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A.N: hope you like it will update soon

A.N: please review

The Doctor had once told Rose:

"Be careful what you wish for - it might come true."

Now, he knew he'd told her that. He remembered he'd told her that. Moreover, he could vividly recall the consequences of telling her that. However, his one objective now was to keep Rose happy - keep that sparkle in her eyes that made his stomach fill with butterflies when they caught one another's gaze. Hence the reason they were heading home for Christmas - well, back to London, to be exact. Not that Rose could keep track of her own timeline anymore - it was more when Jackie phoned and started bawling that she wanted 'her baby home for Christmas. And.. Well.. Yeah. He can come too if he wants to.'

Rose had insisted going back for Christmas Eve.

"Well, you didn't get the whole experience last time, with you having just regenerated and everything."

"Thank you, Rose. I did remember that."

"Let's just hope there aren't any killer Christmas trees this time,"

"Or Sycorax?"

"Or Sycorax."

"No aliens whatsoever?"

"No kind of invasion at all."

"Aw, take all the fun out of it, why don't you…"

After the obligatory hugs and stuff, The Doctor, Rose and Jackie sat awhile in the living room.

"I hope you've eaten," Jackie told them, "'Cos I had something with the girls earlier on. "

"We're fine, Mum."

"So," The Doctor butted in. "What do the Tyler girls do on Christmas Eve?"

"You mean, when we're not fighting an alien invasion?"

"We've just had that conversation, Mum. There's gonna be no aliens this year."

"Hah! So you say. But trouble follows the two of you around."

"Jackie-" The Doctor raised his hand. "As far as I'm aware, there will be no trouble this year."

"Really? Checked, have ya?" she asked. The Doctor looked thoughtful for a moment.

"Erm.. If you like."

"Well, we'll have a few drinks here (surprise surprise, thought Rose), then we'll go to the Watchnight Service at around 11:30."

"Never figured you for a church-goer, Jackie - no offence."

"It's Christmas, isn't it?" she shrugged, as if that were a valid reason and explanation.

"I'm gonna have a shower," Rose announced. "Now," she began, as if she were addressing two naughty children. "I'm gonna be out of the room for about half-an-hour. Try not to kill each other, and maybe even be civil, yeah?"

"We'll be on our best behaviour," The Doctor answered, nodding. "Right," said Rose, and made for the bathroom.

A minute passed. Another minute passed. Both were wondering just what the hell they could talk about. Then Jackie started - on the one subject they both had in common.

"Rose looks a bit thin. Is she eating?"

"Mm? Oh, yes."

"I mean eating - not chips every night."

"Jackie - she gets the required nutrition. I wouldn't have it any other way. I like my food myself."

"Yeah," Jackie murmured. "You look a bit thin too. Are you sure you're both eating?" This is new, The Doctor thought. Usually her concern didn't stretch further than Rose.

"We're both fine, Jackie," he assured her. "Honestly. What you saw last year was.. a one off. Sort of." Finally Jackie nodded, and seemed satisfied.

"What about that drink, then?" she said, suddenly bolting up from her chair. "I got a few bottles in…"

"Jackie, really. I don't think-"

"What? Oh, sorry. Do you not drink, then?"

"It doesn't do me any harm - it just doesn't have any effect, that's all." Jackie burst out laughing. "What?"

"I'm sorry - it's just that, if I had a pound for every time I've heard that down the pub. 'Oh, I can hold my drink. Oh, it doesn't affect me'. An hour or two later, they're usually under the table."

"Jackie, I can assure you - it's my physiology. Alcohol has no effect."

"Yeah? Well, we'll see about that…" The Doctor watched in bemusement, as Jackie poured a large measure of a clear liquid - presumably vodka. She handed it to him, and he decided to take Rose's order to heart. He'd be nice to Jackie.

"Why Jackie - I do believe you're trying to get me drunk!" Jackie smiled the smile of the smug, and clinked glasses with The Doctor.

"Cheers!" They said, in unison. He surmised that Jackie had made a bit of a start on the bottle before he and Rose had arrived. Suddenly, a cloud passed over her face.

"Pete used to love Christmas," she blurted out. "He was like a big kid. Loved his toys." The smug smile had turned sad.

"I… erm.."

"What?"

"I was just going to say… I've met Pete, Jackie. He was a good guy." Jackie let this information sink in, and she nodded.

"So, it's true then. Rose has met her Dad."

"She asked me to take her back."

"Meant a lot to her. She told me."

"Yeah - I know." Silence for a moment or two, then Jackie opened her mouth to speak - and The Doctor knew what was coming. "Jackie - I know what you're gonna ask. Please don't."

"But -"

"You don't know the full story - and I'm not gonna get into it now. Just understand - it's a bad idea."

"At least have a think about it - please.." she added, softly. The Doctor swallowed.

"I'll think about it," he relented.

"I miss him."

"I know."

"When did you see him?"

"When Stuart and Sarah got married."

"The.. the day he died…"

"Jackie.. don't do this. Rose has come home to spend Christmas with you. Let it be happy - for her?" Jackie blinked back tears, and nodded. Without warning, she downed the contents of her glass.

"I think I'm winning," she smiled.

"Hey - when did it turn into a drinking competition?" Jackie just grinned, and refilled her glass.

About twenty minutes later, Rose left the bathroon, clad in her fluffy bathrobe.

"How are we getting on then-" She cut off sharply, as she surveyed the scene before her. Jackie was sprawled half on - half off the chair next to the tv, singing 'Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer' softly to herself. The Doctor was half sitting - half lying on the floor, from where he'd slid off the couch, and appeared to be conducting Jackie's efforts.

"What the hell's going on here?" Rose exclaimed. At Rose's voice, The Doctor turned his head, and winked at her. Rose could see he was completely… sober, and knelt down beside him. "Er.. What's goin' on?"

"Jackie wanted to try and get me drunk," he whispered.

"So?" Rose shrugged, not understanding. "You can't get drunk."

"Yeah - I tried to tell her. She thinks she's won. And she's happy." Rose finally caught on, and smiled.

"Well, that's great," Rose told him. "But we're supposed to be at the church in a little over two hours. Can you help me get her sober as quickly as you got her drunk?"

"Erm…"

"I'll put the coffee on," smiled Rose, rolling her eyes. Hesitating before she got up from her knees, she leant over and kissed him on the cheek.

"What's that for?" he asked.

"For making Mum happy," she smiled. "For making me happy." She grinned at him, and then got up and made for the kitchen. The Doctor touched his cheek where her lips had connected, and smiled. Then he realised that Jackie had moved on to 'Frosty the Snowman', and he got up from the floor.

"Come on, Jackie. Enough's enough. Let's get you up and moving."

"Fffffffffffrroooooostyyyyyyyyyyy.."

"Rose?! Hurry up with that coffee, will you??!!"

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A.N: so what you think then

A.N: should post next chapter sometime today