For the @ghostsfanficevents TenRose Week prompt “proposal,” I made the rather odd decision of writing a 200-word fic in which… neither one of them actually appears.
It’s still a TenRose fic, though, I promise. :P
ring or no ring
“What I want to know,” says Bev, refilling Jackie’s teacup, “is when that Doctor of your daughter’s is going to put a ring on it. I mean, they’ve been traveling around together, how long now? Past time he proposed, ain’t it?”
It’s funny; when did Jackie start feeling protective of the Doctor?
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Triple drabble for another @ghostsfanficevents TenRose Week prompt! The prompt was “shared bed” — and I went with some sheer fluff this time around.
cold comfort
“You’re cold,” Rose complains as the Doctor stretches out alongside her, fully clothed, in the very last bed the inn had available.
It isn’t like she’s never touched him before, of course, or never noticed the constant, alien coolness of his skin. But holding a clammy hand while fleeing from monsters is one thing; snuggling up with an ice cube in a shared bed on a winter’s night is something else.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
200 words for today’s@ghostsfanficevents TenRose Week prompt — “what do you think?”
same man, new face
The thing about regenerating right before crash-landing, going comatose, and then promptly getting caught up in critical crises is that there hasn’t been so much time for just… being seen.
Until now, that is. The Doctor tries not to be jittery about the way Rose Tyler is studying him, brow set in consideration in that way of hers.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
If Rose noticed that the Doctor was any more nervous than usual about visiting her Mum, she didn't say anything. Instead, she gripped his hand in hers, their fingers intertwined, bouncing along beside the Time Lord as she chattered happily.
"Thought I'd pop in an' see Shareen and Keisha while we're here, if that's alright," Rose said happily, grinning up at the Doctor.
He returned her smile, and nodded.
"Of course," the Doctor responded. "They're your friends. Even if they do try to flirt with me..."
"Shareen did that once, an' she was drunk!" Rose reminded the Doctor with a laugh.
He gave Rose a significant look then, and she grinned, that tongue-between-teeth smile that she knew drove the Time Lord mad. They'd been in a relationship for almost a year, ever since the Doctor had almost lost Rose at Canary Wharf, after it had been Jackie who- after stubbornly refusing to leave Rose behind and go to a parallel world even with the other Pete Tyler- had saved them all, grabbing Rose's lever and keeping her daughter secure. The Doctor had felt the timelines bend at that moment, whole new timelines snapping into place, branching off, creating impossible futures for him and Rose. After that, Jackie had refused to let them out of her flat for a week, and their relationship had culminated from there.
And then Rose was tugging open the heavy security door to Bucknall House, the Doctor moving to help her.
"You've been quiet," Rose noted, as they ascended the stairs up to number 48.
The Doctor shrugged.
"Just thinking," he replied vaguely.
Rose gave him a funny look.
"D'you wanna go back to the TARDIS?" she asked. "You can if you want, I'll just tell Mum you had some tinkering to do."
Rose sounded deflated, though, most likely due to how- ever since their relationship had progressed- the Doctor had tried his best to do domestic for their visits to Jackie every now and then. After all, it was usually only a few hours at most.
"Nah," the Doctor shook his head and wrinkled his nose. "Besides, want a word with your Mum."
At that, Rose looked alarmed.
"Why? Is she in danger? Is somethin' wrong?"
"Who's in danger?"
Both the Doctor and Rose blinked, and looked up. Somehow, their feet had led them to Jackie's flat, on autopilot, and Jackie herself was stood in the doorway, brow furrowed as she stared at the two of them.
"Well?" Jackie spoke again. "Who's in danger?"
"No one's in danger, Jackie," the Doctor replied calmly.
Jackie gave him a suspicious look, before turning to Rose.
"Come in, then. Kettle's on. Could hear you two coming, you're bloody loud enough."
And with that, Jackie ushered them into the house.
~~~
Jackie had been suspicious the moment the Doctor offered to help her make the tea.
"I have something to ask you," the Doctor admitted quietly as he added the sugar to Rose's tea. "About Rose."
"What?" Jackie asked, tone curious though there was an undercurrent of worry.
The Doctor looked up, meeting Jackie's gaze for a few moments, before setting the teaspoon down and reaching into his pocket. Slowly and quietly, he pulled out a small velvet box. And opened it.
Jackie gasped.
"You want to marry Rose," she stated quietly when she finally regained her voice.
No question. A statement. And, judging by Jackie's tone of voice, she wasn't surprised.
"Yes," the Doctor replied evenly. "But I was hoping for your blessing first."
At that, Jackie did look surprised.
"My blessing?" Jackie echoed in confusion. "Why? You and Rose have never been ones to listen to what I say."
It was said in fondness, rather than annoyance or bitterness. But still, she was genuinely confused.
"You raised Rose on your own, Jackie," the Doctor shrugged, voice still quiet. "You've done so much for her, to protect her, make her who she is today. I think it's only right I ask for your blessing."
Jackie smiled, then, eyes damp, and she looked like she was about to speak, before she was interrupted.
"What're you two still doing?" Rose was in the kitchen doorway, frowning as she looked from her Mum, to the Doctor, and back again. "Doesn't take that long to make tea."
"Just talking," the Doctor replied calmly, discreetly slipping the ring box back into her pocket before reaching for his and Rose's tea. "Come on," he continued, making his way to the door, "let's go sit down."
~~~
The ring stayed in the Doctor's pocket for a week.
Finally, he had enough, and set the TARDIS to land on a deserted beach.
"Thought we could spend the day relaxing," he announced to Rose when they stepped out of the TARDIS and into the soft sand. "Think we've earned it this week."
Rose grinned, already bounding off towards the sea, shoes abandoned just inside the TARDIS doors. The Doctor busied himself setting out beach towels and drinks and food for when Rose tired, which she eventually did.
"Can't believe you're still in your suit," she told him, giggling breathlessly as she flopped onto her purple towel. She'd donned a bikini the moment the Doctor told her they'd be landing on a beach. "Why not wear swimming trunks?"
"My suit has better pockets," the Doctor replied with a sniff.
"Pockets?" Rose echoed incredulously, propping herself up on her elbows to look at him. "What do you need pockets for on a beach?"
"For storing useful things," came the Doctor's vague reply.
"Yeah?" Rose challenged with a grin. "Like what?"
"Like this," the Doctor responded.
Moments later, he was on one knee, on his towel, open ring box in his palms.
Rose gaped, pushing herself into a sitting position, her gaze on the ring before finally moving to the Doctor's face.
"Marry me?" the Doctor added after a few moments of silence.
"Is this what you were talking to Mum about? Last week?"
The Doctor nodded.
"I asked for her blessing," the Time Lord replied.
"You asked for her-" Rose began, before trailing off.
Then, she grabbed the Doctor's lapels and kissed him. Hard.
"Is that a yes?" the Doctor asked with a small grin when they finally pulled away, both panting slightly.
Rose grinned, before giving him her breathless reply.
