The break room was full to capacity, Rose's co-workers all crowded in to congratulate her on both the completion of her agent training and her promotion to head of her own Field Ops team. This change meant that she would no longer be working directly with Mickey, but she had persuaded him to allow Jake to join her team. She was grateful for that concession on Mickey's part; she had come to depend on Jake's quiet strength and invaluable counsel. His friendship also had grown to mean a lot to her.

They had lured her in here under false pretenses, telling her that Mickey's crisps were stuck in the vending machine and would she please do that thing with her hips that always seemed to loosen the snacks? She had chuckled and made her way to the break room, muttering about only being appreciated for her 'magic hips,' but stopped abruptly upon entering when she found her coworkers grinning and shouting "Surprise!" as she entered.

Not only had Mickey and Jake organized the party, but they had also taken it upon themselves to decorate. As if the streamers hanging from the ceiling weren't enough, they had begged the graphics department to create a banner that stretched across the wall.

Rose smiled as coworkers wished her congratulations and talked with her about the completion of her degree and her new job. Jake caught her eye and held up a piece of chocolate cake, asking if she wanted it. She smiled and nodded yes, all the while still listening to Bob from accounting as he regaled her with his 7-year-old daughter's latest football goal. "I'm sorry Bob, I see that Jake needs me for something," she said, interrupting his third telling of the game winning goal. "New responsibilities and everything." She flashed him what she hoped was a sincere smile and made her way to Jake.

"You sir, are a life saver." She said, taking the proffered cake from his hands.

"Bob telling you about Gwyneth's goal?" He asked, a smirk lighting his face.

"Oh, you've heard it too?"

"Don't think there is one person in this company that hasn't heard the story at least once."

"Can't blame him," Rose said, her voice dropping. "Nice to give your dad something to brag about."

"Rose," Jake sighed and put an arm around her shoulder, leaning in toward her so they wouldn't be overheard. "You know that Pete is proud of you."

Rose simply shrugged. "Yeah."

Her relationship with this world's Pete Tyler had improved from those first rocky days, but there was still that bit of hesitating on both their parts, even two years later. Oh, they put on a good front - no way her mum suspected that they were anything but a happy, adjusted family. Jake and Mickey were the only ones who seemed to notice, and Rose wondered if it was because both of them had been there the first time she and this world's Pete met. Her mind was instantly drawn back to the night Pete had walked away from her and the comfort she had found in the Doctor's embrace after. She found herself wondering what he would think about her new accomplishments.

"He'd be proud of you too, you know." Jake added, as if reading her mind.

Rose's head swung up to meet his gaze, shocked at his statement. Jake simply smiled, "You get this look about you, Rose, every time you think of the Doctor"

"I don't mean to," she sighed before adding quickly, "I mean, I am moving on Jake. It's just hard sometimes."

"I know, sweetheart," he said squeezing her shoulder. "I know."

She leaned into him again, knowing that he did know. They had spent many nights talking about what they had both lost and how to move on. Now here they were, defending the Earth in the memory of their lost loves.

"What are you two moping about? This is supposed to be a celebration party."

They were both startled as Mickey came up from behind them.

"Moping?" Rose asked, hoping her grin was big enough to mask the sorrow behind her eyes. "Mickey, you ought to know better, me and Jake never mope."

"Yeah well," he said shrugging his voice trailing off.

The three of them stood in companionable silence, watching the celebration taking place around them.

"I figure you owe me big, Rose." Rose quirked a questioning eyebrow at Mickey's statement, and he continued, "Seeing as how I threw you this party, despite the fact that I am losing you as a member of my team, and seeing how I'm letting you take my best man. "

"You still have Owen, Mickey." Jake answered, a sardonic grin on his face.

"Ain't I the lucky one." Mickey replied.

The three of them burst into laughter only to be interrupted by a polite cough from somewhere behind them. Turning they found a small determined woman, her hair pulled tightly into a bun with glasses perched on her nose. Gladys, her father's secretary. "Ms. Tyler. Mr. Tyler would like to see you in his office." Her voice broached no argument.

