Doctor/Rose fic recs – lost gems you probably haven’t even heard of!
Over the past couple of years, I've been trolling the fanfic archives on LJ comms like time_and_chips, as well as old Teaspoon posts, and I've noticed that there are a bunch of awesome, old fics from prior to the time that most of my friends entered the fandom. A lot of these are from authors who have since deleted their LJ accounts, or are otherwise inactive. And it's a shame when I read a fic that makes me cry - and there have been no comments on it in like 5+ years @.@ So, here are some recs - old stuff from authors who are no longer writing. They're no longer active, so their stuff is really fading into the shadows unless it's highlighted again. Please enjoy!! And please give some of these brilliant fics some love! =)
If You Want My Future by Pirate Perian
Summary: After the events of "The Girl in the Fireplace," Rose has a question for the Doctor
Recced because: I rec this fic to E V E R Y O N E. Even people who hate fanfic (like my husband). And I have yet to find one person (even hubby) who doesn't think it's seriously fab =) I think I have read just about every post-Girl in the Fireplace fic out there. This one is not only one of my favorites of the bunch - it is so inspired, it is one of my top favorite fics PERIOD. There is a huge, jarring (imo) change in mood between the somber end of Girl in the Fireplace and the giggly, cuddly beginning of the next episode, Rise of the Cybermen. Many fics have attempted to fill in the blank here - but imo few have been so true to the characters of Ten and Rose, their particular kind of friendship, and the evolving dynamic in their relationship. This fic is poignant yet fluffy, and has entered the realm of personal canon for me. PLUS THE AUTHOR IS SO AWESOME THAT SHE JUST GOT HER FIRST REAL NOVEL PUBLISHED!!!! Enjoy =)
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In Vino Veritas, and its amazing sequel Hair of the Dog, by zephyrhawk
Summary: When your social machine has broken down, it may be time for a little lubrication/ because you have to face the morning eventually
Rec’d because: Although she’s famous for her tragically epic Behind Closed Doors, for some reason this duo of fics seems to have slipped beneath the radar. She shows what a powerful author she is here, mingling angst and hope (with a happier ending this time, you’ll be happy to know!). She is the author who inspired me to write fanfic in the first place, because of the complexities in her characterization: both her Rose and her TenToo seem to be pretty sure they THINK they know what they want … but do their actions belie their words (hint: the answer is yes!!). Plus, I’m rec’ing these because I’m not sure how I feel about living in a world where each of these fics has fewer than 10 reviews. I have honestly lost count of how many times I’ve read these … 50 times is probably a gross underestimation.
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Human Nature by countrygirl-914
Summary: What if Rose had been with the Doctor when he met the Family? And what if they went to Rose's time, instead of 1913? And what if the Chameleon Arch didn't take away his memories?
Rec’d because: the premise of this (the Chameleon Arch doesn’t take his memories!!!) makes this the most unique Human Nature AU I’ve ever read. But it’s the implications of the fact that he keeps his memories that make this the most intriguing – he’s a human, remembering what it was like to be a Time Lord, and the fic’s focus on his attempts to cope with that with Rose at his side is absolutely brilliant. He’s a Time Lord cooped up on the Powell Estate living the sort of life Rose was living before they started traveling together - the emotional impact on him is very powerful. To call this fic ingenious is not doing it nearly enough justice.
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The Art of Being Human by sapphire_child
Summary: It is the autumn of 1913 and Rose has found herself the wife of a man who doesn’t really exist. Between the fear that she may truly learn to love John and the ever present knowledge of his true identity, Rose is forced to re-evaluate both her life and loves. And all the while the Family of Blood draws nearer to their prey.
Rec’d because: Despite herself, and despite all attempts to the contrary, Rose slowly begins to fall in love with John Smith. DO YOU NEED ANOTHER REASON TO READ THIS AND LOVE IT TO PIECES?
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Worlds in Conjunction by marylane23 Summary: The Doctor makes a slight miscalculation. Written for Wendymr for the Rose Tyler Ficathon. She wanted Rose making hard choices; the Doctor getting something disastrously wrong - with consequences; & Doctor/Rose romance of some sort Rec’d because: This fic shows the aspects of Rose we got to know and love the most in s2 - when forced into a Very Not Good situation, she needs to display how capable and self-sufficient she is - and, in a way, just like she would eventually do in Turn Left, she needs to almost become The Doctor. It is moving to the point of being heart-rending, with Rose making the tough decisions when Ten accidentally screws up big time.
