Damn Those Love Calculators!
hey. thanks for all the positive reviews for the last chapter, i was quite worried
about how it was going to be recieved. but don't fret, it's not the last time Jackie will be giving grief. =D and there
is some swearing in this chapter, but I bet you're all used to it by now. Not a lot, but it's still there and so warning.
and nobody noticed my little joke about the Doctor's good Glaswegian accent - as David T's Glaswegian in real life
i thought it seemed appropriate! =D go on the Scots! Can you tell I'm Scottish? Although I'm an Edinburger, not a Glaswegian!
"Oh, my god, Todd Carty really can't skate, can he?" Rose remarked through tears of laughter, as Todd rolled off the stage during his routine on Dancing on Ice. Jackie was in fits - thank god she's swallowed her burbon two seconds earlier or someone would be doing the Heimilch - and even the Doctor had tears running down his face in glee.
"No ... he's nothing ... short of ... terrible!" Jackie gasped, trying to talk through laughing. The Doctor had given up before he'd even tried.
"Ah, I shouldn't laugh. My side hurts," Rose said, rubbing her side but still giggling away.
The Doctor seemed to recover enough to be concerned. "Do you want something for it?" he choked out, still chuckling slightly.
Rose shook her head, laughing away now that Jason Gardener had given Todd a 1.5. "Ahh, he's a right laugh. I really think he's funny but he so has to get the boot this week," she said, having been watching the whole series on the Sky+ she'd made the Doctor install in the living room. He'd been moaning and groaning about it at first, but after he discovered he could tape episodes he was getting quite into it. Even started complaining that Jackie didn't have it, muttering that she was behind the times. He'd gotten a sharp whack around the head with the TV Times for that little comment.
"Oh, Mum, did I tell you Mickey's back?" Rose mentioned casually, leaning into the Doctor.
"No, you certainly did not, Rose Tyler! I thought he was on another world?"
"Yeah, well, he's back," Rose said, keeping it brief.
"How? Why?" Jackie said, her eyes blazing.
"Long story. Even I don't know the ins and outs of it all."
"Well, where is he now?"
"Asleep, apparently," Rose explained, turning her eyes back to the ice rink where Ray Quinn was currently showing the ice rink what its all about. Jackie let the conversation drop, but made a note to come back to it later. Maybe getting the Doctor drunk was the answer to life's questions. Since getting Rose intoxicated was currently out of the question, she'd have to make do with the Doctor. He might actually be very funny drunk, she hadn't had the chance to see him in that state.
"Isn't that the dude who was the that singing programme you watch?" the Doctor said, reaching across Rose to grab a handful of Pringles. Well, if he's gonna do domestic, he's not gonna do it starving.
"The X Factor, Doctor," Jackie said, as if the Doctor cared. "He came second to Leona Lewis."
"Ahh. Cheese and onion," the Doctor said, looking at the Pringle he held clutched in his hand, thankful at least Jackie had bought his favourite flavour. Probably not on purpose, but anyway.
"No, it was called 'Bleedin' Love'," Jackie said, as Rose started giggling and almost choked on a Percy Pig. For the second time in half an hour, the Doctor found himself going over the Heimlich in his head, before noting to himself to make an appointment with an ear specialist for Jackie.
"I know, Jackie."
"Then why did you say cheese an' onion?"
"I was talking to the Pringle," the Doctor said defensively, waving the Pringle around and coming close to whacking Rose on the nose with the offending crisp.
"I know," she said, holding his arm away from her, "You don't have to do elaborate hand actions to show me. Although you talking to a Pringle is probably down somewhere as the first sign of madness."
The Doctor stuck out his tongue at her childishly. Before Rose could react, Jackie stepped in. "Don't start your childish behaviour, either of you. Honestly, you two bein' parents, that's goin' to be somethin' to see. Maybe," Jackie said, her eyes lighting up, "I could move in with you at the start, maybe for the first few months, to help you get started," she beamed, hardly containing herself as she spoke - this had obviously been a plan in fruition since Rose told her she was pregnant.
