XxxxXxxxxXxxxx
Chapter 31 – Date with Genie
Howie returned to London with Pete, Adriano and Varro. Pete assured him that they were both headed for a long nap since they had both been up all night. If there was any problem, Varro was to let the Doctor know.
Meanwhile, the Doctor and Genie went out to eat breakfast together at a small, diner in Washington, D.C. It was in an old house built before the Revolutionary War. A large fire burned in a stone fireplace in the center of the room. The smell of old wood mixed perfectly with the smells coming from the kitchen. The waitress recognized them both and offered to sit them in the back of the restaurant, away from the customers' direct view, so they could eat in peace. They shared a small, round table, which was barely large enough for them.
"Alright, then! Something to eat." He said cheerfully to the waitress. "I have no idea. What do you recommend?"
The waitress smiled, "I'm not sure. Are you more interested in breakfast? Or lunch?"
Genie looked at her menu. "Daddy is more interested in dessert."
He looked up at the waitress and made a face. He had indeed been looking at the dessert menu. The waitress laughed. "She keeps you on your toes."
"Oh, you have no idea. I'll have French toast and sausages."
Genie nodded her head. "That sounds good. I'd like that, too. But, don't put any sugar on my toast."
The waitress looked surprised, "Syrup then?"
Genie shook her head, "No, thank you. I don't like sweet tastes."
The waitress nodded her head. "Certainly, I'll get that right to you."
The Doctor sipped his coffee and leaned on the table. "Oh, this is nice. This weather is frigid."
Genie smiled at him. "Mum told me it would feel colder than it really was."
"Your mum is clever. It is summer back home. Are you cold now?"
"No, I'm fine. The fire is nice. Mum had me wear wooly socks. She says if your feet get cold, it makes you cold all over."
He smiled, "She's right. It does. I'm wearing wooly socks, too. It's probably what is keeping me from freezing."
Genie smiled at him. "The coffee probably helps. Is it really hot?"
He blew the smoke off of it. "Oh yes. It's lovely."
She rolled her eyes at him. "Coffee is yucky."
"Legate probably drinks it with….what do you think?"
She tapped her chin and thought, "Legate is so gross. He probably drinks coffee with pickle juice!"
He sat down his coffee, covered his face and laughed. "He probably does."
The waitress came back and gave them a bowl of cut up fruit. "I don't want you two to be hungry. Here's something to get started with."
"Oh. Thank you!" The Doctor told her.
"I know you said you don't like sweet tastes, and we usually give everyone rolls with honey. Would this be alright?"
Genie smiled, "Yes."
The Doctor pointed at her, "Ah!"
Genie looked up at the waitress. "I'm sorry. Yes, thank you, ma'am."
The waitress poured the Doctor more coffee. "You are very welcome, ma'am." She smiled and walked away.
The Doctor poured sugar into his coffee and stirred it. "Genie. I had a call from ballet."
Genie used a fork to bring the fruit to her mouth. "They are probably cross I've not been."
He picked up his coffee again and blew it. "Genie. You know how you are worried about me? Being safe?"
She looked up at him, "Yeah."
"The people at ballet are worried about you being safe."
She looked confused. "Why? I'm with you."
He rubbed his beard. "Well, you are completely safe. I wouldn't have you here if you wasn't."
"Then, what's their problem?"
"They ….ugh…. this is hard to explain." He sat this coffee down. "Genie. You are safe. You know that."
"You just said that."
"I was thinking." He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "The ballet people have asked me not to bring you back because they are worried that someone will hurt you while you are dancing."
Genie shook her head. "Why would they do that?"
"I can't be with you while you are dancing. You would be up on the stage by yourself."
She shook her head, "No, Legate is with me. He can disappear-"
"I can't tell them that."
"Why not?"
He looked at her seriously, "My child, do I need to explain why?"
She groaned, "No. That's just stupid."
He sighed and sipped his coffee.
She looked up at him. "You don't think it's stupid?"
"I don't have an opinion on this."
"That's not true. You don't think it's stupid! Why?"
