[There's a little bit of delight in his pulse quickening underneath her fingertips and it sends a sharp spike of desire running through her that she has to bite her bottom lip against. It takes every bit of self control she has to keep from dipping her head and kissing that spot where his pulse skips along. Sorry, Doctor. She is still touching him during this.

And this his words divert every thought coherent or otherwise in her head. They take her breath away, bring tears to her eyes and for a moment she feels like she'll come to pieces with all the love and all the happiness inside of her.He's never said forever before, only asked how long she was going to stay with him. She nods, still biting her bottom lip.]

Forever. [The word breaks a little with all of the emotion inside of her right now. She takes a sharp breath and dips her head, kissing him full and hard on his mouth.]

[As if she weren't already breathless before, she's practically gasping for breath when he pulls away and she's more on top of him than she was before. It takes her several moments to collect her thoughts to the point that she can make real words.]

Sorry. I jus'--[Words are good because mostly there's still just that jubilation he felt early combined with an undercurrent of desire that's more muted that it was a moment ago because happiness overtakes everything else for Rose. ] You've never said it before. Always just asked how long I was gonna stay. [And then panic as she takes a shallow breath, thoughts and feelings and words tumbling over each other.] It's good. It jus' surprised me. In a good way.

[He's not going to get to catch his breath if she doesn't stop feeling so damn happy. And Jubliant. And excited. And now desirous -- DAMN. He swallows hard and listens to what she's saying as he works on his breathing.] I did. Ask. Always said forever. Started to just accept it. 'Sides. Lost you after that. Why'd I wanna do that again. [Still fairly heavily, but at least he's getting things out intelligibly.]

[Well now there's just absolute contentment and satisfaction and pride that finally, she's getting through to him. Working on the Doctor is Rose's main goal. She's been at it a long time trying to give him some measure of security. She rests her arm on his chest and her chin on her arm.]

Finally. Bit thick but you managed to get it. [It's said in a teasing tone.] Never want to do that again.

Hmm? Never wanna do w... What, again? [He's talking before he's thinking now. Just give him a little bit. Almost back to normal on the breathing, he takes a chance looking over at her resting on his chest. She looks absolutely beaming - proud of herself and happy with him and all. He smiles at her.]

Good teacher.

Get lost again. You or me. [She doesn't mind. In fact, she thinks it's fairly adorable. It's a new side of the Doctor that she hasn't often seen. She likes this side of him. Of course that could be just because she feels very responsible for this side of him but then if she's very honest, she feels responsible for everything the Doctor does. She gives him a mischievous look, the tip of her tongue coming between her teeth as she grins at him.]

Got a good point there. You were bound to come along eventually.

[Well, this is directly her fault so she is entirely welcome to feel responsible. And she's adorable when she gives him looks like that.]

Should take that as a double compliment. Don't usually... Follow just anyone someplace.

[Her expression softens at that. It's almost like she knows about her jealousy of the other companions. Well, he probably does. He's dealt with this a few times before. She nods at him, still smiling a bit but it's more of that whole 'I love my life' smile.]

At least double compliment and I hope not. If you do, I'm comin' along too.

You'd better. All the work it took to get... back together in the first place. Y'd'have to be mad to not come along.

[That makes her smile a good deal. More a smile of gratitude and appreciation than anything. It's also satisfaction because he knows how hard she worked to get to him and the knowledge that he's proud of her. She's one tiny human in a Universe so much bigger than her. Making the Doctor proud is an accomplishment.]

Come to think of it, might just handcuff myself to you. 'Case you get lost on your own.

[Because they aren't already bad enough about letting each other out of their sight.]

[His eyebrows go up. Handcuffs. That's an interesting t- hey wait.] I don't get 'lost' on my own! You're the one who always wanders off.

[And on a far, far, more mumbley note.] If we were handcuffed I'd have to go to work with you in Cinna's store...

[Well lucky for him, her brain hasn't really gone there yet.] And sometimes you lose me on purpose. [One of her eyebrows go up.] That whole Bad Wolf thing. Your fault. [She's teasing him. She does understand why he did it but still, not allowed. She grins and nods at him.]

Yes. Could be fun. [For them. Frustrating for Cinna.]

[Oh, he is so opening his mouth to protest that, because... Oh, shit. No, damn, she's right.] I-.. Well, that turned out alright didn't it? Dalek's burning up, you get a cool new nickname, I get this new body... Doesn't seem that bad.

