Chapter 12: London, England, 2012

The snow crunches lightly beneath her feet and she wonders if it always snows here for Christmas. The air is crisp and cold, stinging at her already pink cheeks and nose. Her hair is whipping through the air and around her face but she's barely aware of it.

Rose dips down to brush her fingers through the snow, the frozen crystals melting to droplets of cold water that run down her hand to be sucked up by the hem of her sleeve.

Across the lawn she can see her mother doing much the same, showing her little brother snow for the first time. In time he'll grow and start spreading it through the house after sledding down hills and building snowmen. Innocence to havoc in such a quick period of time. Everything changes.

From the porch her father, she comfortable enough calling him that and after nearly three years he's adjusted to it as well, is waving to her Mum and Henrick. Yes, they'd named him Henrick. Mickey's idea of a joke but apparently her Mum quite liked the name.

Pete doesn't bother to wave to her but she's used to that by now. To him she's extended family like Mickey, but that's okay. An adoptive father, no matter how distant, is better than none at all. Besides, she hasn't seen her mother smile like she is now in such a long time.

She's surprised to see that her mother is actually calling her over, gesturing that they're about to head inside. She waves her off to tell them she'll follow in a minute and heaves a heavy sigh.

Two years and eight months. It seems like an impossibly long time but in the grand scheme of things is incredibly short. She gives herself a moment of self-pity to question how she'll make it to the end, then shakes it off. No time for that now. After all, it's Christmas.

A quiet Christmas with just the family this year, Mickey included of course. They invited Jake but he had other plans (with Toby from mission archiving according to some coworkers). It'll be nice. A bit less hectic and overwhelming than their first year here, or at least that's what she's hoping. She doesn't let herself this about last years Christmas. An unexpected drive to Norway for the most important day of her life. She never did tell him the date.

She makes her way inside where her Mum and Pete are drinking apple cider together. He offers her a cup and she cringes. Much too pungent and sour. She'll go for something sweet like hot chocolate or a good cup of tea any day so she heats some water for herself.

The mug is delightfully warm in her hands, easing the cold burn and soothing her chilled bones. She heads towards her room but stops by the nursery on the way. Little Henry is always good for a quick cheer up.

"Hey Little Guy." She places her mug on a dresser and lifts him to her, cradling him close. Warm and soft with that soothing smell of baby power and something else all babies seem to be born with. He giggles and coos in her arms, smiling up at her.

"So, this is your first Christmas huh?" She settles into a rocking chair, her cocoa at her side. "You are gonna love it. Mum and Dad are gonna buy you so many things and everyone will be singing and laughing. Gosh I hope you don't cry. You know if you do they'll send me off to calm you down. You wouldn't do that to me, would you?"

If Rose didn't know any better she'd say he was grinning rather mischievously.

"Who am I kidding, of course you will. But that's okay. I've had Christmases ruined by worse, like drunk relatives and alien invasions...

"Today is a very important day though. I want you to remember that. Some people say it's a magic day, and you know what? I believe them. Santa makes all those toys for kids all over the world, reindeer learn how to fly, and people do impossible things, even if it's only for two minutes."

She realizes she's crying and shifts out an arm to wipe her face, then feels rather sheepish.

"And if sometimes I cry at Christmas, that's okay. It's because I had so many of them that were so wonderful, and I shared them with a very special person. Can you do me a favor Henry?" She's got him held up now, eye to eye. "In that sweet little head of yours where you're wishing for toys and more milk, can you wish for one thing for me?"

"Rose?!"

"Yeah?"

Down the hall she can hear the clattering of dishes and her mothers voice calls out again.

"Can you give me a bit of a hand? If I don't get this turkey out I think it might explode."

She laughs and lowers her brother back into his crib, giving him a quick kiss. In the kitchen it's total chaos, the result of her Mum giving their housekeeper the day off. Probably noticing the redness of her eyes, her mother pulls her over into a hug.

"Come here Sweetheart. I love you so much, you know that? And I am so glad that I have you here. You've been doing so good this year."

Feeling a little uncomfortable, Rose pulls back with a bit of a smile. "Mum? I'm okay. Lets just enjoy Christmas, yeah?"

Even her Mum can't argue with her. All any of them want is a bit of happiness. "Oh, alright. Go get those cookies out."

They work together in tandem, standing as close in this large kitchen as they did squeezed into the old flat, and Rose is grateful for the distraction. Times like this are good, when she and her Mum take the time to reconnect. Baking cookies, basting a turkey, and dumping canned vegetables into pots so they look somewhat home cooked. She finds that in the hour or two it takes them to get dinner and dessert finished, she hasn't thought of the Doctor once... at least not for too long.

Dinner is good. Happy chatter and fun stories. The turkey is a little dry but they've got gravy to fix that. Plenty of food to go around. They've even got a bit of nut loaf at Rose's insistence though they never did understand why she was laughing when she asked. As everyone finishes their last plate of food and settles back in their chair, Jackie looks up and gasps.

"Would you look at that? It's snowing again. Isn't that pretty?"

They all look to the huge bay window, smiles on their faces. Always did like a white Christmas.

"I'm gonna go outside," Rose tells them, stacking her dirty dishes and standing. Mickey gives her an affectionate shove as she walks past and she gives him a quick tap on the back of his head in response. This is good, she decides. Happy family.

She opens the heavy front door without bothering to grab a coat. She's just popping out to take a quick peek at the falling snow and the man standing there. The man who shouldn't be there. The man who can't be there. The man in pin stripes and a brown coat she knows from experience is more than warm enough for the weather.

Pachelbel's Canon is playing in the house, gentle violin strings and notes from a piano drifting out. Her heart stops, the song ends and Judy Garland wishes everyone to have a merry little Christmas. Here we are as in olden days. Truly, incredibly happy golden days of yore, strike that, of legend.

She steps forward trembling, almost afraid to believe. They don't say anything. He reaches out his hand and she takes it. That's all they need. She doesn't ask how or why. That can all wait until tomorrow. For now, it's Christmas.

She walks inside and he follows. In the dining room all she can hear when she walks in is a collective gasp and the sound of Mickey's fork hitting his plate. Everyone stares in stunned silence and then suddenly everything and everyone is moving in a clatter. An extra seating is added to the table though they're told it's not necessary. Hugging and cheering and singing and a bit of yelling coming from all directions. Jackie introduces the Doctor to Henrick and he laughs at the name, earning himself a poke in the ribs from Rose. No one asks the how or why that ran through Rose's mind. They can all wait as well.

By the time the night winds down Rose is exhausted. Making herself one last mug of cocoa (her first abandoned in the nursery hours earlier), she finds the Doctor sitting quietly in the study by the fire. He scoots over automatically to make room for her on the couch and takes the mug that she offers with a yawn.

"Tired?" He asks, letting her lean on him. She merely nods, taking a sip from her cup and looking out the window at the snowfall. They stay like that for the longest time, savoring the sweet taste of chocolate in their mouths, the beauty of the snow falling past the window, and the comfort of each others company. As she's about to suggest getting some sleep he slides an arm around her and turns, laying back with her against him.

"This feels familiar," she whispers and he shifts, holding her closer.

She can feel the double th-thump th-thump of his hearts pounding against her back, lulling her into sleep.

"Good. Let's keep it that way."

She snuggles back into him as best she can, his arms wrapped around her securely to tell her he's still there and will be when she wakes. She can't help but sigh contentedly because things are finally as they should be. Her Mum's got Pete, Mickey's a hero, she's got her Doctor, and outside the snow continues to fall.