CHARACTERS: Rose/Nine
SETTING: Takes place sometime between "The Doctor Dances" (1x10) and "Boomtown" (1x11). No significant spoilers.
CHAPTER SUMMARY: Captain Jack's presence aboard the TARDIS makes life even more interesting. But some of the most important things remain "better with two".

The addition of Jack Harkness to their little crew only stood to make every adventure seem bigger and more outrageous, somehow.

Building an immunity fairly quickly to his incessant flirting - seeing him use the same tactics on the Doctor as he did on her certainly helped with that - Rose learned to take his constant advances in stride. She couldn't quite view him with brotherly affection, not when his hands would often migrate south during a hug for a friendly squeeze. But neither was she getting tongue tied when he would stand too close and pour on the charm. Jack was just... Jack. And she was happy to have him along for the ride.

The Doctor seemed to sense this change in her and was able to relax and join in the fun. It didn't stop him from barking out the occasional warning ("Oi, you! Hands!") when Jack would get carried away, but overall he was more jovial and more engaged than Rose had ever seen him.

They'd just spent a ridiculous day on a far off planet at a far off time that Rose had forgotten since she'd been told that morning before departure. The culture and the creatures she'd encountered were so strange and foreign that the "when" didn't seem as important as the "where".

The natives were a lovely "people" (a term Rose found herself applying loosely) who loved to "laugh" (again, a loose application) and enjoy themselves. They welcomed the off-worlders with open "arms" (yes, again) and the trio flitted from experience to experience with wonder and whimsy. And Rose was never without a hand to hold.

Saying goodbye to their new friends, Rose hopped on Jack's back for part of the return walk to the TARDIS, the Doctor carrying her jumper , socks and trainers. Though she was tired, it was she who suggested a quick detour to the approximation of a lake they'd spied on their way to the village, nearly hidden behind dense foliage. Now as they poked their way through they found a grassy shore and Jack eased Rose to the ground so she could walk barefoot right down to the cool water.

"It's pink," she remarked. "Like, actually pink."

"Yep," the Doctor agreed, not bothering to expound on the science behind it as he dropped her belongings and took off his leather jacket, spreading it out on the ground and sitting on it cross-legged. "Moons'll be rising soon. I've heard that's a sight to behold."

"Take a picture of me and Jack, yeah?" Rose called to him, and the Doctor fished through the pocket of her jumper for her mobile, capturing several images of them hamming it up. The pair then ran up to scroll through them, laughing.

"Now the two of you," Jack suggested.

"Oh, you don't want a picture with this daft old face," the Doctor began, but Rose was all but in his lap and smiling toward Jack when the Doctor finally relented, his arms snaking around her middle as he put his chin on her shoulder to mug for the camera. Then Jack closed in behind them and held out the phone as far as he could. It took a few tries to get all three in the frame, but he eventually managed.

Moon rise was stunning, heavenly bodies nearly filling the horizon, and it captivated them for a long time as they watched mostly in comfortable silence. When the moons were high enough in the sky, using her jumper folded in the Doctor's lap as a pillow Rose stretched onto her back in the grass and Jack lay perpendicular, forming a T with their bodies as he lay his head on her stomach.

"My boys," she breathed contentedly, one hand in Jack's hair and the other reaching back to find the Doctor's, pulling it under her chin. "Going to be hard to top this one. What a perfect day."

"You lot," the Doctor said with feigned disapproval. "So easily impressed. Just wait 'til you see what I've got in mind for TOMORROW..."

Rose walked back to the TARDIS between them, hands linked on both sides. Her boys, indeed. When it was in sight: "Last one to the TARDIS does the cooking!" Exchanging a look, they let her win. Rose was brilliant at many things, but not at ALL things.

After getting cleaned up, Jack and the Doctor worked together in the kitchen, preparing some light and simple foods that wouldn't keep the humans from sleep. When Rose joined them her hair, pulled into a pony tail, was still slightly dripping from the shower, leaving a wet spot on the back of the tight pink tank top she wore over loose flannel pajama pants. They laughed and joked and ate until the food was gone.

"Well, that's it for me," Rose finally announced. "I'm knackered."

"Watch a movie before bed?" Jack asked hopefully. Rose suspected he enjoyed the cuddling more than the films they'd been going through, but she enjoyed both so it didn't matter to her.

She was considering his suggestion when the Doctor pulled a book out of his jacket pocket and held it up to her from behind Jack's back. Immediately her decision was made. "I'd love to, but I'm afraid I've just had a better offer come up."

Jack turned to look at the Doctor, but he was already sauntering away.

"Don't suppose you'd need a chaperone? Or a third wheel?"

She wrapped her arms around Jack and pulled him into a tight hug before kissing him firmly on the lips. "Sorry, mate. Private party."

"I know, I know. I'm out of my league."

"And don't you forget it!" She kissed him again. "G'night!" And then she was off.

Rose checked the library, then her room, and then finally made her way to the Doctor's room. "Wasn't expecting to find you in here."

"I figured it was the best place for the two of us to hole up where we wouldn't be disturbed. We've fallen behind on our reading."

"I didn't realize we were on a schedule. But couldn't he find us here as easily as anywhere?" she asked as she climbed onto his bed and tucked herself in.

"Perception filter on the door," he said as though it was the most natural explanation in the world.

Her eyes narrowed. "Then how come I can see it?"

"Because I want you to."

She favoured him with a tongue-touched grin.

The Doctor was topless with a towel tied low around his hips, having just stepped out of the shower. "Would you mind?"

Rose flipped onto her stomach, hiding her eyes in one of the pillows to give him some privacy. "This really was a brilliant day."

"As you say."

"I DO say. Didn't you enjoy it?"

"It's always a laugh watching the two of you carry on like a couple of kids."

"You weren't exactly the picture of maturity, old man," she teased him.

"Truth be told, half the time with you lot I don't feel a day over 400."

"Well, I'm glad you've taken to slumming it with us "young people". I think it rather suits you, Doctor." She turned onto her side as he slipped under the covers with her, dressed now in comfortable sleep clothes. His bare feet were warm against hers. "You're liking having him on with us, aren't you." It wasn't exactly a question.

"I'd like it better if he was a little less touchy-feely," he told her curmudgeonly, taking the book from the bedside table.

Was that jealousy? The thought strangely warmed her. "Oh, it's not so bad," she told him with a smile. "I think he's calmed down quite much since I first met him. He hasn't tried to undo my bra in at least two days." Mind you, the Doctor's reaction to his last attempt may have had something to do with that.

"I was talking about with ME," he all but growled. "There's only one person in this TARDIS that I'd care to hold hands with, and Jack Harkness it is NOT."

She laughed gaily at that. "Well, I'm glad he's here. So, you gonna read first?"

He hesitated. "We can invite him, if you'd like." It's not that the Doctor felt particularly opposed to the idea. He really did like Jack, and after all, they WERE just reading. But he'd come to cherish these times, alone and comfortable and settled. Enjoying the story. Enjoying each other.

"Nah," she responded easily, as if it didn't bear considering. "Some things are still better with two."

"Rose Tyler." His voice was full of affection.

"That's me!" she responded cheekily, curling her fingers around one of his hands even as it held the book upright on his chest.

Truth be told, she preferred holding his hand, too.

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