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The Doctor had left the TARDIS parked by the edge of the woods, just outside of the town they'd gone exploring through together earlier. He wasn't planning on leaving them there through-out the 'night', while he and Rose slept, but he could leave them parked while they relaxed inside for a little while.
It was as they were stood in the console room, discussing different nebulas they could park by while they rested that they heard it. A sound the TARDIS was almost entirely unfamiliar with. A sound that made both Rose and the Doctor jump. He was sure the TARDIS too was unsettled, if she could feel such a thing.
"Was that-?" Rose started, interrupted once more by the incessant sound at the TARDIS doors.
"Can't be," the Doctor said, even as the sound continued. A fist against wood, someone demanding to be let in.
"There's knocking," Rose said, a grin suddenly growing on her face, and he was helpless to her joy, grinning back. "At the TARDIS doors."
"Could be dangerous," he reminded. She tilted her head, the promise of adventure igniting something in her.
"Might not be," she pointed out. The Doctor hummed, and looked to the doors. It could be dangerous, but it might not be, and besides when had danger ever stepped them? He certainly couldn't think if a time a little bit of risk had made them back off.
No words were exchanged, they'd grown past the need for that with plenty of things. One look, and Rose's already bright look seemed to light up. In the face of her infectious joy all the Doctor could do was grin right back. Together, as they did most things, they headed for the door. The knocking hadn't stopped, whoever it was was still as insistent they get inside.
Rose's hand made it first, but the Doctor grabbed the other door handle. Still without the need of words, just a small glance and another grin, they pulled open the doors in sync.
"Hello," the Doctor greeted, almost cheerful.
"Heya," Rose added, grinning right beside him. There was a small group in front of them, locals they seemed. The one that had been knocking smiled at them politely, and stepped back. They raised one of their hands, counting down from seven on their seven fingers, and in unison the group started singing.
"Ah," the Doctor said, looking from the singing crowd to Rose and back again. This had not been something he was prepared for. A small invasion force? Sure! A salesman, well why not, could be fun watching them blunder! A group of Christmas Carolers? No, that was where the Doctor drew the line.
For her part Rose was holding in her laughter as she side eyed the Doctor. Her reaction was to grin and nudge him. Her and her mum hadn't had Christmas Carolers at the flat on the estate, and well she certainly hadn't been expecting them on an alien planet three hundred years in her future. But, well, the TARDIS and the Doctor had a way of surprising her. It was fun!
"Oh come on," Rose whispered, "this can't be too domestic for you can it?" The Doctor huffed, rolling his eyes. He didn't give her any further answers.
The carolers song came to an end and they all gave small bows. Rose clapped slightly, a quick glare convincing the Doctor to the same.
"Seasons greetings," the person at the front said. Rose and the Doctor echoed their words in tandem. "We're sorry to have interrupted your evening young lovebirds," they went on, and Rose's face ignited. She could feel herself blushing, more than she had in a very long time too. Beside her the Doctor wasn't fairing much better.
"We're not," Rose tried, as the Doctor mumbled beside her. The leader of the group waved them off.
"It is clear what you feel for each other," they said, stepping back. It was hardly the first time they'd been accurately accused of feeling such things for each other, but they'd hardly been in such a domestic setting any other time. "A donation, to the children's hospital, and we shall sing one more," they added. Rose looked to the Doctor expectantly.
He raised an eyebrow in question, and Rose smiled brightly. With a sigh the Doctor turned for his leather jacket laying on the railing. He fished around for local currency and returned to give a decently sized donation to the charity.
They started up a second song, and the Doctor settled beside Rose again. Without much of their say so, their hands found each other. It certainly hadn't been the adventure Rose had been expecting from the knocking at the door, but it was a welcome one anyway.