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Chapter 36 – An Unexpected Visitor

They checked into the hotel across the street from the restaurant. The room was very simple. There was a large bed that sat in the middle of the room. Two brown leather chairs sat on either side of the room with a long wooden table against the wall. She had taken off his jacket and laid it on the back of one of the leather chairs in the room.

There was another room with a bathtub, wrapped in stone that sat in the middle of the floor. The walls were all painted light brown and trimmed in stone and ornate wood. The French doors showed a small balcony that overlooked the umbrellas. The lights shown underneath them and they seemed to glow in the night.

The Doctor walked in from the balcony and opened a bottle of wine. He poured two glasses just as Rose walked by him holding out the phone. She was speaking to Genie.

"Yes, see. He's just here."

He smiled at the phone. "Hey there, Little One. We're going to stay here a bit, and then I'll have Rose home in the morning. What's Grand doing?"

Genie held her hand up and giggled, "She's changing Sam's nappy. Woo. He really had a bad poo."

The Doctor laughed, "Oh, I love that boy."

Rose smiled, "Maybe you should check on Grand in a bit-"

"And make sure he hasn't killed her from the fumes? Yeah. I'm on that. Not to worry."

The Doctor laughed, but turned it onto a cough at the look from Rose. He waved his hand. "I didn't say anything." He walked away drinking a glass of wine.

Rose smiled at the little girl. "Genie. Don't wait up for us tonight. Have Grand read you a story and go to sleep. We'll have a lovely breakfast in the morning together. How does that sound?"

Genie sighed, "Daddy is leaving in the morning isn't he?"

Rose looked up and saw the pained look on the Doctor's face. He shook his head and mouthed, "I hate this."

She smiled back at Genie. "He is. But, we're going to be busy while he's gone. I have several surprises that we need to do."

Genie smiled, "Yeah? Like what?"

"Well, he's standing just here. So, I can't say."

Genie nodded. "Right. I understand. I have a few ideas, too. Daddy!"

He walked back over to Rose, sat his chin on her shoulder, and looked at the image on the phone. "Yes, sweetheart."

"Kiss me before you leave."

He smiled, "I would never leave without a kiss from you. Good night."

She giggled, "Good night."

Rose ended the phone call. "That little girl loves her Daddy."

He poured himself another glass of wine. "Without question. I'm interested in this….surprise?"

She sat in the chair and crossed her legs. She held out her glass of wine. "Well, if I tell you, it wouldn't be a surprise."

He nodded and sat down his glass. "I suppose you are right. Did you see this out here?"

She smiled and shook her head. "No. "

He sat down his glass of wine and held his hand out to her. "Come and look. Bring the phone."

He led her out to the balcony overlooking the umbrellas. She smiled, "This is so lovely."

He leaned on the iron fence on the balcony, "Let me see the phone."

She handed it to him and he took their picture together with the sea of colorful umbrellas behind them. "Okay, there's one." He looked at her, "Right. Now, kiss me."

She giggled and kissed him. She heard the phone snap a picture, and then a few moments later felt both of his hands on her cheeks as he continued to caress her lips with his own. She held him close to her.

He spoke in her head, 'I can feel it. Don't jump away.'

She knew he was talking about some vision he wanted her to see. 'I won't.'

He positioned his hand on the back of her head. 'Hold onto me.'

She could feel his emotions. They seemed to wash over her like a strong current. She unconsciously gripped his back tighter as she felt like she might be swept off of her feet. Her heart began to feel as if she had run a marathon. He exhaled through his nose as if he was out of breath as he continued to kiss her. And then, she saw the flash of light.

She felt shocked, embarrassed, and determined. An adult Genie stood in front of the Doctor in the island sitting room. They were arguing.

"Daddy! Are you serious?" She shouted.

He pointed at himself. "Genie, I'm your father! He ….. probably had it coming!"

"Had it coming? Really? There was no need to hit him!"

Rose heard herself, "Stop! What is going on?"

They both looked up to see her.

The Doctor bit his lip. "Nothing. I've dealt with it."

Genie put her hands on her hips. "Mum. Deal with this nutter! She's gone completely mental!"

He pointed to himself, "Alright. Fine. If that makes me a mad, just…. Fine!"

Rose walked over to Genie and hugged her. Rose heard herself say, "You two stop shouting at one another. Tell me what's going on."

Genie pointed at him, "Him! He-"

He pointed at her. "I could have done…way worse-"

"He completely knocked him out!"

Rose was confused. "Who?"

The Doctor shouted, "He was kissing her! How the hell long has that been going on?"

The light flashed and Rose was sitting in a restaurant looking at a menu. She heard his voice groan.

She looked in front of her and saw the Slitheen impersonating Margaret Blaine sitting across the table from him. "Here we are, out on a date, and you haven't even asked my proper name."

Rose heard him answer with his Northern accent, "It's not a date! What's your name?"

The Slitheen smiled, "Blon. I am Blon Fel Fotch Passameer-Day Slitheen. That's what it'll say on my death certificate."

