John was stirring, swatting her hand away and opening his eyes, just checking himself in time so as not to whisper 'Sophia' and realising it was Rose and she was far more beautiful than his ex and he would have to sear her name onto his thick skull and not make the mistake of mentioning his ex. He took her hand and kissed the back of it.
"Hi, did I wake you?" Rose asked, giggling into his shoulder.
"Nah, been awake for ages me."
Rose laughed. "Fibber, you were snoring."
He raised his arm to put around her shoulder. "Then you should have woken me to shut me up, shouldn't you?"
Rose playfully hit his shoulder. "Mmm, what are we going to do today? Oh, I forgot, I'm supposed to babysit my cousins again tonight, sorry, I completely forgot. Their mum and mine are going to some party. You could come with me, if you want?"
"Ah, yes, I don't think that's a good idea, Donna said they were taking bets you would go out with me."
"Those little terrors! I knew they were up to something and I suppose your sister was leading them on." She pulled the covers back over her and snuggled back up to him, quite aware he still wasn't wearing a t-shirt and was only in his shorts.
"In Donna's defence, she did tell them off for it, seems they were giggling when you tripped up over me last week. Anyway, not really a good idea to go babysitting with you, one of them may lose their pocket money."
They kissed for a while, John was fooling around and started tickling her then he got up to make some egg on toast and offered her a ride back home, via a walk in the park. They walked hand in hand along the river, John hiring them a boat for an hour and Rose admiring his rowing skills, he then drove her back home and she asked if he wanted to go up to the flat.
"I don't think your mother likes me, not after last Sunday."
"Oh come on, she's not that bad, she was just upset that I was hurt. Come and say hello."
Against his better judgement, he agreed to go meet Jackie and Rose let them in.
"It's just me Mum, Donna's brother gave me a ride home."
Jackie's voice shouted from the kitchen. "Oh he did, did he? Isn't he the one who tripped you up last week and your cousins said he was your boyfriend, you've been denying all week. What do you see in ." She stopped and opened her mouth to continue but stopped dead instead. "Oh, you brought him back with you then? What was his name again?"
John held out his hand. "It's John, John Noble, I'm Donna's brother. Nice to meet your properly Mrs Tyler."
Jackie just scowled at him. "And where did you get to last night Madam? Did you stay with Donna?"
She couldn't say otherwise without risking John getting his face slapped. Instead, Rose headed for the living room and told John to wait for her. She went back in the kitchen and closed the door.
"Yes Mum, I stayed with Donna, don't get all hot and bothered. I'm gonna get changed then head over to look after Katie and Becky, John's going home I think."
"I hope so, those two girls were bad enough last Sunday that their own mother couldn't get them to stop giggling. What was so funny?"
Rose shrugged her shoulders and switched the kettle on. The least she could do was make coffee for John since he had brought her home. She knew very well why the girls had been giggling but she wasn't going to tell her mother. Donna hadn't mentioned that the girls bet about her going out with John but told her the girls had been laughing at John watching her skate off and looking for her. Last night though, she should have known her friend would trick her into getting to the party early and it had paid off.
She changed into her jeans and the t-shirt John had given her, which was baggy on her and went to rescue John, taking him some coffee. Jackie had obviously been grilling him since he was sat quietly and pretending to watch the news. She then dragged him up and told him he could walk her across to the other flat and Rose told her mother she would see her later. Once outside, she apologised.
"Hope my mum didn't interrogate you too much?" she asked as she kissed his cheek.
"Nah, had worse though I never admitted that you stayed with me last night, she would have slapped me all the way back to Chiswick."
Rose laughed and took his hand. Once outside at her cousins' flat, she asked him if he wanted to stay.
"Best not huh? Don't want those girls losing too much spending money in a week. Last night was brilliant, wasn't it?"
He toed the ground with his converse, which explained why they looked dirty. Rose thought he must do that a lot.
"I can see you again, can't I? I mean, I hope that wasn't just a one off. The party I mean and plus the brilliant snogging last night, you're a great snogger Rose."
Rose blushed. "Thanks, I suppose that's a compliment. How about Wednesday night? It's my day off, we could go get something to eat, if you like?"
John looked disappointed, he had hoped to see her before Wednesday but he supposed she was right and they had just got to know each other, he didn't want to overwhelm her. So he put on his best smile.
"Great! Why don't I pick you up after work? There's a great Chinese near where I live or we could go to the pictures and then grab a burger, if you want?"
"Yeah, seeing a film sounds good. I could meet you and we could go to the complex at the mall near me, that way you don't have to park in the centre of London."
