preserved_ginger

Title: How I wonder
Rating: PG
Setting: post-Journey’s End; canon compliant
Beta:

karenor
Character(s): Ten II, cameos by Tony and Rose.
Pairing(s): Ten/Rose
Spoilers: Spoilery as hell for Journey’s End, by definition.
A/N: The title and the quotes in the fic are all from the nursery rhyme Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.
Summary: He’s still waiting for her to accept him.

As your bright and tiny spark,
Lights the traveller in the dark —

He watches Rose as she sings to her little brother, and notices how – although her voice is soft and tender as she sings Tony to sleep – her eyes are blank and her expression drawn. It’s been weeks now, and he'd hoped that she would at least have begun to start accepting him.

But no.

He still gets the distinct impression that every time she looks at him she remembers that beach and the choice he still thinks was forced upon them. He still can’t believe that she would willingly have chosen him. Perhaps that’ll come with time.

She wasn’t the only one left behind, after all. A life of travelling the stars was his birthright, and that was stolen from him by a man who wears his face. He has Rose; but when Rose cannot see him for him, then it’s a mixed blessing.

But he can feel the earth move beneath his feet, and yearns to be back amongst the stars again, travelling through the universe.

Was losing that universe worth what he has here, now?

Though I know not what you are,
Twinkle, twinkle, little star.