Just think the day I actually finished a chapter I couldn't post it because was down wah!
The meaning of 'TALA' Will be revealed in good time.
SAVE ME FROM MARTHA BEING MENTIONED ON AND IN EVERTHING! PLEASE! I'm calm now, I'm calm.
Chapter 21: You're the tack inside my shoe! I can do without you!
"Theta you have to leave her with Jack just for a few minutes."
"Why?"
"Because you have to." Rose was at the moment trying to drag her husband away from their daughter.
"What if something happens to her?"
"Nothing will."
"She might need us…"
"For God's sake we're only going to get something to eat!" She was just as much attached to their daughter as the Doctor; she forcibly grabbed his collar and dragged him from their daughter's cot. This was the first week their daughter had been tin the cot, after a week in the incubator the TARDIS allowed them to put her in her own room. "That wasn't so hard was it?" They reached the kitchen quickly.
"Frosties, Froot Loops, fruit bars, cornflakes, shredded wheat, shredded wheat bite size, cheerios, honey nut cheerios, crunchy nut cornflakes, shreddies, rice crispies…"
"Theta…" Rose warned him. He was deliberately calling out every single breakfast cereal on Earth, and then he'd probably go onto others in the galaxy. "Cornflakes will be fine." He flashed her a grin, he pulled out two bowls and poured the cornflakes, he then handed her a bowl. Rose couldn't stand milk on her breakfast.
"I think she's the cutest time lady of them all. She must take after her mother." He kissed her temple.
"You know mum'll want to see her granddaughter again." Theta gave her a look of horror. He'd only just managed to get rid of her after a whole week of Jackie Tyler breathing down his neck.
"Oh fun!" He mumbled sarcastically. "More – 'this is how you change a nappy', 'this is how you burp her', 'you're feeding her wrong' or the worst 'this is how you hold a baby'. Did it look like I didn't know what I was doing?" Rose laughed at him.
"She can be very…overpowering." Theta squinted at him.
"That's not quite the word I would've used!" All Rose could imagine towards the end of her mother's stay was the Doctor and her mother singing 'I can do without you'.
"We'll have to see her, after all you say you would just to get her off the TARDIS." He grudgingly nodded. Rose turned away from him with a smirk on her face that proved she'd won.
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"I'm not going. No way do I want to be near your mother again!" Jack was clinging to one of the support struts in the TARDIS refusing to move.
"Jack…" Rose began.
"No I'm not going." He stamped his feet like a little child.
"Why don't either of you want to visit my mum?" Rose put her hands on her hips. The Doctor immediately absorbed himself in playing with their daughter. "Well?"
"She drove me up the wall!" Jack told her still not moving from the struts.
"And your excuse is?" She looked at her husband pointedly.
"Your mother has a damaging effect on people! I don't want my daughter exposed to it! See it proves it if Jack doesn't want to go." Rose sighed at the two overgrown babies in front of her. She pushed the hair that fell over her eyes out of the way. She walked over to the Doctor and lifted Tala out of his arms.
"Well we're going to see her aren't we Tala." Tala simply gurgled. Before Rose had turned around Theta was by her side.
"This can be classed as cruelty you know."
"Then why are you coming?"
"Someone has to protect our daughter from her."
"You're scared of her!" Rose tried not to laugh at the sheepish look that crossed his face. She wrapped an am around the back of his head and brought his lips down to meet hers, he rested his hands on her hips, not daring to move closer because of Tala safety, she softly moaned as his tongue met hers.
"You coming Jack?" Theta called back slightly breathless when they broke away.
"The day I'll come is the day hell needs central heatiiiiiiinnnnngggg!" Jack stumbled forward as the strut he held disappeared. Rose and the Doctor laughed at Jack who collided with the wall. "This is abuse you know that!" He grumbled to the TARDIS. He then followed the parents out of the door stopping to grab his coat on the way out. The trio slowly made their way up to the flat.
"How long are we staying for?" The Doctor asked Rose as they climbed up the steps.
"A few hours." She told him. "Did you pick up the baby things?" She asked suddenly.
"Yep." He patted the bag that was slung over one shoulder. Jack had to admit the Doctor did look weird as he 'never ever' did domestic. Well he still did protest but Jack was sure that was just for his appearance's sake. As they reached the last flight of steps Rose say Jack pulling his jacket higher.
"What are you doing?"
"Trying to prevent further injury." While Jackie had been in the TARDIS Rose had told her on no uncertain terms was she allowed to slap her husband, so every time Theta said something that upset Jackie the nearest male got it which happened to be Jack. The Doctor had enjoyed upsetting his mother-in-law as much as possible during the first few days, much to Jack's distress.
