The Doctor sighed, turning off the now useless stove. It had been pouring rain, with thunder and lightning every now and again, all day, and Rose had just called a few minutes earlier to say she was going to stay at Torchwood until the weather lightened up a little.
The Doctor was starting to think that wasn’t going to happen.
A particularly bright flash of lightning lit up the room, followed by a crash of thunder, and a tiny voice screamed again, “DADDY!”
“I’m coming sweetie!” The Doctor called calmly. It had been a rough day for his anxious daughter, who despised loud noises and the dark.
The Doctor got the torch out of the cabinet, flipping it on and heading upstairs.
Abby was huddled in the corner of her room, clinging to her worn teddy bear and whimpering. “The lights are out,” she informed her father with a pout when he walked in.
“I know they are, love.” He knelt down, holding out his arms, and Abby instantly flew to him, clinging to his shirt, the bear crushed between them.
“Make the lights come back,” she demanded.
“The storm knocked the power out, I can’t make them come back.”
“But it’s dark.”
“It’s not all dark though, look.” The Doctor held up the torch for her to see. “We’ve got this.” Abby didn’t look at all reassured. Especially when another clap of thunder echoed through the house.
“When’s Mummy coming home?”
“Not for a few hours, she can’t drive in the rain. But we can make it without her, right?” Abby absolutely did not believe that. “Tell you what, pick out a few of your favorite books and let’s go downstairs.”
Abby made a face. “Okay, but don’t leave.”
“Not until you’re ready. We’ll go down together.”
Abby nodded, reassured, and went to pick a few books off her overflowing shelf. When she was done she returned to her father’s arms, and he carried downstairs, putting her on the couch.
“Are you gonna read to me?” Abby asked.
“In a few, there’s something I need to do first.” He grabbed his phone, pulling up Rose’s number and hitting the video call option. She picked up after a few rings.
“Yes Doctor?”
“Your daughter wants to say hi,” the Doctor informed her with a grin before handing the phone to Abby, who lit up.
“Mummy!”
“Hi baby! Why’s it dark there?”
“The lights went out and Daddy can’t fix them.”
“What? Something Daddy can’t fix? Really?”
“Really!”
“Oi!” The Doctor grumbled as he set to work with collecting the things he needed.
“Daddy what’re you doing?” Abby asked curiously, momentarily distracted from the storm.
“It’s a surprise! Just talk to Mummy.”
Abby chattered happily for nearly ten minutes, telling Rose all about her day. She was distracted, as the Doctor had hoped, and didn’t notice what the Doctor was doing until he announced, “All done!”
Abby looked up from the phone, her eyes lighting up when she saw the blanket fort the Doctor had constructed. “Oooooooooh!”
“What is it?” Rose asked, and the Doctor went to take the phone so he could turn the camera and show her.
“Everybody in!”
They crowded into the pillow fort, Abby holding on to the Doctor’s phone so she could be involved in the family time while the Doctor read her stories. And when he ran out of books, he began telling her stories of his own.
“....And then the brave prince beat the monster and saved his beautiful’s princess’ face, and they all lived happily ever after.”
Abby yawned, snuggling into the Doctor’s chest, the storm outside all but forgotten. “Daddy, what do the prince and princess look like?”
“What do you think they look like?”
“Well the prince is big and has lots of muscles, ‘cause he’s always fighting the evil monsters. And he’s really handsome, ‘cause all princes are handsome.”
“And what about the princess? What does she look like?”
Abby pursed her lips, thinking long and hard for a moment. “The princess looks like Mummy.”.
“Oh yeah? Why’s that?”
“’Cause she’s smart and pretty, just like Mummy.”
The Doctor chuckled at that, then realized something. “Wait, why doesn’t the prince look like me?”
“’Cause you don’t look like a prince.”
The Doctor just stared as Rose burst out laughing.
Rose probably should have at least feigned feeling threatened, but she was laughing too hard to really be worried about it. She and Clara had decided to go on a tour of an abandoned castle, and of course had fallen behind their tour group to explore their own -- not necessarily against the rules, but it was encouraged they stay with their group.