He sat his coffee back down. "Genie, it is too exposed for you. They have good reasons, and it has nothing to do with your dancing ability at all. It has everything to do with the family you are part of now. You know I wouldn't lie to you. There are people out there. Cruel, evil people, who would try to hurt me by hurting you. It's my job to keep you safe. I haven't taken you there because I honestly didn't want you dancing for them. I was going to tell you no. But, they called me yesterday and told me."
"You think they might try to take me away? Like they did you?"
He nodded his head. "When you are out like that, it's been announced that you are there. It's perfect for someone to plan to hurt you. I won't let that happen. I'm sorry, but I just won't."
Genie stabbed the fruit with her fork. "I guess I understand."
"It's alright to be upset about this, Genie. You worked so hard to do this. It's a huge honor to even be considered by this school. But, it's just not safe."
"I don't want to talk about it anymore, Daddy."
He sipped his coffee. "You sound like me. When you do want to talk about it, you can talk to me. Alright?"
She nodded her head.
XxxxxxXxxxxxxx
The Doctor popped himself and Genie into the hallway their island home. The rain had stopped and the sun had come out. Genie went into her room to change, and the Doctor walked into his own bedroom.
Rose sat in a rocking chair with Sam. She held him in front of her face and kissed him. He was laughing.
"Who moved the rocking chair up here?" he asked.
Lewis copied it for me. He said he wasn't carrying it up the stairs.
"I don't blame him. I'm glad he did. We've needed one up here. That was a great idea." He leaned down and kissed her.
He smiled at Sam. "What are you so happy about? Are you playing with your mum?"
He coo'ed.
"He says you are making him laugh."
She laughed, "He's making me laugh. I saw the conference. Was Howie drunk?"
He walked to the closet and laughed loudly. "I wondered the same thing!"
Rose spoke to Sam, "Caroline is going to give Howie a smack. Oh, you wait until she sees him."
Sam laughed.
Rose called back to the closet. "How cold is it in Washington?"
He laughed again. "Oh, give me a bit. I want to see your face when I say this."
Rose looked at Sam. "Oh, this will be good."
The Doctor walked back in the room wearing his swimming shorts. He knelt down beside of her and smiled, "Howie said that is was 'colder than a well digger's ass'. Have you ever heard that?"
Rose laughed and shook her head. "Oh my God. Only Howie. The best one I've heard him say is…," She spoke in a deep voice to tease Sam, "This lotion is so good! It will make your hands smoother than a worm's goober."
He laughed in disbelief. "A goober? Is that a-"
"Oh, I think so. And I'm not going to ever ask him how he knows."
He laughed and shook his head. "That's Howie. Wow."
She looked at him up and down and smiled.
He smiled, "Oh, I can feel that. Later. Oh, do I have plans for you." He bopped her on the end of her nose.
She giggled and blushed. "The date went well?"
"She's changing into her swimsuit. I told her about the ballet."
"How did she take it?"
"Not good. She doesn't want to talk about it. But, she's disappointed for certain."
Rose shook her head. "You know, I was really pissed about that last night. But, now that I've thought about it, I'm angry I didn't tell her 'no' from the beginning."
He held his finger up where Sam could grab it with his tiny hand. "I told her I should have said no. This is my fault, not yours."
"It's not either of our faults. It's just the way it is. Shall I talk to her?"
"Nah. Not unless she brings it up. Part of growing up is learning to deal with disappointment."
Rose shook her head. "She's already had too much of that."
He nodded his head to agree with her.
Genie ran into the bedroom. "Hi Mummy!"
Rose smiled at her as she ran over and kissed Rose's cheek. "Did you have a lovely time with your Daddy?"
Genie smiled, "We're going swimming in the sea to warm up. It was cold there! Snow was everywhere! The restaurant we ate at was even on fire!"
Rose looked surprised, "It was on fire?"
"No, it had a fire in the fireplace." He corrected her.
"Oh. Well, it helped." She turned to the Doctor. "Daddy. I'm going to get our towels."
"Right. Meet me downstairs. Don't go down to the water without me!" He called after her. He shook his head. "Children." He mumbled.
Rose giggled at him.
"What?" He smiled.
"Nothing. Have a good time on your date."
He stood up and nodded his head. "Right. Do you need anything? Tea? Bottle? Telly remote? Baby sitter?"
She shook her head. "We're fine. Thank you. Go have a lovely time."
He narrowed his eyes at her. "You haven't broken your foot again, have you?"
