XxxxxXxxxxx

Chapter 62 – Back Home

Lewis and The Doctor popped back into the sitting room of the island home. Rose was lying in a cozy, leather chair holding Genie. Pete sat on the sofa next to them in his night robe sipping his tea. Zeus jumped to his feet and ran to the Doctor as soon as he reappeared. As soon as Pete saw them, he stood up and put his finger over his lips. He pointed at Rose and Genie. He motioned for them to follow him into the kitchen, then he spoke.

"So?" Pete asked.

"Got them." Lewis smiled, "Doc' had them taken to his ship instead of Torchwood. Summus has them now."

Pete pointed at them. "That's a good idea. Anyone hurt?"

The Doctor scratched Zeus' face. "One of the other guys, but it's not bad."

Pete rolled his eyes, "I don't mean them. Anyway, how did you know about this? Who tipped you off? Damn lucky if you ask me."

The Doctor bit his lip and looked back at Lewis. "I did."

Pete looked confused, "You did, son? I don't understand."

"Time travel. I left a reminder for myself. Pete, I told you I was going to fix this. I'm already going back to fix shit going wrong now."

Pete crossed his arms and leaned into the cabinet. "But, you're not traveling in time. Well, are you?"

Lewis and the Doctor shook their heads.

The Doctor answered, "No. My ship's not ready for that."

Pete waved his hand. "Oh, hell. I'm not going to try to understand this tonight. I'm exhausted. You are alright. Our guys are fine, and my daughter is safe. Genie was upset. She came down and you weren't here. Rose rocked her until they both went to sleep."

The Doctor looked back and asked. "Where did that chair come from?"

Lewis chuckled, "Logan. He bought himself one and thought you and Rose would fancy the same sort. He said you can rock children to sleep in it, and then go to sleep without moving."

Pete smiled, "That was thoughtful."

The Doctor agreed as he looked back at his girls.

Lewis patted the Doctor's chest. "Until tomorrow. I'm going back to Arla."

Pete nodded his head and smiled. "I've got to go get a cowboy tomorrow morning. I'm bringing him here. You know, I find it strange Jacob hasn't asked about his father. Has he spoken to you?"

The Doctor nodded his head. "He has. I explained to him that Howie was dealing with something and would see him in a few days. He's alright. They've spoken a few times. Caroline has been here with him, too."

Pete nodded his head as he walked out of the room. "Alright. Well, night."

The Doctor walked over to the chair where Genie and Rose lay reclined. He leaned down and kissed Rose's forehead. Rose smiled, "You're back."

He knelt down and smiled at her. "I'm back. Everyone is safe."

She smiled, "I knew you were. I could feel how happy you were. And the diamond thing on the mantle stayed blue the entire time."

He looked back the diamond that the Meridaians had given to them months ago. The sitting room was dim, and the diamond's color illuminated the room. It was glowing solid blue. The Doctor smiled at it. "I love it when it's blue."

Rose giggled, "You love it when it's red. I know you. You crave the adventure."

He shook his head. "Not as much as I used to. I have too many things that are precious to me now." He leaned in and kissed her lips quickly. "Were you sleeping?"

Rose closed her eyes. "I was just resting my eyes."

He chuckled, "Rose Smith. The Olympic sleeper."

Rose laughed quietly.

He smiled and lay down next to her in the huge chair. He wrapped his arms around both of them. He leaned over and told Zeus, "Met us upstairs, Zeus."

Using his wristband, he popped them upstairs in the bed all together. Rose giggled. "Thank you."

He kissed her cheek as he rolled out of the bed. "Now you don't have to walk up the stairs. Go on back to sleep."

"Daddy." Genie said in her sleep. He walked to the other side of the bed. He lay down next to Genie, facing Rose.

"Daddy is here, my child. You can go to sleep."

Genie lay her head down on his chest and went back to sleep. Zeus ran through the doorway and jumped onto the bed with them. He lay his head down on the Doctor's leg and closed his eyes.

Rose looked at them and smiled. "And, you have a dog?"

The Doctor ran his hand through Genie's long hair and kissed her forehead. "My brother and I are sharing him. Zeus is a good boy."

Zeus wagged his tail.

'I feel like we're going to have Genie in the bed with us for months again.' Rose told the Doctor in his head.

He smiled as he kissed Genie's forehead again. 'Ah. Enjoy it Rose. We'll miss this one day. Children are only small for a short period of time. Why does she smell so good?'

Rose laughed quietly, 'Her Grand gave her a bath and washed her hair.'

He smelled her hair, 'What is that?'

Rose teased him, 'Pear.'

He rolled his eyes, "Oh, it is not!"

Genie groaned and the Doctor quickly rubbed her back and covered her with the duvet. "Shhhh…..sorry, sweetheart."

Rose covered her mouth and laughed quietly. 'Can you please not wake our daughter?'

'That remains to be seen.' He said as he relaxed and ran his hand through his hair. Rose giggled at him.

He turned his head to look at her. 'Are you awake? Like, proper awake, Rose?'

She smiled, 'Yes. What is it?'

'I have to go back to Plentitude tomorrow. I want you, and the children, to go with me. It will be a quick trip. Hopefully.'

Rose laid her hand on his cheek and smiled. 'Is everything alright?'

'Everything is fine. One of the machines there has malfunctioned. No one was injured, it just needs some attention.'

Rose caressed his cheek as he looked at her. 'I have an idea. When we go, I want you to go shopping for me. But, just for one thing.'

He smiled, 'What's that?'

'Lingerie. Whatever you would like to see me in.'

He closed his eyes tightly and exhaled. He whispered, "Damn."

Rose smiled, 'What is it?'

He turned back to look at her. 'We've got to get this child out of our bed!'

