A/N I appreciate everyone who has reviewed and followed this story and I'd like to give all of you a choice. I have chapter 13 written but before I post it I'd like to hear from you because, should I post it, I'll probably not post again for about a week, week and a half as I would like to work on my other story, A New Path, and real life will be ramping up as kids go back to school. So, do you all want instant gratification or ...

Let me know in the reviews and majority wins :)

Chapter 12: These Dreams

Rose lay in the sun, the combined sounds of her family's laughter and the pounding surf lulling her into a relaxed state that would have her asleep in minutes if she surrendered to it. Her Mum's strident voice floated on the wind, making Rose shake off her lethargy and prop herself up on her elbow.

Rose's lips quirked as she tracked the source of the argument to see Pete and her Mum struggling to get a strangely shaped kite into the air while her little brother chewed on the thing's tail.

She frowned. What had the Doctor called it? Ah yes, a nareer, this planet's version of a cow; a shaggy animal that produced bright yellow milk. Weird thing to model a toy after but … to each his own.

A shriek drew Rose's gaze back to the ocean in front of her. She smiled as Mickey tossed Martha into the water. So much for the girl's crush on the Doctor.

Rose would willingly bet the rest of Pete's fortune that Smith and Jones would be a couple. It was only a matter of time and proximity. She grinned. Looked like the Doctor's pan-dimensional matchmaking service had struck again.

Speaking of the Doctor … Rose raised a hand to her eyes and frowned. Where had he and Jake wandered off – a warm feeling, that had nothing to do with the sun, filled her as her gaze fell on the sight of the Doctor building a sand castle for their son.

Rose smiled as the Doctor gently removed a sandy shovel from the baby's mouth and showed him the proper use for the tool. She snorted and shook her head.

"What's so funny then?"

Rose jumped and looked up to find the ever handsome Captain Jack offering her a drink.

She smiled, accepted the bottle, and then motioned toward the shore line. "Jake was trying to lick the shovel and I couldn't help but think 'like father, like son'." She smirked. "The Doctor has one heck of an oral fixation."

Jack leered. "Oh? Do tell …"

Rose slapped his leg. "Jack! Nothing much to tell …"

Jack snorted. "Oh don't give me that! There is a bouncing bundle of joy over there playing in the sand that suggests there is a lot to tell!"

Rose giggled. "There really isn't though. Not back when we traveled together anyway." She shrugged. "Was a heat of the moment thing and right after that was Canary Warf so…"

She grinned and peaked at Jack through her lashes. "Of course I'm hopin' that will change now and, if the good morning kiss I received is any indication …"

Jack laughed. "Ah, you two are so cute!"

Rose smiled and patted the sand beside her. "We haven't had much time to talk. Tell me what you've been up to."

Jack plopped beside her and took a swig of his drink. "Well, basically I've been doing the same thing since shortly after my vortex manipulator crapped out." He shrugged. "Working for and now running Torchwood."

Rose bit her lip. "Have you ever … I mean, all those years." She peaked at him through her lashes. "Did you, um, you know, ever settle down? Have a family?"

Jack was quiet so long Rose thought he wouldn't answer but finally he sighed. "I did, but … it's hard, living on alone …"

Rose squeezed Jack's hand and watched the waves lap at their feet. "I'm so sorry, Jack. I never wanted … never intended for you to –"

"Rose." Jack tugged at her hand. "You couldn't control it and hey," he grinned at her. "I'm flattered that you thought the universe needed Jack Harkness in it for eternity."

Rose tried to smile but sniffed instead. "I love you, Jack, and I'm so glad you're not dead, but you're life now … it must be –"

He nudged her with his shoulder. "Not gonna lie, sweetheart. A few rough centuries, but now? I'm doing something that is necessary, in the century that Earth makes first official contact! And I've got a great team. We're a bit like a family." He winked. "The slow path isn't so bad when you have that."

"Yeah?"

"Yes!"

"Now then, it's a gorgeous day in paradise and we are surrounded by friends and family; enough serious talk." Jack looked over at the Doctor and Jake.

"That's not a proper sand castle!" He shook his head. "It seems I am never off duty as the Doctor has managed to wiggle his way into another mess." He got to his feet and gave Rose a cheeky salute. "Tan that beautiful body, my love. I've got to go show the Doc how it's done. Can't have my nephew unfamiliar with human customs, it's half his heritage!"