Both the Doctor and Rose stared blankly at her for a few minutes, before registering what she said. "NO!" they said together in unison, and Jackie looked rather taken aback.
"If we need you, Mum, we'll tell you, but I think we'll manage on our own," Rose said soothingly, while the Doctor pouted. Living with Jackie Tyler was his idea of hell. The Void seemed tame, almost nice now, compared to living with Jackie for three or maybe even more months.
Jackie seemed to be okay after a minute's reassurance that yes, they loved her (in the Doctor's case, basic mutual like was a good day) and yes, they would contact her if anything went wrong. The Doctor still wasn't too happy and pouted childishly until Rose's elbow in the ribs loosened his lips. The Doctor audibly winced, and Rose raised her eyebrows.
"You've got sharp elbows," he said, rubbing his middle. Rose ignored him. Dancing on Ice finished, and Jackie sat back in her recliner, as Rose and the Doctor were doing a pretty good job of managing to take up a three seater with just the two of them.
The doorbell rang, and Jackie signed. "Honestly, Wild at Heart's starting in five minutes an' someone's at the door ... " she trailed off, still muttering when she opened the door, followed by a loud shout. "Bev!"
"Does she ever go? This 'Bev' seems to be near your mother all the time ... if it wasn't Jackie, I'd say she was stalking her, but who in their right mind would want to stalk Jackie?" the Doctor said in low tones to Rose, even though it was pretty impossible to hear over Bev's shrill voice. From the squeals, it seemed as though she last saw Jackie a couple of decades ago, never mind last night.
Jackie opened the door, and a woman, evidently Bev came through. She looked just as old as Jackie as was dressed in black tracksuit bottoms and a pink velvet tracksuit top. "Doctor, this is Bev. And Bev, remember Rose? It's been a while," Jackie said. Bev's eyes lingered on the Doctor, who was slouched on the sofa wearing his glasses, a little bit longer than they should have; the Doctor was ignoring her, Rose was quite amused and Jackie wasn't pleased. She elbowed Bev slyly, but Rose still noticed as Bev's attentioon flickered unwillingly to Rose.
"'Iya, Rose, it 'as been a while. Last time I 'eard you'd almost died after Henrick's blew to pieces!" Bev said, her accent noticeably thicker than Jackie's.
"Long time ago, then," Rose nodded, before turning her attention back to the TV. The Doctor's eyes hadn't moved from the Tesco Mobile advert. He didn't want any questions asked, and Bev seemed to type to be nosy.
Jackie sat down and started chattering to Bev at a hundred miles per hour, but Bev's eyes were glued on the couple on the sofa, who were whispering about what to have for dinner. The Doctor wanted Chinese, but Rose wanted pizza. Ah, the trials and tribulations of domesticality.
"Oh! Bev! You'll never guess what," Jackie said excitedly, clapping her hands together. "Rose is havin' a baby!"
The Doctor and Rose both glared at Jackie. They hadn't exactly wanted the whole world to know, yet, but here she was, now excited by the prospect of being a grandmother? She'd been furious an hour ago.
"Really?" Bev squealed, pulling an uncooperative Rose into a hug. "Oh, congrats! Ya too, whoeva ya are." The last bit was aimed at the Doctor, but no-one would have been able to tell if there were more people in the room. Bev smiled at the Doctor as he made a caveman-like grunt in her direction. Bev seemed overjoyed that he'd even been listening to her.
"Listen, we really, really have to get going," Rose said, and the Doctor moved faster than he had all day, on his feet before Rose had finished.
"Yes. Places to go, people to see, that sort of thing. Many a civilisation to save from blood-thirsty hunters! I think Our Lord Mickey might be up from his nap now," the Doctor said, speaking faster than Bev had done; Jackie barely caught what he was saying, Rose was used to the speed and Bev just stared blankly at him. The Doctor was pulling on Rose's arm, clearly desperate to get away from Bev's admiring stares. He'd forgotten to take off his glasses, evidently, and Bev was just about drooling.
