's nice out here." Rose was disappointed.

"You'll get cold, look at you you're shivering."

Rose wouldn't get up instead she defiantly lay down in the grass, resting her head on one arm to look at him. The people watching had lost interest and were swaying about once more. The Doctor frowned then he lay down himself, hands behind his head. Rose got to her knees and crawled over to him then lay down once more, resting her head on his chest. The Doctor hugged her to him and the minutes passed away as they lay staring up at the beautiful star-lit sky.

"Shall we go back inside now?" Rose asked quietly, beginning to feel a little sleepy.

"Yeah probably best if we did", he sprang to his feet to help her up. "Right then, allons-y."

They walked hand in hand and rejoined the party guests inside. The Doctor made for the nearest waiter carrying a tray of cocktail drinks and passed a glass to Rose before helping himself. Then he took them to a quiet corner away from the constant, deafening noise of excited chatter. "To us", he declared chinking his glass against hers.

"Yeah, to us", Rose agreed and gulped down her drink. "And to the many adventures we have yet to have."

"The Doctor nodded, his mouth stretching into a massive grin before he drained his own glass. "Well I suppose we had better find your parents, they'll want to see a bit more of their daughter before we leave in the morning." The Doctor dropped his voice, seriously. "Rose I can't promise that we'll ever be able to return here, this may be the last time you'll ever see them. Do you understand that? Are you sure you still want to come with me?"

"I'm completely sure" Rose said with the utmost sincerity. I love my mum and dad and I'm so grateful to them for everything but I love you more. I will sacrifice anything to be with you, you mean everything to me and I can't lose you again not now. I want to stay with you forever, if you'll have me."

"Well I dunno your mood swings can sometimes be a bit much, I can't promise I won't just drop you off on some far off planet and leave without you." He laughed as a frown wrinkled Rose's forehead. "Nah I wouldn't mind having you around forever, I wouldn't mind at all." He dropped a kiss on the top of her head. "Come on then, let's find your parents so your mother can give me the nice departing present of a smart slap around the chops", he groaned.

"Why would she do that? Why would my mum hit you?"

"Mother's always do", the Doctor said simply, sighing. "I'm taking you back to an entirely different Universe, you think she'll forgive that in a hurry, I think not."

"Don't worry I'll protect you", Rose laughed, taking his hand as they went to find Jackie and Pete.

Early the next morning, Rose – with her backpack slung across her shoulders – exchanged emotional farewells with her parents and Mickey. The Doctor was already in the TARDIS waiting for her because he didn't want to witness the sorrow that Rose's departure was causing. Instead he had made himself scarce, allowing Rose some private time with her family, to shed tears.

The Doctor turned to see Rose standing behind him, silhouetted in the doorway. She had a smile almost from ear to ear as their eyes met and the Doctor couldn't help but smile broadly in response.

"Nice to have you home again Rose", he commented as she shut the doors, threw down her backpack and danced joyously around the TARDIS bouncing about with excitement before vaulting into her seat at the console.

"It's nice to be home", Rose grinned as she leant back, resting her feet on the console.

"Rose Tyler..." the Doctor's voice came out strangely garbled.

"Yeah?" Rose found it odd that the Doctor had addressed her using both her names when just Rose would have sufficed. Then her heart began hammering as she though of the last time he had addressed her using both of her names. The time when it seemed that they were to be separated forever. She jumped out of her seat and waited expectantly.

"Rose Tyler", the Doctor repeated softly.

She waited for what felt like millennia, holding her breath not daring to hope.

"I...love you", he finished, with glistening eyes. A feeling of liberation washed over him, he had finally said the words that he had longed to say for so long.

Rose flew out of her chair and ran into his open arms, snuggling close to him. "Aww you big softie…I love you too." "I really do…I love you Doctor."

"I know you do", the Doctor caressed her cheek, tenderly.

"So where are we going next then?" Rose looked up at him.

"Well I was thinking...I never did get to show you Barcelona. The planet Barcelona not the city, I did take you there once." The Doctor sprang into action once more, pulling levers and pushing buttons.

"Barcelona it is then", Rose agreed and they both grinned happily. A new adventure was about to begin and best of all they were sharing it with each other.

The End