Since We're Here

by Lumendea

Chapter Four: Future Wife

Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who, nor do I get paid for writing this.

….

Turlough blinked after the blonde woman as she waltzed past him and down one of the corridors. The heels of her low brown boots clicked on the white floor of the TARDIS and she seemed completely at ease with the situation. He wasn't sure what he had been expecting, but somehow the strange woman did not meet whatever his expectations might have been. She seemed too human, too amused and too… oh he didn't know. It was hard enough to imagine the Doctor in a romantic relationship much less what such a person would have to be. He shuddered slightly, displeased with his own train of thought. Shaking his head, he headed for Tegan's room with a slight smile. He knocked sharply on her door and she answered a moment later.

"Sorry Turlough," Tegan apologized as she leaned against the doorway to pull her shoes back on. "I slept a bit longer than I mean to. I was on my way."

"Actually the mother just arrived," Turlough informed her calmly. "She's already inside the TARDIS."

Tegan raised an eyebrow in interest and followed Turlough down the hall toward the workshop. He could tell from the way she was walking behind him that Tegan was very eager to see this mysterious mother. As they turned one of the final corners, she spotted the back of a blonde woman who was about to enter the workshop. She must have heard them since she turned and smiled.

"I'm Tegan Jovanka," Tegan introduced herself quickly straightening up and extending her hand.

"Nice to meet you Tegan," Rose replied as she shook Tegan's hand with a widening smile. "I'm Rose Tyler."

Before Tegan could start asking any questions, Rose opened the door to the workshop and grinned as Sammy looked up at her.

"Mummy!"

She dropped down quickly to her knees and let her youngest son rush into her arms. He almost knocked her over and Rose laughed in amusement, kissing his head softly. She ran her fingers through his messy hair for a moment with a soft easy going chuckle. The sight was something Tegan hadn't seen before on the TARDIS and yet didn't completely look out of place. Tegan looked over at the Doctor and noted that he was watching the reunion with a strange bemused look on his face and maybe a hint of nervousness.

"Hello Sammy," Rose greeted with a grin, "Have you been behaving?"

Sammy pulled away with a nervous look on his face as his eyes darted up to the earlier version of his father who was watching the exchange with fascination. The boy then lowered his eyes back to his mother and sheepishly smiled.

"I broke a vase," he admitted softly, "it was an accident Mummy."

The Fifth Doctor was surprised when Sammy's mother looked right up at him, clearly expecting something from him. Tegan almost laughed the surprise on the Time Lord's face and for a moment he looked utterly lost.

"I'm sure it was an accident," the woman said pointedly to both him and Sammy.

"Yes, don't worry about it," the Doctor interjected with a rather unsure smile. "If I honestly want another I can dash back in five minutes without any problem."

The woman smiled and nodded as she hugged Sammy again making the Doctor feel oddly relieved. He shifted uncomfortably as he noticed Tegan and Turlough watching the exchange with interest. This was a bit out of his usual range of situations. It was strange having so little idea of how to react, then again at the Academy the primary lesson had simply been to never allow things like this to occur.

He studied the woman quickly, she was human he was certain, but there seemed to be something a bit odd about her. Something just at the edge of his senses that was quiet interesting and promising. She was attractive and seemed quiet at ease with a temporally complex situation. That would be necessary he supposed, traveling with humans was one thing, but to become… involved with one would require a special sort of human.

"I'm Rose Tyler by the way," the blonde woman informed the Doctor. "Pleasure to meet you in this incarnation Doctor. Thank you for looking after him today."

Rose stood and took Sammy's hand before using her free hand to reach into her pocket. She pulled out a small case and handed it to the Doctor.

"What's this?"

"You can erase your memories of this but Tegan and Turlough can't. First Law of Time and all that," Rose answered with a slight roll of her eyes that made the Doctor smile. "Those pills will simply erase the memory of this." As Tegan began to protest, Rose turned to her and quickly added, "It won't hurt you, but it will keep time stable. The other option is having the Doctor erase your memories himself."

The Doctor nodded his understanding, it was disappointing to be sure, but he didn't want this getting back to Gallifrey. That would be an utter nightmare even if right now he was 'president'. They didn't have much appreciation for the oddities in life. Tegan and Turlough didn't respond to that, but grumbled to themselves before moving away from the door. Sammy blinked in confusion and looked up at his mother.

"Are the older two children safe?" the Doctor finally asked.

"Yes, they are fine," Rose assured him with a soft smile. "Everyone waiting back at our TARDIS."

"Does that mean we have to leave?"

Nodding, Rose chuckled at her son's slight pout and told him gently, "Go get your coat Sammy."

The boy nodded and darted out of the room toward her bedroom he had napped in. It occurred to the Doctor that he and this mysterious Rose Tyler were suddenly alone. The Doctor shoved his hands in his pockets and tried to hide his discomfort. Rose couldn't help the small smirk that appeared on her lips.