Sitting up, feeling quite a bit warmer from the blankets, so lovingly placed around her, Rose studied the gentleman that stood before her. The coat was the same, it ended there.

For a moment she doubted whether she should begin at the top or at the bottom. She finally settled on the white shoes. The design she ventured, came from an other planet. The origin of the bottom material she could not even begin to imagine, though they seemed very comfortable. The top seemed made of canvas, once probably white, yet now just as smudged as she feared her dress must be. Though not visible, she guessed the shoes did not go up as high as his former black boots went.

The trousers were simple in shape, however as to colour they gave a very modern look. A thin blue pinstripe decorated the otherwise plain brown fabric.

Her eyes travelled up his legs, chastely shunning the groin, coming to rest on his vest, or lack of one, that was. He simply wore a sack coat, matching the trousers and underneath was a blue collar shirt. And instead of a puff tie or cravat, his was a simple knot, albeit the pattern was rather lovely.

Rose avoided his face and eventually rested her gaze on his hair, which made her bring her hand to her mouth to withhold a giggle. It stood up tall and dishevelled. Very messy and totally endearing.

"And?" The Doctor inquired, a bemused twitch appearing in the corner of his mouth. "Does it carry your approval?"

Rose wilfully pushed her embarrassment aside and viewing the room around her in feigned interest, observed: "It will do."

Becoming more and more aware of her own ragged appearance, she studied her nails and pulled the blankets around her a little higher.

The Doctor noticed and held out his hand.

"I am confident your own dress has sufficiently dried, for you to put it on again. Please, let me escort you to a changing room where you can freshen up."

"And you Sir, should you still wish to accompany me to dinner, I am afraid you will have to change back."

"All in good time. I ensure you I will not shock your parents by making an entrance thus attired, however- no, first we shall have you alleviated."

Feeling a bit more composed and gaining her wits by and by, Rose began to pay attention to her surroundings once again. The corridors all looked alike, yet now and then she caught a glimpse of a room of sorts and curiosity arose with the desire to discover each and every one.

The dress had been dried indeed and she quickly changed again. She found a brush and a mirror and was shocked on seeing her reflection. Her eyes were reddened from crying. Her face showed signs of muddy tears and the scratch the branch had left, would turn into an ugly scar. Her fists grabbed the coral sink and her knuckles turned white from the effort of trying not to succumb to a new fit. She heaved a heavy sigh and stood up tall. Picking up the brush, she decided that, if she was ever to secure the Doctor, she had to stop being so overwhelmed and childish. He sought a wife, not a ninny girl. She had to be composed and serene, full of understanding and intelligence. She had to make the Doctor believe she could stand up to whatever might come her way. She had to be brilliant.

She was trembling when she stepped out of the room and her heartbeat raced like a stagecoach.

He was there, awaiting her presence, holding out his hand and wiggling his fingers as soon as a soft smile was witnessed. She took it and felt instantly more at ease. He had a way of calming her senses, soothing her anxiety and making all the bad thoughts dissipate. As long as he was near her, she could face the whole world. Even more: she could face the universe itself.

"In light of previous events, I think it is save to presume we will no longer arrive at a suitable hour to dine with your parents. Given the bad weather, I however foresee, they will know our delay is caused by the unexpected cloudburst. Therefore, I reckon you to be famished, may I escort you to the galley for a nice, though simple evening meal?"

"I have to admit I am rather hungry and also curious what your galley can produce for dinner. Will it be alien?"

The Doctor laughed. "I dare say you will relish some of the dishes the universe has to offer. But since this is our first date, let me treat you to a rare delicacy, from your own home world, you are probably familiar with."

Rose's face flushed bright pink on his mentioning this being a date.

Once inside the galley, Rose took place by the small table and cheerfully watched the Doctor's back, as he set about preparing a dish she could hardly imagine taking so short a time to be put together.

Some sort of suction device was turned on, keeping the smell of cooking away. No hint of the meal was therefore given from that direction.

Venturing to make conversation to fill the silence, Rose asked: "Have you been alone long?"

The Doctor's movements stilled and in the silence that followed, Rose hurriedly added: "Forgive me, I should not have asked, considering your loss. You must think me very unfeeling for asking such a question."

