Back in Cardiff, several days later, Rose is working at her computer. Things seem clearer to her now as she continues her work on a method of moving between dimensions physically. She has been analyzing the data from their transmission and incorporating her findings into her new work.

She feels that she is finally getting somewhere when the Doctor stops by her desk telling her it's time to go home. Mai Li is with him, with her schoolbooks packed away in her backpack. As they leave the hub, Rose thinks as she looks at them, 'He's still worried, even after I showed him why I chose this. And Mai, she deserves more stability. But what can I do? I've already tried to put their minds at ease – and failed.

'This is what I wanted, isn't it? To be with him? I couldn't bear the thought of him being all alone again. I just hope this works out.'

When they reach home and while Mai Li is putting away her things, Rose turns to the Doctor and says, "I'm sorry."

Confused, he turns to her and asks, "What for?"

"For …changing. I thought it was for the best. You need someone at your side. And Mai… I should never have fostered her. She deserves a stable home. I've uprooted her – and for what? So that I can play at being a mum? I've…"

Understanding that she is becoming nervous about things, he replies as he draws her into a hug, "You've done what you thought you needed to, Rose. You're more than what you were. I realize that you're nervous, you've had nothing but problems in the last month – some of them my doing – but look at what you've done! Look at what you're trying to do!

"You've done a wonderful job of helping Mai. She's starting to trust in her abilities, and more importantly, understand them. Her English skills have improved dramatically, too.

"We've been able to contact my original, much to his surprise, and receive a note back from him, much to my surprise." He chuckles wryly at the thought.

"I was going to suggest that you sit and rest while I get tea, but – why don't you come help me instead? We can talk about it some more."

The next day, she is working on her project. She feels a headache coming on, but, again, it seems to ease the harder she works. She knows what is happening, but she wants to complete what she can before they stop her. She feels a hand on her shoulder. "May I finish this equation, first? I'm nearly done with it and I want to finish it while..."

"Rose," the Doctor interrupts before she can say what he knows she will say if she gets a chance. Seeing that she is nearly done, he nods and says, "Go ahead, I'll keep Owen at bay."

Owen walks up behind the Doctor, saying, "Rose, your readings are starting to cascade. I need you to come to medical."

"In a moment, Owen," the Doctor says as he shakes his head slightly. "She's nearly done with this equation. With it, she'll just have to input the variables."

She looks up at the Doctor as she finishes, the energies of the time vortex evident in her eyes. Owen reaches for her, taking her arms as he notices the difference. "What's with her eyes?" he asks. "They're glowing."

"You're seeing the energies of the time vortex. I can see time in them. Events and the like can be seen if you know how to look. She's seeing all of time…" Placing a hand on her arm to draw her attention, the Doctor adds, "Rose, describe to Owen what you see right now."

Trancelike, she nods and says simply, "I see… time… what is… what was… what must be… what must never be…" She is crying as she continues to see the flow of time. "What must not ever, ever…"

"Rose… Rose!" The Doctor clicks his fingers in front of her face a couple of times to focus her attention on the present for a moment instead of what she is seeing. "How do you feel?" She frowns in confusion.

Seeing this, Owen says, "Let's get her into medical."

"She won't make it to medical on her own," the Doctor replies, already reaching to help her up. Rose is still responding to external stimuli, but is becoming more unresponsive by the moment. He starts to walk with her to medical, Owen stepping in on the other side to help also.

In medical, they get her onto the scanner, just as she becomes completely unresponsive. Scanning her, they find that the changes that she is going through are now measurable on a moment to moment basis. The computer used to monitor her changes is flashing to let them know that everything is cascading.

"Doctor, I can stay with her while you…" Seeing the look on his face, Owen subsides.

"Owen, I… I can sense her mind. She's relaxed, but focused right now. She understands what is happening and accepts it. She is having some pain, but it's not bad yet. I'll be able to help her…"

Reaching a decision, he adds, "I can show you if you'd like."

