Thoughts: Christmas 2010 4/5
Rose’s laughter was lost in the breeze that drowned their joviality. He stared at her as she laughed - her hair whipping in the light wind. His hearts felt fuller than they had in a very long time and considering his lifespan - well, it had been quite awhile.
The Doctor had them hovering above the tall buildings and lights of Shiba Park in Minato. There were planets to discover and save, history to be seen, but he couldn’t resist showing her more of her earth. Looking at her, he realized that in the large realm of the universe - she was a human girl…woman…who belonged in one tiny corner of it. But for him, she’d become so much more.
So, that’s how they wound up in Tokyo, Japan. Their legs were dangling over the edge of the entrance of the Tardis. It was dark save some lights of the businesses down below.
He tried not to look at her too long. Then and anytime. Still, it was difficult when he found himself doing that more and more. Focusing on the ring of her laughter, noticing the dark flecks in her honey eyes and the curve of her smile. He didn’t remember ever paying this close attention to anything that wasn’t the universe and its timelines.
“It’s gorgeous - never thought I’d see Japan,” her voice was low with reverence.
Grinning, he dragged his eyes from her to look out onto the city below, teasingly, he says, “Well, didn’t think you’d see Slitheen and your world ending in ash either…"
He felt a smack on his sleeve, the touch lost among the leather which made him slightly disappointed.
The Doctor was lost in his thoughts that very much included the woman beside him when he heard her sigh.
He looked towards her, “What is it?” Had he done something wrong? It didn’t sound like a happy sigh.
Rose shook her head quickly as if she could hear his thoughts. For a moment, he almost feared she could. She rested a hand on his. He swallowed, hoping she didn’t notice his trouble in doing so. With much difficulty, he concentrated on the sounds coming out of her mouth. Focusing on her mouth, however, was causing a whole other menagerie of problems.
“Nothing…it’s just that…I didn’t want to tell you...” she trailed off leaving his mind racing.
“What? Go on then,” his voice was low but the urgency noticeable within the words.
Hesitant, she continued, “It’s just so…human….I didn’t want to bother you…”
The Doctor turned his palm to meet hers and squeezed in encouragement.
She looked at him and let it rush from her mouth, “Tomorrow is my Christmas - my mum mentioned it in passin’ over the phone today…but I know there are other bigger and better things to do…” He knew that she would follow through on it and that he wouldn’t hear her complain once because she loved this life of theirs and everything it entailed.
That’s why she was so fantastic.
“’Course not - Christmas is special…taxi at 2 in the morning special,” he ignored the gleam of questioning as well as confusion from her eyes and continued, “I’ll set the coordinates.”
The Doctor made to get up but felt her hand still him from doing so.
She smiled at him, a warm grin that made his chest ache, “It can wait a couple of more minutes.”
A large smile flourished as the ache melted into something different but just as intense.
As if on cue, the tall (second tallest, if he wanted to be precise) Tokyo Tower shined brightly with tiny little lights in each of its facets. Rose gasped making his Time Lord Pride shine just as brightly.
“Your wish is my command, Rose Tyler,” he whispered, “and Merry Christmas.”
Rose inched closer to him, every line of her contour meeting each of his, and placed her head on his shoulder as she sighed happily, “Merry Christmas, Doctor.”
***
Rose was looking for the Doctor on the Tardis, finding each room as empty as the one before it. Growing both exasperated and worried, she hurried her step knowing that he had to be somewhere.
Where could he be?
She opened a door not different from the others and called for him, “Doctor? Doctor?”
No response.
Ready to continue her search, she was about to back out of the room when a small desk in one its corners stopped her. Leaving the door open ajar, she walked towards the corner - her soft steps echoing in the large room.
The room itself was nothing special; in fact, it looked like it had long since been forgotten - dust covered every inch. The only evidence that it wasn’t was on the desk that had caught her attention.
On the table were rulers, watercolors, a stray paper here and there and a small sketchbook opened up to a random page. On the page there was a testing of colors and the odd doodle.
Were these the Doctor’s?
No, she thought, couldn’t be.
She felt wrong writing it off so quickly, but the Doctor was a man of science and logic - he appreciated the arts…he didn’t create them. Not like this.
Again, Rose felt the guilt puddle in her belly. She reached for the sketchbook, so slowly that anyone witnessing would have thought that she’d be afraid of getting bitten. Tracing her finger across the page, she gingerly turned to see what lay on the next one.