[He gives her a look that indicates something along the line of 'Rose Tyler, your definition of "fun" needs to be fixed.']

[Oh that is satisfaction, getting one over on him. She grins and nods a little, sliding one hand back to the hollow of his throat, fingertips just resting there against his skin for a moment before she lightly starts drumming them.] Mmmmm [Regarding with contemplation before she finally grins at him.] And some really grrrreat hair. [She's going to illustrate just how great by sliding her fingers up into his hair.]

Alright. Maybe no but the lab would be fun.

[Yeah that's really distracting. Both of those things, and she's practically glowing with positivity and such now, which also doesn't help.]

Well. Labs are always fun.

[Eventually you're just going to have to break down and tell her about this thing, Doctor. It'll make things both easier and harder on you. At least she'll be aware of what she's doing and be able to make the choice of whether that's a good idea or not.]

Just a bit sticky with someone handcuffed to you.

[Eventually. He doesn't really know what to do about it. He could tell her, but. Even he doesn't really know why he's not done it yet.]

Only if they don't listen, and I happen to know you're normally a very good listener.

[Likely it's not something he's had to discuss with anyone in a long while. That makes it more difficult.

Now, the part about her being a good listener is laughable. She never stays where he tells her to, never does exactly what he says and that's part of what makes her a good companion.]

That's why you picked me, wasn't it. You said run and I ran.

[She lays her head on his chest and starts fiddling with the second button on his shirt.]

Little bit like the TARDIS breathing. Good background noise. Two hearts. [When he'd first regenerated that Christmas at Jackie's and she'd checked his hearts with the stethescope, it had been such a relief that they were both working and sounding so very normal. She's not sure when this became normal but she can't deny that it is now.]

[ooc: Eventually she's just going to fall asleep on him but I figure she's a pretty heavy sleeper and he can sidle out from underneath her once she's asleep.]

[He meant good listener in all the other ways you can be a good listener. Half of being one at all is knowing when to do it. But yes, a decent amount of the time she is terrible, which is brilliant.]

Yup. And I say 'stay' and you run. You might actually be better at running than listening, come to think of it...

[He's got a vest on underneath because layers, so the second button isn't quite as dangerous.] Doesn't work quite as well for me. Bit used to it. I don't understand how you lot cope with just the one.

[ooc: That both works and makes sense to meeee.]

[At some point, the layers might end up frustrating but right now it's just something she associates with him. Once the second button is undone she slides her hand up so that her fingers rest against his skin then stills. She stifles a yawn because she doesn't want to go to sleep. She knows he won't and she'll feel like she's missing something like shaving.]

Found me out. It's my real talent.

[Her eyes are closing despite her struggle against it. She finally gives in and writes it off as relaxing. She won't fall asleep with him this close. She'll just relax. He can probably tell by the way her breathing evens out and her heart beat slows down that she's falling asleep.]

Maybe we don't. We just don't know any better.

[She's got that second button and the tie is over there on the floor and the vest should be helping, but she decides to slide up back to the collarbone. He feels that she's sleepy - he's wide awake, and will be for a few hours yet - but trying not to be. The hand playing with her hair moves to rub along her upper back and arm where he can reach without moving. The other hand comes up to sort of gently pull her button hand down so rest on his chest or stomach. Somewhere away from open skin.]

You have several talents, Rose Tyler.

Tell you what, next time I have a TARDIS, we're going to see the first bicardiovascular human and see how he handles it.

[As tired as she is, she doesn't argue with him moving her hand down nor does she think much of it. She's practically purring as he rubs her back and her arm, snuggling into him as deeply as she can. When she speaks, her voice has that sleepy quality to it.]

Mmmmm so still staying after we leave and you change. I like this forever stuff.

[It's a good thing she has the sleepy excuse, because he doesn't understand what she just said. 'Staying after we leave'? After he changes? Into what? What's changing? He just sort of gives her a quizzical look that she can't see because she's laying on his chest now, all snuggled against him like she is. He's glad the clothing removal from earlier didn't get very far or he would be in trouble.

She's clearly falling asleep on him and while he's - again - not really tired he doesn't mind lying here for a bit until she actually does fall asleep. He mumbles some sort of positive remark in reply and continues the rubbing, okay for now to just appreciate the feelings and the happy little cocoon of a hammock they've got going.]