Chapter Text
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
The thing about traveling in the TARDIS was, well, you didn't always get to where you wanted to go.
Rose had learned this rather quickly while riding with the Doctor—sometimes, the best thing she could do was simply go with the flow, run when he told her to, and hope everything worked out in the end. It usually did.
So when, instead of landing in 1950s New York as planned, they wound up in London during the Queen's coronation, Rose just brushed it off and jumped into action alongside the Doctor when they caught wind of the strange incidents occurring nearby. She did have her face sucked into a telly, which was fairly unpleasant, but overall it was a relatively normal outing as far as the Doctor was concerned.
After such excitement, it wasn't uncommon for the pair to get so swept up in the thrill of it all that they'd forget their original destination and carry on aimlessly. On this occasion, however, that was not the case. Rose was very keen on seeing the King of Rock 'n' Roll with her own two eyes—after all, who wouldn't be if given the chance?
"So..." she clucked her tongue, leaning against the railing of the TARDIS console nonchalantly as the Doctor navigated beside her. "We still seeing Elvis, then?"
"Right!" He exclaimed, waving a hand in the air excitedly. "That is what we were doing, wasn't it?"
"If we hadn't landed in London," Rose teased, flashing that tongue-in-teeth smile of hers that made his hearts melt.
"Well, I'll do you one better," he smirked. Donning a Southern accent, he cried, "Graceland, here we come!"
The Doctor threw a lever down and the TARDIS shook around them as they were launched through the vortex, the wheezing and groaning of the vessel drowned out by Rose's laughter. They landed with a thud and immediately looked at one another, excited smiles breaking out on their faces.
"Shall we?" asked the Doctor, extending an arm out to her.
"Oh, absolutely," Rose beamed, taking his arm and looping it with her own.
Together, they exited the TARDIS.
The pair stepped out into a hot summer day, the sun glaring down upon them as the raucous hum of midday traffic buzzed around them. Folks bustled to and fro down the sidewalks, and rickety old automobiles, offset by the occasional shiny Cadillac, rumbled past on the road.
"Memphis, Tennessee, 1960! Think I got that year right." They took off down the sidewalk, taking in the sights as they headed in no direction in particular. "Elvis has just come back from serving in Germany, and everyone's on the edge of their seats to see what he'll do next."
Rose nodded in reply, listening along to his ramblings about the legendary singer as they approached a restaurant with big flashing lights at the corner of the street. Arcade Restaurant, it read, beckoning them inside with its neon glow.
"Here we are then," the Doctor said, opening the swinging glass door and motioning for her to enter. "The Arcade! Finest sandwiches in town." He added with a wink.
"Could do with a bite," Rose replied as they took a seat at the nearest empty booth. "Been a long day, hasn't it?"
"Sure has."
The place was relatively slow, considering it was peak lunch hour, but they were far from the only customers dining within. It was precisely the kind of restaurant Rose had envisioned when she thought of an American 50s diner—there were a scattering of tables and booths with cream and teal-blue upholstery, a long bar up at the front with a row of cushioned red stools that would surely spin if so desired, and an eclectic display of framed prints and Coca-Cola products as far as the eye could see. There was even a cute little jukebox at the far end of the aisle, and she would be lying if she said she wasn't tempted to run over and click a few buttons just for the fun of it.
It was nice to be somewhere relatively peaceful for once—though she might jinx their circumstances by thinking that—yet Rose couldn't help but subconsciously have her ears perked for any sign of trouble. They'd been lucky thus far, but her guard was perpetually up.
Rose opened her menu, eyes scanning the array of burgers, milkshakes, and other American delicacies. Before she could make a decision, a finger tapped the top of the menu, pulling it down to reveal the Doctor, who met her eyes as she looked up.
"Bup, bup, bup!" he uttered, causing her to close the menu and look at him quizically. "You won't be needing that."
"Wha—"
"Hi there, what can I get y'all?" A young brunette in a cerulean uniform approached their table with a polite smile on her face and a notepad in hand.
"We'll take two peanut butter banana sandwiches," the Doctor said, returning her expression. "With bacon."
Rose piped in, "'n some chips too, please."
"Fries, she means," he corrected, handing the woman their menus.
She scribbled the order down and chuckled, "Fans, huh? You sure ain't from around here."