She laughed, "No! You nutter."
He chuckled, "Try to get some sleep when he goes down for a nap. If he doesn't want to nap, call me so you can sleep. Alright?"
She smiled, "You read my mind."
He smiled as he leaned down and kissed her.
As he stood up, he rubbed Sam's cheek. "Sam. I want you to make sure your Mum gets a nap. Alright? She's tired and needs her rest."
Sam coo'ed.
"Good man. Thank you, son." He kissed the top of his head, turned around and winked at Rose.
XxxxXxxxxxXxxxxx
Logan and Legate were in the sea surfing when Genie and the Doctor arrived at the beach. They sat meters away in the water and waved. Genie helped her Daddy put down a blanket on the sand under a palm tree. They spent the next hour playing in the water together and watching Logan and Legate surf.
Arla and Lewis walked down to the beach. Arla sat a picnic basket on the blanket. Lewis took her hand and they walked down the beach together. A bit later, the Doctor and Genie got out of the water and dried off. They sat down on the blanket together.
"Let's see what Arla brought us. That was so nice of her." He told Genie.
Genie sat on her knees and looked in the basket. "Arla is very nice."
The Doctor pulled out a very long hot dog on a tiny bun.
Genie laughed, "That's so strange."
The Doctor handed her one. "Oh! This is great! I've not had one of these in years!"
Genie took it and smiled, "Daddy, it's hot dog."
"From New Germany. It has spices and such inside of it. It's excellent. Perfect picnic food."
She looked at the hot dog and shook her head. "Why is it so long? It doesn't even fit on the bun."
The Doctor was busy pouring her some juice. "It's just the sort of hot dog it is. They call it a 'Wiener'."
They both laughed.
"You usually put mustard on it, but I prefer it plain. You?"
Genie shook her head. "I don't want any mustard. Ew."
"Alright, then." He nodded his head and started to eat his hot dog.
She took a bite and looked back out at Logan and Legate just as Legate fell into the water. "Legate is really bad at that."
The Doctor lay down and propped himself up on his elbow. "Ah. He's learning."
"He's been in the water more than he has been standing on the board. Isn't that the point?"
"I haven't noticed. How is Logan doing?"
She smiled, "He seems to be good at it."
"I want to learn how to do it."
Genie pointed her finger at him forcefully, "You, Daddy. Are much too clumsy to do that."
He pointed at himself with his hot dog. "Me? I'm not that bad."
She nodded seriously, "Trust me, Daddy. It's not a good idea."
"When have you known me to be clumsy?"
She shrugged her shoulders. "That's what Mum says. She said you fell out of the net on the ship. You should be more careful."
He groaned as he looked back at her, "What else does Mum say about me?"
Genie smiled, "Good things."
He nodded his head and smiled, "Good things, huh? But, you won't tell me what?"
She shook her head, "No way."
He chuckled as he took a bite of his hot dog and looked in the basket again.
"What are you looking for?"
"Gummy bears. They are the best. I wonder if she put any in here. There aren't too sweet so you will love them."
He pulled some out and sat down his hot dog on the blanket to open the bag.
Genie rolled her eyes. "Let me see."
He handed her the bag and she put it back in the basket. He sat up and held his hands out. "Why did you put them away?"
"You should eat your hot dog, first. You eat too much sugar."
He rolled his eyes and picked back up his hot dog.
They continued to eat as they watched Legate and Logan. The Doctor finished and wiped his hands on his towel.
"You know, I think you're right. Legate is really bad at that."
Genie giggled. "He really is."
"You're not going to tell him to stop doing it?"
She shook her head. "No. He can make his own decisions."
"But, I can't do it."
She shook her head. "No."
He ran his hand through his hair. "Huh. Why not?"
She shrugged her shoulders and looked up at him. "I told you why. You are clumsy. You'll get hurt."
He nodded his head. "Tony told me that you won't allow him to shave his beard."
She nodded her head, "Yeah."
"I'm thinking about shaving mine off. What do you think?"
"Why?"
"Ah, a change. It's been strange having one. What do you think?"
She handed him her hot dog which he put back in the basket.
He asked her, "Can we eat the gummy bears, now?"
She smiled and handed him the bag.
