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Chapter 22 - Chapter 22 - How Sweet it Is

Samuel stood facing a table with vials of blue liquid. He was in the med bay and the computers on the walls were working on several complex programs.

He wore his baseball cap, backwards on his head, as he filled each vial. Cautious with each one, to get exactly the same amount into each one.

Tony Stark sat on the chair behind him. "Let me know if I'm bothering you-"

"You're not. It's fine." Samuel told him.

Tony crossed his arms and pulled a chair over to prop his feet into it. "I could help."

Samuel smiled, "It's alright. Your hands get shaky when you get tired."

Tony looked down at his hands. They weren't shaking. He ran his hands through his hair. "Whatever. So, you are a married man, then?"

Samuel grinned, "I am."

"What? She….didn't want to wait?"

"I didn't want to wait."

"Hmm. Yeah. Sounds like you."

Samuel continued to work. "You know, it's so odd."

"What's that, man?"

"Being back here. Everyone is the same, but…so different."

"Me? I'm the-"

Samuel laughed, "You, Tony. Are exactly the same guy. You are actually the only one that doesn't seem to have changed at all over the past 18 years. Well, and Lance."

Tony looked impressed with himself. "Well, why mess with perfection?"

Samuel laughed. "Exactly."

Tony rubbed his hands together. "Rose told me that you and John don't get along."

"No, we're fine."

"But, that's here."

"Yes. So far, so good-"

"Lewis?"

Samuel groaned. "Papa is completely different here. Gosh. We….well…"

Tony narrowed his eyes at him. "Level with me, man. I'm the same person."

Samuel closed his eyes and nodded. Then returned to work. "We were on Calhiri, you know. Lance's place-"

"Yeah? I hear it's nice."

"Oh, you love it there." Samuel told him and continued to work. "Papa and Grandfather well…."

"What?"

Samuel sighed. "Actually, nah. Never mind."

Tony nodded. "Alright. Well, can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"How much weed are you smoking a day?"

Samuel stopped and looked back at him. "Wow. You are rather blunt-"

"Like a spoon. Talk to me."

"Ugh-"

"Karen is alright with this?"

"I don't smoke around her-"

"Good. I don't want my niece to be a pothead-"

"I'm not a pothead. Arles though-"

"Yeah. It looked like it. How much is he smoking?"

Samuel sighed. "A lot."

Tony nodded. "When did that start?"

"When we got here. I think he's….well. He isn't one who deals with things well."

"Well, I'm not one to talk."

"You don't smoke."

"And you know why-"

Samuel laughed, "Because Pepper would kill you."

Tony looked shocked. "Is that what you think?"

Samuel nodded. "That's what I know."

Tony rubbed his face. "I have a question for you."

Samuel's attention was back on his project. "Yeah? What's that?"

"You, will be a father in a few short months. I'm not saying there anything wrong with it, or drinking, or anything like that. But, what sort of father do you want to be?"

Samuel glanced back at him. "Really?"

"It's worth you thinking about. This person is going to think you know everything about everything. Look to you to fix whatever goes wrong. Look to you to teach her and prepare her for anything."

Samuel rose his eyebrow at Tony. "Have you been drinking?"

Tony held his hands out in surprise just as the doors to the med bay opened. Karen walked into the room wearing one of her new outfits that they had gotten the day before on Plentitude. It was a beautiful white, linen-like dress that came to her knees like a large shirt. A lime, linen-like jacket with half sleeves, hung open on her. She wore her long hair down.

Samuel smiled. "Well, hey!"

She met him at the table and he dramatically leaned back to meet her lips. "Sterile field."

She giggled. "Okay."

She turned and saw Tony sitting in the chair. "Hi, Tony."

He stood up and pulled the chair next to him. "Pretty dress."

She sat down next to him and smiled. "Thank you. Samuel took us shopping when we were on Plentitude. And then apparently decided I needed to sleep forever."

Samuel was busy with his work again. "You went to bed late. You needed to sleep."

She pushed her hair to one side and shook her head. "Have you slept?"

"Nah. Too busy to sleep." Samuel told her.

Tony looked back at her and smiled. "He's been keeping me company. I didn't want to sleep either. When will we be home?"

Samuel stopped working for a bit and appeared to be thinking. "We're here."

Karen smiled. "You can feel it, huh?"

"Yeah. Dad didn't stop for fuel. That's not like him. Someone else must be flying."

Tony rubbed his face. "What time is it?"

"8:43 in the evening." Samuel told him without looking up.

Tony stood up and stretched his back. "I'm going to tuck in my son, and peel Pepper off of a computer. $1,000 says she's still working."

Samuel grinned. "I'll take that. She's not working."

Tony put his hands in his pockets. "She is working. That woman is a work-a-holic."

"And you wish she would stop." Samuel finished his sentence.

"Well, not stop." Tony told them. "Just….not as much. That's all she's ever known. Work and worry, all of the time."

Samuel glanced back at him and nodded. "Karen and I would like to go to the vineyard."

"What vineyard?"

