Chapter 2

"Jackie, sweetheart, I'm hoooooooooooooooooome!" chimed in a cheerful Pete Tyler, unlocking the front door of his large manor, with a handful of toddler essentials on each arm. He was clothed in his usual fancy dress, suit, tie, and expensive shoes. As privileged as he was and looked, he seemed extremely stressed, yet relieved to arrive home early enough for supper.

Jackie Tyler, Pete's wife, looked like a complete car crash. She had vomit stains all over her jumper, her hair was standing up in all the wrong places, and her eyes drooped from lack of sleep. If anything, she was entitled to be grumpy. She replied, naggingly, "'Bout time you arrived! Oh, Tony's not feelin' any better, bless him! He's been spurtin' out everythin' I give 'im. Rose hasn't been home since Friday! and God knows where she might've gone! Pete, I just really really need a holiday, or better yet, Tony needs a doctor."

"Did somebody say, Doctor?!"

Jackie's eyes widened as she heard those words, that voice. Pete, too seemed bewildered.

"Can't be..." Pete muttered under his breath.

The Doctor grinned at them leaning on the entrance, remarking, "Blimey! Well are you just going to stand there gawking, or say something sentimental, like well, I dunno, I missed you?! Three years and I still need to jump through hurdles, OH spare me, Jackie Tyler!"

"Mum, don't mind him!" Rose ran up from behind the Doctor.

"Rose TYLER. Where have you been ALL weekend?! And you, Doctor—what're you doing here?!"

Pete placed his shoulder around Jackie as if to restrain her and whispered something quietly in her ear.

Snapping out of her anger, Jackie said, "Oh, alright! Sorry for hustlin' you, Doctor! I's these female hormones inn'all, with me being a mum again and what not makes a woman completely mad. OH! Come here! Give me a hug. I's been ages. 'Ave you gotten taller?! 'Aven't gotten any less skinny!" Her voice began to trail off into her usual tangents, as she had her arms outstretched.

"Now come on."

He backed away slowly, failing to hesitate or prevent the inevitable: a "hug" from Rose's hormonal mother...

"Ehm Jackie, nnn-nononononono!" the Doctor managed to whimper out.

Without a chance of struggle or escape, the Doctor's small frame was tightly squeezed by Jackie Tyler's not-so-inviting embrace.

"Too late, sweetheart." Jackie giggled.

"Oh, you're suffocating me, woman!" the Doctor muttered, breathlessly, freeing himself from her clutches.

"You're telling me," Pete snidely remarked, propping his hand like an imaginary gun to his head.

"Oh, shut up you two! Rose, where the hell were you, honey?!"

The Doctor replied in her stead, "Norway. Darlig Ulv Stranden."

"Not bloody Norway again! Wait, how'd he exactly get here?" she asked, nodding her head in the Doctor's direction.

"We dunno, mum..i's complicated. But-"

"But what, Rose?" Her mother's tone of voice became firm, and serious in nature.

"Well, I reckon Rose might be travellin' with me. Well..not reckon, I'm completely sure she will." The Doctor replied boldly.

"I see," Jackie mumbled, tearing her eyes away from her daughter and now coldly holding the Doctor's gaze.

"Mum, don't do this..you know I 'ave to go. You know I wanted to...for these three years. It was hell. and you know it, mum."

Just as Jackie Tyler was about to reply, someone dashed through the estate's entrance, huffing loudly.

Rose turned around slowly, and the four of them realized it was Mickey Smith.

"AH! Sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Tyler, it's just well-I got in trouble with someth-oh my god. Doctor! You're here?"

"In the flesh, Mickey boy. Looks like something gave you the runs."