"Oh, I should think so. Yes, I'd say we're quite far from home." He leaned towards her conspiratorily. "Say, the King frequents this joint, doesn't he?"
The waitress clicked her pen and dropped it into the pocket of her apron. Her eyes seemed to shift around the room nervously before she responded in a hushed voice, "Oh, um... he does on occasion."
When the Doctor's imploring eyes prompted her to go on, she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and looked down at the menus in her hand, "I-I'm really not supposed to say."
"That's quite alright," he replied kindly. "Thank you."
She nodded and left to tend to other tables, pouring coffees and taking orders while the two of them were left to their own devices.
"You and your bananas," Rose grumbled, taking a sip of her water.
"Well, yes, but we have to try the authentic Elvis sandwich," he insisted. "Peanut butter, bananas, and bacon. Fried. It's a classic."
"Sounds like a heart attack waiting to happen."
He held a finger up to his lips. "Spoilers."
After a moment, Rose said thoughtfully, "That girl that took our orders... she seemed really flustered."
"How do you mean?"
"It's just... she turned red as a tomato when you brought Elvis up. Like, she knew something she wasn't letting on."
"Rose, it's 1960. Even saying the name 'Elvis' sends girls into a frenzy. She's probably smitten with him like every other person here."
"Are you?"
"Well..." A cheeky grin spread across his features.
Rose reached across the table to shove him. "Oi, shut up, you."
They continued chatting as they waited for their order, enjoying the upbeat atmosphere and the swinging music that emanated from the jukebox across the room. As their conversation lulled, Rose bit her lip mischievously and hopped up to go and switch the music herself. She hunched over the old machine, eyeing through the collection of rock 'n' roll hits. Some she recognized, but most she didn't. After a moment of deliberating, she settled on "Splish Splash" by Bobby Darin.
The lights from the jukebox shone upon her face as she glanced over at the Doctor, who lit up as the song began to play. Rose made a show of sashaying back to her seat, snapping her fingers in time to the music and spinning just so her poodle skirt ruffled outwards with the movement. The Doctor rested his chin on his hand as he watched her, beaming. None of the other patrons seemed to notice her behavior, but a few of the staff behind the front counter couldn't help but be drawn in by her enthusiasm, shooting her amused smiles.
When she reached their table, she plopped into the cushioned booth with a content sigh.
"Not Elvis, then?" He wasn't bothered by this—simply curious.
"Figured they probably hear a lot of that here," she shrugged. "Plus, I'd rather hear him live."
"Right," he chuckled. "Still, Bobby Darin—good choice. Reckon we could see him too if you like."
"Nah, that's alright. We've got all the time in the world." A warm smile graced her lips and he couldn't help but reflect it.
"Yes we do, Rose Tyler."
Their waitress came back after a short while, plates of food balanced on outstretched arms as she served them their meals: two steaming signature sandwiches, as well as a basket of chips.
"And here's some ketchup for those fries," she added, placing a small cup filled with the condiment beside the plates.
"Oh, ta," Rose said, shuffling her things around the table.
"'Taw?'"
"Er, thank you," she corrected herself, sharing an amused look with her fellow diner.
"Sure thing, sugar," the waitress chirped. "Is there anything else—"
"Can I ask you something?" Rose asked, eyeing the girl's nametag. "Valen?"
Attention piqued at the use of her name, Valen replied, "Mhm?"
"Do you... know Elvis personally?"
Her polite smile wavered for a fraction of a second, and something akin to panic flashed in her eyes so quickly that Rose wondered if she'd imagined it. However, the sharp intake of breath, followed by nervous laughter, confirmed her suspicions.
"What? No." Valen shut down the question, fiddling with the string of her apron.
The two patrons exchanged knowing expressions, and Rose said gently, "We won't tell anybody. We're just curious. He must come in here a lot—it's no wonder you know him."
"Uh, well..."
The brunette sighed then, her mask falling once she realized that there was no denying it any longer. Rose scooted down the booth and she sat beside her, clicking her tongue in defeat.
"I s'pose I do know him, yeah. But we're, um... I went to school with him, see, and so we're sort of... acquaintances." She let out a high-pitched laugh. "I dunno why I'm telling you this."
"It's our charm, yeah? Just passing through. No harm done." Rose reassured her.
