Chapter Text
Rose woke alone in the guest cottage on the Tyler Estate on the first morning after their zeppelin arrived back in London from Norway.
She hadn't gone to sleep alone, however. The Doctor and she had collapsed into the bed together, completely knackered. They'd gotten a few hours of sleep before the first nightmare had startled him awake. The second nightmare had claimed her not long after they'd dozed back off. He had wrapped himself around her as completely as he could, and his embrace had been a comfort to them both.
But now, he wasn't with her and she allowed herself a moment of panic. She sat up, still exhausted from a poor night’s sleep, achy from months of running and fighting. She spied maroon chucks on the floor and a blue pinstriped jacket thrown haphazardly on the chair, and it calmed her somewhat. He didn't have any other shoes. He couldn't exactly leave barefoot. She imagined him brooding downstairs, ruminating over being trapped here, Earthbound until the TARDIS grew enough for him to escape to the stars, with or without her. Exhaustion did nothing to quell her anxiety.
Rose was distracted from her dark thoughts after hearing a loud thud downstairs. It was followed immediately by a male voice swearing colorfully. She'd often heard that voice in the TARDIS, and in her dreams, but never swearing so vehemently. Apparently he'd inherited Donna’s talent for creative swearing.
The other thought that crossed her mind was that he didn't particularly sound like a man brooding over his existence.
Rose startled at the sound of an another crash and more cursing. Emotionally, she was still all over the map so it struck her funny and she began to chuckle even as the tears bloomed and fell. Laughing and crying at the same time, she crawled out of bed and snatched up a dressing gown she'd borrowed from her mum.
Downstairs, she discovered the Doctor sweeping up a mess of egg, flour and shattered mixing bowl from the floor. “Ah! Rose! Well…...erm, good morning. Breakfast will be served. Eventually.”
More laughter bubbled up and Rose found herself suddenly unable to speak, barely able to breathe as she shook from sobs and silent laughter.
“Rose? What's wrong, love? Are you crying?” He dropped the broom and crossed the room, wrapping her in his arms. He rocked her back and forth, kissing her temple. “Sweetheart?”
Rose drew in a great shuddering sigh and declared, “I...I'm a mess. I didn't sleep well...and you weren't in the bed this morning...I was alone, and...well, I'm just being ridiculous.”
The Doctor kissed Rose tenderly, stopping her frantic rambling explanation. “I am so, so sorry. I didn't think about you waking alone. I was too restless to sleep. I suppose I'm a bit of a mess, too.”
“You have nothing to apologize for, Doctor,” Rose explained. “I suppose I let myself fall apart.”
The Doctor drew her in for another embrace. It reminded her of how he had held her under a black hole on an impossible planet, until he kissed her temple again. He hadn't done that back then. He murmured, “You're allowed to fall apart. When I think of all you've seen and have had to do….you amaze me, Rose Tyler. I love you.”
Her eyes filled with tears again. “Have I told you I'm so glad you're here with me?”
He was silent, burying his face in her neck, sagging against her with a sigh. After a bit, he pulled back and Rose was startled to see tears spilling down his cheeks. “I’m glad to be here, love. I’m always glad to be where you are.”
Rose wiped the tears from his cheeks, giving him a watery smile. “Well then, I don’t plan to be anywhere other than where you are.” The Doctor kissed her then, slowly and deeply, taking his time.
Until the smoke detector in the kitchen began to beep shrilly. The Doctor tore himself away from Rose, crying, “Bollocks! The banana bread!” and ran for the kitchen.
A while later, they sat together in the messy kitchen, windows open for ventilation, as they tucked into some beans on toast and a lovely cup of tea. For the first time since her arrival in Pete’s World, the cottage felt like home. They decided to try for the banana bread another time.