Thank you (as always!) to the lovely tenroseforeverandever.
Rose Tyler-Smith drifted slowly towards wakefulness. She was warm and perfectly comfortable, and a contented little sigh passed her lips.
A single sunbeam shown between the edges of the curtains, illuminating a framed heart made of three sets of pink-paint handprints, and assorted photographs of two small blonde girls, from infancy to school age. A black and white kitty padded slowly into the room and uttered a rusty 'merlow.'
"Happy Birthday, love," John's voice rumbled under her ear.
She gave another drowsy little sigh and cuddled closer in to his side.
"None of that," he teased playfully. "I know you're awake…big day an' all."
"I'm comfy right here," Rose pouted.
"I know you are," John chuckled, pressing a kiss to her forehead, "but you have to get up to have your present!"
Rose opened her eyes fully and reached up to cup his cheek in her hand. "You're the best birthday present I ever got."
"How'd you figure that?"
"The first time I ever saw you, it was my birthday," Rose explained. "I was teachin' a dance class at the community center, and you came in to do somethin' with the wifi. I figured you must be very, very brave - or very, very daft, to be messin' about with the wiring in that old place."
"I thought you were the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. Still do."
Rose leaned over to kiss him.
John returned the favor enthusiastically, eventually pulling away with a grin on his face. "We still need to get up," he reminded her. "I know that you look gorgeous naturally, but some of us need a bit more work to be presentable…and then there's those two."
"Allie's had her dress picked out for weeks."
"Jackie still thinks she's wearin' jeans and that purple jumper with the cat," John countered.
"I don't think so," Rose replied ominously.
"Well, then you'd better get up and tell her that." John slid from the bed and held out his hand. "Trains, curtain times, and backstage passes wait for no one."
Rose allowed herself to be pulled to her feet, but kept a tight grip on John's hands. "Are we doing the right thing?" she asked for about the hundredth time.
"We haven't committed to anything yet," John replied calmly. "This is just another step in a very long process. This is what she's said she's wanted, ever since she was a little girl."
"She still is a little girl."
"That's supposed to be my line."
"And that's another thing," Rose fretted, "I grew up without my dad -"
"Stop right there," John said firmly. "Your dad died when you were a baby. Going away to school is nothing like that. There's letters, and visits, and phone calls. She'll be fine."
Rose stepped forward and slid her arms around John's waist. "It's just…Allie's always been so shy…I still can't quite believe that she's the one who's wanting to stretch her wings so soon."
John smoothed his hands through Rose's hair. "Our daughter is a very determined young lady."
"Little girl," Rose countered.
John tipped her face up to meet his intent gaze. "I'm not the expert that you are, but I think when it comes to her dancing, Allie is older than her age. I think she knows the path she wants, and I think it's our job to help her."
Rose nodded. "I want our girls to have choices. I don't want either of them to end up in some seedy road side pub, just because there's no place else."
John shuddered, thinking of how badly that could have ended for her. But on the other hand… "You know, that was one of the best birthday presents I ever got."
"What you mean?"
"The first time I ever saw you dance was in that pub. It was my birthday. I finally found out what that mysterious evening job of yours was."
Rose flushed deep red. "I never wanted you to see that."
"If I hadn't, would we have ended up here? You are the best thing that ever happened to me, Rose." He laced their fingers together. "I'm so glad I met you."