Chapter Text
“Why are there so many chairs?” Rose mused, the Doctor playing with her hair as he read a book. This was a rare occurrence, for him to be still and not running everywhere, up and down the stairs and around the console. It did make for a good game of tag, she had to confess. “How many people do you have in at once?” She asked again, of course she didn’t get much out of him. It was all so different now, it was high tech space rather than battered and beaten up. She did miss the old TARDIS sometimes, the simplicity of it all, the rackety sound it would make every time you bumped in to something. She never did tell him how many handles and pieces of the TARDIS she had broken back then, she simply always hoped that he wouldn’t notice. Blame it on wear and tear. But this – this was different. Everything was shiny and new, unlike the Doctor she had to confess.
Her description of this regeneration wouldn’t be shiny and new, but a bit more worn down, but he did look good with his waistcoat. Dapper, but slightly rugged. Definitely now what the TARDIS was now. It was very ‘showing off’. Everything may look different, both the Timelord and his ship, but that familiar humming of the TARDIS was still in her mind, making her feel like home. No matter how much their home changed, and how much the Doctor changed with it, it would always be home.
“It’s very Spock….you were trying to show off weren’t you? Make it all high tech and glamourous. Over compensating some would say.” She smirked as he gave her the look of disbelief.
“What on Gallifrey am I over-compensating for?” He asked with a raised eyebrow, suddenly closing his book shut, his arms crossed defensively. Of course she had pulled him in and gotten his full attention.
“I don’t know….old age. Regeneration is a lottery, you've said before.” She teased, brushing a piece of hair that was lolling at the front of his face. “It’s very in your face, and more buttons, why do you need MORE buttons? You didn’t even know what the old buttons did – and don’t lie and say that’s not true! I have lost count of how many times you press random buttons when you're bored. One was just to turn off all the hot water! Why do you need that here?" She insisted, placing a finger to his lips as he started to protest, once she started rambling she wouldn't stop. Something she and the Timelord had in common.
“Do you not like it? Look – it has books! And three levels, Rose, THREE!” He insisted and stood up to point out what he was saying, swirling on the spot and pointing as though she was missing the obvious.
“Yes – I can see that….definitely need three levels, not pointless at all. Other than when you're on the verge of a 'discovery' and running up and down like a lunatic.” She said sarcastically, primarily enjoying winding him up as he got in to defensive mode. Never criticise his ship, no matter what age the man, his car was still his most prized possession. Or her, depending on what mood he was in. He did the infamous Doctor pout, that stayed no matter what regeneration, and she couldn’t help but burst out laughing. “I love it, you idiot. These chairs are much more comfortable. No springs sticking into your bum every time you sit down! And falling on the old grating, that was very painful. My knees were constantly covered in bruises! I swear I had it imprinted on to my skin most of the time. This is much more comfortable.” She smirked as she walked around the main console, her hand lightly tracing it as she spoke, hearing the familiar hum of the TARDIS in response. “And not just for falling down when you’re being a bad driver…”
“I am not a bad driver I think you’ll find I – oh…” He paused as he understood where she was going with that and couldn’t help but smirk smugly. “I see…definitely not a bad driver in that department either.”
She chuckled and placed a finger on to his lips . “No comment on that, you’ll have to prove it. Anyway – I don’t dislike the TARDIS, she’s still the old TARDIS I remember, she’s still there in my head. She still makes the same sounds, and sparks at you when you're pushing her. Although I have no idea how I would get the time vortex out of this shiny newly sealed TARDIS. Some how I think you did that on purpose, make sure there’s no more ‘Rose Tyler trying to save the world dangerously’ moments.” She smiled and kissed his softly, playing with the buttons no his waistcoat.
"That wasn't my main goal, but there's an idea. The TARDIS did that on her own. Very good idea. You're not doing that ever again." He warned, his eyes dark for a moment before being brought back to reality. No point dwelling on the past. It was a long long time ago.
“I love it, I love her." Rose insisted gently, looking in to his eyes. "She’s my home. She always will be. Kinda like her driver really, no matter what the face, no matter how shiny or worn down the exterior is, I’ve still got a soft spot in my heart for them.”
"Yeah?"
"Yep!"