Dreams Aren't What They Used to Be
Mar. 7th, 2010 11:41 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wishiknewwhoTitle: Dreams Aren't What They Used to Be
Author: wishiknewwho
Rating: G
Characters: Ten / Rose
Dislcaimer: I don't own Doctor Who and it's probably just as well that I don't because it'd be nothing but hugs and hair ruffling for the foreseeable future. Title taken from the song "Smile Like You Mean It" by The Killers.
Spoilers: None at all.
Summary: Something was waiting for her out there in the solar system and she would find it.
Author Notes: Sorry to spam your flists, but you do get 2 fics out of me today. Written in a fit of last-minute frenzy for Challenge 25 at![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
then_theres_us .
Epic thanks to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
salimali for beta-ing this super fast.
Rose Tyler used to read this book about the solar system when she was younger, back when reading wasn’t something that made her look uncool. She borrowed it from the library over and over, keeping it until it was due and then checking it out again once she’d returned it.
She discovered it for the first time when she was nine or ten. She’d grown bored with the books in the children’s section, of the stories about talking animals and learning to the do the right thing. She wandered over to the science section, skimming over books about plants and weather and types of rocks. She knew all she ever wanted to know about those subjects. She traced her index finger over the spines of the books, coming to rest on a nondescript burnt orange spine. It was slim, and the worn gold lettering read Our Solar System. She hadn’t learned much about the planets in school; it was usually touched upon each year, and then the teacher only talked about the number of planets and gave them a mnemonic for remembering them. Rose wasn’t sure, but she thought it had something to do with mums and pizzas.
She worked the book out from between the others, biting her lip as her fingers slipped. The books were crowded together in a tight row, and it took her several tries before she got it free. She dropped to the floor in satisfaction, crossing her legs over one another and opening the book in her lap. It smelled musty, and a little sweet, and she decided it must have been a very long time since someone had looked at it. The thought made her sad.
She carefully went through the pages, looking at each picture and reading the blurbs. She was never one for school or learning, too many tests and worksheets, but this was learning of her own making. She wanted to know more, and she found what she wanted in the black and white pictures of the book.
She must have sat there for an hour at least, dreaming of the things she read about, imagining herself travelling to where the pictures showed her. She knew there was no other life in the solar system, the book told her so, but she couldn’t let go of the idea of visiting the planets in the book, of finding civilisations that no one knew were there. Just the thought of doing something like that made her heart skip a beat, set a little flutter off in her belly.
Looking down at the pink plastic watch that Mickey Smith had given her for her birthday, she realised that she was due home in fifteen minutes, and her mum would have a fit if she was late. She closed the book and returned it to its place, shifting a few books to the next row so that it would have more space. She promised herself that she would borrow it the next time she came to the library and had more time.
She ran home, her mind full of stars and planets and spaceships that could take her away from the dull life she knew was waiting for her. She promised herself that she would take every opportunity she could, that she would find a way into something wonderful. Something was waiting for her out there in the solar system and she would find it.
But when she was alone, she thought of other things. She imagined a boy with nice eyes, who looked at her like she was everything, who would kiss her sweetly, take his time getting to know her. He would tell her things, secrets that no one else knew about him, and they would make plans. And not little plans, like where they would go on Saturday nights and who would pay for the pizza. Big plans, like where they would go and what they would do and how everything would be so different than it was one day. They wouldn’t have a life like the people they knew. They would be so much more.
She didn’t want to be rescued, had stopped believing in fairy tales a long time before she even noticed boys. She knew that princes were few and far between, so she set herself on a more realistic goal. She just wanted someone who would understand her, who would listen, and who would work with her to find a way out.
So she might nod along with her friends as they talked about how all they wanted was to have a bloke who could buy them a nice house and take them to France on holiday. She might say that she couldn’t wait to have a life like that, money and a home and a family. But she didn’t mean it. It was an easy lie to tell, and she’d remind herself that she was holding out for something better.
Then came Jimmy Stones. He had nice eyes and a nice arse, he listened, he had brilliant fingers that could play a guitar and touch her cheek, he was looking for something more just like she was and he broke her heart.
She decided that trying for more than she could have wasn’t worth it.
