Chapter Ten

Rose was thankful that she and her husband were Time Lords since both of them had the ability to drink excessive amounts of alcohol and not get drunk unless they wanted to. Which came in handy for them since James and his friends were currently downing pints of ale as fast as they could. James wasn't drinking as many as they were and they could tell he was embarrassed at his friends who were nearly ready to hit the floor while they swayed around in their chairs and sang loudly. The other people in the pub were giving them dirty looks but the drunks ignored it while they sang bawdy songs and giggled hysterically. James stared at Alan and Rose and was shocked when he noticed they weren't even burping. He asked them and Alan shrugged.

"We're very good at holding our liquor," he said nonchalantly. "So…how long have you lived in London?"

"18 years."

Alan and Rose gave each other a knowing look.

"And where were you before that, if I might ask?" Alan said.

"Nottingham."

"Ah, Nottingham, home of Robin Hood," Alan said, nodding. "Wonderful place. Beautiful country. So what brought you to London?"

"I lived out in the country and I was bored with it. I wanted to see the big city."

One of his friends laughed like a hyena and clapped him hard on the back.

"And now he's screwing her royal majesty, herself!" he said loudly.

Both of them stared at James who was mortified.

"Really? You're…um….having sexual relations with the queen?" Alan said.

"No, I'm just a close friend," James said, rolling his eyes. "I have a friend who's a courtier and he introduced me to Elizabeth and we've gotten to know each other quite well."

"So well, he's deflowering the virgin queen!" the man said loudly.

"Robert!" James said, glaring at him.

"What? It's the truth! Don't pretend you aren't. You and she are having a bit of fun in her royal bedchambers, eh?" he said, clapping him so hard on the back James let out an "Oof!" He glared at his friends who were laughing and making crude remarks about his sexual prowess verses the queen's. He shot an apologetic look at Alan and Rose.

"Look, you wanna go somewhere else? My friends are pissed and it's only gonna get worse," he said to them.

They nodded.

"Come on, I'll take you to my house," he said, getting up.

"Come on, James, don't be a bore! Stay and drink with us!" Robert yelled while he grabbed his arm and tried to force him back into his seat.

James wrenched his arm away from him.

"I bid you goodnight, mates. Don't get yourselves tossed out on your arses while I'm gone, alright?"

Robert snorted.

"Piss off, ya wanker, we'll have fun without ya!" he said while the others nodded in agreement.

James sighed and beckoned for Alan and Rose to follow him while his friends yelled lewd things to him about him and the queen.

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After a ten minute walk, they came to a modest house and James unlocked the door.

"I'm sorry for that. I love my mates but they get rowdy when they get soused,"
he said to them.

"No need to apologize, perfectly understandable," Alan said.

They followed him inside. He lit two candles and carried them into the kitchen.

"Are you hungry? I don't have much but I could give you some bread and cheese, perhaps some wine?" he said, lighting several more candles.

"No, we're fine, thanks," Rose said while they sat down.

James nodded and sat down beside them.

"Once again, I apologize for my friend's behavior," he said. "I'm sure they'll be tossed out into the street any minute now. They get that way when they've had too much to drink."

Alan nodded.

"So…as you were saying, you and the queen?"

"It's no big deal. Elizabeth has many suitors. She hasn't married but that hasn't stopped her from acquainting herself with those of the opposite sex. If my friend hadn't introduced us she would have found someone else."

"And your friend…does she fancy him as well?" Alan said.

He laughed.

"No, he's a nice man but he's got a face like the back end of an ass. He'll be lucky to find an old spinster to marry, let alone the queen. And what about you?"

"We're married," Rose said.

"Congratulations, I wish you a long and happy life."

"Thank you," Alan said. "Can I ask though…you drank a lot as well and yet you don't seem drunk. How did you do that?"

"Oh…I could always hold my liquor. I could drink anyone under the table and not get drunk. I've always been blessed that way."

"Indeed," Alan said, giving Rose a pointed look. "But…tell us more about Elizabeth. I mean it must be exciting being a suitor. Perhaps if you play your cards right…"

James chuckled.

"Nah, I doubt I become the king," he said. "I'm just one of many. Her suitors are ten a penny and I'm no different. All I've done so far is spoken with her and given her a trinket."

"Really? What kind of trinket?" Rose said.

He waved his hand dismissively.

"Oh, some watch I've had since my youth. It's an old heirloom but I gave it to her as a gesture of my affection and…"

He trailed off when he noticed the wide-eyed looks on his friend's faces.

"What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost," he said to them.

Alan quickly recovered.

"Oh, it's nothing. I just thought of something horrific. So you gave Elizabeth a watch?"

"Yes, a little silver watch. I've had it for as long as I can remember but I have no interest in it. I don't think it even works anymore. It's very unusual. It has these intricate markings on the front of it. I thought she might like it."

"Mmmm," Alan said, nodding. "Is there any way you can get it back?"

Alan, Rose hissed in his mind when she saw the confused look on his face.

"Back? Why would I want it back?" James said to him.

"Well, I mean…it's a family heirloom and you might want it back someday," Alan said, trying to keep calm.

"Nah, I have no interest in it anymore."

Well, funnily enough, we do, Alan thought to Rose.

How do we get it back then? Rose thought back.

Alan thought for a moment.

"Elizabeth, is she still taking suitors?" Alan said.

James frowned.

"I don't know, why?"

"I would be very interested in applying for the position," he said.

He noticed Rose's shocked look.

Only as a way to get the watch back, Starlight, he thought to her.

"Um…you're married," James said, pointing to Rose.

