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"My guess is if you weren't in a uniform you'd be the best of friends by now. I'm also guessing that you are proud of that uniform and are likely to defend it. My hope is, in time you both will see past your differences. Take it from me, he's worth the effort. John is an extraordinary man. You won't find a kinder or more selfless person in the universe." "Sounds like you have a very special relationship." She laughed "One of a kind."
Chapter 24 Green Eyed Monster
There were mothers coming to the playground to call their children in for supper. Alice was having a wonderful time. Mary's mother came over to Rose and the Captain, gesturing to the girls. "Looks like two peas in a pod. I'm Louise, Mary's mother." Louise was a lovely woman in her late twenties. Tall, dark hair and clear blue eyes.
Rose took an instant liking to her she couldn't explain. "Nice to meet you Louise, I'm Rose Smith and that's my daughter Alice. The girls seem to be best friends already." They were both watching the girls play. Louise didn't want to break it up. Mary was a shy child and didn't make friends easily.
But it was supper time. "Mary, time to come in now." The girl looked up to see her mother and came running. Alice followed behind. "Mary, look at your clothes. You're full of sand." The little girl looked down at the ground, melting her mother's heart. She kneeled and gave her daughter a hug. "Did you have a good time?"
Mary looked up with a smile. Yes mommy, we had a great time building a castle, and tomorrow we are going to make a mote and a stable for horses!" Louise was happy for her daughter, and stood to speak with Rose. "Will we see you and Alice tomorrow Rose?" Rose nodded, "I hope so." "Let's go Mary. You need a bath before dinner. Nice to meet you Rose."
They walked away hand in hand. Mary telling her mother all about her new friend. Alice grabbed Rose's hand and tugged. "Momma can we come back tomorrow?" "We'll have to ask your father, but I don't see why not. You should tell him how much fun you had today."
Rose looked up at the captain. "I think we need to head back home now. It's time for Alice's nap." "Of course Mam. I'd be happy to escort you." The Captain offered Rose his arm as they walked back to the path in the trees. Alice was falling behind, almost asleep on her little feet. He picked her up and carried her the rest of the way. Rose was surprised how well Alice had responded to the him. She slept on his shoulder until they reached the house.
Once inside Rose offered to take her. "No need to wake the little filly. Just point me in the right direction. Rose smiled and led him upstairs to Alice's room. He gently laid her down on the bed without waking her. Rose put a blanket over her and kissed her forehead. They crept out and closed the door.
Rose looked up at the Captain, "Poor little thing. She's had quite a day." Once downstairs they went to the kitchen. "I insist on making you that cup of tea. Can you spare the time?" "Well I should be getting back," The look of disappointment on Rose's face changed his mind, "But another few moments won't hurt." She brightened immediately and began to make the tea.
"Captain, Where are you from originally? That's an American accent isn't it?" "Yes Mam. My family is from Houston Texas. That's an English accent you're sporting right?" "Yes. Until five years ago I lived in London. That's when I met John.
You mentioned you were a family man Captain. Will we be meeting your wife soon?" His face clouded and she could sense pain. "No Mam. My wife Sarah and our son Mark, died in a crash two years ago. I took on this job to, well, keep busy, if you know what I mean.
Lots to do on a colony ship. It took us a plumb year to get here" The tea kettle started to whistle and Rose got up to turn it off and pour the tea. "I'm so sorry Captain. I thought you had a talent with children." "Well, they tell me life must go on. It was hard at first but I have come to terms with it. I help out at the school when I can. I coach baseball. That's a great group of kids."
They talked about the hopes of the colony and why they had come. When he had finished his tea, he got up to leave. "It's been a most enjoyable day, but I really need to get back to the barracks." He smiled as he looked around the house and noticed the Tardis. A quizzical look came on his face, but he didn't ask. "Good evening Mrs Smith. I hope to see you again soon."
She watched him as he disappeared into the woods. "What a tragic story." Rose went back upstairs to check on Alice. She was still sleeping so Rose decided to have another cup of tea. On her way down the door flung open and the Time Lord came in. He looked at her as if he had been away for days.
When she reached the bottom of the stairs he grabbed her and held her tight. "What is it? What's wrong? Is there something wrong at the colony?" He shook his head and looked at the floor. "No, nothing's wrong with them."
