My blue rose: My 19th birthday was yesterday and I wanted to write a birthday fic and this sort of came to me. Takes place after The Unquiet Dead but before Fathers day.

Prism

Rose steps out of the TARDIS beaming, practically dancing with the anticipation of discovery and adventure. Looking up at the sky, her smiled fades. She stands still, eyebrows knit in confusion as the Doctor appears next to her.

"It's purple. The sky's purple," she says, perplexed.

"I'd say s'more of a mauve."

"Is it supposed to be that color?"

"Course it is." He makes a derisive snort. "Humans. You lot always think every sky should be blue jus' because yours is. Typical ethnocentrism."

"Why?"

"Why are you stupid apes so prejudiced? Been asking meself that question for years now an' still haven't found an answer." She ignores him.

"So are there other planets with different colored skies? Other than purple, I mean."

"Rose Tyler, there are planets with skies every color you can imagine an' some you can't."

"Yeah? What color is the sky on your planet?" she asks before she can stop herself.

He goes very still, as if he's been turn to stone. She inwardly curses herself as an awkward silence stretches between them. She's about to apologise when he speaks in a low, barely audible, voice.

"Orange. It used ta be a burnt orange color. Like leaves in autumn."

She slips her hand into his and squeezes it comfortingly.

"Why's it purple?" she asks, desperate to change the subject.

"The atmosphere reflects that color an' absorbs all the others."

At her confused look he gives a longsuffering sigh.

"S'like a prism. You know how when light shines through one it makes a little rainbow of light?"

"Yeah."

"Atmospheres are kinda like that 'cept they only reflect one color. The other colors are there, jus' invisible."

"Sort of like you, then."

He blinks at her, eyes unfathomable, and squeezes her hand.