As they walked to Rose's car to get up into the town to where Alec wanted to take her, Mickey was left to go check on John, the boy still not asleep.

"Hey you, why aren't you asleep?" Mickey asked him, pulling the covers up over him.

"Has mummy gone out, with Alec?"

"Yeah, she won't be long. You know she never usually goes out, does she?"

The boy shook his head. "Mickey, do you like Alec?"

"Do you?"

"Yeah, he let me splash him on the way back and he's taking me and mummy to the tram tomorrow. He tells me stories too."

"Well me and Jake tell you stories."

"Mum wants me to do as he says. Mickey, is he going to be my daddy?"

Mickey swallowed. "Well mate, that's not up to me, that's up to your mum and Alec."

"Yeah, I like him and mummy's not sad any more. I think she likes him too."

"Yeah John, I think she does. Do you want him to be your daddy?"

"Granny says he looks like him."

"What? When did she say that?"

"I heard her saying that mummy likes Alec because he looks like daddy."

Mickey wondered what Jackie had been thinking of, saying something like that around the boy, he was too easily led.

"Well, let's just keep that a secret, between us eh? We don't have to tell Alec, do we?"

John yawned.

"Off to sleep you, I'll come back up later, you have a nice day out tomorrow, yeah?"

John was already asleep. Mickey sat and looked at the boy, he was so much like Rose in some ways but his dad in others. What would Alec think if he knew? When he got chance in the morning, he'd have to talk to Jackie about being careful what she said in front of her grandson, three year olds were apt to taking things seriously.

Rose parked outside the restaurant Alec had chosen, him having looked it up that morning when he couldn't think about anything else but seeing Rose again. It had been quiet compared to the Saturday before, the day after Danny had been discovered but now Rose had put it that they knew why he'd ended up in this town, it didn't seem so bad. He could put up with Miller he supposed but she hadn't been in that morning so she'd not drilled him about him suddenly taking up with her friend.

What would she make of it though? He just hoped she wasn't as hostile as Rose's friend Mickey had been, what had the other man against him? Was he still jealous even though Rose had assured him she'd not been out with Mickey since before she met John's father? They were shown to a table by the window and he got his glasses out to read the menu, Rose smiling at him.

"What?"

"Nothing, those specs make you look, well, you know?"

"Older?"

"Nah, I can't say in public, wear them later and I'll tell you, you might arrest me if I say now."

Alec smiled, something she was making him do a whole lot more in the short time he'd known her, not even two days ago and he'd readily agreed to gather a few things from his hotel room and stay another night, what was happening to him? He'd not even had time to think about this properly but it felt right but what was going to happen, should he survive his surgery? Was Rose intending for him to be a surrogate father to her son right away?

Things were happening too fast and he'd not had time to think about the consequences, that of if he didn't survive or he changed his mind and put the surgery off until he'd solved this case because yet another killer was going to get away.

"Earth to Alec," Rose smiled as the waiter approached and Alec was still balancing his specs on his nose, Rose thinking how cute he looked.

Alec put the menu down, thinking this was a big mistake and he really shouldn't be eating any of this rich Italian food.

"What are you having sweetheart?" he asked, hoping Rose wasn't one for fancy food.

Rose made her choice, Alec hoping what she'd ordered wouldn't land him in hospital. They talked over their meal, Rose had still not told him anything about what she had joked about last night and he'd not wanted to press her for information, she would tell him in her own time but he still wasn't sure he had much and now John was asking him what he should call him, it was bound to turn into the boy wanting to call him dad. Was he ready for that after only knowing them a short time though?

After their meal, Alec suggested calling in the hotel bar for a drink and he'd get a few more things.

"Alec, I want you to think about moving in with us, if everything goes ok on Monday or is that asking too much?"

"Well I don't pay for the room, I expect my chief will be only too happy not to pay for it, if I'm not going to get much use out of it but what about you? Are you really to share?"

"Yeah, I want you to, if things get too much, you could always rent something, can't you?"

Alec smiled. "You mean like that blue chalet you were staring at?"

"You noticed? It looks nice, it's not practical for me and John though, I can't risk any accidents with him being so young and besides, he'd probably be chasing ducks all the time."

"When we get back Rose, I'd like for you to tell me more, about what we talked about last night."

"I'll answer any of your questions Alec, I'm sure you're used to asking them?"

"I'm not going to interrogate you, just so you know."

"I'm not saying you would but some things, you'll have to ask my stepfather, he'll be here tomorrow night. It's not that I don't want to but some information is classified and even I can't break the rules."