They took that suggestion as they took most suggestions.
Last they’d heard from their tour guide, there had been ghost sightings all throughout the castle. Which of course meant there was only one thing for Rose to do.
Fall back a little bit, lure Clara into a false sense of security, and then grab her from behind and yell “BOO!”
Rose thought it was hilarious.
“I hate you,” Clara seethed, and Rose giggled, pulling her in for a kiss.
“You love me.”
“I am capable of both at the same time.”
Rose was still giggling as she hugged Clara, and they started down the hall again. Clara took her hand. “See? You can’t stay mad for long.”
“Oh I absolutely can. I just want to make sure you don’t wander off again.”
Rose harumphed, but didn’t complain otherwise. She got to hold Clara’s hand, after all. How could she complain?
The faint sound of footsteps reached Rose’s ears, and she whipped around. “Did you hear that?”
“Very funny, Rose. I’m not falling for it.”
Rose frowned, turning forward again. Until she heard the footsteps again. “Seriously, it sounds like someone’s walking behind us,” she insisted, turning back again.
“Seriously, Rose, I’m not...”
Clara’s voice drifted off as she looked back as well, and they watched a door creak open.
On its own.
They caught up with the tour group quickly after that.
Title: The Flower Girl
Rating: K+
Pairing: Rose/Fem!Doctor
Summary: She came in every day to draw the flowers, and never noticed Jo watching her.
Note: *sigh* This is dedicated to Lisa, who requested Fem!Ten x Rose florist/tattoo artist AU last night before Tumblr decided she was too pure for this shitty website.
Warning For: Mention of domestic abuse.
She came in every day to draw the flowers.
Jo knew she worked at the tattoo shop across the street, and she came over every afternoon on her lunch break to draw flowers and munch on chips while she worked.
And she never noticed Jo watching her.
Not that Jo was creepy about it, of course. She worked, and she watched the blonde out of the corner of her eye, swearing to herself that this would be the day she worked up the courage to approach the woman.
It never was.
Not that she had a chance in the world. She had seen the other woman with her boyfriend many times, usually snogging against the wall outside the tattoo shop after her shift. He was a big, rather dumb looking man -- not that Jo was one to judge someone based on looks alone. But he certainly looked like an idiot.
Jo tried not to be too bitter about it.
She didn’t have a chance was the point, though. Never mind that the woman was in a relationship, it was a clearly physical relationship.
And that had never been Jo’s thing. She enjoyed a good snog as much as the next person, but going beyond that wasn’t something that interested her. It had been the death of all of her past relationships. And she had no reason to believe any future relationships would be different. Really it was better to just reside herself to her flower shop and owning four cats for the rest of her life.
And watching the pretty blonde who came in and drew flowers.
* * * * * * * * *
The woman didn’t come in for an entire week.
Jo considered going across the street to the flower shop to ask about her, but that would be kind of stupid. What was she she supposed to say-- “Hi I’m looking for the blonde who comes over to my shop every day to draw flowers?” That was probably a little creepy.
So instead she stewed and she worried.
And finally, one day, the blonde returned. She came in while Jo was in the back, and it wasn’t until she came out that she saw the bruises on the woman’s face.
“What happened?” She blurted out without thinking. The woman looked up, surprised.
“What?”
Well Jo had started the conversation. Now she had to finish it. “W-What happened to your face? If you don’t mind me asking, I mean...”
“Oh.” The woman brushed her fingers along the bruises. “S’nothing, really.”
She looked unbearably sad, and Jo didn’t want to push it. She didn’t like that look on the woman’s face. “I’m Jo, by the way,” she said instead, stupidly, and was pleased when the woman smiled a bit.
“You mean the Jo of Jo’s Flowers? Really?” Oh. Right. Her name was on the shop sign. Stupid. “I’m Rose.”
“Your name is Rose and you’re drawing roses? That’s a bit on the nose, isn’t it?”
The woman -- Rose -- laughed. “Well one of my regulars decided she wanted a rose tattoo so I need to come up with something good.”
“I’ve got a rose arrangement I’m working on that you might like.”
