Fic: Christmas Wanderings (1/1)
Title: Christmas Wanderings
Rating: G
Character/Pairing: Ten/Rose
Disclaimer: yeah not mine, just playing - thanks BBC, RTD and whoever else has a hand in making this show.
Spoilers: post season 3 but doesn't really have any spoilers for that season.
Summary: In which the Doctor and Rose wander about an extensive Christmas market and have an interesting conversation.
Author's Notes: This fic, which is hands down the fluffiest things I've ever written, was written as part of the time_x_space Christmas ficathon for
troppo_veleno who asked for mulled wine and cakes, snow, and Norman Rockwell.
Huge thanks also to my always wonderful beta reader
leizelau.
Rose was grateful for the encompassing warmth flowing over her left hand from the mug of mulled wine. She looked up at the tall timelord who, carrying his own mug in his right hand, held her right firmly in his left. Her fingers were tingling a bit in the cold where his skin had no contact with hers, but she didn’t notice it much so encompassing was the feeling of her hand in his. He grinned down at her, delighted that after such a horrific time of being apart she was now back at his side.
She lay her head briefly against his shoulder as they walked. The snow covering the cobblestone street crunched beneath their feet. Lining each side of the street were stalls garlanded in lights, evergreen boughs and holly. Their owners offered many different wares, from gifts to food, to passers by.
A few hours ago, after the excitement of the rescue of Rose from the alternate reality had died down, Rose and the Doctor had been standing awkwardly near the TARDIS console. All other companions had opted to leave the TARDIS for a short time seeing as it had been nearing Christmas before they’d left and, prompted by Jack, they secretly agreed that the Doctor and Rose needed some alone time. Rose sat cross-legged in the pilot’s chair and played absentmindedly with the worn loose threads on the hem of her jeans. The Doctor wandered around the console pushing buttons seemingly at random and casting hopefully unobserved glances in Rose’s direction. An idea settled in his head and he grasped at it. He jumped into action and set a course. Rose, noticing his sudden change in action, stood up and came to him.
“Where are we going?” She asked leaning over his shoulder, trying to see the screen.
“It’s a surprise.” He grinned and after setting the final coordinate he looked at her. “Oh,” he frowned a little, “You need to find something warm to wear.”
She nodded and ran out of the room and through the winding maze of the TARDIS towards the wardrobe. On seeing the outfit the TARDIS had laid out for her she grinned and wondered if the Doctor had gotten it in his head to take her to Siberia. She quickly shed her own shoes and pulled the fur-lined boots on. The jacket she put on over her own hoodie and pulled the hood out over the top. She checked herself over in the full length mirror. After adjusting a few things she was satisfied and grabbed the scarf and gloves on her way back to him.
He stood waiting by the door to the outside universe, his only concession to the cold was to put his overcoat on. He nodded approvingly at her and held out his hand which she grinningly took after rebelliously shoving the gloves in her pockets. She craved the skin on skin contact of holding his hand.
They were on New Earth where as part of the Human Reminiscence after the death of the Earth, the Doctor explained, the largest Christmas market in the universe had been set up. Millions flooded once a standard Earth year to the market that covered an area roughly the size of Belgium.
The TARDIS had landed near the border that separated the area displaying the oldEarth Christmas customs of America and Canada from the area that moved into the western European traditions.
After a couple of hours looking around the North American section during which the Doctor was appalled to learn Rose didn’t know who Norman Rockwell was and proceeded to submerge her in the artist’s work. She had to admit that the man was very good, she particularly liked a sweet one that showed a man and woman in formal clothes, maybe at a dance. She bought a small print of it to hang in her bedroom. They picked up a few postcards for Jackie and enjoyed a roast Christmas dinner before wandering across the border to Europe. The Doctor bought them Christmas fruit cake, which they quickly finished off, and mugs of mulled wine that they were lingering over.
Rose moved behind him as they left the busy street and the Doctor pulled her through a narrow gap between two trees. After a short walk pushing through the trees and leaning over her mug in the hope that her body could protect it from any falling pine needles they arrived in a clearing that was remarkably quiet considering the bustle of the crowds only a few metres away.
They sat on the nearest of three wooden benches with arms wide enough to hold their mugs. The clearing was covered in snow which they brushed off the bench before sitting down. Near the benches on the ground stood six small lanterns which lit the clearing for their feet, but not enough to spoil the view of the stars above.
