"OK, now that everybody knows each other, have a seat. Rose, come help me with the drinks." Jack said, taking Rose's hand.

"Why does she have to help you?" John protested. "Oh, sorry, Doc. Forgot how possessive you are." "I'm not possessive," he protested half-heartedly. "Then you'll survive a couple of minutes without Rose. Come along, love."

Rose brushed her fingers across John's cheek as she walked away and he almost followed her out of his seat until Donna kicked him under the table. She saw the murderous look on Martha's face. He straightened himself out and cleared his throat. "Did you know she was back in the states?" He questioned. Donna rolled her eyes. "I know your brain tends to shut down whenever you see Rose, so I didn't expect you to hear me say that I did not know she was coming. She's here thanks to the workforce program." "But I thought we were supposed to switches places with the Americans. She sounds like them, but she has an accent." Martha wanted to know. "She's from London, yeah, but her dad is American, so she has dual citizenship."


"So, gorgeous, how long are you in town for?" Jack asked as they wanted for the drinks. "How's permanently sound?" She asked with a smile. Jack grinned. "You moved back?"

"Yep."

He cheered, making the people sitting at the bar look at them. "Sorry. Thank God for the workforce program, huh?"

"Better believe it, baby. I loved living in the states, but this is home. I missed everyone."

"Including the Doctor?" Rose blushed and nodded. "He missed you, too. A lot. I know you were ok when you left, but it still took a while for him to bounce back."

"He wasn't the only one. I missed him terribly the time I was long. Thought about calling, but we promised each other, we'd make a life first, then come back."

"You know Martha is his girlfriend now, right?" Rose nodded. "And I respect that. I left a boyfriend back in New York. Mark."

"You love him?"

"I do, I really do. But I'm not in love with him."

"Hmm, he does have a tough act to follow. As does Martha."

"I'm glad he's seeing someone, though. I never wanted him to be alone."

"Rose Tyler, you are something else. You always think of other people before yourself, even if it means the life of your love with someone else."

"He may be the love of my life, but you're my soul mate, Jack." She promised him. Being someone's soul mate wasn't always sexual. It was someone being there for you, no matter what, through the good and the bad, sticking by your side, and accepting everything about you, the light and the dark. And more often than that, it was always being the middle man and running messages back and forth in the middle of the night whenever you and your boyfriend were fighting. That was Jack. He was Rose's rock and shoulder to cry now. Donna was the same for John, so there was no jealous between them.

Oh, there was in the beginning. Before Rose and John got together, when they were in the stage where they acted like a couple, but they weren't officially. Jack caused a lot of fights between them, and the last major, epic fight they had, ended in them kissing the hell out of each other and becoming an official couple as the sun rose. Jack showed up to school with a huge grin and a black eye, courtesy of John. Of course, back then he didn't go by John. He went by Doctor, a nickname Rose had given when they were much younger and he told her his dream of being a Doctor. It stuck all through high school and their first year of college before she moved to America. He dropped it and went by John. He didn't want anyone else calling him that unless their name started with R, J, or D.

"Here's your order." Rose shook her head slightly to clear her thoughts and grabbed the other tray, following Jack. She had a feeling that things were going to be a lot more interesting now that she was back.


"Finally." John grumbled. Donna was starting to drive him nuts with the subtle insults she kept aiming Martha's way. Not that the med student knew, but he did.

"Aw, did you miss me?" Jack teased. "Not you," he shot back. Rose ducked her head to hide the grin, not wanting to rile Martha up. Not on purpose anyway. "Hand it over," Donna demanded and Rose handed her her fruity drink. Donna took a long sip and Rose chuckled. "Blimey, Donna, ease up."

"Oh, hello, Pot. Nice to meet you. I'm Kettle." Jack laughed, handing John his regular coke and rum.

"Can't believe you still drink that weak shit." Jack complained.

"It's not weak."

"It's a man's drink." John and Rose said at the same time. She grinned at him and he laughed. "Oi, don't start that again. Drove me mad, you two finishing each other's sentences." Donna complained.

"That's not the only thing they finished together," Jack said slyly. Rose gasped and thumped him on the chest. "Oi!"

"Ow! What the hell!"

"So, how do you all know each other?" Martha asked, trying to ignore Jack's last statement. "Well, when my dad married Donna's mum, when we were ten, we moved to London. The Doctor," he nodded at John, already slipping into using the old nickname, "was already there. Since Donna didn't want to play with two hyper ten year olds, it was just me and the Doctor. We became best friends and he practically lived with us."

"Until Rose moved to town." Donna said with a smile.

John shook his head. "Oh, come off it," Donna laughed, "As soon as you saw her standing on the doorstep with her parents, you were head over heels."

"I was not!" He protested, his cheeks red. "I agree," Jack said.

"Thank you, Jack."

"You were too shy to know how to approach her anyway." Donna and Rose had a good laugh at that. Some part of Martha was glad to know it wasn't just her he was shy around. It was just his nature. "Of course, mind you, once he got that gob running, the only one who could understand him even a little was Rose." Donna said and Martha's good feeling disappeared.

"Anyway, we all became close, basically growing up and getting into all kinds of trouble. These two particularly," Jack said with a smile.

"Uh, hello! You were right there with us!" Rose reminded him with a frown. "Half of it was us trying to keep you from getting smashed. As soon as you discovered how to flirt, you were gone, and pissing off half the neighborhood boys!"

"Your brain worked faster than your feet," John agreed.

"So you guys grew up together?" Martha questioned.

"Yep." Rose said, popping the p. "We went to school together. Although I don't know how Jack graduated, considering he only showed up to take the tests."

