Disclaimer: Doctor Who isn't mine. If it was things would be quite different. The BBC owns all and I bow before them.

FYI…For those that have been reading this as it was posted for the last few chapters, Director Collins has been changed to Director Crispin in honor of one of my favorite Star Wars authors that passed away from cancer in September. She created the character that provided my pen name and I actually had the pleasure of sharing a meal with her during Dragon*Con years ago. I thought honoring her was appropriate. RIP AC Crispin.

Also, timeline wise, this starts 3 weeks after chapter 5.

D.O.C.T.O.R.W.H.O

The Doctor paced back and forth the flat nervously. He was a little surprised he hadn't worn a hole in the bloody carpet yet. Tonight was going to be the night. He'd been planning it for the past few weeks and he was finally going to ask Rose to marry him. He had been rubbish at relationships in the past, and worse at his own weddings, but this time he wanted everything to be absolutely perfect right down to the proposal. She was his beloved and he wanted the world, no the multiverse, to know that the two of them were irrevocably bound together.

He was virtually certain of her answer, possibly more so than any man had ever been before. She'd offered him her forever years ago when he was still fully Time Lord, and at Bad Wolf Bay he had offered her the chance to spend her life with him, if she wanted it, and there had been promises between them since then. But he wanted, no he needed to take the next step.

Hence the nervousness. A bit of that insecurity might have come from Donna, but truth be told he had always been nervous when he asked her to come with him or be with him, all four times. Any regeneration, any body, there was the fear she would say no. She'd told him no that first time and it had hurt and that was when he only felt acute fondness for her. He couldn't bear the thought of her saying that to him now. He didn't think that would happen but until the question was asked he knew he wouldn't be at ease.

Sometimes he could still scarcely believe they had reached this point. As soon as the other Doctor had given him that look on TARDIS as he announced they were going back to Dårlig Ulv-Stranden and telepathically told him his plan, he'd been filled with a maelstrom of conflicting feelings. He'd instantly been filled with righteous indignation for Rose that she was being left behind without a choice and with him to boot and no question to what she wanted. He had known she was extremely curious about him as he stood next to her at the console but he also knew he was not really the Doctor to her, not at that point. She couldn't have known or understood that until the metacrisis regeneration took place after he was shot that they'd been the very same man. He also felt guilty as he was the reason why Rose was not going to have what she had worked for so hard and so long. Finally, there had been elation at the thought, the mere possibility that perhaps she would choose to be with him.

Unable to stop himself, the Doctor opened the blue velvet box with the engagement ring and stroked it once again. He had done so countless times since he'd picked it up two days ago. The jeweler had tried to get him to take a black box but he had insisted it be blue. Blue and rectangular, not square.

Inside the box, set in a ring of yellow gold, was a diamond surrounded by two pink sapphires. The diamond was circular; an unending loop just like his love, and the pink sapphires and yellow gold symbolized what Rose had always been to him, pink and yellow. Finally, etched in a small script inside the band there was an inscription: All of time and space and I found you. When he filled out the paperwork for the ring, he knew the jeweler thought he was certifiable but he hadn't cared. He'd designed it himself exactly the way he wanted and it had been an impatient two in a half weeks for him since he had ordered it. Now though he had to admit, the timing for everything was perfect. The TARDIS news he had for her, his new job, and the proposal itself all tied together nicely.

The Doctor snapped out of his thoughts as he heard Rose's keys jingle as the front door was unlocked. He shoved the box in an end table drawer immediately, stopped pacing, and tried to look casual. He had purposely picked out his black pinstriped suit instead of his tuxedo because he didn't want to tip her off. He didn't want her to have any idea that tonight was not just another date night. Tonight he would not just offer her his forever, he would also let her know he was committed to this human life even if at times was still confusing and a bit terrifying. He didn't want to miss any of it, not with her at his side.

D.O.C.T.O.R.W.H.O

Rose was a bit sore as she entered their flat. Sore and dirty. It had been a long week at work and today there had been field work that just left her feeling icky. She knew the Doctor had plans for them this evening but in all honesty she just wanted a bath and to stay in and snuggle with him.

