Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who
A/N: So this is the 1st chapter of my new story. As promised it is Ten/Rose, and set after Satan Pit. Let me know what you think! Review!
The whir of the strange blue police box dies down, and the pair inside walk out. The girl, who has blonde hair and brown eyes, looks lost in thought. The man next to her, tall and wiry with brown hair and eyes, seems to be saying something to her, but it's evident from her face she's thinking about something else. The man, known as the Doctor, ignores this and continues.
"You know, I've got a craving for bananas. Why don't we stop for some milkshakes?"
"What is your obsession with bananas? It's always banana this, banana that!" Rose nearly shouts, built-up tension radiating from her.
A hurt look appears on the Doctor's face as he hides his worry for her. "They're a good source of potassium," he says dejectedly, wondering how she could insult his precious bananas.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap. I just- I need to get home, laundry, you know." She indicates the bag on her shoulder. "Why don't you go get your shake and meet me at my mum's?"
He rushes to bury the panic bubbling inside him. Nothing will happen to her, he tells himself. The beast was lying when it said what it did; anyways, it spoke of a battle, not a walk home.
And so he turns and heads towards the malt shop, Rose walking the other way, towards Powell Estate.
Rose watches the kids playing on the playground as she walks to her mum's flat; such innocence, unspoiled and oh so beautiful. She remembers being so innocent - before she met the Doctor. She doesn't regret it, not one minute of it. Sometimes, though, she wonders about the price of her travels. Her mum, Mickey, her friends. She rarely talks to them anymore; it seems like ages ago when she last spoke to Sharene. She makes a mental note to call her friend before she leaves with the Doctor again as she stops in front of her flat. Before she can knock, the door opens, to reveal a middle aged blonde woman standing behind it.
"'Bout time you came home, Rose! Come in, honey, let me take that." In true mother form, Jackie takes the bag of laundry from her daughter, ushering her to the couch.
"Thanks, Mum."
"Where's that Doctor of yours then?"
"He wanted to stop and get something," Rose replies vaguely, knowing her mother would tease him endlessly for needing a banana milkshake.
"You look like you need some tea, Rose. I'll put some on the kettle." Jackie retreats to the kitchen and, after putting the tea on, takes Rose's dirty laundry to the laundry room to put it in the wash.
The two women make small talk, shouting across the rooms, for nearly an hour until the Doctor finally shows up, his extra large banana milkshake half empty.
"Hello! Missed me?"
When he doesn't get a response, the Doctor cautiously steps into the flat. The two women are sitting on the couch, sipping tea while laughing furiously for some unknown reason.
"Oi, what are you laughing about?!"
The Doctor sulks further when the only response he gets is another burst of hysterical giggles. Deciding to ignore them, he sinks into an armchair and sips at his shake. Despite his frustration at not knowing the source of their laughter, he's glad Rose is bonding with her mother. She doesn't have much girl time what with running from aliens all the time, and Rassilon knows she deserves it.
It's a couple minutes before they recover from their fit of laughter and address him.
"Nice to see ya, Doctor. So is that what you just had to go get?" Jackie points to his banana shake, emphasizing her point.
The Doctor gets protective instantly. "I had to get something for the Tardis; this was just a pit stop on the way back," he lies, ignoring the glare from Rose.
"Yeah, sure."
"So, Jackie, do you always sit at home waiting for us? Bet you invite your friends over for 'wait for Rose' parties every other night, huh? Or do you have any friends?"
"Oi, I have more friends than you, you alien git!"
Just as Jackie is raising her hand for the infamous slap, Rose intervenes.
"Enough fighting, you two! To think, I'm the youngest one here, but I gotta act as chaperone!"
The Doctor looks away sheepishly while Jackie reluctantly pulls her hand back. "Well, he started it!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"STOP IT, NOW!" Both parties stop dead at Rose's outburst, staring at her in surprise. "Gees, do I have to put you in time out?"
"Sorry, honey. He just gets on my nerves so much!"
Rose rolls her eyes while the Doctor looks away, embarrassed at his show of immaturity.
"Would you like something to eat, Doctor?" Jackie forces a smile, though she's aching to slap him.
"Yes, Jackie, I would love something to eat. Thank you." The Doctor refrains from making a quip about her cooking skills, or lack of, also forcing smile.
Jackie retreats to the kitchen as the Doctor and Rose sit on the couch.
"You could be nice to her more often, you know. She really just wants to protect me, is all."
The Doctor scoffs. "If that's protecting you, then I'm the queen of England."
Deciding to drop the subject, Rose turns the TV on. After flipping through the channels, she settles on Eastenders. For all the Doctor's protests about doing domestic, he finds himself doing it a lot these days. Still, he happily immerses himself into the show, his arm around Rose. She's worth it all; she's worth domestic.