He paused, The captain's scent, still in the air, driving him further into despair. "I couldn't concentrate when you left the tent with MacAbee. I couldn't breath. After the meeting broke up I ran all the way home. I love you Rose." He held her even tighter.
"Sweetheart." She tried to reassure him. "It's ok, I'm right here." He released her and stepped back to look at her again with such longing in his eyes, pleading, "I..., I need you Rose, Please..." He picked her up and went upstairs to the bedroom, closing the door behind him, laying her gently on the bed.
She could see the desire in his eyes, and something else. Was it fear, no, desperation. She let him undress her and watched as he removed his clothes. He touched her so gently, it was as if she were fragile and might break. He kissed her slowly, as if it were for the last time.
Studying her body, commiting to memory every pour. Leaving no place left untouched or unloved. He was looking in her eyes as he entered her, just to see her reaction. To prove to himself that she was his, and his alone!
After that, something in him took over, and he left love and reason behind.
Unable to stop the emotions, he took her with reckless abandon. Using her body to sooth a pain he couldn't understand or control. Crying out her name in ownership.
When it was over he held her close and there were tears in his eyes.
He had never been so possessive before. She would never tell him, but there would be bruises the next day. Rose was frightened. Not of him, but of the powerful emotion that she knew must have prompted this reaction.
She wiped the tears from his face with her hand. He wouldn't look at her. He knew what he'd done and was ashamed. "Sweetheart. Please tell me what's wrong." He hesitated, unable to find the right words. Finally, looking at her with sad, red, pleading eyes. "I feel as if I'm going to lose you and I can't bear it. I can't live without you Rose." He held her close to ease his pain, then released her as if he had no right to be there.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, I couldn't stop. Did I hurt you? Please, please forgive me! I'd rather die than hurt you!" he begged, knowing what he had done, had come very close to rape. She gathered him into her arms to comfort him. "My darling you will never lose me. It's alright, you didn't hurt me. There's nothing to forgive. I love you."
Rose tried to bring him out of himself. "I have loved you since that day in mums apartment when that Nestine hand tried to choke you." She smiled at him. "Do you remember?"
"Yes, I remember. I didn't look like this, did I? Was it him you loved?"
"Are you jealous of yourself now?" She was trying to make him see his foolishness, but gave up. "I'll admit it was a bit emotionally confusing when you changed bodies. But in the end I saw it was still you."
He laid his head on her chest to hear her heartbeat. A single heart. "Rose, I'm not human." "Yes dear I know." "You don't understand!" He was desperate to explain this feeling torturing him. "I'm not human..., but MacAbee is!"
Rose suddenly understood where all this pain was coming from. He doubted her ability to refuse a handsome human when he came along. She became angry. "How could you think that? After all we've been through. How could you think I would prefer a human over you, simply because he's human?"
His jealousy spat back, "Tell me Rose. Tell me you're not attracted to him!" She was in a state of disbelief. He was looking at her as if she were going to try to deny it. She sighed and looked him in the eye. "Alright, you know it's true, He's a handsome man and he's kind to me. That would make him attractive to any woman. It doesn't mean it will ever go beyond that!"
She hated the Time Lords at that moment. They had taken a sensitive, caring soul, gagged and beaten it into submission. Left him scarred and abused, ashamed and afraid. Unable to cope with any raw emotion. Now she was desperate.
"How else can I show you how much you mean to me? How much I love you? I share your home, I share your bed, we have a child! I don't want anyone else!" Rose began to cry. "Please believe me." The last said gently as she held his face in her hands. He didn't respond.
"There's nothing else I can say or do to convince you. You have to see it for yourself." Then an inspiration came to her. She closed her eyes, grabbed his head and touched her forehead to his. She put every ounce of love she had into that energy transfer. The two of them began to glow, like the night Alice was conceived.
The light began to fan out and illuminate the entire room. Pure love enveloping them. Rose couldn't sustain it as he had, and the light began to fade. When it ended, they were both left dazed. She turned to him with hope in her voice, "Do you believe me now?"
He closed his eyes and realized what a fool he'd been to doubt her. She had given up everything for him. Her planet, her parents, her friends, everything. She had saved his life on more than one occasion. Had given him a beautiful child. Had been his confessor and savior. What more proof could he ask? He looked in her eyes pleading for forgiveness. "I'm so sorry," he said simply. "I don't deserve you Rose." She shook her head, "Yes you do, and more."
Chapter 25 Birds, Bees, Etc..
