The bus eased to a stop, the air brakes hissing as they let off the pressure. Jackie was the first off, bounding out of the bus. She wore a tank top and shorts to cover her bathing suit until she was ready to swim, and she had a large beach bag slung over her shoulder with dark sunglasses protecting her eyes and flip-flops on her feet to top it all off. She rather looked like a normal beach-goer. Rose was next to follow, also wearing short shorts and a tank top to cover her bathing suit, her long, blonde hair up in a ponytail with sandals covering her feet as well. The last to leave the safety of the bus was the Doctor, reluctantly following the others in jeans and an old, grey-brown t-shirt, both articles of clothing being things that Jackie had just found lying around the apartment. Even though he looked the least like a typical beach visitor, Rose was happy with what he was wearing. She had just barely managed to convince him to leave his pinstripe suit and tan trench coat at the apartment, telling him that it would help him to blend in if he changed clothes. When he relayed that he didn't really care about that, Rose noted that sand would get everywhere and he would be finding it in his clothes forever afterwards. While the blending factor didn't get him, the sand did. He didn't want to get sand in every crevasse of his beloved clothes.

The air was rather warm here; the touch of winter hadn't gotten the beach yet. The group had gotten up early to make it to the beach in plenty of time to enjoy and relax. The sun had only been up a matter of a couple of hours when they arrived there. Already, there were a few people walking about on the beach, but for the time being, it was fairly deserted.

"It's wonderful!" the Doctor heard Rose exclaim as her and her mom went on ahead, bounding onto the sand. "I didn't know the sea was so…big!"

He slowly trotted along behind the two, although they were quickly pulling away from him, his hands stuck into his pockets. His fingers curled around the sonic screwdriver in an unconscious gesture. He never left home without it.

When he reached the sand's edge, he paused, looking at it for a second as though it would move out of his way. Sighing softly, he removed his converse tennis shoes and socks in two fluid motions, stuffing his socks inside his shoes, before proceeding. He didn't want to get sand in them either.

By the time his feet finally hit the warm sand, Rose and Jackie were already down the beach and staking out their claim of sand, laying out beach towels. The Doctor walked over, feeling his feet sink into the sand with each step and the pleasant feeling of the grains filling the space between each toe, even spilling over the tops of his feet occasionally. He knew that, later, the sand would be hot, and probably unbearable, but for now, it was nice. He sauntered over and stopped near Rose, watching Jackie shove an umbrella shaft into the ground.

"It's about time you joined us!" Jackie nearly shrieked. "I was thinkin' you had managed to get lost in the first five minutes on the beach!"

"Nah," the Doctor nonchalantly replied. "Just taking my time," he smiled. "Isn't that why you insisted I come, to relax?"

"Yeah, but gheez, any slower and a snail could beat you."

"You're going to swim with us, aren't you?" Rose ignored her mother and looked up at him.

"Me? Nah. I'm not really a fan of saltwater," the Doctor glanced to the expansive ocean. "It…stings my eyes."

"Stings mine too, but that never stops me," Jackie scolded.

"Well then, by all means, knock yourself out."

"You go to swim in the ocean to do a beach trip proper. Everyone knows that."

"Ah, well, maybe later in that case. Besides, I don't even have swim trunks."

"Suit yourself," Rose shrugged, shooting a look at her mom. "If you don't wanna swim, no one's going to make you now."

The Doctor smiled gratefully at Rose.

Jackie shook her head, and then pulled off her tank top, revealing a rather modest pink and red bikini underneath, although she left her shorts on. The Doctor looked at Jackie, but he really didn't take notice.

Rose followed her mom's example and got ready to swim, taking off her shirt and wiggling out of her shorts to show a slightly less modest red bikini. The Doctor's cheeks flushed, turning a color that just about matched Rose's bathing suit and he suddenly found the abandoned lifeguard stand behind him very interesting. Rose laughed at this.

"Well, if you won't swim, will you stay here and protect our things?" Jackie asked.