The past few weeks had been wonderful with the Doctor. He wasn't so secluded anymore and she had realized with some guilt he really had just been waiting for her to be ready. He had started joining her and her coworkers for their weekly drinks after work on Wednesdays and Fridays had become date nights out for the two of them, and then staying in on Saturday evenings and spending time with her family on Sunday.

Their date nights so far had consisted of finally seeing an Ian Dury concert (he was still alive on this Earth) two weeks ago and then last week going to the cinema and watching a cheesy sci-fi movie. They had had a great time at both but during the latter she finally had to visit the concession stand to buy popcorn and Jammie Dodgers for the Doctor to stuff in his mouth and prevent him from pointing out every single scientific inaccuracy. Rose had no idea what he planned tonight but she hoped he wouldn't mind waiting until the following evening.

One look at the scene that met her eyes and she knew something was up. He was leaning against the wall of the living room with his ankles crossed. It looked too casual to actually be causal and she knew it was staged.

The Doctor's eyes lit up as he looked at her. "Hello!" He grinned at her and pulled her into his arms, lifting her off the ground slightly. He had started doing it the night she brought Tony home, repeating his action after Krop Tor, and now he did it every evening when she returned home from work. She returned his embrace but restrained from hugging him too tightly, knowing she didn't smell very good from the gunk that she, Gwen, Owen, and Jake had waded through that day. He wrinkled his nose but did not say anything.

"I know, I stink." Rose laughed. "'M going to take a bath." She arched her eyebrow and tilted her head as she waited for him to ask if he could join her, but he didn't, nodding at her instead. Yep. She knew something was definitely up now.

"I'll make dinner while you bathe. Anything particular you want?"

Rose smiled at him gratefully. They now traded off the cooking and tonight it was her turn, so she was thankful that he volunteered. "I could murder some chips. So chips and burgers?"

"Coming right up."

D.O.C.T.O.R.W.H.O

After her bath Rose felt much better. The hot water had soothed her sore muscles and freshened her up. Under the hot water she had decided against asking the Doctor to postpone whatever it was he had planned. He had indulged her when he had wanted to stay in and she could do the same. As long as she was with him, she was sure the evening would be wonderful. Being with him was wonderful, period. Even going on almost 4 months she still sometimes found it hard to believe she was going to get to be with him forever.

Rose grabbed her dressing gown and slipped it on. She could smell the chips and they made her mouth water. She dried her hair and got dressed as quickly as possible and then joined the Doctor at the dinner table.

"MMM…" She said, stabbing her fork into several chips. Her eyes closed in pleasure she took her first bite.

"Pretty good, eh?"

"Hmmm…." Rose opened her eyes and gave the chips a critical stare. "Well, you're no dinner lady," she gave him a cheeky grin. "But I think you'll do…"

"I just pass inspection? Really? These babies were homemade!" He arched an eyebrow in mock indignation.

Rose laughed. "Just teasing. They're gorgeous. And the Kobe beef! Might never want to go out for chips and burgers again when you can do this."

"That might be able to be arranged," the Doctor said around a mouthful of burger. He was chowing through his food like a madman and she couldn't help but grin. Whatever he was up to, she suspected she would find out shortly.

As soon as they were both done eating, he grabbed her hand. "C'mon. I've got a surprise for you."

He led her out to the garage but didn't open the door. "The shatterfrying is complete. For the time being she just needs to grow. Oh, Rose, I can feel her, in my head. This is going to work." He grinned at her and Rose returned it wholeheartedly.

Rose hugged the Doctor tightly. "Show me."

For the next hour he talked, and talked, and then talked some more, explaining the whole shatterfrying process. He hadn't really told her before how worried he was about doing it wrong when he only had a small piece of the coral but it had worked. Much of it still went over her head but she understood it much better than she would have years ago, now that she worked at Torchwood and had helped create the dimension cannon.

