Rose Tyler's New Life

Chapter 23

The taxi arrived, Alec having unsuccessfully been able to keep Rose from kissing him until the cab driver beeped the horn. When they arrived at the restaurant, Rose was surprised it was the one where he had taken her on their first date.

"Old Romantic," she whispered in his ear as he was holding out her chair for her.

They even ordered the same food as they had done that first time. Alec reminded her that it was exactly three months since that first date. Rose said she couldn't believe it was that long and it seemed like no time had passed at all. Not that long ago, time had passed for her in an entirely different way. Now spending it with Alec seemed endless. She stared across the table at him all the while, talking non stop about everything that came into her mind, about choosing a house, what neighbourhoods they were going to look in, how far it was to get to work for Alec, decorating only if needed, did they have enough furniture, they'd have to get new carpets and was sending Alec's head dizzy just listening to her.

"Rose, sweetheart, please slow down, my head's spinning listening to you. I'm going to order another drink then I need to talk to you."

Rose stopped and smiled at him. "Hope it's going to be about the other birthday present I have for you?" she teased. "Speaking of which, I have one for you to open now." She went into her purse and brought out a small square box covered in silver paper tied with a pale blue bow. The tag read "To Alec, with all my love."

Alec undid the wrapping and opened the box. It was a small pocket watch with an unusual symmetrical design on the front. Rose had seen it when she was looking what to buy him. She has passed the antique shop a few days before and stopped to look in the window and seen it. It was old and very expensive but Alec was worth every penny it had cost. She had thought the design reminded her of the symbols on the console of the Tardis and could have almost passed for Galifreyan. She had never been able to read any of the stuff on the monitor.

"Turn it over Alec," she said.

He turned it over to see 'I love you' engraved on the back.

He took it out of the box and tried to open it but it seemed stuck. He looked at Rose and said "Sweetheart, it's, well the most unusual gift I've ever received and I really don't know what to say. Where did you find something like this? I really love the design on it but sweetheart, it doesn't seem to open."

Rose looked dismayed. She had opened in the shop and it was fine or she wouldn't have bought it. She held out her hand for Alec to pass it to her. It opened and it had the same design on the watch itself although the wrong time as it needed winding.

"You're just all fingers and thumbs, Inspector," she laughed and handed it back to him. "It needs winding up, it doesn't run on batteries."

Alec looked at it, fascinated by the design and seemed slightly taken aback. He'd seen that design before. "Rose, sweetheart, I've seen this design before you know."

"Yes, I thought you might, that's why I bought it for you. It's not what you think it is though, how could it be? I've seen similar but nothing like that before."

Alec fingered the watch, closed it and put it into his top jacket pocket, the chain just hanging out. "Rose, it's the best present I've ever had because it's from you and it's perfect." He reached out for her hand over the table top.

The waiter came along and cleared their dishes away and asked if they wanted to order anything else. Rose said she wanted some ice-cream so they ordered for two. While they were waiting, Alec took her hand again.

"Rose, there was one other thing I wanted to talk to you about but maybe not here, maybe when we get home when you give me my other present?"

"You can talk about anything Alec, you know that. We could move over to a quiet table and talk – after our ice-cream," as the waiter arrived with it.