He Needed Me

Chapter 9

She snuggled up against him, waking up gradually as his fingers carefully ran through her blond locks over and over again. This was nice. Better than nice actually. It’s one of the things she’d wanted to do for so long and now she could. She looked up, seeing his eyes were a little distant. She wondered how long he’d been awake and rather surprised he hadn’t tried to wake her up with his chatter before now, “Penny for your thoughts.”

He blinked and looked down with a confused expression, “Huh?”

Grinning to herself, loving that expression on his face. It was so cute, his eyebrows melding together over wide eyes, “It’s an American saying, from Earth. I say I’ll give you a penny and you tell me what you’re thinking.”

Frowning, “Why?”

Pursing her lips a bit before shrugging, “No idea.”

He grinned, “And do you have a penny?”

Pouting since they were both well aware of her currently unclothed state, “Well, no, but...I don’t really have to give you one. You just tell me anyway.”

He mouthed ‘oh’ but just continued to run through her hair and stay quiet. He was firmly back to his pondering, seemingly staring through her. Rose didn’t particularly appreciate being ignored. She gave him a small poke in the stomach, eyebrows raising when he not only jolted, but scooted so far back he tumbled into the grass. Holding out a warning finger, “Don’t do that.”

An evil smirk spread across her face, “Is my Doctor ticklish?” She knew he was. Very. And he knew that she knew.

She started to rise and he scrambled to his feet, “Rose-...” With a cry she leapt at him and the only reason he allowed himself to be caught was if he’d moved, she would have smacked into the tree behind him. They both tumbled to the ground in a sprawl of limbs. Immediately her fingers worked over his entire torso, finding every single tickle spot he had and not stopping until he was giggling hysterically, too weak to fight back.

She pecked him lightly on the lips, wrapping her arms around his chest and giving him a squeeze. Snuggling in the grass, “What were you thinking about?”

“That it is entirely not fair you aren’t ticklish!” She grinned to herself. She actually was, he just hadn’t found the right spot yet. But she wasn’t telling him that, it was far too much fun to make him work for it. She rested a single finger in warning against his left rib and he tensed. But she didn’t move it and he got the point. He sighed softly into her hair, looking up at the twinkling sky even as he reveled in her form pressing down on his, “You’re never going to stop asking, are you?”

Grinning up at him cheekily, “Nope.”

Shaking his head a little before grinning to himself. She was as stubborn as he was and he loved it, “Just thinking to think, mostly. My mind’s always on so I just...think.”

Wrinkling her nose a little, “No wonder you don’t sleep much.”

Puffing up his chest a little, “A Timelord doesn’t need to sleep at all. I just do it to humor you.” She made a ‘pfft’ sound. He looked down and raised an eyebrow, “What? Cause I know you couldn’t possibly be thinking of contradicting me. ”

Tongue in cheek, sarcastic, “Yeah, cause I’m just you’re little human slave that’s only gonna tell ya how brilliant ya are. Oh master, you’re never wrong.”

He nodded once and patted her on the head, “Glad we’re in agreement.”

She raised the other eyebrow and pressed a little more firmly into his ribs and he tensed, “What was that?”

He swallowed, realizing she could win a lot of arguments now with just that threat, “Er...I love you?”

She rolled her eyes at him, “Git.” He grinned at her and she sniffed at him, “Come off it, Doctor. I
watched you sleeping earlier.”

She shimmied her hips a little to give him a clue as to which earlier and he made a scoffing noise, ignoring her shimmy so his anatomy wouldn’t distract him from the conversation. Not that it would be a terrible thing if it did, quite the opposite really, “I was just resting my eyes a bit.” Giving her a wolfish grin, “You wore me out and I was just re-cooperating.”

“Uh huh, and what about that catnap in the console room? Both regenerations I might add. You zonked out on the couch in the library more than once...and when we did that movie marathon.” He opened his mouth to object and she rudely pointed a finger at him, “I have the drool on me arm to prove it.” His grin turned sheepish and he shrugged a little. Her eyes sparkled of happiness and humor, moving up and giving him a loving kiss which he eagerly returned. God, had she ever been this happy? And making him happy just seemed to make her even happier.

Kissing her forehead and burying his face in her hair with a sigh, “I was thinking about Martha, actually.” Rose started a little, giving him a look with narrowed eyes. He’d already told her what had happened between then and now and one subject he’d briefly skimmed over had been Martha Jones. He felt the spark of indignation and craned his neck to see her face. Confused, “What?”

Voice slightly annoyed, “You were thinking about Martha Jones, a girl confessed to be in love with ya, while you’re in bed with me? Couldn’t even last a day could you ya damn flirt?”

He blinked before exclaiming, “Not like that!”

She raised an eyebrow, “Then how was it like?”