"I guess so," Valen's lips curled up in a small smile, and she said wistfully, "Nice to tell somebody. Everyone 'round here is crazy for that man."
"Can't blame 'em," the Doctor said, eyebrows raised.
Valen chuckled in response, and after a moment she leaned towards them, whispering, "Now, I didn't tell y'all this, you hear?"
They nodded.
She worried at her lip as if debating how much more she should share with the strangers. "He'll be here tomorrow for lunch. I guarantee it."
"How d'you know?" Rose asked with genuine curiosity.
"Oh, he will." Valen stood, brushing off her dress. "Let's just say I know my regulars."
She had that sort of dreamy, far-off look in her eye that just screamed lovestruck—the kind that was oh-so-obvious to those around you yet felt like the tightest-kept secret in the world. That aching, yearning, adoring expression full of so much emotion that it hurt. Rose loved her for it.
She saw herself in that girl who must have shared as many years as she did, treacherously head over heels for someone who would never look her way. Story of her bloody life. Still, what did she know? Maybe she did have a chance with the King. It wasn't her place to say.
"Well, that's just brilliant," the Doctor said cheerily. "Maybe we'll catch him."
"Maybe so," Valen replied, catching her bearings and plastering that customer service smile back on her face. "I can't make any promises, of course. But you're always welcome to come back and have another meal anytime."
"Cheeky," Rose quipped. "I like it. We'll be back."
"I'll look forward to it, then..."
"Rose."
"Rose," she smiled.
"And I'm the Doctor."
"Doctor...?"
"Just the Doctor."
"All right, then," Valen nodded. "Doctor and Rose. Enjoy your meal."
"Thank you, Valen."
They watched as she hurried off, bumping into a nearby table and dropping the notepad in her hand before embarrassedly reaching down to pick it up. Her face was bright red as she apologized to the patrons around her before practically sprinting back into the kitchen.
The pair shared a good-natured chuckle at the girl's antics before digging in. Rose was initially uneasy about the odd combination of food but was rather chuffed at the unique mix of flavors. The Doctor might've married his sandwich with all the noises he made while eating it. At one point, Rose looked up while taking a bite of her chips and asked, "Do you need a room with that thing?"
He shook his head before letting out yet another satisfied moan, eliciting an exasperated roll of the eyes from his companion.
Once they were sufficiently stuffed, they paid the bill and thanked their waitress once more before strolling out of the little diner and back out into the blazing heat.
"Well, then," the Doctor said, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "Shall we pop back to the TARDIS and head for tomorrow?"
Rose frowned. There was no way she could eat anything else so soon. "That'd be easy, but..." She glanced around at the bustling crowds of people on the main street. "Why don't we walk around a bit? See the sights?"
"If that's what you'd like to do, then absolutely," he grinned. "Allons-y!"
They locked arms and continued down the sidewalk, stopping at spots Elvis frequented and essentially filling the shoes of a typical overexcited tourist on a visit to Memphis. Rose was surprised at how many details the Doctor had retained about the singer, and she wondered if he'd studied up beforehand, a blush creeping up her cheeks at the thought. If that were the case, it was very endearing.
He showed her Sun Studios, the record label where Elvis recorded his first song, and although they couldn't just mosey on in, it was still a neat spot of historical significance and a treat to see in person. They stopped at a men's department store, Lansky Bros., where the Doctor explained their relation to the King before becoming rather tempted to purchase a new suit for his own collection. Rose was inclined to pick out a few outfits of her own, considering her retro look had been well-worn and could do with an upgrade, and so she dragged her companion to a couple of different clothing shops. They made a spectacle of trying on new clothes, putting on a bit of a fashion show as they experimented with the styles of the time period before settling on a few to permanently add to their wardrobes.
The pair ventured down the main street the rest of the day, pausing to dine at an Italian restaurant called Coletta's for supper where they shared a delicious pizza and reflected on the events of the day. When they finally left the joint, it was already dark out.
"Well," the Doctor drawled, stretching his arms out. "Back to the TARDIS, then?"
Usually, they would head back to the TARDIS to crash for the night, seeing as the rooms were almost neverending and were more than capable of providing them with lodging. Yet, something about the considerably cooler night air and the neon lights that cut through the darkness, illuminating the cars on the roads and the people on the sidewalks, made her not want to leave this world they had immersed themselves in. Her eyes caught on the behemoth of a building that sat just a few blocks down at the end of the street, window lights clearly visible against the night sky.