"Whatever. Off you go then. I'll walk you to the door. Bev, I'll be back in a minute," Jackie said, as Rose and the Doctor all but sprinted out the door. Bev looked incredibly disappointed.
"Right, bye, asta la vista, for the second time. Although it's to you, Jackie ... not a part of my anatomy," the Doctor rambled, already trying to dig out his TARDIS key from his never-ending trench coat pocket. Jackie raised an eyebrow at Rose in question, who just shrugged in response.
Rose sighed. "Bye again, Mum," she said, giving her a tight hug.
"Bye sweetie, take care," Jackie said, returning the hug, before pulling back sharply. "Wait a minute ... you can't go off savin' planets and wars and stuff, Rose is pregnant! You'll have to stay here." Jackie looked slightly furious that they had been about to slip under her grasp, and oddly triumphant.
"No, we won't, Mum. I'm only two months gone; I can go out there for a long as I like. I hope," Rose said, sending that last statement towards the Doctor.
The Doctor nodded. "We'll have to do some tests, because I have no idea what's going to happen since it's a half Human, half Gallifreyan, but I'm almost one hundred percent sure you'll be able to travel until you give birth."
"See," Rose said, her voice now slightly triumphant. "I'll be fine. The Doctor is, shockingly, a doctor, so everything will be fine."
"I'm still not to sure about this. I'd much rather you stayed here."
"I'mma go, Mum, I'll call you soon. I love you," Rose said, pulling from her mother's vice-like grip and setting off after the Doctor, who was waiting halfway down the stairs; he'd slipped off without either Tyler's noticing. Sneaky little ... Timey.
"Where do you get to, Timey?" Rose asked, as she approached him. He was standing with this arms crossed, a bored expression on his face. He scowled at the nickname, again, and he still had his glasses on.
"I had to get away. If I stayed there any longer, I feel the legendery Bev would have come and given me a goodbye kiss."
Rose laughed, taking his hand. "I think she might've. She was, in fact, literally drooling."
The Doctor made a disgusted face as he pulled Rose closer, as she laughed at his expression. "Don't, Rose. I think I might be scarred for life."
They had reached the TARDIS, and the Doctor had his key to hand; it wasn't long until they were inside. "Just be thankful it wasn't Mum."
The Doctor groaned. "Don't remind me," he said, as Rose gasped in horror, her hands flying to her mouth.
"When did my Mum - " she started, before turning around and gasping again as she saw Mickey standing beside the console screen. "Mickey! You're awake!"
The Doctor turned as well. "Hello, Our Lord Mickey. How was your nap?" he asked, depositing his jacket on a support strut as Rose did likewise.
"Fine, thanks," Mickey said quietly, not referencing the 'Our Lord' nickname the Doctor had made up. "What have you guys been up to?"
"Ah, we were, erm, telling Jackie something, that's all," Rose said distractedly, looking at everything but Mickey. Her fingernails were really interesting, honestly.
"What? That I was back?"
"Yes. That's exactly what we were telling her, douze points to Our Lord Mickey. Anyway, why don't we get a cup of tea and sit down, and Mickey can tell us what he got up to on the Parallel Earth?" the Doctor asked, avoiding Rose's penetrating gaze.
"Yeah, okay," Mickey said, as Rose smiled, pretending to be enthusastic. She'd have much rather got the whole pregnancy thing out in the open with Mickey straight away, but maybe the Doctor was right - butter Mickey up first, so he doesn't go hitting the Doctor. His Ninth form was a bit bigger and could have probably taken Mickey, but this Doctor was a bit skinny for any fights with a lad from the Powell Estate. Rose sure hadn't been joking when she'd said that Mickey had learnt to adapt, although he never really had to adapt, he was born in it, same as Rose. Who probably couldn't go back to living on the Estate, she'd adapted to life on the TARDIS as if she'd been there all her life. And so she would be.
