Greetings and Salutations! I would just like to thank everyone reading this story and try to see if I can influence them to giving me reviews!

While, I don't own the characters of Doctor Who, I promise if I did I would take good care of them.

Chapter 2: Preparing for a Date and Cricket Bats

The old lady came in with a sharp scent of lavender. Mrs. Haversham fancied herself a lady. She wore things that reminded Amy of the Victorian ages. Stately dignity and blunt honesty were the two things she prided herself on. Rose had been her pet project ever since the blond had come. When Rose first arrived, Mrs. Haversham had realized that while she was pretty she was more. The girl gave an aura of peace, laughter and love to all around her. Rose was bright and young and pretty and would make a perfect wife. So when she heard that the child would be raising an even younger wilder child, Mrs. Haversham had of course disapproved. Rose hadn't ignored her but thanked her for her advice and told her in no uncertain terms that if she thought handing Amy over to someone else would make Amy's life happier or easier she would do it, but was not about to abandon the child because of some hard work. Then she had proven it. Rose had gained admiration in all of the town's eyes, but in particular of that of the females. But at the same time, each thought it was a shame that Rose was working so hard and didn't have someone male to love. It slowly became the single purpose of all of the female inhabitants to set Rose up with her Prince Charming.

Mrs. Haversham had tried not tried the more than any other female townswoman but the men she arranged with Rose had been of the highest of quality ranging from high corporate business men to rocket engineers and neurosurgeons. Some had been reluctant to me meet Rose at the beginning thinking her beneath them, but each one of those got put into their place quite quickly. Rose was smart in ways they had not expected and often kind but when people got on her nerves she cut the down them down with a wolf's savageness. None had managed to gain Rose's heart but Rose had managed to discreetly make match ups between some of her dates to other young townsgirls. Currently seven couples in the years she had been here had been discreetly arranged by Rose Tyler. While Mrs. Haversham had been impressed she had not admitted defeat, feeling that Rose's perfect match had to be somewhere.

"Amy, I think I have finally done it." Mrs. Haversham proclaimed to Amy with a confidence she hadn't had since the one three dates ago (she had tried a different tactic and sent Rose on a date with a lovely, up and coming, female artist named Lizet, who was currently seeing a nice woman down the street named Kara).

Amy simply raised an eyebrow at this statement. Each women in town had thought at least twice that they had the perfect partner for Rose (most being relatives). Mrs. Haversham's men had the best jobs and pedigrees, but most had good tempers along with that, though one or two had been, as Amy had said later in private to Rose, "Bastards with their ego's so full that they must have been Daleks in a past life."

The door to the bathroom creaked open and footsteps could be heard coming towards them. Amy's head turned so fast that she was sure she just gave herself whiplash. Rose came down looking none the worse for wear. Amy breathed a small sigh of relief but still watched Rose wary for some sign anything was wrong. Despite the way Rose looked, Amy realized that what she had said was cruel, but Amy often had trouble censoring herself. She was hardwired to say what came into her head and do what felt good with the consequences a fleeting thought. While she had some niggling notion in the back of her head while she had said those words, she never would have been able to stop.

"Mrs Haversham," Rose said, smiling politely, "What can I do for you today?"

"Rose, we all know the reason I'm here so let's not beat around the bush," Mrs. Haversham said in her blunt nature. "I have found a fine man interested in meeting you. He…"

"Mrs. Haversham! Thank you for always thinking about me but I really have no time for a relationship at the moment. Besides its unnecessary I have a…"

"Fiancé. Yes, I know. Child, it's been 12 years. Your young man is either dead or…not coming back." Rose winced at those words, Amy noticed probably thinking to Amy's earlier words feeling a pain in her stomach from guilt.

"I realize that you must have loved him very deeply," Mrs. Haversham went on in a kinder way. "He must have been some man to have gained such love and devotion from such an amazing woman like yourself, but for your sake you must move on. What would he say if he knew that he would never come back? What would he say?"

