Title: Settling In
Author: Shen
Rating: NC-17
Characters: Rose, Ten, Donna, Jack, Gwen, Torchwood
Setting/Spoilers: Sequel to Looking Within, in my Peril-verse (see my profile). Recap of said 'verse is at http://shengirl dot livejournal dot com/8390 dot html
Teaser: Rose has landed back in her universe in truly dramatic fashion, and it's quite a lot to deal with when it comes to settling back in! Post-reunion fic.
Author's Note: This chapter is illustrated, again. Poorly, again. XD I doodled my new alien species... in MSPaint. Enjoy.

Chapter 7: A Romantic Jaunt?

For all that this was supposed to be the Doctor's penance, Rose found herself doing an awful lot of the work. Still, she felt bad enough about her own discretions towards Jack that she wouldn't protest. Besides, she was uniquely qualified for what had to be done.

"Please, Jack? I know you turned down the Doctor, but it's just one trip. For old time's sake? I missed traveling with you." Rose punctuated her plea with big eyes and a tentative smile.

"I dunno..." Jack muttered uncomfortably. He shifted his weight and glanced to the side, sure signs he was about to crumble.

"With you to help him, the Doctor's driving won't be nearly as bad, so you'll get home on time. And I'll ask the TARDIS to make sure. Please?" Finally, Jack cracked a smile.

"Alright, sweetheart, but only 'cause you asked." Jackpot! Stage One: success.

"Go with you?" Gwen asked incredulously.

"Yeah! Just one trip in time and space. Planning a wedding is stressful, am I right? This way, you can spend a whole day away and be back five minutes later," Rose assured her. Gwen seemed intrigued.

"Will I meet aliens? Not that I don't do enough of that at work-"

"Not the same," Rose stated almost too firmly. Clearing her throat, she continued, "Just trust me. I worked for Torchwood, and it doesn't compare with smelling alien air, eating the food, seeing how they live... And, most of the time, there's less shooting."

"Only most of the time?" Gwen asked, unsure whether to be amused. Rose waved her hand dismissively.

"Oh, y'know, things happen. Keeps it interesting. But don't worry; between the lot of us, we must know a thousand different ways to break out of jail. So, interested?"

"Is anyone else going? I'm sure Rhys would be curious." Rose grimaced.

"Maybe next time. The Doctor prefers to limit the number of 'unknown elements' on his ship," Rose explained honestly. "Tosh got her tour of the TARDIS when we were shopping, at least. Oh, and Jack's coming." Rose smiled and looked at the other woman hopefully.

After a moment's hesitation, Gwen gave a broad grin and said, "Well alright! Who could turn down a holiday from time?" Stage Two: success!

The next day, Gwen and Jack trouped into the console room, where Rose and the Doctor stood waiting. However, the latter looked slightly peeved.

"I suppose the two of you are armed to the teeth as well?" he asked belligerently. Rose glared at him.

"Oh, don't be dramatic." She turned to the newly arrived pair. "He's mad because I have my pistol. As, I expect, you two do, as well."

"You never needed a gun before! Jack couldn't be parted from his blaster, but you, Rose Tyler, were better than that." Ooh, that holier-than-thou attitude that her mind's eye had glossed over! It had been worse in her first Doctor, but this one had his own style of arrogance.

Rose argued back, "It was different then, Doctor! And I was not 'better.' If you run around with a gun when you don't know how to use one, you're just as likely to top yourself or your mates as you are to shoot the bad guy."

"Are you a good shot?" Jack asked, intrigued. Rose winced.

"Well... no. To Mickey's endless amusement. But I know when it's safe to shoot, and a gun is good for intimidation in a pinch, isn't it? Learned that much from you. As long as we go to a planet where it won't cause more harm than good. It's a tool, not a crazy pill, and I'm not going to cause trouble with it."

"Jack's a good teacher, if you want to improve," Gwen suggested helpfully. At this, Jacked looked obscenely pleased, which Rose found cute.

"Thanks. I might stop in for target practice, but I was never the top fighter. I do avoid it if I can. More of a... delegater, me." Somewhat mollified by Rose's down-putting of violence, at least ideologically, the Doctor softened.

He pulled her head towards himself as he said, "And a diplomat." He kissed her temple. Then, quietly, he muttered, "Rambo."

"What?" exclaimed Rose.

"So what you're saying is that you just want me to keep you i limber /i ," Jack said with a cheesy grin. Rose felt the Doctor stiffen and turned her head to see a shocked and indignant look on his face. Jack, of course, was completely unrepentant, and the girls laughed at them both.

"All ready, then?" Donna asked as she walked into the room.

"Looks like it!" Having already input the coordinates, he hit the dematerialization switch and began making other necessary adjustments as he spoke. "Alright, children, we're going on a day trip to a festival. It's on Bellwats, quite the tourist destination at this time of year. The local fauna have a mating dance in the forest near the town. It's spectacular to see! Glowing, colorful insects as big as your index finger flying in sync – hundreds of 'em! As soon as the suns go down." Bickering forgotten, the group stood in companionable silence. Rose had to restrain herself from jumping up and down like a child. Oh, she'd i missed /i this! A glance to the side told her Jack was experiencing similar glee.

