Chapter 1

It was a late summer evening when Rose Tyler thought her biggest dream would come true. Tonight she would watch him play, see him act, see him laugh. If she got really, really lucky, she might even meet him in person. She both dreaded and hoped dearly for that to happen. It probably wouldn't. No point getting your hopes up. Like nobody else wanted to meet him. Hey, fan girls from all over the UK (and even from overseas) seemed to go on a pilgrimage to that theater, to have that chance. Even she had. Well, sort of. Home wasn't that far, but it wasn't exactly close. Still, the travelling, hotel and tickets had cost her half a fortune. Just for three hours of David Tennant. The man she loved.

Well... that's debatable.. she really loved The Doctor, and Tennant used to play him in that sci-fi show that nobody where she came from knew of. Anyways, Doctor Who it's called. There is another bloke playing The Doctor now. But he isn't even half as convincing. He is charming and all, but he sort of looks like an Easter Island statue.

Anyway, back to the subject. Rose, like many hundred thousand (probably millions) girls, women, and men all over the world adored Tennant's Doctor. She was just one of them. She wasn't special in any way. Sure, she was kind of cute and blonde. But she had spots and her hair was coloured. Fine, she did have a pretty fine brain to make up to many outer flaws, but hardly for all inner ones. But, that didn't mean her love meant less.

She still felt ridiculous though. Next month she would be 25. Twenty-bloody-five and have a crush on a celebrity! That was just idiotic! And extremely silly! She was a woman grown, had a real job and a celebrity crush. Pathetic. She couldn't wish it away though. And luckily her friends were not of a mean sort, even if they teased her loads for it. That was the reason it had taken her such a long time to go and see the play he was in. She didn't have confidence or courage enough. And she didn't have anyone to go with. But when all the shows were filling up she soon realized she would not miss this chance for the world.

Now putting her feet in Wyndhams theater in London made her legs tremble and heart flutter like a little bird's. When she found that her seat had been double booked she almost cried. Almost, but didn't, because after some waiting, she got it back.

Shaking like a leaf, she was finally rewarded with a slender, bold Tennant on stage. She was nervous through out the play though, almost like she expected him to talk to her right then and there. And she didn't have a clue what to say.

The play was at and end and without knowing so she stood up, clapping her hands hard and long, with tears filling her eyes. She wasn't sad, not one bit. Just very, very happy. Although, the autograph session outside was a very frightening thought. What if he saw her? What if he didn't? What would be most dreadful? She entertained the thought not go at all. It would be probably be thick with fans anyway. It was a ridiculous notion. She was a 25-year woman. Hunting autographs is for kids ten years her junior, she concluded. But even in that self-scrutinizing moment, she knew she couldn't deny herself that. Not now. Who, but her, would know of it anyway?

And when the applauds subsided, she ran as fast as she possibly could without knocking anyone over, to the stage door around the corner. It had rained. The air wasn't fresh, as this was in the middle of London, but it was clear and it filled her with courage. Rose pressed herself through the crowd and managed to shuffle her way into the third line of queing girls and women. Okay, so this spot was not very good. But at least she had a chance. She lifted the play's program from her bag and also powdered her nose. Nobody noticed.

When David Tennant and his co-actress Catherine Tate came out from the stage door, a roar went through the crowd and somehow they looked so bright, so glorious, in the spotlight. They smiled and waved, and then turned into a very practised walk, from left to right working their way through the nearest fans. Damn you lucky bastards, Rose thought bitterly. The actors was almost in her path, which was, unfortunately blocked by wild teenage girls. "You were still in diapers when he played The Doctor" she almost said out loud.

And then, somehow, David Tennant had passed without as much as a glance in her direction. She felt like she would turn to fluid and splash to the ground at that moment, much like Amelié did in that french film. "Catherine" she whispered defeated, and received an autograph on the program still hanging in the air. The red haired actress never looked her way, for her it was just business as usual. That was another blow for Rose. Rationally, she understood the pressure that the actors must have on them, but that didn't make her hurt less. It was probably for the best anyway. Even if they had talked to her, whatever would she have said? She hadn't the faintest idea.

The crowd was too pushy, and when one of the stage door guards said something to Catherine Tate, she waved to the fans and left. Rose put herself on her toes and saw Tennant nodding back to his colleague. This was it then. People in front of her resigned and squeezed their way out. She moved slightly forward but wasn't paying attention anymore. She looked at her single autograph. Somehow it made her smile. She didn't even realize she was standing at the railing. Even more surprising, a lonely tear dropped on her program.

And then David Tennant was in front of her.

"You want me to sign that for you?"

She raised her head and gazed right into a pair of large, dark brown, endlessly deep eyes. She felt her heart drumming loudly. He must have taken another turn. Well, she wasn't gonna stand there like a complete fool.

"Oh, yes, please!" she said with a shrill voice. When he took the program, she decided she wouldn't waste another precious moment and added "I loved you as The Doctor". She supposed she must have screamed. To be heard in this crowd, you kinda had to. Still, she felt like a crazy person. Oh, god, if he only knew how normal I am, she thought, and then silently added "but that's what everyone here think of themselves". At that comment (or scream) he turned his head and raised an eyebrow. Rose thought she might have seen half a smile. She wondered if he missed playing The Doctor. Or if he hated always being associated with it. But then he humoured her.

"Thank you. Any favorite part?" he said as he returned her program.

"The Time Lord Victorious" and 'anything with the blue suit' she almost said, but at the last millisecond she swallowed the last part of the answer. He was already moving on to the next autograph, but for some reason he kept his look on her a few more seconds. "Good choice." was the final comment, and this time he smiled. If it was for her or for the crowd, she couldn't tell. She smiled back as it would have been for her though, very broad, too big a smile some would say. The tear on her cheek had dried. He was moving away now, and soon he turned and moved at the door. The crowd was going wild, screaming girls all around. Rose didn't scream, but she still smiled. The goodbye was as quick as the entrance, with the exception that she now could see it, not having loads of people in front of her. He waved and gave a last, almost searching, glance at the crowd. Oddly their eyes met. And then he was gone.