"And passed with flying colors. Better than some people at this table." Donna thumped her step-brother on the arm. "Shut it! I tried my best and you know it! I did better than Rose!" "Oi! Why am I bringing brought into this?" The blonde demanded to know. "You were rubbish at math and science." "I will have you know that I got a B in chemistry and physics." Rose replied haughty.

Jack laughed. "I still think you cheated. You were terrible."

"I had a very good teacher," she said, smiling at John, who grinned back.

"Ha! Teaching, is that what you two were doing in your bedroom with the door locked and stereo going?" Jack said with a suggestive grin.

"Hey now! Nothing of that sort was going on then!" John informed him.

"Thank you, Doctor."

"I'll never believe that. Donna?"

"Sorry, but I'm with Jack. You two were dating, it was only natural-"

"Hang on, what?" Martha demanded angrily. She turned to face John, who tugged on his ear nervously. "Yes, Rose and I were together for some time."

"Some time?" Martha repeated.

"So, Rose, what part of the workforce program are you?" Jack said hurriedly, saving John from answering the question. "I'm a teaching assistant and sometimes research. It depends."

"I can't see you teaching." Donna said honestly. Rose laughed. "Neither can I. That's why I'm only an assistant. I mostly grade papers, tell students what they missed in class if they were gone, and help answer questions the best I can."

"And the research part?"

"Mostly astronomical things. Looking for dying stars and logging them in, writing down what stage they're in. Helping plot black holes and things like that." She reported.

"Wow, sounds heavy. Good for you!" Jack praised, hugging her.

"Jack is right. Well done, Rose." John said with a proud smile. Rose blushed at the praise. "Still can't take a complement, huh?" Jack chuckled, laying his arm around her shoulders.

"Enough about me. What about you, Captain Harkness? I see they still haven't tossed you out yet."

"They need me, babe. They can't toss me."

"They will if you continue to shag everyone with a pulse." Donna pointed out.

"Don't ask, don't tell." Jack answered smugly.

"That does not mean sleep with half the battalion," Rose scolded.

"I will have you know, that I got hit on today. He approached me, not the other way around."

"I'm sure you discouraged it." John said dryly. Jack smirked. "He was hot. So no."

Rose just shook her head. "Nice to see some things don't change," she commented.

"You say that like it's a bad thing." Jack said, taking a drink.

"Moving on. Donna, how are you, hon?" Rose asked, turning her back to Jack.

"Just peachy, sweetheart. I love my job."

"Where are you now?"

"I'm still at the insurance company. But I am the assistant director for my department."

"Oh, brilliant!" Rose cheered.

"Yes, thank you. Been busy the last couple of weeks though, helping the Americans catch on."

"How is your new boss?" John asked, draining the last of his drink. "God bless those Americans! I love him! He's so laid back, but really knows how to get the job done. We've gotten more done this quarter than we have in the last two quarters since he showed up." Donna gushed.

"Wow. Going to suck when he leaves right?" Rose asked, standing up. "I am going to miss him terribly." Donna admitted as Rose left. "And he is handsome too."

"How handsome?" Jack questioned, perking up. "Never you mind. I won't have you shagging my boss when I actually like this one." "Sure that's the only reason?" John teased. "Innuendos from you?" Donna gasped mockingly. John glared at her. "Funny." He looked up when Rose stopped by his seat, holding out a fresh coke and rum. He blinked before beaming at her. "Dunno how I got along without you."

She smiled softly, brushing his hair back. "You managed just fine." She nodded at Martha. "Got someone to take care of you."

Martha melted when John turned and smiled at her. Maybe things weren't as bad as she thought.

"Speaking of people to take care of, you seeing anyone, Rose?" Donna questioned, watching John's reaction.

"I have a guy in New York, yeah."

"What's his name?" Jack asked, not knowing the name.

"Mark. Mark Maileoi."

"Is he a good bloke?" Donna asked.

"Yeah, he really is a sweetheart. Treats me right and proper. Has a good job and rings his mum every weekend. He lost his father about two years ago and she's had a bit of a time, so Mark rings her and sees her whenever he can."

"Blimey. Sorry about his dad." Donna said with a wince.

"Yeah, but Mark's made his peace with it."

"How did you meet?" Martha questioned. Hopefully, this relationship would keep her away from John.

"We met through work. When I moved to New York, he was sort of my mentor. Helped me get my bearings until I could everything on my own. It wasn't love at first sight or anything, but we did grow close and I really do love him."

"Sounds nice." Martha said with a real smile.

"Yeah, Mark is pretty amazing."

"Is he a pretty boy?" John asked casually. Rose looked at him. "I know how you feel about them…" he trailed off. "He is a pretty boy. Actually, he's ginger." Jack sucked in a breath and whistled low. John's hand tightened around his glass before relaxing. "Ginger."

"Not a good thing to be in America." Rose informed him. "He gets teased all the time for it."

"Idiots," John groaned. "Well, is he…rude?" Rose shook her head. "Not a mean bone in his body."

"Hmm. Not rude and ginger." He shook his head slightly. "Interesting combination."

"I didn't go looking for him, Doctor." It wasn't an apology. "No, they always find you," he said with a smile. It wasn't a sign of forgiveness.

"How did he feel about you being gone a year?" Martha asked, trying to get the conversation back on track.

"Actually, it's going to be more than a year." Rose admitted. Martha's heart sank. John looked at her, puzzled. "How long are you staying?"

Rose looked him dead in the eye and smiled the one smile he could never resist. "Forever." she breathed.

And just like, John fell in love with her all over again.