Chapter 2

Boom! Chapter 2 for you lovely people

Disclaimer: Me no own

He watched as she ordered her coffee and sat down at a table not far from his own. It was ridiculous of him to think she would walk in, take one look at him and throw herself into his arms. Sometimes it was hard to remember he wasn't that man anymore. The one with the huge hair and the mole between his shoulder blades, the one Rose Tyler had fallen in love with. He was taller, younger and so very different. Rose had stayed with him through regeneration but he sensed that this was somehow different. He couldn't help staring at her.

Rose had noticed the tall, dark man as soon as she had walked into the coffee shop. She also noticed the fact that he had not stopped staring at her. He was dressed all in black and registered as distinctly suspicious. There was also something weirdly familiar about him although Rose was entirely sure that she had never seen this man in her life.

The Doctor and Rose locked eyes across the room. He smiled awkwardly and looked back to his paper and pretended to read it. It was physically painful being so close to Rose yet so far away. Oh for Gods sake! This was the woman he had dreamt about for 7 years. 7 years he spent pining after her, dreaming of this moment and he was too bloody scared to speak to her! Idiot! She got up from her table and walked over towards the bin. On the way she passed directly past the Doctor's table. She felt a buzz of electricity and she slipped. As she saw the ground coming closer a hand reached out and grabbed her wrist. It was the mystery man. He smiled down at her while she righted herself.

"You ought to be more careful." His voice was smooth like velvet.

"I didn't trip! I was testing gravity. It still works." Rose was flustered. Something, which did not happen very often. How on earth was this handsome stranger having this affect on her? He laughed and it was a warm sound. He pulled her to her feet and she smiled.

"Well umm thank you, whoever you are for you know saving me." God she sounded like such an idiot even to her "However I have to err get going I'm late for work as it is so umm it was nice meeting you Mr.…?" She enquired her voice filled with genuine curiosity.

The Doctor was having an internal battle. What should he do? Tell her and ruin any chance she had of a normal life? God things would have been so much easier if he hadn't gone and regenerated again! On the other hand maybe she had missed him just as much as he had missed him maybe just maybe she still loved him. In a panic he blurted out:

"Smith, John Smith." She raised her eyebrows at him.

"I used to have a friend who went by that name." He could hear the pain in her voice and his heart skipped a beat. She hadn't moved on that was for sure.

"Yeah well it's a common name isn't it?" He sounded like a lovesick teenager.

"Yeah that's what he used to say as well. Never mind eh! No point in dwelling in the past." But the Doctor could see the tear that slipped from her eye and rolled down her pink cheek.

"Uh are you alright?" He enquired trying for all the world to sound like a concerned stranger. She sniffed and wiped her eyes with her sleeve.

"Yeah, fine don't worry about me. Oh god I feel so stupid I don't normally cry in front of random strangers in Starbucks!" Her voice wobbled. He smiled reassuringly at her. That smile seemed so familiar for just a second and then it was gone.

"D-d-do I know you from somewhere?" She stammered. The Doctor took a deep breath this could be his only chance.

"Um no I don't think you do, sorry. I was nice meeting you though Rose." And then he turned and started to walk away. He spun on his heel and gave her a cocky smile, then turned and walked out leaving a dumbfounded Rose standing staring after him.

On the journey to work she tried her best to push all thoughts of "John" if that was even his name, out of her mind. As she pulled into the Torchwood car park she realized something: When he had left the café he had said, "It was nice meeting you though, Rose." She hadn't told him her name so how had he known? The whole situation was getting stranger by the second. Rose had to find who this guy was. For all she knew he could be dangerous, and she wasn't prepared to risk her own safety or her family's. Working at Torchwood had taught her to take nothing and nobody a face value.

The Doctor was in the TARDIS. He had decided. He wasn't going to lose her again not so soon after he had found her. It should have been impossible to cross back over into this universe, but fate it seemed was on his side. That should tell him something. He had a plan, simple really. Land the TARDIS as close a possible to the Tyler mansion and knock on the front door. Easy. He set the co-ordinates for 7:30 that evening when Rose would undoubtedly be home from the office.

Rose reflected on her day. There had been a raid on a factory suspected of hiding illegal aliens that she had to supervise but otherwise it had been a slow day at Torchwood 1. She punched in the postcode for the local chippy and started the engine. She ordered three pizzas and a bag of chips seeing as Charlotte and Mickey were undoubtedly staying for dinner. She pulled in the drive and parked up. The rain had cleared, but now the sun had set the temperature had dropped dramatically.