“Really?” Jo nodded. “I’d love to see it.”
* * * * * * * * *
They talked every time Rose came in after that.
Rose was more than happy to share her chips as they talked and she drew. Sometimes Jo would arrange flowers just for her so she could have something unique to draw.
The bruises faded, and with them the memory of whatever caused them. More and more Rose lightened up, smiling more and laughing openly. And Jo did everything she could to get that smile and that laugh as much as she could.
She was falling far too hard for this woman.
“So do you ever eat anything besides chips?” Jo asked one afternoon. Rose paused with a chip halfway to her mouth.
“Is there anything else?”
Jo sighed. “Someone needs to make you a good meal.”
“You offering?”
....
.....
........
Jo became aware after about five seconds that her mouth was hanging open and she probably looked like an idiot. Rose was clearly trying not to laugh as she returned her attention to her drawing.
“Yes.” The word came out before Jo could stop it, and Rose snapped back around to look at Jo, blinking. “What are you doing Saturday night?”
A small smile pulled at Rose’s lips. “I think I’m going to your place for dinner.”
* * * * * * * * *
“Banana get off the counter.”
The orange cat mewled, clearly displeased, as Jo shoved her off the counter. Of course, then she saw Cocoa and the chase began. Jo sighed as she checked the clock. Five-fifty-eight.
“Oh!”
Jo ran around, gathering up the cats and tossing them into the bedroom. None of them were happy when she closed the door in their faces.
“Deal with it,” she said as someone knocked on the front door. “Coming!” She ran to answer the door, beaming brightly when she saw Rose. “Hullo.”
“Hello!” Rose said brightly. “I brought wine.”
“You’re brilliant. Come in, come in.”
“Do I hear meowing?” Rose asked as she pulled her jacket off. Jo sighed.
“Yeah, I have cats. I put them in my bedroom so we could eat in peace, they’re not pleased.”
“Can I meet them?”
Jo laughed. “Maybe after dinner. The food is almost ready and if I let them out now we’ll never get them back in there."
They settled down to eat, chatting animatedly, and it was...nice. It was easy, talking to Rose, easier than it had ever been to talk to anyone else. Jo talked too much and too fast and Rose didn’t seem at all annoyed or bored. Rather, she hung on every single word, prodding Jo to continue every time she took a breath.
By the time they’d finished eating they’d both had just enough wine to be loose and a little giggly. Jo finally let the cats out, and of course they were all over Rose in a heartbeat, sniffing at her and looking for pets.
“What’re their names?”
“Banana, Bean, Cocoa, and Cookie. The Bs and Cs are brother and sister.”
Rose burst out laughing. “Those are brilliant names! Which one’s which?”
She pointed out who was who, and Rose made a concentrated effort to remember each and every one.
While the cats wandered, Jo put on a movie for them to watch. She was rather surprised when she returned to the couch, and Rose leaned over to press a kiss to her lips.
Jo’s lack of response must have been immediately obvious, because Rose pulled away after only a couple seconds, blinking rapidly.
“I...I’m sorry, I’ll go.”
She stood up, hurrying for the door. “Wait!” Jo yelped, hurrying after her and grabbing her hand. “Wait, hang on, don’t go.”
Rose kept her eyes firmly on the floor, staring hard at Cocoa, who was winding around her ankles. “I guess I thought this was a date,” she mumbled. “I’m sorry.”
“I...I thought you had a boyfriend,” Jo said stupidly, and finally Rose looked up to meet her gaze. She looked impossibly sad and lost.
It hurt.
“I don’t. We...broke up about a month ago.”
About a month ago. That was the same time Rose had disappeared for a week and then returned with bruises on her face.
Jo did her best not to jump to conclusions.
“Did...Did you want it to be a date?” Jo asked cautiously after a minute. It was Rose’s turn to be surprised.
“I...wouldn’t mind if it was.”
“I wouldn’t either,” Jo said quietly. Rose gave her a hesitant smile, and after a moment Jo dared to step forward, pressing a small kiss to Rose’s lips.