The Doctor willingly looked at her and grinned. "Of course. Those things won't be running off anywhere while I'm here."

"They'd better not," Rose chuckled. "Mum'll have you working as her slave for the next year if they do."

The Doctor mock saluted. "Roger! Understood ma'am!"

"Wonderful!" Jackie smiled. "Come on then, Rose."

The Doctor sat on one of the rather plush towel, his weight sinking it into the sand a little, and watched the pair scamper off toward the sea. When he saw them splash merrily into the water, he decided to lie down on the towel and relax. His back was on the towel, his body easing down into the sand cushion below. The umbrella Jackie had placed was just in the correct position, shielding his face from the sunlight. He smiled, crossing one leg over the other and putting his hands under his head. It was nice out, he thought to himself contentedly. Just at the perfect temperature for him. The sand was pleasant through the towel, warming his back. It eased his body, and his mind was becoming a little groggy. It wasn't very often he got to lie there and just chill. Although it was all because of his decisions, it was his choice to always be on the go, he could see the sense in slowing down once in a blue moon. His eyelids began to droop, slowly slipping shut. Then his mind began to drift off, wondering what the future held, what was coming…

"I don't think I've ever seen him willingly be that still," a voice above him whispered. "I mean he's usually such a spazz."

"Mum, be nice," another voice scolded, although it too was quiet.

"I'm serious though. Do you think he dreams?"

"What?"

"You know, do you think he dreams like we do?"

"I dunno. Why don't you ask him?"

"Ask him? I don't want to intrude, I just want to know if he dreams."

"Yes, in fact, I do," the Doctor replied suddenly, his eyes flickering open. "When I sleep, I dream, just like every other intelligent being in the universe."

"About what?" Jackie cocked her head.

The Doctor gave a smirk. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

Jackie gave a snort.

He looked up to see the two girls looking critically down at him. He suddenly felt self-consciousness creep over him, his wide eyes rapidly switching between the two females.

"What? You two are looking at me like I've gone and grown an extra head," he paused long enough to let his jaw drop. "I have, haven't I?" Rose couldn't help but laugh as he sat up and frantically running his hands over his head, neck and shoulders. "I knew I shouldn't have played with all that radiation as a kid!"

"No, no, it's nothing like that," Rose chuckled.

"You were sleepin'!" Jackie broke in.

"Since when was that a crime? Because if it is, you lot break the law frequently."

"It isn't, not yet, it's just weird is all."

"Weird?"

"Yeah, weird to see you so still. The only time I can recall you sleeping is when-"

"I regenerated, I know. But I do need to recharge every now and then, just like everything else."

"Right," Rose chuckled, not sounding completely convinced. Her head titled a little when she saw his hand unconsciously rise to his neck and begun to scratch a little, but only for a few seconds before he winced and dropped his hand back down, showing red marks that his finger nails had left. For a moment, Rose's mind told her it had been there before. But she shook that off. It couldn't be that way. It was definitely left by his scratching. "What's that then?"

"What's what?" the Doctor looked at her, puzzled.

"You have red on your neck. Like a rash or something."

"Oh. That," the Doctor shrugged. "It's…ah…irritation from the collar. And me scratching it of course. Too much starch."

"Are you insulting my laundry?" Jackie's voice rose several levels, her hands jumping to her hips.

"No! Nonononono!" the Doctor raised his hands quickly. "Nothing like that! It just got a little more starch than the others, that's all. It happens, even if you do everything right. It's just one of those things. Happens to me all the time. I remember the first time I tried to wash anything, I was sure I had followed the instructions, down to the last point, but it still turned out much too stiff. I've gotten better since then, why I-"

"Doctor!" Jackie cut him short. "I get it. That's enough."

He fell quiet for a moment, his eyes going between the two faces. "So…what brings you two back?"

"Lunch of course."

"I'm starving," Rose added, putting a hand to her growling stomach for emphasis.

"Really? But we've only just arrived," the Doctor noted.

"No, we've been here for hours. It's just a little after noon."

