On the run

Chapter 25

"That was amazing Alec," Rose told him as he lay on his back, having untangled himself from her.

"You seemed to have relaxed somewhat from this morning," he replied.

"I didn't think I'd be able to but you made it easy. I feel really good now."

"Then I am glad I made you feel that way. Come and lie on me, I want to tell you something."

Rose rolled over and put her arms under him.

"That was your first time, was it not?" he whispered.

"How did you know? Me and Mickey, well we just fooled around, it was nothing serious."

"I had gathered that. You were waiting, for the right man?"

"I guess I was. Alec, I know why I was so hesitant."

"Let me guess? You regretted not having anything with this Doctor of yours?"

"Yeah, I suppose I did. When I got here, I couldn't bring myself to go out with Mickey again, I mean he'd have taken me back but I left him, to go with the Doctor. Now I'm glad I waited."

"You are very special Rose, do you know that? As for not being able to show the Doctor you loved him, he must have known?"

"I expect he did but even if Pete's team gets that cannon working, it could be years before we find my world again and he'll have changed and maybe found someone else. I promised I'd stay with him forever and I broke that promise Alec."

"Well, now you have another chance, with me, if you want it? You don't have to promise forever, just as long as you've got. Tell me something though, did he tell you he could not stay forever with you?"

"Yeah, how did you know? I know what he meant now, he said he'd keep on changing and maybe he thought if he changed again, I would leave him."

"Maybe he got lucky, when he changed the last time?" Alec asked, hoping he was giving her some vital clues. "What if though, he could have promised he would never change again?"

"That's not possible Alec, if he didn't change when something happens to him, it's all over."

"You told me he changed only if he's dying and you said you made him change once but what if that were to be the last time?"

"What are you getting at Alec? What did Pete tell you? Come to think of it, why did he never tell me he knew you, when you were on the news last year? Why was he hiding you from me and don't say it was to protect me, I could have coped with who you look like, I'm coping now."

"Yes, you are love," he told her, kissing her forehead. "Rose, you know how I feel about you, can you trust me?"

"Yeah, I trust you Alec."

"Then do you love me?"

"Alec, I care about you, very much but I don't know right now, I'm still a little scared of telling a man that I love him. I told the Doctor and he faded away right in front of me."

"I know that Rose and I know it is difficult for you to say it again but I am going nowhere, I am not going to fade from view if you tell me. I will say it first then, so you know you can trust me. Rose Tyler – I love you."

Rose tried to look at him in the light coming from outside. Why had he said it like that, shouldn't he have said 'I love you Rose' or 'I love you Rose Tyler?' What exactly had Pete told him of the time in Norway and wasn't it a coincidence Alec had been in Norway at the same time? She tried to move her head.