A/N. Read, enjoy, review! :) Lost in Forever is coming next...
Previously…
"I'm afraid this happens to only be me, Jackie."
Rose didnotlook at Jackie. The Doctor looked only at Rose.
The female guest from another continent was ignored completely.
Jackie stared at the scene before her for a long while and finally, finally began to laugh.
Chapter Fourteen
Never Trust What You See
The moment she understood this was truly not an illusion of some kind, the older Tyler gave the Doctor a relieved look. "Thank God. I have honestly been worried for a second there!"
The Time Lord looked at her with a curious smirk, relieved no less. "Good! Before you ask, Jackie… Rose is completely safe with me."
Jackie rolled her eyes, having forgotten the Doctor was capable of doing that. She would have given him the exact question.
"She'd better be!"
Rose sighed, having expected this and suddenly glad they were not the only ones before Mum's judging eyes.
Jackie Tyler grew uncomfortable. Did she really need to give him the pointless question? Not quite. The Doctor's looks meant for her daughter have been self-explicatory long before their separation.
The Doctor grew serious. "I don't know if you realise the importance of this, Jackie. The seriousness of this connection Rose and I now share…"
"I do. My baby getting married is- a fantasy. Getting married without her mother knowing about it, though-" Jackie glared at her rebellious daughter, the look changing to one of concern the next moment… but it was very likely Rose missed it, anyway.
The mother – and a mother-in-law already, it seemed - had a very important question to give him. "Suppose it doesn't need saying, but- do you love her?" This question was meant for the Doctor no less than to his Rose or to Jackie's Australian friend… but he gaped at the woman at the open question, watching her almost mockingly.
The alien exhaled, not enjoying what looked like a questioning session. "You know the answer to that."
Rose tried to calm the Time Lord down in the way only bond mates could. The soft caress in his mind has caused him to grin at her. You are amazing, he sent her, a smile on his face, but the Doctor's distress she could feel without trying was almost painful. Rose, oh my Rose! Could you find a way, any way to free us of this?
The girl smiled shyly, just as in need to leave this pointless conversation, fluttering her eyelashes. "I think we should leave Mum and her friend to discuss whatever, John." Rose mused, having used the name on purpose. The seductive way she said it was, too, meant to have its effect. On the Doctor… and on the spectators.
The older Tyler shook her head, exasperated. "No, Rose. Although her Doctor's just the same," Jackie grimaced, remembering her friend for once. "It's rude to leave so early when the guest has only just arrived! Will you never learn?"
'Jess' looked at them understandingly. "Is her husband a doctor? How sweet. We haven't got a chance to chat with the sweethearts properly on the plane. Had I known she was your daughter, I'd have found a way to join them on the way to your estate-"
The two Time Lords shared a look. Jackie was looking at them, a quiet plea on her face. She needed to begin talking before the Doctor opened his mouth. She knew it was very likely the alien would only cause trouble with his rambling. "He is a doctor of science by education. Right, John?"
"Yes, I am a doctor of many things," he spoke with assurance, his tone implying that was the end of his explanation, his eyes once again only set on the equally uncomfortable Rose Tyler.
With Rose's mother, the Time Lord knew what to expect. Knew what could and could never be said in front of her. Had known, the Doctor corrected himself. Jackie's reaction to the drastic change in Rose's and his relationship was still unclear… but she seemed at least as uneasy about this situation as they were.
Soon, all three of them have learnt the discomfort was only to rise to new levels.
"I have never seen anyone as much in love before," the visitor spoke, throwing them both a very meaningful look. She means- Rose could not look at the woman without either blushing furiously or sending her one of the glares her mother was famous for.
Anyone as much in need of a quickie, she meant. I would much more likely have you in the bed with me for days. Not for fifteen – or is it less – minutes, the Gallifreyan rolled his eyes at Jackie's friend.
Jackie sent him a thankful look for having kept his mouth shut, even if his silence must have seemed strange for her friend. Jackie Tyler, too, could be good at making up creative almost-truths when the circumstances required it.
"They are so much in love it frightens me sometimes," the mother agreed with her friend Jessica. If she had understood the implied meaning heard in the tone of the woman's voice, she chose to ignore it. It seemed every look Rose and the Doctor shared was somehow furthering her from her child… but there was nothing to be done about it.
Rose cleared her throat. "This has been a tiring journey for both of us, Mum. Could we have some rest, at least?"
"Of course. But not for long."
Jackie's friend shook her head the moment they were inside the enormous house. "Your Rose has already slept for many hours on the plane, let me tell you," she giggled good-naturedly. "If it weren't for your son-in-law, who was fully awake whenever I laid my eyes on him- I'd say they're off for a shag."
The Tyler-woman was suddenly furious. "This is my family you're talking about!"
"Yeah, sorry. Old habits die hard, Jacks. Anyway… are you sure Rose won't get a heart-attack, wearing the warm dress in the heat as it is?"
Jackie eyed her friend warily, her words certain. "The Doctor- I mean, John… I'm sure he wouldn't have allowed my daughter put this on if he would as much as have thought this thing had the smallest risk to make Rose unwell."
Jessica's eyes were still full of disbelief. This has made Jackie even more uneasy. "I'll go ask her myself, if my girl's health worries you so much." Even saying it, the Tyler woman could see her friend couldn't care less. She seemed to have become someone else over the years, someone she did not recognise. It must have only been her imagination, and yet… With that uncertain thought in her mind, she entered the house. Jackie was not surprised to find them in the room closest to the entrance, snogging.
