Killer Christmas trees, Santas with guns, and the Doctor saving the day - everything's normal, right? He even invites her to go along with the new him.
But the days turn into weeks, weeks turn into months, and suddenly it's springtime and they're still in London and Rose can't deny that things just aren't the same.
She often goes down to the waterfront; finds herself at Canary Wharf, not to shop, but to sit and look at the water. She goes alone, wrapped up in her thoughts and her worries and her doubts.
"Hard to believe this will all be destroyed in just a few years," a voice says one day, from behind her, as she's sitting quietly by the water. She turns around; the voice belongs to a pretty woman with incredible curls. The woman looks a little wistful, but then she shakes her head.
"No point dwelling on what's yet to come," she says. "That way lies madness. I'm River, you're Rose, and I'm here to help you out." She sticks out her hand in a very matter-of-fact way, as if strange women approach Rose and talk to her of the future every day.
After a moment's hesitation, Rose takes River's hand and shakes it. After all, time travel's her line of work, these days.
River sits down next to Rose. She has a certain energy that makes Rose shiver; the air crackles around River, in an exciting and yet somewhat frightening way.
"He changes, Rose," River says, without preamble. "That what he does. I've seen it enough times to know. But he's still the same man. And he still wants you to be with him."
"The Doctor?" Rose says, caught off guard. "I mean, if you know the future, but - he's done this before?"
River smiles. "So many times, sweetie. And so many times to come. And it hurts, I know. I was particularly attached to one face in particular, myself. My first. You always love your first just that little bit more. You always carry them around in a special place in your heart."
Rose finds herself nodding along. She can't stop looking at River as she talks; the other woman is electric now, animated when talking about the Doctor.
River pulls out a small diary; it's blue, looks like the TARDIS, a little bit. She flips through the pages slowly. "Canary Wharf. It's in your future. That's a long way off, though. You have so many adventures to go."
"How do you know all this?" Rose asks. "Are you a friend, or...?"
River taps her closed lips, and curves them into a smile. "Spoilers," she says. "The Doctor doesn't know that I know all this yet. He doesn't know I'm mucking about in his past. But he leaves such messy business behind: lost souls, broken hearts, and beautiful women that he never even kisses."
Rose startles at the last bit, but River is leaning over already, and the kiss is good, warm and full of crackling energy, like a live wire. Artron energy, Rose thinks, for a second, bad wolf, all that ever could be. Then the kiss is over, and Rose shakes her head.
"It's called a sense memory," River says. "You saved the world, Rose, even if you don't remember. He was your first, too, even if you don't remember that either."
"You're my first now too," Rose blurts out, then blushes. "I mean..."
River smiles like the cat that got the cream. "I know," she says. "I'm keeping score."
Rose laughs. She's pretty sure she's still dreaming; this is one of the most absurd conversations she's ever had. "You're crazy," she says, smiling.
"All the best people are," River replies, standing up. "Go with him, and be amazing. Maybe I'll see you again sometime. I'd tell you, but..." She taps her lips again, and smiles widely.
Rose sits and watches as River walks away, watches her hair, her hips, her confident stride. Some time later, she stands up too, and walks home. The Doctor is waiting; he's ready to get going. She packs her bag. It's time to adventure.
River/Rose
But the days turn into weeks, weeks turn into months, and suddenly it's springtime and they're still in London and Rose can't deny that things just aren't the same.
She often goes down to the waterfront; finds herself at Canary Wharf, not to shop, but to sit and look at the water. She goes alone, wrapped up in her thoughts and her worries and her doubts.
"Hard to believe this will all be destroyed in just a few years," a voice says one day, from behind her, as she's sitting quietly by the water. She turns around; the voice belongs to a pretty woman with incredible curls. The woman looks a little wistful, but then she shakes her head.
"No point dwelling on what's yet to come," she says. "That way lies madness. I'm River, you're Rose, and I'm here to help you out." She sticks out her hand in a very matter-of-fact way, as if strange women approach Rose and talk to her of the future every day.
After a moment's hesitation, Rose takes River's hand and shakes it. After all, time travel's her line of work, these days.
River sits down next to Rose. She has a certain energy that makes Rose shiver; the air crackles around River, in an exciting and yet somewhat frightening way.
"He changes, Rose," River says, without preamble. "That what he does. I've seen it enough times to know. But he's still the same man. And he still wants you to be with him."
"The Doctor?" Rose says, caught off guard. "I mean, if you know the future, but - he's done this before?"
River smiles. "So many times, sweetie. And so many times to come. And it hurts, I know. I was particularly attached to one face in particular, myself. My first. You always love your first just that little bit more. You always carry them around in a special place in your heart."
Rose finds herself nodding along. She can't stop looking at River as she talks; the other woman is electric now, animated when talking about the Doctor.
River pulls out a small diary; it's blue, looks like the TARDIS, a little bit. She flips through the pages slowly. "Canary Wharf. It's in your future. That's a long way off, though. You have so many adventures to go."
"How do you know all this?" Rose asks. "Are you a friend, or...?"
River taps her closed lips, and curves them into a smile. "Spoilers," she says. "The Doctor doesn't know that I know all this yet. He doesn't know I'm mucking about in his past. But he leaves such messy business behind: lost souls, broken hearts, and beautiful women that he never even kisses."
Rose startles at the last bit, but River is leaning over already, and the kiss is good, warm and full of crackling energy, like a live wire. Artron energy, Rose thinks, for a second, bad wolf, all that ever could be. Then the kiss is over, and Rose shakes her head.
"It's called a sense memory," River says. "You saved the world, Rose, even if you don't remember. He was your first, too, even if you don't remember that either."
"You're my first now too," Rose blurts out, then blushes. "I mean..."
River smiles like the cat that got the cream. "I know," she says. "I'm keeping score."
Rose laughs. She's pretty sure she's still dreaming; this is one of the most absurd conversations she's ever had. "You're crazy," she says, smiling.
"All the best people are," River replies, standing up. "Go with him, and be amazing. Maybe I'll see you again sometime. I'd tell you, but..." She taps her lips again, and smiles widely.
Rose sits and watches as River walks away, watches her hair, her hips, her confident stride. Some time later, she stands up too, and walks home. The Doctor is waiting; he's ready to get going. She packs her bag. It's time to adventure.
Prompts!: Anji Kapoor/River Song, Amy Pond/Rose Tyler, Katarina/Vicki