"Nice to meet you Blon." He was looking at the menu again. She could feel he had his guard up and had planted both of his feet on the floor. He was hyper alert, even though he didn't show it.

The Slitheen continued, "Look... that's where I was living as Margaret."

She saw a building where Margaret was pointing.

"Two bedrooms... bayside view..."

A light flashed and Rose found herself standing in a dark, underground tunnel. She looked up and saw metal pipes running overhead where she stood. She felt that this was familiar and whispered, "Sam. They are not going to hurt you. I'm not going to allow it."

She ran as fast as she could down the hallway with her heart in her throat. She was furious at the people who had put her little boy in such a position. She was determined for him to be alright. She was going to protect him, no matter what.

The Doctor stood there holding a small, blond haired boy tightly in his arms. He was laughing and crying at the same time. "He's alright."

Rose stopped and covered her mouth as she began to sob.

She heard the small boy's voice, "It was so strange, Daddy. It was magic."

The Doctor kissed the boy's face. "Tell Daddy what happened, Samuel."

"He tried to hurt me, but then a light surrounded me. Just like that thing Uncle Tony made me. But, they had taken it off. What made the light? It made them disappear. Did they go away to a ship?"

He continued to hold the small boy and cry in relief. "Your Mum made them go away. Don't I tell you she's amazing?"

Rose, overcome with her emotions, ran to them and threw her arms around them both.

A light flashed and the Doctor was standing in his office at Torchwood. He was furious. He threw something heavy that crashed into the window and broke it. He turned his head and Jake stood next to him.

"Right. I know you are upset-"

"You think? No, clearly you haven't had a thought run through your tiny, little brain in some time." He covered his mouth in shock. "Jake. Wow. I can't…. I can't even look at you right now. I need to calm down. Rose will feel this."

The Doctor walked over to the sink and washed his face. His anger was still threatening to overtake him. He leaned on the sink. After a few moments, he demanded, "How long?"

Jake sighed, "A while-"

"How long?"

Jake shouted, "Hell, I don't know!"

The Doctor turned around, leaned against the sink and crossed his arms. "Jake. I might kill you. You need to just get away from me for a while. Let me think."

Jake nodded his head and walked out of the office.

The light flashed and the Doctor felt his lips still kissing Rose's. She was lying across the bed in the hotel room and he lay on top of her. He stopped kissing her, rolled over on his back and exclaimed something in Gallifreyan.

Rose giggled, "And you are swearing."

He laughed. "Yeah."

"I forgot how that makes me feel. I'm all out of breath. Why does it do that?" She asked.

He had covered his face with his hand. "It just does. When it happens, and I'm asleep, I wake up in a cold sweat."

Rose rolled over to lie on top of him. He put his hand on her bum to hold her. "How did we get back in here?"

He smiled at her. "You didn't realize we walked back in here?"

"No."

He smiled proudly, "I'm an excellent kisser. Oh yes."

She giggled and lay on his chest. "Indeed, you are. And I had forgotten about this temper of yours."

He continued to pant and rub his face, "Oh, this daughter of mine. What is she going to put me through?"

Rose sat up, "I have to say, she is a beautiful woman. Wow."

He continued to pant with his face covered, "Oh yes. Stunning. I'm going to have to punch out several men. I can already see it."

She giggled. "Now you are forewarned. Who do you think she was kissing?"

"I don't know. I have an idea. I might go ahead and punch him."

"Well, I can tell you that it wasn't Jake. She's not his type. I'm certain that's not what you where so angry with him about."

He laid his arm above his head and sighed, "Oh, I might know what that's about, too. Please….let me be wrong."

She kissed him. "You are. Our Sam is fine."

His eyes got huge as if he just remembered what they had seen. He rose up and looked shocked at her. "Rose. That is not supposed to happen."

She lay on the bed, looking up at him, smiling. "Same event."

"Yes. But, it's different. Rose…." He was at a loss for words.

She rose up to face him. "I'm serious. Nothing is going to happen to that little boy."

He looked shocked back at her. He noticed a flash of yellow in her eyes, or maybe it was just a reflection from the lights in the hotel room.

She looked confused, "Baby. That feels like…."

"Fear. Yes. I admit it. It's frightening. You changed that! Rose. Fixed points are just that."

She pointed at him, "Within reason."

He shook his head. "No. A fixed point in time is an event that's so crucial to the integrity of the universe's timeline that it must happen and cannot be prevented without disastrous consequences."

"Our little boy getting hurt bad enough to regenerate is a disastrous consequence! I will not let it happen." Her eyes flashed yellow again.

He sighed, "Rose. This isn't how that works."

"Now, it is."

"But! It's not-" He stood up and ran his hands through his hair. He was completely unsettled. "Rose Tyler-"

"Oh, geez. Again with the Tyler-"

He shook his head and closed his eyes, "Sorry. English-"

"That's not something that would translate! Don't blame it on that!"

He groaned, "Right. Umm…. How do I explain this?"

She stood up. "Maybe you just have to accept that there are some things you can't explain."

