Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who or any of its characters. I wish that I did, but alas…
~~~~0~~~~0~~~~0~~~~0~~~~
Chapter 11
Rose's eyes slowly fluttered open and she groaned slightly, stretching her arms and neck which were both incredibly stiff. Looking to her right, she did a double take, suddenly bolting upright when she saw her daughter giggling at her side. How did she get there? She was supposed to be with Clara, safely away from the dangers of Gallifrey.
"Hi, Mummy," Adelyn squeaked.
"Sweetpea, where's Daddy?" Rose asked, lifting a hand to her temple.
"Daddy's with Not-Daddy, not-my-Clara, and Uncle Chinny," the child grinned, jumping up and running toward the door, missing the look of confusion on Rose's face. Just before disappearing into the hall, she turned back. "Your eyes are all sparkly. I like it. Can my eyes be all sparkly too?"
Rose wrinkled her brow, not comfortable with the fact that the Bad Wolf appeared to still be shining through, as it were. "Go find Daddy, okay?"
Once Adelyn left the room, Rose was up quick as can be. She realized that she was, in fact, on the TARDIS. However it was her TARDIS, not the Doctor's, which meant that they had arrived safely back home. But what about Gallifrey?
Just as she was about to head to the door, John appeared with a ridiculous grin on his face and Adelyn at his heels. "Rose, you're not going to believe this!"
"After the day we had, I think I'd believe just about anything, love."
She sighed as John held out his hand to her, wiggling his fingers in invitation. After hoisting Adelyn up onto her hip, Rose slid her free hand into his and allowed him to lead them through the TARDIS, surprised when they stepped out into what appeared to be a museum. Looking to her left, she smiled when saw Clara wave in greeting from her seat on a bench with a tea tray beside her. There were also three TARDISes against the wall, but one was already dematerializing. She had missed her chance to say goodbye to someone…
"He's gone," she whispered, sounding a feeling of disappointment setting in as she set a wriggling Adelyn down on the ground, where she promptly his behind her father's legs. "The old you, the War Doctor, he left?"
"It was time," Bowtie told her, smiling sadly.
John wrapped his arms around Rose from behind and kissed her hair. "Don't worry though. If I remember correctly, he's..." John paused, closing his eyes and smiling slightly. "Yes, he's just regenerated-"
Rose turned her head to look up at John, tears in her eyes. "All alone?"
"Not for long," Pinstripes said, turning from the painting he had been examining. A slow smile spread across his face as he took in the questioning look on hers. "He's about to arrive in London."
"Should be at Henrik's in a few hours, tomorrow at the latest, weeeeeeell, definitely by Thursday," John added.
"Henrik's?" Clara asked. "Going to actually buy clothing for once?"
"Henrik's is where Mummy met Daddy," Adelyn said proudly, stepping forward and calling attention to herself for the first time. Pinstripes' eyes snapped directly to her. "He exploded her work," she added proudly, bursting into giggles just before John swept her up into a hug.
"Right you are, sweetpea," he said, tapping her nose.
Clara, however, turned to her Doctor with a raised eyebrow. "That was you? You blew up the department store?"
"Don't look at me," he snapped, instantly on the defensive. "That was old big ears," he finished, gesturing to the spot that the TARDIS had disappeared from.
Rose shook her head, but couldn't help the quiet laugh that escaped her lips. "I quite liked him with those ears, I'll have you know."
Pinstripes smiled sadly, tearing his gaze from the child that just vacated John's arms and looking Rose directly in the eyes. "He quite liked you too."
Pinstripes knew it was risky, that it was almost time for him to leave, but he didn't feel quite ready yet. Just as he was about to take a step toward Rose he felt something tug on his trouser-leg, causing him to look down. "Can I help you, Miss?"
Adelyn simply gestured that she wanted him to pick her up, which he hesitantly did. He wasn't used to children, but she looked determined and so much like her mother that he didn't dare resist. He couldn't help but stare as the little girl scrutinized his face, no doubt trying to figure out where the similarities ended with her father. Her father that should have been him. Dear God...
"Not-Daddy," she said, once again all smiles.
"Um, sorry? Did you want-"
"No, silly!" She laughed. "That's your name," she informed him, twisting around to the room and pointing at everyone in turn. "Mummy, Daddy, Not-My-Clara, Uncle Chinny-"
"Oi!"
"And, you: Not-Daddy," she finished explaining, an achingly familiar triumphant gleam in her eye.
He smiled slightly at the girl in his arms, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear as she grinned up at him, her little tongue peeking out from the corner of her mouth. "So much like my Ro- er, your mum," he whispered.
Rose watched as her daughter charmed the Doctor - the man without whom she never would have existed - releasing a breath she hadn't even realized she was holding in until she saw him smile. It was bittersweet to watch, and she could only imagine what was going through his mind. Turning to find that John was engaged in a conversation with Clara and the Bowtie Doctor, she went to join her daughter.
"Addy, why don't you go get your photo book from the TARDIS?" Rose asked gently. "I bet the Doctor would love to see some pictures of you, Tony, Nana and Papa, yeah?"
Adelyn looked confused for a moment. "He's not the Doctor, mummy." She giggled at Rose's quirked eyebrow. "He's Not-Daddy. The Doctor is old-"
Sensing Rose's sudden tension, he realized that Adelyn was probably about to say more than she should, so he interrupted her. "Can't miss a chance to see Jackie and Pete, now can I?" He smiled and stared at Adelyn as she ran off. "She's beautiful, Rose..."
"Thanks," Rose smiled, squeezing his hand. "Smart as a whip, too. Bit too clever for her own good, really. Kinda reminds me of someone else I know."
~~~~0~~~~0~~~~0~~~~0~~~~
A/N: Please accept my humble apologies on the delay between posts. I realize that this is long overdue... Between getting sucked into Sherlock Series 3 and a horrible bout of writers block, I was at a complete loss. So, I decided to post this short bit with the promise of more to follow. Once I write it. Again, sorry!
In the meantime, I hope that you all will forgive me, and enjoy the chapter. As always, reviews are appreciated!