The Doctor hadn't been sure of any time frame he told her, as in the past it had taken thousands of years to grow a TARDIS. But after careful calculations and patience, it was finally time to mostly sit back and watch her grow. He couldn't be sure but he estimated it would probably take a year and a half for the TARDIS to be complete. His hands caressed the side of the grow tank longingly and then he looked at her almost guiltily and stopped.

Rose wrapped her arms around him in response. He was more important to her than traveling in time and space but she couldn't wait to get back to running hand in hand with him amongst the stars. "I'm so happy for you. For us." She said the last word very deliberately while looking deep into his eyes, wanting him to know how happy it made her too. "What are you going to do now though, while we wait?"

The Doctor did not answer her question. Instead he slipped out of her embrace and took her hand. "Let's go out and you'll see. I have another surprise for you."

D.O.C.T.O.R.W.H.O

As the Doctor drove their car away from the flat, Rose turned her head from the passenger seat. "Do I need to close my eyes?

"Oh no, not at all." He smiled at her. She had no way of knowing they were going to site of her surprise weeks ago and he wanted to see her face as she realized that fact. "But if you want you can turn the CD player on."

Rose's eyebrows arched in surprise. "Yeah? I thought you didn't really like my hip-hop music?"

The Doctor chuckled and nodded. "Not a fan of that, but I put something else in while you were changing."

"What is it?" she asked, curious.

"Just something I was waiting for the perfect time to share with you. Tonight feels like the right night."

There were some exceptions, but Rose didn't usually gravitate towards classical music and he really hoped he she liked his work. He'd been so inspired by the cosmos, and while he'd had a lot of good times before she had ever entered his life, the very best adventures in any universe had taken place with her at his side and they had helped motivate this piece. He couldn't wait to get back out there with her once again. First though, he would answer her question and let her know exactly how he would be spending his time. Everything was going according to plan.

As the Doctor continued to drive, the car was filled with Ode to the Universe. He glanced over and saw that she had closed her eyes as she listened to the music. A smile played across her face, gradually getting bigger as the music progressed.

Rose opened her eyes and turned to him. There was a knowing smile on her face. "You wrote that, didn't you? She reached over and patted his leg as he nodded. "It's beautiful."

"I know," he said, smugly. "It's a symphony and should be played by an orchestra for full effect, but I had to settle for the piano at the mansion. You should have heard it when it was played at Royal Albert Hall."

Rose looked impressed. "Really? I wish I had seen that!"

"I wish you could have too." He reached over and squeezed her hand.

"Um, Doctor…" She looked around as he took a familiar exit. "Exactly where are we going?"

"Now, Rose. What did you say? 'The point of a surprise that you're not supposed to know what's coming?'"

Rose gave him a look of slight chagrin but nodded. "Just looks like we're headed to the planetarium or the science museum." She looked at her watch in puzzlement. "But they should both be closed."

The Doctor shrugged. "Maybe they are." He gave her a mysterious smile.

A couple of minutes later he pulled up to the London Planetarium. The lights were low and Rose was correct, it was closed, as was the connected science museum. He reached inside his pocket and pulled out his employee badge, thankful his hand was large enough she couldn't see what exactly what it was. Walking around the building to the side entrance he palmed it against the key pad and led her inside. Enjoying the puzzlement on her face, he nuzzled her nose and kissed her briefly.

The Doctor walked her through the planetarium and to the administrative office. He unlocked the door and flipped the lights on in the room. Six cubes were in the room, in two rows of three. Hand in hand, he walked her to the back row and stopped in front for the cube farthest back on the right. Hanging outside the cube was a name plate that read Dr. John Noble.

D.O.C.T.O.R.W.H.O

Rose mouth dropped open in an 'o' of surprise and she couldn't help but gasp. The Doctor had taken John Noble as his legal name soon after they had arrived but he hadn't been very happy about it. She assured him at the time she would always call him Doctor as would her family and he could certainly explain to everybody else that it was his nickname. He hadn't used the name much yet though, just to obtain a birth certificate, driver's license, and passport. Seeing it on a name plate sent a jolt through her.