Another adventure awaits them outside the door of the TARDIS. He’s only gone to fetch his sonic screwdriver, and then they are off, exploring something new, something uncharted, at least for them.
She thinks about asking the Doctor to take her to one of the other planets, and she knows that he would, but she doesn’t want to. She prefers their way of doing things, finding trouble, and letting the chips fall where they may. If they make it to a planet in her solar system, they do, and if they don’t, they don’t.
It doesn’t matter, because she’s done what she promised herself as a child, with a few minor adjustments. She’s seen so much more than she could have ever imagined, and if a young Rose Tyler could see her now, her eyes would be as wide as saucers. She’s found what she was waiting for her, and it is everything she’d hoped it would be and more.
She still wants those other things from him, his lips against her neck, his eyes watching her from the pillow next to hers when she wakes in the morning, three words whispered to her.
But he gives her so much more than that, and it’s not fair of her to expect more from him. He belongs to the universe, and yet he belongs to her, and that’s more than she could ever hope for. That the most important person, the Doctor, wants her with him is enough to fill her with warmth, and at times it’s more than she needs, more than she wants. Sure, he breaks her heart with every smile, every press of his hand in hers, but it’s not like it was before. It hurts, but it’s worth it. She takes what she can get from him, and gives everything she has in return, and she is happy.
He bounds into the console room, flicking the sonic between his fingers, almost dropping it in the process, and she can’t hold back a grin.
“Right,” he says, tapping her nose before taking her hand and launching them towards the door. “Let’s see what’s waiting for us, Rose Tyler.”
She follows him out into the universe, and for once, doesn’t dream of anything more. She has everything she wants in the palm of her hand.
Author: wishiknewwho
Rating: G
Characters: Ten / Rose
Dislcaimer: I don't own Doctor Who and it's probably just as well that I don't because it'd be nothing but hugs and hair ruffling for the foreseeable future. Title taken from the song "Smile Like You Mean It" by The Killers.
Spoilers: None at all.
Summary: Something was waiting for her out there in the solar system and she would find it.
Author Notes: Sorry to spam your flists, but you do get 2 fics out of me today. Written in a fit of last-minute frenzy for Challenge 25 at
then_theres_us . Epic thanks to
salimali for beta-ing this super fast.Rose Tyler used to read this book about the solar system when she was younger, back when reading wasn’t something that made her look uncool. She borrowed it from the library over and over, keeping it until it was due and then checking it out again once she’d returned it.
She discovered it for the first time when she was nine or ten. She’d grown bored with the books in the children’s section, of the stories about talking animals and learning to the do the right thing. She wandered over to the science section, skimming over books about plants and weather and types of rocks. She knew all she ever wanted to know about those subjects. She traced her index finger over the spines of the books, coming to rest on a nondescript burnt orange spine. It was slim, and the worn gold lettering read Our Solar System. She hadn’t learned much about the planets in school; it was usually touched upon each year, and then the teacher only talked about the number of planets and gave them a mnemonic for remembering them. Rose wasn’t sure, but she thought it had something to do with mums and pizzas.
She worked the book out from between the others, biting her lip as her fingers slipped. The books were crowded together in a tight row, and it took her several tries before she got it free. She dropped to the floor in satisfaction, crossing her legs over one another and opening the book in her lap. It smelled musty, and a little sweet, and she decided it must have been a very long time since someone had looked at it. The thought made her sad.
She carefully went through the pages, looking at each picture and reading the blurbs. She was never one for school or learning, too many tests and worksheets, but this was learning of her own making. She wanted to know more, and she found what she wanted in the black and white pictures of the book.
She must have sat there for an hour at least, dreaming of the things she read about, imagining herself travelling to where the pictures showed her. She knew there was no other life in the solar system, the book told her so, but she couldn’t let go of the idea of visiting the planets in the book, of finding civilisations that no one knew were there. Just the thought of doing something like that made her heart skip a beat, set a little flutter off in her belly.
Looking down at the pink plastic watch that Mickey Smith had given her for her birthday, she realised that she was due home in fifteen minutes, and her mum would have a fit if she was late. She closed the book and returned it to its place, shifting a few books to the next row so that it would have more space. She promised herself that she would borrow it the next time she came to the library and had more time.
