Back to Our Reality

ELEVEN

The Doctor laughed in pure delight as he pushed open the doors of his ship for the first time in three long years, and all but ran up the ramp towards the console.

As Rose followed him inside, her own face lit up with a bright smile, she noticed how the TARDIS's lights were dimmed is if the ship was saving power. However, it wasn't long before she heard the Doctor let out a gleeful laugh again as the lights brightened in the way that her mind had never forgot.

However, she didn't let herself walk any further than the top of the ramp. Jack hadn't yet followed them inside and Rose knew it was to let them celebrate this moment on their own. The fact that she hadn't moved an inch closer to the console was down to the same reasoning: she wanted to let the Doctor have this moment to himself. After all, it had been him who had lost the most that day at Canary Wharf – despite what he said. It brought tears to her eyes to see him back where he belonged.

The Doctor noticed her standing by the ramp and ran up to her before scooping her up in his arms. Letting out a surprised squeal, Rose let him spin her around before setting her down and pressing a kiss to her lips. Despite what was currently going on around him, the Doctor couldn't contain the happiness he was feeling to be back in his home with the woman he loved.

Of course, with their life the way it was, it just so happened that Jack decided on that moment to walk into the ship.

"Excuse me, but when did this happen?" He asked and both the Doctor and Rose pulled away from each other in shock. They had forgotten that he had been out there waiting for them.

"When did what happen?" The Doctor asked as if Jack hadn't witnessed that kiss.

"That," he said, gesturing towards them. He knew full well that the Doctor was trying to avoid telling him but there was no way that he was letting this go in a hurry – end of the world or not. "You two," he continued, "or do you kiss everyone in this regeneration when you've something to celebrate?"

The Doctor opened his mouth to speak, feeling incredibly embarrassed about having been caught out, but he didn't manage to say anything before Rose took it upon herself to answer for him. The Doctor couldn't help but feel a sense of relief.

"Happened about three years ago, Jack," Rose explained. "New Year's Eve, a few months after we found ourselves trapped."

"That's brilliant!" Jack cried in genuine happiness. "And about time, too," he laughed. "Even when I was travelling with you I often wondered when I might stumble upon a sight like this."

"Well, there will be no more stumbling, that's for sure," the Doctor said, still clearly embarrassed by what had happened.

"You're no fun, you know that?"

The Doctor just smiled.

The moment was ruined when Rose chose to bring everyone back into their present situation.

"As much as I want to continue this reunion, we should probably get back to finding out what the hell has happened here," she told them. "I don't know about you, but I don't have a very good feeling about all this."

"You're right, nor me," the Doctor said. He moved so he was standing in front of the scanner. "However, now that I have my TARDIS back, we should be able to find out what's happening sooner rather than later."

"How're you gonna do that?" Rose asked.

"I'm setting the TARDIS up to scan for anything extra-terrestrial. As soon as she's found something, she'll let us know immediately."

"And if she doesn't find anything?" Jack wondered aloud.

"Then we'll cross that bridge if we come to it," the Doctor replied. "Though, I highly doubt that'll be the case."