Peter could feel his heart pound as he and Jack tore up the stairs that led to the exit of Savant Research and Development. "About how much time do we have?" he huffed, working to pick up the pace even more.
"Less than 5 minutes," Jack responded, sounding barely out of breath. "I think we've reached ground level!"
They threw open the doors of the stairwell and ran through the lobby of the building. As they exited, Peter looked over at Jack, "you think everyone got out?"
They continued to run as they put distance between themselves and the building which was about to blow. "It's the weekend, so Savant is operating at minimal staff, thank god. And the alarm that was triggered should warned them to get the hell out."
As they turned the corner a block away from Savant, they could see a large group of personnel dressed in either lab coats or army fatigues. Jack looked over at Peter as they slowed themselves to a walk, "I'd say they all got out."
Suddenly a large boom rocked the atmosphere. Peter turned to see flames engulf what was left of Savant Research and Development. Suddenly an American sounding man pushed through the crowd towards the two of them. "My building! What the hell did you do to my building?"
Jack turned to the balding man, giving him a hard look. "Henry Van Statten, I presume?"
"Yes," Van Statten growled. "Who the hell are you and what did you do to my building?"
"Captain Jack Harkness," Jack replied, distain showing for this obnoxious man. "As an agent of law enforcement for the United Kingdom, I shut down a business that was a threat to the national safety."
"You're from god-damned Torchwood, aren't you?" Van Statten snarled. "I knew you people were poking your noses into my business ages ago, trying to find out what I was up to. Finally found your way in, did you? Had to bring in your own alien to take me down?"
Peter looked sharply at Van Statten. He was talking about the Doctor. Peter looked around, trying to find any sign of a blue police box anywhere. "Where's the Doctor?" he asked, his voice betraying his anxiousness.
"How the hell should I know?" Van Statten snarled, turning to Peter. "I was dragged from my own building and was forced to watch as my billion dollar investment went up in flames, along with my greatest find in my collection. For all I know or care, he and his little blonde bimbo went up with the building. Good riddance, if you ask me."
Peter grabbed Van Statten and shook him. "You mean the Doctor and Rose didn't make it out with the rest of you?" Pushing the man away in disgust, Peter turned to Jack. "Jack, do you see Rose anywhere?"
Jack was scanning the crowd for any signs of a familiar blonde head. "No, I don't see her anywhere."
"I hope the bitch is dead along with her alien Time Lord," Van Statten sneered, glaring at both Peter and Jack. "If it wasn't for them, I'd still have my Dalek—"
"Listen you egotistical arsehole—" Jack began, but Peter just reacted. Drawing back his fist, he punched Van Statten in the face.
"Never say that again about the woman I love," he growled, as he stalked away from the snivelling Van Statten, leaving Jack to deal with aftermath. He began searching the crowd for any signs of Rose or the Doctor.
"Rose!" he screamed, trying to call for her above the roar of the crowd and sirens. He pushed his way through the mass of people. "Rose!"
What if they didn't make it out in time? Jack had said the TARDIS was practically indestructible, but what if something happened before they reached the TARDIS? What if they were caught in the explosion? Nightmarish visions of Rose dying in the inferno started to race through his mind.
"Oh god," he moaned, as he leaned against a wall in a vacant alley way. What if she was dead? The pain of losing Natalie would be nothing compared to what he would go through if he lost Rose now. He slid down the of the wall to sit with his head in his hands. Amidst all the chaos around him, Peter never heard the sound of the TARDIS materializing not 10 meters away from him.
Rose was nearly frantic to escape from the TARDIS. In all her travels with the Doctor, she never wanted to leave its doors as much as she did at that moment. The Doctor had barely finished the re-materialization sequence when she threw open the doors and rushed out onto a seemingly deserted alley way. Looking for the exit so she could begin her search, she almost missed the slumped figure sitting next to a wall with his head in his hands.
"Peter?' she called out, not sure if it was him or not.
