ivydoor | Happy!Who Fic- "Cannonball"

Title: Cannonball
Characters: Ten/Rose
Genre: Fluff
Happy!Who Table 3: Prompt #3-Kitchen
Disclaimer: No I can't have a Time Lord. Not mine.
Spoilers/References: New Earth
Summary: The Doctor doesn't learn from experience.

Previously on How the Table Prompts:
Clock
Sweet

**********

Rose was sitting on the console chair with her legs curled under her. Flipping lazily through the pages of one of her magazines, she wasn't really reading so much as she was killing time. She had been waiting for the Doctor to show up there for a least 45 minutes. She felt rested and recharged after the visit to the spa and was ready for action. It wasn't like the Doctor to be the last one there, though. Usually he was the one chomping at the bit, unable to sit still to the point of obnoxious. She's normally the one wanting a lie in. Rose wrinkled her nose at the thought of the role reversal. What next? Cats and dogs living in harmony?

Bored with waiting, she decided to go hunt him down. Knowing him, he was probably buried to his neck in heavy, dusty books. Lost in his own little world. The thought of getting lost in there with him briefly flitting across her mind, but she quickly put that idea out of her head. Not. Happening.

Sighing, she turned the corner to the library. She was reasonably sure this would be where to find him, but looking around there was no sign he had been there recently. This stumped her. Where else would he be? His room? She made a mental note that would be the last place she would look. No need to go there unless absolutely necessary. He had to be up and about somewhere. Sitting still was not his forte. Even at the spa, he couldn't manage it. He had so much pent up energy by the time they got in the pool, it was all she could do to keep up with his playful splashing. She grinned at the memory. She only got the best of him once.

*********

"Give it up, Tyler!"

"No!" she squealed.

The Doctor then watched in horror as she shifted from flailing damsel in distress to dangerous predator. He had unwittingly backed her against the only carved step of the spring. The only warning he had was a spark of defiance in her eyes. In one swift, fluid movement she grabbed the ledge from behind, hoisted herself to her feet, turned on her heel and walked away from the pool.

"How'd you do that?" he asked, confused as to what just happened.

She flashed a grin over her shoulder. "Gymnast." said in the same tone he had spoken to the Sycorax leader.

She turned and ran full speed towards the pool. The Doctor looked like a deer in headlights. She leaped over his head and landed with a perfect cannonball.

"You win."

*********

The Doctor cringed at the memory. His reaction to being outwitted by her had been as bad as the Cassandra-Not-Rose kiss. If not worse. How did she do that? Make him freeze like that. The first taste of it had been at Downing Street. He had kept his cool externally, or so he hoped, but mentally he had just halted.

This was something he had to prevent from happening again. It was definitely Not Good he told himself.

He took another scoop of ice cream.

*********

Rose was getting frustrated. He wasn't in the lab, the arboretum, or the lounge room. Next stop was the kitchen.

She walked into the kitchen and found him sitting on the counter, feet propped on a chair, with a half eaten tub of ice cream in one hand and a scooper in the other. She crossed her arms and looked at him. He was lost in thought, completely unaware of her presence.

"Doctor..."

If he could have jumped out of his skin, he would have. The chair clattered to the floor as he knocked it over trying to stand up.

"You alright there, Doctor?" she laughed as she bent over to right the chair.

"Yes! Fine! Yes. Yes. I'm fine!" He smiled sheepishly. "You just surprised me is all."

She eyed what was in his hands. "That's some breakfast you've got there. I'm amazed you can stomach it after all the sweets yesterday. How you didn't end up with a tummy ache from eating all those chocolates so quickly..." She trailed off shaking her head affectionately.

He glanced down at the tub and scoop. "Want some?" he offered waggling his eyebrows.

"No thanks." she said, making a face. "Besides, I came here to find out where you were hiding. I was waiting for almost an hour and it's taken almost another hour just to find you. Since we're both here, I might as well make some real food. And no, banana ice cream doesn't count." she added hastily sensing his protests.

He sat at the table watching her as she made toast and eggs.

They ate in friendly silence. At least, until he nicked her last piece of toast and made a mad dash for the console room.