"Actually," she bit her lip, looking up at him with wide, imploring eyes. "I was thinking... we haven't run into any trouble, yet. What if we stay in town for the night? Really go for the whole tourist trip thing, y'know?"
The Doctor furrowed his brow for a moment in thought before grinning excitedly. "Brilliant. I know just where we can stay."
Together, they headed down the street to that massive building Rose had noticed, displaying a large sign on its roof that read "HOTEL PEABODY." It had a grandiose entrance, all marble and gold and spotless glass doors, served by a kindly old doorman who welcomed them warmly and permitted them entry.
The lobby was magnificent and full of life, and Rose didn't know where to look first. Massive pillars of granite rose to meet the ceiling around the outer edge of the foyer, and knobs of curled mahogany jutted out to frame the stained glass murals along the ceiling. Wondrous chandeliers of gold hung with ethereal grace, their candlelight casting a warm glow upon the room. A scattering of elegant armchairs and velvet chaises filled the center of the lobby, as well as a tasteful array of lively flowers and decorative plants. The place's focal point, however, was a wonderfully ornate fountain, which had a Renaissance-inspired statue of cherubs as its center and a ring of marble enclosing it. Water spewed from the bowl atop it, which held a bright bouquet of flowers and was admired by many guests as they milled about the lobby.
Rose blinked and the Doctor had already gone off to the front desk, coattails trailing behind him as he sped off to find them a room. She hurried after him, stifling her awe at the overwhelming refinement surrounding them as she caught up with him. She pardoned herself as she pushed through the mass of people and found herself wondering if there even were any vacancies. The place was simply marvelous, but it was dreadfully crowded.
When they finally reached the concierge desk, Rose's fears were confirmed.
"Sorry, we're completely full," the young woman drawled, showing no remorse to match her words.
The Doctor frowned and held up his psychic paper for the employee to read, who seemed to sit up straighter as she said, "Ah, well, sir, I think we could squeeze you into a standard queen that just opened up. Would that be all right?"
The Doctor turned to Rose, who stood at his side. In response to his questioning gaze, she shrugged as if to say, "Sure, where's the harm in that?"
"A queen it is, then," he said to the woman, who nodded and began shuffling through the documents on her desk.
Rose felt the beginning of butterflies in her stomach at the words, innocent or not. The implication was still there. She turned to wander around the lobby as the Doctor sorted through the booking, appreciating the beautiful architecture around her and—were those ducks in the fountain? Curious, she approached the structure and, sure enough, there were a handful of mallards swimming about in the water.
They splashed to and fro, and a couple of children who had gathered around the edge giggled in delight at the display. An older gentleman said a few words to the kids, who subsequently took a few steps back before he held his cane aloft and tapped it on the marble lightly. As if by magic, the ducks hopped out of the fountain one by one and followed the man as he led them in a path through the lobby and further into the hotel before disappearing from sight.
A handful of guests who had been watching the procession applauded, and the children were alight in excitement, chattering eagerly amongst themselves and, to no surprise, quacking. Rose couldn't help but smile as well, unsure of what she'd just witnessed but utterly enthralled by it nonetheless.
"Rose!" The Doctor called to her. She turned to see him dangling a room key in his hand with a grin. Her smile only grew wider as she walked over to him and they went up together.
"Who'd she think we were?" Rose asked as they buzzed up in the elevator.
"Oh, relatives of Kennedy, I should think."
"Like... John F. Kennedy?"
"The one and only." He winked at her.
"Blimey, you'd think we'd have gotten the presidential suite."
"Well..." the Doctor rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "We'll make do."
Rose reddened at the innuendo. "Better than camping out in the TARDIS," she laughed.
"Oi!" He gave a half-hearted frown before conceding, "Right, yeah, s'pose it does get old, doesn't it?"
As they carried their things into their room, Rose asked, "Did you see the ducks?"
"What ducks?"
The blonde set her bags of clothing on one side of the bed while the Doctor used his sonic screwdriver to clear the room of anything out of the ordinary. Putting her hands on her hips and watching him as he worked, she said, "The alien ducks."
He stopped immediately, eyes widening as he turned toward her with a serious expression. "Show me."
"Kidding. They were in the fountain."