Peter looked up at the sound of her voice. "Rose?" he asked, turning his head towards her. His eyes searched for her, and he pushed himself up as she ran to him. "Rose!"
Rose threw her arms around him, as Peter pulled her to him, capturing her mouth in a desperate kiss. His tongue thrust into her mouth as hers fought back with equal passion as they both tried to reassure themselves that they were both okay.
Peter finally broke away, leaning his forehead against hers. "I thought I had lost you," he murmured, kissing her forehead softly.
"I thought so, too," she confessed, reaching up to frame his face with her hands, forcing him to look at her. "Peter, I didn't get the chance to say this earlier, but I love you too."
A smile broke out on Peter's face as she spoke her words of love. He leaned in to kiss her once again, this time tenderly showing her all the love he felt for her. Pulling away, he said softly, "I love you. God, how I love you."
Rose smiled as she was pulled into another embrace. She only pulled away when she heard the awkward sound of someone clearing their throat behind them. She turned to see the Doctor standing in the doorway of the TARDIS, much like he did ages ago when she first met him.
"I guess this means you wouldn't be interested in coming with me then," he said ruefully, inclining his head towards her and Peter.
Rose sensed Peter tense as he stood behind her. Reaching a hand back to grasp his, she smiled back at the Doctor and shook her head. "Sorry, I already had my fantastic adventure seeing all of time and space." She felt Peter wrap his arms around her waist and she leaned back into him. "I think it's time for me to try a different kind of adventure."
"You're sure then," the Doctor asked, a look of vague distaste at the image of domesticity she was undoubtedly presenting with Peter. "Fill your life with food, work and sleep—or you could go anywhere…with me."
"You know," Rose replied, a sense of de ja vue overcoming her. "My Doctor said the same thing to me when he asked me to travel with him." She turned to look up at Peter, smiling reassuringly. "But not even the promising of traveling though time will make me want to leave this time."
"Suit yourself," the Doctor replied, as he moved to close the TARDIS doors.
Rose turned back and saw the disappointed look in the Doctor's face. Even though he wasn't exactly like her Doctor, she could tell that he was just as lonely and desperate for companionship as hers was. "Wait!" she called out.
The Doctor turned back to look at her, a hopeful expression emerging on his face. Behind her, she felt Peter tense again, so she turned to look back at him. "Don't worry, I have an idea that will make us all happy."
Turning back to look at the Doctor, she inquired. "How would you like to have a former Time Agent from the 51st century as a travelling partner?"
Jack had just about all he could take of Henry Van Statten. After listening carry on about his company being destroyed, with no remorse what so ever over the dangerous game he was playing with a Temporal Rift, Jack was ready to take a cue from Peter and punch the guy just to shut him up. He nearly kissed Gwen as he watched her walk towards them, interrupting Van Statten's rants.
"Jack, we finally have things under control here," she said, looking at Van Statten with a raised eyebrow.
"And the rift?" he asked, hoping the total destruction of the mechanism did the job.
"Closed completely," she said, turning back to him. "All reading are normal."
"Good," Jack replied, grateful that the rift was finally under control. "Now, time to deal with Mr. Van Statten…"
He looked back at Gwen and she nodded, gesturing for Torchwood agents to take custody of Van Statten. "Make sure he's charged with everything we can make stick. I want every thing in the book thrown at him and his merry band of researchers."
"Can do," Gwen said, as the agents began to take Van Statten away.
"You can't do this!" he raged, as he struggled to escape the agents grasp. "I'm Henry Van Statten!"
"That won't mean much after Torchwood is through with you," Jack said. "You'll find that Torchwood has resources that you could only dream of. Take him out of my sight."
He watched with Gwen as Van Statten was led away. "Thank god, that bastard was starting to grate on my last nerve," Gwen stated, as she turned to him with a grin on her face.
"Have you seen Peter or Rose," Jack asked, concern for two of his best agents and close friends taking center stage now that the mess with the rift was sorted out.