Rose looked up and both women could see a far off look in her eye. "Live a fantastic life Rose," Rose said looking somewhere the others couldn't see. Mrs. Haversham looked slightly confused but Amy remembered that tale well. Right before Rose became the Bad Wolf, the Doctor had told her that in his final message. His wish for Rose to lead a normal, human, life with friends and family. She could have. She could have left the Doctor, the war, everything scary and dangerous behind. Instead she had chosen the fight, to risk everything, even if Rose knew deep in her heart that she would die with him that day at the Gamestation. Rose had chosen to fight her way to the Doctor. Now even after all he put her through, Rose chose to wait for him.

Rose looked back at Mrs. Haversham, looking her dead in the eye. "John (the Fake name for the Doctor) would have wanted me to have the best life I could possibly have Mrs. Haversham," Mrs. Haversham looked triumphant until, "but I haven't given up hope. I believe in him. He has always come through in the end Mrs. Haversham. Always. Even when the odds were against us and there shouldn't have been any hope just because I believed in him miracles happened. I believe in the Doctor."

Mrs. Haversham was slightly thrown by this dedication. Some part of her couldn't believe it. It sounded too much like a romance novel. She briefly wondered what it would be like to love someone like Rose or to be loved like Rose loved her John. She had a brief flash of jealousy but shook that away as foolish and unbecoming. All she did know was that if she ever got a hold of the man who had left Rose for so long she was going to beat him within an inch of his life with her carpet bag then give him a tongue lashing so sound he would be crying tears of blood.

Nevertheless, Mrs. Haversham was a determined woman. "All I ask is that you go on this one date. I believe I have finally found the perfect match for you."

Rose almost rolled her eyes but was trying to be polite. "And why would this bloke be any different from the others?" Rose asked politely but with a hint of annoyance laced throughout.

"Alexander Burke is a good man. He is actually related to me on his mother's side and has an excellent pedigree," Mrs. Haversham said ignoring the eye roll from both Rose and Amy. "He is a medic who travels around the world helping people who don't have enough money or knowledge of medical procedure. He has been all around Africa, Asia, South America, and even the Poles a few times. He has a comfortable estate he comes back to but often spends his time in free clinics around his neighborhood. Polite, he also enjoys tales from all sorts of places. He is a little socially awkward but a charming and happy man. He will suit you just fine."

Amy was impressed. This man sounded pretty close to the previous regeneration of the Doctor that Rose cared so much for. Now if only he wore converse and a brown trench coat he would be perfect.

"He sounds amazing, but…" Rose began.

Amy thought this guy sounded great. Close to the Doctor's personality but not someone who would run and leave Rose all alone. "I think you should go for it," Amy proclaimed with an approving look from Mrs. Haversham and alarmed look from Rose.

"But, I…"Rose tried again.

"No buts," Mrs. Haversham proclaimed sternly. "My dear, everyone wants to see you happily in love with a nice fellow. Amy thinks this man is perfect and I know he is similar to your John."

Rose's head shot up sharply. "And how would you know that?" Rose asked a bit quickly.

"Because, child, I have gathered up information about his disposition from stories both you and your young charge say. Also what qualities seem to bring happiness to you in other dates." Mrs. Haversham said surprising them both. Rose began to feel like a lab rat which doctors were testing to see which results were the most affective.

"Go, please?" Amy said using her greatest weapon 'the puppy dog pout'.

Rose looked between Mrs. Haversham and Amy and realized she was out numbered. Sighing Rose agreed to meet him. Mrs. Haversham was ecstatic but only smiled discreetly and told Rose that Alexander Burke would be waiting for her at Le Belle's restaurant at noon for a lunch date in about two hours.

The rest of the visit was over quickly. Mrs. Haversham finished her tea and left Rose to Amy's control for clothes and make-up.

"Well what about this one?" Rose said coming out from behind the screen. She was wearing jeans and blue top.

"Nope," Amy decreed. "Not sexy enough."

"Amy! I'm going out to lunch not trying to seduce him!" Rose cried cheeks burning.

