And so begins my first mini-series. As my brain was wandering – as it's prone to do – I wondered about Rose and the duplicate Doctor's relationship. Every relationship experiences "firsts," and those Rose had already had some with the real Doctor, everything with the human Doctor would be brand new. So I decided to chronicle them. Enjoy.

FIRST KISS

"A kiss seals two souls for a moment in time." - Levende Waters

His lips still tingled from her kiss, and even as she broke away to watch the TARDIS vanish forever he couldn't form a coherent thought other than "do it again." But that underlying sense that had always been so attuned to Rose and her moods was now enhanced with human empathy, so he managed to shake himself free enough to walk over and take her hand. Her fingers closed around his in a vice-like grip, as if she was afraid he, too, would disappear into thin air. He gazed at her for a split second before she turned her head toward him, and his breath caught from the sheer emotion swirling in her eyes. How was it possible for one person to feel such turmoil and confliction and elation and relief and not collapse from the weight?

"What now?" she whispered, and his solitary heart broke at the worry in her tone. Her simple question was really anything but, and he found himself unable to give her a suitable reply. So he just held her hand, trying to convey through his actions that he was here and he wasn't going anywhere. After a few moments of pregnant silence she stepped around him and began walking toward her mother. He let her go reluctantly, trailing along behind her as she tried to make sense of the reality that had just been thrust upon her.

Jackie enveloped her daughter in a crushing hug and though Rose didn't cry, the Doctor could tell she was only barely maintaining her control. He stood quietly off to the side, completely out of his element in this new and strange world with a thousand questions whizzing through his mind. Did Rose even want him? Was that kiss just the result of years of pent up tension, triggered by his honest admission? Would he have to get a job? What was his name? Where would he live? Would Torchwood want to examine him? Was Jackie going to slap him for the actions of the other Doctor?

"Stop thinking for a minute," Rose mumbled from her mother's shoulder, and the Doctor blinked once before focusing on her. After several tense seconds, Rose let go of her mother and wrapped her arms around his neck. Despite her distress, he couldn't help but grin into her shoulder as he relaxed completely for the first time since he'd been created. He felt her chest hitch against his own and he realized she was finally starting to cry, finally letting go of all the emotions she had been keeping at bay for who knew how long. One of his hands moved to cradle her head, and the simple comforting gesture was all it took for Rose to lose whatever strains of control she was trying to maintain.

He sank to the sand with her, settling her in his lap as she wept into his suit jacket. Jackie looked torn between wanting to comfort her daughter and wanting to give her privacy. Finally, the Doctor made the decision for her and lifted his head from where he laid it against Rose's.

"Why don't you call Pete for a ride?" he spoke softly. "I've got her." The Tyler matron hesitated for only a moment more before setting off down the beach to make the call. The Doctor turned his full attention to the sobbing girl in his arms, whispering nonsensical words of comfort into her ear as she gulped for air and control. He was surprised to find his own tears mingling with hers as his emotions bubbled up to the surface. The enormity of the day's events were crashing down on both of them, and the Doctor knew in that moment that neither would be able to cope without the other. He was literally born to be hers, and she had sacrificed so much in search of something she hadn't even known existed. But they were together finally, and he vowed to the planets and stars that nothing would ever tear them apart again.

"Pete's coming to take us back to the mansion," he whispered when she finally calmed enough to take a breath. Her fingers played absently with the lapel of his jacket, and he forced himself not to think of how those fingers had felt so delightful fisted in the material, crushing them together desperately. His breath tickled her ear as his lips moved over her head, dropping every kiss his other self had denied him before. He felt her take another shuddering breath and relax more fully against him, her eyes drifting closed from sheer exhaustion. He scooted back until he could lean against a rather large rock, ignoring the dull ache in his muscles in favor of letting her rest.

"A car should be here soon," Jackie's soft voice startled him, and he barely managed to keep from jumping in fright. "Is she alright?"

"Completely knackered," he explained. "I think everything came down on her at once. She'll be better after a quick kip." Jackie took a step toward him as if to ensure her daughter's well-being, but one look at the Doctor's face checked her progress.

"She loves you, you know," the woman continued lightly.

"She loves him," he corrected.

"You are him, you daft alien." The hardness in her tone left no room for argument, but the slightest bit inside of him that was Donna Noble ignored it completely.

"I know that," he shot back just as tersely, "but I'm not sure she does. Not yet." His voice and expression softened as he looked down at the slumbering woman in his arms.

"She will," Jackie told him firmly, and he almost believed her. Almost.

"I hope so."

So I'm curious…what "firsts" have you experienced in your relationships? Or, if you haven't had any, which would you most wish to experience with a special someone? I already have quite a few of these mapped out, but as I said I'm curious about your thoughts. Let me know, and they might just make it into the series!