The Doctor watched as Rose sipped her mulled wine, the lantern-light and moonlight shining on her hair. An idea crept into his mind and persistently remained. He looked back up at the stars and considered for a moment without saying anything for sometime, debating with himself over whether he should ask the question burning on his tongue or if he should just stay silent and ignore the idea. He startled both himself and Rose when the question formed itself in the air. The affirmative side having snuck out and asked the question while the negative was distracted and just getting into the full swing of the debate. When he spoke it was simple and unassuming, almost as though he was asking how she found her wine. He was very proud that he'd managed to get it out without wavering in voice at all even though his twin hearts were slamming into his chest.
"Marry me."
Rose froze for a second before turning to study his face. He turned away from the stars and forced himself to look her in the eye. He didn't dare smile. The question, while having been asked in a very casual tone awaited an answer that could make or break him. Now that he’d said it out loud the idea became more obvious. He’d just lived through the equivalent of a year without her and while that year proved that he could live without her, he knew that he had absolutely no desire to. He wanted her completely with him forever or at least for as long as they had.
Rose found everything she could ever hope for in his eyes and replied in an equally casual voice.
"Yes." She smiled at the grin that spread across his face. His grin lifted hers until she thought their faces might crack.
"Really?"
"I said, 'I'm never gonna leave you' and I meant it. I'll be here as long as I can." Rose tried to push all she felt through her eyes into his until she was sure he knew how much she loved him. The Doctor's smile softened into that smile that made her toes curl and her stomach melt, for once he couldn't think of anything to say.
He took her left hand from her lap next to the mug and held it until it occurred to him that she should have something on her finger, the idea had occurred to him so suddenly that he didn't have anything to give her. He looked around and saw a few pebbles on the ground where the snow had been brushed off them. He leant over, chose one that had a slight pink tinge to it, and applied his sonic screwdriver to the task. After a short time of buzzing and bleeping he held a small stone ring in his hand. He looked back at Rose who held out her left hand and grinned as he slid it onto her finger. Soon he would replace it with a real engagement ring and eventually a wedding ring, but Rose would always keep the stone ring safely tucked away.
The Doctor leaned back on the bench and pulled her closer to him, his arm hugging her along the back of the bench. She tentatively threaded her hand through his and leaned against his shoulder. They'd hugged countless times before and had even sat closer than this, but this time was different.
Rose looked back at the stars and wondered how long forever could last for this time, she hoped for decades.
Rating: G
Character/Pairing: Ten/Rose
Disclaimer: yeah not mine, just playing - thanks BBC, RTD and whoever else has a hand in making this show.
Spoilers: post season 3 but doesn't really have any spoilers for that season.
Summary: In which the Doctor and Rose wander about an extensive Christmas market and have an interesting conversation.
Author's Notes: This fic, which is hands down the fluffiest things I've ever written, was written as part of the time_x_space Christmas ficathon for
troppo_veleno who asked for mulled wine and cakes, snow, and Norman Rockwell.
Huge thanks also to my always wonderful beta reader
leizelau.
Rose was grateful for the encompassing warmth flowing over her left hand from the mug of mulled wine. She looked up at the tall timelord who, carrying his own mug in his right hand, held her right firmly in his left. Her fingers were tingling a bit in the cold where his skin had no contact with hers, but she didn’t notice it much so encompassing was the feeling of her hand in his. He grinned down at her, delighted that after such a horrific time of being apart she was now back at his side.
She lay her head briefly against his shoulder as they walked. The snow covering the cobblestone street crunched beneath their feet. Lining each side of the street were stalls garlanded in lights, evergreen boughs and holly. Their owners offered many different wares, from gifts to food, to passers by.
A few hours ago, after the excitement of the rescue of Rose from the alternate reality had died down, Rose and the Doctor had been standing awkwardly near the TARDIS console. All other companions had opted to leave the TARDIS for a short time seeing as it had been nearing Christmas before they’d left and, prompted by Jack, they secretly agreed that the Doctor and Rose needed some alone time. Rose sat cross-legged in the pilot’s chair and played absentmindedly with the worn loose threads on the hem of her jeans. The Doctor wandered around the console pushing buttons seemingly at random and casting hopefully unobserved glances in Rose’s direction. An idea settled in his head and he grasped at it. He jumped into action and set a course. Rose, noticing his sudden change in action, stood up and came to him.
“Where are we going?” She asked leaning over his shoulder, trying to see the screen.
“It’s a surprise.” He grinned and after setting the final coordinate he looked at her. “Oh,” he frowned a little, “You need to find something warm to wear.”
