Hello all! Promised another 10Rose fic, and here it is. I thought I'd put this one out there, since I've scrapped my two originals. Let's face it. I'm a one shot kinda girl. I hope you all enjoy this.

And RTD, your answer is no. No, I DO NOT own Doctor Who! So stop calling me!

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It had been an ordinary day. It had started with a stop off in fortieth century Equador. He'd taken Rose to the remodeled ancient ruins, pointed out the irony in their title, and then they shared a quiet meal in a small café in the mountains. Yes, it had been an ordinary day.

Rose sat quietly surveying the landscape before her, candle light dancing on the side of her face, reflecting back at him in her golden hair. That's when he knew.

"Doctor, what's wrong?" Rose's concerned inquiry took him off guard. He'd lost himself in his revery, and begun to stare. She'd obviously taken his serious expression as meaning something dangerous was afoot. And, maybe there was...

"Nothing, nothing. It's just," He swallowed hard, and leapt, "you."

She crinkled her forehead, "'scuse me?" She seemed to unsure of what to make of the comment, so she chose to respond angrily.

"Oh, no, no," he sighed frustrated with himself. "That's not what I meant. Well, yes it is, but you took it the wrong way. Although, to be completely honest, in your place, I might have done the same. Language, funny thing, that. Well, English, anyway. Now on Prima Cauron, there are no double meanings. Everything is exactly what it is meant to be: no homophones or innuendo to muck it up."

He was babbling, and he knew it. She seemed to relax at his tangent, grinning to herself in a way that left the Doctor no room for doubt in her feelings towards him. Yes. This ended tonight.

"So, what did you mean?" Rose had developed a knack for staying focused on the task at hand. It was a skill that was vital to her survival in his recent incarnation. She had to be the focused one.

"I meant," he paused, and then reached across the table to cup her cheek in his hand, "I was just admiring you. Rose, you're beautiful."

There he'd said it.

"For a human," she smiled at him.

"No, not for a human. You just– are– beautiful, I mean," his hearts were pounding out of his chest, now.

Her eyes were soft as the faint blush stained her cheeks.

"Thank you," she said meeting his gaze.

With those eyes, staring back at him like that, he knew he had to say it.

"Rose Tyler," he took a deep breath, "I lo–,"

She put her finger to his lips, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Don't. Just– just don't."

His face was a portrait of pain and rejection. He had misread her signals. Friends. That's all they were, all they ever would be.

He immediately switched back into Doctor mode, spouting off about this artistic movement, and that historical battlefield. He had to do this, for survival's sake.

She watched him disregard his hurt, and couldn't take it anymore. She grabbed his tie and pulled him into her lips. The kiss was awkward at first: they were leaning across a table, and she had taken him by surprise. But, after the initial shock, it had become tender, and meaningful.

He pulled back slowly, gazing deep into her eyes questioningly.

"I know."

That was all she said, all she ever had to say.

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The "She knows" thing has always bothered me. This is my solution. Fits in before "The Impossible Planet." Hope you all enjoyed it!