She ran home, her mind full of stars and planets and spaceships that could take her away from the dull life she knew was waiting for her. She promised herself that she would take every opportunity she could, that she would find a way into something wonderful. Something was waiting for her out there in the solar system and she would find it.
~o~
Rose Tyler used to dream about a boy who would change her world. When she was with her friends, a group of teenage girls who were preoccupied with makeup and playing truant and pulling older boys, she would talk about things like who in their year had the best arse, how long she should wait before going all the way, and that cute musician that had smiled at her at the club Friday night.
But when she was alone, she thought of other things. She imagined a boy with nice eyes, who looked at her like she was everything, who would kiss her sweetly, take his time getting to know her. He would tell her things, secrets that no one else knew about him, and they would make plans. And not little plans, like where they would go on Saturday nights and who would pay for the pizza. Big plans, like where they would go and what they would do and how everything would be so different than it was one day. They wouldn’t have a life like the people they knew. They would be so much more.
She didn’t want to be rescued, had stopped believing in fairy tales a long time before she even noticed boys. She knew that princes were few and far between, so she set herself on a more realistic goal. She just wanted someone who would understand her, who would listen, and who would work with her to find a way out.
So she might nod along with her friends as they talked about how all they wanted was to have a bloke who could buy them a nice house and take them to France on holiday. She might say that she couldn’t wait to have a life like that, money and a home and a family. But she didn’t mean it. It was an easy lie to tell, and she’d remind herself that she was holding out for something better.
Then came Jimmy Stones. He had nice eyes and a nice arse, he listened, he had brilliant fingers that could play a guitar and touch her cheek, he was looking for something more just like she was and he broke her heart.
She decided that trying for more than she could have wasn’t worth it.
~o~
Rose Tyler has never travelled to any of the planets in her solar system except the one. She has been to other galaxies, to planets she can barely pronounce, even to a parallel world. But she has never been around her own solar system. My very educated mother just served us nine pizzas, she thinks as she waits for the Doctor to join her in the console room. Although, maybe not the pizzas, what with Pluto and all. She makes a mental note to ask him about that.
Another adventure awaits them outside the door of the TARDIS. He’s only gone to fetch his sonic screwdriver, and then they are off, exploring something new, something uncharted, at least for them.
She thinks about asking the Doctor to take her to one of the other planets, and she knows that he would, but she doesn’t want to. She prefers their way of doing things, finding trouble, and letting the chips fall where they may. If they make it to a planet in her solar system, they do, and if they don’t, they don’t.
It doesn’t matter, because she’s done what she promised herself as a child, with a few minor adjustments. She’s seen so much more than she could have ever imagined, and if a young Rose Tyler could see her now, her eyes would be as wide as saucers. She’s found what she was waiting for her, and it is everything she’d hoped it would be and more.
~o~
Rose Tyler did find a boy who would change her world, just not in the way she thought. He doesn’t kiss her softly or whisper sweet words to her, but he holds her hand and listens when she talks. He takes her all through space and time, and he’s the reason she’s not living a normal life, trudging along day by day through work and telly and things that don’t matter.
She still wants those other things from him, his lips against her neck, his eyes watching her from the pillow next to hers when she wakes in the morning, three words whispered to her.
But he gives her so much more than that, and it’s not fair of her to expect more from him. He belongs to the universe, and yet he belongs to her, and that’s more than she could ever hope for. That the most important person, the Doctor, wants her with him is enough to fill her with warmth, and at times it’s more than she needs, more than she wants. Sure, he breaks her heart with every smile, every press of his hand in hers, but it’s not like it was before. It hurts, but it’s worth it. She takes what she can get from him, and gives everything she has in return, and she is happy.
He bounds into the console room, flicking the sonic between his fingers, almost dropping it in the process, and she can’t hold back a grin.
“Right,” he says, tapping her nose before taking her hand and launching them towards the door. “Let’s see what’s waiting for us, Rose Tyler.”
She follows him out into the universe, and for once, doesn’t dream of anything more. She has everything she wants in the palm of her hand.
