DISCLAIMER: Still don't own Doctor Who. Still don't make any money from this. But if he doesn't stop leaving TARDIS prints in my flower bed, we're gonna have words…
SUMMARY: Something goes horribly, horribly wrong in the Parallel Universe and the Doctor's not there to save the day.
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Thankfully, Rose was able to relate the whole story to their friends after many hugs and a few kisses ("Hands off the blonde, Harkness," which Captain Jack studiously ignored).
Much, much later, after questions and answers and a lovely dinner of chips and Chinese, Rose lay on another gurney. This time being examined by Martha in the Torchwood medical bay, Amy and Gwen to the side. The women were all grinning like hyenas over the shared stories of Mr. Mickey Smith, the Doctor, Rhys, and Rory.
"And he refuses to even think about bananas!" Martha chortled, remembering Mickey's reaction to her banana split sundae dessert the week before.
"Bananas are good! Good source of potassium," interjected the Doctor from the top of the stairs, which sent the women into peals of laughter again.
This, of course, confused him to no end. "So, why are you lovely ladies down here?"
"Rose wanted a check up, make sure everything was okay after she 'died'."
The Doctor, on his way to Rose's bedside, looked a little green at the "D" word. "Coulda done that in the TARDIS...," he mumbled.
Rose grabbed his hand, "Yeah, but I was having a good time reminiscing and gossiping. Easier this way!" Rose winked to Martha.
The lady in question grabbed Rose's chart, "And since we've yet to get started, you can stay or go at your leave."
"Gonna stay." He smiled down at Rose. "Never leaving again."
"Yeah," she smiled.
Martha beamed. "Good!"
Ten minutes later, Martha confirmed what Jackie told him in the hospital. Rose's child, a daughter, was not human. In fact, despite every scientific and logical thing he'd learned, beyond all chance and reason, this child was completely Gallifreyan. Would likely be a Time Lady too, if she gained even a modicum of her mother's stubborn personality.
"Oh, and you are gonna LOVE this, Doctor," Martha added, transfixed by the test results in her hand.
She looked up to him, eyes bright and excited, and handed him the papers. One glance told him everything he had never expected.
"Really?"
"Yep!" She popped the 'p' as his previous incarnation was wont to do.
"You're sure?"
"Yep!"
"But that's..."
"Apparently not."
"I mean..."
"I know!"
"So... Really?" He looked back up at Martha
"Yep!"
"Wow..."
"Fantastic!" She did a little boogey dance at his dazed expression.
Rose decided now would be a great time to pipe in with a quick, "Someone wanna tell me what's going on?"
He handed her the paper, somewhat dazedly."Don't know how, but your baby is mine."
"Um, yeah. I know. Married John, remember? Your clone," and handed him the paper back.
"No, Rose." He handed the paper back to her. "Look again and remember this: I regenerated. New body. New cells, new everything."
"So..."
"Yeah."
"But.."
"Uh-huh."
"I mean..."
"You got it!"
"Huh. Really?"
She smiled down to her swollen belly, then grinned further as the Doctor leaned down to embrace her before he laid his head against her stomach, turning to see her face.
"My little Time Lady," she said.
She felt a tickle in her mind and saw the Doctor's eyes glaze over. A sense of awe washed over her. "Already got your daddy wrapped around your little finger, you do." She sighed happily, and patted her stomach. "Good girl."
Thirty minutes later, all was quiet in the medical bay. Jaws that had dropped had yet to be picked up since eyes were glued to the wall screen showing Rose's own test results.
Jack, being Jack, would be the one to break the silence when he sauntered in. "So, what's the verdict, Doc?" then trailed off as he saw the screen. "No way."
The Doctor was just grinning like the loon everyone knew him to be. "Apparently."
Rose's shock had frozen her in place. "But that's ..."
The Doctor shot a look in her direction and pointed sharply. "Don't say impossible."
Jack snorted and rolled his eyes. "Yeah, that word may just be illegal from now on considering how little either of you listen to reason."
Martha just ignored him, of course. "Should we run the test again?"
Rose was still transfixed by the screen and could only give a breathy, "Yeah…"
The Doctor just shrugged . "Fifth time's a charm..."
12 minutes later...
Martha watched the screen displaying the inside of Rose's body. "No change."
Rose had slowly come to recognize what this meant. "So… It's real."
Jack's grin now matched the Doctor's and a manic gleam lit their eyes as he started laughing. "That's insane!"
Doctor had yet to look away from his wife. "Yeah. She's good at that."
He reached for her hand, fingers already feeling twitchy from her absence. "How long are you gonna stay with me?" and smiled like a child on a sugar high.
She gave him THAT smile and rested their joined hands atop their daughter before looking back to the screen showing her second heart, "Forever."
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