" ... And so Jake brought out this big, and I mean huge big, gun and starting firing everywhere. I was so scared I jumped out my seat, hit the table where the guns were kept and knocked myself out before I'd even picked up the thing!" Mickey explained his first day training with The Preachers to laughter from the Doctor and Rose, who were currently leaning off various pieces of furniture with tears streaming down their faces.
"Only you, Mickey," the Doctor said, wiping away tears for the second time that day. Even though it was past one in the morning, the two humans were showing no sign of being tired. Which, for Rose's case at least, was probably not for the best.
"I'm seeing pigtails, frilly skirt," Rose said through her giggles, repeating the statement the Doctor had said to Mickey at Deffry Vale School.
Mickey yawned. "I think I'mma hit the sack," he said, rubbing the insides of his eyes.
"You're just up!" the Doctor protested weakly, not really minding if Mickey went to bed or not. Actually, he'd rather he did. Then he wouldn't have to run the risk of being slapped by a Powell Estate dude. Not that he was going to admit of being even slightly afraid of Mickey Smith. Nah, never.
"No, I'm not. It's half one in the morning. I've only had a couple of hours sleep in 36 hours," Mickey explained, and looked around. "Is it OK if I sleep here? I don't know what state my flat's in ... overcome by rats, maybe?" he shrugged as Rose jumped to her feet, nodding.
"Of course it's ok! Eh, Doctor?" she said, and the Doctor nodded.
"Don't you want you screaming like a little girl and waking up your neighbours," he added, smirking at Mickey. Mickey scowled back in reponse.
"Do you remember where your room is?" Rose asked.
Mickey shook his head pathetically, going for the puppy-dog look but failing miserably. Rose just smiled. "Then the TARDIS will move it closer to the console room."
The TARDIS hummed in agreement, as Rose rested a hand against a wall in thanks.
Mickey gave Rose a hug, before kissing her cheek and leaving towards the general direction of a door; after trying three times and getting the kitchen, a sofa room and then the kitchen again, he finally got the right door. He, however, didn't go inside.
"He better not be staying for long."
Rose sat down next to the Doctor and smiled at his statement. "I don't think so. Last time he was here it drove me insane! 'Rose, show me this, Rose, where is that? Rose, can you point me in the direction of ... ?' it was annoying. I didn't do that to you, did I, because I'm so sorry if I did!" Rose said, apologetically.
"Two things," the Doctor said, amused, as he held up two fingers, "One, no you did not, and two, why did you put on a higher voice when impersonating Mickey?"
Rose opened and closed her mouth for a second or two, not quite knowing how to react - she hadn't done it intentionally.
The Doctor laughed, wrapping his arms around her stomach tenderly but never moving from his position of lying across the entire length of the sofa. "We're going to have to tell him soon, you know."
Rose sighed. "I know," she said, sitting down on the sofa - actually, she was more pulled down - trapping one of the Doctor's legs against the sofa, and leant back against him. He started playing with her hair, winding the strands around his fingers deftly. "I'm just ... I don't ... I have no idea how he's gonna react. 'Coz it was always meant to be me and him, y'know? Everyone mentioned to Mum, 'you're so lucky, your daughter's gonna settle down with someone good'. I had my whole life planned out with Mickey, maybe not by my own choice, but I was prepared to go with it. Mickey wanted to get a job in IT and I had my job in Henriks. And then, of course, my job got blown up by a alien with big ears and an even bigger concience and then ... it all went out the window, really." She stopped her ramble, not even noticing she'd been talking for a good while.
"So you think Our Lord Mickey will be jealous?" The Doctor laughed, pressing a kiss to her shoulder.
Rose giggled, feeling the Doctor's torso vibrate with his laugher. "Maybe. I don't know. It depends on how he still ... feels, I guess," Rose said, twisting her fingers awkwardly in her lap.
