I apologize I haven't updated in a bit, I have just gone back to work after being on maternity leave and I'm finding it's harder to find the time to write. I'll try and post as often as I can but no guarantees it will be consistent. Once things settle down for me, I hope to try and post chapters closer together so you all are not waiting forever to find out what Rose and the half Doctor are up to next.

- just a reminder, I own nothing related to Doctor Who or Harry Potter. Sorry, slight spoiler there, please don't kill me. -

Chapter 3

New Beginnings

As soon as Rose entered the hotel suite, she leaned up against the door and sighed. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she pushed off of the door and headed for the bed. Sitting down, she kicked off her shoes one by one and slowly scooted back to the headboard. Picking up the channel changer on the nightstand, she turned on the TV to unwind a little.

Flipping through the hotels limited channel selection, she soon stopped when she saw the movie 'Truly, Madly, Deeply' being televised and decided to watch it. She was definitely in the mood for melancholy Romance right about now as it perfectly fitted her situation. Seeing this movie when she was still in the other universe, Rose noticed a few things that were different in this version.

Still, the plot was the same and it had an identical effect on her as the motion picture did in her old universe. Wiping the budding tears from her eyes, she continued to watch with anticipation, waiting for the best part. At the end, the main character learned to move on with her life and once again embraced it. Rose hoped she could do the same in her own life and she wanted it to be sooner rather than later.

After turning off the TV, Rose went to the kitchenette and made herself a cup of tea, trying to think about the pros of her current state of affairs. Even though she wasn't in the privacy of her own room like she had planned, she felt being in the hotel room alone was better than nothing. She had to get this figured out, if not for her own sake, then for the half Doctor's. She owed him that much.

First of all, she wasn't alone and nor was her Doctor, and for that she was very thankful. She knew he would be a wreck if he didn't have someone there to distract him and Donna Noble, now part Time Lord herself, could do that indefinitely. She also recognized that the half Doctor would need a good support system if he was going to succeed in adapting to being part human. He needed her support through this transition as much as she needed him to help her move forward.

Furthermore, she could express all her pent-up feelings she had harboured for the Doctor without the fear of rejection from him. For years, the Full Doctor and Rose kept skirting round the issue, flirting mercilessly but never doing anything about it simply because of the differences in their lifetimes. Now, she could clear the air between them by declaring her love to the half Doctor if she chose, knowing full well it would be returned in full.

It certainly helped that the half Doctor looked identical to the the one from her original universe; The same lean body under that form fitting suit, the same brilliant mind and the same fantastic hair she used to constantly fantasize about running her hands through...bloody hell, no wonder she kissed him earlier!

Rose was still hesitant to share those feelings, however, because she still felt quite vulnerable after all that had happened. Perhaps, in a few months, when her heart had more time to heal, she could gain enough courage to tell the half Doctor how she truly felt. For now though, she was inclined to keep any amorous feelings she had to herself and start off with just being friends.

Feeling slightly better that she had reasoned out her thoughts towards the half Doctor, she decided to go for a quick walk around the block of the hotel to clear her head. She made sure she had her wallet, mobile and key card in hand, strolled out the suite and made her way down to the lobby.

Stepping out into the curb, she breathed deeply, filling her lungs with the fresh salty air only a sea fairing town could possess. It instantly melted any leftover anxiety she had and replaced it with the courage and determination to move forward.

Rose began walking at a steady pace, stopping here and there to window shop if something caught her fancy. Seeing the bookstore she had wanted to check out on her last time in Helten, she decided to enter to see what inventory they carried.

Rose wandered the store, browsing a few sections at the front of the shop but nothing really taking her fancy until she found herself in the Fantasy section of the store. Spotting 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' on one of the shelves, she picked it up and gave a tongue between teeth smile. Knowing the Doctor's choice of books was probably the same as the half Doctor, she decided to buy it as a gift for him. Making her way up to the till, she paid for the book and began walking back to the hotel; now with a new bounce in her step, she hoped he would take the gift as a token of good faith between the two of them.

XOXOXOX

After the half Doctor promptly found everything he needed and even some things he didn't, Jackie paid for the merchandise and began looking for a suitable place to order take away from.

Spotting a restaurant across the road, they traipsed toward it, mouths watering at the delicious smells that were permeating from the establishment. Stepping inside, they made their way up to the till to inquire about ordering their food to go. They stepped up to the counter and took a menu to see what was available. Seeing as it was a restaurant that served international cuisine, they quickly settled on an old favorite. Deciding on three portions of fish and chips, they asked the maître d' if they could place their order.

Fifteen minutes and a bag of take away later, they headed back to the hotel to meet up with Rose and eat their food.

As they traveled upwards in the elevator, Jackie gave the half Doctor his key card for his room. "Here you are. Make sure you keep it on yourself at all times, mind."

"What's this for? Looks like one of those bank cards Rose showed me - well, I say showed but really I watched her as she used it in one of those bank machine thingies. Still, is it similar to that?" Inquired the partial Time Lord as he flipped it between his long fingers.

"It's your key card, you silly man! How else are you supposed to get into your hotel room - and don't think for one second that you would just say in the room Rose and I will be in, cause that's definitely not happening!"

His face contorted in mock horror, the half Doctor replied "Why would I want to do that? Being in the same room as you while you're sleeping? No thank you. You probably snore! Bad for my thought processes."

With that, he walked out of the elevator but not before Jackie gave him a good swat on his arm for being so rude.

They got to the hotel rooms and Jackie opened the door to the suite. As they walked in, they found Rose on one of the beds watching telly.

"Hello sweetheart! You feeling better? We brought you your favourite, fish n' chips!" Jackie placed the bags on the table while the half Doctor began passing out the food.

"Cor, that smells amazing, thanks!" Said Rose as she took her portion from the half Doctor and immediately began to tuck in. Savoring the first bite of a chip, she continued "these have to be the best chips I've had in a while - good choice Mum! Mmmmm!"

The half Doctor nodded in agreement and added "oh yes, brilliant! Good choice Jackie." He popped a piece of deep fried cod in his mouth and licked his fingertips in agreement while his stomach rumbled for more.

When he was a full Time Lord, eating and sleeping on a regular basis wasn't something he did. His advanced Time Lord physiology allowed him the privilege to go days without eating or sleeping. Now being part human, the half Doctor really had to pay attention to things like hunger and tiredness.

After the trio ate their fill, yawns were exchanged signaling a mutual agreement for sleep. The half Doctor stood up, grabbed his bag of necessities and Just before he decided to take his leave for the night, Rose put a hand on his arm halting him as he headed for the door.

"While you two were picking up stuff, I took a quick walk to clear my head. Found this. I thought you might like it for the zeppelin ride tomorrow." Rose grabbed the book and handed it to him.

The half Doctor's eyes instantly lit up as Rose gifted him the book. "Rose, thank you. This is brilliant! I can't wait to see whats changed. Good thing that this one isn't as sad as the seventh, otherwise you'd be privy to watch me cry." The half Doctor said with a wink.

Rose smiled with her tongue peaking out between her teeth and replied "you showing off your sensitive side while reading a book? I'd love to see that!" Rose then gave the half Doctor a quick hug before opening the door to let him out.

"Night, see you in the morning." said the partial Time Lord to Rose as he passed through the doorway.

"G'night, Doctor." Said Rose and with a short wave, she closed the door behind him.