Make sure to read part 1 before this (even though you'll still be able to understand everything if you havn't)

***

We go back to the TARDIS, so we can change. "Dress nice," he said. But he also said, "You have ten minutes." Contradictory informations.

So, I decide to keep the same dress on, I just put on black high heels. I arrange my hair the best I can, touch up my make up and put a bright red lipstick on to match the dress. Eleven minutes. Close enough.

"Doctor, I'm ready!"

He stands next to the console, and he has the biggest smile I've seen in a long time. He's wearing a black tuxedo, and he's styled his hair. "Looking good, Doctor." I say, hitting him lightly on the shoulder. He smiles even wider, and, if I'm not mistaking, he's blushing. Clearing his throat, his extends his hand. "Well then, let's go."

The restaurant is great. Beautifully designed, dark grey walls and taupe tablecloths. We're sitting next to the window. "It's wonderful Doctor." But it also looks horribly expensive. 

And, after the waiter —Tony, I think— gives us the menu, my suspicion is confirmed. I gasp when I see the price of a salad. "Doctor, you're complety mad! And stop laughing!" I hit his knee with my foot but he doesn't stop. "Seriously, Doctor, this is too much."

"Nothing's too much for you, Rose." This stops my anger right away, and I feel my heart flutter. He takes my hand on the table. "Really, don't worry about anything. Just enjoy, okay?"

"Okay." His smile makes me smile too, as usual.

"So, what do you want to eat?"

"I don't know." So I close my eyes and put my finger somewhere on the menu, then I open them again. "This. Um, tour-something aux asp-something and something."

He grins. "Okay." He calls for the waiter. "Un tournedos aux asperges et pommes de terre grillées et des tagliatelles au saumon, s'il-vous-plait."

I watch in amazement as the waiter writes our order and leaves. "Tout de suite, Monsieur."

The Doctor catches me staring and tilts his head to the side. "What?"

"I didn't get a word of what you just said. You really can speak French."

That makes hims laugh again. "Well, I did say so."

"That's so freaking cool!"

He blushes a bit again, like he's not used to flattery, which I know is not true. "It's funny though, how your voice changes. And the way you say the 'r'." I don't say I find it sexy, but I don't think less. "You don't really have any accent."

"Well, I've had time to practice."

We both laugh at that. But then, a thought occurs to me, and I stop smiling. "Rose?"

"I'm one year older."

He frowns. "Well, it is how birthdays work,  I think."

"No, you don't yet it. I'm getting older."

"So?" He takes my hand, obviously getting worried, even though he can't understand why.

"I'm getting older, and you're not!" He tenses, and I think he stops breathing. Slowly, he puts his other hand over mine, so that it's now trap between his two hands. His gently rubs his thumb over my fingers. His eyes are sad now, and I hate it.

"Rose... I don't know what to say... It's not really something I can change." He gives a little laugh, but it's not a happy one.

"I know-"

Tony comes back, and the Doctor takes his hands back. "Le tournedos pour madame..." He puts the plate in front of me. It's a piece of beef, with roasted potatoes and asparagus. "... et les tagliatelles pour monsieur." The Doctor smiles tightly as Tony gives him his dish, but he never looks away from me. He's not happy anymore, and I kind of feel guilty. This was supposed to be a normal evening where we could relax, for once, but instead I turned this into something awkward. "Merci, Tony," he says. The waiter nods and leave.

"Rose-"

"Look, Doctor, let's forget it. I'm sorry I mentionned that."

"Please don't be," he says, frowning. "I get that it makes you anxious. To be honest, sometimes I think about it too."

"You do?"

He shrugs. "Sometimes."

"What kind of things do you think about?"

"Weeell..." He scraps the back of his neck, sighing. "Let's talk about it later, okay?"

"Okay."

"Let's eat."

The food's great. Really. I even taste the Doctor's dish —pastas with salmon— and it's delicious as well. We talk a bit, but after our conversation, everything seems awkward and unatural. I hate it, when the Doctor and I are like that. 

When we're finished eating, the Doctor pays and extends his hand to me. I take it, smiling shyly at him, and we leave. He takes me walking around the streets, our joined hand in his pocket. I rest my head on his shoulder, but we stay silent. 

The whole town seems to have gone quiet, actually, or at least the place we are at. We only cross a drunk guy singing and a cat.

When I start getting cold, he gives me his coat and we get back to the TARDIS.

We stop before the stairs. "Thank you," I say. "This day was amazing."

"Don't thank me," he answers. "I'm sorry, the dinner was... " He doesn't finish, but I understand.

"Yeah, don't worry. It's my fault." I continue before he can deny it. "I'm scared, Doctor."

Even before I finish, he has pulled me in a tight hug. "Of what, Rose?"

I bury my head in the crook of his neck. "That when I get old, you'll leave and never come back. Like with Sarah Jane Smith." My voice cracks on the end, and I hate it.

He hugs me even tighter. "I won't. Not with you."

"Why?"

When he doesn't answer, I ask again. "Why, Doctor?"

Slowly, he pulls back from the hug and frames his big hands around my face. I feel my heartbeat quicken as he slowly strokes my cheeks. "Because I can't... I can't loose you."

I expect him to kiss me at this point —I hope so very much, at least— but he keeps on stroking my cheeks with his thumbs and his eyes are sad.

"Oh, Rose, what am I going to do with you?" he whispers and leans in.

I close my eyes, and wait. Wait. 

Eventually, I open my eyes again. He's millimeters away from me. So close that if I tilted my head a bit, our lips would touch. But I don't, because he looks like he's in pain. "Doctor?" I murmur.

I watch, stunned, as a lonely tear falls on his cheek, but he quickly wipes it away. "I'm sorry, I can't." He draws back, and suddently, I'm very cold.

"Doctor?" I ask again, not quite understanding what just happened.

"I'm very sorry, Rose, but I can't."

He kissed me on the temple and leaves. I turn to watch him run up the stairs, and then he's gone. Only after he's left, I notice a box left on the console. My name is written on it, and it's wrapped in a pretty pink paper.

I open it slowly, small tears spilling out my eyes, and they grow bigger when I see what is inside.

He's given me a necklace. A beautiful necklace with a rose pendant. In the middle of the rose, wrapped in the petals, is a shiny diamond.

The memo reads, Happy Birthday, Rose Tyler

***

There, sorry about this bittersweet ending. I sure hope you still liked it, though.

So, what'd you think?