2003-2004

Rose teased Amy when she first admitted to dating Rory, reminding her how they joked about it as children. Still, she had to admit that they were perfect for each other and Rory treated her like a queen and Amy always seemed to know what he was thinking before he would say anything. It seemed like love was blossoming all around her and she was left out, that is until Jimmy Stone came around. She was happy to finally have someone by her side and not feel like a third wheel when out with her friends. Even during the holidays when James came home, he didn't bother Rose at all.

It wasn't that Jimmy was intimidating, he was skinnier and shorter than James. Maybe it was the fact that James didn't know him that made him keep his distance. Instead, he just stared at them from the next room and Rose couldn't tell if his glare was directed at her or at Jimmy. Whichever it was, Rose cuddled closer to Jimmy and was happy to have him there to keep James away.

That following summer, James returned home and was surprised to hear that Rose had run off with that same boy he had seen her with months before.

"What, did they elope or something," James teased.

Amy gagged, "I hope not, that boy is a loser with a capital "L". He thinks he's a Rockstar but he isn't the least bit talented. Of course, Rose will tell you differently. He left school to pursue his make-believe music career and convinced Rose to come with him for support."

James laughed, "not too bright, are they?"

Amy slapped the back of his head, "Rose is smarter than that and you know it."

He sputtered a laugh, then got up to leave the room as if he could care less. Except he did care, he didn't know why, but part of him did. He didn't hate Rose like he thought he did as a child, but he didn't consider her a friend either. Just an odd acquaintance who popped up every now and then, reminding him that she still existed. Keeping that in mind, the story Amy told him did not settle with him very well, but he couldn't put his finger on it.

Confirmation came three weeks later when he came home late one night with a bit of stagger in his step after a night at the pub with a few old friends. He saw Rose at the table with Amy, her face was buried in her hands and she was crying hard while Amy patted her on the back and whispered soothing words.

He had a lot to drink so most of that evening came as a blur to him, he just remembered looking in at the scene and wondered what happened. He didn't care as much as he should have, but given his current state of drunkenness, all he wanted was rest. He didn't consider her torn sleeve or bandaged hand and he didn't even see her face. Only Amy's who looked up at him with tears of her own and she waved him away.

He staggered up the steps and crashed down onto his bed, falling asleep immediately.

The sun rays beamed through his window, waking him up. His mouth was dry and he had a slight headache, but he figured that with as much as he had to drink, this was the lightest hangover he ever had. He rubbed his hand through his hair and got out of bed, forgetting the events of the night before.

He walked past the bathroom, hearing the shower, knowing Amy was in there from her singing, and went downstairs to have some breakfast. The first thing he saw when he entered the kitchen was the blonde hair bent over a bowl of cereal as Rose ate in silence.

He briefly remembered coming home and realized she probably just broke up with her boyfriend so maybe he shouldn't be himself, or at the least the him that Rose knew him to be.

He poured a bowl of cereal and sat across from her, but she didn't look up at him, she just huddled over her food and ate. He stared at her quizzically then noticed her well bandaged hand that rested on the table beside her.

Although she wasn't looking at him, she felt where his gaze landed and dropped her hand to her lap, out of sight.

"Long night," James asked, trying to sound friendly but Rose didn't respond. Why should she, he figured, he had always been an arse to her.

James ate his cereal, but Rose stopped eating hers, yet she stayed huddled over the bowl. He swallowed his food and spoke softly to her, "you don't need to stop eating because of me, I'll be nice, I promise."

Rose shook her head and muttered, "m' fine," then turned in her seat and stood up. Careful not to look at him she picked up her bowl, but she forgot about her bad hand. As soon as she lifted the bowl she yelled in pain and it fell to the floor. The bowl broke, spilling milk and cereal everywhere.

James hopped up from his seat and came over to help her, "it's all right, I can clean it up if you…" he glanced up at her and took in the condition of her face. Her eye was black, her lip bloody and swollen and she had a gash down her cheek. "What the fuck happened to you?" He didn't try to sound mean, he was genuinely surprised and it came out harsher than he meant.

Rose leapt to her feet and rushed upstairs, stifling her sobs. He heard a door slam shut, probably Amy's, and he continued to clean the mess. Moments later, Amy came storming into the kitchen, her hair still wrapped in a towel.

"What the hell did you say to her," Amy snapped.

James' eyes grew wide, "nothing, I mean I was trying to be nice but…what the hell happened?"

Amy glanced behind her to check if anyone was around and dropped her voice to a whisper, "that asshole Jimmy that she was dating has been using her as a punching bag for the last three months. She finally stood up to him and left him, not before he got a few more punches in and nearly broke her hand."

James felt sick to his stomach and it wasn't from the drinking the night before, this was rage mixed with guilt. For the last few years he started to see how horrible he had been to Rose and he knew his teasing hurt her but he would never hurt her physically, not that what he did was any better. He knew when he saw Jimmy that he didn't like him and now he sees why.

James looked at Amy in shock, he didn't know what to say and he just stammered, "I just…I saw her face and…"

"If you think that's bad, you should see her back…" Amy added, "or her legs…" Amy shuddered as tears streamed down her cheeks, "just, leave her alone, ok?"

James nodded, he was still speechless and he wanted to go up and apologize to Rose, comfort her, and find Jimmy so he could beat him to a pulp. Currently, his standing with Rose wasn't very good so comforting her was out of the question and she probably wouldn't accept an apology. However, there was still the third option.