"Well, he was the one who went the parallel Earth. He left you, and he blew it. Because now I've got you," he said, pulling her back and making her giggle.
"Yep," she answered, popping the 'p' like he always did. She turned her head and kissed what she could, which happened to be the left side of his nose.
"That, Tyler, tickles," he said, and tickled her in reponse; they laughter rang through the TARDIS as it would do for eternity.
Never mind Queen Victoria; Mickey Smith was not amused. Not even mildly. Zilch, zippo, nada. He was not thrilled, delighted, over the moon, exhilarated, exicted, entertained, and certainly not 'tickled pink' by recent events.
What were these 'recent events' that Mickey was not in any way 'tickled pink' by?
The Doctor and Rose's newly discovered relationship.
What the hell was that all about? A twenty year old human dating a nine-hundred year old alien?
It didn't bear thinking about.
There must be some intergalatic law preventing this.
Or, on the other hand, there is probably a prophecy in some anicent galaxy saying that the Doctor and Rose are meant to be together.
Mickey honestly wouldn't say he suprised. If that was the case. He shook his head. This was not helping matters.
He knew they had kissed at Torchwood, but Mickey had thought, rather stupidly, that it was just because they were saying hello, or something along those lines. Nothing like this. But then again, the Doctor and Rose seemed to be perfect for each other. Even their names felt right together, like it was one name.
Like in those love calculator things on the Internet. Mickey and Rose had got 83% - Mickey had been over the moon with that. The Doctor and Rose probably got 100%.
Mickey vaguely recalled doing something like that ages ago, before it came up that 'the' was not an acceptable first name.
So this is how he came to be crouched down outside the living room, pretending to be in his bedroom, listening in on the Doctor and Rose's conversation.
He frowned when Rose said he was annoying, and gasped soundlessly when the Doctor mentioned Rose had increased the pitch of her voice when impersonating him; Mickey honestly hadn't noticed. He nodded to himself when Rose went into that speel about how they were supposed to be together, and frowned again in both wonderment at what they were going to tell him, and at the searing pain in his calves; this squatting business was painful.
Mickey rose, stretching his legs soundlessly, wincing when his knee clicked - luckily both the occupants of the room were too engrossed in their conversation to notice any sound apart from their own voice. The Doctor loved the sound of his too much, in Mickey hourable opinion.
The two in the room starting laughing, and Mickey could stand it no longer. He huffed all the way to his room like a five-year-old, slamming the door upon his entry.
Rose walked out of the living room three seconds later wondering what the noise was. She looked around, frowning, before returning to the living room.
Mickey heard the door click shut again, before the Doctor's muffled voice floated through asking who it was. He wished the door was soundproof, and suddenly he couldn't hear anything. This ship could be nice, when it wanted to be.
Mickey hurriedly changed into pyjamas the TARDIS had provided - he was actually getting wierded out by the niceness, was there something nobody was telling him? - and jumped into bed, thankful he could no longer hear Rose's light giggles and the Doctor deep(ish) chuckle.
The last thought he had through his head was the hope that he flat wasn't overcome by rats, because he really didn't wanna be on the ship for too long.
Rose woke to the pungent smell of fresh coffee wafting through her door. She turned towards the door and inhaled deeply, the smell rousing her slightly. She reached out a hand to her right, expecting the sheets to be smooth under her hand but instead they hit something very soild and warm. The shock made her wake up sharply; she hadn't expected him to stay. She looked at the clock to her left and it read 10:43am, and from a glance she knew he was still asleep. Rose would have been worried if this had occured a few nights ago, but he was due some sleep time so it didn't worry her as much.
The Doctor looked peaceful in sleep; the one time he did, he was usually very hyperactive. Like a toddler on Skittles. With M&M's. He lay on his back, one arm above his head and the other was under Rose's, previously around her waist. He slept in silence, barely making a single sound, and Rose had to lean forward to hear his breathing. It was in stark contrast to Mickey, who could have brought the roof down with his snoring. He still had a slight tan from when they went to the sun planet, Suoila (and they had spent ages sunbathing without the risks of burning or cancer) and it seemed to reflect slightly off his white sheets.
