-Chapter 7

Roses POV (the Doctors POV will be next, sorry!)

***

I pick up a piece of paper and place it on the kitchen counter, and start writing my checklist:

.House [✔️]

.Money [✔️]

.Food [✔️]

.Decorating [✔️]

.Clothes [✔️]

.Doctor's job [✔️]

.My job [ ]

I tap my pen on my checklist and then lay it down. It's been a week since we've moved in, and we've already fully decorated. The Doctor started his new job yesterday too. He's working as a Physics teacher at Brailsford Secondary school in the centre of town. It's a ten minute walk from our house, and with a good pay. It's just me who's not sorted. I've been searching all week, I know it's not that long but I'm already getting frustrated, It's like being 16 all over again. I've called so many companies in the area, wrote to places, and visited countless places. I've even cut ads out the local newspaper. But still, nothing. With the Doctor at his new job, I spent all of today searching the town again. With a sigh I move the checklist away and set out two plates ready to cook dinner. I grab all the ingredients for pasta bake and lay them in the counter, and get out a pan and a wooden spoon. I may have been living with a self cooking TARDIS for the past three years, but I can still cook. I pour water into the pan and let it boil slowly, and I'm about to open the pasta when a familiar voice comes from behind.

"You know, I can sonic that for you."

My heart skips a beat, making me drop the pack of pasta onto the counter. I swivel around and find the Doctor leaned against the doorway, watching me with interest.

"I didn't hear you come in." I say with a small smile.

"I can be silent when I want to be" he shrugs "Now, can I help you with that?"

"It's fine - really." I say, but he moves over all the same. He opens the pasta pack and pours the contents into the pan. Even though I am perfectly capable, and the Doctor knows that, I know he's only trying be helpful so don't object in his actions. "So, how was your day at work?" I ask, turning the heat lower as the water begins to boil.

"Good thanks, there's some really bright students in my year ten class, and some...not so." He says, and his places his hand on my waist to reach the sauce from beside me. I am suddenly very aware of his cold, slim fingers just under the hem of my top placed gently over my skin, sending shivers right through me. His hand moves as quickly as it came, and then he's back to work. I try to ignore our encounter and begin chopping the herbs. Just as I do so, I notice the herbs chopping themselves as the sound of the sonic comes from beside me.

"Doctor, you don't have to sonic everything." I say with a smile, putting the life on the side.

"It speeds up the process. I'm very hungry"

"Fine." I shrug and laugh as he sonics up the rest of our meal. When were properly seated it's time to ask some more questions.

"So, did you enjoy today?" I ask as we sit once again at our new table...in our own house.

"Yes. It was interesting, there's certainly a lot of work to be done, but it will only make the whole process much more enjoyable." He says, popping some pasta into his mouth.

"I'm glad." I say, and take a bite myself.

"Any luck today?" He asks gently after a few moments silence.

I shake my head and swallow down my mouthful "nothing." I say.

"You know, I can help-"

"It's fine. Thank you, but I'd rather go this alone" I say.

"Okay." He says. Noticing the slightly tense atmosphere, he places his hand over mine on the table. "There's bound to be something...you've just not found it yet"

"Yeah." I smile at him from across the table. He smiles too, and I only realise when we've finished eating that our hands stayed like that for the whole duration on the meal.

***

Later on, comes the suggestion to watch a movie. We argue over what to watch for a few minutes, and finally persuade him to watch The Fault in Our Stars.

*(I know that movie wouldn't have been out at that point, but it's one of my faves)*

The Doctor tries to get me to watch The Lion King for the billionth time, but it's my turn to protest.

"Doctor, I love The Lion King, I really do. But I just want to watch some thing....different. And I promise, you'll like it." I say.

"Rose, I'm not sure I'm up for a depressing teenage cancer story." He says, putting in the DVD all the same, then popping himself on the sofa next to me.

"You're right about depressing" I say with a small laugh, picking up the remote.

"Then why are we watching it?"

"Because it's sad and beautiful...and just...amazing." I say. The Doctor, still not buying it, sniffs and closes his eyes. "Oh, come on," I say playfully, nudging his arm "Can't handle a bit of tears?"

"Oh, I can handle tears" the Doctor says, opening his eyes and propping himself more upright.

"Then let's watch it." I say.

"Okay, okay. But if this is as bad as it sounds, I'm retreating to my room and watching The Lion King"

I don't start properly crying until near the end, when Augustus is found in the garage, sick and dying in his car. It always kills me how he's so scared to be in his state, but still wanting to be independent...and the look on Hazel's face when she sees him. A few tears roll down my cheeks and I quickly wipe them away, feeling the Doctors eyes on me. I'm then only properly crying when Hazel reads out her speech to Augustus. The Doctor intertwines our fingers, his thumb rubbing up my hand, soothing me. I look over at the Doctor when the film finishes, and sure thing, he's got glassy eyes, and the trace of past tears staining his cheeks.

"I take what I said back" the Doctor says, untangling our hands and wiping his eyes.

"That broke you as much as me then?" I say, wiping my eyes too, with a small smile.

"Not nearly as much, I wasn't crying that much, just...very emotional" he says. I nod.

"It certainly was." I say, and get up. "I better sleep now though, or I'll have no energy tomorrow."

"Okay, see you in the morning" he says, getting up off the sofa too.

"Night, Doctor."

"Good night Rose." He replies. I walk towards my room and then stop, tuning back around to face the Doctor, a burning question playing on my mind.

"Doctor...umm..do you get lonely, at night? Y'know, when I'm asleep?"

"Nah, I'm fine, me. All good." He says, although there's something about the tone in his voice that tells me he's not telling the complete truth. I hesitate a second, and finally can't hold it in any longer.

"You miss her, don't you?" I say suddenly, taking a step forward and pulling my jumper closer around me.

"Miss who?" The Doctor asks, but I know he knows.

"The TARDIS."

"Uhh...I don't.."

"Don't deny it, I know you do. I know you talk to her when I go to sleep. I hear you"

He blushes a light shade of pink and looks at his shoes. "Don't be embarrassed. I would too, if you went to sleep and I didn't" I shrug.

"I don't miss her, as such...." He says, looking back up at me a bit awkwardly.

"I'm just saying...I'm here for you. And I know this might be hard for you, because it's not exactly your scene, but you're holding up better than me." I say, and walk over and he wraps me in a tight hug. We hold each other for a while, both grateful of each others steady embrace. I finally pull apart and he lightly cups my cheek... like his old incarnation used to do.

"Thank you" he says "for understanding."

"Anytime." I smile and squeeze my hand over his, then we say our good nights and I leave to go to bed.

***

I hope you guys aren't finding this slow or anything, I apologise if you are. I just need to set in stone what's going on with them currently before I can take this any further.

Ella :))