Her gasp filled and broke the silence in the room. On the page after, there lay her likeness staring back up at her. Chills ran down her spine as she took in the detail taken in each line, shadow and curve of her face on paper. Only someone who knew her well could have done such a thing. She never sat still long enough to have someone draw her like that.
“Rose?”
His voice made her jump. Immediately she flicked back the page and kept her hands behind her back as she turned.
“Uh…hello…Doctor…just…just, I was looking for you,” her voice was thick with guilt - but she’d done nothing wrong…she thought.
The Doctor cleared his throat, “Yes, well, you found me. What is it?” He sounded irritated.
She shook her head and made for the door as he watched her, “Nothin’. I’ll be in my room if you need me.”
A rustling of papers and the scratching of a chair against the ground flooded the room.
“You saw the drawings,” it wasn’t a question.
So close, she thought as she turned around to face him.
“I…I might have seen one,” she confessed.
The Doctor nodded slightly, not meeting her eyes. Suddenly, a chuckle escaped him. Rose’s forehead wrinkled with bewilderment.
“It was meant to be a surprise,” he made it sound like she should have known what he was talking about.
She didn’t.
The puzzlement clear on her face, he explained, “Well, it’ll be December 25th on earth during your timeline in about two weeks time and I was…’practicing.'”
Rose’s mouth open and closed several times before she could form the words, “Practice…what?”
He looked at her, his turn to feel confused, “To give you a drawing…of…” he coughed abruptly, “you.”
“Oh…,” her eyes widened, “Oh! Christmas…Christmas! I forgot about Christmas!” A list of things that needed doing were already forming in her mind - ever the human.
Then his words caught up with her and she stared at him in something like awe.
“But, you don’t…draw.”
The Doctor scoffed, “Excuse me, may I remind you - Roman statue…perfect likeness down to the broken fingernail - thank you!” his voice was so full of pride that she had to smile.
“How could I forget,” if anyone could know her well enough, it was him.
He smiled in return and sat down at his station, returning to his work. The vision still perplexed her, but her heart felt full with something that words couldn’t describe.
Before realizing what was happening, she walked towards him, and closed the distance rapidly to wrap her arms around his shoulders and neck - her chest pressed against his back in a tight embrace. She felt him jolt in surprise and sit perfectly still.
Rose closed her eyes and whispered in his ear, “Thank you Doctor.” She was about to pull away when she felt his hand on her wrist keeping her there.
She gladly complied.
***
Five
The Doctor had them hovering above the tall buildings and lights of Shiba Park in Minato. There were planets to discover and save, history to be seen, but he couldn’t resist showing her more of her earth. Looking at her, he realized that in the large realm of the universe - she was a human girl…woman…who belonged in one tiny corner of it. But for him, she’d become so much more.
So, that’s how they wound up in Tokyo, Japan. Their legs were dangling over the edge of the entrance of the Tardis. It was dark save some lights of the businesses down below.
He tried not to look at her too long. Then and anytime. Still, it was difficult when he found himself doing that more and more. Focusing on the ring of her laughter, noticing the dark flecks in her honey eyes and the curve of her smile. He didn’t remember ever paying this close attention to anything that wasn’t the universe and its timelines.
“It’s gorgeous - never thought I’d see Japan,” her voice was low with reverence.
Grinning, he dragged his eyes from her to look out onto the city below, teasingly, he says, “Well, didn’t think you’d see Slitheen and your world ending in ash either…"
He felt a smack on his sleeve, the touch lost among the leather which made him slightly disappointed.
The Doctor was lost in his thoughts that very much included the woman beside him when he heard her sigh.
He looked towards her, “What is it?” Had he done something wrong? It didn’t sound like a happy sigh.
Rose shook her head quickly as if she could hear his thoughts. For a moment, he almost feared she could. She rested a hand on his. He swallowed, hoping she didn’t notice his trouble in doing so. With much difficulty, he concentrated on the sounds coming out of her mouth. Focusing on her mouth, however, was causing a whole other menagerie of problems.
“Nothing…it’s just that…I didn’t want to tell you...” she trailed off leaving his mind racing.
“What? Go on then,” his voice was low but the urgency noticeable within the words.
Hesitant, she continued, “It’s just so…human….I didn’t want to bother you…”
The Doctor turned his palm to meet hers and squeezed in encouragement.
She looked at him and let it rush from her mouth, “Tomorrow is my Christmas - my mum mentioned it in passin’ over the phone today…but I know there are other bigger and better things to do…” He knew that she would follow through on it and that he wouldn’t hear her complain once because she loved this life of theirs and everything it entailed.