That arranged, Rose went towards the stairs of the other block of flats, pulling him around the corner. "Night then John, see you on Wednesday, you have my number, don't you?"
"Erm, no but I'll get it from Donna, I'll wait outside the store for you, I'll use the car park, you get an hour's free parking."
Rose kissed him fervently and her heart skipped. He certainly was a good snogger.
Rose went up to the flat and was greeted by Katie.
"Hi Rose, come in. Did you go out with John then?"
"I'm not telling you!" Rose joked.
"Aw, come on Rose, spill the beans."
Just then, the girls' mother appeared. "Rose, I want a word with you, in the kitchen."
Rose knew she was in bother.
"Don't let the girls play up, Becky should be in bed no later than eight thirty and Katie before ten, make sure they turn their lights out and one more thing, what were you playing at last Sunday?"
Rose had a puzzled look on her face.
"The girls wouldn't stop laughing all week and they suddenly had more pocket money that I gave them, they said they got it from their friends at the skating party but I don't believe them. Do you know anything about it?"
Rose shook her head then changed her mind when she saw the look on the woman's face. "Sorry, it may have something to do with John, Donna's brother."
"Well you shouldn't encourage them especially to bet their friends you'd go out with him. Are you going out with him?"
"Well, just since last night, after his party he asked me out and we're going out on Wednesday night but don't tell the girls."
The girls' mother left and Rose laid down the law as usual and Katie got Rose to confess she really did like John and Katie said she knew it. She had just got both girls to go to their rooms so she could watch TV when she got a message from John. He had not wasted any time getting her number from Donna, she would have to have words with her friend for giving it to him so fast but they had spent the night together though it was mostly innocent.
The text asked if he could come up to the flat, he was still downstairs. Rose rolled her eyes. He must have waited to see her mother leave and then rung his sister. There were no rules that said she couldn't have some company while she watched the girls, it wasn't like she was a teenager sneaking her boyfriend in so she sent a text back for him to come up. Five minutes later, there was a knock on the door and John stood there with a big grin on his face.
"Is the coast clear? Can I come in?"
Rose grabbed his arm and led him into the living room before the girls rumbled she had some company. Too late as Becky came out of her room on some pretence.
"Oh hi John, what are you doing here? Where's auntie Donna?"
"Erm, she's at home why?"
"Oh nothing, I'll catch up with her later," the girl smiled, wanting to congratulate her for getting Rose and John together, it was going to be so much fun, John was a dream to wind up, even more so than Mickey as the girls used to run him ragged.
Katie also crept out of her room to say hello and disappeared again, probably sniggering at the fact they had been right all along and Donna had played her part. She made a note to thank her, this was going to be ace.
John settled on the sofa next to Rose, feet on the coffee table to which he got his leg slapped.
"Down, you're not at home now."
He sulked. "Sorry Rosie."
She decided to let the name slide as long as he didn't make a habit of it. There was only one person called her that and he was thousands of miles away, Jack Harkness had worked at the department store as a temp and had bowled male and female members of staff off their feet, including Rose but he had gone back home when his work permit ran out but he had been fun. He used to take everyone out on a Friday night and get them sloshed, much to Mickey's dismay, he had got jealous.
John decided to move closer, putting his arm around the back of the sofa, pretending to be interested in what Rose was watching on TV and let his hand wander to her shoulder. She grabbed it and pulled it around her.
"Why are you being so shy John? You weren't shy last night." She turned and kissed his cheek.
That started a cushion fight as they both tried to keep the noise down but Katie happened to come out of her room and caught them.
"I knew it Rose, I knew it!"
"Hey, I didn't start the fight, he did."
John grinned and put his cushion down.
"You're supposed to be in bed in ten minutes Katie so you'd best carry on with what you came out for."
The girl just giggled and went to what she had come out of her room for.
"See what you did?" Rose joked, nudging him.
John smiled, he'd had the desired effect, she wasn't mad at him, she was trying to tell him she was glad he'd changed his mind. Just after ten though, there was a knock on the door and Rose knew the girls mother had taken her key. She got up, followed by John and she looked through the door viewer, it was Mickey. How had he found out where she was? Then she realised that her mother must have told him and she had mentioned she would be alone with the girls. She thought about just ignoring the knock but he would only knock again and disturb the girls.
She opened the door, John stayed behind her. "Mickey, it's late, what do you want?"
Mickey looked at Rose, then at John, who now had his hand on her shoulder, protectively. "Who's this then?"
"This is John, Donna's brother, he's babysitting with me."
"Your mother said you were alone, I just saw her down the pub."
"She shouldn't have told you where I was. What are you doing here?"