"Pepper's vineyard-"

Tony snapped his fingers, "Oh. You two know about that. Right. Okay. Whenever."

Karen pointed at her stomach. "I'm not drinking-"

"At a vineyard? Why go?" Tony insisted.

"Is this part two of your conversation from earlier?" Samuel teased.

Tony groaned. "Kid. You suck."

Samuel laughed as Tony walked by him and playfully smacked him in the back of the head. "I'm going home before I'm abducted by aliens again. Good night, Karen!"

Karen was laughing at his remark. "Good night, Tony."

He walked out of the med bay.

Samuel glanced back at her. "Come over here, I can't see you back there."

She rose up and walked over to join him. Using his foot, he pushed out a stool for her to sit on. "And there, then."

He continued to work on the vials.

Karen sat on the stool and smiled at him. "This is how I imagined you, after you told me you were a Doctor."

He smiled and looked up at her. "This is probably my favorite bit. A mystery and the discovery of why."

She smiled at him. "Yes, that's you."

"How did you sleep?"

"Oh, I was exhausted. If you had even came to bed, I doubt I would have known."

He grinned. "That's what you needed."

"To wake up in the same position I fell asleep in. Seriously, Samuel. I don't remember anything after you kissed me good night."

He smiled.

"Did you do something?"

He glanced up at her and shook his head. "No."

"Well, I know your Dad can put people to sleep. How does he do that?"

"He pushes them into sleep. It's….a chemical reaction in the brain. Huh. I wonder if I could do that?"

"Let's practice this other stuff before you do that."

He nodded and looked back down at the vials. "Good plan."

She rubbed her thighs, and watched him work. "I've been awake for a while."

"Everything okay?" He asked as he measured out another vial.

"Yes. I….just….well."

He looked back at her just as she started to cry.

He sat down his equipment and pointed at her. "Hang on! Don't move! Just a bit!"

She covered her face and continued to cry as he quickly washed his hands. He put them under a device and groaned, "Come on! Damn it-"

"Hands are sanitized." Friday spoke.

"Finally!" He groaned and rushed to Karen, taking her in his arms.

"Okay, I'm here. Tell me what's wrong."

Karen continued to cry. "I was thinking about school."

"Okay?" He held her tightly.

"And then I thought, about how I probably will never sit in a class again. And how I will probably disappoint everyone-"

"Hey!" Samuel insisted as he held her out to be able to see her face. "You will never disappoint anyone. Especially me. This is a lot to take in all at once."

"Your Dad has paid for school-"

"Which I should have done-"

"Samuel. It's so much money and I can't even think straight. Why did I think I could do this?"

"You can do it, and you will be brilliant." He smiled at her.

"Samuel. I really can't think. All I want to do is sleep."

"It's normal."

"Would you please check and make sure everything is alright? Please?"

He smiled, "Of course, I will. Karen, it's normal to cry and be upset. But, don't think you're going to disappoint anyone.

"I need to help you-"

"We'll get there."

"And I need to….oh, Samuel. I just feel overwhelmed."

"What if we….postponed school? How would you feel about that?"

"I just don't want to be one of those girls who quit school because they meet a boy."

"I know. I'm sorry about that."

She groaned and wiped her eyes. "Gosh. I feel stupid."

"This isn't stupid." He held his arms out and they embraced one another again. He kissed her face and held her closely. She had taken a shower using the lavender water and smelled as beautiful as she looked. Arles had warned him that she would probably cry for no good reason at some point, he had just not expected it this early. All he wanted was for her to feel better and be happy.

He stroked her hair and after a bit, felt her relax in his arms. She looked back at him and smiled. "And my entire body is tingling."

"Yeah?" He asked in surprise.

"Yes. Just like when we're…."

"We're what?"

She laughed, "You know."

"That? Really? Just from me stroking your hair?"

She wiped her eyes. "Oh goodness. I'm sorry. I think I've lost my mind."

He smiled, "You have nothing to apologize for. I shouldn't have let you wake up alone. I'll try not to let it happen again. Alright?"

She nodded and his lips met hers just as the door to the med bay opened again.

The adult Genie walked in with a lovely, young lady of about ten years old.

"And it would be Gene!" Samuel cheered.

Genie giggled and hugged them. "Oh! I've missed you both!"

She stood back and took Karen and Samuel's hands in her own. "How are you feeling, Karen?"

Karen smiled. "I'm alright."

Genie's attention was back on her brother. "And you? All in one piece?"

"I'm pretty tough, Gene. Don't worry about me."

Genie shook her head, "Keep thinking that, and Karen and I will smack you."

Karen nodded. "I like this plan."

Samuel pointed at the young lady who was with Genie. "And who is this?"

Genie took her arm and pulled her to them. "This is Mari. Mari, this is Karen and Samuel."

Mari smiled and shook both of their hands. "It's nice to meet you."

"Mari's father, Lenox-"

Samuel pointed at her. "Lenox's Mari?"

"Yes. Has agreed to allow her to attend school with us."

Samuel still looked confused. "Gene-?"

