SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW
Chapter Seventy Three Rose was glad she had handed off the driving to Alan. She could tell he was able to navigate the roads with no problem leaving her and Awinita to sit back and relax. The two of them engaged in small talk and even though Alan would join in occasionally, for the most part he was busy concentrating on the roads and keeping an eye out for the road signs so he wouldn’t miss his turns. After about an hour, they finally found the interstate again and Alan went back onto it into the middle of the flowing traffic. The rain had eased up a bit more though the wind was still raging but he took it all in stride, not even flinching when the gale force buffeted the sides of the car. Knowing that he was able to keep the car under control made Rose relax even more and she slowly drifted off to sleep with the stuffed Stitch in her arm. “Rose?” Rose’s eyes slowly opened and she saw Alan gently shaking her. “Hmm?” she said, trying to focus. “Rose, I pulled off into a lay-by so I can use the restroom. I hate to wake you and Awinita but I figured you’d probably need to go also,” he said gently. “Yeah, I do,” she murmured. “Where are we?” “We’re nearly out of Florida now.” Rose stared at him. “How long have I been asleep?” she asked. “About four hours. The rain’s stopped for the moment and the wind’s not as bad now so I decided to pull over and take a break.” “You did it,” Rose said. Alan raised his eyebrow. “Do I detect shock in your voice, Rose Tyler?” he said, amused. “You sound like you thought I was gonna crash us into a ditch.” “No, I mean, the wind and the rain and all.” “Nah, didn’t bother me, I have the Doctor’s piloting skills in my DNA. Easy peasy lemon squeasy,” he said. Rose gave him a kiss on the lips before she opened her door and slowly slid out. She noticed the back seat was vacant and figured Awinita was already inside. The wind whipped her hair around but it had died down significantly and Rose had no trouble making it to the bathroom inside the visitor’s center. She passed Awinita on the way inside and glanced at Alan coming in behind her before she went into the restroom. She quickly used the bathroom, washed her hands and ran back outside. Alan was leaning against the front of the car casually sipping a bottle of Coke while Awinita sat in the back seat fiddling with something. He smiled at her. “Feel better?” he asked as she walked up. “Tons.” “You want me to keep driving?” “Um, you don’t have to, I mean you’ve been driving for four hours, aren’t you tired?” “Nah, I’m fine. You guys were asleep so I’d rather just continue on and let you get some rest. I know where I’m going thanks to the Onstar so if you want to just go back to sleep, be my guest.” “Thanks, Alan,” she said. “You’re welcome. You and Awinita just leave the driving to little ol’ me. I’ll get us out of state safely.” He gave her another kiss on the lips and nuzzled her nose before she went around to the passenger side. Alan took another swig of Coke before he got back in. He set it in the cup holder, closed the door and fastened his seatbelt while Rose settled into the seat. Alan looked at her and glanced back at Awinita. “Could you pass up her sleeping bag?” he asked her. Awinita reached behind her, got the sleeping bag and passed it to Rose who murmured her thanks Alan helped her adjust it so it covered her entire body and started up the car while Rose tilted the seat back and closed her eyes. “Rose?” Rose opened her eyes and saw Alan leaning over her. “Another restroom break, interested?” he said softly. “Now where are we?” “Alabama, near Montgomery, probably about fifteen miles outside it,” he said. “What time is it?” “Nearly seven in the morning.” Rose glanced out the window and saw the sun just starting to rise. She looked back at Alan who had a proud smile on his face. “I got us out of Florida,” he said. “Thank you,” she said. She listened for a moment. “No wind,” she said to him. “Nah, we’re far enough away now. Although I did turn on the radio for a bit and Awinita was right, it’s going to cut across the southern part of Florida and head this way so we need to keep on going.” “Well, let me drive now, love. You’ve been up the whole night.” “You sure? I’m not tired.” “No, you need to sleep. I’m fine now, I’m rested. Just go ahead and go to the restroom and then change places with me.” Alan nodded. He kissed her on the temple. “I’ve already been so you go ahead and I’ll switch while you’re in there,” he said. Rose nodded. She got out and went to the restroom while Alan climbed out and walked around to her seat. After Rose finished and everyone was in and situated, she started the car up and got moving again. On the way, they passed another off ramp and she headed onto it. Alan, who was snuggled down under the covers, frowned. “Where ya goin’?” he asked. “I need a cup of coffee,” she said. “You guys want something for breakfast?” “I’m not hungry, Rose. I just wanna go back to sleep right now,” Awinita said, lying down on the seat and pulling the other sleeping bag over her body. “Okay…you, love?” “Where are we goin’?” he asked. She looked around and saw a Burger King nearby. “Burger King,” she said to him. “Um…a coffee and one of their croissant sandwiches with sausage and cheese,” he said. “Gotcha.” She turned off and pulled into the drive-thru. About an hour later, Rose was fully awake and heading for Birmingham. Awinita was still asleep and Alan had finally drifted off into a contented sleep with a belly full of coffee and croissant sandwich. Rose smiled at the peaceful expression on his face. She had rarely seen that expression on the Doctor’s face and it filled her with joy knowing that Alan was happy and content after all they had been through. She glanced down at her engagement ring and felt her heart swell with love. She had mixed feelings about the end of the journey now. She hated going back to London, but going back meant marrying the man she loved. She decided to concentrate on that and she let her mind drift slightly as she drove, imagining her wedding and how wonderful it would