-1"Doctor, are you going to be alright looking after the kids?" Donna whispered as she hovered in the doorway.

"Do you mean am I alright in looking after the kids, or looking after Rose?" The Doctor murmured back. Donna pulled him into a quick hug.

"I mean Rose….hang on though, won't this be like a weird paradox thingy? You meeting her before you're supposed to?" Donna's eyes grew wide. The Doctor glanced over his shoulder to Rose, eating her cookie.

"No. She's to young to remember me when she's older. She'll forget." Donna nodded and squeezed his hand, leaving him to it. The Doctor watched her go before he turned to the class.

"So guys…what do you usually do now?" He questioned them. A small ginger boy put his hand up, and the Doctor nodded to him.

"We go to the class next door, and they read to us."

"Like a learning mentor?" The Doctor's question was met with blank stares.

"Right then, grab a partner and line up. Quietly!" He called out as the children broke out in chatter, trying to find their partner. The Doctor watched Rose as she tried to pair everyone up herself, laughing quietly to himself. She was always bossy then. She had succeeded in pairing her friends up, but she was left without a partner. When Rose noticed, her lip stuck put in a pout.

"Rose? Can you be my partner?" The Doctor smiled as she came running to him. He took her small hand in his larger one, and led the kids down the corridor to the next classroom.

"Now, wait there! I need to talk to the teacher." The Doctor looked sternly at a few children he'd recognised as trouble makers.

"Ah! There you are, the class was beginning to wonder if you'd come at all!" A friendly looking man in a t shirt and jeans shook the Doctor's hand enthusiastically.

"So, what happens now?" The Doctor asked.

"Well, the children have partners from this class. Reading partners that is. And so my class will read to yours. That way my children get practice, and yours aren't bored, it's a great system." The Doctor nodded his agreement as he beckoned the children inside. The enthusiastic man sat down to mark papers, leaving the Doctor to wander amongst the classes. He noticed Rose And her friend standing off to the side, looking befuddled.

"What's wrong Rose?"

"Our partners aren't here." She said quietly, looking around to the busy classroom.

"Ah, right." The Doctor said, beckoning over the other teacher. He explained and the teacher grasped Rose's hand.

"Rose, you can be with me, and Shareen, do you want to be with ?" Shareen nodded happily, her brown hair bouncing on her shoulders. Rose, however, was less than happy.

"I want to be with John." She tugged on the teachers hand.

"Rose! It's rude to call teachers by their names! You must say . Now don't be silly, let Shareen and be." Rose's lip trembled as the teacher admonished her, her eyes started to water.

"It's alright! She can be with me." The Doctor protested as Rose lowered her head.

"If you're sure…Shareen come with me then." Shareen left the Doctor to sit with the other man. The Doctor knelt down in front of Rose, wincing as he heard her sniff.

"Rose? Oh don't cry. Please don't. I always hate it when you cry." He remembered the time after meeting Reinette, he'd caught her crying in her bedroom. He'd felt useless that time to.

"I'm sorry Mr. Smith." She whispered to him.

"Call me John, Rose." He insisted. She lifted her gaze, peering at him with wide brown eyes.

"But it's rude." The Doctor grinned at her.

"I don't mind." He insisted. Rose's face lit up with a smile and she hugged him. The Doctor laughed and read to her for the rest of the lesson. When the bell rang, he sat in shock as the children rushed outside in what can only be described as a tidal wave. Even Rose was gone. He stepped outside, watching the children climbing the jungle gym, swinging from the monkey bars and such. He saw Rose at the top of the jungle gym, her knees bent over a bar, leaving her hanging upside down. The Doctor felt an uncontrollable urge to take her down and wrap her up in his arms.

"You don't have to be frightened. Every kid does it." Donna nudged his shoulder and the Doctor looked around in surprise.

"Donna! You'll knock ten years of my life off if you keep doing that." He frowned. Donna chuckled and looked to the children.

"It's funny really. She doesn't have any idea about her future. She doesn't know what's going to happen." Donna said. The Doctor nodded and watched as Rose flipped herself around to sit on the bar.

"Junior gymnastics team." The Doctor smiled. Donna watched him and sighed. He looked so wistful.

"I've found a clue. On what's been going on."

"Really? Do tell." He said distractedly, his attention still captivated by Rose.

"The teachers all went to a training class the night before they disappeared. And, I've got all their home addresses, including the meeting centre where they were last seen. No need to thank me." The Doctor nodded, still not speaking.

"Doctor do you want to switch classes? If this is hurting you to much-"

"No! Donna I'm fine. It's just difficult alright." He snapped and Donna huffed.

"Fine." The Doctor sighed and took her hand.

"I'm sorry. I just miss her. That's all." They stood in silence before the bell rang again. Donna bade him farewell before leading her noisy class back into the school. The Doctor sent his class to their respective activities and walked around them, giving his help when needed. It was half an hour until home time, and the Doctor was in despair. He didn't want today to be over, not yet-

"John?" Rose's voice brought him back to reality.

"Yes sweetheart?" He smiled as she held up a drawing. He stood grabbing a pin to put it on the wall.

"No! That's for you." She tugged on his sleeve. The Doctor looked at it, and felt his hearts break as he saw the picture. There was a shaky drawing of him hand in hand with her. In case there was any doubt, she had labelled herself with ROSE and him with JON. The Doctor felt his throat tighten as she had even taken care to draw on his pinstripes.

"Thank you so much Rose. Thank you." He embraced her and bit back his tears. It was too soon when the bell rang for the children to go home. They sat on the carpet, waiting for their parents to come, surrounded by coats and bags. One by one the children were collected, until finally Jackie arrived. The Doctor smirked as he saw her bright tracksuit, nothing had really changed.

"Mummy!" Rose propelled herself into her mother's arm squealing.

"Hello sweetheart." Jackie laughed as she set her down.

"Mum! Look, my new teacher!" Rose dragged her mum to him, and the Doctor was faced with Jackie Tyler. In flirt mode.

"You're Rose's new teacher then?" She flicked her hair back. The Doctor looked to Rose's smile to Jackie.

"Um…not really. I was just a sub. I don't know if I'm going to be here tomorrow." He smiled, and saw the flash of disappointment in Jackie's eyes.

"John, no!" Rose cried, and she actually stamped her foot.

"Rose." Jackie muttered, her cheeks burning.
"No it's fine! Me and Rose have built up quite a friendship." He grinned down to her and Rose smiled back shyly. She reached for a hug and he knelt down to her.

"I don't want to marry Mickey Smith. I want to marry you John." Jackie laughed, and the Doctor smiled sadly.

"When you're older." He promised her softly. Rose nodded her agreement.

"So John, I'm guessing you're not taken then?" The Doctor looked to Jackie and shook his head.

"Well, it looks like I'm betrothed to your daughter." He beamed at Rose and she shook her head at her mum.

"He doesn't want to be your boyfriend mum. He said he'll make bloody sure he won't be." Jackie gasped and the Doctor blushed.

"Kids say the funniest things right?" He murmured as Rose grabbed him for one last hug. But this time she pulled back, wide eyed as her hands touched his chest.

"John?" She whispered as she felt the double heart beat in his chest. The Doctor winked at her and stood, leaving her perplexed.

"Well, Rose and I are gonna go. Hopefully I'll see you again?" Jackie insisted. The Doctor nodded, laughing inside at how true that statement was. As Rose walked away, she turned back to him, still confused. The Doctor waved and held one finger to his lips, smiling when she did the same.

I want to continue this story, but I'm stumped on how to….if anyone has any suggestions do tell, otherwise I think I may have to leave it there…Hoped you liked it.