Everyone assumes the Doctor is shagging Rose Tyler. But he isn’t. And no one seems to understand that he doesn’t really want to. It leaves the Doctor not only struggling with his new half-human body, but also with society’s expectations when it comes to their relationship.
Tentoo/Rose, rated T, around 2.1k. Read it on AO3!
I finally got around to write some ace!Doctor fic! This is a bit late for asexuality awareness week, but still fits to this week’s prompt by @timepetalsprompts and to smut-less fanfiction week.
EDIT: There is now a sequel: Intimacy.
When Rose opened the front door, the flat was dark and silent. She let out a long breath, happy to be home after a few days away to solve the latest intergalactic crisis for Torchwood, but the person she had missed the most was not there. Since she’d brought the Doctor back home with her, her flat was rarely silent. He was half-human now, but that hadn’t changed his restless energy and the unstoppable gob.
“Doctor?” Rose called, flinging her purse and her jacket onto a chair before kicking off her shoes. She frowned when she got no answer, but then her gaze fell onto a piece of paper on the table. Messy handwriting, definitely the Doctor’s, saying that he was at the pub with Jake and his mates. Rose smiled at the heart he had scribbled down next to his name. It was staggering how easily they had fallen back into the romantic relationship they had started all those years ago, just a few months before she got stuck in the parallel universe. But it had made it even harder to be separated from him again, even if it was only for a couple of days.
Rose dug her phone out of her pocket and quickly texted him she was home. Rubbing a sore spot on her neck, she decided to take a bath while she waited for him. It was still early, and it would be a while until the Doctor was home.
She settled down for a long soak in the tub, letting the hot water relax her muscles and wash away the tension of the last week. Her eyelids grew heavy and when the water slowly turned cold Rose reluctantly climbed out of the tub. Wrapped only in a fluffy white towel, she emerged from the bathroom and startled when she saw the Doctor down the hall.
He was sitting in the living room on the couch, his head lolled back and his eyes closed. He looked tired and tense, but when she got closer he opened his eyes to meet hers. A bright smile bloomed on his face, hiding the strain in his features.
Rose grinned back, and before she could say anything the Doctor had jumped up and pulled her into a tight embrace. Wrapping her arms around his waist Rose held him close, hiding her smile in the crook of his neck.
“Hello,” she laughed, the joy to be back in his arms making her giddy. She felt the Doctor’s grin on his lips as he pressed a kiss to the side of her head.
“Hello. I missed you,” he said, sounding delighted but not quite able to hide his exhaustion from his voice. He nuzzled her hair and Rose tipped her head up to meet his lips with hers.
“Missed you too,” she mumbled against his lips when they pulled apart for a second, but a moment later the Doctor kissed her again, a touch more passionate this time. It was exactly what she had longed for the last few days they were apart.
Melting into his kiss, Rose was only vaguely aware that he guided her through the room to the couch. She yelped in surprise when he suddenly pulled her into his lap as he sat down. With a content sigh, Rose curled up against his chest. The Doctor wrapped one arm around her back and settled his other hand on her thigh, tracing small circles on her skin.
“Let’s not do this again anytime soon, yeah?” Rose sighed.
“Definitely not,” the Doctor said. “Next time I’m coming with you, no matter how many lectures I have to skip for that.”
Rose leaned up to kiss him again, longing for his touch, and the Doctor readily opened his mouth for her to deepen the kiss. But Rose wasn’t really prepared for the effect his affections had on her body. Clad only in a towel, every touch of his fingers against her naked skin sent heat sizzling down her core, and every swipe of her tongue against his clouded her mind further with pleasure until she couldn’t think straight. Before she could stop herself, she wriggled in his lap, desperate for friction, and let out a long moan against his lips. With her last bit of self control, Rose pulled back, breathing hard.
“Sorry, I’m-” she began, her voice breaking. She met the Doctor’s gaze, saw the hesitation in his eyes, the worry and fear that she hadn’t seen since they had first agreed on the terms of their relationship, all that time ago in another universe. He gulped, gripping her thigh a little harder.
