"So, Rose Tyler, tell me the truth, about where you come from and don't leave anything out."
"You seriously expect to believe what I have to tell you?"
"As long as you don't really come from Mars, that's a bit too much don't you think?"
"Parallel Earth?" Rose offered as Alec made her move her legs and sat next to her, putting them back across his own.
"It's true Alec, think about where the Cybermen just went to? They didn't fade into oblivion and my boyfriend, he didn't go following them, he was already there, with me and my mum."
"Ok, I'll buy it so far. Tell me how you got here."
Rose quickly told him how Pete had discovered the Cybermen had been mapping themselves onto her world and they'd appeared there as ghosts, being accepted as everyone's loved ones coming back and how even her mother had been fooled. She explained she and her boyfriend had been away and had got back in time to see whom her mother had thought was her dead father. She told him her boyfriend was a brilliant doctor of everything and had worked out where the ghosts were coming from through a device he'd invented and they'd followed the signal to their world's version of Torchwood and a battle had followed.
Then she told him Pete had found out where they had gone and followed them and how she and her mother had been swept up in it all, her mother had been taken away to be turned into one of them while Rose herself had been held in the basement after trying to find where her boyfriend was. She ended it all by telling him her mother had got a shock when she'd seen Pete Tyler looked like her own dead husband and a battle was raging outside. Since there was a likelihood out of the two universes his was the safest as they had cut off any means of the Cybermen returning there, he had put a device around their necks before they could argue the point and her boyfriend had stayed to seal their end of the gap the Cybermen had made.
She explained there was a space between the two worlds and their only hope was trapping the Cybermen between them which could only be done from there and that her boyfriend and another friend had stayed to seal it off. They had been left portable devices to let Rose and her mother know it was safe to return, saying there should have been time to return but it had been miscalculated and Pete had realised the devices no longer worked when her mother had insisted he took them back.
Alec listened, absent-mindedly rubbing Rose's aching feet as he used to do with Tess when she was having Daisy.
"So what happened when you got here then?"
"Pete drove us to his mansion, mum was awestruck, he gave us a room for the night and the next morning, it hit us we were stranded here. Mum was still in shock she was facing the double of her dead husband, with the same name but he let us stay with him while he made arrangements for us to settle here. He gave us everything we needed including setting my mum up with her own hairdressing business and he gives me an allowance every month when I found out I was pregnant and wouldn't be able to work for long. Sorry about letting you think I had no money Alec but what was I supposed to do?"
"Never mind that Rose, so Pete Tyler is in charge of Torchwood? I thought it had been destroyed?"
"There was a lot going on and once we left, I didn't take much notice, he may have got it back together again."
"I heard rumours it was starting up again, it's all been hushed up after the organisation let the Cybermen escape but that was seven years ago since they were let loose and rounded up, why did it take so long for them to escape?"
"The plotting and the number of them all took time, imagine making five million phone calls then organise them," she smiled.
Alec saw her point. "Wouldn't like to have their phone bill then. As far as I know, the last of them got away around six months ago, that's when you arrived. Did you know you were pregnant when you got here?"
"No, I found out just before we left Pete's house, he sends me money from Vitex every month, he put me down on their payroll to make it legitimate. He thought my mother was going to take to him but she couldn't get past it all. Then yesterday morning, we had a big row and I left, she wanted me to give up the baby."
"I take it you wanted nothing to do with that then?"
"What do you think? Sorry Alec, I never meant for you to get involved in my problems."
"Is that it then?"
Is wasn't but at present that was all she was willing to tell him.
"Pretty much, you don't want all the boring details like I didn't want to know what I was having the last time I went for a scan. I'm due another one, I'll have to get myself booked in at a health centre, I've been looking them up but to do that, I need an address."
"Look Rose, I get you were just trying to protect yourself and I'm not mad with you for misleading me. I know you could have afforded to go stay at the pub but that's not the point, your money would soon run out if you did. You can stay here for now though I may not be here much longer, once the rate goes up the police won't pay, I'll have to find somewhere else so until then, you are more than welcome."
"Thanks Alec but I don't want to be a nuisance."
"You're not so forget it. Go get some rest, we'll talk in the morning when my friend comes around and I won't pass you on to her unless you want. She can drop her youngest off for a while if she wants but I'm going back to work next week, hopefully anyway. Let me up then."
Rose let him move her legs and she held her hand out for him to help her up.
"Thanks Alec, you didn't have to do this."
"Don't make a fuss of it, I'll see you in the morning then."
He leaned down and kissed her cheek.
"Goodnight Alec, can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"You said you had a teenage daughter, what happened?"
"She's with her mum, a case went wrong and I got ill. It's all over now, the case got sorted and the culprits got locked up, Miller was helping me."
"So she's just a friend?"
"Yes, despite the defence in the trial of her husband trying to suggest otherwise."