"You know it is a little warm Rose." Theta told Rose slyly as they reached the door.
"Must be all that central heating down below." The pair burst out laughing at that point. Jack moved past them and knocked on the door. As soon as the door opened Rose was swept into a hug by her mother, Rose had just in time managed to pass Tala to the Doctor, as soon as Jackie released Rose she took Tala from the Doctor. Theta immediately glared at Rose who shrugged her shoulders.
"Oh you're so beautiful aren't you?" Jackie cooed at her grandchild who looked at her as if she was mad, Jackie immediately forgot about the others as she turned on her heel and walked into the flat with Tala and Rose.
"I feel really sorry for my niece." Jack told the Doctor as he closed the door.
"So do I Jack. So do I."
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"Do you want a cup of tea?"
"You know Jackie we'd love to stay; but places to go people, to save, you know, no hard feelings…" Theta started scratching the back of his ear.
"We'd love to stay for a cup of tea mum." Rose gave the Doctor an angry glare. Jack gently patted the Doctor's back.
"Good try." Theta hung his head low before moving to sit next to Rose. Immediately he wrapped his arms around her, he bent and kissed her neck softly before letting his daughter wrap her hand round his finger. Rose smiled at him as he played with Tala.
"It's a good job the TARDIS healed your hand." Rose told him softly and he smiled at her. He leaned forward and rested his forehead on hers. Their moment was interrupted by Jackie walking back in and shoving a cups of tea in their hands. The Doctor scowled lightly before taking a sip of his tea. "I'll kill her Rose! I swear I will." He paused for a moment. "She can't regenerate can she?" Rose laughed and nudged him in the ribs.
"What's so funny?" Jack looked at the pair of them clearly confused.
"Tell you later." Theta told him, immediately Jack's eyes twinkled as he cottoned onto what the topic was, he sniggered and looked at Jackie evilly as a plan came into his mind involving his foot and the coffee table next to Jackie.
'Behave!' Rose whispered into the Doctor's mind.
'When have you ever known me not to?' He replied, still looking at Tala who had fallen asleep still clutching his finger.
"What have you three been up to lately?" Jackie asked them.
"Floating around in the Time Vortex." Jack told her quietly, not wanting to be noticed too much.
"See nothing dangerous." Theta gabbled out quickly, wincing as his mother-in-law narrowed her eyes at him.
"Mum, he won't do anything dangerous for the sake of our daughter."
"I'd never thought I'd see this day come, 'Mr Domestic'."
"Ouch!" Jack cried sympathetically, realising it was a low blow from Jackie.
"Hang on why didn't he ever do something safe for you?"
"Mum…" Rose began as Jackie walked over to him.
"You deliberately put my daughter's life at risk when she could've been safe all the time!" She yelled.
"You'll wake Tala!" Rose told her sternly. Theta tensed as he prepared himself for the inevitable Tyler slap. When it came the force made him jerk, causing Tala to wake at her arm being pulled. Truth be told Jackie's yelling had begun to rouse her. As soon as Tala began to scream, Rose stood and gently tried to send Tala back to sleep gently bouncing her as she did so. Rose began to sing gently a lullaby that she had picked up from Theta, it was an ancient Gallifreyan song but it was beautiful.
"Hush little one,
The day is done.
I'll hold you tight
And I'll make it right.
Go to your dreams
Full of bright sunbeams,
Complete with butterfly wings
Where a bright angel sings.
Sleep little one sleep,
And slip into a dream's keep." Rose repeated the song three times before Tala fell asleep in her mother's arms gently sucking her thumb. As she sat down she snuggled up to the Doctor. While Rose had been singing Jackie had calmed down but the Doctor and Jack didn't like the glint she had in her eye.
"So…" Jackie began gently, before dropping a bombshell on them. "When's Tala being christened?"
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Tea sprayed across the room, followed by choking noises from both the Doctor and Jack.
"What?" Rose asked, she hadn't been listening to her mother at all.
"She's not even a month old!" Jack exclaimed.
"What?" Rose tried again.
"She's old enough."
"What?" Rose was getting angry.
"That's not the issue, she's Gallifreyan!" Theta jumped in. Rose had had enough, she grabbed her husband's tie and yanked his head down to her level.
"If I have to say what once more…" The Doctor gulped before telling her.
"Your wonderfully compassionate and considerate mother has asked us when we're getting Tala christened."