"I'm not sure, but I think I saw them down a nearby alley way near a large blue box," Gwen said, looking confused as a huge grin emerged on Jack's face.
"They made it!" he yelled, pulling Gwen into a victorious huge. "Rose and the Doctor made it!"
"Doctor?" Gwen asked, confusion clear on her face as Jack pulled away. "Jack, what's going on?"
"No time," he said, already starting to walk away. "Need to find Rose and Peter." He left Gwen standing there, promising himself that he'd apologize later. In no time at all, he found Rose and Peter standing near the TARDIS, talking with the Doctor.
"There you are," he called out as he walked towards the three. "Was worried for a moment you didn't make it, Rose." He pulled her into a tight embrace. "Good to see you in one piece."
"Jack," Rose said, returning his hug enthusiastically.
Jack pulled away to look at her critically. "You all right, though?"
"Course I am," she laughed, stepping back next to Peter, who wrapped an arm around her waist. "The Doctor took good care of me."
"Glad to hear it," Jack said, eying Rose's comfortable stance with Peter. "I take it you two worked things out then."
"Yeah," she said, reaching up on tip toes to kiss Peter quickly. "You could say that."
Jack turned to the Doctor, and caught the slightly longing expression on his face as he watched Rose with Peter. "So Doctor, I assume you'll be leaving us soon?"
"Just saying my goodbyes," the Doctor replied, looking at Jack with a shrewd expression. "I hear you're good with time machines."
"Uh, yeah," Jack replied, confused by the line of questioning. "I used to be a Time Agent. Was a damned good one, until someone removed two years of my memories."
"About that," the Doctor started. "Was wondering if you'd like to come along with me and start time traveling again. Maybe try and poke around to see if we can find out about those missing years."
Jack looked at the Doctor in disbelief. This is what he had always wanted, to find out about his past and travel the stars again. But he had obligations at Torchwood. "I don't know…"
"Jack, Torchwood will be fine without you," Peter said, as if sensing Jack's hesitation. "Gwen and the rest of us have been trained well by you."
"Yeah," Rose piped up, not willing to stay quiet. "I know you want to go back to what you love, Jack. We'll be fine at Torchwood, and I know from personal experience you make a fantastic companion for the Doctor."
Jack turned to Rose. "But Rose…"
"Jack, I had my time with my Doctor, you haven't," she said, a smile on her face. "You deserve to see the universe, not be stuck here in Cardiff."
"I—" Jack said, not sure how to respond to the offer. While he enjoyed the challenge of Torchwood, he knew his first and for most love was time travel. "I accept."
The Doctor grinned, and gestured for Jack to join him on board the TARDIS. Jack turned back to Rose one last time. "Goodbye Rose," he said, tears coming to his eyes. "Thank god you came to this universe."
"This isn't goodbye, Harkness," Rose warned, pulling him into a hug. "I expect visits from you and the Doctor." She turned to look at the Doctor with a reproachful look. "Don't care how domestic it is, you've going to visit me and Peter occasionally and help us out if we need it at Torchwood. No more not visiting the Earth."
The Doctor grimaced, but nodded. Jack turned towards Peter and shook his hand. "Take care of Rose," he commanded, smiling as Peter nodded and pulled Rose back into his arms.
Jack stepped into the TARDIS. Turning back to look at Rose and Peter one last time, he said, "explain things to Gwen and the rest of the gang, will you?"
Both of them nodded, and before the Doctor could shut the door, Rose called out, "Jack! Remember what I told you about my Doctor! Don't let the same things happen to this one!"
Jack nodded as he recalled all of he and Rose's talks of what went on in the TARDIS between the three of them, remembering exactly how this version of the Doctor regenerated and Jack's doppelganger died in the other universe. "I will, Rose," he assured, smiling at them both one last time. Turning back to the Doctor, he closed the door and walked up to the TARDIS console. The Doctor looked up and grinned.
"Where to?" he asked.