It was hard trying to carry on with his day after what happened earlier. He decided to head out, if he was making Rose uncomfortable, the best thing he could do was let her not see him for a while so she could relax. Somehow, that made things worse for him, some how he felt he should be there. He knew it wasn't his place to pry, but the whole situation upset him. His friend Harold noticed this as well when James brooded over his beer instead of drinking it.

"What's going on in that head of yours," he finally asked James.

James glanced up at his friend and then mumbled, "it's really none of my business to talk about it."

"Well, it's really got you in a mood," Harold said, seemingly annoyed at trying to be friendly.

"Sorry," James said and took a sip, "it's just that…never mind."

Harold sighed, "out with it, it's obviously bothering you and I won't be able to enjoy my beer if you just sit there pouting the entire time."

James groaned and ran a hand down his face, "do you remember Rose Tyler?"

Harold barked out a laugh, "do I ever, it was hilarious watching you make her cry."

"I was a child," James growled, "just…forget I said anything." He tossed a few bills on the bar and walked out of the pub.

"Oh, come on," Harold called after him, "don't tell me you've gone soft."

James got home early that night, very sober unlike the night before, and was welcomed by the smell of dinner cooking. He entered the kitchen to see Amy and Rose cooking together, talking amongst themselves. Rose seemed to be in a much better mood, at least until James walked in.

She and Amy were giggling over something and she glanced over at the man who had been a thorn in her side all her life and she fell silent. Looking down at the celery she was chopping poorly due to her bad hand, she tried her best to ignore him.

"No need to stop talking on my account," James said pleasantly. "Actually, let me help you," he walked over and washed his hands before taking the knife from Rose and motioning for her to take a seat. Rose didn't argue, she walked to the table behind him and sat down.

"You don't have to…" Amy began but James cut her off.

"Nonsense, I don't mind helping as long as you don't mind sharing with me," he smiled at his cousin, "besides, I haven't cooked anything in ages."

"I don't see why not," Amy teased, "you have a kitchen and you know how to cook, very well from what I remember."

"It's no fun cooking for one," James replied while chopping the celery with ease.

Amy smirked, "it's not my fault you can't get a girlfriend to cook for."

James chuckled, "I didn't say it was, but I can't help that I have this daft face, not to mention me ears." From behind him he heard Rose trying to hold back a snicker and he grinned at the pleasant sound, "see, Rose knows what I'm talking about." Then came an honest laugh from her and it warmed his heart to know he was helping her feel better rather than terrified like he usually did.

Together, they prepared the food in good spirits, and once it was all done, they sat together and had small conversations. James told them about medical school and shared hilarious stories about his promiscuous roommate, Jack. Amy then talked about the small modeling jobs she was getting that were becoming more frequent.

Rose put up with James over dinner, and even spoke with him a little bit, but it was short and the bitterness in her voice was evident. He didn't care, she could be bitter if she wanted, he just didn't want her to feel unwelcome anymore, so he made no comment about her tone.

After dinner, James offered to clean up while Rose and Amy left to relax and to chat quietly together. He put the remaining food away and washed the dishes before excusing himself to bed.

The next day things seemed to be better, he cooked breakfast for them all then he spent the rest of the day keeping to himself, unless they spoke to him directly. It was nearing lunch when he wandered to the room where the girls were and decided to join them for a bit. They chatted for several minutes then Rose went silent as her gaze went to the window.

Amy noticed her friend's behavior and turned to look, "oh no," she muttered while getting to her feet.

"Amy no," Rose said, holding her arm back to stop her, "he'll only talk to me."

She wasn't fast enough to stop James, however, and he was at the door before she could speak. He swung it open to face the scrawny, pale, boy who scowled up at James, "what are you doing here?"

"You're at my door, I should be asking you that same question," James growled.

The boy tried peeking around James but he couldn't see over him, "I'm here to talk to…"

He never got the rest of the sentence out because James shut him up with a punch to the jaw. The boy fell onto his back with a loud thud and he put his hand over his face in pain. James walked over and grabbed him by his cheap jacket, yanked him up, and stared him in the face, "I could break every bone in your body for what you did to her and name them as I do, I know them all."

"James, stop," Rose cried out and pulled him off the boy who was still cradling his face in agony.

Forcefully she shoved James back, "will you just go away, I don't need your help." She then turned to the boy and James watched, disgusted as she worried about his injury.

The boy took Rose's hand and looked her in the eyes, "Rose, I'm sorry, that wasn't me, I shouldn't have been drinking." He ran his fingers through her hair, "I'm going to get help, please give me a chance to show you that I can be better."

"Are you fuckin' serious," James yelled out in astonishment, "you shouldn't even be here, you should be in jail."

"James, I said leave," Rose snapped.

The boy looked over at James, "get out of here before I call the police for assaulting me."

"You?" James cried out, "look at what you did to her and you're worried about one little punch?"

Rose stood up and went to James, calming her voice, "James, please just give us some space so we can talk, I can handle this alone."

James highly doubted that and looked at Rose seriously, keeping his voice low so only she could hear him. "You don't have to do this, don't let him trick you again."

"I know," Rose nodded, "and I won't. Just give us ten minutes," she gave him a gentile push inside and shut the door.

James was fuming angry as he paced the kitchen floor, watching the clock for the five minutes to be up. Amy watched her cousin, terrified that he might do something foolish to ruin his future, but also wanted to see Jimmy suffer. Each second ticked by like an eternity and when the five minutes were up, James hurried back out the door.

Five minutes is all it took, in just five minutes Rose and Jimmy had disappeared.