“No, it’s… it’s okay,” he said, clearing his throat. He sounded tense, as if he had to force himself to say every single word. “We can… I mean, if you want.” He gently trailed his fingers up her thigh, under the edge of her towel, leaving a trail of warmth on Rose’s skin. Oh, this was new. And it was good. But it didn’t feel right.
The Doctor leaned down to kiss her again, but Rose pulled back and stopped his hand with a firm grip on his wrist. There was no way she could miss how hard his hands were trembling.
The Doctor met her gaze again, a question unspoken on his lips.
“Do you want this?” Rose asked gently.
A few seconds of silence. The Doctor opened his mouth to speak but closed it again before he tried again. “I want you to be happy,” he said, desperation lingering in his voice.
“I am,” Rose insisted. The doubt in the Doctor’s features nearly broke her heart. She reached for his hand and brought it to her lips, pressing a kiss to his knuckles. “Really, I am. You make me happy, no matter if we have sex or not.”
The Doctor was silent, struggling for words. His pulse was racing under her fingertips. Rose gently ran a hand through his hair, trying to calm him. But it became obvious that he needed some space. In all the years with him, Rose knew when that was the case without him needing to say it. And it probably wasn’t helping that she was still in his lap, only dressed in a towel that showed more of her body than it was hiding.
“How about I go and get some clothes and you make us both a cuppa?” she suggested. “And then we can talk about it?”
The Doctor finally nodded, letting out a long breath, and Rose reluctantly moved out of his arms.
~~~
When she came back, the Doctor waited for her with two steaming mugs of tea on the coffee table in front of him. He looked calmer, but still wasn’t able to hide how miserable he was. When Rose entered he looked up and his lips curled into a soft smile. He patted the space next to him and Rose ruffled through his hair before settling down beside him.
“I mean it,” the Doctor said after they had both taken a sip of their tea. Still a strain in his voice. “That we could have sex. If you want.”
“Do you want to?” Rose asked, confused. “You never did before, and I always told you that’s fine. Unless after the metacrisis…” She trailed off, biting her lip.
“The metacrisis didn’t change anything,” the Doctor finally admitted. “Having no desire for sex is nothing alien. It may have been more common for Time Lords than for humans, but I don’t feel any different just because I’m half human now. Well, still more Time Lord than human, but you know what I mean.”
“Then we don’t need to have sex,” Rose said, determined. The Doctor’s tense shoulders slumped, just a little, but he still didn’t look convinced.
“But if you want-”
“What I want more is that you don’t do something you’re not comfortable with,” Rose interrupted. She set her mug of tea down on the table and shifted until she could wrap an arm around him. It only took a second until the Doctor melted into her touch, embracing her to pull her closer into his side. Rose pulled her legs up to settle them in his lap and leaned her head against his chest. The Doctor pressed a kiss to the top of her head, let out a long breath, and finally relaxed.
“I love you,” he mumbled into her hair and Rose smiled.
“I love you too,” she said, reaching out to feel the beat of this single heart in his chest. “And I’m sorry if I ever made you feel like this is not enough for me.”
“You didn’t,” the Doctor insisted. “You’ve been perfect, really. It’s more what everyone else is saying.”
Rose looked up to meet his eyes, confused.
“What is everyone saying?”
The Doctor sighed, exasperated.
“Did you ever notice how much you humans focus on sex? Well, not all of you, I guess. Still, it’s ridiculous! I knew it was important for your species, but I never really realized how much until now. It’s like everyone expects us have sex. Why do they think it’s any of their business?”
Rose blinked. “I… I mean, yeah, of course I noticed it, but I never really gave it much thought.”
“Your mother, Rose! On that first night in the hotel in Norway. ‘Keep it quiet, you two’? Do you remember that?”
“Yeah,” Rose admitted, cringing. She did remember her embarrassment and how uncomfortable the Doctor had looked. “I’m sorry about that.”
“And then the tabloids, only last week. Did you see that ridiculous article? ‘The Vitex heiress’s new sex toy’? Are they serious about that?”
Despite everything, Rose couldn’t suppress a giggle. “That was awful,” she agreed, glad to see the Doctor’s lips curling into half a smile as well. “If anything, you’re my new cuddly toy.” She emphasised her point by squeezing his waist and laughed at the fake outrage on the Doctor’s face.