"Anywhere but the twenty first century," Jack grinned in returned, as the excitement of time travel took over. He was finally going to do what he was best at: traveling all of time and space.
Rose entered her flat with Peter close behind. It felt strange to think that only several hours ago, she and Peter were sharing a relaxing bath together. Maybe if she was lucky, they could pick up where they left off.
Closing the door behind them, Peter said, "so, were all your adventures with the Doctor that death defying?"
Giving him a rueful grin, she replied, "pretty much. Not many of our adventures ended without someone's life being in danger."
"Would it be bad of me to say that I'm glad you're no longer traveling with him," Peter said, pulling Rose into his arms and kissing her lightly on the lips.
"I think you'd be okay," she replied, smiling as he descended to take possession of her lips once again. Suddenly the phone rang and she pulled away with a groan. "Keep that thought," she murmured, kissing him quickly before going over to answer the phone.
"Hello?" she said, and grimaced when she heard her mother's voice screeching in her ear.
"Mum…" she began, holding the hand set away from her ears as Jackie ranted over the phone. "Mum, I'm fine…he's gone again…no, I'm staying here in Cardiff…no, I'm not swanning off with the Doctor again…damn it, mum! I'm staying in Cardiff with Peter!"
She looked at the wide grin on Peter's face at her pronouncement. Moving behind her, he began kissing the side of her neck softly. Rose had to bite back a moan. "Mum, I got to go…Peter's here…yes….mum, get off the phone, I want to shag my boyfriend," she yelled, as Peter grinned against the side of her neck, his palms already cupping her breasts. She hung up in a huff, turning towards him. "That was bad of you."
"No it wasn't," he grinned, kissing her passionately. "Got you off the phone, didn't it?"
Rose broke away and looked at him reproachfully. "Enjoy it now, mister, but you're the one going to have to deal with Jackie Tyler tomorrow morning."
"I'm good with mothers," he grinned, starting to walk Rose towards her bedroom.
"You've never dealt with my mother," Rose warned, as she and Peter entered her bedroom. "The Doctor was even scared of her. She slapped him, you know."
"Rose," Peter said, turning her around and pushing her to sit down on the bed. "Let's not talk about the Doctor or your mother right now."
Rose looked at him and grinned. "Okay," and pulled him down with her on the bed. She laughed as he tumbled down on top of her.
"Why you…" Peter said, shaking his head as he maneuvered himself over her.
"Less talking, more shagging," Rose grinned.
Peter just laughed as he looked down at her face. "Your wish is my command" as his lips descended onto hers.
A long while later, they lay tangled up in each others arms, Rose laying with her head over Peter's heart, listen to his heart beats slowing to a more normal rhythm. Peter was threading his fingers in her hair, combing through it gently.
"Rose?" he asked softly.
"Yes," she replied, snuggling more securely into his chest.
"Where do you see our relationship going?" he inquired, nervousness apparent in his voice.
Rose propped her head up with her arm against his chest to look at him. "I hadn't thought much about it, beyond being like this with you," she said, not really wanting to admit yet that she wanted it all: marriage, house, kids…forever.
"Would you want more than just this?" he asked, giving her an intense look.
"What do you mean?" she replied.
Peter took a deep breath. "Rose, today I discovered I want much more than what we have in our relationship," he admitted. "I nearly lost you today, and it made me realize that I want it all with you."
Rose looked at him intently. "What are you saying, Peter?" she asked, hope rising in her heart.
"I want to marry you, Rose," he confessed, looking her in the eye with a sincere expression. "I want to buy a nice flat or house together, and some day soon, have a kid or two. I want forever, Rose."
Rose's grinned widely. "Are you asking what I think you're asking?"
Peter shifted her off of him, and got off the bed. Bending down on one knee, he said sincerely, "Rose Tyler, will you marry me?"
Laughing and shaking her head, she responded, "course I will. Now get back into bed!"
"Yes, ma'am," he smiled, a look of relief on his face as he crawled back under the duvet. Kissing him again, she rolled over the top of him to straddle his chest.