He rolled his eyes, pulling her closer, “As if anyone could compare to you...” She smiled sweetly, flattered and her annoyance forgotten. Now that she put it that way he could see why she’d been indignant and he reminded himself to be careful what he said. Not that it ever helped when controlling his rambling mouth. Rude and not ginger, after all, “I was thinking how hard I pushed her away, just because she was madly crushing over me. I wasn’t especially nice about it...and no, I didn’t encourage her. Just the opposite in fact but she just wouldn’t take the hint.”

Grinning, kissing his Adam’s Apple, “Well, you’re easy to love.” Frowning to herself, remembering the discarded mobile on the floor when she’d first arrived. It was still in a pocket...somewhere, “That was her mobile on the floor?”

Nodding to himself, popping his ‘p’ again, “Yep.” He shrugged, “She gave it to me, said she’d call and for me to come back to get her when she did.”

Giving him a strained look, “Are you going to?”

He studied her in all seriousness, “Do you want me to?”

Swallowing her own jealous emotions at the thought of sharing him, “I’m good if you are.”

An almost patronizing smile spread across his face, “Really? So if I wanted to turn this into a threesome you wouldn’t have any objections?” Anger sparked in her eyes and he pecked her lightly on the lips, “Don’t lie to me, Rose. You’re not alright with it and that’s good cause I certainly wouldn’t be happy if you wanted Ricky the Idiot to tag along again.” He smiled a little and nuzzled her cheek, “You’re my companion, now. Martha kept the loneliness away until you came back, that’s all. When and if she calls I’ll let her down...gently.”

Tracing a finger lightly across his chest, studying it so she wouldn’t have to look into his eyes, feeling foolish, “And what of the next time when you meet some fantastic person who could travel with us? I mean, you found Jack when we were travelin’ together...and Lynda with a ‘y’, even Mickey so I thought-...”

The Doctor shook his head, cupping her cheeks so she would look at him, “You’re my mate, Rose. You’re
my everything. Yes, we’ll meet fantastic people and go on exciting adventures but everything’s changed now. Originally the TARDIS would have six Timelords running her, usually family members. You’re my family, now. I hope there’ll be more traveling with us, and they’ll be our children. I’m officially domestic, Ms. Tyler. Now, when and where do you want to get married?”

She perked up, giving him a shyly hopeful look, “Really?”

He grinned, gently teasing, “It’s only fair, now isn’t it? We’re mates by my laws, which also means we’re married, it’s only right we give your’s a go.”

Raising an eyebrow, “So you could’a just married me without the mate part.”

His smile softened, “Not with you.”

Feeling sappy, she kissed his lips lightly before snuggling against his chest, “You romantic softy you.” She giggled suddenly to herself, feeling giddy and looked up, “Do I get a ring then?”

His grin faltered for just a moment, so quickly that she almost didn’t catch it before it was bright and carefree once more, “Course you do. Only proper. Properly proper, though why you put it on the fourth finger I’ll never understand...should go on the third...” There was that falter again, his eyes troubled for just a moment.

Concerned, “What’s wrong?”

He pursed his lips and shook his head a little, “Nuthin’s wrong. Just...just trying to figure out where
to take you...” He sighed when he saw she clearly wasn’t buying it, “Please, Rose, just this once...just this once don’t ask. It’s nothing I can change. It’s nothing anyone can change.”

He looked close to begging and she wanted so much for him to be happy again that just this once she just nodded in agreement before smiling, “So, where to then? You know the universe far better than me.”

The Doctor was relieved, firmly burying the regret to give her a brilliant smile once more, “Come
morning I think I know exactly where to take you.”

Tongue in cheek, “You gonna take me are ya?” Her fingers started brushing soft patterns over his chest, brushing a nipple every so often.

His eyes darkened, voice rough as her whispered purr reached his ears. He had a lot of time to make up for after all and a body more than capable of following through, “You bet I am.”

***

Rose twirled around in the gorgeous dress, feeling luxurious and ridiculously pampered. There was actually a whole planet dedicated just for getting married. Sort of like Las Vegas in her time only much more posh. It seemed insane to her, but at the same time she was so happy she didn’t care. She’d been given the royal treatment between the spa and the salon and now this beautiful wedding dress.

The only disappointment had been a complete absence of the Doctor but he was following her tradition to the letter. He’d introduced her to their host, Thalodius Pip, a thin man with bright red skin who’d nattered on and on about how the Doctor had saved his entire planet from some type of medical disaster and anything they wanted they could have. The Doctor had just grinned that grin of his, set up everything, and vanished. She checked over her makeup and hair for the thousandth time, examining the small flower crystals in her hair, trailing up to her veil. Beautiful. There was a knock at the door and a rush of excited butterflies filled her stomach as she took a deep breath before turning. The door opened, a stately gentleman bowing, “The assembly is ready and you’re fiancé is waiting.”

She grinned and jumped just a little on her toes. The Doctor had promised her adventures and excitement and danger. He’d delivered on each of his promises but he’d also given her love, the greatest adventure out of all of them. And Rose Tyler would follow him anywhere, “I’m ready.”