Rose was in the front room with her mother. Her little brother nestled sleeping in her arms. She was cooing silently as Jackie sat on the red sofa, a hot cup of tea in her hand. Outside the room, leaning on the doorframe was the Doctor listening to the conversation between Rose and her mother. He was uncomfortable in his suit but he made no noise.

"So how have you been?" Rose asked.

"Not too bad," Jackie replied, taking a sip of her tea. "I'm just glad he isn't teething." Rose smiled and sat Tony down into the cot. She sat down beside her mother, letting her play with her hair. "And how are you sweetheart?"

Rose shrugged. "Same as ever really,"

"Oh that's not good," Jackie sighed.

Rose frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well, you haven't exactly been yourself since…" Jackie trailed off.

"I'm fine mum," Rose replied. Tony gurgled for a moment; almost disapprovingly. Jackie smiled.

"Why can't you make it work between you two?" She asked.

Rose said nothing. She got off the sofa and moved towards the window, staring out into the sunny street below her flat. "It's just…"

"Because you're not travelling anymore," Jackie summarised.

"No," Rose replied. "No… It's not that… I mean I knew that one day… I would need to settle down… But… I didn't think it would be this soon…"

"Mm…" Jackie sighed. "Well, you know what I think,"

"Always mum," Rose laughed.

"I'm just glad to have you home, where I can see you." Jackie said. "So what if you're not travelling? You still have him,"

"But he's not my Doctor,"

"The Pete in this world is not my Pete," Jackie replied.

The Doctor smiled.

"But he's not… Him,"

"But he loves you,"

"I don't care," Rose replied.

"You should."

The Doctor couldn't take it anymore. He straightened his tie, picked up his briefcase and went into the living room. Rose looked up at him, her arms folded. "Hey," She said.

He smiled back at her.

"Off to work?" Jackie asked.

He nodded.

"Wow, never thought I'd see you working," She grinned.

"It's just until I get settled in this world," He replied. "A mundane life helps set in a rhythm." Rose bit her lip. Not the Doctor she knew. He looked over at her sadly. "What's wrong?" He asked.

"Nufing," Rose shrugged. "I was just thinking,"

"About what?" He asked.

"Does it matter?" She laughed.

The Doctor stared at her. "No… I suppose not…" He sighed then a little hesitant he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. She gave no emotion but what she was thinking was very clear in her eyes. The Doctor stared at her tiredly for a moment. "Alright then… Love you,"

"Yeah… Same…" Rose said. "Have a good day…"

He nodded softly and left. Jackie sniggered.

"Him in a proper suit. Going to a proper job," She laughed. "Never thought I'd see the day,"

Rose smiled and Jackie's grin swiftly vanished. "Oh sweetheart." She said. "Come here,"

Rose fell into her mother's arms, holding her tightly. Musty perfume hit her like a wave, but it was comforting. "I'm trying mum.. I really am… But…"

"It's okay," Jackie whispered. "Oh honey,"

…

"Smith!"

The Doctor leapt up from his day-dreaming. "Yes sir!" He gave a little salute.

Mr Bowlby stared at him. "Sit down you bloody eejit, where do you think you are? The Confederate army" He said, the Doctor frowned considering that Bowlby was a pure Yorkshire man. "I was just making sure that you did the expense returns,"

"Oh," The Doctor opened a filing cabinet and pulled out a sheet. "There,"

Bowlby took it from him and looked it over. Satisfied he put it in his blue folder. The Doctor stared at it. It reminded him of the TARDIS.

"You're a smart man, John," Bowlby said. "Why are you working here?"

The Doctor said nothing tapping the pen against the table. He was looking for a distraction.

"John," Bowlby said. "Answer me."

"I just… I just need to settle down before…"

"Ah… The missus," Bowlby grinned. "Hoping to get her chastity belt off soon, eh?" The Doctor winced, but again said nothing. He hated this. "Alright then, be bored. But don't you come crying to me when-"

"Trust me, I won't." The Doctor muttered.

Bowlby looked over sadly at the Doctor. "Right, well… Thanks for the form,"

The Doctor nodded. "No problem,"

Bowlby sighed and left leaving the Doctor to continue with the mind-numbing boredom that was data processing. He typed a few numbers into the computer, watching the screen light up. He felt his mind drifting, bored with what he had promised himself to do. Someone scurried by him. He blinked. What the hell?

Quizzical, he stood up and quickly he followed them down the corridor, curious as to what they were up to.

Down the corridor.

Up the stairs.

Then up another corridor.

The Doctor watched them look around hesitant as he ducked behind the wall. It was Harrison. The bane of the Doctor's life. He was a short stocky man, well built but with a temperament worse than Roosevelt. He unlocked one of the storage doors and crept inside.

The Doctor waited for a moment. Then when he heard the door click shut he turned quickly, walking down to peer into the glass windows. The room was encased in an eerie darkness that even the Doctor felt a chill up his spine. Slowly he tugged at the lock. He reached into his pocket. Damn. Of course. He didn't have it anymore. With anger and frustration he kicked the door.

"Smith!"

He turned sharply.

….

Rose helped herself to a glass of wine. Jackie was down at the local takeaway getting them a nice fish supper for lunch. She looked over at Tony who was playing absentmindedly with his toys. Rose leaned over the edge of his cradle watching him, drink in hand.

"Hey," She said. Tony shoved his fist into his mouth looking up at his big sister. "Do you remember I was telling you about the magnificent man called the Doctor? And his machine called the TARDIS? All those fantastic worlds that were open to us… They've gone now."

Tony said nothing. Well he really couldn't come to think of it.

"You don't understand," Rose said bitterly. "You're just a kid… You barely can form a sentence."

Tony sensed that she was upset. Carefully he pulled himself up using the bars of the cot. Rose smiled softly at him. She put down her glass and picked her brother up. "It must be nice being you. You have no responsibilities, no worries except where you're next meal is coming from and well, mum and dad have you covered on that. Lucky you… Not needing to know about taxes, money issues, love… 'Cause life's hard, and I ain't gonna sugar-coat it like your mummy and daddy,"

Tony yawned. Rose smiled. "You're so cute!" She said sweetly. Her face fell. "I never thought I'd be living like this…"

Tell me what ya think so far! ;)