That’s why she was so fantastic.
“’Course not - Christmas is special…taxi at 2 in the morning special,” he ignored the gleam of questioning as well as confusion from her eyes and continued, “I’ll set the coordinates.”
The Doctor made to get up but felt her hand still him from doing so.
She smiled at him, a warm grin that made his chest ache, “It can wait a couple of more minutes.”
A large smile flourished as the ache melted into something different but just as intense.
As if on cue, the tall (second tallest, if he wanted to be precise) Tokyo Tower shined brightly with tiny little lights in each of its facets. Rose gasped making his Time Lord Pride shine just as brightly.
“Your wish is my command, Rose Tyler,” he whispered, “and Merry Christmas.”
Rose inched closer to him, every line of her contour meeting each of his, and placed her head on his shoulder as she sighed happily, “Merry Christmas, Doctor.”
***
Rose was looking for the Doctor on the Tardis, finding each room as empty as the one before it. Growing both exasperated and worried, she hurried her step knowing that he had to be somewhere.
Where could he be?
She opened a door not different from the others and called for him, “Doctor? Doctor?”
No response.
Ready to continue her search, she was about to back out of the room when a small desk in one its corners stopped her. Leaving the door open ajar, she walked towards the corner - her soft steps echoing in the large room.
The room itself was nothing special; in fact, it looked like it had long since been forgotten - dust covered every inch. The only evidence that it wasn’t was on the desk that had caught her attention.
On the table were rulers, watercolors, a stray paper here and there and a small sketchbook opened up to a random page. On the page there was a testing of colors and the odd doodle.
Were these the Doctor’s?
No, she thought, couldn’t be.
She felt wrong writing it off so quickly, but the Doctor was a man of science and logic - he appreciated the arts…he didn’t create them. Not like this.
Again, Rose felt the guilt puddle in her belly. She reached for the sketchbook, so slowly that anyone witnessing would have thought that she’d be afraid of getting bitten. Tracing her finger across the page, she gingerly turned to see what lay on the next one.
Her gasp filled and broke the silence in the room. On the page after, there lay her likeness staring back up at her. Chills ran down her spine as she took in the detail taken in each line, shadow and curve of her face on paper. Only someone who knew her well could have done such a thing. She never sat still long enough to have someone draw her like that.
“Rose?”
His voice made her jump. Immediately she flicked back the page and kept her hands behind her back as she turned.
“Uh…hello…Doctor…just…just, I was looking for you,” her voice was thick with guilt - but she’d done nothing wrong…she thought.
The Doctor cleared his throat, “Yes, well, you found me. What is it?” He sounded irritated.
She shook her head and made for the door as he watched her, “Nothin’. I’ll be in my room if you need me.”
A rustling of papers and the scratching of a chair against the ground flooded the room.
“You saw the drawings,” it wasn’t a question.
So close, she thought as she turned around to face him.
“I…I might have seen one,” she confessed.
The Doctor nodded slightly, not meeting her eyes. Suddenly, a chuckle escaped him. Rose’s forehead wrinkled with bewilderment.
“It was meant to be a surprise,” he made it sound like she should have known what he was talking about.
She didn’t.
The puzzlement clear on her face, he explained, “Well, it’ll be December 25th on earth during your timeline in about two weeks time and I was…’practicing.'”
Rose’s mouth open and closed several times before she could form the words, “Practice…what?”
He looked at her, his turn to feel confused, “To give you a drawing…of…” he coughed abruptly, “you.”
“Oh…,” her eyes widened, “Oh! Christmas…Christmas! I forgot about Christmas!” A list of things that needed doing were already forming in her mind - ever the human.
Then his words caught up with her and she stared at him in something like awe.
“But, you don’t…draw.”
The Doctor scoffed, “Excuse me, may I remind you - Roman statue…perfect likeness down to the broken fingernail - thank you!” his voice was so full of pride that she had to smile.
“How could I forget,” if anyone could know her well enough, it was him.
He smiled in return and sat down at his station, returning to his work. The vision still perplexed her, but her heart felt full with something that words couldn’t describe.
Before realizing what was happening, she walked towards him, and closed the distance rapidly to wrap her arms around his shoulders and neck - her chest pressed against his back in a tight embrace. She felt him jolt in surprise and sit perfectly still.
Rose closed her eyes and whispered in his ear, “Thank you Doctor.” She was about to pull away when she felt his hand on her wrist keeping her there.
She gladly complied.
***
Five