"Cheers." He told her as he handed her some.
She pushed her hair away from her shoulders, "I've been thinking of getting my hair trimmed. It's gotten too long. What do you think?"
He nodded his head. "It has gotten long. It's down to your waist. My hair was really long before and it would give me a headache because it was so heavy. Does yours do that?"
She giggled, "I can't imagine you with long hair. What did you look like?"
He smiled, "I certainly looked differently than I do now. One day I'll show you. It's something I need to talk to you about. But, it was….really curly. A big …poof. Not like yours. Yours is lovely. Just long curls."
She looked down and smiled, "My Mum said it looked like springs."
He smiled, "That's it. Really tight springs."
She giggled, "Did you ever meet my Mum? Did you know her?"
He leaned back on his elbow. "I did. Well, I only met her once. It was when I first got here. Rose took me to Torchwood to introduce me to everyone."
Genie smiled, "She told me about that."
He looked surprised at her, "Really?"
"She said you were shorter than she thought you would be."
He laughed, "Shorter?"
She giggled as she brushed the hair out of her face. "Yes. Shorter. She told me that Rose had finally found the man she had been looking for. She was so happy. She said you seemed nice."
"Your Mum was lovely. Beautiful woman. Nice. A very brave individual. One day I'll tell you why I say that. Your Mum was something special. Just like you are. Incredible person. From what Rose has told me about her, you are so much like her."
Genie smiled proudly. "Except my hair. Mum would have never had her hair this long."
"There is that. Yes. I'll help you get it sorted. Don't even worry about it. So, we need a trim. What do you have in mind?"
She pointed at the middle of her back. "About here. That's where I usually keep it."
"I don't believe you have had a hair trim since you came to live with us. That's a long time now."
She nodded her head.
He handed her some more gummy bears. "So, we've had this brother of yours' for a bit, now. Do you still like him?"
She looked at her gummy bears. "Well, I hope you do. You're stuck with him."
He laughed, "You are too."
"Daddy. Do you like him more than you do me?"
Her question shocked him. He looked back at her. "Of course I don't. Why would you think that?"
"You spend a lot of time with him. He even sleeps in your room with Mum, everynight."
"He's a baby. He needs to be close to Mum for a while. Rose has decided to make him a room, but it will be a while before he can move into it."
She looked back at Legate falling off of his board again. "He's so bad at that."
"Ah. You are changing the subject! We're talking about this. Why do you think that?" he insisted.
She sighed, "Sam is your and Mum's baby. I'm not."
"I knew you were going to say this one day. I just didn't expect it so soon." He sighed.
He sat up and looked at her. "Genie, look at me, because this is very important. I love you, very much. You are precious to me. You are my daughter and I'll do anything to keep you safe. Don't ever think I prefer Sam. I love you both just the same way."
She smiled, "Really? You're not going to give me away?"
"No! Come here. Goodness. We need to get this sorted."
She sat down between his knees. He covered her with a dry towel and held her tightly as they looked out at the ocean together, "I'm not ever giving you away. They will have to fight me to take you."
"Mum gave me away. She gave me to Rose. I don't want to go someplace else."
"You're not going someplace else. You're staying with me. With us. Forever."
"Daddy, you can't know that. You can get hurt like she did-"
"No, Genie. I know. I really do."
She shook her head as she looked at the ocean, "Daddy, no one can know that."
He held her tightly and lay his head on her shoulder, "No, my child. I do know. Daddy has these…flashes…where he can see bits of the future. I've seen you there when you are older. You're still with me and Rose."
"Is my hair still long?"
He rolled his eyes. "I think it was in a braid. I'm not certain."
She giggled at him.
"My child, you are so clever and you see much more than I wish you did. You can see the danger. But, think about this. Do you remember when Lewis and Arla married? How many men is a Quauhtin worth?"
She turned her head and looked at him. "Ten."
He nodded, "That's right. One Quauhtin is the same as ten men. That's what is said. We have 15 Quauhtin that help us out. How many men is that to keep you safe?"
Genie giggled in his arms, "This is maths. That's easy. 150 men."
"This is where it gets interesting. Three of those men, are what they call a Primus. They are worth more."
She smiled, "That's you, Lewis and Summus!"
"Guess how many men we are worth?"