"Hi. I'm back!" She yelled as she struggled through the door with the three pizza boxes before Mickey rushed to her aid and grabbed two off her and ran into the kitchen yelling "Foods up kids!" Tony ran screaming at the top of his lungs towards the kitchen in his Power Rangers pajamas and Rose giggled as a frazzled looking Jackie chased after him.

"Hiya sweetheart! Had a good day at work?" She shouted over all the screaming. Rose nodded as she tugged off her heels. She followed her mother into the kitchen and grabbed herself a slice of pepperoni and sat down on the kitchen stool next to Charlotte. While those around her chatted and shared mindless banter Rose zoned out. It was times like these when she was cloaked in the domesticity of all of this, the family life when she thought the most of him. Those stupid Converses he used to wear constantly and the ridiculous oral fixation. All those little imperfections that made him so amazing in her eyes embedded into her memory forever and never ceasing to haunt her dreams. What if he had moved on? Forgotten about her the same way he had done with Sarah Jane and countless others he had just dumped back on earth and went on his merry way across time and space? She knew he had loved her but never as much as she had loved him. Just then she was pulled out of her reverie unceremoniously by a loud chime resonating from the doorbell. She sighed and heaved herself up off the chair.

"I'll get it then shall I?" She blew her breath out hard and pushed her hand through her fringe as she shuffled through the hall towards the door.

The handle felt icy cold in her hand, still warm from being wrapped around a mug of steaming tea. In all honesty she wondered whom the bloody hell would be knocking on the door at this time of night especially since she was unaware of them expecting a visitor. She unlocked the bolt and slid the glass door open. In front of her was the handsome familiar stranger the one who had known her name.

Say something you idiot. His brain was screaming at him on the inside.

"Rose Tyler? I trust you remember me? Is it possible for me to speak with you in private for a few short minutes? I'm afraid it's quite urgent." She raised her eyebrows in suspicion and he crossed his fingers behind his back and smiled serenely at her hoping to stare her down. She lowered her eyes and swallowed and then she shut the door behind her and stepped closer to him.

"You have 2 minutes so talk John if that is even your name. I want to know how on earth you know my name! Think carefully before you lie to me!" Her fierce expression made her look like a little blonde kitten trying to be a tiger. He smirked and she glared at him.

"My name isn't John, Rose. You know me just as well as I know you. I know your name because you're the only person I've thought of for every second of the last seven years. It's me Rose, The Doctor. I've regenerated." And then she slapped him. Hard.

"That is not funny! Who are you and how the hell do you know about the Doctor! If you've hurt him somehow I'll…" He grabbed her hands in his as the tears slipped down her cheeks.

"Shh Rose. Please calm down. It's me really." He tried to smile at her but he was too busy preventing his own tears from falling.

"Fine if you're the Doctor then tell me what were the last words you said to me that day on Bad Wolf Bay?" She stammered as she shivered from the sobs and the cold. He gazed down at her tenderly

"I said Rose Tyler…" He swallowed a lump in his throat.

"And how was that sentence gonna end?" He leaned down to her ear and whispered tenderly

"Rose Tyler I love you never forget that." She gazed up into his eyes and launched herself into his arms.

"Oh my god! It's really you?" She sobbed loudly

"The new and improved version." He grinned. Before he knew what was happening she had thrown her arms around his neck and thrust her lips against his. Once he got over the initial shock he kissed her back. Tender at first but it grew more passionate as each second passed. She ground her body up against him and he moaned into her mouth and bucked his hips. They had a lot of missed time to catch up on and starting now was as good a time as any. He pushed her up against the wall and kissed her neck before returning hungrily to her lips. She shoved her hands into his hair and he picked her up. She wrapped her legs around his waist and he pulled her closer.

"Rose?! What the hell are you doing?" Mickey Smith screeched indignantly as he stared dumbfounded at Rose practically shagging this random stranger on the driveway! The Doctor set Rose on her feet but kept his arm snaked around her shoulders.

"Mickey! It's the Doctor! He's found me! I always knew he would!" Rose squealed loudly. Mickey still looked confused.

"The Doctor's here? Where?" He asked looking around slowly. The Doctor waved at him from behind Rose. A sudden look of realisation crossed his face.

"You've gone and changed yourself again aint you? Hmph well I hope you know how much you hurt her leaving her stuck here!" The Doctor looked pained

"Mickey! It wasn't his fault and any way he's here now ent 'e so it don't matter." Rose said fiercely and the Doctor kissed the top of her head. Mickey grimaced.

"I only came out 'ere to make sure you were ok. Come back inside its freezing out, and you boss." He turned and walked back through the door and Rose followed him dragging the Doctor along behind her. Rose was locking the door when a little ball of blonde hair and five year old boy slammed into her leg.

