A Place in Time (26/30)

[amberfocus]

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Chapter Twenty-six:  Family

“Rose, oh Rose, sweetheart,” Jackie Tyler said as she hugged her daughter close. “I heard the noise and I couldn’t believe it. I thought,” and she pushed Rose back away for a moment to look in her daughter’s eyes, “That I’d never see you again. And here you are.” She kissed Rose on the forehead then pulled her back in again.

“Hello, Jackie.” Jackie pulled away from Rose and looked at the Doctor who had emerged quietly from the TARDIS.

“Come here, you big, clever Time Lord, you. If anyone could find a way back, it’d be you,” she said and the next thing he knew he was having the air crushed out of his lungs. When she let go of his ribs she grabbed hold of his head and kissed him smack on the lips.

“Mum!” Rose protested, laughing. “That’s my fiancé you’re snogging. Let him go.”

Jackie let go of the Doctor so fast he practically reeled. He used his wrist to wipe off his mouth the second Jackie turned back to Rose. Still, it was better than a slap. “So he’s finally going to make an honest woman of you, is he Rose?”

Rose rolled her eyes, but she held up her hand to show off the ring the Doctor had given her. “Oh, that’s lovely, sweetheart.”

“How long’s it been, Mum?” Rose asked a catch in her throat.

“Since you left? A little over a year now. You’ve got a new baby sister.” And almost as soon as she said the words Pete Tyler emerged from the house, the baby in one arm and Johnny holding his free hand. He came down the steps and walked over to Rose.

“Hello, Rose,” Pete said with a smile. “This is Daisy Rose Tyler.”

“We named her middle name after you, so she’d have a piece of you even though she’d never get to meet you.” Jackie smiled again at her oldest daughter as Pete handed Daisy to Rose.

Rose held the little girl, looking down at the sweet little face. “You look good holding a baby,” the Doctor said quietly, his arm going around her shoulders. Rose tilted her head to look up at him and gave him the most intimate of smiles. Then she looked back at the baby.

“I bet you would, too,” she said throatily, so much emotion in her voice.

“Been a long time,” said the Doctor kissing the side of her head.

Jackie’s heart was about to burst watching the tender tableau. She’d always known that the Doctor loved Rose, almost from their second meeting, but seeing the way he looked at her daughter just then she finally understood just what he had sacrificed when he’d kept Rose safe by sending her back to Jackie twice when his own life was in danger.

“How did you get back?” she asked almost afraid of the answer. “Is it a one time thing?”

“There’s a pretty stable gateway now. It can’t be used often, no more than once or twice a year. But Mum, I’ll be able to call. The signal will go through the gate even when it’s not in a perfectly stable phase. So even when we can’t see you, I can still talk to you and Pete and the kids.”

Jackie’s smile was brilliant. “So you’ll be able to visit.”

Rose nodded. “And you’ll be able to come to the wedding, Mum.”

“Oh, let me hug you again,” Jackie said. Rose turned and handed the baby to the Doctor and hugged her mum again.

“That Rose?” Jackie looked down at little Johnny who had broken away from his father and was tugging on his mother’s skirt.

Rose knelt down beside him. “I’m Rose. Do you remember me?”

“Seen your pit-chur,” he said pronouncing the last word with difficulty. “You smile like me. You been gone.”

“I know I have,” she said. “And I missed you.” The little boy smiled at that and then hesitantly reached out to hug Rose. She smiled at him and pulled him against her, standing up and whirling him around in circles. He laughed the pleasing giggles that only young children have. She set him back on the ground and he sat suddenly.

“Dizzy,” he said.

“Oh, children do look good on you,” the Doctor said. Rose turned to face him and her breath caught at the sight of the Doctor holding Daisy. “I think I’d like one of these pretty soon,” he said and he locked eyes with Rose.

She smiled at him. Then he was handing the baby back over to her mum. Rose turned around and noticed that Donna was still standing in the door to the TARDIS.

“Donna, come and meet my family,” she said.

As Donna came towards them Jackie said, “Who’s this then?”

“This is Donna Noble. We travel together,” the Doctor said. “Donna, this is Jackie Tyler, Rose’s mum. Her brother and sister Johnny and Daisy, and her dad Pete Tyler.”

“I thought you said your dad was dead?” Donna said looking at Rose in confusion.

“This is the parallel version of my dad. He lost his Jackie and they found each other,” Rose explained.

“Your family is just full of happy endings.” Donna came forward and shook hands with Pete and Jackie and then knelt down and shook Johnny’s hand, too. He giggled because she was treating him like a grown-up.

“They deserve it after all they’ve been through,” the Doctor said softly.

“I’d say you all did.”

“Well, let’s get you lot inside,” said Jackie. “And Doctor, can you move the ship round to the backside of the house. Don’t know how I’d explain that on the front lawn if anyone asked.

The Doctor nodded and obliged her as everyone else trooped into the house. He reappeared shortly thereafter and sat down next to Rose, tucking her under his arm. She was holding the baby again. By the time he’d gotten back inside Donna was talking easily with Jackie, the two women having recognized each other as kindred spirits.

The door burst open and Mickey Smith rushed into the room. “Pete called me as soon as Jackie heard the TARDIS,” he said. “Oh, Rose, it’s so good to see you again. Doctor.” He reached over and carefully hugged Rose around the baby, then shook hands with the Doctor. They introduced him to Donna and then he sat down on the other side of Rose.

Rose sighed with happiness as she looked around at all the faces. Everyone she loved most in the world was right there in that room.

Ch. 27:  http://amberfocus.livejournal.com/57095.html