"WHAT!" Tala began to stir once more, but a quick rocking from Rose sent her back to sleep. "Mum!" Rose hissed. "She's too young!"
"She needs to be officially presented to everyone!"
"She doesn't!" Jackie gave her daughter such a look that it made Rose shrink back. "Fine. If Tala's going to be christened it's going to be the Gallifreyan way."
"Rose please remember you're from Earth, she needs to be christened our way as well." Rose mumbled something in Gallifreyan. "And please speak our language as well!" She blushed as she realised what she'd done.
"I've been around you too much." Rose told her husband quietly.
"I'm not complaining." He grinned madly at her.
"Me neither." She smiled widely as he pressed a small kiss to her lips.
"Can we please get back to the christening?"
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"'Under no circumstance are you allowed to have an alien christening'." The Doctor mocked in a squeaky voice as they approached the TARDIS. "'You are from Earth and Tala was born on Earth that gives you priority'." He continued. "Who does your mother think she is?"
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Rose asked as they snuck into the TARDIS, interrupting Theta.
"You were the one who originally wanted to do it." Jack told her sternly as the Doctor grinned.
"But she could come back at any minute, if she finds us all in here she won't be happy." Rose told them. Jackie had popped down to the shops so this gave them the perfect opportunity to bless Tala.
"The Doctor can make up some excuse." Theta paled at Jack's words.
"Oh no I won't."
"Yes you will." Jack started to walk towards the Doctor.
"No!"
"Yes!"
"No!"
"Yes." Jack and the Doctor were standing nose to nose. They parted when Rose walked between them, taking Tala from him.
"Lets get this over with, yeah?" The two men nodded at her. "So," Rose spun and clapped her hands together. "What do we do?" Theta groaned and dropped his head into his hands, shaking it as he did so.
'Save me now.' He asked the TARDIS mentally.
"Stand there!" Theta pointed to a spot. Rose and Tala moved to where he pointed. "No there." She moved again. "Right a little." She moved a little to the right. "Right a bit more." She moved further. "Left, left, right a touch! Back a bit." Rose suddenly stopped moving.
"Are you enjoying this?" If she could Rose would've put her hands on her hips.
"Nope." He gasped out before laughing at the look on her face, "You look just…like you did…with Rose the…dog!"
"Rose is named after a dog?" Jack asked confused. Theta shook his head, still laughing.
"No, there was a dog called Rose in the place of our Rose in another universe." Jack absorbed the information before laughing as well.
"Can we get on with this?" Rose was getting angry.
"Yeah, sure." He moved to stand beside Rose; she hit him on the shoulder. "Ready." Rose nodded. Theta opened his mouth to speak. "Jack come on, you're her godfather." Rose snorted. "What?"
"Sorry…but can you just imagine Tala saying 'Uncle Captain Jack' or 'Captain Uncle Jack'." Jack looked at Rose with a glare that said 'drop it'.
"Ready?" The pair nodded. "TARDIS, I give you the Tala Alyssa Sigma, daughter of Theta Sigma and Rose Marion Sigma, also the niece of Captain Jack Harkness," Theta changed to a mumble, "And granddaughter of Jacqueline Andrea Suzette Tyler." He quickly began to speak clearly once more, "Guide her and protect for all of her days, be her constant companion and friend." A light shot out from the TARDIS and bathed Tala in a golden glow, Tala tried to reach up to play with the light. The light subsided after about a minute. Theta bent down and gently kissed his daughter's head. "See wasn't too bad was it?" He whispered softly.
"It's done?" Rose asked.
"Yep." He grinned wildly at her, before kissing her gently. "Come on, better get back before dear mother-in-law returns." He grabbed her hand and dragged her from the TARDIS. Rose stopped on the outside of the TARDIS to adjust Tala's blanket to make her warmer.
"Oh bugger." The familiar American accent screamed.
"What?" Rose asked.
"Jackie." Jack pointed to the end of the road, Jackie hadn't seen them yet.
"You know what?" The Doctor told them both."
"What?" Jack asked him.
"RUN!" With that they made a mad dash towards the flat before Jackie saw them.
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A week later a reluctant Rose Sigma and her husband were standing round the font of the local church. Reverend Helen Simmons and agreed to allow them to have the christening after the church service.
"What name have you given this child?" Theta stood there wearing a black pinstripe suit, while Rose next to him wore a navy blue trouser suit with a light blue strap top.
"Tala Alyssa Sigma." The Doctor told Reverend Simmons as she began to lower her hand into the water.
