A/N: Hi everyone! I decided that I really wasn't very happy with the story, so I'm going back and editing it. Only minor details will change, so you don't really have to reread it per se, but it's always great if you would! So far chapter 1 is edited and I'll be doing chapter 2 next. R&R please! It makes the all of the writing and rewriting worth it!

Rose Tyler woke that morning with gleam in her eye and a spring in her step. She pulled off her powdery pink sheets and stepped on to her soft, plush carpeting. From her closet she pulled out a pair of dark wash skinny jeans, a Beatles T-shirt that she purchased when they last visited London, and a turquoise colored hoodie. A dark blue vine-like print ran down the right arm. She marveled at the casual elegance of the simple design before lacing up her black trainers, compliments of the Doctor, and running out the door.

She went to the kitchen to make some breakfast before heading out. Despite the Doctor's malice towards domesticity, he allowed Rose to eat at times following a natural progression of events when in the TARDIS. She popped some wheat bread in the toaster for 3 minutes and searched for the jam. The door of the large refrigerator was lined with hundreds of flavors of jam, ranging from ranging from the standard Earth grape to one called Papalovinian spinach. The Doctor was adamant that it was a sweet vegetable, but Rose stuck to strawberry.

She found her allotted jar next to the Doctor's banana jam and went to spread it on her toast. She made a mental note to pick up more when they visited Earth again since the current jar was almost empty and Rose feared trying any of the Doctor's outrageous flavors.

"Doctor, where are we going?" Rose called from the back of the console, a full hundred feet away from the Doctor. He leaned up against the door frame and wore a subtle grin as he glanced up from his trainers. Rose attempted to avoid his gaze by fiddling with her shoes when he turned around. He bounced over, invading her personal bubble, and pulled her face up from the ground right towards his.

"Rose Tyler, you are gonna love it! You remember New New York on New Earth? How could you not, now I'm just losing my mind! We're going to visit the great city of New New New New New New New New New New New New New New Chicago! It only has 14 'news.' Have you ever wondered how many licks it takes to get to the tootsie roll center of a tootsie pop?" She rolled her eyes and chuckled at his enthusiasm. "582 on average. It all depends on the acidic concentration in your saliva. The question is unanswerable because in their research facilities they find new variables for the equation every day! They have an entire tootsie roll museum in New Chicago! Molto bene, Allons-y," he called over his shoulder, back to the TARDIS, but Rose Tyler just stood there.

She stared at the ground, again, for a solid minute.

"Rose? Rose, stop staring so we can go! Lots to see and lots to do and all of the trouble in between!"

Rose missed the ending of the Doctor's rambling. She knew her time with him would have to end eventually, but she wanted to postpone that for as long as possible. Few things in life are really worth fighting for. You have to pick and choose your battles and your opponents.

Rose knew that she would always be on thin ice in this life they lived. Rose knew she was never safe, from the monsters or the Doctor. Rose knew that, although the Doctor was always quick to disagree, she was replaceable. Rose knew that in the grand scheme of things, she was just a speck. Rose knew that she wanted to be remembered. Rose knew that she would be remembered, and fondly at that. But most of all, Rose knew that in the end, the Doctor was a prize to be won.

From her encounter with Sarah Jane Smith at the school to that moment, she knew that he was an enigma. Rose was determined to claim her prize, mount it on a pedestal, and threaten any who would dare to defy her. If there was a way for her to win over the Doctor, what would it be? Though Rose loved a good challenge, she knew it wouldn't be easy. She knew that she would have to be cunning, with the mental agility of, well, the Doctor. Rose Tyler analyzed the conundrum from every angle and postulated her response to any bump in the road. Rose Tyler had anticipated everything from the common cold to the return of the Cybermen. The one thing she hadn't anticipated, was just how dirty she would have to play to win the game.