Untitled - TARDIS Big Bang

"Yeah, I should've said sooner..." He scratched his head. "Just, um, just tell them all I suddenly decided
to have my name legally changed. Or that Smith was my married name and the divorce just came
through. Something."
"But...why?" Rose asked, knowing full well it sounded petulant. "You've always been John Smith when
you needed a name. Why switch it to Noble?"
He sighed, still looking down. "That's Donna's surname," he said. "Noble. I just...it seemed, right, you
know? Something to remember her by."
He smiled at her then, a little distant, a little embarrassed, and Rose bit her lip. She could've asked can't
you remember her otherwise?or what's so special about her anyway? or why didn't you just tell me? She
didn't ask any of them. All she said was, "Okay."
"Okay?" he echoed hopefully.
"Okay," Rose said. She wasn't going to be paranoid and jealous. She wasn't going to worry about it. If
the past few days hadn't proved what the Doctor felt about her, she wasn't sure what would. She would
just...be calm. "If you feel that strongly about it...I mean, it's your name. Not many people get to name
themselves."
"Well, what about you?" he asked. "Ms. Prentice?"
"It's Mum's maiden name," she said. "I'm supposed to be a cousin on her side, not Dad's."
"Huh." He started to top off his coffee, and must've caught sight of the little clock. "Oh, hey, didn't you
have to leave to catch a bus...um...now?"
Rose checked her watch and cursed. "Yeah, okay, leaving." She ran across the dining area to kiss him
goodbye. "I'll see you tonight. Don't be too bored without me."
"Mmm. I will strive mightily," he said, and even shut the door behind her as she raced downstairs to
meet her bus.
37