A/N: Another piece of fluff set just after the Christmas invasion, enjoy!
Masquerade
"Oh come on Rose, it'll be fun!"
"Mickey, I don't even have a costume. And it's too short notice. Besides I haven't seen them in ages."
"That's another reason for you to go." Mickey nagged. "Come on; don't make me go all by myself."
"You can always borrow something from the TARDIS." The Doctor offered. Rose shot him one of her 'shut up now!' looks. "What? You should go. You'll have fun."
"Yeah Rose, it'll be fun." Mickey was practically bouncing on the spot.
"Well are you coming?" Rose asked the Doctor.
"Me? In fancy dress and masks? I don't think so. I'm a bit old for all that."
"What's all this then?" Jackie asked carrying mugs of tea.
"We're trying to convince Rose to go to Shareen's fancy dress party tonight." The Doctor told her, gratefully accepting a mug.
"Oh that. She's been going on about that for the last two months. You've should go. It's in that hall on the edge of the estate. They've been decorating all day, looks very posh inside. Bit too classy for round here if you ask me. Still everyone's entitled to their little fantasy. Go on Rose. It'll be nice to get all dressed up."
"Fine, alright. I'll go. But I'm not staying long; don't want him getting into trouble." She nodded her head at the Doctor.
"Hey! I'm just gona be tinkering with the TARDIS. What trouble can I get in?"
"You could get into trouble in a padded room." Rose grinned.
"Very funny."
"You're not planning on spending the night alone in that blue box, are you?" Jackie asked.
"That was the plan." The Doctor suddenly felt worried.
"Oh no you're not. You're going to come up here and I'm going to cook you a proper dinner." Jackie told him.
"Oh. That's very kind of you but I don't want to put you to any trouble. Really it's fine. I'll eat at home."
"Don't be stupid. You're far too skinny this time round. I'll cook us a nice shepherd's pie. No arguments. In fact, I'm going to nip down the shops. Be back in ten minutes." Jackie rushed out the front door leaving the Doctor stunned; mouth bobbing trying to object but no sound came out.
Rose and Mickey laughed at him.
"What just happened?" He asked finally.
"You just got 'Jackied'. You should be flattered; she doesn't welcome everyone into her home." Mickey told him.
"But she doesn't like me!"
"Don't be so sure. She's gone a bit soft on you since Christmas." Rose giggled.
"Yeah, how'd you think you got in those pyjamas?
"Oh god!"
XxXxX
"Why do you have so many women's clothes?" Rose asked from somewhere amongst the clothing rails.
"No idea. They just sort of appear." The Doctor had given up standing long ago. He'd sat himself on the grated floor and leant back against one of the poles that held up the hand rail, stretched his legs out in front and closed his eyes. It was almost as bad as going shopping.
"So you've never needed them?"
"Are you asking if I like to wear women's clothes Rose?" The Doctor smiled to himself.
"No! I just wondered. If you'd ever ….y'know, into a woman?"
"Regenerated?" He started to chuckle. "No Rose, I've never regenerated into a woman."
"Oh okay. Is it possible for you to….?"
"Is it possible for Mickey to turn into a girl?"
"Well with the right surgery I suppose. Can't imagine him wanting to though."
"Well there you go."
"What?"
The Doctor sighed loudly. "I'm the male of the species Rose. Always have been, always will be……as far as I know."
"Oh, good."
He wasn't sure if he was meant to hear that last part. "You've only got half an hour you know."
"Ok. I think I'm going to wear this one." Rose finally emerged from behind the rails and smiled at the Doctor's relaxed demeanour. She cleared her throat.
He turned his head to look at her and his mouth flapped, trying to find the right thing to say. She'd chosen a dark red ball gown that shimmered with gold in the light "You err…you look beautiful." He stumbled over his words as he scrambled to his feet. Rose giggled. "Thank you."
"Don't forget your mask." He squeaked as she pressed a kiss to his cheek. Taking the arm he offered she allowed herself to be led up to the flat.
XxXxX
"Oh, Rose love. You look wonderful. Doesn't she look wonderful Doctor?" Jackie exclaimed.
"Beautiful." He corrected leaning in the door way, his eyes sparkling.
"Mickey's late as usual. Sure you wont come?" Rose asked hopefully.
"You don't want an old man like me cramping your style." He turned to the kitchen avoiding the look of disappointment on her face.
"Put the kettle on while you're in there." Jackie called and he couldn't help but smile as he flicked the switch. He could hear Rose and her mother gabbing about something in the living room when the doorbell went. Making his way back to the hall he heard Mickey say she looked 'nice' and he felt himself bristle. She looked fantastic, stunning even and all Mickey the idiot could muster was 'you look nice'. He rolled his eyes as he leant against the wall.
