Rose sighed and looked down at her watch. They'd already been here over an hour and the Doctor still hadn't finished.

"Doctor," Rose called over to him, her hands on her hips. "Can't you just pick a pair? We've been here for ages! And I want to go visit the other shops!"

"Rose, you don't understand!" the Doctor shouted back from where he was across the store, looking at the different boxes, all containing different colors of Converse trainers. The two had traveled to Nakupni Centum, a ginormous satellite base over New Earth that was said to be the biggest mall in the history of Earth, about two hours ago. The first hour they had just popped in and out of shops, getting a quick bite to eat, and then just looking around.

But then the Doctor had found the shoe store. The biggest shoe store Rose had ever seen. The building was five stories high, with hundreds of rooms filled with any type of shoe you could desire. So naturally, the Doctor had dragged Rose over to the Converse section and then completely blocked out the world and focused himself on trying on ever single pair.

"What do I not understand?" Rose spat back.

"Choosing a pair of shoes requires time!" the Doctor picked up a pair of pink trainers and quickly tossed them over his shoulder. "The right color, size, and comfortableness! It all takes the most precision!"

"But you already have like twenty pairs!" Rose moaned and sat herself down on a bench close to her.

"I only have four," he retorted.

"Ugh!" Rose ran her hands through her hair. "You're being so bothersome right now."

"Deal with it."

"Fine!" Rose got up and stalked toward the door. "I will deal with it. But I'm not staying here. I'm gonna go look around again. Good luck trying to find me!"

She spat her last sentence over her shoulder. The Doctor still had his back to her and didn't budge. Groaning loudly again, Rose left the Time Lord to his fetish.

The Doctor looked down at the TARDIS-blue trainers on his feet. They were exactly what he was looking for. Just his size, with enough room to wiggle his toes, the perfect color, and on sale! After purchasing them he stepped away from the counter and turned, expecting to see Rose behind him.

"See? Now I wasn't that long…" he trailed off when he noticed her absence. "Rose?"

Looking around the Converse section he tried to pinpoint her yellow hair and pink jacket. Nothing that even resembled Rose met his eyes.

"Excuse me," the Doctor turned to the green-skinned teller at the counter. "But have you seen my friend? She's about a head shorter than me, yellow hair, pink jacket, blue jeans, pretty face?"

"You mean the woman you had a little row with about two hours ago?" the man said coolly.

"Two hours?!" the Doctor's eyes widened. "Has it really been that long?"

"Yes, sir," the man said in a bored voice. "Last I saw her she went out and took a left."

"Okay," the Doctor was already making his way to the door. "Thanks!"

The Doctor had been searching the mall for what seemed like ages. Panic hadn't set in until after the first five minutes. Now, much later, he was frantic. He went into every shop they had visited and every shop he'd think that she would go. But no signs of his pink and yellow human. He'd even gotten on the mall intercom and called for her, and she still didn't show. Now he felt as if he was going to regenerate from an anxiety attack. Something has happened to her. She's been kidnapped, or gotten on a space bus back to New Earth. What if she's dead?!

The Doctor tried to calm his rapid breathing as he ran back to where he'd parked the TARDIS. Maybe he could go back and time and pick her up right when she left the store!

Once he opened the doors he ran over to the main console and was about to start his ship up when he saw a small note taped to the time rotor. Quickly he ripped it off and read it.

Hey Idiot-

It's like 11:30 Earth time and I'm exhausted.

I'm not gonna stay up and wait for you to finish your bloody shoe shopping.

Glad shoes are more important than friends. Goodnight.

-Rose

The Doctor let out a sigh of relief that she was alright. And then he proceeded to hit himself in the head. Stupid, stupid Time Lord! He'd completely ignored her… just for bloody shoes! The Doctor brought his hands to his face and cursed in Gallifreyan, English, French, and then went and insulted the Time Lord race for good measure.

Quietly he wandered down the TARDIS halls until he reached her room. Rose had her door shut instead of open a notch like she usually did. He bet she didn't really want to see him. Well, he wanted to see her.

Opening the door, he looked in and saw her lying on her side, back to him. He crept across the room until he was by her bed and gently lay on his side next to her. His arm crept over her waist, resuming its normal position for the past few weeks.

"Did I say you could come in here?" Rose's tired voice growled.

"I'm sorry," the Doctor bent over her a bit to look down at her face. She looked pissed. Well, she should be.

"I'm really really sorry," the Doctor said again. "I was being stupid. A complete idiot. I should have listened to you and paid attention to how tired you were. Shouldn't have spent so much time at that store."

"Ya think?" Rose turned her head to glare up at him.

"I'm really sorry, Rose," the Doctor whined. "Can you forgive me? Look, next time I get stuck in a Converse store you have full right to slap my stupid face. But please, please, don't ever just leave me there. I was so afraid something had happened to you. Don't, don't ever do that again. Please."

He gave her the saddest expression he could, the 'kicked puppy' look.

"You deserved it, you daft idiot," Rose said but a smile slowly crept on her face. "But it's a deal. I won't leave if you don't get hooked on your stupid shoes again."

"Yay!" the Doctor leaned his head down and kissed her face all over. "I promise I'm not going to go shoe shopping anymore! Never! Besides, look at the ones I got today!"

Smiling he put his leg over hers to show her his new Converses.

"It's dark, Doctor," she laughed a bit. "How do you expect me to be able to see them?"

"Oh," the Doctor realized and then shrugged, snuggling himself behind her. "Well, it let me put my leg on you."

"Mm," Rose laughed. "But, if you want to stay here, you're gonna have to take off your new shoes and then get under the covers with me."

He didn't need her to say it twice.