She shook her head. "I don't know. 20? 100?"
"It is said that they are worth an army each. So, for someone to take you, they are going to have to fight three armies, 150 men, the Oncoming Storm, a really angry mum, two Presidents, and your Tony. Not to mention Uncle Jake and Aunt Jack. I wouldn't want to go into that fight."
Genie giggled as he kissed her cheek. "And Grand."
"Oh, geez. We'll put her on the front line. That will stop anyone!"
She laughed.
"Especially, if she cooks!" he added.
They both laughed.
XxxxxxXxxxxxxXxxxxxx
Rose woke up from her nap. Sam was lying in front of her and was still sleeping. She kissed his head, "Are you still sleeping?"
He laughed in his sleep.
She giggled, "You are so handsome."
He slept.
She kissed his head again and whispered, "I love you, little boy."
He continued to sleep.
She smiled and watched him. "I wonder how much longer you will sleep?"
At the sound of the word, he laughed again.
She laughed and whispered, "You are so silly."
He continued to sleep quietly.
She lay on her side and decided to close her eyes again. Within what seemed like just moments, she felt someone lay down behind her. She smiled as the Doctor wrapped his arms around her. The smell of his cologne filled her lungs. He had apparently just gotten out of the shower.
"I'm sorry to wake you, but we're expected for dinner at Pete's in an hour." He whispered to her as he kissed her ear.
She smiled, "Sam was laughing when I would say 'sleep'."
Sam laughed again in his sleep.
"Sam, are you sleeping?" he asked.
Sam slept quietly.
Rose smiled, "Sam, are you sleeping?"
Sam laughed.
"It's something with your voice." He told her quietly. "Rotten child."
Rose laughed as she felt his hand across her body. He kissed her back. She had changed into a tank top when she lay down with Sam. He pulled down the strap and kissed where it had been. "I love this shirt. It's one of my favorites."
"I love all of this attention." Rose told him as he continued to kiss her back.
She didn't look at him and he helped her pull off her shirt. He kissed down her back as he rubbed her breasts.
He could feel her emotions change as she suddenly became sad. He stopped and held her, "What's made you sad?"
She looked at Sam, "I'm being stupid. Don't worry-"
"Your feelings are never stupid. Tell me what's wrong." He insisted.
"I wish I hadn't given up breast feeding Sam. He's the only one we'll ever have and I'm never going to have the opportunity to do that again."
"Oh. That's an easy fix."
She sighed, "My milk has all dried up. I've missed my chance."
He teased her, "Lucky for you, you married a Doctor."
"You could do that?"
He returned to kissing her back. "Sure. It's not a big deal. Do you want me to do it?"
"Well, what do you think?"
He continued to kiss her back and rub her breasts tenderly, "It's completely up to you."
"Surely, you have an option."
"I really don't. I'm not going to tell you what to do. If you want to do it, I'll help you get started again. If you don't, I make a bottle. It doesn't matter to me. It's not my breasts."
She smiled, "Then I want to."
"Okay, I'll mix it up today for you."
She rolled over to look at his face. Her eyes opened wide in surprise. "Where is your beard?"
He smiled, "I took Genie to get a trim. While I was there, I decided to have a shave. I realized halfway through that I should have asked you."
She ran her hand across his smooth face, "It's your face. You didn't have to ask me."
"I was trying to get you to notice kissing your back. You didn't realize there weren't whiskers anymore?"
She laughed as she continued to feel of his face, "I didn't."
"So, it's alright? I can grow it back, if you prefer the beard."
"Whatever you like best, I'm happy with."
"You're sure?"
"I married a man who can change his face. Why do you think some facial hair would change my option of him?"
He chuckled, "Good point."
She ran her fingertip down his nose. "You have a bit of sun."
He smiled, "We came back and played football with the guys. Genie was our coach. She's tough."
"Where is she?"
"Downstairs. She fell asleep on the sofa watching telly."
Rose pointed at Sam. "Can you put him in his cot without waking him?"
"I don't know, maybe." He carefully picked up Sam and laid him in his cot. He turned back and ran his hand through his wet hair.
She smiled as she looked him up and down. He was wearing a pair of jeans and blue t-shirt. He smiled at her. "Sweetheart, I have so much to tell you."
