Part 1

Something odd is going on. Rose can't quite put her finger on it but her husband is not acting entirely like himself. She is concerned but not overly so as he seems to be in perfect health both physically and mentally, not too mention that he also seems content and happy, but still, something is not right.

She and the Doctor are earthbound, unexpectedly, for two, maybe three, weeks and he hasn't complained once. Rose had even asked him if he wanted to use the TARDIS to skip ahead but he had replied, "No, I don't think we need to do anything that drastic. You help Pete with whatever it is Torchwood has made a mess of this time. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine catching up with Tony."

She isn't doubting that. Rose is absolutely thrilled by how much the Doctor and Tony love each other. She and her parents do everything they can to nurture and encourage the bond the two of them seem to share. Yet even with that Rose can't quite shake her unease about the Doctor willingly trapping himself on earth for a fortnight, at least. It just doesn't fit with who she knows him to be.

This whole thing, she isn't even certain how to describe it to herself, started almost three weeks ago. She and the Doctor had been visiting the planet Diomira when her mum rang.

"Rose, I really need you and himself to come back to London for Saturday night. Your dad and I are hosting a charity dinner and it would help, with the press, the Vitex board members, and the board of directors for the charity, if the elusive Vitex heiress and her husband put in an appearance. Also, I wouldn't mind getting to see my daughter before the year is up."

After assuring her mum that, "Of course we'll be there, just give us the date and time. Yes, we will do our best to make sure that we don't bring any hostile aliens or invasions with us."

Rose had disconnected the call and when they returned to the TARDIS that night she and the Doctor set their next destination for the day of Jackie's party. They had the TARDIS materialize in the guest suite where they always stayed when they were in London and, hand in hand, went downstairs to say hello. As usual, Jackie grabbed Rose in a massive hug and Tony threw himself at the Doctor and promptly dragged him away to go look at his new toys and play his new video game with him.

A few hours later they were having dinner when Pete had asked Rose for some help with an alien treaty and contracts.

"You've met these aliens before. In fact, you were the one who initially brokered the treaty between our two planets. Thanks to a few overzealous agents," he hurried on before Rose or the Doctor could interrupt him, "who have been dealt with and won't be causing any problems, I assure you, relations are rather tense at the moment. I would appreciate it if you would come and talk to them, reassure them, and hopefully ease the tension that is becoming somewhat unbearable and potentially dangerous."

The Doctor shook his head at the expected usual Torchwood incompetence and Rose responded, "Of course I'll help in anyway I can but shouldn't we start tonight though? I just mean, it sounds like it's becoming serious."

"Don't you dare. Those aliens can wait for one more night. I have been planning this party for weeks and none of you, not a single one of you, is getting out of attending," Jackie jumped in, sternly, and fixed all of them with a glare, before Pete had had a chance to respond.

After a moment of stunned silence from everyone at the table, Pete replied, "No, I think tomorrow should be just fine. I don't think it will take very long. A few days, at the most."

Rose and the Doctor had simply looked at each other, shrugged, and nodded in agreement.

The charity gala did in fact go off without a hitch much to Jackie's delight and no small amount of shock. The Doctor had tucked Tony in for the night and read him two bedtime stories and then he and Rose had gotten dressed for the party. Rose had worn her TARDIS blue gown that was a favourite of the Doctor's and he had donned his tux with minimal complaining.

At the party they danced, enjoyed the delicious and numerous nibbles (Jackie's caterers were truly top notch and had outdone themselves), and posed for photos as was expected of the Vitex heiress and her husband at any of their extremely rare public appearances. There were speeches and shaking hands with wealthy and powerful people and the Doctor proved particularly adept at getting them to donate more than they had intended; usually by shaming them into it but Jackie wasn't complaining as it brought in more money for those who needed it most.

All in all the evening was a huge success and even Jackie couldn't find any fault.