Owen asks, "It'll help me to understand?"

"Yes," the Doctor says, nodding, finally accepting her decision on this.

"Ok. What do I have to do?"

"Just relax. I'll do everything else." The Doctor reaches to either side of Owen's head to establish a link. "Just follow where I'm leading. I won't let you go astray." He shows him his link to Rose and what he feels and sees through his link to her. Ensuring that he understands what he needs to, the Doctor shows him the way back out of his mind and closes down the link, removing his hands from his head.

Owen looks at the Doctor in wonder. "I understand," he says quietly. "You can sense her thoughts all of the time, can't you?"

"Yes. More so, recently – especially as she has changed." Noticing Mai Li watching from the stairs, he says, "Come in, Mai, I can show you, too." While Mai Li is coming down into medical, the Doctor adds before Owen can object, "She has a right to know, Owen."

Once she reaches Rose's side, the Doctor asks, "Mai, would you like to link with Rose for a few moments?

"Will it help me to understand?" she asks. When the Doctor nods in assent, she says, "Yes. I know she's tried to explain it to me, but all I've seen is that it causes her pain."

"I know, but she feels that it's worth it. So, if you're ready, perhaps this will show you why she thinks it's worth it." He follows the same procedure for showing Mai Li what's happening as he did for Owen.

When the Doctor ends the link, Mai Li's face is filled with wonder. "She loves you so much…" she says softly. "That's why she's doing this. She's willing to put up with anything to be with you. And she saw something that scared her. This is a way to keep some of that from happening."

The Doctor nods in assent. "It's all part of it. And it's how she's able to cope with the changes as they are happening."

Watching them, Owen asks curiously, "Does Rose sense your thoughts?"

"Yes, but she is still largely untrained. That's why it's distracting for her if the thoughts of those around her aren't shielded right now."

"What about us? Can you sense us?"

"Not individually. Not like I sense her."

"So, even with her externally unresponsive, you can see what is going on in her mind?"

"Yes, and I may be able to guide her if she has trouble. I haven't had time to teach her everything she needs to know – and that's worrisome." The Doctor settles in to wait, holding her hand. Mai Li takes her other hand after grabbing a stool. Owen leaves, checking the monitors as he leaves. He knows that he will be called if he is needed.

Noticing that Mai is upset by the event, the Doctor goes over to her to give her a hug. Quietly, he says, "She'll be fine, Mai. This is taking all of her concentration, that's all. She's using time energy, but she has to change it – like the converter does for the Tardis. I'm glad that she is able to; it's making everything much safer for her. I was worried about her too, but then, when she blew the windows out of the isolation room in London, I started wondering about it. I found out that the energy was accumulating in her. And now, she's using it."

"I want to stay with her, too. She needs both of us."

"Mai, you're young yet and need to sleep tonight. I know that Rose made arrangements for you to stay with Gwen…"

"But, why can't I stay here with her?"

"Because you could distract her." Mai opens her mouth to protest more, but the Doctor places a finger on her lips to stop the protest. "I know you would be quiet, but just being here could distract her at this stage, because she can still hear you here," he touches her temple, "when she needs those near her to shield their thoughts."

"But you're…"

"Mai, I'm leaving my mind open to her, but being very careful to shield my thoughts. Tomorrow, it won't be so critical to have no psychic noise. She'll be used to converting the energies and there won't be so much stored up in her."

"You're afraid if she loses control she'll blow up the hub?"

"It could happen. That's why I want you to go with Gwen for tonight."

Mai gives a last ditch effort to be allowed to stay. "But I won't be able to sleep! I'll be worried."

"I think, once you're away from here, that you'll find that you can sleep tonight." Seeing Gwen approach, he adds, "Now, go get your books together. I need to speak with Gwen a moment."

"So, what was that about?" Gwen asks.

"She doesn't want to leave."

"She's worried."

