~Chapter 13

(Sorry for any mistakes, again, it's late! This is a bit short as the second half is unfinished and I want to write it when I know I won't rush it because I want to sleep! Night everyone)

Ella :) x

***

"Rose, I'm sorry." The Doctor says to the mirror above the small broken fireplace. I stand in the doorway, quietly watching him practice his awkward sorry speech for me "I, I didn't mean to...barge in on you like that.." He trails off, and then suddenly his eyes catch mine in the mirror. My breath hitches, I see him swallow and he turns back to face me, both our eyes just holding each others gaze.

"I-I'm sorry, I should've let you know I was in-"

"No, it's my fault. I'm sorry" he replies. I can't think of what to say, and there's a deadly silence in the large amount of space between us. I know he never saw anything, but none the less it's still making us both feel an un-nececerry tension. Our eyes awkwardly drift apart from each other for a few seconds before we hold each others gazes again. Then the Doctor smiles a little, his hands in his pockets of his old pinstripe suit, the only thing left of our alien life on the TARDIS. When he smiles I can't stop myself, and soon enough we're laughing. We run at each other and wrap each other in a warm hug. I laugh into his shoulder and The Doctor does his usual "ha" type of laugh, and we just hold each other.

"I am sorry though" the Doctor says, and pulls back with a little smile after our laughs have died down.

"Don't be" I shrug, our arms still around each other "It's fine". The Doctor smiles and we pull apart, feeling the weight lifted between us.

"How you holding up?" I ask gently.

"Fine. Yeah, I'm good me"

"'Course you'd say that. I know you miss our old life...just as much as I do"

"I know you know." He says, and looks down at his feet.

"And I know you talk to the TARDIS even though she's not there, and I know you sonic everything just to make everything feel a little more normal." I say.

"And I know sometimes you cry yourself to sleep, wanting to talk to your mum, and wanting to just go home" the Doctor stares intently into my eyes.

"How'd you know about that?" I ask gently.

"Same way you know about me, we've both got ears, we use them"

"Right"

"Yeah"

"Okay"

"Rose, um..if you want to talk to me, y'know, about anything, then...you can" he says.
I
nod with a small smile "you too"

"Tell you what though!" The Doctor changes the subject joyfully.

"What?" I ask, smiling brightly.

"Christmas in two weeks!"

"But Doctor, we've already lived that Christmas, remember? We went to see mum for dinner and you and Mickey ate all the turkey?"

"Yeah, but who says we can't live it twice? Just...In a different place!"

"Okay!" I say happily, jumping a bit on my feet. The Doctor smiles at me, and for the first time in our time here it feels as if nothing ever changed.