She cleared her throat. "Is this all you have come here for?"
Rose's eyes widened.
The Time Lord chortled. "This storage room is not exactly fit for anything else."
Jackie was suddenly ashamed. "Yes, I can see that. Jess is worried your dress – she eyed her daughter meaningfully – is a great deal too warm for this weather, and I thought-"
Rose shared a look with the Doctor. Ordinary people were not supposed to notice these things. "This is my wedding dress!"
"It is," Jackie agreed, never doubting it. "You seem perfectly comfortable wearing it, too." Not a drop of sweat on her face, not a single trace of it being unbelievably hot outside. "Some sort of alien technology, is it?"
Let her believe what she wants. "Yes." Rose's lips curled into a smile.
The mother was suddenly struck with a realisation. "A wedding dress… when have you married her, Doctor?"
"Today, as a matter of fact," he smirked, sending Rose an amorous look which was returned at once.
Jackie gaped at them, feeling excited all of a sudden. "Oh! Oh! This changes things! We must get wine and champagne, and I must put on my best dress-"
She remembered her friend. "Jessica must have brought something fit for the occasion as well, if not, I'll get her something of mine- something should fit her!"
"Send her away," the Doctor spoke, a haunting certainty in his voice.
"Jessica? Why?!"
Rose glared at him. "What the Doctor means is your friend should be the one getting all the alcohol for the celebration," the look she sent him was suddenly pleading for cooperation.
Jackie could not understand. "But she's our guest! Surely, our driver could-"
It was Rose who answered. "Tell her you trust she would choose the best beverages for the occasion. Tell her you have no way to leave. Have to teach me the ways of married life," she grimaced. "For God's sake, ask Al to get her to the most expensive dress shop around. Do whatever, Mum." She knew her new nature was nowhere as strong as it would become a few days from now… but risking it now, in the place so unlike the home she remembered, would have been unjustifiably foolish.
"Rose… is there something wrong with how she'd behaved with you on the plane? I could make sure she apologised, if you'd like-" she was living on the other side of the planet, after all-
The Doctor shook his head, his voice firm. "Jackie. You should probably go convince your friend to get us the drinks – the dress, if need be – but she cannot stay.
The Jessica woman was clever… cleverer than Jackie, cleverer than any human around – and she knew much more about them than anyone. That was dangerous. Both for him and for Rose. Rose, who had the invisible mark of a newly-born Time Lady on her still.
"I still don't see- If you're afraid she would sell some juicy information to the tabloids-"
And what sort of information that would be! Not that anyone would believe in this woman. If they would, well… A flight back could easily be planned in a few days, anyway. Besides, they have given enough food for rumours… and photos! with their passionate outburst today.
Jackie still lingered. "I am not that stupid, Doctor. Who is she?"
The Time Lord grabbed Rose by the hand. If anything, they would get through this together.
"Jessica Seaweed, they call her. She's the one looking for newly-born aliens. Torchwood would love her," he grimaced.
The mother paled, thinking out loud. "You are not the one she's interested in, with your nine hundred years…"
He nodded swiftly. "Rose? !"
Another nod.
Jackie looked at her daughter. Rose's eyes were full of tears.
"My baby!" With that, she stormed out, paying no attention to the Time Lord.
The moment Donna has faced Martha again, it was late. If she had been brought to tears at some moments of the film, the traces of it were hidden well. Almost-losing each other must have been the darker side of their adventurous life.
"Hey," Martha greeted the ginger, feeling like getting into a conversation.
"Hello," she replied darkly, suddenly glad she had no husband or lover to cry over. How have they survived this? The world seemingly only determined to separate the Doctor and his Rose, for good?" Donna sighed heavily, seemingly admiring the two even more now.
"You have finished watching the footage, I take it? How was it?"
"It was meant for you to see. You refused to, and I would not dare to ask the TARDIS to put it up again," Donna spoke dryly, her eyes void of emotion. The clever vessel had to conserve her energy to eventually get the inexplicably jealous Martha back to deal with her studies, after all. Perhaps she should return to her home universe as well.
All of a sudden, the fiery human could not bear the thought of staying on board the ship for a second longer. It was late, but not dark outside yet. Some places – even shops, maybe – still had to be open. "I am going out."
"You will be fried in all the heat out there!" Martha warned her.
"I love the heat. Love the sun, Love travelling to new places!" Need to clear my mind from all the sadness. The following words have left her mouth without a thought. "Want to join me?"
"You mean 'let's get lost in Africa together?'" Martha's eyes sparkled with careful excitement.
"I'm sure we could find Rose's mobile number in the TARDIS, in case we lose our way."
The dark-skinned companion averted her eyes, glaring at the wall. "Why not the Doctor's?"
That was exactly the reaction Donna had been expecting from her. "The TARDIS number, sure thing," she grimaced. "The Doctor's, though… Maybe you still have it?"
"I think so," Martha grinned. Of course she had it. "Does he keep phone numbers of everyone in some magical phone-book of his?"
"I'm fairly certain he has Rose's number memorised," the ginger could not miss an opportunity to tease the young almost-doctor.
A/N. This chapter has ended up longer than anticipated... :) I hope that's a good thing! Your opinions are always very welcome!