"I know. We were anticipating some problems like this, so Rose asked me to plant a suggestion to help her to sleep in case there were problems. It's a one-time deal. Once you ask her to go to bed, she'll start to get sleepy. She should be asleep before an hour is up.

"Thanks for taking care of her tonight."

"No problem, she's a good kid. She's just worried right now, we all are."

"Gwen, right now, it's taking all of Rose's concentration to convert the time energy. I don't want to take a chance of anything disturbing her, especially after what happened in London last week. I'm just glad no one was hurt."

"But, weren't you with her?"

Nodding, he replies, "Yes, she was able to protect me, but she wasn't cascading then either. I don't know if she could this time and I don't want to risk it – there's too much at stake."

Mai Li comes back with her book sack. She's not happy at all as she says, "I still don't think I'll be able to sleep."

"Mai, you'll be able to sit with her tomorrow for a bit, I promise. Now go along with Gwen."

"Can I give her a kiss before I go?"

"Yes, but be careful."

Mai Li bends slightly to give Rose a kiss on her cheek and then throws her arms around the Doctor and gives him a big hug, saying, "I love you too, Doctor. You be careful too."

Surprised by the fierceness of the hug, the Doctor hugs her in return, kissing the top of her head and replying, "I will."

Everyone leaves Rose and the Doctor at the end of the day except Owen. As a physician, he stays to keep an eye on them in case of any difficulties. The night is uneventful except for checking to make sure that everything seems to be going alright. When Gwen arrives in the morning with Mai Li, the girl immediately runs over to the rail on the platform above the medical section. The Doctor looks up as she approaches and asks, "Do you want to join me?"

Mai Li runs down to join him, taking Rose's hand just to hold it. "We're her family, Doctor. She needs us."

"Yes, she does," he replies. "Yes, she does."

About three in the afternoon, the medical alarms start going off. The Doctor says to Mai Li, "I need you to go for now, Mai. I told you this might happen and that you would be in the way if it did. You can come back in a bit."

"But..."

"Mai, I don't have time to explain it to you again. Now go! You can come back later."

Owen reaches Rose's side just as Mai Li is leaving. The Doctor has just moved into a position at Rose's head and places his hands on either side of her head. As Owen takes in the situation, he realizes that Rose has reached a point in her transformation where she must do something, although he does not know what it is. He turns the monitor screen so he can keep an eye on it while he tries to help. "Doctor?" he says quietly as he lightly touches his hand. "What can I do to help?"

Looking up at Owen, he says, "Nothing. There's nothing you can do. I'm linking with her, making my knowledge available to her. It'll be up to her..." The Doctor goes sub-vocal as he turns his attention back to Rose. Owen watches as he tries to help her. He doesn't understand everything that is happening, but he can see the results as her heartbeat and breathing stabilizes and her brain function increases. Every now and again, her breathing and heart rate stumbles as the Doctor relaxes a bit, but returns to normal rates as he concentrates. After a while, it seems like there are two heartbeats in tandem with each other at times, but they still falter when the Doctor relaxes a bit.

Suddenly, the Doctor pulls back, taking his hands away from her head. Looking at Owen, he says, "It's up to her now. I've shown her the way..." He staggers in fatigue.

Owen reaches to help the Doctor as he steadies himself. "Doctor..."

"I'm fine. ...Rose..." He turns back to Rose as her readings suddenly flat-line. He takes her hand, crying, "Rose!"

Owen says, "I can use the defibulator..."

"No. That would do more harm than good..." Owen nods in acceptance.

The Doctor turns back to Rose, urging, "Rose! ...You can do it!" He grabs her arms, shaking her as he urges her to fight for her life. "Come on! ...Rose! You haven't let anything stop you before! ...Don't let it stop you now!" After a final shake, she suddenly gasps, drawing in much needed oxygen. He draws her in close, relieved as he realizes that she is breathing on her own again. He hugs her as tightly as he can, not even realizing that it is too tight as she starts to feebly struggle to get loose.