She held her hand out, 'That's what I'm saying!'

He chuckled at her as he relaxed in the pillows and rubbed his head.

Rose spoke to him, 'Baby. You are wide awake. Go do something.'

'Nah. She needs me. I'll stay here with her so she will sleep.' He said as he kicked off his trainers.

Rose smiled.

He turned to look at her. 'You feel wide awake now. Have I talked to you too much?'

She shook her head. 'It's an illusion. I could go to sleep in a minute. Did you get them?'

He smiled. 'Yes. No one was hurt. Summus is ….. ummm…..taking care of them for me at the moment.'

Rose looked confused, 'Dare I ask?'

'Oh, it's nothing like that. I put them to sleep. They are…..taking them someplace where I can question them later.'

'Good luck with that.' Rose insisted.

'Can I ask you something? Answer me truthfully. Don't spare my feelings.'

She rose her eyebrows. 'Oh, I don't like the sound of this.'

'Pete told me that Mickey had asked him to help talk you into marrying him. Pete refused because he said he didn't feel like Mickey wanted to marry you for the right reasons. He wanted you to stop working at Torchwood. Stop doing research, making jumps, all of that. He wanted you to settle down. Pete didn't agree because he felt you shouldn't give up your dreams.'

Rose sat up and looked at him seriously, 'Alright. What is your question?'

'Isn't that what you did when we got married? Did I make you give up your dreams? Are you happy?'

'Are you?' Rose asked.

He pointed at her. 'No. We're talking about you. Don't worry about my feelings, I just need to know-"

Rose threw her hands in the air. 'You are so damn…'

'Charming?' he helped.

'Insecure.' Rose decided.

He bit his lip and thought. 'Yeah, I'll own that.'

Rose looked at him. 'Why in the world did Dad tell you that?'

'And when did Pete become, "Dad?" He was Pete when I first got here.'

Rose dropped her head. 'I need tea if we're going to have this sort of conversation.'

'Rose, these are just simple questions. No tea required.'

She smiled at him, 'I am very happy. These past few months have been the best in my life. I don't feel like I gave up on my dreams at all. You are helping me realize more that I never thought of. We're working on those books. And I've not even told you that Cambridge wants to film me teaching a course on Physics to sell. Can you believe that?'

His eyes opened wide, 'What? You haven't told me this!'

She smiled, 'I only was asked this afternoon. I'm still deciding if I want to do it. I called the Headmaster….ummm….no….Dean there to talk about Ashena. He offered it. He wants me to come with her to discuss it when she takes a tour of the school. I want you to come with me.'

He smiled proudly at her. 'Doctor Rose Tyler-Smith. Educator to the Posh Scholars.'

Rose rolled her eyes and smiled. She whispered. "You are so stupid."

He chuckled. 'Living the dream, then? Is that right?'

She smiled, 'Of course I am. I have you. I have Genie and Sam. What else would I want?'

He pointed at her. 'I know you. I'm bleeding into you enough to know that you want a big project on the horizon. I have one for you.'

Rose grinned. 'What do you have in mind? Cloning yourself?'

He rolled his eyes, 'One Doctor per Dimension. That's the rule.'

Rose looked impressed, 'And you didn't growl and swear that time. Progress.'

He smiled, 'I have gotten messages from my future self all day. I used to do this in the other Dimension. You saw it, you got one from yourself.'

Rose nodded, 'Right.'

'That means the TARDIS we're growing will mature. Either that, or we will find another way to time travel. I hope it's the TARDIS. Now, you understand how to jump between Dimensions.'

Rose looked curiously at him.

'I want you to work out how to do that so our TARDIS can travel between the Dimensions, too. Time, space and dimensions.'

Rose thought for a few moments. 'Why would you want to do that?'

'I have my reasons. Mainly, get back to the Prime Dimension to punch the other guy in the damn nose.'

Rose rolled her eyes. 'Sweetheart. I really don't think that's a great idea.'

'Really? Why?'

Rose closed her eyes tightly, 'There's just a lot of stuff out there. Dimensions that are …. Places you shouldn't visit.'

He bit his lip. 'Huh. Alright. I'll take your word for it then. I really would like the opportunity to punch him in the nose. Just one good time, Rose.'

Rose giggled, 'I really don't think it's worth that.' She lay back in the pillows and turned off the lamp. He reached over and took her hand.

'Have I upset you?' he asked.

'No.' Rose told him. 'I'm fine.'

'You are shielding me. I can tell.'

Rose rolled her eyes and whispered, "Go to sleep. We'll talk more about this later."

"I'm not sleepy." He teased her quietly.

Rose groaned, "You are such a pain. You are winding me up. You are getting close to a punch."

He laughed and held out his hand. 'Alright. I'm sorry. Go on to sleep.'

Rose lay there for a few moments. 'Go back to the Prime Dimension. Just to punch someone in the nose. Really?'

He smiled and whispered, " 'Go back?' He thought. 'No good at all! Go sideways? Impossible! Go forward? Only thing to do! On we go!' So up he got, and trotted along with his little sword held in front of him and one hand feeling the wall, and his heart all of a patter and a pitter.' "

Rose looked back at him and smiled, "What is that from?"

He smiled, "The Hobbit. I love that story. Go on to sleep. Everything is alright."

XxxxxXxxxxxxxXxxxxxxx

Alright! Folks! That's not the end, just the end of this particular book (document). The Word file I work from is way too long and it's killing my computer. This story continues in the book that I just published the first chapter to, Mind and Heart. Terrible title, but you'll find out why it's called that later. Anyway. Lots of adventures continue.

Thank you for your kind reviews. I hope you continue to enjoy the "soap opera" story of the Doctor and Rose's new life, as much as I'm enjoying writing it.

Allonsy!