Rose chuckled and watched as Jack and the Doctor began to argue over construction techniques, each man appearing to be asking the tiny baby in between them to referee. The Doctor was a great father and from the looks of it, Jack would be too someday. Her lips twisted into a rueful smile. Or perhaps he was calling on skills learned long ago.

She sighed and lay back on the towel. Guilt over Jack continued to pester her but the warm sand, gentle breeze, and lull of the waves were calling her. Rose closed her eyes, unable to fight the urge to nap.

"Really, this is most improper. You know the rules."

"Of course I do, but if another is not abiding then I don't feel constrained to either!"

Rose sighed and opened her eyes only to blink as she encountered nothing but white; fluffy, swirly white. She gulped and tried to sit up only to find she had no control over her body.

Hang on, do I even have a body?

A chuckle filled her mind, the deep voice resonating through the cloudy vapours surrounding her. "Welcome, Little Wolf, we have waited such a long time."

Out of the mist appeared an old man dressed entirely in white, even his hair and beard were white. Only his eyes stood out from the surrounding nothingness; dark blue eyes as fathomless as the deepest ocean.

Alarm began to creep into her mind until she noticed the merry twinkle in the stranger's eyes. "And to answer your question, Little Wolf, you do indeed have a body. However, it is busy at the moment."

Rose swallowed, though she wasn't sure how, and met the man's gaze. A million questions crowded her brain, clamoring for attention though the one she chose to voice seemed to be the least pressing. "Hang on, what do you mean, my body is busy? How can my body be busy without me?"

Again the chuckle that echoed around the 'not' room. "Indeed, a very good question, as questions go, Little Wolf. For now, let us just say your corporeal form is resting comfortably while we converse here."

Rose frowned, again wondering how she could do so without control of her body. "Umm, yeah that makes no sense, you know? Anyway, who are you and where am I?"

"Ah, more excellent questions. Who I am can wait, where you are is complicated."

Rose huffed. "Look, I'm in no mood for riddles." She blew out a breath. "I must be dreaming. I was watching the Doctor and Jack play with Jake and I fell asleep –"

"That you did, Little Wolf, but I assure you this isn't a dream." He tugged on his moustache. "Well, I should rather say that it isn't a dream from your subconscious. I promise you that I'm real, as are my associates."

Rose peered around the cloudy room. "Associates? Was that who I heard you talking to? Where are they?"

He shook his head. "The time has not arrived for you to meet them. Just know that one of us is always watching the proceedings and will assist when needed."

Rose huffed. "Oh, that is sooo comforting." She rolled her eyes, though she wasn't sure how she managed it. "Look, who are you? And why should I trust you?"

He chuckled and held out a hand to her. "Walk with me, won't you?"

Rose snorted. "And just how am I supposed to do that? My legs are off on holiday, remember?"

The man's lips curled into a wide grin. "Forgive me I forget that this is all new to you. We are in what you might call a dreamscape. Your physical body is recuperating but your mind is alert which enables us to take that stroll I mentioned." He motioned for her to take his hand. "Just imagine you have a body and will it to move."

Rose frowned. "So this is a dream. I'm having a crazy dream which means you aren't real."

He shook his head. "No, a dreamscape is something your human thought processes can understand but you are not dreaming as you would properly experience such a thing and I am most certainly real." He nodded toward his outstretched hand. "Take it please, time, relatively speaking, is short."

"I don't understand a bleedin' thing you're sayin'." She thought of her arm lifting and grinned as it followed her command and automatically grasped the man's hand. "Hey! I'm gettin' the hang of this dream body stuff!"

He chuckled again and pulled her to her feet. "Indeed. A quick learner. We would expect no less from you, Little Wolf."

Rose dropped his hand and took a step back. "Why do you keep calling me that?"

He made no move to touch her, simply set out across the clouds, motioning for her to follow. "Forgive my familiarity. I should properly call you Bad Wolf."

"Umm, you've made a mistake. I'm not Bad Wolf." He made no sign that he heard her, walking quickly through the nothingness.

She quickened her pace to keep up with his long strides. "I mean, I was once but the Doctor took it out of me." She stopped and crossed her arms over her chest. "Hey! Are you even listenin' to me? I'm tellin' ya, if you think I'm Bad Wolf then you're in the wrong mind –"

"Little Wolf, you are rather comical." He smiled, amusement clear in his eyes. "Come along, there really is very little of what you consider time."

