Fic: Keepsake (Now Beta'd & somewhat rewritten)

[emraldeyedauter]

Title: Keepsake
Author: emraldeyedauter
Beta: naughtybunny23
Rating: Mild Teen.  (Angst and Romance)
Character Pairings: Nine/Rose, mentions of Ten

Story Summary:  A obscure box of items and Rose's memories of Nine help her make a decision about the Doctor's newest regeneration.

Authors Note: This fic is not new.  It was about the third story I wrote when I started writting Doctor/Rose fanfic just over two years ago. Back then I did not have a beta so the story was posted as I had written it.  I decided it was time to revisit it and my dear beta agreed to take a look. Luckily it wasn't too bad and she hasn't thrown her hands up in disgust :D  I have a few more followers since I first posted this story so here is the new and improved version. Hope you enjoy it.


It started with boxes, little boxes or rather one little box. Well, one little blue box but not the TARDIS to be precise. Sometimes little blue boxes imply something like a jewellery case from Tiffany’s but it definitely wasn't that. Okay, so not so little. Maybe one medium blue box. A keepsake, a memory box - that’s what this was. Loads of people had them but Rose never expected the Doctor to be one of them.

Not the current Doctor though, not the one who was currently hot-footing it around the console with his wild hair and pin striped suit. No this box belonged to her Doctor, the one with short cropped hair who favoured jumpers, jeans and leather jackets. The Doctor she had first run with, whom she still loved with her whole heart, well, up until two days ago when he changed on her. His regeneration had left her confused and that’s the reason she was now hiding in her bedroom with the contents of the box spread out around her, trying to sort through it all and unable to face the 'new' him out there.

She remembered the day she found the box. It was likely that she wasn't supposed to find it. Her Doctor had sent her in search of some wire from a particular cupboard in the TARDIS. She found the wire but while pulling it down, her eye caught a quick glint of light from the back of the closet, above her head.  She reached up and pulled down an earring she recognized as one of hers she thought had been lost sometime ago.  She stood on tiptoe and peered towards the back of the shelf. There behind where the earring had sat, pushed as far back as possible was the box. She stretched her arms into the closet and pulled it down, noticing with surprise her name written on its lid in flowing penmanship.

She recalled frowning as she opened it, wondering at its varied contents, items she thought lost and gone forever.  These things spoke volumes about the Doctor including the fact that perhaps he was a bit of a kleptomaniac. It seemed like random stuff but then she found each piece had a note attached. There was the tube of lip gloss she'd taken from earth on her first journey. She found one of her hoodies, a blue one, not her favourite but missed nevertheless. Also included was a small vial of her favourite perfume, a hair tie, and a CD of her most loved music. All the items were lost at some point but she had long thought her extreme disorganisation was to blame. She wondered at the time what they were doing in this box and why had he taken them?

Further inspection revealed other items with no obvious relevance until she read the notes attached. The receipt from the cafe where they ate chips after witnessing the end of the earth. The hair piece she wore when they met the Gelth and a piece of the restraints from Satellite 5 (whoa that’s a little kinky). The piece of music the TARDIS played as he showed her his dance moves. These were only a sample of his collection but each article was connected to her or them both together. The final item she found was a photo. It was of her sleeping and on the back he had written: My golden angel who took a chance on me. I love you.

Her interest in this last item had been so great she hadn't heard him until he was standing next to her. She remembered the nervousness at being caught and trying to give him an apology. He had stilled her lips with his fingers. That night he took other things from her, things that she gave all too willingly - her kiss, her heart, her body, her soul.

Now back in her bedroom she looked again at the material items. The photo is once more in her hands. She had taken a chance on her old Doctor and though it hurt to lose him part of him was still here in this new Doctor. It was only fair she give him a chance, too. She gathered up the items and placed them back into the blue box. Given time she would share the contents with the new Doctor but for now she tucked the box away inside her cupboard.

Opening her bedroom door she strode purposely towards the console room with her mind clear and her heart open.



 

Comments

[bloose09.livejournal.com]

Oh Em, what a bittersweet and touching tale. The thought that the Doctor would keep items that he nicked from Rose is so sad. It shows how desperately he was in love with her.