"Tala Alyssa Sigma, I baptise you in the name of the father," She splashed water on Tala's head. "the son," She wet her forehead once again. "And the holy ghost." The last splash of water was met with a raspberry sound coming from their daughter.
"Aw isn't it sweet! She takes after her dad!" Jack managed as Theta pulled a mock pout.
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Later that evening Jackie had rented the local church hall were they were having a party to celebrate Tala's birth. Most of Rose's family were there, including the few who didn't want to be involved with the wedding. The Doctor stuck to Rose's side like glue, Rose could tell he was fed up of being quizzed by her family, he'd even started naming them ridiculously 'Aunt Annoyingly-Nosey' and 'Uncle Bossy-mouth'. Most people came and admired Tala, 'she so cute Rose', 'was the birth difficult?', 'she's adorable' and 'Tala is an absolute angel' were the responses that were common. Everything was going well until Rose's Aunt came across to them.
"You must be proud of her Rose." Her Aunt Jennifer asked.
"I am." Rose turned to her husband. "We both are."
"Understandable really," Jennifer leaned a bit closer to Rose so the Doctor wouldn't hear. "Now about this whole shot gun wedding ordeal, how long did you actually know him before he knocked you up?"
"A year." Rose answered. She felt Theta's arm tighten around her waist, "And he didn't knock me up."
"Anything you say, dear." Jennifer looked at the Doctor fully for the first time. "I must admit he is a good catch, but you have to admit to yourself it isn't enough. You really only did get married because of the baby." Theta stood up.
"Jennifer, am I right?" She nodded. "Would you mind keeping your perverse ideas to yourself?" Jennifer looked shocked that he'd actually heard what she was saying. "In no way did I just marry Rose to make her an honest woman. I love Rose and our daughter so much you wouldn't believe, if you want to challenge that feel free, but I'm sure you'll regret it." Theta's voice was menacing as well as threatening. To add effect he leaned down and kissed Rose, out of the corner of his eye he saw Rose's Aunt Jennifer making a hasty retreat. When they broke apart Rose grinned tearfully at him.
"Thanks." She sniffed slightly.
"Your welcome." He gently rubbed her back.
"I think I'm going to go powder my nose." She told him, handing him Tala.
"I'll go…mingle," As she walked off she heard him singing, obviously trying to calm himself down. "In the garden you're the gofer in the Levi you're the loafer, like an over turned canoe I can do without you!"
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Rose soon came back from the bathroom to find her husband desperately trying to get away from Keisha and Shireen.
"You two look so cute." Keisha began.
"Its rare to find a man who cares so much about his own child." Shireen told him. The pair had no idea Rose was behind them, she was biting her lip trying not to laugh.
'Help me Rose!" Theta partly begged into her mind.
'Why?'
"You're so gentle with her…" Keisha continued.
'Because I'm suffering here.'
'They're only trying to get in now because they didn't get a chance before the wedding.'
'How is that helping me?' He screamed in her mind.
'You should be honoured.' Rose winced as Shireen's flirtatious laugh echoed in her ears.
'Rose!' He whined.
'Alright, but you owe me mister,' She heard him sigh. Rose coughed loudly. Keisha and Shireen whirled round to face her.
"Excuse me, I need to steal my husband away from your flirting." Rose gently lifted Tala from his arms pleasantly aware she was asleep.
"Rose we weren't flirting." Shireen told her as Shireen's nose turned red and Keisha's faced went pink. A sure sign they were caught.
"I understand, I really do. I mean you didn't get a chance before the wedding so you have to make up for lost time." Rose felt Theta wrap his arms around her waist and rest his chin on her shoulder.
"Rose…" Keisha began.
"BUT Theta is my husband," Rose's voice took on a warning tone, a tone that she had developed from being around Mr Flirt himself, Captain Jack Harkness. "And if you don't respect that or don't understand that, get out now," Keisha opened her mouth to speak. "Get out because how dare you try to take my husband away from me, don't think for an instant that I didn't hear everything."
"Sweetheart are you okay?" Jackie asked as she made her way over. Rose didn't realise she'd been shouting.
"I'm fine, just dealing with two girls who are trying to have Theta." Jackie's face turned to thunder; more than she'd ever expressed towards the Doctor.
"For ten years you have taken every boyfriend Rose has had, now she is married with a child of her own and you still try it! HOW DARE YOU!" Jackie began to yell. "Rose has never loved anyone as she does, and he would give his life for her, and you try to break their hearts. These two are perfect for each other, and unfortunately you two can't see past your lust clouded eyes. GET OUT! BOTH OF YOU GET OUT!" Keisha and Shireen looked at each other then Jackie. "DON'T EITHER OF YOU DARE COME NEAR ROSE EVER AGAIN." The room was silent as the rant went on, Keisha and Shireen left quickly in tears.