She giggled at him.
He smiled at her, "What?"
"Come here."
He sat down next to her on the bed. She lay back in the pillows and pulled down the duvet to expose her bare chest. He smiled and ran his fingertips down it.
She whispered to him, "I'm giving these back to your son. This is your last chance with them for a while."
He bit his lip as he looked at her breasts, then back in her eyes. He cupped one of her breasts and slowly exhaled. He smiled proudly, "My son, the boob man."
Rose teased him, "My husband, the boob man."
He smiled, "That's a brilliant title for me! I think I'll have everyone start calling me that."
"You are kidding."
He leaned down and kissed her slowly as he teased her nipple in his fingers. "Maybe, I'm not."
She giggled under his kiss as she ran her hands across his face. He stopped kissing her and smiled, "So, it's alright?"
She smiled, "It reminds me of when you first came here, and you first kissed me."
He smiled, "We cracked our teeth together. Remember that? When we were in that hotel?"
She laughed, "Yes. I believe we've gotten better since then."
He leaned down and caught her lips. She ran her hands through his hair as he snogged her proper.
'I love kissing you.' He told her in her head.
'You are the best at this. I can feel all of your emotions, too. Are you this happy to see me?'
He smiled as he rose back up and looked at her. "That's some of it. I'm anxious to see your face when I tell you this."
She laid her hand behind her head and looked up at him. He ran his fingertips across her chest and kissed her breasts. "Oh, I'll miss these." He mumbled.
She rolled her eyes. "That I know. What do you want to tell me?"
He looked back at her. "I'm sorry, I'm just so distracted here."
She pulled the duvet over her breasts and raised her eyebrows at him. "Okay. Boobs are put away. What are you on about?"
He chuckled. "Okay, fair enough. Michelle says she's gotten about 20 calls today. Genie has been asked to be a guest on children's programs, music videos, movie things, all sorts of such."
Rose looked surprised, "Are you serious?"
He nodded his head, "Very serious. I've not told Genie. Lewis and I are trying to determine if it's something we'll allow."
"And, do I get a vote in this?"
"Sure."
Rose smiled, "I know some of these people."
He pointed at her and smiled, "Yes. Your mate, Justin, was one of the first to call."
She smiled, "That's unbelievable."
"Oh, that's not all. You and I have had offers as well. Similar things."
She rose her eyebrows, "And?"
"And what? I mean, I'm personally holding out for Top Gear to call. That's what I want to do."
She giggled and shook her head. "Baby, how is this even going to work? You are supposed to start traveling more. Going to those other planets? Are you still thinking about that?"
He sighed and sat up. "I am. I - Well. I need to be here. For Howie and Pete. You need to be there. With your family. I don't know. Have you thought about it?"
"I honestly want to run away someplace. After seeing that vision with Sam…" She looked over at the cot where Sam lay.
"I know. But, we can't change that. There was no way to know where we were."
"You can taste where we are-"
"We were underground! I was preoccupied with my son at the moment." He ran both of his hands through his hair and sat on the side of the bed, looking over into the cot.
Rose sat up behind him and held him. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like-"
"I know you didn't. It's alright. I'm sorry. I shouldn't… Rose. I don't like it either. But, there's nothing we can do."
She continued to hold him. "Do you finally believe that Gallifrey is still out there?"
He shook his head and sighed, "I honestly don't know."
"Baby, you saw it. We were there."
He turned around and looked at her. "We were someplace that looked like it. The mind is a powerful thing. What your heart desires so much, is what your greatest weakness becomes. Rose, we'll have to be extremely careful of that. Don't trust it. Alright?"
She nodded her head. "I understand."
He turned back to look at Sam. "I need to sort this nappy, but he is sleeping. Go on and get ready to go. I'll manage Sam and Genie. Alright?" He rubbed Sam's back and said something to him in Gallifryen.
She kissed his cheek and whispered, "What are you saying to him?"
He smiled, "I told him he needed to leave his dreams."
She smiled as she held him, "That sounds so lovely."
He turned and looked at her, "Should I wake you like that?"
She smiled at him and shook her head, "It wouldn't work. I'm living my dream."
He smiled and kissed her lips quickly, "Me too."
XxxxxxXxxxxxx