"Don't see why you can't do both." Amy replied with a wicked grin. "After all, I know that while you get some you can't mope about anyone else."

"Amy! That's it I've completely failed as a parent. It is wrong to get sex advice from the kid you raised." Rose said shaking her head.

Amy looked at Rose and realized that if she didn't apologize now her time would be lost. "It's not that Rose. I just…I just…want you to feel completely happy like I do. I don't like seeing you waste away over the Doctor. I often say things that I shouldn't and don't mean, but Rose, I want to see you smile like you did the night I first saw you. Like there was no such thing as pain. Even at your happiest you still look like you're missing something. Like you can't help listening for the whir of the TARDIS engines. I want you completely happy." Amy said cheeks flaring. Rose was better at this emotional stuff. Amy did angry and righteous well but not soulful and contrite.

Rose looked at her eyes softening. "Amy I love you and nothing will ever stop that but, I need you to realize that I will never be able to smile like that again until the Doctor's hand is back in mine and we are laughing like fools." Rose said softly.

Amy turned away quickly.

An hour later Rose was in clothes and make-up deemed suitable for the date. Rose felt a little more exposed and dressed up then she would like to be, but had realized that there were some battles one just couldn't win.

"There now, you look smashing. Be sure to always bat your eyes but not too much. And if he goes for a kiss make sure you make the first one count because that determines what sort of relationship you'll have later on." Amy prattled as Rose was getting the last item she had into her bag. Amy had dressed her into a lovely blue sun dress with just the smallest amount of silver jewelry and in rather unusual for Rose sandals. Rose never liked sandals, said they were too difficult to run in.

"And I suppose you know all this from your kiss-a-gram business?" Rose responded lightly. Amy froze. She had forgotten Rose found out about that. Rose turned and looked at her. "You're quitting that job." Amy started to speak but stopped at the look on Rose's face. Amy a few weeks after Rose came to live with her Amy had dubbed it her 'Bad Wolf face' and it suited it well. Meekly nodding her head Amy turned away. "Good," Rose said, then sensing Amy's unease set her mind back to Rose's current predicament. "So, do you think I'll meet Mrs. Haversham's found young caller's expectations?"

Amy turned back to Rose beaming all sorrowful thoughts forgotten. "His jaw will drop the moment you enter!" Amy promised looking Rose over obviously pleased with her handy work. "Now be good! I want you home by eleven tonight understand?" Amy teased. Rose smiled lifted her hand in farewell and left for her date.

As soon as Rose left Amy went to put on her uniform. She may have to quit kiss-a-graming but she still had a job today in a few hours. After that she'd quit with an extra hundred in her pocket. This job was for a bachelor party and Amy was going as a policewoman. She liked the power that came with this one, much more then say a nurse or a nun, even if the hat did mask her great hair. Putting the last of her costume on Amy thought she heard a strange noise. She disregarded it at first but then it started to remind her of something important… but what? It clicked suddenly. Rose had described the sound to the TARDIS to the best of her ability. Describing it as something that sounded science fictiony. Amy rushed to the window and looked out. On its side was a blue box with a raggedy man scrambling out of it as fast as he could. Without thinking Amy picked up the closest thing she had to a weapon planning of killing him quickly throwing him back into the TARDIS and throwing the bloody box in a lake. The time lord came sprinting into the house and ran straight to a door yelling for Amelia and Rose.

The Doctor was furious with himself. In his jump in time he realized that he had left Amelia and Rose alone with an escaped convict. Prisoner zero had made its home in Amelia's house. The door at the corner of his eye was the key. In his five minute jump he didn't want to think what could happen if it turned out to be something deadly. He had just gotten Rose back. He wasn't going to lose her again. Sprinting toward the door yelling and distracted the Doctor only heard the footsteps in time to turn around and meet the business end of a cricket bat.

So we finally see the Doctor. How will he react to Amelia? To Rose on a date? More importantly will Amy really kill him (you know she wants to)? I won't tell you as that will ruin the story, won't it.

I promise we will meet Rory within the next few chapters though.