You have given a us a little glimpse into Rose's mind during that difficult time right after Nine's regeneration, where she is struggling with her feelings for the 'new' Doctor.

Thank you!

[emraldeyedauter.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much. Although there is no doubt that Rose loved Ten as well as Nine I figured she'd need more than one day to work through her feelings for the new Doctor. And we do know Nine loved her so it seemed believable that he'd do something like this. Hiding his love for her out of sight just like her things that reminded them of her.

[develish1]

This is lovely Em, I'm so glad you decided to post it

[emraldeyedauter.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much Dev. I'm happy you enjoyed it.

[jer832.livejournal.com]

I have a feeling of deja vu. Did you have this up early this year? I'd swear I read it, one of the first "ninth doctor" fics I found. It's gorgeous and poignant, very sad (because we didn't have Nine long enough) and hopeful. I love the "tone poem" kind of feel of the reverie (somewhat bitter but mostly sweet), and the last sentence that moves it into action.

I'm very glad you revisited, and I'm sure your beta was too.

[emraldeyedauter.livejournal.com]

Jer I wouldn't have mentioned it on lj this year although I did post it here a very long time ago in the original version so it was on my masterlist. The original version was also over at fanfiction although I have now replaced that with the new one too. Perhaps you read it at either of those.

Thank you for the lovely compliments. I do still miss Nine very much and glad you enjoyed the story.

[jer832.livejournal.com]

I checked and most of your stories that I saved were end of 2010, about October. But I haven't transferred everything from the old computer, so I'll assume it was deja vu (though I swear I remember the end and being sad that Nine was gone and Rose was sad and he'd loved her so. I'm sappy sometimes.)

[who-in-whoville.livejournal.com]

This was lovely. I wasn't around when you first posted, so this is my first reading. Oh dearie, it was just wonderful. Exactly what I needed before retiring for the evening :D

[emraldeyedauter.livejournal.com]

Aww thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Sleep well!

[tracy-lousia.livejournal.com]

Lovely, really sweet. Thanks for reposting it as I've not been on here for long. x

[emraldeyedauter.livejournal.com]

You're most welcome. I'm so pleased you enjoyed the fic. I am slowly getting some of my older fics beta'd and reposted. There will probably be one or two more to come. Cheers and thanks.

[fannishliss.livejournal.com]

this was a very sweet story, the Doctor nicking things to remember her by. It seems sadly likely to me!

[emraldeyedauter.livejournal.com]

Ohoh oh. Thank you. Do you know how inspiring it is to have a review from an author who's work I love to bits. I'll be grinning now for the rest of the day.

As tothe story yes I think Nine and perhaps even Ten would be capable of this. So much in love but unable to say it, knowing that Rose would be gone at some point in time whether she's taken or by old age. He'd want things to remember her by.

[bratflorida.livejournal.com]

Just rip my heart out Em... *sigh* Nine and Rose were so good together! (And yes, she and Ten were also, but come on...just a few more episodes???) You've given me the sniffles with this one...I miss them!!!

[emraldeyedauter.livejournal.com]

I know how you feel Brat. I don't write angst often but people seem to like it and sometimes its the way for my own emotions on the subject tocome out. Bit like one of my other fics where I wrote about Doomsday. I always try to leave a little bit of hope though even if it was Ten/Rose but Rose was obviously influenced by Nine.

At least CE has played some other wonderful roles too so it helps with the loss of Nine.

[redcirce]

This was really sweet and a bit sad. It was nice to see Rose reflecting on her first Doctor, since there wasn't much time on the show for that. And it's pretty adorable that the Doctor kept this big box of Rose keepsakes!


(Makes me wonder if he had a whole collection of nicked items hidden away from other close companions (in a less romantic way!). :) )

[emraldeyedauter.livejournal.com]

Sorry for the delay in responding. Thanks for reading and reviewing. I think Nine like all the Doctors had a soft spot for his companions but especially Rose. I think its very like him to try and hide something like this but he can't help himself. He has to have reminders.