It occured to Rose it would be Mickey that was maing the coffee.
If she stayed, she knew he would wake up, as he was an incredibly light sleeper. She dragged herself unwilling from her bed, wanting to stay there in it warm embrace. Dressing quickly, she shut the door quietly behind her, not wanting to wake the Doctor - he deserved a good sleep as she hadn't seen him sleep since before Felspoon. She padded down the corridor, following the smell of coffee until she reached the kitchen. Pushing the door open, her eyes took in the sight of Mickey hunched over a cup of coffee, and by counting the cups she could tell it was his third.
"Trying to bleed our coffee supply dry, are you?" Rose asked, picking up a clean mug (An 'I heart NY' one she'd picked up when the Doctor took her to New York - 2007 New York, not New New York) and poured herself some.
Mickey grunted in response. "Where's the Doctor?"
"Sleeping," Rose replied, rubbing her eyes to get rid of the sleep that still clogged them.
"I thought he didn't sleep."
"Don't let him kid you - he sleeps, just less than us. About once a week or so," she said, putting toast in the toaster.
"Oh. Put some on for me," Mickey told her, and Rose sighed. Just like old times, and not in the good way. If she closed her eyes, she could see herself in Mickey's kitchen, still trapped in her old life. She shook her head - she wasn't there any more, but he still ordered her about whenever they met up. And every time, he expected her to com 'home' to Jackie's, not realising that it wasn't home for Rose anymore.
Rose didn't answer him. Mickey rose from his seat and stood beside her. "There's something going on ... " he said, placing his hand over Rose's. She tugged it free, instead placing the coffee cup within it. Mickey stared at the counter where their hands had been. "Something you're not telling me."
"No, there's not." Rose's voice was a still strained as she tried to control her mounting anger.
"Yes, there is."
"No, there isn't."
"Yes, there is. I know you, Rose."
"There's not. You don't know me as well as you thought."
"Yes there is, and I do know you - better than the Doctor does."
"There is nothing to say, Mickey, and I've changed a lot."
"There is something going on, and you're going to tell me."
"Just drop it, alright!" Rose said angrily, slamming the cup down on the kitchen table with such force some of the dark liquid inside sloshed over the rim. "It's none of your business, and we'll tell you when we want to! Stop interrogating me, it's not the Spanish bloody Inquisition!" she yelled, and walked out the room and straight into the Doctor, who looked down at her both slightly sleepy and slightly amused.
"Hello, I heard your lovely tones at several decibels louder than they should be. Are you okay?" he asked, holding Rose by the shoulders.
"I'm fine. Just keep me and Mickey at least several hundred meters apart before I decapitate him with very blunt, rusty pair of scissors!" she said, and the Doctor chuckled.
The glare Rose gave him reminded him she was Jackie's daughter. He stopped and looked at her hands, eyeing their every movement. "And why, may I ask, are you running away from Mickey? You're not usually the type to run. More the type to slap them silly with either your hands or a sharp-looking shoe."
"He was asking me a lot of questions. Nosy bastard. I hate him," Rose snarled, and the Doctor sighed. Hormones.
"You don't hate him. Go and calm down in the sitting room, I'll bring you some coffee if you want," he asked, and Rose nodded in agreement and walked off towards the sitting room.
The Doctor entered the kitchen, and found Mickey hunched over a coffee cup, sulking, and eating toast. "There is something you're not telling me," he said to the alien.
"So what if there is? It's none of your business," the Doctor answered, filling up the kettle and putting on some toast.
"That's what she said. But you have to tell me. That's what you were away telling Jackie earlier, wasn't it? Not that I was back," Mickey said, standing up.
