[He takes a while himself to reply back to that, just sort of looking off into the distance while staring down at the ground, then coming back to the moment and very carefully back up to not-her-face. Look anywhere but her face. Mostly down.]

It... Seemed like it would make you happy, Rose. Getting the best of the pair. Something you could 'fix' and someone to run about with in whatever version of Torchwood you lot have got bustling about over there.

[Another, shorter pause. Then more quiet speaking. Intimate, even.] Next time I'll just ask you, Rose.