He spun round and taking her hand he vehemently assured her: "Never be afraid that anything you ask me will be considered inconsiderate. I wholly deem you unable to give such offence. When you find me hesitant in my reply, simply accept it as a means to formulate the answer, where it sometimes is a bit finicky."

"Finicky?"

"Yes." He beamed and quickly turned when a 'ping' was heard, somewhere on the counter.

He did not answer her question right away, but first placed before her, with a swivelling motion, a steaming plate of hot;

"Chips!?"

Rose's exclamation was one of unexpected surprise, and when the facetiousness of the situation dawned, she burst out in a heartily laugh.

"I love chips!" She cried, and the smile she then gave the Doctor, made him almost trip over his chair.

After dinner, which the Doctor insisted had to be eaten by hand, Rose felt as much at ease again, as she was during their walk earlier that day. It seemed like a lifetime ago.

"If I may, will you permit me to restate my question?"

The doctor understood of which she spoke and this time answered without a pause: "I have been alone for a few years. I have had companions who travelled with me during a brief period of time, yet none was able or willing to give me the lasting pleasure of amity."

Rose nodded and was silent, she then recalled something he had said in haste somewhere before all the consternation.

"You mentioned earlier that this ship is very old and implied you are as well. However, I cannot imagine a ship like this to grow to such extends in so short a time, for you cannot be older than mid thirty?"

An unfathomable look appeared in his eyes and for a moment she thought he would not answer.

Instead of apologizing or making a different inquiry, as she normally would do when given inconvenience, she waited. Until finally the Doctor said: "I am not human, and even though I appear to look humanoid, I am still very different from those species connected to earth in some form or other."

He stood up and took away the dishes, placing them in a rack inside a strange cupboard. Rose decided not to notice they were unwashed.

Picking up her hand again, he helped her out of the chair and they left the galley.

Walking through the corridors in no haste, the Doctor continued: "A normal human body, or humanoid, for it applies to other species as well, tend to have a lifespan, not higher than eighty to ninety years. Some live to the happy number of a hundred. After that, the body is no longer able to sustain life, even though the brain is sometimes capable of more."

They rounded a corner and Rose believed their destination to be the first room.

"This body, enhanced with an extra heart and breathing functions, allows me to extend that lifespan considerably."

"So you are older than you seem? Seventy perhaps?" Rose attempted.

"When eventually this body gives out, our race has a means to elude death. We, or I should rather say; I, for I am the last, can change our body. Change every cell to become renewed, regenerated. I become a different person on the outside and my personality will change a bit as well. My memories however, will remain intact, therefore I remain the same."

"You have done this before?"

"I have."

"So, perhaps you are two and hundred?"

They stopped walking and with an intense gaze, the Doctor declared: "I am a Time Lord, and I am nine hundred and three years old."

Rose blinked.

The Doctor tilted his head and when she refrained from responding, he moved forward once more and she followed.

After a few steps, Rose softly proclaimed: "You look good still, for a man of nine hundred."

He then burst out laughing and Rose could not help but to laugh as well.

At last they entered the first room.

"This is the control room, from here I pilot the ship."

They walked towards the centrepiece.

"It was designed to be driven by six persons, when just me- well, you will see me running about quite a bit. I will teach you, should you be inclined to learn."

"I would love to," Rose replied, thrilled by the prospect.

"One day." The Doctor smiled. "For now, just place your hand on the console."

Rose obliged. The Doctor placed his free hand over hers, thus forming an intimate circle. Rose could distinct a soft humming, it sounded as if coming from deep within the bowels of the ship.

The humming grew louder, she could feel it resonate through her body. Increasing more and more, until she could discern a living thumping beat.

"Close your eyes," the Doctor softly spoke.

Rose took a deep breath and obeyed. She sensed more than she heard him step closer, until she felt his breath stir the loose curls by her ear.

A few agonizing seconds, silence was all the resonance she could distinguish. Then, the most beautiful syllables ever perceived, flowed from his mouth. Melodious shapes and intonations, scarcely recognizable as words. Like a song of ancient times: ethereal and unearthly.

Rose's lips parted, as she could not withhold a gasp. Tears of incomprehensible, yet unmistakable joy, fell from her eyes.

Though not understanding the words, she instantly understood the meaning and when the Doctor became silent, all she could do was breathe one word. Eyes closed, face lifted up in unabbreviated awe.

"Yes."