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My Body is a Cage by threerings
Summary: "Rose gave another long-suffering sigh. Trust the Doctor to bring her to a world where the air was an aphrodisiac. To her, at least, though apparently not to him."
Rec’d because: naughtbunny23’s review of this amazingly and heartbreakingly original shag-or-die fic says it best: “In a cruel twist of fate, what should have been a beautiful first union, is now a clinical, life-saving measure, devoid of any intimacy on his part and moving him even more solidly into a lonely, isolated existance.” This fic is amazing.
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forever is a very long time (forever isn’t long at all when I’m with you) by rewindclunkplay
Summary: She tells him that he can have anything in the universe. How greedy of him that he wants the one thing he isn’t allowed to have.
Rec’d because: There have been a lot of Doctor!Rose/Companion!Ten fics. This one is haunting. Shippy and haunting. The Doctor (John Smith here) is a tortured character whether he is the human or the Time Lord, and Rose is the immortal yet ephemeral love of his life. The details that are given about John Smith’s background make him an endearing character that you really would like to get to know better, much as Rose Tyler of The Powell Estates was compelling even before she became a companion. As far as I know, this is the only fic this author has written for the DW fandom, but it’s an unforgettable one.
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Sleepy Yet? by OncomingBadWolf Summary: The Doctor finds there's more than one way to win a bet. Rec'd because: It's shamelessly fluffy, and sweet -- and very in-character! The biggest issue for me with Ten/Rose fluff is that I don't believe they were shagging in canon. So it's hard for me to find romantic fluff that is both in character in terms of mimicking their banter, and doesn't necessarily push the relationship to a sexual place. This fic toes that line gorgeously and believably - and whether you think they were shagging each other's brains out, or you don't think they did until after JE, this sweet little one-shot will put a smile on your face.
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Thirty-Four Degrees Celsius by housemaid79
Summary: Inclement weather and a Torchwood training exercise bring things between the Doctor and Rose to a head…
Rec’d because: Misunderstandings and more misunderstandings and this fic is sweet and sexy and brilliant.
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In Orbit Around You by keep_counting
Summary: 'Donna informs me that I am an insensitive bastard'. Rose returns, but things aren't exactly brilliant. Yet.
Rec’d because: This will probably be the only ‘modern classic’ on my list, but I don’t think she crossposted it off LJ/Teaspoon so I’ll leave it on for Tumblrites =) Most Rose-returns-after-Doomsday fics take it for granted that after the initial hug, things would stay sunshine and roses … but what if, without the stress of the stars going out, and with the weight of the universe’s protection on his shoulders, the Doctor doesn’t initially seem as pleased with Rose’s choice to return? This is an amazingly in character fic about how Ten is completely in love with Rose but can be a total bastard. A++++++
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The Quiet Chamber by Kalleah
Summary: Ten II and Rose in the immediate aftermath of Journey's End.
Rec’d because: I know, I know – there are a bazillion and one aftermath fics. BUT THIS FIC OMG!! It covers the entire emotional gamut – from sadness to relief to anger to resentment to love to circumspection. It is beautiful and emotional and one of my top post-JE fics …
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Time Stops to Whir by teenwitch77
Summary: Never in her life, would she have thought that first separation on Bad Wolf Bay would seem simple in comparison to this. How can she miss him when that man she lost, that man she loved, that man she cried for, is still just a door down the hall?
Rec’d because: This is my other top post-JE fics. I know they were written by two different authors, at two different times, but damn they work well if you smoosh them up together and read them as one. The way that even a hurt Rose still can’t help but gravitate towards the guilt-ridden, hurting TenToo is phenomenal. It makes me so sad that this author only wrote this a couple of fics for DW, as she really has a way with words and characterization!
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She and Him Were by PellNell
Summary: "Were you and him?" After Donna asks the question, Rose comes to terms with the answer.