“Rose Tyler, that is not an acceptable nickname for the last of the Time Lords,” he protested, but pulled her closer all the same. He leaned down to peck her lips and stayed close, his lips lingering against her forehead.
“And then there was one of Jake’s mates tonight,” the Doctor said after a moment of comfortable silence. “He asked some inappropriate questions as soon as Jake was out of earshot. What it’s like to sleep with the famous Rose Tyler.”
Rose frowned. “I’m sorry you had to deal with that, Doctor.”
“It’s all right,” he said, combing his fingers through her hair. “It’s just, I merely suggested that maybe I wouldn’t want to do that, and he looked at me like I’m an alien. I mean, I am an alien, but he doesn’t know that! And he said if I’m not shagging you, he might have to give it a try.”
Rose snorted. “He doesn’t stand a chance,” she protested. “Not against you. You know that, right?”
The Doctor smiled at her, looking smug. “I know. But it’s still nice to hear it.”
“I’ll have to snog you extra thoroughly at the next Vitex event, just to let everyone know I’m definitely not available,” Rose teased, perching her head up for a kiss.
“That would be very kind of you, Ms. Tyler,” the Doctor answered, beaming at her, and pressed his lips to hers. They kissed for a long while, both relishing the tenderness they poured into the kiss. Rose wrapped her arms around his neck and the Doctor shifted until they were lying on the couch, pressed close against each other.
When she pulled back, Rose was a little breathless and exhilarated that the Doctor was panting as well. She felt his breath ghost over her skin, felt his heart thumping under her fingertips, and was so wrapped up in his warmth and love that she thought her heart might burst from happiness. It was so intimate, to be so close to the Doctor, and that was all she needed from her relationship with him. No matter what everyone else said.
“I know that our silly human society can make you feel like you’re supposed to do certain things,” she started. “Like it’s expected from you. But I don’t expect you to do anything you don’t want to. You’re perfect just the way you are.”
“Thank you,” the Doctor said quietly, pressing his lips back to hers.
Rose raked her fingers through his hair and the Doctor let out a content hum, closing his eyes. The last bits of tension finally rolled off him and Rose smiled at the relaxed expression on his face.
“You okay?” she asked gently and the Doctor nodded.
Welcome to the first Smut-less Fanfiction Week, hosted by your friendly neighborhood @dimensionhoppingrose and @perfectlyrose!
What is Smut-less Fanfiction Week?:
It’s pretty much what it says on the tin. Fanfiction that doesn’t explicitly ends in smut and/or doesn’t have an M rating tends to get overlooked and is vastly underappreciated. This is a week to celebrate those stories and to let the people who write it know they’re just as loved as smut writers.
This also applies to fanfiction that doesn’t focus entirely on romance. Fics that are friendship-focused deserve love too!
So you hate smut?:
No! But all fanfiction deserves equal attention, and fanfiction without smut deserves to be celebrated just as much as fanfiction with smut.
How do I participate?:
Write smut-less fanfiction! For a lot of us that’s easy enough, we already do it on a daily basis. And tag it smutlessfic so it can be found and appreciated.
What fandom is this for?:
For once, there’s no specific fandom focus. Doctor Who? Go for it. Once Upon A Time? Join us. Broadchurch? Hell yeah. Etc., etc., etc. It’s not about a certain fandom, it’s about appreciating smut-less fic.
When Is It?:
October 30th-November 5
Themes/Prompts:
NOTE: These are not specific themes nor by any means what you have to write. Just a jumping off point if you need it. Feel free to do whatever you want!
Romantic Themes/Prompts
Friends evolving into a romantic relationship
Person A is asexual, in a romantic relationship with Person B
Getting a place together
Find more prompts here
Friendship Themes/Prompts
Lifelong friends
Comforting after a break up
Meeting at a coffee shop
Moving in together
And that’s it! If you have any questions feel free to ask Sam ( @dimensionhoppingrose ) or Kelsey ( @perfectlyrose ). Happy writing!