"Doctor?" Owen says as he tries to loosen his hold on her a bit. "Doctor, you're... She can't breathe, Doctor. Let go a bit."

"What?" Loosening his hold on her a bit at Owen's urging, Rose starts sucking in air as she finds herself able to breathe again. Chagrinned, he adds, "Sorry..."

"Doctor, just let me check her over..." Owen starts to check all of the monitor readings. Everything is moving into a normal range for a Timelord.

As she becomes aware of the world around her again, the Doctor kisses her on the forehead. Helping her to sit up, he keeps a hand on her arm in support. His eyes shine with unshed tears of relief.

"Welcome back! How do you feel?" he asks, smoothing her hair, his hand trembling with emotion.

"I feel… fine. I feel fine," she answers, smiling and looking into his eyes.

"If I might break in?" asks Owen as he steps over to check on her physically.

"Huh?" says the Doctor, "Oh, right."

Owen continues, "You've been through a lot. Everything's stabilized on the monitors. I just want to do a non-technical exam to confirm to myself that you're fine. I also need to pull a genetic sample." He starts to do a thorough, old-fashioned physical exam. A few moments into the exam, Owen comments as he indicates the raised area surrounding the bay, "You do realize that you've got an audience?"

Glancing up, the Doctor smiles as he says, "You might as well join us, Mai. Everything's fine." Mai Li joins them, giving Rose a hug that is returned with interest.

Quietly, Mai Li says, "I was so worried. ...Especially when the Doctor wouldn't let me stay."

"Rose," Owen says, "I'm sorry to interrupt, but I need you to lie down while I scan you."

Rose lies back down while she continues her conversation with Mai Li. "It was touch and go for a bit, Mai," Rose replies quietly as she holds her hand, comforting her. "The Doctor just wanted to make sure that I had no distractions at the end. He knew that I hadn't had a chance to learn everything that I needed to know. He... he showed me how at the end. I... needed his help, Mai. I couldn't have... I didn't even know what I needed his help with until the end. I'm sorry you weren't part of it, but he was right... having you in the link would have been distracting. But, you're here now and I'm glad you're here."

"Ok, Rose, if you would like to sit up again?" As Owen helps her to rise, a tendril of energy escapes from her lips.

"What the…?" he says as he sees it. "What was that?"

Confused, Mai Li asks, "Doctor?"

"It's okay, Mai," Rose says as she follows the wisp of energy with her eyes as it dissipates. "I've seen this before."

Smiling, the Doctor says, "Owen, her cells are bursting with energy from the process. It's a lot like what happens when I regenerate. …It was a similar process after all. However, she needs rest."

"How much?"

"Regeneration needs about fifteen hours for the residual energies to subside. I would recommend at least that much down time."

"And what about you?"

"Personally I would recommend a day."

"No, Doctor, what about you?" Owen repeats, smiling at his misunderstanding.

"What?"

"I know you had to 'expend energy' as well, trying to help her. How long do you need to recover?"

"I'm fine. I haven't expended nearly the energy she has."

"I'll be the judge of that. I'm giving you time off too – to sleep." Turning back to Rose, he adds, "Rose, I don't really want you to go home yet, but you don't need to stay here, in medical. If you would like, you can rest in the guest room… He can go with you, but no…" Owen says, referring to the Doctor. "I know you two haven't done anything yet because the sexual tension between you two is palpable, but you can't shag each other yet."

"Owen!" the Doctor says, raising his voice in warning. "There is a child in the room. You will remember that in future and control your language!" Returning to the topic of him and Rose, he adds, "The choice of when we decide to consummate our love is between us and does not concern you!"

Rose touches the Doctor's arm lightly to get his attention. "Doctor, you don't have to be afraid to touch me any longer."

"We'll talk about it later," he replies quietly. "Right now, you need to sleep. I'll walk with you to the guest room. You'll be more comfortable there. …Mai, you're welcome to come with us," the Doctor says. "We don't want to give them anything to gossip about anyway."