"Then that's good enough for me. I'll go get a few more things and I need to tell Becca, in case I don't come back."

"Then check out now Alec, I can take care of things but no talking about not coming back because you are, you have to."

"I know and I've got more than enough to come back to now, you made me see that. Wait here and I'll break the news to her but I'm not telling her where I'm going."

He made his mind up to quit the room while he gathered his belongings, what did he have to come back here for? He had someone to take care of everything for him and he still had to warn Rose that Tess may try to put in an appearance at the hospital on Monday. If he wasn't ready for this now, he never would be but now he'd more or less promised he was coming out of the hospital on his own and Rose would grieve more than Tess would if he didn't.

He carried his case downstairs then went to get his holdall and Becca was waiting for him.

"You could have given me some warning inspector, things are bad enough. Where are you moving to at this time of night?"

"I'd rather not say, just send anything to the station that comes for me will you?"

"Sure but I'll have to charge for the weekend. Why the hurry?"

"Because I can get a ride to where I'm going and I'll thank you not to gossip I was sitting in the bar with Rose Tyler."

"I'd never say anything. Do you know if the rumours are true though, that a match has been found for her son? Maggie was talking about it earlier."

"How would I know? Ask her yourself."

"I would but she doesn't look like she wants to tell, they'll make us wait for the official statement like they always do but Olly was in earlier as well, he reckons they have found someone, from the town."

"Well if it was you, you'd already know."

Becca knew she was going to get nothing more out of him, no wonder everyone thought how gruff he was and to think she was contemplating asking him if he wanted to spend some time with her, despite her confession to save Mark getting locked up for not saying where he was when Danny had been killed. He'd been the only man to stay recently she had really fancied and Mark had been a big mistake, they both knew that. It was a pity the detective had shown no interest on his arrival a few nights before it all happened. She shuddered to think of what had happened to Danny while they'd been in bed.

"All ready Alec?" Rose asked as she'd finished her drink and had seen him go towards the door.

"Hello Rose, how's John?" Becca asked innocently.

"He'll be fine, thanks. If you went for the testing, I want you to know we'll be putting a statement out on Monday to thank the whole town for volunteering, hopefully other sufferers will also benefit."

"So you found someone then?"

"Well yeah though it's unofficial yet, only a few people know so far. Come on Alec, let's get you settled."

"Oh, you're taking him off then?"

"I offered, don't make a big deal out of it but you may see us around town together, he's just moving a bit nearer to the station. Aren't you Alec?"

He thought he'd leave Rose to fill in the details. She would be more of an expert at covering everything up than he was, well except for Sandbrook but he'd had that covered for him, he'd had very little choice in the matter.

"So you two, you're an item then?" Becca mused.

"You spying for the paper Becca?" Alec asked, putting the holdall down while the two woman had a staring contest.

"No, of course not, well wish John a speedy recovery from me then. I bet you're relieved Rose?"

"Yeah, it will all be over soon, we just got lucky."

"I'll say. So was is someone local then?"

"I've no idea Becca, we just got told a donor had been matched and to go to the hospital on Monday, the donor wishes to remain anonymous. Can't say I blame the person really, it's not about the publicity it will attract and I don't want the attention on John any more than we have to, I've always kept him out of the news until now but we had very few options this time. It's time for the media to focus on Danny again, I'm sure Beth is far from pleased this all happened at the same time."

"Yeah, I bet. Have you seen her?"

"Not really, I've talked to Mark and I heard they'd been up to the hospital, him and Chloe but they understand. That's why I want to put out the statement for the press to go back to concentrating on Danny. I've not been able to tell John his friend's gone. He asked me if he'd be able to go skateboarding with him and Tom when he got well, I had to just tell him Danny had to go away for a while and hopefully, John will forget about it."

"Let's hope so then. Well don't let me keep you and I won't say anything."

Rose took Alec's holdall while he wheeled the case across to the car.

"She'll guess you know," Alec remarked as he put his case in the back.

"Don't worry about it, we're not going to keep things quiet are we? Everyone will see us together, they'd better get used to it."

"Well for the record, they won't hear anything from me but I won't deny it, if I'm asked directly although it may not be for long anyway, one way or another. If things don't work out Rose, we will have had this time together at least."

"Don't you go getting all gloomy on me Alec, you have to think positively, for yourself and for us. You'd better get used to it yourself and like I said, if things don't work out with you moving in, you can always rent that riverside chalet."

"Thanks Rose, you know I hate the water."