"But, a fixed point! Rose! Time Lords can't even change that. You! You created a fixed point. And now you have changed one."

She smiled proudly and seemed to be completely enjoying his discomfort. "Yes, I did."

He stopped and put his hands on his hips. "Rose. This…."

She laughed and shook her head. "I've missed this so much."

He looked confused at her. "Wait. Rose?"

She smiled and sat down on the bed, "Close enough."

His eyes grew huge as he realized he was speaking with the Bad Wolf and not Rose any longer. "Well, when the hell did you get here?"

"When we were kissing. I was hoping you wouldn't notice and just continue. Oh, I've missed kissing you."

He rubbed his face. "Damn it. I should have spotted that. You can't just….pop in like thi-"

She pointed forcefully at him. "I warned you about this. You need to control your temper. She gets angry, and I show up. It's that simple."

He groaned, "I doubt that. Nothing is ever simple. What are you doing here?"

"Rose became upset when she saw Sam in the tunnel. She was determined to change it, and she did."

"So, she summoned you."

"You make me sound like a witch, or something. That would make her angry. Watch that."

He groaned. "Damn it. This was supposed to be our last night together for-"

"For a few days. Geez. You act as if you are going to be gone for months. She'll be fine. She has my protection. Lance is amazing, and will make you proud. Go, and don't worry. But, be careful. You can be such a klutz."

He crossed his arms and groaned. "I can't believe this! I've got a million things to ask you, and now that you are here, I can't think of one."

She giggled. "Then, we can go back to the kissing."

He shook his head. "Rose wouldn't like that. No."

"Come on. A lovely snog? Imagine what I can do. You already know what she is learning to do."

He considered for a moment.

She smiled with her tongue in her teeth.

He cleared his throat. "Don't change the subject."

She laughed. "Oh, you are so much fun. I love this!"

He covered his face, willing himself to focus his thoughts. "Okay. Fixed points. How are you changing them?"

"You didn't seem to mind when I've changed them before. Why is this such a big deal?"

He put his hands on his hips, "When?"

"When you and Donna went to Pompeii. That family you saved. You knew their deaths were a fixed point, and yet you saved them anyway."

"I'll never forget that face. That was a dream. Not a vision-"

"Stopping the plague from coming to Earth. That was a fixed point. Now, it won't happen here."

He shook his head. "Something else will come. Now, I just don't know what-"

"Boy, you're a barrel of positivity."

He shook his head.

"Lie to yourself, Time Lord. You have gotten so good at that."

He groaned.

"Although a fixed point must happen, some of its details can be changed. I just changed some of the details. Does that help?"

He shook his head. "This makes no damn sense. A fixed point is just that! Fixed!"

She giggled, "I'm so glad I picked Donna. I love the feisty side of her in you."

He looked surprised at her, "That was-"

She laughed, "Oh yes. The stories you told us all of these years. I love it. Her with that ginger temper. How many times did she smack you?"

He smiled, "I lost count."

She laughed, "Baby. Don't worry about this. I have it under control."

He groaned and sat back down on the bed next to her.

She took his hand in hers. "I'm sorry to pop in like this. Rose became so upset when she saw Sam in that tunnel again. And then your temper. Woo."

He sighed. "I had this entire night planned."

"Ah, well….if it helps, it was amazing. I remember this. Wait, was this the umbrellas?"

He looked back at her and nodded.

She waved her hand, "Oh yes. I do remember that."

He ran his hand through his hair in frustration. "As soon as you leave, she'll pass out."

"Oh, stop whining about how you aren't going to get laid now."

He tossed his hand up. "Well!"

She smiled, "There's plenty of time for that. Trust me."

He looked back at her smile.

"How are you, really? I know you tell her you are alright."

He nodded, "I am. When I arrived here, my purpose changed. I know that. It has helped."

She kissed his hand. "Finally, some peace?"

"With myself. And I admit. It feels really nice."

She smiled, "I'm so pleased. You need to tell her this."

"There is something she wants to know. I have no idea about."

She giggled, "Your answer is twenty-two."

He looked surprised at her. "Years?"

She nodded, "Yes. That's counting the time you left right after you met her."

He groaned, "And you know about that."

"I know about it all. You asked her to come with you. She said no, so you left. You wandered for a long while, then returned to tell her that you could travel in time."

"I wanted her company even then. I just didn't realize it."

She smiled, "So did she. Otherwise, I wouldn't have sent you back."

He turned and smiled at her. "Thank you."

She smiled. "No, thank you, Baby. Tell me what you are thinking?"

He sighed, "Twenty-two years, huh?"

"She would have waited even longer for you."

He smiled, "Yeah, she would. She loves me. No matter what I have done."

She lay back on the bed and relaxed. He looked back at her smile. "I have always loved you. And what you have done in the past, you will find isn't as bad as you think."

He shook his head. "The murder of your entire species is pretty bad."

She laughed, "Oh, the things that you will discover as time goes on."

"Like what?" He asked and looked back at her. She had gone to sleep. He lay down next to her and stroked her cheek.

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