"Rose, I'll be able to check on you in there. I also want you to continue to wear the sensor, at least for now."

Ready to leave medical, Rose starts to get off of the examination table. The Doctor steadies her a moment as she hops down. "Not so fast!" he says, smiling.

Testing her muscles, she says, "Everything's a bit stiff."

"That's part of why you need to rest," the Doctor says, smiling at her. "Come on. You'll feel better after you get some sleep."

He leads her to the guest room, settling her into the double bed that is there. Mai Li climbs into the bed with her, cuddling close. The Doctor sits on the other side of the bed, holding her hand.

Owen says as he comes in, seeing Rose and Mai Li settled in the bed, "Get some sleep, Rose. You've been through a lot in the past day. We're all glad you're over everything. Mai Li will probably sleep better too, though she should eat something first."

"But I'm not..." Mai Li protests.

"I'll send Ianto in with something for everyone," Owen says, smiling. "You need time together now." Looking to the Doctor, he adds, "Doctor, go ahead and take care of Rose..."

"Don't I get a say?" Rose asks, sitting as she watches, sitting up again in the bed. All of a sudden, she lapses into sleep, falling back onto the bed. Owen starts to head for Rose to check her.

"I was wondering when that would kick in," comments the Doctor. Owen frowns and looks at him in disbelief. "Dropping off to sleep, like she just did, is a… I guess you would call it a 'self-protective'… function of our biology. It forces us to rest right after we've regenerated. She'll be fine after she gets some sleep."

"You could have told me!" Owen complains.

"That's why I gave you the timeframe that I did," the Doctor responds. "If at all possible, we need to let her sleep herself out." He gets up so that he can tuck her in, touching her brow as he finishes. "She's only sleeping, Mai." He reaches to cup Mai Li's face in his hand in reassurance.

Owen reassures himself on Rose's condition and then says, "I can use the bunk in the lab. You three need some time alone. Besides, there's only the one bed in here."

The following morning, Gwen finds them in the guest room, sleeping as she turns on the light. The Doctor opens his eyes as the light comes on. "What time is it?" he asks quietly, stretching as he wakes up and gets out of the bed.

"Just before nine. Coffee's started."

"Let's let them sleep. I'll join you in the kitchen. Owen's in the lab, at least that's where he said he would be." He leaves the room, turning out the light as he leaves.

"So, what happened?" she asks as she pours coffee.

"Yeah," Ianto says as he walks in, "what happened?" He continues over to the coffee pot and helps himself.

"The changes are complete. Rose is still sleeping – and I want her to sleep herself out."

Owen walks into the kitchen, grabbing a cup of coffee as he tries to wake up. "Rose is still asleep?" he asks.

"Yes," the Doctor replies. "And, before you ask, both of her hearts are beating normally."

"I still want to check her over. …I just need to wake up first." He grabs a cup of coffee to take with him as he leaves.

Later that morning, the Doctor enters medical, saying, "I just checked on Rose and she's still sleeping. I'll get you a report of everything that happened."

"I've already written it. Doctor… you weren't the attending physician. I don't need your report." They look at each other.

"I've still got to send one to the high council. They wanted to know when the change completed. I'll give you a copy when I send it." Considering what it means that Rose is now biologically a Timelord, he adds, "Oh! I'm going to have to get you up-to-date on Timelord biology. It hasn't been all that important up to now, but…"

"Doctor, why do you think I've been asking about your biology? You keep putting me off. I'm just glad that you haven't gotten sick."

"And we won't – part of having travelled in the Tardis."

Throwing his hands up in the air, Owen exclaims, "Now you tell me! Doctor, neither one of you talks much about yourselves. We're left guessing… You may be able to regenerate – at least you've mentioned that – but what about injuries that are less severe? I'm your doctor! I need to know at least the basics! So why all of a sudden?"