Genie put her finger over his lips. "Hush!"

Karen looked back at Mari. "So, that would make Legate your Uncle, right?"

Mari smiled, "Yes, ma'am. He's teaching me all about space craft and such."

Samuel spoke from behind Genie's finger. "Karen, why don't you take Mari into the exam room and I'll be just there."

"Why?" Karen asked.

"I thought you may want another photo of the baby?"

Karen smiled, "Oh, Samuel. You read my mind."

Genie watched them walk away, "And we'll be straight there."

Samuel waited until they had left the room. "And you are completely mental. Mari? Here?"

Genie held out her hands. "Legate thinks it's brilliant."

"Brilliant? She drown! And we're taking her to an island? With water all around. Are both of you mental?"

Genie pointed at her brother. "This is the best thing we could do. Legate is going to teach her to swim to prevent that. You said yourself that you didn't think it was a fixed point."

"Oh, Gene. This is such a bad idea!"

"No, it's not! That little girl there has an entire future ahead of her now. We can prevent this from happening."

Samuel put his hands on his hips and sighed. "Gene-"

"What did Papa say to you? Legate told me to ask."

"Has he spoken to him?"

"You know they are always speaking to one another. I have no idea what's been said."

Samuel nodded. "That's probably for the best-"

Genie pointed at him. "We'll talk about this later."

Samuel grinned. "And did Arles tell you about the school."

Genie threw her hands up. "I can't even believe him! I leave for one bloody day and he blows up my damn school! What the hell is wrong with your brother-"

"Oh, he's my brother?"

She groaned. "He's with Legate. Recopying it. Oh, I'm going to smack him. What was he thinking? He could have hurt someone!"

Samuel smiled. "That's true."

"Ugh! I'll deal with him later! I want to see this baby. Come on."

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The Doctor carried the young Samuel into his nursery. His head lay on his Dad's shoulder as he slept.

The cot sat to one side, and there was now a small bed in the room, too. Samuel's elephant and rabbit both lay wanting for him. Rose pulled the blanket down, and the Doctor gently laid the sleeping toddler on the bed. He rubbed his face with his tiny fist and took a deep breath.

'The Nosferatu is asleep.' The Doctor teased.

Rose rolled her eyes and tucked the blanket around their son. 'He's not a vampire. Look, he's sleeping when it's dark.'

The Doctor stood up and put his hands on his hips. 'I know this guy. He'll be awake in about three hours. That's before the sun rises.'

Rose stood up and looked at him.

'That's when he'll be out for blood. He'll need to feed.' He put his hands up and made a face. "Blah!"

Rose laughed.

He looked around. 'Notice, there's no mirrors in here. I'm just saying-'

'Oh, shut up. Gosh.' Rose knelt down next to the bed and ran her hand across the baby's head. 'Is he telepathic?'

The Doctor shook his head, 'Samuel says he's not.'

'How could that even be possible?'

'Oh, it's possible.' He nodded.

Rose sighed. 'Could I sing in his head?'

'Yes. But-'

'He wouldn't hear it?'

'Oh, no. He'll hear it. But, he will also rise from his unearthly rest-'

'Oh, stop-'

'And begin to look for his next victim-'

Rose rolled her eyes.

'….to keep up all night.'

Rose's attention went back to their son. She ran her hand across his hair. 'He does look less like a baby.'

The Doctor could feel her sadness. 'He's getting older. Yes.'

'Are you sure he's old enough to sleep in his own room?'

He shrugged his shoulders. 'If you're not okay with it…'

'No. He should be in his own room. You're right.'

The Doctor's bracelet lit up. 'I need to ring Pete. I'll step out.'

He rang Pete, holding the phone to his ear, as he walked back into the hallway. He pressed a button at the top of the stairs that turned on the force field.

"Hey, Pete." He said as he walked to his and Rose's bedroom.

"Hey son. Torchwood is-"

"I'm drinking." He told him as he fell backwards on the bed and sighed.

"I knew you were going to say that."

The Doctor rubbed his eyes. "Yep."

"So, you can just check your messages." Pete ended the call.

"Ugh." He groaned as he flipped through the messages on his phone just as Rose walked into the room.

"What did Dad want?" She asked as she climbed onto the bed and lay next to him.

"Ah. These attacks that Ashena told us about already. Torchwood is just hearing of them." He rubbed his face.

Rose lay next to him, "Anything new?"

"Nah. Just more, mystery. Lartius wants to put an alert out for everyone, but Lenox feels that will make it look as though he's responsible for this."

Rose groaned. "I just can't even believe this. Who could be doing it?"

The Doctor shook his head as he looked through something on his phone. "I don't know."

The song, 'How Sweet it Is' started to play.

Rose rubbed her eyes. "How are you going to find out?"

He rolled off of the bed and took her hand. "First, I'm going to dance with my wife."

Rose smiled. "And that's going to help?"

"Yes." He told her as he danced and held out his hand. "Helps me think."

She gave him her hand and he pulled her into his arms. They both danced together.

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