Hope refuses to go back to sleep after her feeding, but the Doctor has a surprise up his sleeve that might just ease the strain
WARNING: Baby fluff and more fluff than that!
This is it, everyone! Thank-you so much to all of you who followed this story, and left kudos and lovely comments. To know that someone is enjoying the story and connecting to it in some way, makes the writing of it all so much more worthwhile.
Chapter 10
As it turned out, Hope had other ideas. She was still bright-eyed and eager to meet the world long after she had finished eating. Rose and the Doctor took turns pacing with her all around the console room, rocking her and singing lullabies to no effect.
"It's no use, Rose. She's not going to go to sleep."
"No, she's not," Rose heaved a sigh, juggling Hope's weight further onto her shoulder to relieve the cramp in her arm.
"Since she's wide awake anyway, how about we let her meet the TARDIS properly, then, eh?" The Doctor wiggled his eyebrows. He swept out his mobile, ready to capture the precious moment for posterity.
He and Rose were soon giggling at the pictures of Hope's wide-eyed expression as Rose had pressed the baby's damp, little hand against the wall of the TARDIS, and the telepathic connection between the two young beings had been established.
"We are in so much trouble." Rose shook her head, reluctant pride filling her heart. "The two of 'em will get up to all sorts of tricks."
"Oh, yes! Oh… nooooo!" He rubbed the back of his neck. "Weeeell, I suppose we'll just have to set some firm ground rules and see how it goes. No doubt there will be no end of wandering off, too, once she gets these little legs working." He caressed Hope's chubby, round legs.
"No doubt. But, right now, I jus' wish she'd go to sleep. My arms are aching."
"Oh! I'm so thick!" he yelped, slapping himself on the forehead.
"W'at! W'at is it?" Rose asked, trying to quell a moment of panic at the Doctor's outburst.
"A solution! Something I made for you, weeks before the baby was born. Tucked it away and… I'm sorry, love. It was another gift for you. It would have saved us a lot of effort, if I'd remembered sooner. My stupid, thick head! Just wait here," he bounded to one of the storage cupboards in the balcony level, and rummaged around, withdrawing a package. "I didn't wrap it, I'm afraid," he lamented as he vaulted over the railing to land in front of Rose.
Rose envied the Doctor his energy, but couldn't help but grin at his enthusiasm. "What is it?" she prompted, as she watched him extract a strange-looking fabric… thingamajig from the package.
"This, Rose Tyler, is a baby carrier!"
Rose squinted suspiciously at the contraption. "That doesn't look like any baby carrier I've ever seen…"
"That's because I designed it myself! One of a kind!"
Rose found she could only offer an indulgent, skeptical smile at his daft grin. "Yourself?"
"Weeell, I looked at lots of the designs of current baby carriers, and made some significant improvements in comfort, safety, flexibility, and in adaptability for when Hope grows. And…" he winked, "I may have got my hands on some rather superior Pentrusi fabrics that never quite made their way to Research and Development… Oh, the Pentrusi, they know their way around a sewing machine! Tailors of the Galaxy, they were called… At least they were in the Prime Universe, aaaand, based on everything I've seen–"
"Wait! Does Dad know 'bout this?"
He reached up his free hand to tug his ear, his face colouring a little. "Oh, Pete's fine with me bringing stuff home to experiment with. Wouldn't have half the interface for the TARDIS without… Besides, what's the point of being head of R 'n' D (I rather like that R 'n' D – Rose 'n' Doctor! Ha!) if I can't take advantage of some of the perks of the position."
Rose had discovered a long time ago that it was better to admit defeat and just go with the flow sometimes where the Doctor was concerned. This was one of those times. She leaned in and pressed a loving kiss to his cheek. "Well, give it 'ere! Let's see it in action, then," she prompted.
The Doctor gave her a look of pure guilt.
"What is it, Doctor?"
"Would you mind, Rose? Would you mind if… if I could wear it first?"
"Y' plum." Rose felt a surge of love pulse through her at the contrite expression in his eyes. "Course I don't mind."
His face shone with joy as he started to don the device. "You sure?"
"Yes! Now show me how it works."
-oOo-
Soon Hope was nestled against her Daddy's chest, gazing up at him. He was returning the gaze with something akin to worship. Rose stroked the baby's gravity-defying tuft of brown hair. "Well someone looks happy," she commented with a soft smile. "Two someones."
They were silent for several minutes, just enjoying sharing smiles, interacting with Hope, and feeling her tenacious grip on their fingers. They communicated their love through their bond and through their mental connection with Hope and the TARDIS.
Finally the Doctor spoke, with a comical frown down at the baby, who gurgled up at him, "Now earlier, before we were interrupted by you, young lady…" he redirected his gaze to Rose, "…I believe I was showing you my moves…"
Rose clapped her hands together with joy. "Straight from the fridge, man!"
The Doctor removed his sonic from a handy pouch on side of the baby-carrier and pointed it at the sound system. The Elvis song picked up where it had left off:
…are meant to be…
He extended his hand, inviting her to join him as he sang along with the lyrics:
Take my hand. Take my whole life too.
For I can't help falling in love with you…
Rose felt all the stress of the last few days melt away. She was sure she had never felt so much contentment and love in her life, as she and the Doctor danced in the embrace of their beautiful TARDIS, swaying to the soft music, wrapped in one another's arms. And pressed lovingly between the steady rhythms of their two human hearts was their precious little girl, finally drifting off to sleep.
Take my hand. Take my whole life too.
For I can't help falling in love with you.