Shiver & Shake

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But yes, Twelve would be so SO soft for Rose. He would even compose songs for her on his guitar. 

The Doctor took me to this planet a while back. It was much colder than this. They called it Woman Wept.

“There’s some tea in the kettle!”

“Don’t spend all night tinkering Doctor! Go to sleep!”

“I got leftovers from my night out with mum, help yourself!”

And each time, without fail, she signs them off with a “xoxo, Rose.”

The Doctor tries not to think about it, the way his hearts flutter in his chest when he sees it. That xoxo. Hugs and kisses. 

“After we drop this laundry off at Mum’s and have tea, we’re havin’ a movie night, yeah?” Rose asks as they’re preparing to leave the TARDIS. Her orange duffel bag, stuffed with dirty clothes, is on her back and she holds the straps. She’s endearing and perfect and the Doctor takes a moment to stare. Just a brief one, a small indulgence. Then he’s in action with a jolt, flipping switches to put the TARDIS in park. 

“Yep! Movie night! Even though, technically, there’s no night in the vortex…” he trails off and looks at her with a wry smile. She sticks her tongue out at him and his wry smile turns wide and uncontrollable. “Just have to make a few repairs to the TARDIS first; something’s upset her.”

Rose walks behind him and leans her head over his shoulder. She’s very close, and very warm, and very perfect.

But it’s platonic, what they have. It’s platonic and that’s all it’ll ever be. That’s all it ever can be. 

It’ll hurt too much otherwise.

“Jus’ don’t forget like you did last time, Doctor,” she says, her breath in his ear. 

“I’d never forget!” the Doctor, exclaims, affronted, “I remember everything, me.” 

 "You said that exact same thing last time,“ she singsonged while dropping her duffel to his feet. She walks out of the console room. “I’ll be right back, gonna put a sticky note down so you don’t forget about me while you’re doin’ your repairs,” she calls behind her. 

 His face turns mushy and blurred around the edges, his eyes soften as he watches her go, so very fond. “I could never forget about you,” he says, voice low so she can’t hear, as he watches her retreat down the hall.

–

 It’s later. 

 She’s gone. 

 He never makes the repairs. 

 – 

 It’s been years, centuries, a millennia, since the Doctor had run around with Rose, laughing and carefree and so very happy. His hair is just as out of control as it was in his two regenerations ago, only gray. And his forehead is wrought with frown lines that he didn’t frown, his cheeks creased with laugh lines that he didn’t laugh. 

 He’s doing repairs, hunched over in some room that the TARDIS had brought to him, rewiring some circuitry, blowing off dust. They’re both old, the old girl and him, both dusty and worn. 

Something crinkles under his feet as he shifts on his haunches, and he looks.

It’s a pink sticky note, highlighted against the steel gray of the floor. And he recognizes it immediately, despite how long it’s been. Hot pink with a curlicue scrawl.

 It must’ve fallen from where she’d stuck it on the wall.

He doesn’t want to read it. He does. The paper trembles like a leaf in his shaking hand. 

 “Don’t forget about me, Doctor! xoxo, Rose”

“What do you MEAN ‘What’s a Walmart’?”

The Doctor looked aghast, staring at Rose who sat on the other side of the couch in the media room, staring at the TV in front of her.

“Is it a grocery store? What is it, Doctor?” she asked, staring him down. Was she serious? Did she honest to gods not know what a Walmart was?

He quickly stood up, running his hand through his hair. “It isn’t not a grocery store but it doesn’t just sell groceries. You can buy all kinds of things there. Parts for your car, flat decor, even house paint and televisions.” His animated version of a Walmart description went on as he intended to truly show Rose the complexity of an American Walmart.

“But like… What is it?” She barely got the words out before the Doctor whisked her up, pulling her down the hallway and into the console room. She was lightly shoved in the direction of the jumpseat, rolling her eyes as he manically danced around the console. Flicking switches and pressing buttons, she felt the TARDIS jerk as she navigated the vortex. Landing with a shudder, the Doctor offered Rose a hand.

“Tampa, Florida. The year 2016 in the United States of America. Rough year for them, 2016. Donald Trump gets elected president,” he says with a cringe, pulling his coat on while continuing his manic rant, “famous gorilla killed at a zoo in Ohio, Muhammad Ali dies…” He trails off, looking at Rose’s smirk with a puzzled look on his face. “What? Why are you staring at me like that?”

She couldn’t hold it in any longer. Rose burst out in a fit of laughter, tears welling in her eyes. “Did you really think I didn’t know what a Walmart was, you knob?” She stood up, putting her hands on his shoulders. “Doctor, we have them in London. They’re called ASDAs.” She couldn’t help but smile at him as he smiled.

“You lied to me, Rose Tyler,” he accused. Her laugh said all he needed to know as he grabbed her by waist, picking her up and carrying her on his shoulder. Her squeak of surprise brought a satisfied smile to his face.

“We’re already here, Rose. Time to go for a little shopping spree.”