"Tsk. I must have missed them." After a moment, he added, "You're sure they weren't alien?"
Rose shook her head with a chuckle before plopping onto the bed. The room was no suite, but it was far from a hovel. The walls were a plain beige, and the drapes that framed the windows were emerald in color and embroidered with paisley swirls. A lounge that matched the drapes sat in the corner of the room, and beside it was a small desk and chair set up with a lamp and radio. The Doctor hummed as he opened the doors to the armoire opposite the lounge, and there was a sort of domesticity to the sight, which, combined with the homeliness of the quaint room, warmed Rose's heart.
After a moment he joined her, lying beside her and propping his arms up behind his head as he relaxed. They settled into a comfortable silence, taking in the first moment of quiet they'd had all day.
"Today was nice," Rose said after a moment. "It's like an actual vacation. All that promise of seeing the world and here I am finally getting to enjoy it. No monsters to fight or problems to solve, just... this." She rubbed a hand along the soft linen of the bed.
"It is a change of pace," he responded, glancing sideways at her. "Bit slow for me, but still."
"We're gonna meet Elvis, though. How's that slow?" She met his gaze. "Have you... met him before?"
He frowned. "Don't be daft, Rose. Of course, I haven't met Elvis before. Have you?"
Rose swatted at him, cuffing him lightly on the shoulder. "Stop that. You're a bloody time traveler, it's not a ridiculous question."
"Ow," he laughed, shuffling away from her on the bed. "I know, I know. Never had the opportunity, I guess. Glad I didn't."
"Why's that?"
"Well, we'll get to see him together, won't we?" His eyes shone with excitement, and Rose couldn't take it. If he kept on saying things like that, she would say or do something she'd regret.
Abruptly, she stood. "I'm going to have a bath."
He shrugged it off and nodded as she gathered her things and scurried off to the bathroom. The sound of the radio carried past the door to the bathroom, fizzing and crackling as the Doctor switched through the stations. Most of them played Elvis.
When she was done, he went in after her. She'd thought to buy a nightie when they'd gone shopping, thankfully—just a plain white shift with a few frills here and there, but it would do. The Doctor came out in his striped jim-jams, hair delightfully messy, and together they sat and listened to the radio for a while, chatting intermittently, before retiring to bed.
Rose settled under the covers and the Doctor turned off the lamp, shrouding them in darkness.
"I'm positively knackered," she said with a yawn. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Rose."
She shuffled a bit, trying to make herself comfortable while not focusing entirely on the form lying just beside her. She could feel his warmth radiating from the other side of the bed, and it took everything in her to resist the urge to reach out and touch him.
The silence only lasted a few moments before the Doctor whispered, "Rose?"
Her breath hitched. "Yeah?"
"Y'know, I've been thinking..." His voice was low and gravelly, and it sent a chill up her spine. "And..." Her eyes were squeezed shut, heart beating wildly in her chest. "I've heard this place may be haunted. Shall we investigate?"
She groaned. "Goodnight, Doctor."
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
Pitter-patter.
It was still dark when Rose woke, as if from a nightmare. She shot forward with a start. The faint lights of the city filtered in through the cracks in the curtains, casting a muted glow into the far corner of the room and allowing just enough brightness for her to make out the shapes around her.
She sat for a moment, listening, before she slipped out of bed and tip-toed around the edge of the mattress, wincing as the wooden floorboards creaked mercilessly underneath her feet. She crept toward the door, where the sound of footsteps in the hall had garnered her attention.
Pitter-patter.
Her ear was pressed to the door as they continued, zooming down the hall and then back again. The noise was too soft to be an adult—nearly unnoticeable. The footfall of children, then?
Children's laughter floated down the hall, shrill and joyous and entirely unnerving. The footsteps passed her room again. Rose ran a hand down her face, exhausted. Her mind wandered to the children who had been gathered around the fountain in the lobby, enraptured by the procession of the ducks.
Just mucking about, then, she thought to herself, concluding that they were just having a bit of fun and had escaped the attention of their parents for the moment. Surely, it wouldn't be long until they came and dragged them back to their rooms.
Quiet as a mouse, she slunk back into bed, blocking out the noises with weary ease. Within a matter of minutes, she'd drifted back to sleep.
Unbeknownst to her, the giggling continued until dawn.