The Doctor awoke early. Well, early outside the TARDIS doors, in here it could be anytime. He had slept well, his dreams pleasant despite the turmoil he was still feeling. He really needed to thank Grace for her gift again.
It was times like this when he really noticed, times when he would have been disturbed all night by the things that always haunted him.
Donna was still resting peacefully, and he had no desire to disturb her. She looked like an angel asleep. She wouldn't be pleased if he woke her up, even if she would move past that to be with him, but right now he really thought he just needed a few moments.
He had told Rose he would have an answer, but he didn't. Every time he thought he decided either way, something would change his mind. Yes and no were being well exhausted inside his thoughts.
Rose was more mature, so maybe it wouldn't be so bad. But what if it was, then they were stuck with her. Only he could leave her back in the other dimension, she could find a life there if need be. But then she wouldn't be with her family.
For his several hours of sleep he felt tired. It wasn't the type of tired that could be cured by rest. It would only get better if he made a decision that he could live with. The probably was that he didn't know how to live with either.
He left the room, closing the door softly behind him. The TARDIS halls were dimmed and aside from the hum of his beautiful machine there was only silence.
He considered going to the library, or even the pool. Sometimes he was only able to think clearly when he smelled the chlorine and swam until his muscles protested.
Both of them would take him past the others rooms, so he decided to peek in on them. He was a man who lost everything over and over and sometimes he needed a reminder that he still had them. It helped him to know that his family was still there and resting in the safety of his protection.
He came to Grace's room first, and placed his hand on the doorknob. He asked the TARDIS to make sure that they were both covered, before he opened the door. He hated to ignore privacy but a knock would be sure to wake them up.
He wanted to see them sleep. It always made them look younger, and like people who hadn't seen so much wrong.
It was only Jack though, covered well, but alone. The Doctor could tell that his arm was lying across the spot where Grace would usually be.
The Doctor wondered where his girl was. She probably woke up early, and went to read or swim. She had gotten into that habit when they woke at the same time.
He saw David's door and decided to check on him before finding Grace. He opened the door and felt a little shock at finding Grace there. David was asleep on the far side of the bed, his chest rising and falling steadily.
Grace was closest to the door, on top of the covers, curled into herself. The Doctor expected that she hadn't intended to stay when she came in her.
He heard the TARDIS explain the nightmare and he nodded to himself. He was going to let them rest until Grace shifted and her left wrist slipped off the bed and he saw the bruise.
It was large and overlapped because of her small wrist. He knew whose hand it had come from, and he stepped forward. How could he have hurt her? He was going to wake him, kick him out now, until he heard a hum of disapproval.
He tried to protest but was told very firmly that it hadn't been on purpose. He supposed Grace wouldn't have stayed if she thought he had meant to hurt her.
It didn't make him happy, but he could deal with it after they woke.
He was backing away when he heard a soft voice so full of sleep. "Daddy?"
He nodded, looking at her. Her green eyes were bright despite just waking up. "Go back to sleep, love."
She shook her head, and slowly, so she didn't wake David, climbed out of the bed.
She pushed him into the hall, and closed the door behind them. "Wanna swim?"
He nodded, and smiled. "Race you?"
She flashed a bright grin and then took off. Their foot falls were muffled by the TARDIS and he had to say that Grace won on her own.
She was faster than him these days. Probably from running since the day she could walk.
They swam hard, neither one speaking for a long while. The only sound was rapid breathing and the smooth sound of bodies pushing through water.
He knew why he was pushing himself, but he didn't know why she was. He had every intention of finding out when they stopped.
At long last she grabbed the side of the wall and held on, catching her breath quickly.
He stopped at the same in, waiting until their breathing was slow and normal again. She was making no point to talk so he took the lead.
"What is it, Grace? What's wrong?"
She looked over at him, and sighed. Pulling herself up onto the side, she hung her feet into the water. He mimicked and waited patiently for her to answer.
She was looking down, not wanting to share. She got that from him, he hated himself for it. Well, maybe it would help if he started.
"I'm worried I'm going to make the wrong choice," he told her and she looked at him.
She shrugged, "Maybe there isn't a wrong choice."
He thought about that.
"Maybe it'll be like anything else, ups and downs, good and bad."
He smiled. "How did you get to be so smart?"
She smiled just a little. "Why don't you want her to come?"
He had already talked this through with Donna, but he didn't see what it would hurt to go through it again.
"I'm scared it will mess everything up with all of us," he admitted. "Or that I will do something stupid because I feel like I owe her."
She seemed to think about it. "I think she should come."
He looked up surprised by the sudden decision. "Why?"
She bit her lip. "I think she needs this."
He nodded, "I suppose so. "
Grace was silent again, and it reminded him of her problem. "Sweetheart, please tell me. What is wrong?"
She looked him in the eye, "I think I am pregnant, Dad."