Later that night when they were alone and finally in bed Rose had asked him, "Are you sure you're okay with extending our trip? I know it was only supposed to be for one night and now, well, I don't even know how long we may be here."

"Rose, it's fine, don't worry about anything. Really. Even if you no longer work for Torchwood you are still the Defender of the Earth and their most competent agent. They need you, the planet needs you, and it sounds like there are some aliens out there who need you too."

She smiled brightly, teasingly with a hint of her tongue peeking out, at that, "And my alien? Does he need me too?"

"I have always needed you, that is not something that is ever going to change," he answered with the utmost sincerity before pulling her closer and kissing her deeply.

The next morning she and the Doctor were in the kitchen having some breakfast when Tony came racing downstairs and announced that the Doctor was going to school with him today. Rose, Jackie, and Pete, first all looked at each other before finally glancing at the Doctor who was finishing his toast and tea.

"Right you are, Tony. Let me get my coat and we'll be off."

"Did you two plan this?" Rose couldn't stop herself from asking once Tony had left the room.

"No," he responded, "but it isn't entirely unexpected either. Tony told me it's show and tell and I rather think he wants to prove to, well, everyone that I actually exist."

So, the Doctor and Tony went to school and Rose went with her dad to Torchwood. Jackie, who was somewhat relieved to have her house back to herself, even though she would never admit it to anyone – not even under pain of death – decided to take in an at home spa day and simply relax and enjoy the quiet.

Six days and countless meetings, negotiations, and briefings later proved to Rose that this was not going to be solved in a few days as Pete had originally promised but was, in actual fact, going to take quite a bit longer. Apparently, the actions of the Torchwood agents were on the verge of being seen as an act of war and Rose was now desperately trying to hold that off.

When she had explained the situation to the Doctor he had immediately offered his help but Rose had said that she was certain she could handle it but if things continued to fall apart, "Just, please, be available. I really don't want to see a war that the earth cannot possibly survive."

"Neither do I. If you need me, you know I'll be there but I have faith in you. You're going to save the treaty and the planet. You'll see."

"Having said that, are you okay with being stuck on earth for a bit longer? I mean, you can take the TARDIS and jump ahead, if you want."

"No, I think I'll stay here whilst you go off and save the world. Spend some more time with Tony."

Rose had to smile at that, "He loves you so much. I'm so happy that the two of you are going to have all this time together."

"Tony's brilliant. He asks all the right questions and wants to learn everything about everything. Well, he is a Tyler. Stands to reason that he'd be exceptional."

She shook her head, "You must have been an amazing dad."

"No, no, I wasn't," he said seriously. "Parenting on Gallifrey was nothing like you know it to be. One day you're told, 'This is who you will marry.' then another day you're given a child. When the child is around eight years old, they are sent to the academy. It was cold and unemotional, the entire process. I wasn't really a parent I was more doing the job that I had been currently been assigned."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up more memories. I wasn't thinking."

He shook his head, "Don't apologize. I want to share my past with you. When you ask, it helps me to know where to go, so to speak. My granddaughter, Susan, that was closer to the familial relationships that you would know."

"Really?"

"Oh, yes," and he couldn't keep the pride or smile out of his voice. "She was my first companion. When I stole the TARDIS, she came with me. She fell in love with earth and so did I, even though I wouldn't admit it at the time. We stayed in London and she even went to school."

"What happened to her?"

"She fell in love. She would have left him behind and stayed with me but I couldn't let her do that. So, I left her behind."

"You left her?"

"I did. She eventually married him. They had children and, eventually, grandchildren. They were happy. I know what you're thinking but I did do the right thing for her."

Rose was about to respond when they heard voices from downstairs.

"Rose, sweetheart? Doctor? Are you two here?"

She got off the bed and opened the bedroom door, "Upstairs mum. We'll be right down."

Rose turned to the Doctor, "Are you all right?"

He smiled, tightly, "Yep. Well, I will be. For now though, we better see what you mum wants before she shouts the house down."