"You must tell me more then, that sounds interesting," Rose smiled, hanging onto him while she tried to slip her shoes on but gave up.
"I told you, it was just the defence. It was Miller's husband who killed the boy, Danny last July." Alec bent down to pick up her shoes and handed them to her.
"I must have missed all that, I never heard any of it, it was the end of September when we arrived here, the funny thing was and what my mother couldn't get over was seven years had gone in those few seconds it took to get here."
"I can imagine it was a shock to both of you, then you finding out you were pregnant on top of that."
"Yeah but it was no excuse for my mum to throw it all away then try to talk me into giving up the baby, it's all I have of my boyfriend and our old life."
"Do you think the gap will ever open up again?"
"I don't know, maybe Pete will find a way without letting the Cybermen loose again but what then?"
"Your boyfriend could get here and you could go back, maybe no time will have passed in your own world?"
"That's a long way off Alec, I know you're only trying to make me feel better though."
Rose was more tired than she'd thought and was woken the next morning by Alec bringing her a cup of tea after he'd tapped on the door and go no answer.
"Hey come on Rose, wake up."
"Sorry, thanks," she managed, trying not to move so fast.
"Need some help?"
Rose had to agree to let him help her, how was she going to manage on her own she didn't know but she supposed other women did. After he left her to go make breakfast, Rose unpacked her other belongings and joined him in the kitchen. They had just finished when Ellie knocked on the door, her youngest sitting in the pushchair.
The young boy went straight to Alec as Ellie got him out. "Hardee!" Fred called out, waiting for Alec to pick him up. Rose smiled.
Ellie Miller had still been trying to get over Hardy befriending a young pregnant woman whom he'd found in the bus shelter late yesterday afternoon but as she looked at Rose, she instantly knew why.
"Hi, you must be Rose, I'm Ellie. What are you doing with him then? Fred, get down, uncle Alec shouldn't be lifting you yet."
"I'm fine Miller, don't fuss. So have you come to help or criticise?"
"Both. Take no notice of him Rose, he's always such a grump, isn't he Fred?"
The boy struggled to get out of Alec's grip and went to stand in front of Rose.
"Hello there, so is uncle Alec a grump?"
The boy nodded. They talked a while and Ellie agreed to make friends with Rose and she apologised for not being able to offer Rose a room.
"It's ok Ellie, thanks. Alec offered to let me stay here for a while but I'd be happy to watch Fred for you if you need to. Are you going back to work here then?"
"I've got a meeting with the chief tomorrow, someone has to keep him in line. I hope you're fit to go back to work?"
"I will be. So, can you take Rose up to the health centre and get her registered then?"
"Yeah, you can watch Fred for a while and we get her sorted. What about benefits Rose?"
"Oh, I don't think I'm entitled to anything, I worked for my mum, she's a hairdresser."
"Rubbish, you'll get something and you'll get an allowance for baby stuff, you may as well claim it."
Rose had no idea how this world's social security worked, she'd never gone into it and supposed it would be totally different.
Then Ellie asked the ultimate question. How they were going to explain Rose living with Alec.
"So no-one else here knows about you, why you came here?"
"No, I should call my mum I suppose and let her know I'm ok."
"I wouldn't worry too much Rose, lots of mothers and daughters fall out but you losing your boyfriend like that, it can't have been easy."
She had told Ellie the same story she'd tried to tell Alec and she hoped she wouldn't have to tell her the rest. Alec though was the one to suggest how they explained she was staying with him, just as long as his ex wife didn't find out until he could explain it to her.
"That has to be the worse thing you've come out with Hardy," Ellie scoffed at his suggestion that after the Latimer case had concluded, he'd met Rose and they had spent the weekend together in nearby Weymouth and she'd just arrived in town having seen him on the news when the Sandbrook fiasco had been put to rest finally.
"Hey, I think it's a good idea," Alec defended himself, looking at Rose, who was just rolling her eyes.
"Can I say something?" Rose interrupted.
"Go ahead, it can't be any worse than his idea, who's going to believe that?" Ellie asked.
"Do you not think I can get a girlfriend and get her pregnant Miller?"
"I don't even want to know thanks and how do you explain she just found you after six months?"
"Well I would not be going around bragging I met a woman and spent the weekend with her and never saw her again, would I?"
"I suppose not. What were you going to say Rose?"
"Oh, I do get a say in it then? As stupid ideas go, can you think of a better one Ellie?" Rose asked.
"Thank you Rose, at least it's a feasible excuse, it would explain her not being around but I don't want Tess finding out, I went back to see Daisy and asked her if she wanted to get back together again."
"After what she did?" Ellie asked.
"Well it was partly my fault I suppose but the reason I came back was because I arranged a meeting and she turned up with Dave, can you believe it?"
"Having met her? Yes, probably though I thought she would be pleased you handed it all over to her. You'll have to go up there if it comes to a trial."