"Maybe," the Doctor said, nonchalently, pouring two cups of coffee.
"Well, tell me, then," Mickey said forcefully.
"You might have once got away with that when talking to Rose," the Doctor said, now buttering some toast, "But don't try that tone on me. It won't work."
Mickey crossed his arms over his chest. "There is something you're keeping from me. Deliberately, I think."
"For an idiot, you're incredibly inquisitive," the Doctor said, trying to leave, but with Mickey blocking his way.
"You're going to tell me."
"Hardly," the Doctor scoffed, and pushed past him easily to get to Rose. It would be easier just to tell him, but that way Mickey would win, and that was one thing the Doctor didn't want. And Rose didn't seem to want to give into him, either.
Two hours later, Rose and the Doctor found themselves outside the kitchen where they knew Mickey was still sulking.
"Are you ready?" the Doctor asked her, squeezing her hand lightly.
"No," Rose said honestly, shaking her head, "But it's best to get it over and done with."
"We can just go if you like ... "
"No, I'mma do this now," Rose said, squaring herself up and was startled when the door opened.
"Right, you two are definately hiding somethin'," Mickey said, sticking his chin out slightly.
"Yeah, we do," Rose said. "I'm pregnant."
"Oh, is that it?" Mickey said, before realising exactly what Rose had said.
Thunk.
"Men. All the same," Rose said, looking down at Mickey on the floor. "At least he didn't cut his head."
"Oi. I passed out. Mickey has fainted," the Doctor said, making no move to picked the man up off the floor.
"And the difference is ... ?" Rose asked, bending down to move Mickey before the Doctor pulled her up sharply.
"No heavy weights," he reminded her, "And there is a difference. Mickey's an idiot and I'm a superior being."
A moan from Mickey brought both of their gazes down to him on the floor.
"Our Lord Mickey! Earth to Our Lord!" the Doctor said in a loud voice, waving at him.
Mickey took a moment to right himself. "So you," he said in a weak voice, pointing at Rose, "Are having a baby, with him." he pointed at the Doctor.
"Yep," Rose said bluntly. The Doctor was going a damn good impression of Churchill from those car insurence adverts beside her.
"So first, you leave me for some big-eared bloke," Mickey said, fully recovered from his fainting spell, "then you go off again when he's changed his face, then when I move universes you get all shacked up together! And to think, someday I thought you and me ... " he trailed off, but the conclusion was clear.
"Yeah, well, that isn't happening," Rose said, shrugging. "One day, a long time ago, I thought 'you and me' too. All it ever was, wasn't it? Had our lives planned together from the day we met. But, to be perfectly honest, I was never in love with you."
"What?!" Mickey said, stung.
"I never was in love with you. I love you, like a brother. That's what you are to me, and all you ever were, I think. The brother that I never had. Dig deep - don't you feel the same?" Rose pleaded with her eyes.
The silence from Mickey answered her question. Yes, he felt like that too. But that didn't mean he wanted her running off with a nine-hundred-year-old alien.
"But ... "
"No buts, this is it," Rose said. "You deserve someone better, Mickey, who will be there for you. Because this," she gestured around her, "Is my life now. Forever."
"I don't understand," Mickey said, rubbing his forehead. "You're going to die at somepoint, Rose. You can't be here forever."
"Remember the whole 'dying in Felspoon and brought back to life' Mickey? I can't die."
Mickey's eyes bugged before he started screaming. At Rose, at the Doctor, at the TARDIS, anything. No words. He just screamed.
"You're a bloody alien!" Mickey hollered, pointing at Rose.
"We forgot to tell you?" the Doctor said, his voice aloof. "Sorry about that."
"Yes, you bloody well forgot to tell me! Don't you think I should know these things?"
"It's just been non-stop since Torchwood and - " Rose started, but Mickey cut over her.
"Save it," he snarled, throwing a look of disgust at the couple before walking out of the TARDIS and into London's bright streets, thankful he was somewhere life made sense.