"Aw Jackie I never knew you cared." The Doctor told her before he actually hugged his mother-in-law. Jackie Tyler was like a kettle when the pressure got too much she let off steam, usually at the Doctor; while the pressure was low they got along. Unfortunately recently Theta had caught her once too often when she was ready to blow.
"Don't get used to it."
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"Hello." A voice behind him made him jump a foot in the air.
"Don't do that." He scolded.
"Do what?" Rose grinned at him in the dark.
"Where's Tala?"
"With Uncle Jack and my mum. I know this isn't easy for you." She told him solemnly.
"Its just hard…domestic…"
"I know you don't like domestic…" Theta turned and silenced her with a finger on her lips.
"Rose I've just never done domestic before, after 900 years I'm doing it for the first time, its strange."
"A challenge?" Rose supplied.
"Yea, I mean I've had a family before but I wasn't really 'there' if you understand."
"I know you were forced into marriage before but…" Rose paused.
"Rose, 'she' didn't want me around much and my children grew to resent me because of it, only Susan was a family to me before I met you and Jack, and as much as it pains me to say this…your mother." Rose smiled beautifully at him. "I just find the change hard to deal with."
"You were really rushed into this weren't you?" The Doctor nodded. "Well we couldn't have things to domestic, I mean we've already fought for our honour haven't we?" Theta laughed. "Remember the first's always the hardest."
"That's a myth!" He quickly pecked her on the cheek. "How about you and I…" He seductively pulled her closer to him. "Give your mum and Uncle Jack a bit of babysitting practice tonight."
"When you put it…" Rose stopped as a yawn took over her.
"You need sleep, I'll get up to her tonight." The Doctor told Rose. "Lets say our goodbyes and get the pair of you to bed." Rose nodded and let her self be led inside.
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"Do you have to go?" Jackie began whining as Rose tried to tear herself away from her mother.
"Yes, we'll be back before you know it." Jackie gave Rose a disbelieving look. "We won't be gone long, you know how restless he gets." Jackie nodded and smiled.
"Bring me back a present."
"Anything to get her to baby-sit," The Doctor whispered in Rose's ear. Jack scowled. "Oops." Theta smiled.
"Oh come here you!" Jackie gave him a hug, which he returned. She hugged Jack then her daughter. Jackie bent down to the bundle in Rose's arms and kissed Tala's forehead. "Be good." Rose gave Tala to the Doctor as he and Jack walked into the TARDIS.
"Bye mum, love you." She gave her mother a proper hug before turning back into the TARDIS.
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"Where are we going?" Jack asked as they landed.
"An asteroid." Theta winced slightly as he said it, fully realising where they were headed.
"And we are here because…" Jack gave him a questioning look.
"We need more baby supplies." Rose bounded into the control room having deposited her rucksack in her room.
"Are we there yet?" Rose asked as the Doctor began the sequence.
"Nope."
"Are we there yet?" She tried again.
"Not yet." Jack answered again.
"Are we there yet?"
"No," Jack watched the Doctor tense every time she asked.
"Are we there yet?"
"Will you stop asking that Rose?" Rose stopped. "Thank you." The TARDIS landed with a bump.
"Are we there yet?"
"ROSE!" Theta cried.
"Wasn't me!" Theta shook his head and turned to face Jack.
"JACK!" He tried again.
"Sorry couldn't stop myself." Jack chuckled. Theta walked to the doors and threw them back awkwardly as he was still holding Tala.
"Welcome to the biggest market in this galaxy!" He grinned; Jack and Rose chuckled and switched their phones one. Before Theta knew what happened they'd both vanished. He looked down at Tala. "At least there's still you and me," The only reply Tala gave him was a yawn. "Notes to self a) watch the two of them closely b) emphasize the golden rule – don't wander off." He stepped out of the TARDIS and locked the doors. He began to head off in the direction he might find Rose. "COMPANIONS!"
TBC
Next Chappie: Army of Ghosts
A/N: I 'think' there are about 5 more chapters to go until its finished woot!
Anyone know where I can get the 'Army of Ghosts' and 'Doomsday' transcripts, I don't want to burst into tears again. Normally I watch the eps and copy them down but I can't watch the start of Army of 'Ghosts' or most of 'Doomsday' before I sob.