After several minutes and a surprisingly soft landing, the Doctor threw his arm up, gesturing to the door.

"Rambo? Han Solo? Princess Leia?" he asked cheekily, looking to Rose, Jack, and Gwen in turn, "What're you waiting for?"

"You're not calling me Rambo!" Rose managed to bite off before giving into her excitement. Then, she was scrambling excitedly to the door at the heels of Jack and Gwen.

"You're Rambo as long as you need to conceal and carry!" the Doctor called after her. Ignoring him, she stepped out the door and stopped, breathing deep. Oxygen, thankfully, with the scents of nutmeg and... lemon? Odd scent for a forest. And that oddness was fantastic! Looking around, she saw that the leaves on the trees were thick and waxy, leading her to believe the area didn't get much rainfall, but they also had a bluish-green tinge.

"What about me?" she heard Donna complain as the woman stepped out of the TARDIS. The Doctor sighed.

"You travel with me every day. They got the special flourish because it's their first time or first time in a long time. You can have a nickname if you want, though."

"No, I don't think-"

"Pippy."

"What?!"

"You're ginger; Pippy Longstocking was ginger. It's set in stone now."

Donna began to loudly protest, "Why you arrogant-"

"That's odd," the Doctor interrupted her blithely.

"What's odd?" Gwen asked with some worry.

"This isn't Bellwats; the shrubbery's all wrong. I don't recognize this place."

"You brought us to the wrong planet?" Jack asked, grinning as if this was the best thing he'd heard all day.

Rose remarked, "Sounds like a festival or a market's nearby anyway, though." Everyone fell silent, and, sure enough, music, laughing, and the sound of bartering could be heard. Rose grinned, regaining her giddiness. Jack was no calmer.

"Then what're we waiting for?" he said, grabbing Gwen's hand. Before he could run off, however, the Doctor grabbed his shoulder and whispered something into his ear. Jack's eyes widened, but then he nodded and ran off with Gwen, babbling about how the TARDIS would translate everything for her. Rose cocked an eyebrow at the Doctor.

"Told him not to mess up this opportunity. Even if this place isn't as romantic as the one I'd intended. So, ready, my dear?" He offered his arm and smiled endearingly. Rose squealed and ignored his proffered elbow, instead grasping his hand and dragging him toward the sounds of civilization. She heard Donna chuckle behind them, and glanced back to see her following at a more sedate pace.

They drew up short when the trees cleared. Ahead of them was a bustling marketplace with stalls made out of a smooth, purple material. They lined the flatly-paved street tightly. Each one was loaded with odds and ends - clothes, jewelry, gadgets – and the smell of food wafted from a nearby street. Various aliens roamed about, including tree people from Jabe's planet, and even the odd group of humans could be seen. However, much of the crowd and all of the stall-workers were of a people with short, light blue fur. The ones Rose presumed to be male were about five to five and a half feet tall and had antlers, like a miniature version of what one would see on a deer. The females were half a foot shorter, on average, and both genders had four thin arms with four-fingered hands at the end and a pair of two-inch long, black, gleaming, almond shaped eyes.

(Illustration! http://i253 dot photobucket dot com/albums/hh52/shengirl/Ressen dot jpg )

Not too far away, Jack was discretely hacking a cashpoint with his wristcom.

As Rose walked up to them, she heard Gwen tease, "Honey, I told you it was stupid to store your ident numbers on your computer! What if someone steals it?" A clever rouse, Rose thought.

"You know me, sweetheart – dense as can be. Ah, there they are!" Jack said, hitting a few buttons on the cashpoint and retrieving a hefty amount of currency. Rose saw that Gwen couldn't contain her impressed look. Jack winked at Rose before leading his employee away.

"Check back at the TARDIS in two hours!" the Doctor called to them. Then, he waltzed up to the freed machine and sonic'd some currency for the three remaining time travelers.

"Let's go see where that music's coming from!" Rose suggested excitedly. The Doctor gave her an indulgent smile and began to follow. Donna told them to go off and enjoy a few hours alone and that she would see them in two hours. Apparently, shopping was her goal for now.

The music came from a local dance exhibition. The rhythms were bass-heavy, full of brass and flutes that trilled through light melodies; they lifted the spirit and set the foot tapping. The dancers themselves spun and leapt in time, entrancing both travelers for several songs. However, Rose's stomach soon decreed that it was time for breakfast. The Doctor found something human-safe and portable to eat (tasted like fish sticks, had the consistency of beef jerky), and the couple began a leisurely walk-and-munch tour of the stalls.

Suddenly, halfway through their meal, they both froze mid-step. One of the locals plowed into them, and, angry at their abrupt halt, indignantly delivered some TARDIS-censored words that were almost certainly impolite. However, neither time traveler paid her any heed.

"Do you feel that?" the Doctor asked unnecessarily.

Worriedly, Rose responded, "Yeah."