"Yes, but we have a very open, open-minded marriage and to be honest we both sleep with other people when we get the chance. But seriously, do you think the queen would fancy me?"

James stared at his baby face.

"She might," he said.

"Could you introduce me to her?"

James looked at Rose.

"You're not upset that the man wishes to sleep with the queen?" he said to her.

Oh, I'm upset all right, Rose thought to Alan.

She forced a smile onto her face.

"No," she said as airily as she could. "I shag people all the time. We're a fun loving couple that likes to experiment."

I can't believe I'm saying this, Rose thought to him.

I'm not going to shag Elizabeth, Rose. I just want the watch back, Alan thought to her. Besides I know what she looks like with the lack of hair and eyebrows and the frumpy, dumpy clothes. I wouldn't shag her if you paid me a trillion pounds.

"Well, I suppose I could take you along with me to the palace when I visit tomorrow and introduce you to her," James said.

"Molto bene! Thanks ever so much."

"I can't guarantee she'll take you as a suitor though."

"Well…if she doesn't, I'll just come back home and sleep with my wench here!"

He smiled nervously at Rose when she eyed him.

I love you, Starlight? he thought to her.

It's a good thing I love you back, she thought to him. Because between that comment and the whole sleeping with the queen thing you'd be dead by now.

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After promising to come over bright and early the next morning, Alan and Rose left to go back home to the TARDIS. They entered and Alan relieved Jenny of babysitting so she could get some rest. He kissed his wife and nuzzled her nose before she left to take a shower. Alan went back to the living room and collapsed down onto the sofa with a sigh, closing his eyes and resting them for a moment.

He opened them five minutes later when the TARDIS projected Angel's crying into his mind. He got up and collected the diaper bag that the TARDIS had set outside the living room door and went to see what the problem was.

"Eh?" he said opening the door, turning on the light and walking inside. "What's all this then? What's this noise keeping you and your sister awake?"

He smiled at Elizabeth who was watching him quietly from her bed.

"Betcha this is a new thing for ya too, eh?" he said to her.

She didn't answer, only watched while Alan reached in and picked her sister up. He held her to his chest while he shushed her.

He walked over with the diaper bag to a rocking chair in the corner and settled down into it.

"What's this noise then?" he said softly. "What do you want, eh? You want changed?"

He checked the diaper and found it clean.

"Nope all ship shape and tidy in the nappy department," he said, holding her. "Are you hungry?"

He reached inside the bag and pulled out a warm bottle.

"I'm glad the TARDIS knows how to do this," he muttered.

He held the nipple near the baby's mouth and smiled when she opened her mouth and began to suck the milk.

"Aha, we have located the problem," he said while she fed. "And soon it will all come out the other end and I'm praying you hold off on that until it's my wife's turn because I don't fancy changing the nappy. No siree bobbo."

He rocked gently while Angel fed. His hearts warmed when he noticed how tiny she was in his arms.

"You're just a teeny tiny tyke, aren't ya?" he said softly. "You're so beautiful. Angel's the perfect name for ya. I'm so glad I found you or you would have died. And your sister would have been all alone."

He glanced at her and smiled when he noticed her watching him from the bed.

"You know, I won't bite you, Elizabeth. I promise," he said.

He glanced down at the bag and briefly let go of the bottle to grab a teddy bear. He sat it on his right leg and went back to feeding Angel, all the while keeping an eye on her and grinning when he noticed her rise up in her bed and stare at the teddy bear with interest. The smile widened when he saw her scoot out of the bed and tentatively walk over to the rocking chair. She hesitated a moment and then grabbed the bear while she looked up at Alan.

"Hi," Alan said, softly.

Elizabeth stared at him for a moment and then looked at Angel.

"You have a little sister now," Alan said softly.

Elizabeth moved closer to her sister and Alan stopped rocking so she could get a closer look. He smiled tenderly and his hearts swelled with love at the wide-eyed look on her face. Suddenly, he felt himself becoming very protective of them both and dreading the moment they would have to give them up.

But why should we give them up to someone else? Alan thought while he stared at them. If Brother and Rain can be parents, why can't we? Perhaps we were led to that house for a reason.

He heard the door open and glanced up to see Rose smiling at him. She came inside and Alan soothed Elizabeth when he saw the scared look on her face.

"How are they?" she said, walking over and kneeling down next to Elizabeth.

"They're fine. Little one here was hungry. Needed a bit of nourishment. Didn't poop though so you'll probably have that honor."

"Wonderful," Rose said rolling her eyes.

Alan glanced at her.

My love, look at them, he thought. We can't send them to an orphanage. Why should we when we can be their mum and dad?

Rose's eyes widened.

Alan, we can't…our life…we can't bring them into that, she thought back.

But why can't we? We have a family and I'm sure they'll help us. The TARDIS can help us and protect them. Starlight, this is our chance at having a family. Don't you see that this is an opportunity here? What if we take them to an orphanage and some family doesn't want them both? They'll be separated and we can't have that happen. We'll make good parents. You said yourself that you thought I should be a teacher because I'm good with kids. Love, look at them. They need us. Brother would love them and Rain and everyone else. I don't wanna let them go. Brother's whole life up to now has been about sacrifice and I've tried to sacrifice too but damn it, Rose, this time I wanna be selfish and take these two into our home and our hearts. Please, my hearts, say you'll follow my daft scheme and adopt these two with me.

Rose smiled.

I will, she thought. I want to. I want these two to be our own children forever.

She teared up when the grin nearly split Alan's face in two . He leaned over and caught Rose's lips and gave her a passionate kiss and nuzzled her nose.

Brother will be surprised when we see him again, he thought while he continued to feed Angel.