"Because Rose… When we…"

"Because her parents want grandchildren?"

"Yes…"

"And how are you with that?"

"I… don't know. I… really… just …don't know. I just think it's going to be sooner rather than later." When Owen looks at him in query, the Doctor continues, "Rose showed me an image of our daughter when I asked her to marry me."

Surprised, Owen asks, "She what?"

"She saw something when I asked her to marry me. She shared it with me." He talks to himself a bit as he mulls over what Rose showed him that evening. "There is no way she could be anyone else's - not with that mop of brown hair – and she looks just like her..." The Doctor smiles at the memory of what she shared with him. "She's not a definite, but she is probable. I'm ...actually, I'm still not certain what to think about it yet."

"Okay, now you're losing me…"

"You are aware that we see time, right?" When Owen nods, the Doctor continues, although he does not explain any more of what Rose showed him. "Well, she saw something. She shared it with me when she accepted my proposal.

"Owen, when my homeworld died, I lost everything… home… friends… family. I don't know how well I could cope with losing it all again. But… for her… family is so important. I want her to be happy. Part of that, for her, means children."

"Talk to her. I think you'll find that the idea of children confuses her, too."

"Actually, no, I don't think it does. She understands the shape that the future needs to take. That's what she showed me."

"And that is?"

Entering medical, Rose joins the conversation, saying matter-of-factly, "The Timelords must be re-established in our home universe."

"Rose!" the Doctor exclaims as he scoops her up into his arms, hugging her as tightly as he can and spinning her around.

The others have followed Rose to medical as they noticed that she had wakened and left the bunk room. When they see him hug her, they start clapping, continuing on into medical to hug them as well.

"What do you think Mum would say to sometime around Easter?" Rose asks him.

Flustered, the Doctor replies, "I… ummm… I think… I think she'd be overjoyed."

"Doctor?" Rose asks, smiling as she realizes that she has succeeded in putting him off balance.

"What?" he asks, confused. Several of the others start chuckling as they notice the Doctor's discomfiture. They have not seen him at such a loss for words before. Realizing where the conversation is going, Owen starts to herd the others out of medical.

Rose continues, "We promised my mum that we would pick a date by her birthday, remember?" He nods. "I know Easter is a bit soon, but with the twins due about June, it'd be easier on her."

"You're right, but I was a bit more concerned with other things." He gently kisses her forehead. "Would you like to tell your mother? She's probably already got a designer picked out for the dress."

Laughing, Rose replies, "She probably does. I'd better call her now, considering everyone here already knows."

"I can call her!" Mai Li pipes up from the top of the stairs, where she has been listening in.

Laughing, Rose tells her, "No, Mai, it should be me. That way, if she has any questions I can answer them."

They leave medical, going into the main part of the hub to make the call. They ask the others to stay quiet while they talk to her mother. Jackie is overjoyed at the news. She has been checking on locations and dressmakers already with an Easter date in mind. She tells them to come for Sunday dinner, bringing the gown that Rose wore New Year's Eve. She'll be setting up an appointment with the designer for the following day. They can return home after.

A few minutes after they hang up with her, the phone rings. Pete is on the other end. He tells them that Jackie has already called him with the updates. He also asks for a copy of the medical reports on Rose as he has been updated on Rose's recent medical history as well. He sets up a meeting for the Doctor for that Monday while Rose is busy with her mother.

After the phone calls are complete, Owen sends them both home, telling them that they are not to return to the hub until the following Tuesday.

When they get home, they start making dinner, taking any opportunity to interact with each other. They eat dinner then go into the living room to relax with each other and watch a bit of television. They are sitting on the sofa; Rose curled up beside the Doctor, her head against his shoulder and his arm around hers. Mai Li is sitting on the other side, cuddling before she goes to bed for the night.

"I want to ask Rianna to stand as a bride's maid," Rose says suddenly.

"What?" the Doctor says, surprised. "I'm sorry. It's your choice of course. We should probably ask as soon as possible. Fittings for a dress should be no problem."