be. Her heart ached briefly when she thought of the Doctor and how he would never let himself be in Alan’s place, not even for a second. She hated that he was probably alone again and it hurt even more knowing it was by choice. Some of his anti-domesticity had rubbed off on her but she wanted more than anything to be married to Alan and she wondered how different and how much happier the Doctor would be if he would only take a chance and find someone special that he could also marry. She was momentarily stunned when she thought that, that she was wishing the Doctor would find someone else to love instead of her but she knew deep down in her heart that a relationship between them would never work because the Doctor would never give it a chance to grow and flourish. Each time she got close to him he would do what he always did, push her away and keep her at arm’s length claiming the Curse of the Time Lords was keeping them apart. He would never let her be truly intimate with him, she knew that now, which is why she was thankful that Alan had chosen to be different in that respect. Alan was a wonderful gift and she intended to hold on to him for the rest of her life, no matter what it took. “Where are we now?” Rose looked over at Alan who was awake and looking at her. “Almost to Birmingham. Go back to sleep,” she said. “I’m not sleepy, honestly,” he said. “Driving wakes me up, actually. Besides, it’s daylight and I’m missing Alabama.” He shifted around in his seat and stared out the window. “Feels strange being on the road again after four days of Disney,” he said softly. “Yeah, it does.” “Are you heading into Tennessee?” “Yeah and I think we’ll stop at Chattanooga for the night,” she said. “I think that’ll be far enough away from the hurricane.” “Chatta-nooooooooga,” he said as Rose giggled. “What a fun name. Sounds like a nice place to live.” He looked at her. “Are you heading to Memphis to see Graceland then?” he asked. “Dunno, do you want to?” “I wouldn’t mind it. I admire Elvis and I wouldn’t mind taking a tour of his mansion.” “Well, let’s wait till we get to Chattanooga and we can plan what we’re gonna do from there.” “You didn’t say it right. It’s Chattanoooooooga.” She giggled. “Sorry, I meant Chattanoooooooga.” They giggled. Alan looked at her with a twinkle in his eyes. “I’m so glad you’re happy, Starlight,” he said. “I’m very happy.” “Good because that’s all I’ve ever wanted for you, to be happy.” Rose reached over and tousled his hair. “I s’pose that’s me being the perfect man, eh?” he said with a wink. She smiled. “Yup, it is.” “Well, you’re the perfect woman, so I guess it makes sense we’re together,” he said. He took her hand and gave it a squeeze. “Do you need to go to the toilet?” Rose said when she spied another rest area. “No, I’m fine, you?” “No, I’m alright and I really don’t wanna wake Awinita so we’ll wait till we get into Birmingham before we take a break.” “Okey-dokey, we’ll wait till Birminghaaaaaaam,” he said as she giggled. “Hmmm, doesn’t sound as catchy as Chattanoooooga.” “Well, not every place can have a fun soundin’ name,” Rose said shrugging. She jerked her head towards her open window when she heard a horn honking. She saw a group of teenagers in the car next to her leering at her. “HEY BABY! PULL OVER AND WE’LL TAKE YOU SOMEWHERE FUN!” the one on the passenger side yelled. “Yes, Rose, pull over so I can ram my fist down their randy little throats!” Alan said. Rose tried to speed up but the car kept pace with her. Alan sighed while the boys hooted and hollered at her. He gritted his teeth when the commotion woke up Awinita. “What’s goin’ on?” she muttered. “A bunch of boys are about to die that’s what’s going on,” Alan said. Confused, she rose up in her seat much to the delight of the horny teenagers. “HEY, HONEY, BRING YOUR FRIEND ALONG TOO! DITCH THE SKINNY GEEK AND FOLLOW US!” Rose flipped them off and rolled the window up. Alan smirked when he saw the disappointed looks on their faces. “Sorry wankers, guess the skinny geek wins out,” he said. Rose tried to slow down to get them to pass but they kept on following her. Alan noticed how nervous she was becoming and his blood began to boil. “Are they gonna follow us now?” Awinita said. “They better not if they know what’s good for em,” Alan said. “I’ll teach those idiot apes a lesson or two.” Rose noticed an off ramp. “Right, hang on,” she said. She waited till the last moment and then jerked the minivan onto the off ramp. Alan snickered when he noticed the upset looks on the teenager’s face. “Ta-ta!” he said gleefully as he waved at them. “Go and find some other woman to stalk.” Rose sighed as she turned off. “Well, I wasn’t planning on taking a break this early but while we’re up here, I guess…” she said. Alan sighed angrily knowing that they had frightened Rose and woke up Awinita. He was glad they didn’t follow them because he knew he would have kicked all their asses without a second thought. Rose pulled into a KFC and parked. They all got out and went inside to use the restroom. “Are you alright?” Alan said, putting a hand on her back. “Yeah, I’m fine, I was just scared the stupid gits would make a mistake while they were ogling me and run us off the road.” “Well, if ever there was a need to call humans apes it was that lot,” he said. He gave her a kiss and went into the men’s restroom. As he peed, he took a deep breath letting the anger go out into the atmosphere. He finished up, walked outside and checked his pockets. He had some money left so he went and brought Cokes for the three of them. He headed back around the corner just as Rose and Awinita came out. “Thank you,” Rose said when she spied the Cokes in his hands. “You didn’t have to do that.” “S’alright, we can sit in here and take a breather while you calm your nerves and Awinita wakes up.” Rose and Awinita smiled at each other and followed Alan over to a booth. They sat there talking quietly and sipping their drinks for about a half hour and then once they were finished, they headed back out to the car and got back on the interstate.
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