She nodded and ran out of the room and through the winding maze of the TARDIS towards the wardrobe. On seeing the outfit the TARDIS had laid out for her she grinned and wondered if the Doctor had gotten it in his head to take her to Siberia. She quickly shed her own shoes and pulled the fur-lined boots on. The jacket she put on over her own hoodie and pulled the hood out over the top. She checked herself over in the full length mirror. After adjusting a few things she was satisfied and grabbed the scarf and gloves on her way back to him.
He stood waiting by the door to the outside universe, his only concession to the cold was to put his overcoat on. He nodded approvingly at her and held out his hand which she grinningly took after rebelliously shoving the gloves in her pockets. She craved the skin on skin contact of holding his hand.
They were on New Earth where as part of the Human Reminiscence after the death of the Earth, the Doctor explained, the largest Christmas market in the universe had been set up. Millions flooded once a standard Earth year to the market that covered an area roughly the size of Belgium.
The TARDIS had landed near the border that separated the area displaying the oldEarth Christmas customs of America and Canada from the area that moved into the western European traditions.
After a couple of hours looking around the North American section during which the Doctor was appalled to learn Rose didn’t know who Norman Rockwell was and proceeded to submerge her in the artist’s work. She had to admit that the man was very good, she particularly liked a sweet one that showed a man and woman in formal clothes, maybe at a dance. She bought a small print of it to hang in her bedroom. They picked up a few postcards for Jackie and enjoyed a roast Christmas dinner before wandering across the border to Europe. The Doctor bought them Christmas fruit cake, which they quickly finished off, and mugs of mulled wine that they were lingering over.
Rose moved behind him as they left the busy street and the Doctor pulled her through a narrow gap between two trees. After a short walk pushing through the trees and leaning over her mug in the hope that her body could protect it from any falling pine needles they arrived in a clearing that was remarkably quiet considering the bustle of the crowds only a few metres away.
They sat on the nearest of three wooden benches with arms wide enough to hold their mugs. The clearing was covered in snow which they brushed off the bench before sitting down. Near the benches on the ground stood six small lanterns which lit the clearing for their feet, but not enough to spoil the view of the stars above.
The Doctor watched as Rose sipped her mulled wine, the lantern-light and moonlight shining on her hair. An idea crept into his mind and persistently remained. He looked back up at the stars and considered for a moment without saying anything for sometime, debating with himself over whether he should ask the question burning on his tongue or if he should just stay silent and ignore the idea. He startled both himself and Rose when the question formed itself in the air. The affirmative side having snuck out and asked the question while the negative was distracted and just getting into the full swing of the debate. When he spoke it was simple and unassuming, almost as though he was asking how she found her wine. He was very proud that he'd managed to get it out without wavering in voice at all even though his twin hearts were slamming into his chest.
"Marry me."
Rose froze for a second before turning to study his face. He turned away from the stars and forced himself to look her in the eye. He didn't dare smile. The question, while having been asked in a very casual tone awaited an answer that could make or break him. Now that he’d said it out loud the idea became more obvious. He’d just lived through the equivalent of a year without her and while that year proved that he could live without her, he knew that he had absolutely no desire to. He wanted her completely with him forever or at least for as long as they had.
Rose found everything she could ever hope for in his eyes and replied in an equally casual voice.
"Yes." She smiled at the grin that spread across his face. His grin lifted hers until she thought their faces might crack.
"Really?"
"I said, 'I'm never gonna leave you' and I meant it. I'll be here as long as I can." Rose tried to push all she felt through her eyes into his until she was sure he knew how much she loved him. The Doctor's smile softened into that smile that made her toes curl and her stomach melt, for once he couldn't think of anything to say.
He took her left hand from her lap next to the mug and held it until it occurred to him that she should have something on her finger, the idea had occurred to him so suddenly that he didn't have anything to give her. He looked around and saw a few pebbles on the ground where the snow had been brushed off them. He leant over, chose one that had a slight pink tinge to it, and applied his sonic screwdriver to the task. After a short time of buzzing and bleeping he held a small stone ring in his hand. He looked back at Rose who held out her left hand and grinned as he slid it onto her finger. Soon he would replace it with a real engagement ring and eventually a wedding ring, but Rose would always keep the stone ring safely tucked away.
The Doctor leaned back on the bench and pulled her closer to him, his arm hugging her along the back of the bench. She tentatively threaded her hand through his and leaned against his shoulder. They'd hugged countless times before and had even sat closer than this, but this time was different.
Rose looked back at the stars and wondered how long forever could last for this time, she hoped for decades.