"What?" she asked feeling bewildered. It was obvious what it was and yet she didn't understand; to say that he'd surprised her was an understatement. She glanced inside the cubicle at his desk. It was a sight of organized chaos that she knew only the Doctor could achieve. There were stacks of papers in one spot, books in another, some of them open, and star charts laid out across the rest of the desk. Finally, next to his computer was a picture of the two of them, taken recently during a picnic at a local park with her family. The desk looked so ordinary and yet because it was his it was extraordinary.

"It's my desk." He grinned at her and she knew he was enjoying her confusion. He pulled out his chair and motioned for her to sit down. He leaned against his desk next to her once she was seated.

"I see that. But when? How long has this been going on?" She couldn't believe that the Doctor had gotten a job and started working, all without her knowledge. Not with the gob he had.

He took her hand in his and squeezed it with a smile. "I started a week ago when the shatterfrying was complete. After you introduced me to Director Crispin a few weeks ago, you went to take that call from Jackie, and I had a moment alone with him. I told him how wonderful I thought his planetarium was and I said I would be looking for a job soon. He offered me one at the planetarium and the science museum right away. I didn't want to be a physics teacher or a history teacher again. Been there, done that. But the planetarium and the science museum, that's something new. I'll give tours and lectures or classes to students and visitors. I can teach but not have to deal with any pesky grading of papers or other boring nonsense. Isn't it brilliant?"

Rose grinned at him. "I think it's fantastic. I can't believe it. You with a job!" She got up and hugged him. "'M surprised you didn't tell me about the TARDIS sooner though. The coral has really been growing for a week?"

The Doctor nodded and grinned back at her, clearly pleased with himself. "I couldn't. I knew you'd ask what I was going to do and I was right! Almost the first words out of your mouth! But it was time for me to get a job. I'm also going to be a Torchwood consultant as needed. Pete did help supply equipment for the TARDIS after all. I've been acting like a guest but this planet is my home now. You're my home," he paused as he stroked her cheek. It's time I stopped letting you support the two of us and do my fair share."

Rose pulled away and looked up at him, startled. "What are you talking about? You've been working on the TARDIS not lazing about! I don't know how many times I have to tell you this, but I want to get back to time and space too."

He nodded. "I know that. But I let Martha support me in 1969 and I've been doing the same here. I don't want to do that anymore."

Tears gathered in her eyes. She really hadn't looked at it that way but it was clear that the Doctor had and that pained her. He'd gone about it awkwardly, instead of just talking to her, but he'd always been a man of action. He had done this for her. She could tell how happy this was going to make him though, so it made her happy too. This was the perfect job for him and that was what mattered to her.

She got up and stroked his cheek before pulling him into her embrace. "Oh, Doctor. I love you so much." Linking her arms around his neck she brought his lips to hers and kissed him fervently.

He returned her kiss breathlessly for a moment. "I have one more surprise left for you."

Rose laughed. "Are you trying to show me up? Outdo my surprise?" She teased him, her tongue poking through her teeth.

The Doctor's eyes grew wide. "No! Besides, I could never top your first surprise."

"What was that?" Rose had no idea what he was talking about.

"You, of course. Grabbing your hand at Henrik's. I didn't know that night was going to change my lives forever." He slipped his hand in hers once more.

"Yeah? I could say the same for you." She grinned at him as he led her out of the office.

D.O.C.T.O.R.W.H.O

The Doctor walked with Rose hand in hand to the theater. "This is the best part, Rose. I came up with the idea. Director Crispin told me how the planetarium struggles and that if it weren't for the science museum there were times it came close to being shut down. I thought of a way to increase revenue. Tony actually inspired me."

Stepping inside the theater, he flipped on some dim lights. The screen wrapped around so the movie or projection being show wrapped around the theater, in front, above, to the side, and behind the viewer. He left her for a moment to turn on the Northern Sky projection. The theater lit up with the night sky and constellations.

"It's beautiful. But how did Tony inspire this? He's a toddler." Rose gazed at him quizzically.

