Hey guys! Wow, I feel stupid and flattered at the same time. When I wrote this story, it was meant to be a one shot- but I kinda forgot to mention that. XD Lol, my bad. Anyway, you guys seemed to really like it, so I thought, 'I bet I can come up with more!' So I tried. I think this story is just going to be a series of one shots about the Doctor and Rose, but it may become a sort of AU connected set of one-shots that will develop into one whole story. We'll see.
Thank you guys so much for all the reviews- and Bex19, I am flattered. Your youtube videos are the best when it comes to the Doctor and Rose, I'm glad you are enjoying this. For all the other reviews, I am very flattered that you think I am doing well, thank you all.
Anyhow, this story was going to be a romantic comedy type chapter, but instead it took me in an entirely different direction. I hope you still like it- tell me what you think if you wish, just please, be honest, and no flames! The Tardis doesn't like them. ;)
"You know, we never did get to Barcelona, did we?"
"What, that place with dogs without noses?"
The Doctor grinned. "That's the one. Meant to go- got a bit tied up didn't we, what with the regeneration sickness and that whole Sicorax invasion. Very inconvenient."
"Oh yea. That does cramp your style, doesn't it Doctor?" Rose smirked, amused by his annoyed expression.
"Oy- you try regenerating twice in one day, then see how ready you are to mosey half way across the universe."
Rose grinned. "So you're sayin you were tired? You needed a break? You're the one who's always runnin from planet to planet Doctor, not me."
"No." The Doctor countered, pointing a finger at her. "But you tag along, don't you?"
Rose shrugged. "Fair enough."
"Anyway, what would you like to do tonight? There's a wonderful meteor shower scheduled to hit Creef by sundown on the first, best shower you'll ever see, looks like a rainbow of stars just falling." He trailed off momentarily, obviously lost in his own memories of the display. Rose smiled fondly, just watching him.
"That sounds lovely. When can we go?"
The Doctor hit a button on the Tardis, grinning from ear to ear. "I've already programmed her, we can go now."
With that the Tardis gave a lurch and went spinning off towards their destination, the Doctor doing his usual dance round the console to keep it steady.
Rose managed to keep her feet for most of the ride, but just as they landed she fell and landed on her bum, bumping her head on one of the columns. The Doctor came over to her and helped her up, checking her head for injury.
"You all right? Sorry about that, rough coming in, what with the meteor shower building and all."
Rose nodded, steadying herself by holding his shoulder before letting go. "Yea. I'm fine. So, this is it?"
The Doctor nodded. "Yup. We're here, though, mind you- you may want to change before we go out."
Rose looked down at herself, she was wearing a t-shirt and jeans, but the shirt had a strange sticky substance on it now. "What is that?" She asked, dipping her fingers in the semi-liquid and sniffing it, crinkling her nose at the smell.
"Tardis blood." The Doctor answered, looking gravely at the support Rose had fallen into. "She's wounded. Creef is actually blessed with an atmosphere rich in the enzymes a Tardis needs- that was part of my reason for coming here. The meteor show is beautiful, and I wanted you to see it, but the chemicals that come with it does wonders for her. She's been weak since that crash Christmas Day." He patted the Tardis apologetically. "Old girl usually takes a beating after a regeneration."
Rose looked at the Tardis, then the Doctor. She could tell that he was still bothered by his regeneration. It had only been a few months, and even though she'd come to accept his new form, she could tell he realized the pain he'd caused. To both her and the Tardis. Whether it was intentional or not.
The Doctor snapped out of his mood, looking at her with a more cheerful look. "Anyway, I'll be right up here, come on when you're ready." He glanced at the Tardis screen "Just don't be too long, it'll be starting soon, and I have a surprise." He winked at her, making her grin and move that much quicker towards the costume chamber.
The Doctor's suprises were always worth it.
Stopping into the costume room, Rose looked around, something making her want to head for the dresses at her far left. Following gut instinct, (and maybe a little hinting from the Tardis) Rose found what looked almost like a Celtic gown, the entire dress made of interwoven strands of blue and iridescent purple, forming beautiful Celtic designs all down the front and sides. The top was modest but almost like a lace, weaving in and out in an intricate pattern, stopping about at her waist. Satisfied with her appearance, she hurried out to meet the Doctor, face flushed with excitement.
The Doctor heard his companion coming from behind and smiled, she hadn't taken very long at all. "Rose you ready to g-" He paused, having turned around to look at her, the very thing that had stopped him talking. "Well-" He said, finding his voice "You look wonderful."