"I came to see you, to ask you " He stopped, knowing there was no chance now as Rose put her arm around John's waist.
"You'd best leave Mickey, you'll disturb the girls."
"Right, ok then, I'll leave. I can see I'm not wanted." He turned away and Rose watched him walk down the walkway.
She turned back to John, putting both her arms around his waist just as Mickey turned back in time to see them. He knew he had lost her this time, he had messed her around for the last time.
Rose took John back into the living room. "Sorry about that, that was my ex, in case you hadn't already gathered that. My mum shouldn't have told him where I was, she's under the illusion I'd still take him back again. I wouldn't mind, she saw me with you today, I thought she would sort of get the hint."
"It's ok Rose, it was bound to happen sooner or later. No risk of you meeting mine, she's in America. Let's just forget it shall we? No harm done."
He pulled her over and kissed her. When the girls mother got back, John walked Rose back home and saw her to her door.
"I'd best not invite you in, me and my mother are going to be having words."
John laughed. "I'd love to see that. Goodnight then Rosie, can I see you tomorrow night? Maybe we can go out and get something to eat, I can pick you up from the store, it's nearer than coming all the way out here and you having to get the bus home."
It was the least she could do since he had just met her ex. "Ok then, I'll meet you outside at five thirty then, you can take me to that Chinese you were telling me about."
"Brilliant! See you tomorrow then."
They kissed goodnight again and John walked off, Rose watching him. Neither of them knew Mickey was watching from below. John came out of the doorway feeling pleased with himself but wishing they had spent the night alone. He was walking back to his car when a figure stepped out of the shadows. He recognised Rose's ex boyfriend.
"You stole my girl," Mickey stated, folding his arms and standing in front of John.
John wasn't going to take the bait. He had done self-defence at uni and could defend himself, it was sort of a hobby now, he still practised.
"I think you've got your wires slightly crossed because she told me last week she wasn't seeing you any more, now if you'll excuse me, I'll be on my way."
Mickey didn't like it when someone stood up to him. "Well, we'll see about that, she always comes back to me, just you wait until she dumps you mate."
John knew that wouldn't affect how he felt about Rose and doubted she would leave him to go back to this man, he was pathetic, grovelling to get her back and threatening him. He just went on his way and forgot about it. Tomorrow night, he was going on a proper date with the more than brilliant Rose Tyler.
Rose went back inside and confronted her mother. "Mum, how could you? Why did you tell Mickey where I was?"
Jackie looked down at her feet. "I thought you'd make up again Rose, you've known him a long time and you always go back to him, why is this time any different?"
"Because I'm going out with John. He has a proper job, he's a history professor, not a mechanic and he's got a lovely apartment near Donna's, I was at a party there last night and I'm through with going out with losers like Mickey who spend all their money at the pub and on betting on the football. John's different, he treats me properly and I'm going out with him tomorrow night after work so don't wait up."
"He's too old for you Rose."
Rose had heard enough. She stormed into her room and slammed the door. Her mother was not going to run her life for her, that was over with and there was no way she was stopping seeing John and going back with Mickey. She sent John a text, knowing he would answer when he got home but he answered right back. He told her he had just had a run-in with Mickey. Rose made her mind up and told him to come to the flats and wait downstairs for her and she stuffed what she could into a holdall and threw her key on the table.
"I'm leaving Mum, I'm going to stay with John because I'm tired of going out to the pub every night and having to watch football and I'm tired of being told I'll go back to him because every time I split up with him, you talk me into going back. Well not this time."
She got a message asking if she wanted him to come up. She replied saying she was on her way down.
"I'll come back for the rest of my things."
"Rose, don't leave like this. I'm sorry. Look, I'll pass my driving test and do mobile hairdressing, I'll tell Jimbo no the next time he comes round but don't leave."
"Everyone leave home in the end mum, I'm only moving to Chiswick."
She knew she should have asked him but if he didn't want her to stay with him just yet, she could stay with Donna for a few days. She closed the door behind her and walked down the stairs, John was eagerly waiting for her. He took the bag silently and she put her arm in his.
"You leaving home Rosie?" he asked.
"Well no, why do you think I've got the bag you 'nana?" she laughed. "I can stay with Donna, if you're not ready to have a flatmate."
John looked at her, reaching the car. "I had a run-in with your ex on my way from your block. He told me you'd go running back to him."
"Oh yeah? That's what he thinks. By the way, why does your sister call you spaceman?"
"Oh Rose, you have no idea!" he replied as he put the car into gear and they drove off together as John laughed and said, "Allons-y! Rose Tyler."
The End!
