I hope i didn't brake your hearts with the last chapter, but i hope you like this chapter. It's taken me a while but i'm pleased with it. Even if i do say so myself! :) i hope you enjoy reading it as much as i enjoyed writing it! :)

11. Santa Clause

John stood waiting in the playground of the primary school Tony attended. Pete was at work and Jackie had recently been ill. So John had left Rose in charge at Torchwood and had come to collect her brother. He was early and so took the time to do some thinking.

Rose had been really upset when she had found out she couldn't have children ever again. John felt it was his fault, as he should have known a time-lord/Human baby should never had existed. So he had placed all the blame on himself. Everyone reassured him it wasn't his fault, yet he knew deep down it was.

Rose hadn't stopped crying since she had found out and her heart was broken. John had no idea what to do to cheer her up a bit and so he went and had a chat with Pete to see what advice he could give. He had told John to just give it time. She would heal, and although be forever scared she would be able to live life normally. John had then gone to Jackie to find out how to cheer Rose up physically. Jackie had said chocolates should do the trick. But Jackie also had another idea. She had suggested John think about adopting; and if he wanted to do it to ask whether Rose was interested. So John had done some research and before thinking about it in detail, he had asked Rose what she thought. They had looked into it and had even gone to a children's home. They now had some forms at home that they were writing out in their free time.

It was nearly Christmas and John had gotten Rose the perfect gift, well what he thought was the perfect gift. He had gotten Tony a Hotwheels set and other bits and bobs such as that. He had no idea what to buy Pete and Jackie though. He still had so much to do and Christmas was only a week away. He even had to get gifts for his mates at Torchwood. Then he had to get cards for everyone he knew.

On that thought, the school bell rang, making John jump. He looked around and noticed how full the playground had suddenly got. He shook his head, hating when he got lost in his own thoughts. He watched as kid after kid came out of the classrooms, but Tony's classroom door stayed shut tight.

John looked around at the other parents and guardians waiting for their kids. They were all getting restless – wanting to get home, out of the cold. Almost everyone had scarfs, hats, gloves and coats on… and like John were still freezing. Some people had pushchairs that were full of shopping; others had shopping bags in their hands. Some people were holding babies and some just looked annoyed.

When Tony's classroom door finally opened, the playground was practically empty again apart for those who were waiting for the same class as Tony's. Kids started running out towards the people picking them up with smiles on their faces. John kept his eye out for brown haired Tony, but he never came. Then a teacher came out the classroom door and came towards him.

"Mr Smith?" She asked.

"Yeah…"

"Is there any chance I could have a word with you?"

John nodded and the teacher smiled.

"You couldn't wait in the classroom for a moment please." John, wondering what the hell was going on, slowly made his way towards the door.

As he walked in, he saw tony sat on a beanbag with his back to the door, crying.

"Tony…" John walked up to him and knelt beside him. He placed a soothing hand on his back. "What's wrong?" Tony looked up at John but before he could reply the teacher came back in followed by another woman.

"I'm sorry I've had to call you both in. But unfortunately your sons have had a big falling out. And it has disrupted the whole class." The teacher said simply.

Tony turned back to his hands and started to cry again, only loudly.

"Tony, it's okay." The teacher said calmly. "You aren't in trouble. I just think you're Uncle ought to know."

"It's all your fault!" Tony yelled at a boy on the other side of the room, which John had only just noticed.

"It is not!" The boy yelled back.

"Boys." The teacher warned.

"Tommy!" Snapped the woman at the same time.

"But mum!" The boy, Tommy, wined. "It's not my fault he believes in Santa!" Tommy's mum gasped and looked angrily at her son.

Tony stood up and before anyone could realise what was happening, Tony was running at Tommy at full speed.

"Tony! No!" John yelled as he grabbed hold of the boy. He had stopped Tony just before he had jumped on his classmate and now had hold of him round the waist. "Tony! Don't!"

"But Santa is real! He is! He is! HE IS!"

"Alright Tony… I believe you." John said calmly in his ear. "Just calm down."

"Uncle John?" Tony asked. They were now leaving the classroom after the two boys yelled at each other for a couple more times. They playground was deserted now and the wind had picked up, making it really cold. "Is Santa real?" He asked, fresh tears falling again.

"Ah, you see Tony. You need to answer that one for yourself."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Tony cried, grabbing John's hand.

"It means… if you believe, he's real. But for boys like Tommy, he's not real." John mumbled, looking down at Tony. He didn't look convinced. "We'll ask Rose yeah?" When he got no reply, he took it as a yes.

John found the team in the meeting room where they were all sat drinking coffee.

"Taking a brake eh?" John asked entering the room. "Just cus the boss went to pick up his godson for half hour?" John laughed at the look on everyone's faces. "I'm joking its fine." He looked behind him to see Tony stood, still crying in the doorway. "Come on Tony."

Tony slowly walked into the room and when he set eyes on Rose he ran towards her.

"Tony!" Rose cried happily. She lifted him onto her knee before noticing him crying. "What's wrong?"

"Tommy told me Santa's not real!" He cried. John sat down beside Neil and watched as Rose wiped Tony's eyes.

"Did he?" She asked. Tony nodded. "Well then, he'll be getting coal in his stocking and he won't get any presents." She paused. "Santa doesn't like children not thinking he's real. And when children don't believe in him, they don't get any presents."

"Really?" Tony asked.

"Really. So the big question is, do you believe in Santa clause or do you think Tommy's right?" Rose asked seriously.

"I believe in Santa!" Tony whispered, loud enough for the whole room to hear.

"Well, you'll be getting presents and Tommy won't!" Rose looked over at John at the other end of the table. They shared smile.

An hour or so later, Pete arrived to pick Tony up and take him home with him while John and Rose finished work.

When it was time to lock up, and everyone had left except John and Rose, the two turned to embrace each other in a hug.

"Well done." John mumbled in her ear. "I tried to tell him that but I couldn't get the words right." Rose chuckled at this.

"It just hurts to know I'll never have that conversation with our child." She sighed.

"I know." John hugged her tight. Rose pulled out of the hug a few minutes later and kissed him. "Come on." John said as the kiss broke off. "Let's go home."

Sorry it's been a while, but i have had a bad case of writers block and could not get any of my ideas down! So i'm really sorry for the lateness! But i like to think i made it up to you by writing a Christmas one! :) please review and tell me what you think.