Chapter three: The morning after

Despite the strange evening with the doctor, or perhaps because of it, Rose was asleep fairly quickly. Sometime in the night though she was woken up by a piercing scream followed by loud sobs. The TARDIS shut the lights on and off in an agitated manner, urging rose out of bed and then moving hallways to create the shortest route possible. Within seconds she was at the doctor's room.

"Doctor?" She hurried in and was promptly tackled in a fierce hug.

"Shhh I've got you. I'm here. It's okay-"

"Da-Da monstas, wose! Wose!" He cried.

The toddler's little body was soaked in sweat as he shook hard, tears streaming. Mentally she cursed herself for not staying, of course he wouldn't be able to face his usual nightmares alone. How many times had they fallen asleep together in the library because he kept waking up?

"Shhhh. Shhh. It's alright, just a dream. All gone now." She crooned.

"Da monstas and- and I was bad! I SORRY!"

"No doctor. You weren't bad and there's nothing to say sorry for."

"It was all hot... I don't like it hot! And yellin and cryin' how tum dey cryin wose?" He sobbed, sounding almost full toddler now.

"Shhh. Shh I'm here doctor. Rose is here. It was just a dream and it's gone now sweetie-"

"no go!"

"No I didn't-"

"Stay wose! Peas! Peas wose peas!"

Kneeling, she gathered him into her arms and brought him back to the queen sized bed. He was an awkward bundle to carry and it took her a minute to realize why.

"Doctor let's take off your suit and shoes huh?"

"No. Seepy." He sniffed.

"I know but you'll feel better this way. Come on."

As he was loathe to be out of her arms for even a minute, it took a ridiculous amount of time to get the doctor unclothed without dropping him. When finally he was clad in nothing but a tee shirt that was now several sizes too big on him she was completely exhausted and he was half-asleep with his head on her shoulder.

"Okay. Time for bed." She mumbled, tucking him back under the rumpled covers. "Wose..." he began to whine reaching for her warmth. "Still here. Go to sleep doctor." She whispered lying down beside him. Immediately he cuddled into her side and was asleep almost as fast. With a heavy sigh she closed her eyes and tried not to worry what tomorrow would bring before doing the same.

The next morning Rose woke up alone to sheets long since gone cold. She didn't hear any crying and the TARDIS was humming normally so she made her way down to the control room. Maybe the doctor was back to normal already?

"Doctor? Doctor where are you?"

"In here wose!"

She followed his calls to the kitchen, stopping in the doorway.

"Doctor what on earth have you gotten up to?!"

"Beck fast for Wose!"

She took in the sight of what he deemed "Beck fast". Carefully cut up chunks of banana sat on a plate, next to a piece of bread smeared with jam. Her favorite mug was beside it, filled to the brim and near over-flowing with milk. She wasn't exactly sure how he managed to get up on the chair without his stool but she decided not to question it. Sure there were milk spills to clean up and the table was sticky to the touch, but it was awfully sweet of him and he clearly had worked hard to surprise her.

"This looks great! "

"Tanks Wose. You're gonna have to get the tea it was um... um.."

"No problem. I usually get it anyhow."

He beamed in reply and grabbed his own banana.

"Did you want toast doctor?" She asked, wondering if he'd been unable to reach the toaster as well as the kettle.

"Otay. "

She put the bread in the toaster, put the kettle on then turned back just in time to see the doctor dip a half eaten banana into the jam before licking it off and going back for more.

"Doctor! Stop that. "

He frowned and continued to lick at the jam.

"No."

"Yes. You don't eat jam straight from the jar."

"You said!" He snapped sitting on his haunches.

"Said what?"

"I could! Jam later!" He yelled mashing the gummy fruit into the jar.

"NO Doctor-"

"YOU SAID!"

"That doesn't mean you can eat it like that!" She insisted trying to take it away.

"NO!" He yelled again scrambling back.

"Doctor st-"

With a shriek he tumbled backwards off the chair and promptly began crying.

Trying to mask her frustration, she knelt down beside the time tot and took away what was left of the sweet. The rest of it was splattered on his shirt and legs.

"I- I sorry wose. I sorry. "

"S' alright. But you're helping me clean up and then we're gonna get you some fresh clothes."

"Kay."

Sniffling he rubbed himself with the wet cloth she gave him and then gave her a very sticky hug.

"Sorry Wose."

"I forgive you. But we're done with Jam."