"I know," Rose says, smiling. "Besides, I would love to see the look on Mum's face when she sees her," she continues, chuckling by the time she finishes.

"I also want to ask Sarah Jane to stand as matron." Seeing the surprised look on the Doctor's face, she explains, "She's alive here. She survived the Cybermen. She helped me at a time that I really needed it. I've kept in touch. I've posted at least a note or a card even when I've been busy. She deserves the honor.

"She's got a daughter, here, Doctor, about the same age as Mai. They could both be in the wedding party. Sarah Jane was married here, but her husband was killed in an accident. She remembers her time with you fondly. I can set up a meeting if you'd like. I've told her a little about you – the way you are now."

"I didn't realize she was alive here too. Of course, I'd like to meet her and her family. And if you want her at your wedding, I would be honored as well." He kisses her lightly on the cheek, hugging her.

"Mai," the Doctor says, "I know you want to cuddle with Rose, but it's getting late and I need to speak to her privately for a bit."

Smiling Mai comments, "So, are you going to shag…"

"Mai! That is not your concern!" the Doctor shouts. "That particular choice is between Rose and me. When the time is right we'll do what couples do. And we'll do whatever we do in private as that particular act concerns only us."

Rose adds, taking the sting out of the Doctor's admonishment, "Mai, what the Doctor is saying is that whether we have sex or not is up to us and will be at a time of our choosing. We don't need anyone taking bets on when we'll decide to finally make love to each other. Besides," Rose adds, teasing the Doctor, "I don't think the Doctor's done running away from sexual entanglements yet." The Doctor turns toward Roses with a look of astonishment on his face that is laughable.

"So, if I go up to bed, maybe he'll stop running?" Mai Li asks, far too innocently as she gets up to leave.

"I don't know, Mai," Rose says. "But I can hope. Now, it's late, so off to bed with you."

She turns her face back to the Doctor after Mai Li is finally out of sight, inviting another kiss. He places his finger on her lips, saying as he smiles, "Your lips are still far too inviting, my love. Please, let me court you in my own way."

"But…"

"Rose, we have time. Please respect my wishes in this. There are things I need to teach you… about our customs and history. And quite frankly, I've got to teach Owen about our physiology – including genetics and obstetrics, what little there is on that. I want you there for that training as well. …That's part of what's on the data crystals."

"What – the data crystals in the box in the hub?"

"Yes. They sent copies of educational materials, both basic and advanced. In fact, they sent copies of our cultural database also – music, art, theater – that is as much a part of who we are as is our science and engineering."

"Because I was raised as a human."

"…Yes… And they have accepted you as one of us. So… that means an education too… to bring out your full potential. They wanted to admit you to the Academy as a student, but you wouldn't have agreed."

"No, I wouldn't have. I have things to do here – like protecting the Earth."

"And… you were able to present a master work that was far in advance of much of what students in the Academy have done, showing that although your education was irregular, it was exceptional, so I'm supposed to fill in the gaps.

"I've set up a program to translate the less sensitive portions of the records into English, that way the others can learn what they need to, but you are going to need to learn Gallifreyan." Smiling at her, he continues, "And no peeking." She opens her mouth to protest when he taps her nose with his finger, then closes it again, realizing that he is teasing her, but still making a point.

"I'll start teaching you tomorrow. You should have enough of the language in… oh… three or four weeks to be able to start thinking in it. We'll use it exclusively except when dealing with others." She looks at him askance. "You will also learn the symbology so that you will be able to read it. That will be slower, but you will end up able to read the technical manuals on your own then."

"Do I get to learn Gallifreyan, too?" pipes up Mai Li from the top of the stairs, outside of her bedroom.

"I knew she didn't protest enough about going to bed," Rose comments quietly to the Doctor as she suppresses a smile.

"If I tell you yes, Mai, will you actually go to bed?" the Doctor asks. "Or will you continue to eavesdrop, hoping that you'll see something?"

