A/N: This is indeed a reunion story that does assume that the bits of s4 with Rose and the creation of Tentoo did not occur. (Which...I love Tentoo, but needs must for the story) Pardon me for posting a Christmas story when it's almost May. Also for the incredibly cheesy title. It was a Christmas present for a friend on tumblr.

All mistakes are mine as I'm the only one who proofread it.

Disclaimer: I own nothing of Doctor Who. I am just playing with the characters because they play with my emotions.

The Doctor wandered around the Christmas market on Tryprik, trying to let the bright cheer of the other shoppers infect him. He'd dropped Clara off at home for a bit and had been looking for a spot of trouble to keep him occupied but the TARDIS had landed him here, a perfectly peaceful planet that celebrated Christmas with much verve. When he'd realized where he was, he'd tried to get back inside the ship to go somewhere else but she locked him out and refused to give into his pleas. So the Doctor had straightened his bow tie and marched off to the markets. He really tried to avoid Christmas things if he could, too many memories that were painful now. Amy and Rory always setting him a place, meeting Donna for the first time, fighting ghosts in Cardiff, eating Christmas dinner on the Estate and feeling like a part of a family for the first time in centuries. Everything hurt so he ran from it like he always did, avoiding the Christmas season when possible.

Wondering how long he'd have to stay here before the TARDIS would let him back in, the Doctor half-heartedly looked at the stalls for a present for Clara. Eventually he'd catch up to Christmas on her timeline and he had a feeling he would be in trouble if he didn't have a present when that day came. Everything was reminding him of his former companions instead of his current one though. He even kept thinking he saw a flash of blonde hair at the corner of his eye which he knew was impossible. Blonde hair was practically unheard of on this planet and they didn't have frequent visitors yet in this century. This is what Christmas does to him, he thought as he picked up a snowglobe and sonicked it to make sure it wasn't malicious in some way, always making him live in the past. The shopkeeper glared at him so he moved on. There was a café about two streets over and he headed towards that, intending to get a drink and sit for a bit before going to check on if the TARDIS would let him back in. He turned a corner towards the café and suddenly found himself on his back in the snow with a person sprawled across his chest. Catching his breath, he looked down to apologize for not watching where he was going and promptly lost his breath again. There was a blonde smiling at him cheekily. A very familiar blonde. One he hadn't seen in centuries and had never hoped to see again.

"Rose," he breathed.

"Hello Doctor." She beamed at him and then scrambled off of him. For half a second he wanted to protest her getting up but he let her pull him to his feet and kept a hold of her hands. "Thought I'd seen you wanderin' about and was running this way to catch up with you. Didn't mean to actually run into you though. Very us though."

The thought crossed the Doctor's mind that his tenth self had definitely rubbed off on her if the amount she rambled was any indication. He tightened his grip on her hands, not taking his eyes off her for a second. "Rose, how are you here?"

Her grin dimmed for a moment, "Oh yeah, forgot you would have questions. Turns out crossing universes isn't as impossible as you seem to believe if you devote enough time to it and I had plenty of time to spare." A dark look passed over her face before she chased it away with a smile. "Plus I missed you rather a lot. Been looking for you in this universe for a while."

The Doctor's mouth opened and closed a few times. He had so many questions and had no idea where to start. Rose's laugh tumbled out and he couldn't help but smile at her mirth.

"I've made you speechless. I don't know if you talk as much as the last you but I'm still considering it a major accomplishment!" She extracted one of her hands from his grip and reached up to touch his bowtie. "I like this by the way."

He preened. "I keep telling everyone that bowties are cool but no one seems to agree! Should've known you would like it." He winked outrageously at her and she laughed again. "But Rose, how long is a while and how exactly are you here?"

She sighed. "If I promise to answer all of your questions later, can we just have a quick drink now?"

The Doctor agreed and hand in hand they headed down to the café where they proceeded to talk and flirt like they'd never been apart. The Doctor still wasn't entirely sure he wasn't dreaming. Afterwards, he led her towards the TARDIS so they could have their postponed talk.

Once the ship was in sight, Rose let out a squeal of delight and ran towards it. She inserted the key that still hung on a chain around her neck into the lock and ran inside. Immediately she started running her hands along the console, whispering greetings and compliments to the old girl who had completely redesigned herself since the last time her wolf had been inside. When the Doctor made it inside he could feel the TARDIS preening from Rose's compliments and the ship felt happier than she had in a long long time.

Rose sat down, leaning against the console and looked up at him. "Guess it's time to face the music now."