"You do realize I'm going to have to come up with an acceptable story to tell my mum how you proposed?" she grinned down at him, already enjoying the thought of being married to him. "Though, telling her you want to marry her daughter will go a long way to making her happy."
Peter pulled her down for another long kiss. As she pulled away, he said smugly, "As I said earlier, I'm good with mothers or soon-to-be mothers-in-law.
Rose just shook her head. While she might no longer be traveling through time and space with the Doctor any longer, she had found the happiness she had always longed for. Both of their pasts were behind them, and the future was looking bright indeed.
18 months later
"Peter, when did Jack say they'd be here?" Rose called out from the dining room, where she was fixing a bouquet of flowers she had just picked from the garden. She looked around the brightly lit room in the quaint cottage just outside of Cardiff, thinking back over the past year and a half.
Just as Rose expected, Jackie had been quickly mollified by the news that her oldest daughter was engaged to be married. As she and Peter neither wanted to wait to plan a huge wedding, they managed to convince Jackie that all they wanted was a small affair with only close friends and family. Nearly three months after Peter proposed, they were married in a ceremony held at Pete Tyler's estate.
Peter and Rose continued to live in Rose's flat near Torchwood, until they came across a nicely sized cottage just outside the city limits of Cardiff. While not as close the flats were, they were close enough to get to Torchwood quickly in an emergency.
Explaining Jack's disappearance had not been easy for Rose and Peter. The higher up's in Torchwood severely reprimanded them for not giving out Jack's location, and both would have been fired if not for her step father's intervention. As it was, it took many months for the two of them to be out of the line of fire at Torchwood.
Gwen was promoted to Jack's job at Torchwood. Rose suspected that Peter would have been considered over Gwen if not for his involvement in Jack's desertion. Peter claimed it didn't matter to him, that he was happy enough with the changes in his personal life, but Rose knew it bothered him a little, knowing that it could have been him in charge of Torchwood, and not Gwen.
Gwen had become as close of friend to Rose as Jack had been, frequently visiting Rose and Peter at their cottage. Rose enjoyed working for Gwen nearly as much as Jack, and considering how demanding the position was, she was secretly glad that Peter had been passed over for the job, especially now.
"He said they'd be here around one or so," Peter replied, coming up behind her and resting a hand on her softly rounded stomach. "How are you feeling today?" he asked, kissing her neck gently.
"Just fine," she said, rolling her eyes at the inquiry. Ever since she had announced her pregnancy, Peter had been like a mother hen to her, constantly clucking over every move she made. She wasn't sure, but she thought he was going to drive her mad before she gave birth in five months. "What time is it now?"
"Nearly one," he smiled, turning her around to kiss her. "Have a told you lately that I love you?"
Rose smiled back at him. "I think the last time was nearly an hour or so ago when I was icing the cake for tea this afternoon. You remember, the one you tried to stick your fingers into?"
"Couldn't help it," he sniffed, trying to look indignant and failing miserably. "Was my favorite."
"Peter, any sweets are your favorite," she snorted, laughing at him. "I'm just waiting to have my first strange food craving. I can't help wonder if you'll be disgusted by it or want to try it out yourself."
Suddenly the sounds of the TARDIS engines could be heard from the back garden. Rose looked up at Peter and smiled, "They're here!"
They walked hand in hand to greet their newly arrived guests. As they approached the TARDIS, the door opened and Jack walked out with a dark skinned female around Rose's age. From the look of things, they were engaging in a heated argument.
"I'm telling you, Martha," Jack insisted, "Rythorians are vegetarians, not meat eaters. You were perfectly safe on the planet." He looked up to see Rose and Peter walking towards them. "Rose!"
He hurried towards her and swung her up in a huge hug. "Long time, no see, Rose."
"Well, you were off gallivanting across time and space," she replied, smiling up at him as he put her down. He looked down at her front and smiled. "Got something you'd like to share with the class?"