"Rosie! We thought the aliens had taken you like last time." Tony sniffled and hugged her waist tightly. She smiled down at her little brother. The Doctor just mouthed, "last time" and she shook her head and grinned. Tony looked up at the Doctor inquisitively.

"Tony this is the Doctor he's my friend say hi." Rose said softly and the kid bit his lip and mumbled shyly. By this time Jackie Tyler had bustled into the hall to see what all the fuss was about and was quite surprised to see her daughter stood with a random tall and rather attractive man with his arm snaked around her waist. Rose hadn't had a proper boyfriend since… well in a while.

"Who's this guy then Rose?" Jackie asked indignantly. How come Rose hadn't introduced him to her before? She tapped her foot impatiently waiting for her daughter to answer. Rose was reluctant to tell her mother about the Doctor. In the first few months after Rose had been trapped in Pete's World she had pretty much been in a zombified state never eating or sleeping or speaking to anyone and she knew her mother resented the Doctor for leaving Rose in that state, however unwilling he had been. Mickey looked practically euphoric as he took in Rose's bewildered expression

"Oh I am looking forward to this!" He smirked at Rose and Jackie's eyebrows lifted accusingly. Rose glared daggers at Mickey.

"Oh no Mickey I think you'll find you have a fiancé to be getting back to. Off you pop sweetie. And take Tony with you." Rose smiled sweetly but you could hear the threat in her voice. Mickey stammered and looked at the door and then Rose and then back again. When he looked back at them he growled in annoyance and stalked off. The Doctor lost all control and burst out laughing uncontrollably until he received a sharp elbow to the ribs courtesy of the blonde next to him.

"OW! Rose!" He yelled and she gave him an amused sort of look. He pushed his hand through his hair trying his best to look sheepish.

"Uh Mum we kind of need to talk to you." Rose swallowed hard as the Doctor continued to rub his side where she had assaulted him. If Jackie had looked suspicious before it was nothing compared to the look on her face now. Her blonde eyebrows had practically disappeared into her hairline. The Doctor frantically stifled another laugh fearing another attack of the pointy elbows!

"Rose? You're not pregnant are you!? Ohmigod!" Jackie shouted and Rose winced.

"Mum! Mum! Calm down I'm not pregnant don't worry!" Rose practically screeched as she leaned forward to shut the kitchen door. She took a deep breath to calm herself.

"Mum I need to tell you something. Don't try and guess yeah? Just listen." Jackie nodded and Rose continued

"The Doctor's back! I'm not even really sure how right now but all that matters is that he is! Thing is though you remember that Christmas when we came back and he'd changed his face? Well he did it again." Rose had said all of this at lightning speed and it took Jackie a minute to process everything, which had been said. She looked up at the Doctor and he waved at her like he had done with Mickey. A sudden look of comprehension appeared on her face and she stepped closer to him. Then she slapped him.

"OWW! Jackie! What was that for?! Two Tyler women in less than 10 minutes! Gotta be a record even for me!" He rubbed his bright red cheek.

"That! Was for leaving 'er behind you bastard! Do you have any idea what it did to her?" Jackie screeched and the Doctor winced. He opened his mouth to explain himself but Rose beat him to the punch.

"Mum I told you he didn't want to leave me! It killed him too! Don't you dare go blaming him. It was my own stupid fault not holding onto that lever properly." Jackie looked taken aback by Rose's outburst. The Doctor laid his hand on her cheek gently.

"Don't you ever blame yourself Rose! All that matters is that we're together now 'k?" He kissed her forehead gently and she nodded. Jackie cleared her throat loudly.

"Jackie I really am sorry." He gave her the puppy dog eyes hoping she would cave. She just shook her head and tutted.

"Right alright then. Just stop makin' that face! You look about twelve, Doctor! And you missus are breaking the news to your father that that clown is back on the scene." Without missing a beat she turned and walked back into the kitchen as if nothing had happened. Rose breathed a sigh of relief.

"Well that wasn't as bad as I expected." She sighed as she skipped towards the door after her Mum.

"Yeah well easy for you to say! You didn't just fall victim to the infamous Jackie Tyler slap." The Doctor moaned quietly and returned to rubbing his cheek.

"You're such an idiot, you know that?"

"It's why you love me though." He flashed her a cheeky grin.

"And I you Doctor." She kissed him briefly on the lips.

"It's gonna take some getting used to, this new you. Not that you're not gorgeous like this." She laughed trying to make light of the serious statement. He looked into her eyes and she saw the old doctor she knew and loved. That was how she had known him the last time he regenerated; she had looked into his eyes and seen the same old man.

"We'll work it out." He sighed and she laid her head on his chest and listened to the double beat of his hearts.