Her hands found their own way up and came to rest on top of the Doctor's, still holding her waist.

"She is beautiful. What is she?"

Rose looked over her shoulder at the silence that followed her softly spoken words and she was surprised to see a look of pure wonder on the Doctor's face.

"She-"

He swallowed, then suddenly remembering where his hands were, he quickly dropped them and took a step back. On the slight look of disappointment he then perceived in her countenance, he smiled warmly. Quickly he picked up her hand, that had fallen by her side, bereft of its cherished location.

"She is a TARDIS. The last of her kind."

"Tardis, what a peculiar name, does it mean anything?"

"It is an acronym, which stands for Time And Relative Dimension In Space."

"Space, you mean as in-"

"Yes."

"Space." Turning once again, not releasing the Doctor's hand, Rose looked around as in a dream.

Realization dawning on her, she took a step forward and touched a beam. "She is not from here, is she?"

"No."

Rose took a deep breath, looked straight in the Doctor's eyes and demanded: "Tell me everything."

"I will, to be sure. However there is one thing we have to attend to first. Your attire. It will not do for you to walk around in these wet clothes. If you will permit me, I will show you a place where you can change."

"Do you have an outfit suitable for me, here?" Rose was very much surprised and followed the Doctor eagerly when he escorted her through the large room, towards a corridor.

"I have travelled a great deal if you remember, fairly enough to form quite the collection of outfits for you to chose from."

"You have collected clothing for women as well?" There came a smile on Rose's face, when the Doctor was momentarily at a loss for words.

They moved through the TARDIS. First to the left, past a corridor on the right, next turning right. They moved under stairs, past some bins and then took a left again. Finally they stood before a bone structured, winding staircase and Rose became silent. The view upwards was even more astounding than in the first room. The bowels of the ship where of an organic design. Beautiful ancient coral coloured roundings and everywhere the walls were covered with little hexagonal lights.

She dared not speak aloud and therefore whispered: "How big is she?"

The Doctor, standing close behind, replied to her awe: "I do not know exactly. The exterior, as you might have guessed is bigger on the inside."

Rose could not help but glare at that.

"Forgive me for stating the obvious," the Doctor responded to that with a laugh. "I do not exactly know how big she is on the inside. She is dimensionally transcendental. Meaning: the outside is in a different dimension in respect to the inside."

"Dimension?"

"Too difficult to elaborate at the moment. If you are interested, I will one day explain it to you. Here we are."

Rose turned about and found herself gazing upon the most awkward wardrobe she had ever laid eyes on. A circular staircase wound its way up to where ever the ceiling might be. There where a railing was supposed to be, hung the most awkward collection of clothes she ever beheld.

"I-"

Rose sought for words as she stepped forward and felt the fabric of a long dress she could not possibly name.

"My dear Rose, you are welcome to choose whatever you think is best. Nevertheless, may I suggest that for now, you restrict your attire to what is at present most appropriate. We cannot stay here long, your parents will be expecting you back for dinner at a convenient hour."

"Us, my dear Doctor. You are always welcome at our table and I dare say my mother would be very offended, if you were not to accompany me this evening as well."

"If you please, it will be my honour of course. If you will follow me to the next level, you will find all you need."

After showing her directions, the Doctor awaited her presence again at the bottom of the circular stairs. Rose did not keep him waiting long.

She had chosen a simple, but lovely dress. White muslin with a pink ribbon. She held the wet dress in her arms and the Doctor silently took it from her. She had her hair loose. Her bonnet was very wet also and she felt no need to wear another one for the time being. She bit her lip, awaiting the Doctor, who went to do what so ever he was doing with her dress.

On his return she noticed he had changed his coat. Where it up till now had been a simple dark blue frock coat, his present one gave him a totally different look. It was made of brown wool, matching his eyes and running down almost to his heels.

Had he been handsome in his blue coat, wearing this long brown one, Rose found it exceedingly difficult to take her eyes off him. Falling in love, in her opinion, always required a substantial time of courtship and recognition. Four days did not equal such a time. Even so, summing up all her symptoms, Rose could not find an alternative deduction and had to believe herself very much on the way of being very much in love.