Rose sighed and followed him. Glad I can provide entertainment. She increased her pace until she was walking beside him but made no further attempt at talking. Her mind raced, trying to grasp where she was and why, not to mention who her escort was and what if anything, it all had to do with Bad Wolf.

She sighed. The man said she was Bad Wolf … her mind whirled with the implications of that title. Had the Doctor not taken it from her? Was that why she could talk with the Tardis, well sometimes anyway, and was that how she'd jumped dimensions? She'd thought the dreams and then the jump had been orchestrated by the Tardis but maybe …

"Hey!" She slowed her pace and gathered her thoughts. "Is Bad Wolf how my family and I got out of that other dimension?"

He stopped and cocked an eyebrow. He stared at her for so long Rose wondered if he would answer. Finally he shook his head and then resumed walking.

"No?" Rose forced herself to keep pace. "That's all you're gonna say?"

He glanced at her and nodded.

"Okaay," she huffed. "You're not very talkative are ya?"

He laughed. "Not particularly, but I've made an exception for you."

Rose snorted. If this was his idea of conversation …

He stopped and reached through a dense formation of clouds. "Ah, here we are."

To Rose's amazement an archway appeared in the midst of the clouds. She gasped at what appeared on the other side of the arch; inky blackness of space, interspersed with twinkling stars. Squinting, she could just make out larger shapes that she knew to be planets.

"What galaxy is that?" She whispered.

He looked down at her, pride shining from his eyes. "So quick witted." He nodded, murmuring, "We made the right choice."

Rose snorted. "I guess, though having traveled with the Doctor for over two years I'd better recognize a galaxy when I see one, wouldn't you say? Be a bit thick if I didn't."

She frowned and assessed the wisdom of pressing the strange man for answers he continued to avoid giving and then shrugged. She wouldn't be Rose Tyler if she started to fear venturing where angels feared to tread.

"So, I've asked you a bunch of questions and you've not answered but a few and ya keep saying time is short so …, reckon' you better start explainin', yeah?"

He opened his mouth to speak but whatever he was going to say died on his lips as a man dressed entirely in black stepped out of the fog. "Yes White, do tell."

Rose gasped and backed away as the man, the thing, from the market approached her. She raised a shaking hand and pointed. "Keep away from me!"

Her skin crawled as the man in black chuckled and continued to advance.

Rose whirled around and started to run. A hand closed around her upper arm and she screamed. "NO! Let me go –"

"Ssh, Little Wolf, you are quite safe … here."

She struggled against the man in white's grip and glared at him. "So you say, but you're the one who brought me to where that thing is! I don't trust you! Let me out!"

He released her but Rose found that she was frozen in place.

Wide eyed she met the man called White's eyes. "What did you do to me? Why are you doing this?"

"Calm yourself and I will release you. Nothing and no one can cause you any harm in this place." Unblinking, he held Rose's gaze. She gulped and pushed down her fear. She took several deep breaths and managed to get her heart to slow it's frantic pace.

"Excellent!" He snapped his fingers and Rose felt control of her body return.

White smiled at her. "You really are quite a remarkable creature."

His smile disappeared as he turned to the man in black.

Rose gulped. He had seemed so harmless, like someone's grandfather, but the look on his face now … it reminded her of the Doctor when he was angry but instead of the storm that brewed in the Doctor's eyes the man in white's blue orbs flashed with a light that reminded her of an exploding sun.

"Black, still breaking rules I see." Eyes never leaving the man, he reached out and closed a hand around Rose's wrist, pulling her to stand slightly behind him.

"Rules," Black smirked. "And you are following them to the letter I suppose." He snarled at Rose.

"My actions have only been in response to yours."

Black snorted. "So, I started it? What of Red's actions then? Or does the self righteous one receive special consideration."

White's eyes narrowed and a muscle ticked in his cheek but his tone was mild when he spoke. "Really Black, special consideration? Red simply responded to another of your actions."

Black tensed and looked away which drew a chuckle from White.

"Surely you didn't think that had gone unnoticed? Whatever the outcome, remember that it was you, Black, that started this ..." He nodded toward Rose. "But one way or another, they will finish it."