Gladys turned toward the door, leaving Rose, Jake, and Mickey no other option but to follow. As they moved out into the hallway, the petite woman turned and faced them again. "Mr. Tyler wants to see Ms. Tyler alone." She then continued towards Pete's office.

Both men looked at Gladys' retreating form. "Wonder if Pete will let me have her as your replacement. I am sure Owen would make him a damn fine assistant." Mickey said after a moment, a touch of awe in his voice.

The three of them burst into laughter and it took Rose a moment to compose herself.

"You going to be okay, Rose?" Jake asked, taking her hand.

Rose ignored Mickey's look of concern and smiled up at Jake, "Course, 'm always okay."

She squeezed Jake's hand and smiled one last time at the both of them before turning and following Gladys down the hallway.

Pete's office was empty when Gladys shut the door behind her, So much for this being urgent. Rose thought, moving towards the cherry-wood desk. She ran her fingers over the wood of the desk and sighed. Pete's office always felt sterile to her. Nothing here indicated the man her father was. There were a few pictures scattered on the desk of he and her mum, then of course of William and herself. But nothing else to tell about the man that held this office.

Rose took one of the silver plated frames off the desk, and settled into one of the leather chairs across from Pete's desk. The picture was one that was taken a month ago on William's first birthday. William sat in a chair, in front of a cake; her mum, Pete, and herself huddled around him. Pete had his arms slung around both her mum and herself, all three of them grinning at the camera. It wasn't often that they had such an informal family picture taken, but Rose found that this picture captured the true essence of her family, more than any of the formal shots they had taken and distributed to the press. In those they always seemed aloof from one another, the typical monied family, but in this candid shot Mickey had taken, they were simply the Tyler family. It was something that they'd worked hard at .

"I can never get tired of looking at that picture."

Pete's voice came from behind her and she jumped out of the seat, letting out an undignified scream of surprise.

"Didn't mean to frighten you, Rose." he said, chuckling and taking the picture from her hand and setting it on back the desk.

Rose, one hand on her chest, closed her eyes hoping to control her breathing and slow her heart beat.

"It's fine." she said once her breathing was back to normal.

Pete smiled at her and indicated for her to sit, taking the empty chair across from her for himself. "Where are Mickey and Jake? I was sure that they would be here with you."

Rose looked at him, confusion spreading across her features, "Gladys said that you wanted to see me alone. They stayed behind at the party."

"Didn't actually think they'd follow directions, those two." Pete said by way of explanation. "They barely let you out of their sights. It is almost impossible to get you alone."

Rose shrugged. It wasn't that hard. Her mum always seemed to find time.

"So, how was the party?"

"S'was nice. A surprise."

"Good."

The polite small talk was common place for the two of them. Usually they relied on Jackie to keep the conversations going. Four years had improved Rose's relationship with her now father, but neither seemed to be completely comfortable when left on their own. She cared for him and knew he felt the same, but there just always seemed to be a block there, something that neither one of them could get around.

"How's William?" she asked, even though she knew the answer.

"Good, driving your mum and the staff mad." he added with a chuckle. "Been quite since you got your own place, Rose."

She laughed right out loud at that statement, "What with a one year old and my mum? There are days I wondered if you could even tell I was there."

The statement hung in the air and she immediately wished she could take it back. Not wanting to see the hurt in his eyes she turned around and began examining the worn book left on the coffee table.

"Your mum was wondering if you'd come for dinner this Sunday." Rose regretted the sadness in his voice.

"Yeah, sure." She shrugged, the worn book becoming more interesting than the man across from her.

The silence reigned again. Rose was beginning to get angry. She had been called away from a rather nice party - for what? To sit here and make small talk?

"If there isn't anything else." She said getting ready to stand up.

"There is actually." His voice was quiet, but resolute.

She sank back in her chair, finally looking at her father. Pete seemed to be studying the pattern in the office carpet, his eyes tracing the patterns back and forth. Finally, he took a deep breath and looked up at Rose expectantly.

