Too much like him

Past

The smell of sea salt was fresh in the air, the sound of waves delicately crashing one after the other could be heard in the distance. Rose couldn’t quite wrap her head around what had happened. He was there. With her. Forever. Only it wasn’t him. Not only did he have one human heart, one life for them to spend together, but he also wore a different face to the man she had expected to find. He was no longer all charm and a mess of brown hair in the brown pinstriped suit that she had come know so well. He wore a battered leather jacket now (again), which she hadn’t seen in what felt like an eternity. Yet the smell she was so fond of still clung to the jacket’s material desperately.

He was back. Short hair and sarcasm, with blue eyes she once believed to softened in a very particular way whenever she was around. And only when she was around.  

Present

Rose placed the Doctor’s gift in a small rectangular box, before wrapping it with all the tender care she could muster. This was his first Christmas her with her. And with them as a couple to boot! Because of this Rose was utterly determined to make this his best Christmas ever. Which was quite the task, considering he had celebrated over 1000 of them across time and space. However Rose had an inkling that this year would blow all of the others out of the water. This year was theirs.

Past

They were nearing the end of the beach, only minutes away from the hotel Pete had phoned and booked them into. Rose hadn't even processed the fact that they had been moving. That’s when she felt it. A strong calloused hand reached for hers, tracing her skin delicately as it begged for permission. Rose opened her hand, letting her fingers intertwine with the Doctor’s. The new new new Doctor’s. Yet also the old one. She shuddered slightly, then felt the Doctor’s eyes boring into her. Seconds later he let go of her hand once more.

Rose placed their room key into the lock.

“Just remember I’m right across the hall if you have any problems, love,” Jackie reminded Rose for the fifth time, with a quick glance at the Doctor as she mentioned the possibility of any ‘problems’ arising.

“Yeah, mum, I know. Thanks.”

Rose quickly unlocked the door and hurried inside, the Doctor followed close behind. He shut the door behind them and then… well, what then?

Rose stood awkwardly by the bed before she turned to face him.

“So,” she huffed out anxiously, a nervous smile playing at the corner of her lips.

“Rose.”

Rose had to suppress a shiver. She had almost forgotten how much she used to love hearing her name fall from his lips in that northern accent she had teased him about, oh so many years ago.

“Doctor.”

“How d’you feel about all this, then?”

“Honestly?”

“Yes.”

“I have no idea.”

Rose let out a shaky laugh. There were a few moments of silence before the Doctor continued.

“So, that lanky bloke… that’s who I turned into after regenerating the last time, is it?”

“Yeah.”

“Can’t believe I went all pretty boy. That’s your fault, that is!”

“What? How’s it my fault?” Rose shrieked, incredulous, yet her eyes sparkled with pure mirth.

“I’m sure it is. Rose Tyler and trouble go together like Barcelona and dogs with no noses. Bound to be your fault somehow.”

Rose giggled and beamed brightly. Perhaps they would be okay. The Doctor returned her brilliant smile with one of his own. He then, very slowly, almost cautiously, lifted his arms up and opened them for Rose.

“C’mere,” he murmured.

Rose didn't hesitate. She crossed the small space between them and melted into his embrace. She tried to take in every sensation, remember every tiny detail, and begged herself not to wake up. This was far too perfect and she still wasn't entirely convinced this wasn’t just a dream.

“You’re here,” she whispered into his maroon jumper. “My doctor.”

Present

The Doctor let himself into his and Rose’s flat, having just come home from working at Torchwood. Before he even had time to take his shoes off and hang his coat up (human bodies were just a bit naff at regulating their temperature) Rose came bouncing into the hallway like a giddy school girl.

“Doctor, I have a present for ya!” She held out a small, beautifully wrapped, gift.

“Rose Tyler, you’re like an impatient child!” the Doctor scolded, grinning all the while. “Put it under the tree, save it for Christmas morning or it just defeats the point. Honestly, give an ape a day and they want to turn it into a week, or a month! It’s always the same with you lot. You want what you want, when you want it.”

“You done givin’ me my lecture, yeah?” The Doctor simply rolled his eyes and nodded. “Good, ‘cause seriously this can’t wait till Christmas, so just open it now will ya?”

“Alright then, give it ‘ere.”

The Doctor held his hand out, ready to accept his present. Truth be told he didn't really care what day he opened it on, but winding up Rose was one of his greatest pleasures in life.

He ripped at the paper, shredding it to pieces and letting it fall to the floor. He’d pick it up later. He didn't quite understand why humans felt the need to put so much time and effort into wrapping something up all pretty when it will just be destroyed, in a matter of seconds, as soon as it’s given to its recipient. However he had grown accustomed to this odd little tradition, as he had found out on one of Rose’s birthdays that she wasn't fond of just having a bunch of items handed to her without any fancy decorating. Apparently it ‘ruined the surprise’ and made it feel ‘less special’ and ‘more boring’.

The Doctor opened the small box, his gaze immediately flicking back up to meet Rose’s. She held her breath at the vulnerability she was seeing behind his eyes. Then a smile began breaking out over his face. It wasn’t beaming like she had hoped, but she could tell from his eyes that he was overjoyed, yet holding back for some reason.

“Really?” he asked, a little choked, desperation written all over his features.

“Yeah,” Rose whispered back.

And finally the beaming smile was there in full force. This year was most certainly their year.

Past

Empty plates sat on top of a forgotten room service cart. The Doctor lay on the bed in his clothes, hands crossed behind his head. Rose was lounged at the bottom of the bed, vertically, her legs dangled off one end and her head off the other.

“I can’t remember the last time I actually ate a proper meal,” Rose confessed into the contented silence.

“What’ve you been living on then? Don’t tell me you haven’t been taking proper care of yourself, Rose Tyler. I’m already mad at you for jumping across dimensions. Do you have any idea how dangerous that was? But I’ll forget about that for now, since this is meant to be a nice reunion.”

“I ‘ave been takin’ care of myself… I’ve just been doing it in a rush. I’ve been busy. You know, that means lots of ready meals, and caffeine. I’m fine. Promise. And I don't care how mad you are, or how bloody dangerous it was. If I wanna build and use a dimension canon in order to save the multiverse, then I will!”

“Ah, stubborn as ever I see.”

“Yep,” Rose replied subconsciously popping the ‘p’. It caused her stomach to feel a little unsettled, with a pang of guilt.

She quickly shook herself free of those thoughts. This was the other Doctor’s idea. He doesn't want you feelin’ guilty about it, Rose chided herself.

“What’s wrong?” the Doctor asked as he nudged Rose with his left foot.

“Promise me somethin’.”

“Anything.”

“Don’t leave me.”

“Never. You’re stuck with me, Rose Tyler.”

“Forever?”

“Forever and ever… or until you get fed up with me.”

“That’s not gonna happen.”

“Good. Forever then… fantastic!”

Present

The Doctor dropped the box to the floor, his gift falling out of it. Striding towards Rose, he picked her up, swinging her around excitedly.

“Careful!” she shrieked with laughter.

He gently placed her back on the ground, kissing her softly on the forehead.

“Thank you, Rose Tyler! Thank you!” he cried.

The positive pregnancy test he had just unwrapped was left forgotten on the floor as the happy parents-to-be celebrated into the early hours.

Future