Mai Li's face reddens because she was hoping to see something. Chastised, she replies, "I'll go to bed. I'm sorry." She finally goes into her bedroom.

After a few moments, Rose gets up from where she is sitting and looks up toward the top of the stairs. Seeing that Mai Li has actually gone to bed finally, she says, "She's in bed. Now we can talk."

Nodding, he replies quietly, "Yes, we can talk for a little while and then you can get some sleep."

"But I feel fine."

"I know you feel fine, but you're still not a hundred percent and you won't be for a few days yet. Completing your transformation was traumatic for you – you nearly died! So you will excuse me if I want you to be careful for a bit!"

Surprised and taken aback at his admission, she says, "I… I'm sorry. I didn't know I scared you that much."

"That's not important right now –"

"Yes it is. Just because you don't want to talk about it doesn't mean it's not important. Whenever something happens that impacts your feelings, you say it's 'not important' or that you're 'okay' even when it's not alright. Doctor, you tend to forget how long I've known you."

"Rose…"

"No! This time you're going to listen to me! I'm tired of waiting for you to make up your mind so I'm going to lay a few ground rules for us."

"But…"

"No, Doctor, I've listened to your rules and even agreed with them once you've explained your reasoning to me. This time you're going to listen to me for once." The Doctor gets ready to protest again, so she continues before he can get a word in edgewise. "Doctor, you'll be able to agree to these rules with no problems, so hear me out.

"First, I'm willing to wait until after we marry to make love to you. I know you came from a different culture and I'm okay with waiting. It's not easy, mind you, but I can live with it on the condition that we will love each other – in every way – once we are married.

"Second, as your wife, I will be your equal. You will at least listen to what I have to say and not make decisions that affect us both unilaterally. I have ideas that work as often as you do, and at times my ideas have worked better.

"That's all I wanted to say. Can you live with that? Because, if you can't, let me know now. I can always go back to London…"

Swallowing, the Doctor responds as he stands and takes her into his arms, "You're right, I can live with your rules. They're not unreasonable at all. They're actually very compassionate as I have been autocratic – especially recently."

"Then talk to me! Don't hide it! I know you've been concerned about the changes I went through, but I think they were worth it. You never talk about the Time War – and I know you still have nightmares about it, at least since Gallifrey."

"I didn't…"

"…realize that I'd noticed?" He nods. "Doctor, I've noticed more than you think I have. Please, talk to me about it. I can understand that you're afraid of losing everything again, especially as we've grown closer, but I want to help you to understand that life goes on. The Time War is in the past. You can't heal fully until you accept that and move past it. I want to help you with that.

"Besides, Romana told me that she included a copy of the scans they did of our memories. I haven't had a chance to check them out, but I plan to if you won't talk to me."

"Rose, please understand…"

"Doctor, I understand some of what you went through. You took me to the end of the Earth, remember? I've helped to stop the Daleks when I could. I helped to stop the stars from going out – because of the Daleks. I would do anything to keep you from having to live through any part of the Time War again, but I know that that would be wrong. So, instead, I want to help you to heal, to realize that you don't have to go it alone any more."

"Rose, you've done so much to help me already…"

"You need a family, my love. I'm willing to give you that."

"I know…" He smiles. "Even Mai has helped. Bringing her into our lives was a very good move on your part. I've gotten a chance to see…" He kisses her lightly on the forehead. "…to see what type of mother you will be to our children."

"Then, you're willing to be a father again?" Rose asks quietly.

"Yes… But please give me a chance to get used to the idea. When you showed me the image of our daughter, I nearly panicked. But now, I find I can't imagine not getting to know her. But, enough of that for now." He kisses her lightly again. "You need to sleep."

"But I slept all day."

"I think you'll find that you're able to sleep more," he says as he cups her chin in his hand and kisses her on the forehead. "I need to start writing a report. Good night."