"So, here we are," Rose spoke, averting her eyes and veining tranquillity.

Before she could speak again, however, the Doctor proposed: "Can I offer you some refreshments?"

Glad to have a diversion, Rose nodded and again followed, enjoying the view of movement his long coat made, while the Doctor walked. She found it greatly vexing to discover her cheeks so easily changed colour. Little did she suspect how well it looked on her.

The Doctor led her to a room which, by some comparison, gave her the impression of being a kitchen.

At her inquiry, the Doctor stated: "This being a ship, the proper name is a galley. Please be seated. It is nowhere near as refined as the lovely dining room at your estate, but it suits me fine and I hope will gain your approval."

"It does indeed, it is very cosy. The style is unusual to me, but so is everything else up to now that you have shown me." Rose made sure the Doctor saw her smile at that last comment, she did not mind, not to the least.

Rose felt herself being inside a tale, when the Doctor offered her a simple mug. His smile revealed the gesture being a test to her adaptation skills.

Feeling very bold all of a sudden, Rose took the mug, examined it, blew some of the heat away and carefully placed the mug at her lips. She took a small sip, recognized the liquid as being simple English Blend, and smiled.

"Well Rose, since I vowed to tell you everything, please state your first question."

"Do you not fear me giving away your secret?"

His answer was a simple one: "Nope."

Rose giggled and gleamed at the compliment.

"Is this your usual attire?"

At this question the Doctor laughed out loud, making Rose bite her lip and wishing she had not been that bold.

"The coat: yes. My other, normal clothing you will see soon enough."

"You speak oft about me seeing and understanding things in the near future. Dare I imply-"

She became quiet, collected her thoughts and began again.

"I hope you will not find me impertinent, however, you have made your intentions known from the first moment we met and I cannot-"

This was most difficult. The Doctor awaited her petition in calm resolution and Rose, determined to have her answer, ventured finally: "You have declared your purpose here is to find a wife. Giving me the full share of your attention almost since your arrival here, gave rise to an expectation among my acquaintances and gave me the impression-"

Here she swallowed and added softly: "That you have found what you came looking for?"

Standing up, the Doctor gave her a smile that made her stomach flutter. He moved towards her and took her hand. Holding it near his chest, he said: "My dear, beautiful Rose, you are truly an amazing creature. Your understanding and acceptance of the unusual is astounding and your instinctive knowledge is far beyond your years. Rest assured, my-"

He paused and after a moments consideration, continued: "Would you accompany me please, there is one more thing you have to comprehend, before I can ask of you to give a reply."

Eager to learn more about this strange, wonderful man, Rose got up and followed suit.

This time, the Doctor led her trough a maze of corridors, all alike and soon Rose had not a single idea of direction left. At last he stopped before an elegant knob-less door, engraved with fantastical circular lines.

He looked upon her, smiled reassuring and opened the door by a small push of his hand.

Inside was the most breathtaking scene Rose had ever seen. Nothing her wildest dreams had ever shown, came close to the unimaginable beauty of the landscape before her.

Silver trees, chiming in a field of red grass, rocks of brown, purple, red and gold. Enormous mountains arose in the distance, peaks white and gold sparkling in the light of dual suns. Yet most overwhelming of all was the orange sky, clouds which seemed to be on fire, creating shadows of burgundy and crimson.

Rose did not notice she was holding her breath, until her eyesight became blurry. She gasped and grasped the Doctor's hand with both her own. He quickly moved to her other side and provided support by placing his free arm around her.

He understood her impossibility to speak and softly began to answer her unspoken questions: "This was Gallifrey. No more but a small impression is all that's left of, what once was home to the masters of time. The world now no longer is. It has been lost in the fires of war, erased from existence. None left to regret her fallen wealth, none but one."

He turned towards Rose and waited until she shifted her gaze from the world before her, to the man beside her, then he softly spoke: "This was my home."