"I've had enough of trials but at least if I get accused of having an affair I've had some practise on that. I just hope Claire won't try anything stupid like suggest I tried to get her to turn her husband in so I could move in on her."
Ellie was the one to roll her eyes. "I thought that when I first met her, well you were hiding her so hiding Rose won't do you any good, maybe you should just be up front and admit it."
"Miller, that's not what really happened, tell her Rose."
Rose was suppressing a giggle.
"I should let you squirm but no Ellie, what I told you is true, I really am running away from my mother, even though I'm old enough to make my own decisions, I'm scared she'll get me to change my mind and give up the baby and I can't do that. I'm going to keep it and I don't care what it takes. I have some savings, I'll manage for now."
"You'll get help Rose but if you tell them your boyfriend is a police detective, you'll only get the minimum."
"I wouldn't have got much more if I'd stayed at home Ellie. Shall we set off now, your son will be ok here won't he?"
"No matter Rose, I may as well come with you, get it over with if we are going to pass you off as my girlfriend. Thanks for coming down Miller but I'll take care of Rose."
"Are you sure you're telling the truth Rose?" Ellie mused.
"Stop it Miller but you can give us a lift up into town to the health centre."
"There are other doctor's offices around you know?"
"Yes but that's the easiest one for Rose to get to her appointments and they can book her into hospital, will she get into the local one?"
"I expect so but it's only a small unit. Are you going to stay here?"
"No, not much longer, I'll help Rose find somewhere first, I'm sure she won't want to keep sharing with me, she'll need her own space."
"Won't that look a bit odd?" Ellie queried.
"We can have a big row then, Tess said I'm good at that."
Rose was a bit confused, was he just saying that to Ellie or did he mean it? Still, they'd only just met and he'd said she could stay there for the time being but it didn't mean he wanted her to stay with him on a permanent basis, he had his own life to lead and maybe he'd want a girlfriend for real. He certainly wouldn't want one who was six months pregnant and it wasn't his baby.
They got into Ellie's car, Alec helping Rose in the back and Ellie dropped them at the health centre. Rose went to get a form to fill in, being told she'd need to wait and see the nurse for a check-up so Alec decided he may as well register as well.
"So you never bothered before then?" Rose asked as she was at a bit of a loss what to put down on several of the questions.
Pete had provided the name of a practice in London where he'd registered them both but she was hoping it would hold up if her records were to be sent for. Alec cheated by putting his friend in Sandbrook who had been covering for him. He got up to hand the forms in and once seated, Rose put her arm through his and whispered to him.
"Better make it look good I suppose, do you know many people in town?"
"Not personally but I was in charge of a major murder investigation, everyone knows me but don't worry too much, remember, you just came to find me yesterday, it will save a lot of explanations we hardly know much about each other."
They were called in individually and Rose went in first, being told she was in good health and being thankful the background radiation wasn't showing up or had proved harmful to the baby. Once Alec had finished, complaining he'd have to go through the same again when he saw the CMO, they went in search of the benefits office and on finding it packed out and the next ticket number was fifty behind the current number being called, Alec pulled her back outside.
"Don't bother yet Rose, do it online or call them, you can't sit there all that time, there were only two counters open, you could be in there for hours. We'll get the number and you can call them since I've no internet at home."
"That could cost me Alec, I'm not on a contract phone."
"Well I am, you can use mine. Come on, we'll go get a few groceries then I'm going to see about hiring a car since I'm staying or maybe I'll just wait and get one from the station. Are you ok to go around the supermarket?"
"Yeah, I can manage or are you trying to hide me?"
"Nothing of the sort, people can either accept it or not, I don't really care."
They got a taxi to the supermarket and Alec thought he'd got away with it until he saw Beth Latimer fussing over her new baby on the way out.
"Oh, hello, thought you'd left town?"
"No, I came back on Monday. Oh, this is Rose."
"Hi, I'm Beth, nice to meet you Rose, how long have you to go?"
"Another three months, it seems endless. What's her name?" Rose asked Beth, wishing she could bend down to touch the baby.
"Lizzie, after my mum. I've not seen you around town, have you just got here?"
Beth looked at Alec as if to ask where he had got her from and what he was doing with her.
"Just arrived yesterday, took me a while to find him." Rose thought if he'd come up with the idea, she was going to contribute towards it, he wasn't getting it all his own way.
"Oh, you already knew each other then?"
"Come on Rose, Mrs Latimer doesn't want to be bothered with our problems."
Beth looked rather disappointed.
"Come round for coffee sometime Rose, he'll give you my address. Have you met Ellie yet?"
"Yeah, earlier, he introduced us."
"So you're staying then? Both of you?"
"Yes, I'm going back to work next week, Rose was lucky I was still here when she came to find me."
"You must tell me more Rose."
Rose saw the look on his face, Alec wondering what she would come out with so between them, they were going to have to go through the finer details so they didn't trip themselves up continually.