"Well you seem intent on punishing yourself Alec."

Rose drove them back to the cottage that was to become Alec's albeit short-term accommodation depending on what happened on Monday. Mickey heard the door opening, Rose coming in carrying Alec's holdall. Then he saw Alec behind her with his suitcase.

"Wot's this then?" Mickey asked as Rose put the holdall on the chair.

"What does it look like Mickey? I asked Alec to move in with us so while we were out, he went to get his things."

"Don't you think it's a bit soon?"

"I'm here in case you forgot," Alec butted in. "Rose, I'll take my suitcase upstairs and check on John then would you make some room for my things?" he asked, starting up the stairs.

"Sure, I'll follow you up. Thanks for staying with John but Mickey, this has got nothing to do with you, it's about me and Alec and yes, we are sleeping together but that's all, not that it's anyone's business but ours. I already told you, we know why we're here, this was meant to happen. I'm not gonna waste any time, Alec may not have it and I want to make him feel wanted, to be part of the family. I hope you can see that and treat him as such?"

Mickey took a moment to respond. He knew he didn't have a say in this and neither would her mother. Once Rose made her mind up, there was no going back and no debate about it.

"If it makes you happy Rose, then I'm all for it. You can tell your mother, I'm too much of a coward. John was awake earlier, he asked if Alec was going to be his dad. You know he's too young to understand Alec can't be his real dad but when he sees other kids with theirs, well I know what it's like and so do you, make sure Alec is the right person for the job."

"He is Mickey, I just know he is. So you're ok with this?"

"I have to be, for both of you and you're right, John needs someone and it will never be me, we both know that, just make sure you're not doing this for the wrong reasons."

"I'm not and you know it. See you tomorrow sometime, we're setting off after breakfast, you know John's always keen to get off. What are you and Jake doing?"

"We'll take your mum out somewhere, probably to some posh gardens or fancy mansion knowing her."

Rose laughed. "Yeah, I remember the look on her face seeing Pete's house for the first time, she thought she was going to get charged for entry."

Mickey also remembered that day. It had been ok for him, he'd already spent some time there before getting a place near his gran when she'd finally been persuaded to go in a home and that was only because they were individual flats and she was left to her own devices.

Rose said goodnight to him and took Alec's holdall upstairs to see him sitting on the bed.

"Not backing out already are you hun?"

"What? No, I just dare not move your underwear around in the drawer in case you got the wrong idea I like to finger it, I'd much rather finger it while you're wearing it darlin'."

"Yeah, I just bet you would, should I be worried about you?"

"About what? I may have something wrong with my heart Rose but everything else is in perfect working order, care for a demonstration my love?"

"Well maybe just a small one, I want you alive to go to the hospital on Monday morning and John will wear you out enough tomorrow, don't you go thinking you'll have an easy time with him."

"I would not be doing this if I thought your son was going to be on his best behaviour around me, I want to see him as himself, not someone who has been told to be good around me. I remember what my daughter was like."

"You never said Alec, were they ok with you telling them?"

"I left a few things out but Tess knows we're together, I think I surprised her sufficiently enough to make her realise I'm not as bad as she made me out to be. She may try and find out which hospital I'm going to and turn up, just be warned."

"I can handle her and besides, Jake will be overseeing any security, I can tell him to keep her out, if you want?"

"No, best let her in, I should say goodbye to her at least if things do go wrong, not that now I expect things to go wrong. I'm going to fight this Rose, you know I am, I'm not going to just give in to the inevitable."

"Good, 'cos me and mum don't give up easily and if John's gonna get well, then so are you. You think this is all too much at once, don't you?"

"The thought crossed my mind for few moments but I realised this was what was meant to happen, who am I to fight destiny?"

"Yeah, there's some cosmic plan out there that drew us together, like lines of a pattern meeting up. Do you believe in that sort of thing?"

"Rose, you are talking to THE champion comic collector of my old school, if not the town where I grew up, I spent all my allowance on them. No matter what you think, I believe in it all. So are you going to tell me the rest?"

"Well that depends if you're planning on staying around, after your successful pacemaker insertion and if you're prepared to sign the Torchwood official secrets act."

"It's that bad is it?"

"Oh yeah, there's some serious stuff Alec, you have no idea, especially about John's father. You never asked me again last night."

"You took me by surprise Rose, inviting me to stay over and I did not want to push my luck with you and have you throw me out."

"I wouldn't have done that, I would have told you but maybe you'd best hear some of the other stuff first?"