Black growled and lunged at Rose.

Rose screamed and raised her fists but White jerked her away, muttering. "The time has not arrived …"

Rose trembled and White's hand fell upon her shoulder. "Little Wolf, you have no need to fear."

The man in black emitted a sound that could vaguely be called a laugh. "Doesn't she though …"

"Enough Black! State your purpose and leave."

Black quirked an eyebrow and smirked. "My purpose? Why White, I should think that was obvious. You've interfered and broken the rules. So now it's my turn …" His gaze raked over Rose and he smiled, though it held nothing but contempt. "Time to educate your little … pet."

White stiffened and took a step forward, stopping when his chest was a hair's breath away from Black's. "You're fight is with me …"

"So you will stand in her stead?" Black nodded and narrowed his eyes. "Very well, after all we are so … evenly matched."

White inhaled sharply and Rose's gaze flew to his face. For the first time, Rose saw uncertainty there. Afraid she might be, but the man in white had been trying to defend her … She reached out and clasped her hand in his, squeezing lightly. He jumped and looked down at her, quirking an eyebrow.

Rose smiled and then bit her lip to quiet the trembling. "We'll stand together, yeah?"

White's lips quirked and the nervousness disappeared. His bright blue eyes twinkled. "Oh Bad Wolf, I quite understand Time's Champion's attraction." He released her hand and patted her on the shoulder. "Thank you my dear, but your time has not yet arrived. This is my fight –"

"No White, it is mine!"

Rose jumped as a booming voice filled the room. She glanced at White and frowned as he winked. "I believe the human saying is, 'the cavalry has arrived.'"

He took her hand and pulled her away as a flash of red streaked passed them. "You've stayed too long and the time –"

"I know … the time has not arrived." Rose grinned at his shocked look. "What? Ya been sayin' it enough …"

White chuckled and raised his hand. "Cheeky, Little Wolf, cheeky."

White cocked his head to the side, his eyes going distant for a moment before he smiled. "No need to shout, Doctor, I was just returning her …"

He smiled down at Rose and snapped his fingers.

Rose gasped and opened her eyes to find herself staring into the deep brown orbs of her Doctor. His face was stiff and the Oncoming Storm was brewing in his eyes.

Rose pressed her palm to his cheek. "Doctor?"

He blinked and pulled her into a tight hug.

"Hey!" Rose pushed away and looked at his face. "What's the matter?"

The Doctor's mouth tightened into a thin line. "Are you all right? Did they harm you?"

Rose frowned. "I'm fine. Who do you think was hurting me?"

The Doctor studied her for several minutes and then shrugged. "You were struggling in your sleep and I thought you might be having a nightmare … what do you remember of your dream?"

Rose cocked her head. "Dream?" She frowned. "I … don't remember dreaming of anything." She looked around and noticed the sun was almost set and they were alone on the beach. "Where is everyone?"

The Doctor stood and helped Rose to her feet. "Tea time. Come on, time we were joining them." He tapped the side of his head and smiled, though Rose noticed it didn't match his eyes. "I believe someone is hungry; your son can be quite loud, Ms. Tyler."

Rose laughed and took his hand. "Oi! You sayin' he gets that from me?"

The Doctor's lips quirked. "Well, you are Jackie Tyler's daughter …"

Rose smacked his arm and then tossed her bag at him. "Just for that, you can play pack mule."

He swung the bag over his shoulder and pulled her across the sand, rambling on about some fish Mickey had caught. Rose tuned him out and focused on what he wasn't saying.

He was smiling and his words were light and teasing but his body was taught and he kept looking over his shoulder. She'd been with him long enough to know when he was worried about something and trying to keep it from her.

Just before they reached the porch Rose stopped and wriggled until she was in the circle of his arms. She tilted her face toward him and pressed her lips to his. He stood stiff in her embrace and didn't attempt to deepen the kiss as she had expected.

Rose pulled back. "What's wrong?"

He stared at her, expression unreadable.

She bit her lip. "Doctor?"

He continued to stare at her, his gaze roaming over her face before he shook his head and grinned. "Wrong? Not a thing, Rose Tyler, not a thing." He winked and tugged her toward the door. "Weell, except for the fact that my son is waiting rather impatiently for his dinner."

Rose forced a laugh and followed him inside but she couldn't shake her unease; he was definitely hiding something from her.