The Joy of Christmas

1

"Doctor, get up! We're goin into town."

The Doctor slowly came to, dimly aware of a hand lightly shaking his shoulder. Suddenly he sat bolt upright.
"I can dig Elvis..." He murmured.

"What?" Rose asked, confused and slightly amused.

"Oh, I just..." The Doctor shrugged. He could talk his way out of death and use words to escape some of the deadliest species in the universe, but he couldn't come up with an excuse with Rose.

"So, yeah. There's a small Christmas parade not too far away...Wanna come?" Rose looked excited.

But the Doctor didn't want to go (A/N: sorry, I had to.) "I don't know, Rose..."

She looked crestfallen. "Okay-"

The Doctor quickly cut in. "-Oi, let me finish! I don't know, Rose, I was going to suggest something's bit different. Fancy a spin in the TARDIS?"
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Rose sat with her legs hanging out of the TARDIS doors, right next to the Doctor. Her mum had opted to view the parade from the ground, while Rose and the Doctor got a wonderful bird's eye view.

While the Doctor was tired of Christmas already, Rose seemed to just be getting started. "C'mon, Doctor! Lighten up! Otherwise, it'll be too late and I guarantee you you'll be disappointed that you missed it all."

These words seemed to snap the Doctor back to reality. Maybe he'd give it another shot. Rose stood and ventured into the TARDIS. The Doctor made to follow her, but the TARDIS shook and knocked him back down, still dangerously close to the edge.

"Thanks for that. You know, what's a four hundred foot drop on Christmas Eve?" The TARDIS hummed in apology, but he didn't try to follow Rose again. He leaned against the door frame and watched the parade below him. It was nice, he supposed, in an everyday sort of way. He was lost in watching it when suddenly something came down over his head and covered his eyes. He jumped, then heard Rose laughing. He pulled the Santa hat up so he could see, then turned and tackled her in a bed hug. They both dissolved into a fit of laughter on the TARDIS floor. They stayed like that for a while, just hanging out together. The parade ended, and then they watched the sun set together. Then it was dark, and they lay on their backs by the TARDIS doors together, sipping hot chocolate and gazing at the stars. Even though they'd visited many of them, Rose and the Doctor still found stargazing wonderful. Soon enough, it was almost midnight. The Doctor piloted the TARDIS back to the ground and put their mugs back in the kitchen. As the pair joined hands and turned to leave, a mistletoe appeared above their heads. They both glanced up at it and laughed comfortably at the TARDIS's festive approach at getting them together. What they didn't know was that the other was thinking about seriously taking the opportunity. Rose grabbed the front of the Doctor's jacket at the same time the Doctor cupped her chin and pulled her into a kiss. It wasn't rough, and it didn't leave them gasping for air. It was sweet, and gentle, and only lasted a few short seconds. But it was what they both needed. It erased their doubts and crossed the boundary from friendship to something more. When they pulled apart, they stared at each other for a second, not fully believing what had just happened and tring to gauge the other's reaction. Then they laughed again and left the TARDIS, though the Doctor thanked her mentally.

That night, they lay on the couch together watching A Christmas Carol. Rose fell asleep leaning on the Doctor's chest about halfway through. He glanced at the clock. Midnight. He grabbed the remote and turned off the TV. He glanced down at Rose, curled against him and sleeping peacefully. Yes, peace was good sometimes. The Doctor decided that maybe Christmas wasn't so bad after all.

"Merry Christmas, Rose Tyler."