"Is it really?" the Doctor laughed. "I guess my internal clock is a bit off. Imagine, a Time Lord with a faulty internal clock."

"Maybe that's why the TARDIS takes us to the wrong places some times," Rose smiled.

The Doctor grinned back. "Maybe. I should really have that fixed then."

Rose chuckled. "If only it were that simple."

"Yeah. So, lunch time?"

"Yeah, Mum and I were going to go to a burger place just a little ways into town. One of the regulars on the beach told us about it. It sounds wonderful, really. You're coming with us, yeah?"

"I dunno," the Doctor shrugged. "Shouldn't someone stay here and guard this spot? I mean, it is a really nice spot. Be a shame to lose it."

"Nonsense!" Jackie fervently shook her head. "A spot is a spot, but your health is important."

"What's that mean?" the Doctor tensed. "I'm in great health."

"You're too skinny, you are! You have to eat!" the Doctor opened his mouth to say something. "And don't make the excuse about being a Time Lord or anything like that. I don't know all that much about Time Lords and aliens and such, but I do know that you're too skinny."

"And what makes you assume that?"

"You weren't a twig when I first met you."

The Doctor chuckled at that.

He admitted it; he had more presence in his ninth regeneration's form. Although he hadn't been just a big brute back then, he had been bigger. The Doctor recalled wearing that leather jacket briefly after he had regenerated into his present form, before promptly collapsing. That thing had been huge on him then, even though he remembered fitting into it perfectly earlier. That's what regeneration did to a fellow though.

"So, I lost a little girth when I regenerated, wouldn't be the first time. It's nothing to fret about," the Doctor insisted.

Jackie came over and slapped the backside of his head with her open palm. The Doctor's hands instantly flew to his injured skull.

"Ow! Gheez, what was that for?" the Doctor glared. "I'm going to get a bloody concussion if you keep that up."

"Just because your real mum may have let you starve doesn't mean I'll let you," Jackie crossed her arms.

"I've never starved thank you. Or at least, not on my home planet. There were those other times when I was stranded, but that's beside the point. Besides, I thought you weren't very fond of me. You know, because I 'stole' your daughter and all."

"I'm not! But that doesn't mean you don't matter."

"Yeah, that makes a fat load of sense."

"Mum cares about you 'cause I do," Rose interjected. "She may not adore you, but she does care."

"Rose is right," Jackie nodded. "I care, really. Like I said, what would happen to Rose if you keeled over? Hm? Then what? So come on, up on your feet. We haven't got all day and I'm starving. About to run out there and eat anything I catch, I am."

"I haven't got money," the Doctor shrugged. "I couldn't pay for my meal."

"That's never stopped you before from what I can see. Besides, I was going to pay for it of course. What kind of host would I be if I made my guests pay?"

"But your things."

"We'll take them with us, we will! What, you think we'd just leave them here?"

"I still say we should try to hold onto this spot. It's a lovely spot, it is."

"And I still ask who cares? I said it before and I'll say it again, sweetheart, we'll find another. Besides, we didn't come to lollygag on the beach. Well, maybe you did, but Rose and I certainly didn't. We came for the ocean. That's the only reason anyone comes."

"Some come to tan," the Doctor mumbled.

"True, but that's not why we're here."

"But-"

"No more objections! We all are going to lunch, and you're no exception. Now get up."

The Doctor sighed a little. It wasn't often he was ordered around, and when he was, it wasn't usually by someone's mother. Still, he had never thought that it would be Jackie Tyler.

He stood, dusting off his jeans. "Fine, but if that spot's taken, and you wanted it, don't say I didn't warn you."

Rose playfully shoved his arm. "Come on now, it won't be so bad. Just enjoy yourself, yeah?"

The Doctor smiled. "Yes mom," he whispered to her, causing her to laugh.

She looked up at his handsome grinning face, thick sideburns outlining his face. His brown eyes sparkled in the sunlight. The color was brought out in them. They didn't look as dark here on the beach in the sun. She smiled broader. She hadn't realized just how brown they were.