"Are you happy Rose?"

She looked back at him, anger, confusion, and hurt fighting for control. "I'm fine." She finally was able to spit out, the control she was known for slipping.

"I didn't ask that, Rose." His voice was calm but she could hear the steel tone underneath.

Sighing, she stood up, "I'm happy."

He stood facing her, his features uncharacteristically blank. She stood holding his gaze waiting for him to speak, but he didn't.

"What do you want to hear, Dad?" she asked, frustration finally reaching a boiling point.

"The truth."

She laughed ruefully. "The truth. Not sure you want the truth." The truth. She knew she should be happy and, honestly, most the time she was happy. She had a fantastic life. Good friends, good family, good job. She had her own flat, enough money not to have to worry about it, she had holidays she had only dreamed of as a child. She was living the fantastic life that he had always wanted, but she felt that part of it was still missing. That part of her was missing.

"Rose," he pleaded, reaching for her hand. She snatched it away then, registering the hurt on his face, softened a little.

"'M sorry."

She reached out her hand toward his, and he grasped it. "I know I can be a right bear sometimes. Really, I am happy. I have just about everything I need and want. There are some times though that..."

She let her sentence trail off, knowing that she didn't need to finish it.

"Oh Rose," Pete sighed, pulling her into his arms. She hugged back, enjoying the rare moment that she could simply be Pete Tyler's daughter.

He held her for just a moment longer then stepped away, thrusting his hand into his trouser pocket. "I wanted to give you this," he said, pulling out a long velvet box. "Your mum has a huge dinner and gift planned for you this weekend, but I wanted you to have something just from me."

Rose reached forward and took the box, her hand shaking a little in surprise at the gesture. Pete had never bought her anything since she had been here, he had always left that up to her mother. Gently opening the box she found a single tear-drop pearl resting on a fine gold chain. Rose involuntarily took in a breath, her eyes flying to her meet her father's.

"It was my mum's."

Rose felt the tears welling up in her eyes as she closed the box. "Thank you." she whispered, only imagining what this meant to him.

She reached for him, hugging him once more. "It's a fantastic life, Dad. A fantastic life."

She turned down Mickey's offer for drinks that night, not quite able to meet Jake's questioning gaze as she did so.

She wanted some time to herself, to think.

Reaching under her bed, she pulled out the box her mother had given her a year before. There were still some pages left of the stationery her mother had bought her. Most the pages had been filled with stories of her life at Torchwood, her friendships, her studies, stories of her family. Then they had been sealed in envelopes and placed in another box. Never to be read, never to be seen, simply put away.

Sighing, she reached for the pen she kept with the stationery and began to write.

My Doctor,

It is a fantastic life. Most days it's everything I want. I've a job I love - not one that requires as much running as when I was with you, but one that keeps me on my toes and let's me save the Earth now and then. I have a mum who cares so much about me, even when I don't deserve it. I have a dad that, despite everything that I hold back, lets me know in little ways that I am his and he is proud of me. I have an adorable, if loud, little brother who I spoil more then anyone else. I have two wonderful friends - best friends these days - who watch out for me and who take care of me. Who are hands to hold.

But even with all this there is something missing. During the day I can pretend this is all enough, that I don't need anything else. I can fill my days with work and family and friends and everything will be all right. But it isn't enough. When I get home at night I am overcome will the greatest sense of loneliness. Better with two, eh? Better with a hand to hold. Mickey and Jake try, but it isn't the same. It never feels right.

So I spend my nights looking at the stars, letting the memories come. I try to remember each adventure, each trip, each escape, each touch. Most nights I just sit out on my balcony remembering. Remembering you. Remembering us. I miss your touch, I miss your smile, I miss the way you jump around the console trying to land us somewhere near the right time, and I miss the sheepish grin you'd get when you realized we were nowhere near what you'd plan. I miss you. This life is good, it is fantastic, but it will never be all that I want.