"Peter and I are pregnant," she said, happiness radiating off her. "Baby's due in about five months."
Jack smiled at her and Peter. "Congratulations, both of you." He hugged Rose again and held out his hand to Peter
"Thanks Jack," Peter said as he took Jack's hand. "So who's this you brought with you?" he asked, nodding to Martha.
"Peter, Rose, this is Dr. Martha Jones," Jack said, gesturing to Martha. "Martha, this is Peter and Rose Carlisle."
Martha stepped forward to greet both of them. "Nice to meet you both. Jack's told me so much about you."
Rose looked around, noticing the Doctor didn't follow the two of them out of the TARDIS. "Where's the Doctor?" she asked.
From behind her, she heard a voice she never thought she's hear again. "I'm here, Rose."
She whirled to see her last Doctor standing in front of her, dressed in the same brown pin striped suit and long overcoat. "How…" she said, beginning to sway on her feet. She felt a pair of arms go around her waist, and looked up to see Peter holding her to him.
Jack spoke up to explain. "It was Satellite Five, Rose. We managed to stop the Daleks but the Doctor was fatally injured and was forced to regenerate. Surprised the hell out of me when he ended up looking just like Carlisle."
"Aye!" Peter interjected, still staring at the Doctor in amazement.
Martha spoke up at that point. "I hadn't been with the Doctor for very long. I joined Jack and the Doctor a few months prior when the hospital I worked at was transported to Mars."
"You were involved in that incident?" Peter asked, looking over at Jack. "Why didn't you contact us then?"
"We were called away to another crisis soon after," the Doctor replied, still gazing at Rose. "There was no time. Jack wanted to call, though."
Rose shook her head as she forced herself into the present. "I don't care for this no contact for ages business. I want some regular phone calls from the two of you. I know you can jiggery pokery my cell so it can receive calls from your TARDIS."
The Doctor nodded silently. Jack shifted uncomfortably, looking first at Martha then Peter. "This is a great cottage you and Rose have," he said, trying to end the uncomfortable silence that had descended.
"It is," Peter replied, turning towards Jack and Martha. "Would you like a tour?"
"Yes, please," Martha replied as Jack nodded enthusiastically.
Rose turned to Peter. "Why don't you show them around? I think the Doctor and I need to speak in private."
Peter looked over at the Doctor, then back at Rose. Nodding slowly, he leaned over to kiss her cheek. Before he pulled away, he said to her softly, "you really thought I looked like him?"
Rose grinned at his comment. "Nah," she replied, cupping his cheek for moment then pulling away. "He's much better groomed than you usually are."
"Watch it," Peter growled, then he smiled back down at Rose and winked. "I know you like me scruffy," and with that said, led Jack and Martha towards the house.
"So…" Rose began, not sure where to start.
"So…." The Doctor replied, just as uncomfortable as she was. He rocked his heals and stuck his hands in his trouser pockets. Rose had to laugh as she watched him do such a familiar thing.
"You really are exactly like my Doctor, aren't you?" she laughed, taking in this new regeneration.
"Not exactly," he replied. "I don't have you."
Rose sobered at the comment. "Doctor…" she began.
"I know, Rose," he said with a sigh. "Just…just tell me you're happy."
Rose gave him a large smile. He may not be the man she once loved, but she still cared for him. She wanted him to be happy, and secretly she hoped he'd find someone who could be a companion like she was for her Doctor. "I am very happy."
"Then that's all I could want," he said with a small smile. Offering his arm to hers, he tilted his head towards her home. "So, is the offer of a tour still standing?"
Rose smiled back up at him, reminded of old times with her Doctor. "Don't know. Will it be too domestic for you?" she teased.
"I think I can handle a little domesticity," he replied, as she took his arm and led him to her home. Looking ahead, she could see her husband through the windows of the cottage, showing Jack and Martha around. Smiling to herself, she thought of her life now with her husband and soon to be child. Rose Marion Tyler Carlisle had finally discovered the person she was meant to be.