Jason, Rose, and the children settled into a routine – dinner together on Fridays (usually pizza and a movie at Jason's place); picnics on Saturdays or Sundays if the weather was nice; date nights for Rose and Jason on Saturdays; family dinner at Jackie's on Sundays. Rose was nervous the first time Jackie met Jason, and in all honesty, Jason was terrified leading up to it. But in the end, Jackie was on her best behavior, asking the probing personal questions only once the children were distracted in another room of her small flat, and stopping when Rose's tolerance for embarrassment had reached its limit.

When his schedule allowed, Jason would meet Rose during her lunch break at Henriks, or he'd drive her home in the evening and save her the commute on the tube. On the outside, the couple appeared to be comfortable with each other and "arse over kettle" for the other, according to Jackie. They had finally reached a point in their relationship where Rose was comfortable with quick kisses in front of the kids, but anything resembling a snog was saved for situations where there was no risk of either child walking in on them. Beyond that, nothing. Beneath the surface of their relationship there was a growing sexual tension – a burning need that if not satisfied soon, would result in something catastrophic (or at least really risky in a public place).

One Tuesday evening four months after returning from Wonder World, Jackie had invited herself over to Rose's flat for tea after Jack was in bed. They sat at the table drinking their tea when Rose suddenly realized that her mum had been speaking and she hadn't heard her.

"What?" Rose asked

Jackie sighed loudly, "I said… how are things going with Jason?"

"Fine," Rose replied, not really wanting to get into this subject with her mum.

"Rose Marion Tyler," her mother admonished. "You can't fool me. I can tell something's bothering you. And Sunday night, Jason seemed wound so tight, I thought I'd need a knife to cut through the tension between you two."

"Really, Mum, everything is fine. It's just… well…" Rose paused. Normally, she would have evaded any discussions of intimacy with her mum, but Jackie was right. Before Rose could pick the right words, her mum pushed on.

"What's the problem, sweetheart? Are things not… you know… satisfying for you?" Jackie hoped Rose would understand her meaning and not have to spell it out for her.

"Um… I mean… he's great, yeah? So sweet and caring and Jack loves him. But…"

"Well, that's a shame. He's such a fit bloke, I would have thought he'd be good in the sack, but I guess he's too inexperienced…"

"What?!" Rose interrupted. "Mum… that's just it. I don't know what he's like 'in the sack'. We've not been… um… intimate… yet."

"What?!" it was Jackie's turn to interrupt. "You've not shagged each other yet?! No wonder the tension is so thick between you two! What the hell is wrong with 'imself that he hasn't bedded you yet?"

"Mum! You make it sound like I'm some conquest. And there's nothing wrong with him. I mean… we want to, yeah? We just… haven't found the right moment…"

"What do you mean you haven't found the right moment? You're out together every Saturday night!"

"Yeah, but we can't very well have sex with Jack or Sarah Jane sleeping in the next room…"

"Why the bloody hell not?" Jackie was beginning to lose her patience with Rose.

"What if they walked in on us? Or heard us?" Rose's voice faltered. Her excuses were beginning to sound ridiculous even to her.

"Then you lock the door and keep it quiet. Seriously, Rose, since when have you turned into such a prude? Your father and I had sex all the time and when you were a baby, sometimes even with you asleep in the same room!" Jackie's confession made Rose blush and nauseous all at once.

"Mum… it's not just that. I'm worried about how things are… different… down there. You know… since Jack…" Jackie's faced morphed into one of great sympathy and understanding at her daughter's confession. Suddenly she felt a bit guilty for not doing her motherly role of reassuring her daughter of her body's changes after her grandson was born.

"Oh, sweetheart," Jackie reached out to take Rose's hand. "I know that Jack's quick birth did a number on you physically, but that was over five years ago. Things have certainly healed by now. And yeah, it might be a bit tight and uncomfortable at first, but that won't last long, as long as 'imself does his job well and gets you ready for him," Jackie's face morphed again, this time from sympathy and cheeky.

"Mum!" Rose's cheeks flushed at her mum's advice, but deep down she knew her mum was right. Rose needed to get over her nerves and just go for it! Now to just figure out when.

Then Jackie offered, "Look, how about Jack and Sarah Jane come over to my place Saturday night for a sleepover. I know they've been begging for one and then you two can have the night alone, yeah?"

"Are you sure?"

"Course I am! I can handle Jack and that sweet Sarah Jane for 24 hours. We'll have a blast. And by Sunday dinner, you two will have finally worked out all that tension and dinner will be much more pleasant for all of us."

Rose was a ball of mixed emotions – nervous about her mum having two kids overnight, anxious to finally be alone and intimate with Jason, scared but excited to take things the next step. She hadn't been this nervous her first time with that arse Jimmy Stone.

"Okay," Rose agreed. "I'll talk to Jason and see what he says."

"Good!" Jackie replied, satisfied to have finally gotten to the bottom of things and that a solution was in sight. She didn't think she could sit through another family dinner with these two idiots and their unresolved sexual tension. She got up, put her mug in the sink, kissed her daughter goodnight and then made her way back to her flat.

Rose got ready for bed and sent Jason a text.

Jason was just settling into bed with a book to read when his phone vibrated with a text message. He glanced at the screen and his heart sped up,

Rose: Can you talk?

Jason immediately dialed her number. When Rose answered, Jason skipped any greeting and went right to the point, "Rose, what's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong," she replied. "I just wanted to ask you something."

"Okay, what is it?" Jason's anxiety dropped a notch or two.

"Well, Mum has offered to have Sarah Jane and Jack over to her place Saturday night for a sleepover." Rose paused and the wheels in Jason's head turned quickly when he realized what Jackie was offering.

"Oh?" Jason couldn't help the breathy quality of his voice. He knew exactly what Jackie's offer meant – he'd have Rose all to himself for the night without having to worry about getting home at a certain time or, better yet, waking up the kids with certain activities. Jason realized he'd been quiet too long and continued, "That's very nice of Jackie; I'm sure Sarah Jane will be thrilled. I'll tell her first thing in the morning."

"Great!" said Rose, trying not to let her nerves show in her voice.

"Everything else okay?" Jason asked, trying to figure out why Rose sounded so funny.

"Yeah, everything's great. I'm just um… excited to see you this weekend."

"Me too," Jason smiled.

"Great! Well, I guess we'll see you Friday for movie night, as usual?" Rose asked.

"Wouldn't miss it!" Jason replied.

They exchanged goodnights and rung off.