I will be with you forever-a TenRose fanfic

Part 12: The Beach

"Let's take a walk!" The Doctor shouts excitedly when I walk into the control room.

"Okay, I just didn't know you were so enthusiastic about walks, Mr. Time Lord." I tease.

"No but Rose, it will be so fun! You and I, walking through the park, or downtown, or wherever, hand in hand, an official couple. It'll be great!" he enthuses.

"Alright, Vanessa's at mum's so where do you want to go?"

"Anywhere with you," the Doctor says as he wraps his arms around me from behind. "Nah just kidding, let's go for a walk in the park!"

"Mean!" I laugh as I push him away. He pretends to stumble back.

We walk out of the door, it locking behind us. We set off towards the park, our footsteps in perfect unison, hand in hand, just like he said.

"So, Rose, your birthday's coming up. What do you want?" the Doctor asks, squeezing my hand in his.

"Hmm, I don't know, Doctor. I don't need anything as long as I've got you." He opens his mouth to say something but I cut him off. "Just kidding! I want jewellery, a car, a mansion, a pony..."

The Doctor laughs and shoves me gently. "Well I suppose I deserved that."

"Yes, you definitely did." I giggle as he puts his arm around my waist and pulls me closer to him. I put my arm around him as we reach the park. "The park is so beautiful year round," I exclaim.

"Almost as beautiful as you," he says. I wait for the "just kidding" but none comes.

My face flushes red and I look down at our feet. "Oh," I mumble. "Thanks," still unable to look back up at him.

"You're blushing!" the Doctor exclaims, loud enough for other people around us to hear. "I made you blush!"

"I am not!" I say, my face deepening in colour. I struggle to return my face to a normal colour as he puts one finger under my chin and tilts my face up to the sunlight.

"Oh, you SO are!" he exclaims. "I made you blush! You're adorable when you're blushing, Rose."

This makes me blush harder until both our faces are red from laughing. We eventually have to stop and sit down on one of the benches. Our laughter dissolves. We get up and continue walking around the park.

"I did mean it though. What I said," he states.

Suddenly the salty scent of the sea fills my lungs and I can't breathe. I stop walking as images flash through my mind, that fateful day, the beach, living without-

"Rose? Are you okay? Rose!" I hear the Doctor say as I slump onto the gravel pathway around the park. The sharp stones feel like knives digging into my knees but the pain is fogged with the memories. A lone tear drips down my cheek and I cover my face with my hands.

The Doctor is rubbing my back soothingly until I calm down a little. I remove my hands from my face, streaked with the ironically salty tears and look at his concerned face.

"Rose? What happened? What did I say?" he says, panicked.

"N-nothing, d-doctor. I'm f-fine," I say, trying to regain control. He wraps his arm around me and guides us to a bench.

"No, Rose. What happened? There's something wrong. You can tell me."

"T-the sea. The smell reminded m-me of that d-day on the b-beach. D-doctor, I c-can't lose you again," I sob.

He pulls me into a long hug until the tears slow to a stop. He pulls away and puts his hands on my shoulders.

"Rose," he says, staring deep into my eyes, "I swear on my life that will never happen ever again. I promise. I won't lose you ever again."

He pulls me into another hug and whispers into my hair, "Tomorrow, we'll make some better memories at the beach for you. I'll be holding your hand the whole time. We'll bring Vanessa, too, yeah? But for now, we should just go home, make you a cup of tea, and watch a movie. Does that sound nice?"

"Yes. Thank you Doctor. I'm sorry but I just can't lose you again."

"Rose, you won't have to. I'll stay with you and hold your hand."

"For how long?"

"Remember what you said when I asked that?"

"Forever?"

"Exactly."