Rose smiled sheepishly, looking down at herself. "You think so?"
He nodded, coming up to her and taking her arm. "Are we ready?"
Rose held her hand towards the door. "Lead the way Doctor."
Once outside the Tardis, Rose couldn't help but gasp at the scenery. Out in front of them was an enormous clearing in the center of an exotic forest. Dusk was just falling, and throughout the entire field there were dots of light where couples had sat down and were waiting for the shower to start- all together, and yet not crowded.
Stepping onto the soft grass-like moss, Rose gasped when the ground lit up where she stepped, continuing to light until the Doctor stopped and they both sat, facing a shimmering lake that adorned the center of the clearing. A circle of light illuminated right where they sat, making them another speck of illumination in the vast meadow.
Though it was getting darker, the temperature remained warm, and the night just continued to glow, the lake illuminated by bioluminescent plants and animals that shimmered under the surface. Rose looked around, unable to decide what to keep her eyes on, then looked at the Doctor.
"It's beautiful." She breathed, looking back towards the lake again.
"Mm, last time I came here it was just me and the Tardis..." He cocked his head, staring up at the sky, his ankles crossed in front of him, supporting himself with his elbows. "Felt wrong being here alone."
Rose looked down at him, realizing how many couples were at the lake. Being the last of your species was painful enough, but to see all those others- Rose felt a pang of sadness at all her Doctor had been through.
"I'm with you now." She said quietly, placing her hand on top of his.
The Doctor looked first at their hands, then her, turning his hand to give hers an affectionate squeeze. He smiled at her gratefully.
Suddenly, he sprang up. "I'll be right back, don't move." He said, before sprinting back towards the Tardis. Rose started to say something, then didn't, slumping back on her elbows to shake her head. That was her Doctor all right.
A few minutes later, he returned, holding what looked like a picnic basket. When he sat down again, she realized that's exactly what it was- something very human, on an exotic world. For the Doctor, the gesture just seemed right.
"Thought we should eat something while we were here." He said, opening the basket and pulling out several foreign dishes as well as some familiar; straight from the London shops.
Rose sat up, going through the food as he continued to lay it out. "This is wonderful Doctor!" She exclaimed, finding her favorite kind of biscuit in among the fruits. "Just what I needed." She sighed.
The Doctor smiled knowingly, pulling out a bottle of London wine. Rose's look of delight was enough to make his hearts skip a beat. He had noticed she had been feeling a little homesick. He had hoped that food from home would help, and by the look on her face, he had been right.
"You like it?" He asked, as she admired the bottle and the modest feast.
"It's perfect." She said, leaning over to give him a kiss on the cheek.
Settling in, they sat eating and talking softly until sundown, watching the blues, pinks, and purples of the sky as the shower approached. Just as the last remnants of light disappeared under the trees, the Doctor poured the wine, handing Rose a glass as a bright streak of gold adorned the sky. Rose found herself staring only at the spectacle before her, wine untouched, as gem after pure gem of colored light glittered and then fell, weaving an enchantment over the Time Lord and his companion.
The Doctor watched Rose's awe silently, finding himself lost in her delighted expression, his eyes drawn to the way the meteors reflected in hers. Uninterested in the shower before them, the Doctor nestled himself in behind her, gently placing his arm around her waist and pulling her back to lean on his shoulder. Rose, too enamored by the sight, just leaned back, a contented sigh escaping her soft lips as she nestled her head into the Doctor's neck.
For hours they sat in silence, Rose watching the sky, the Doctor fully content to watch her, his hearts beating with a sense of peace he couldn't remember feeling since long before the Time War. Somehow the troubles of the universe, the duties resting too heavy on his solitary shoulders didn't seem to matter. Because the thing most precious to him was held close, because he was able to give her the universe, because he wasn't alone anymore.
They fell asleep just as they were, Rose nodding off against the Doctor's chest, the Doctor laying awake for hours, just listening to her breathe, stroking her hair. Whispering love to her, to banish any danger, any nightmare. Laying together, his arm protectively draped around her waist, her head cradled by his shoulder, his nose buried in her hair, soothed into slumber by her scent. By her warmth.
Over the sleeping pair gem dust began to fall, coating the ground and catching in their hair like precious snowflakes, crystals of diamond, amethyst, ruby, emerald, and gems of other worlds in shapes too intricate to be forged by any crude human hand.
The gods of the sky giving their blessing to the lonely Time Lord and his chosen mate.
Yes. I have seen Avatar. Yes, I thought glowy plants would be romantic. XD Anyway, I hope you all liked.