"Well yes, maybe I should, after you make a space for my clothes in your wardrobe before my shirts get creased and you clear me a drawer in your dresser?"

"Alec, I'd better tell you before you unpack, if Becca is charging for the rest of the weekend, you may just run back up there when I've finished."

He put his arm around her as she sat down next to him. "Did you turn out the light downstairs?"

"No, not yet, just in case you wanted to make a hasty retreat."

"Never Rose, I want this with you and yes, I believe there is a cosmic plan for us, so stop stalling and tell me what you can."

"Ok, you asked for it, don't say I never warned you. Where do I start? Oh, I know, when I met a man in the basement of the store I used to work in, just before the place blew up. He rescued me from shop window dummies that had come to life, they were being controlled by this alien but we stopped them. To cut a long story short Alec, he himself was an alien and he had this time machine, a ship in the shape of a police telephone box and I know, you never had them here."

Alec listened as she told him about when it was all over, after a copy of Mickey had lost its head and melted and they'd got back to their estate. He went down to put the lights out and made sure the door was locked. Then came the crunch.

"He invited me to go with him and at first I said no. Then he came back and told me the ship could travel in time and I went running inside and never looked back."

It was after midnight and Rose knew they were meant to set off early the next morning but it had to be done, if she wanted Alec to be in hers and John's lives.

"So, let me get this right. You travelled, in time and space with a Timelord? Then something happened and he changed, to look differently and you fell in love with him? What took you so long to get together?"

"Lots of things but the major drawback was Mickey and my mother and you've met her."

"Yes, haven't I just? So she's going to treat me the same way she did him then?"

"No, I won't let her and she did relent, just before that day when the Cybermen were about to take over the human population and turn everyone into them. Again."

"Yes, I know what happened here Rose and I heard how a group contained them all and they got locked up, I just did not expect it to have involved you and the Doctor. So he is John's father? So, how come John is not like him?"

"A few things but Doctor Harper reckoned it was because of what happened to me, when the Doctor changed. It somehow got left in me and when John was conceived, it protected him, made him 99% human, there's only a bit of Timelord in him. Unluckily, it affected him, that's why he needs the operation and it's all my fault."

"Listen to me Rose, it is not your fault. You never gave up when they told you to, you carried John full term and he's a great kid, his father would be proud of him, you know that. I'd best leave my unpacking until tomorrow, well except for my shirts. I'm staying Rose, you can get your stepfather to tell me about Torchwood tomorrow, I want to hear the rest."

"You will, I'm glad we got this out of the way. I'll just go to the bathroom while you rescue our shirts, I can go over them with the iron when we get back tomorrow."

They got up and Alec put his arms around her and kissed her neck.

"No matter Rose, I may not be needing them."

"Stop talking like that, I've not told you everything just for you to quit on me Alec Hardy. You're gonna be around a while longer yet. So, are you gonna be signing up then?"

"To be told about Torchwood? Yes because I want no secrets between us Rose, none at all and I want to hear about what you got up to and the places you went with him. I promise not to say anything to John unless he asks me but try not to tell him about anything other than werewolves eh?"

Rose smiled and reached up to kiss him. "Too late Alec, he knows some of the funnier ones, about the Slitheen. He thinks it was hilarious when one exploded over Mickey and my mum and his kitchen wall, he thinks it's better than jokes normal three year olds come out with."

"I hope he never told anyone?"

"No, he knows not to say anything. We just laugh it off and say it's a secret about his dad. He just laughs and says it's about the stuff that comes out of your nose, the other kids love it."

"So, he went to a private nursery? Did he get too bad to stay there?"

"Yeah, he was missing out so I gave up, there's still a place for him though, when he gets well. So, you're in then?"

"Yes, I am in. We had best get some sleep or you will be in no state to take him out tomorrow."

"Yeah, I suppose. We're good then?"

Alec dropped his arms to her waist. "Yes, we are good, I hope you are not wearing much under that dress?"

"Just you be careful, you still have to get through tomorrow yet."

"I will darlin' don't you worry about that, I'm looking forward to spending the day with my new family."

He let Rose go and unfastened his case, retrieving the shirts and hung them up, then decided to hang his other suit as he wondered how he'd just gained a new family so quickly. This was surely the work of the Doctor, whether he was back in another universe or not, this was not a coincidence by any means, this had been carefully planned. His being assigned to the town and days later being a match for the son of a Timelord, whatever one of those was as Rose still had to give more details and them accepting all this was something he had to come to terms with and he would, with Rose. She was just as confused with this as he was.