Rec’d because: At first, I read this fic once, said “hmm that’s good” and closed the browser window, forgetting the fic name and the author. Within a week, I’d regretted it and spent MONTHS hunting it down again. As far as first-time-together fics go, this one truly stands out to me – the guilt and self-denial that the Doctor is feeling, even during intercourse with Rose is so powerful and fascinating. The way they pretend that nothing has happened leads Rose to wonder if, emotionally, anything WAS happening between them. This fic is a rockstar to me … a rockstar with 4 reviews and that breaks my heart.
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That Night on Betazorn 9 by Amberfocus
Summary: A blonde, a brunette, and a redhead walk into an intergalactic space bar on Betazorn 9. And when they leave, the bar is on fire
Recced because: This is one of my favorite crack!fics of all time. If I'm having a bad day and need something to cheer me up asap, I read this and it makes me smile in a pinch. I've lost count of the number of times I have read this short, wonderful little AU fic - it never ever ever stops being funny and making me giggle out loud =) The narration is spot-on in the voice of Ten, and the story is just .... XD .... I love it. Love it! And I think you guys will love it too =)
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We Both Go Down Together by JennyLD
Summary: Adjusting to the rest of their lives in Pete's World isn't easy. On either of them.
Rec’d because: this is angsty, extremely NSFW PWP. I am usually not a fan of this genre, but this fic is pretty damn powerful. This is a post-Journey’s End extremely hurt Rose taking out her frustrations on TenToo in one of the most painful ways she can think of … and when you read between the lines of this fic, not meaning a damn word of it.
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The Quiet Life by marylane23
Summary: The obligatory "The Doctor loses the TARDIS" story, sort of.
Rec’d because: This fic is all about a choice the Doctor has to make at the end of The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit. He has two paths to choose from … I can’t say anymore without massive spoilers but this fic will break your heart.
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But What That Place Could Be by Yamx
Recced because: Following the emotionally riveting Father's Day, we have The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances, where Nine and Jack meet and don't like or trust each other very much. Right on the heels of that, we have Boomtown, where Nine, Jack and Rose all seem incredibly tight. There's quite a canonical gap there!! This wonderful canon-consistent fic ties all four of these episodes together in a wonderful package. This fic gave me everything I never knew I wanted in terms of context for Nine and Jack's friendship, and is a VERY insightful reevaluation of Nine and Rose’s actions in Father's Day, to boot! This wonderful story makes the close bond we see in late s1 make more sense, and it provides some good character development. I highly recommend this fic - especially to any fan of s1, and anyone who counts Father's Day among their favorite episodes.
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Push and Pull by musedepandora
Summary: After Reinette, Rose and the Doctor confront what they both really want from their relationship. A situation that could have pushed them apart instead is the catalyst to pulling them closer together.
Rec’d because: I love this fic, the Doctor’s self-punishment and sense of loss, and the strong, emotionally self-aware Rose that we unfortunately didn’t get to see in GitF.
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Enough by shan21non
Summary: After the events of The Girl in the Fireplace, Rose, Mickey, and the Doctor think about how much is enough.
Rec’d because: I adore how the Doctor’s attempts to reassure Rose fall flat here. And there really isn’t a resolution. There isn’t a neat-and-tidy ending to this fic because if you imagine something akin to GitF happening in real life, would there really be a happy ending? But could they still be happy together regardless? This fic explores some of the complexities of that question and I adore it <3
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OK NOW FOR THE ONE FIC THAT’S NOT DOCTOR/ROSE AT ALL BUT I SWEAR AND PROMISE YOU GUYS IT IS ONE OF MY TOP FICS OF ALL TIME SO PLEASE CONSIDER READING IT!!
The Master and the Wolf by Adschumi
Summary: It has been three years since Rose last saw the Doctor. Adjusting to Pete’s world hasn’t been easy – yet Rose has become the defender of the earth. Rose, however, is about to face her greatest test yet when she discovers an abandoned Tardis in the Tundra. And who is this Harold Saxon trying to clumsily win her heart?
Rec’d because: You know how we all ship Doctor/Rose because Rose is badass, and she makes the Doctor better? This is Rose being Rose, in a completely sealed-off Pete’s Wold (so no Journey’s End), making a fob-watched Master better. I’ve never shipped Rose with anyone but the Doctor until this fic – this single fic impacted me so much that I now happily ship her with the Master as well. It is an amazing fic and I hope you enjoy it even half as much as I did!