"Yes, but he loves my bedtime stories. How could he not?" He grinned at her. "But I realized nothing could be better than bedtime stories under the stars. Granted they can't be the stories I tell Tony, but still. There are plenty of stories and fables about the constellations and then there are regular old bedtime stories. If I can make children fall in love with the stars…" He trailed off as he watched Rose turn around slowly, taking everything in view.

"'S perfect. Tony is going to love this and I know other kids will too. I might actually have to hear them myself." She leaned in and kissed him again. "Doctor, I know we're going to get back out there once the TARDIS is ready but in the meantime I'm glad you have this. You've really found the perfect place for you."

"Nah, this is very good, but being with you, that's perfect." Reaching into his pocket, the Doctor flipped a switch on the projector remote and the stars above started to twinkle and an occasional meteor fell across the screen. Perhaps it was a little cheesy, like something out of one of Rose's chick flicks, but this was as close as he could get to how he wanted to propose to her. It was finally time, at long last.

"OH!"

He smiled as she gasped in delight, her eyes riveted to the screen. While Rose was distracted he got down on bended knee and used the remote once more to bring up the theater lights just slightly so there was enough light so she could see him and would be able to see the ring.

D.O.C.T.O.R.W.H.O

Turning her eyes back to the Doctor, Rose's felt a lump rise to her throat. He was down on bended knee and time seemed to stop for her. Her heart swelled and tears sprang to her eyes.

"For so many centuries I was alone in the truest sense of the word. I never thought I could be so happy, never thought I would meet somebody that could help me feel complete." He stopped for a moment as his voice choked with emotion. "But then I met you, Rose Tyler, and suddenly I knew what I'd been missing. Before, I didn't think we could have everything I wanted but now we can. Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife? I want to run through this great adventure that is life with you at my side." He pulled out a blue velvet box and opened it slowly, his eyes never leaving hers.

"You pretty much had me at 'Run'." She offered him her hand. "And even more so at 'I love you.' You and me have always been headed for this. I just had to wrap my head around it."

"Err, isn't it traditional to say 'yes?'" He frowned but Rose could see his mouth twitched and his eyes twinkled.

"We aren't exactly traditional, Doctor. But if you insist, YES." Finally, he slipped the ring on her finger and then pressed a kiss against both the ring and her hand. Rose tugged him to his feet so he was standing and then jumped into his arms and wrapped her legs around his waist. "Now kiss me."

Spinning her around as they both laughed and cried tears of happiness, the Doctor did just that.

The end

A/N: So. Yes I know it was a bit cheesy and over the top. I couldn't help it. I also figured this was as close as I could get for the Doctor to what he wanted since they weren't back to traveling in the TARDIS and he had to settle for giving Rose an Earth proposal.

This may or not be complete. At this point I am not sure. I did end this chapter at a good place if it really turns out to be the end. However, I do have some stuff that has become head canon for this series for me that hasn't fit in so far that I would like write. I'd do it as sort of an outtake like you sometimes see during the credits after a movie. GallifreySky kind of prompted me and I've decided that the Doctor DOES tell Rose about what happened to Donna and that is what I will try to write. If it doesn't work out I do want my readers to know that he does share this with Rose prior to them getting married. The only reason he hasn't shared it so far is he didn't want her to hurt with the knowledge but he does come clean. I have other stuff I'm working on and want to get back to but once I've done that I'll come back and see if I can do the 'Donna' scene. If it doesn't work I'll mark this complete at that time.

Ode to the Universe is real and can be seen on youtube as Doctor Who Music of the Spheres or with the Complete 2009 Specials box set. David Tennent's Bedtime Stories (as well as bedtime stories from other Doctor Who actors) can also be seen on youtube and helped plant the idea in my head for the Doctor's bedtime stories.

Thanks to everybody who has followed & or reviewed this. I've appreciated each and every one. This is the best received Doctor Who piece I've written so far and I am thrilled that some really enjoyed it. I stepped out of my comfort zone for this one and I'm reasonably pleased with the results. Not sure if I'll do anything of the sort in the future but regardless, I do have more stories & ideas in the works. I've started a series of Doctor/Rose ficlets/oneshots called Two for the Road if anybody wants to check it out.