"Have a nice time." He told her, he was rewarded with another peck on the cheek and a smile, but it was only half hearted this time as she shut the front door behind her.
"Well I'm going to check on that pie. Do you still want a cuppa?"
"Yes please Jackie." He sighed as he flopped down on the sofa, grabbing the remote and started channel hopping.
Jackie stood in the door way with two mugs and watched as the Doctor threw the remote down and scrubbed his face. She rolled her eyes and shook her head.
"You should have gone to the party." She said announcing her arrival.
"Nah, she'd only worry 'bout leaving me on my own. And then there's the whole 'so how did you meet Rose' thing. Too complicated." He sighed as he gratefully accepted the cup.
"You could've made something up, you usually do. She wanted you to go."
"She's got Mickey. She'll have a great time. Probably will forget I even exist for a few hours."
"Are you joking? Rose, forget you exist? Not likely, everyone else maybe but not you. She adores you."
The Doctor looked up at her in surprise.
"I'm not stupid. I know my girl. And by the look of it you think a lot of her too."
"Jackie." The Doctor warned.
"Okay I wont say another word about it as long as you don't sit there moping all night."
"Deal" He nodded, fixing his gaze back on the television. He knew Jackie was watching him, he could feel it. "What?" He asked finally looking round at her.
"I was just wondering. Rose said the human look was a choice, so what do you really look like?"
"No idea. My lot always favoured the human appearance so it's sort of programmed in now."
"Is there no way of finding out?"
"Once upon a time there probably was but I would guess it's long gone with everything else."
"You're not even the slightest bit curious as to what you would look like?"
"Nope. Never have been. I suppose I could change if I like but I'm kind of fond of being almost human." He looked down at his body and nodded. "Have to admit, this is probably the best shape I've ever had. Should've seen some of my past regenerations. Real shockers some of them."
Jackie couldn't help but smile as he whittered on, at least he seemed happier when he had something to talk about.
"Have you always had friends travelling with you?" She asked finally.
"Yeah, I suppose I have."
"What happened to them?"
"They left." He shrugged, "Eventually they all leave. Own lives to live and all that. Except Sarah Jane. I had to leave her behind eventually."
"Why?"
"I was called home and humans weren't allowed. I couldn't go back for her."
Jackie decided not to press the matter, he seemed to saddening again.
"You don't like being on your own then?"
"Everything's more fun with two, Jackie." He told her, a grin plastered across his face. "And Rose is fantastic, takes everything in her stride. Nothing is too much for her to deal with."
Jackie smiled at him warmly when she saw the affection in his face.
"You really care about her don't you?" She saw the hesitation in his face. "It's ok. I'm not gona slap you."
"She's saved my life in so many ways, Jackie. Before I met her I'd been on my own since the war, wallowing in the fact there's nothing left and that it's my fault. Apart from the TARDIS Rose is all I have. And I'd die all over again to make sure she's safe."
Jackie was almost shocked at his honesty. She'd suspected he had feelings for her daughter but she could see in his eyes how deep it went.
"You've died for her?"
The Doctor realised he'd said too much, even Rose didn't know that she'd triggered his regeneration.
"Is that what happened at Christmas? When you changed your face?"
"Yes" He admitted finally. "When she looked into the heart of the TARDIS she absorbed the Time Vortex. Not even I can do that without dying. I took it from her once she'd destroyed the Daleks and put it back into the TARDIS. If I hadn't it would have burnt her from the inside out."
"But you died because of it." Jackie stated and the Doctor nodded.
"Jackie, you can't tell her. She'll never forgive herself if she realises I died to save her. She had a hard enough time getting used to this me."
"Not that hard. Once she realised this you was really you she was happy as Larry."
"Who's Larry?"
Jackie laughed. "It's an expression. Means she couldn't have been happier. You saw the smile on her face when you stepped through the door for the first time in your pin-striped suit. I've never seen her smile like that at anyone before. I can't imagine her ever being parted from you by choice. I think you are stuck with her Doctor so you better look after her."
"With all my regenerations I swear."
"Good. You better keep your promise mind!"
"And risk another slap by you?! No fear!" A smile tugged at his lips as he instinctively put his hand to his cheek.
"Well without her dad around someone's got to make sure she's treated right."
"Quite right too." He sighed, sagging back on the sofa and turning his gaze to the television. "Can't believe all he could say was she looked nice." He shook his head in disgust.
"Well that's Mickey for you."
He puffed his cheeks and shook his head again. "She deserved better."
Jackie sighed, rolled up a newspaper and whacked him round the head with it.
XxXxX
A/N: Aah bless, Jackie and the Doctor bonding! What's next?
"Catch ya on the flip flop!"