Chapter Text
Rose picked up another shirt, folded it and placed it on the counter. It was the same routine, the same folding, the same opening and closing of the shop that she had done so many times in just the last few months. How many times she has folded that shirt over the past hour? She couldn't remember. Usually Wednesdays at this shop were pretty slow - most of the customers entered after school hours, and Rose had a few more hours of her shift to go.
The shop. Even after saving the whole of reality and defeating the evil, Rose still had to work in a shop. The Doctor wanted her to lead a normal life again - but what was normal to her? The Doctor had given her a completely copy of himself. He said that it had the same memories and adventures, but only human. One life. With her.
Rose sighed. That wasn’t the life with the Doctor she wanted.
But the Doctor gave them one last present: a piece of the TARDIS, a spaceship to call their own. But it had only been a year since that meeting, and that piece took 10 years to properly grow. Rose was stuck on Earth, again, and she had nothing else to do but work in a shop. To think that her adventures began, and now have ended, by being in a shop. She stared out the front windows of her work, watching as a few people walked by, some with small children, others on their phones, all living their day-to-day lives, unaware of what was going on around them in the Universe.
Her phone suddenly vibrated in her pocket. She pulled it out and saw 1 New Message blinking at her. John was trying to get her to talk to him again. Rose put her phone back in her pocket, sighing. The fight they had the night before had ended with John leaving for the warehouse, and with Rose crying uncontrollably at night. Like her Doctor, John was slightly telepathic - whenever he sensed Rose's misery for her Doctor, he would get upset. And for good reason, as he had declared his love for her for all of time. Rose couldn't help it though...once you have traveled with a time-traveling alien for so long, you tend to miss what you used to have...or at least, what you thought you had.
Being in her own thoughts, Rose almost missed the chime-bell from the front of the store, signaling a customer arriving. In walked a man with swoop-y hair and a…bow tie? Rose stifled a laugh. He looked around aimlessly, not saying a word. He just…stood there, taking everything in - which was surprising, as there were only clothes, nothing fancy to admire. He was straightened his bow-tie, swallowing while he did so. He hadn't even turned towards her at the side of the store.
Rose cleared her throat. The man looked at her.
“Can I help ya?” she asked.
The man’s eyes widened as she said this. He gaped at her, like she had just appeared in front of him.
Rose’s foot starting tapping impatiently. “Hey? You alright?” she asked.
The man seemed frozen. But several seconds later, he ruffled his hair and walked towards the counter where she stood. Something about the way he ruffled his hair looked…familiar to her. He stopped when he reached the counter and just stared at her.
“Yes?” She said, having to stop herself from rolling her eyes.
“…Erm, yes.” The man said, looking uncomfortable. “Where are your…bow…ties?” he looked as though he couldn’t turn away from her.
Rose pointed to the corner of the shop. “Over there,” she smiled. “On the wall. I think we're having a sale?”
The man swallowed and nodded. He walked over toward the direction she pointed. As Rose lowered her arm, she started to think of the uncanny way that man looked at her. What was his problem? she thought.
She shook her head. The sooner he bought something, the sooner he could leave.
The man returned some minutes later. He had chosen a blue tie. Dark blue. He placed it on the counter.
Rose didn’t turn away from him as she scanned the tie and rang the register. “15 quid.”
The man nodded and silently reached into his pocket. Oh my god, Rose thought. He’s wearing tweed. What was he thinking?
The man took his hand out and gave her a black wallet. Rose frowned.
“I think this should do." he said, trying to smile.
Rose’s eyes widened. She recognized this wallet…
“Um...could I have it back...er...please?”
Rose blinked. “Yeah. Here ya go.” she gave it back to him. He placed it back into his jacket.
“Thanks.” he said as he picked up his newly-bought bow tie. “and have a wonderful life.” he stared back towards the door.
Rose nodded. “Yeah…you too?” Where have I heard that before?
And the man was gone.
---
Rose turned to the key to the front door, pulling it slightly to make sure it was locked. She walked towards the flat, and shivered a bit against the England chill. She had walked a few minutes when she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. She pulled it out to read 2 New Messages. She clicked the button and one message opened. It was from John.
Out of milk. Could you please get some?
She just looked at the message, then typed out her reply.
We need to talk, John.
She hit send, hit her internet button on her phone, and looked up to see if she could buy milk anywhere near her. Luckily, a small store was just ahead, so she walked quickly towards its entrance. As she entered the warm store, she walked to the milk section. She then looked down at the second message on her phone.
Rose, your mum and I are going to dinner tonight. Could you tape our show tonight? Dad.
Rose grabbed one of the milks closest to her, not paying attention as she turned around...right into a large figure.
Stumbling to hold on to the milk and her phone, Rose quickly apologized.
"Sorry mate! Didn't see you..." She looked up to see...the man from before?
"You?"
The man blinked and raised his hands in defense.
"Sorry! I didn't mean to...I mean..."
"Wait! Your wallet!" Rose replied. The man's face went pale. "I know that wallet, I've seen it before!"
"No, you must be mistaken. My wallet it's...common." He replied, walking slowly backwards. "I must go...erm, bye." He turned and ran back outside.
You've got to be joshing me! Him again?! Rose thought as she walked to the register. She paid for the milk, and walked back into the cold air.
---
Rose opened her flat door and walked in. She quietly closed the door behind her as she walked toward the kitchen. It was uncomfortably quiet.
“John?”
No answer.
Rose shook her head and put her bag on the couch. She walked into the kitchen and grabbed a peach, biting into it as she opened the fridge, reaching in for a can of soda before walking to the living room and settling herself in front of the television. She was about to turn it on when she heard a knock at the door.
Rose sighed loudly as she once again got up and walked over to the door.
She looked into the peephole. “Whatever you're selling, we don't-” She stopped.
It was that man from the shop. He was standing outside her flat.
She opened the door quickly.
“Why did you follow me?” She asked loudly.
The man looked at her. “You live here?”
Rose blinked. This had happened before…but a long time ago...but this was...impossible.
Rose stood there, watching him. “Who are you?”
The man didn’t reply. “I’m…a friend.”
Rose shook her head. “No. No way.” she grabbed the front of his jacket, forcing him into the flat. “Get in.”
The man tried to get away but gave up. He straightened his jacket as Rose closed the door. She faced him.
“I know you.” she said finally.
The man squirmed. “No you don’t.”
Rose placed her hands on her hips. “But how?”
The man looked at her. “You don’t know who I am. How can you? We’ve just met! Well, we've meet twice...now three times, but still! Total strangers, you and I!”
Rose walked past him and into the living room. “But how?” She asked again.
The man followed her. “I just…er…followed a sign. It led me here. I didn’t follow you-“
Rose turned to face him. “Please. You gave me that excuse last time.”
The man stopped. “…Last…time?”
Rose shook her head. “You.”
"Me?"
"Yes. YOU."
“Um...I don't-”
“Come on! The walls were supposed to be closed this time!”
The man breathed in. “I know.”
Rose sat down and put her head in her hands. “This can’t be happening. This can’t…”
The man walked slowly over to her. “What can’t happen?” he slowly moved towards a place next to her. When she didn’t reply, he sat down next to her and looked at her.
“I just got myself engaged and everything…”
“Oh! That’s nice!”
“…but now that you’re here, everything is gonna change. And just WAIT until he gets home.”
The man froze. “He?”
Rose sat up and looked into his eyes. They were brown, just like the last one.
“Doctor, what's happening? How are you here?”