Title: Domestic Battleground
Rating: T – not suitable for younger children, because I have a dirty mind.
Summary: The Doctor promised Jackie he'd take Rose back for special occasions. But a whole week with her family? Will he survive, and more importantly, will Rose?
Notes: Day Four. Family, Monopoly, and suits.
Day Four
"Michelle's broken her arm! Bella's going nuts!"
Rose blinked blearily. "Izzy? What –"
"Michelle's broken her arm," Izzy repeated. "Auntie Julie's gone to the hospital with her, Bella's freaking out, and Auntie Jackie wants you two to go to the hospital too, 'cos Auntie Julie's in a state but no-one else can be spared."
Rose made some sort of noise.
"C'mon, get dressed," Izzy said impatiently. "And later I want to talk to you about this whole alien thing."
She left, slamming the door behind her.
Rose groaned and pulled the blankets up over her head. They were promptly pulled down again.
"Just 'cos you don't need much sleep is no reason to deprive the rest of us," she groused. "Go away."
"You heard the girl. Up, Rose."
"No." She tried to pull the blankets back towards herself. He held them tight. "Doctor," she murmured, trying not to whine. "Please."
He leaned over and kissed her nose. "Good morning," he said in a cheery voice. "Sleep well?" She yawned and tried to move closer to him, keeping her eyes closed. "Uh uh, Rose. Up!"
"I'm up," she murmured, opening her eyes at last. "Why am I up at –" she checked her watch, "- half ten?" She sat up. "You let me sleep in," she accused.
The Doctor grinned. "Yep."
She shook her head, bemused. "Why?"
He got off the bed. "I, um…was watching you sleep."
Rose accepted this with a smile, and stretched out. She felt rather as though she might be glowing from happiness. It was silly, she told herself. She shouldn't be this happy just because –
Just because the Doctor loved her back. He hadn't said so, of course, and she hadn't said it to him. But she knew it. Every inch of her told her so.
They'd spent the afternoon avoiding her family (particularly Izzy and Grandpa Mark), talking about where they'd go once this was over, and making out. By the end of the evening he had been topless, and her t-shirt had also been abandoned somewhere.
That, Rose nodded to herself, had been good. The months of sexual tension had barely been abated, but it had been…fantastic, to borrow the Doctor's word.
"C'mon, then," he said, breaking into her thoughts. "You've got to go to the hospital."
"Alright," she yawned, practically falling off the bed. "What're you gonna do?"
"Avoid your family."
She grinned and motioned for him to turn around while she got dressed. "Might be a good idea. No idea what I'm going to say to Izzy and Grandpa." She buttoned her jeans and pulled a clean t-shirt on. "S'gonna be worse than it was with Mum." She crossed the room and took his hand. He pulled her into his arms and she gave a contented sigh. "So, what're you going to do?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Will you ever give over being curious?"
"Probably. When you give over being full of it."
"Fair enough." He tilted her chin up and kissed her. "I'll probably have a tinker with the TARDIS. She's acting up again – I know how you feel about the landings."
"Black and blue," Rose nodded. "I've still got bruises from this last one." She pulled her sleeve up to inspect her shoulder. His fingers ghosted over the fading bruise. "Just don't disappear off, alright?"
"I promise." The Doctor looked at her seriously. "I won't. I couldn't. Not now." Then he turned light-hearted again. "C'mon. Off to the hospital – and don't get any ideas about being a patient, either."
"Would I do that?" she teased, going to put her shoes on.
"Yes!" He glared. "Do I need to remind you about the little incident at the end of the world?"
She snorted. "What about you and – well, every time, really." She tilted her head. "You'd be dead if it wasn't for me," she reminded him smugly.
"Yes, I would." He gazed at her, serious again. She was used to his quicksilver moods, and simply nodded.
Rose ran a hand through her hair. "Grandpa, is this really the right time?" she demanded.
Mark folded his arms. "Yes," he said sternly. "I want some answers, young lady, and you will give them to me. Now is as good a time as any. Michelle's fine, and they won't be out for another hour at least." He leaned back on the bench. "Sit down."
Reluctantly Rose obeyed, knowing better than to try to avoid his investigation. When Grandpa Mark wanted something, he got it one way or another.
"So," Mark started. "Alien." Rose nodded silently. "From…where, exactly?"
"His planet doesn't exist anymore," she said. "It was destroyed. There was a war." Her face darkened. She knew much more about that now than she had when she'd first started travelling with the Doctor. "He's the only survivor."
His shock showed on his face. "The only one – of the whole planet?"
She nodded. "Yes."
Mark closed his eyes. "I was the only one of my unit left, during the war…but the only one of the planet?"
"It's a terrible feeling," Rose said softly. "You're all alone. There's nothing left. All that history, the culture…everything is gone. In the blink of an eye it's all been wiped out, and all that's left is you, and you might not last all that long anyway."
His eyes narrowed. "Rose –"
"It's a time machine," Rose interrupted. "Mum told you that, right? He's a time traveller; he goes all over the universe, all over time. And I go with him." She looked down at her hands, fiddling with her ring. "It's amazing, Grandpa."
"It's not safe, though." Jackie had told him that, yesterday. "Why do you go?"
"I love it," she said honestly. "The things I've seen and done…it's a thrill, and it's an eye-opener, and it's – "
"Him," Mark deduced. "You love him?" Rose nodded. "Hmph. He loves you?"
"I think so." Rose shrugged. "I mean…we haven't…he doesn't do the whole emotions thing. But yeah, I think he does."
Mark tapped her shoulder. "Is it worth it, Rose? He's…an alien."
"He's the Doctor," Rose disagreed. "That's all." She watched the cars pass them by. "He's…if you knew him the way I do, Grandpa…"
"I have a suspicion that no one knows him the way you do," Mark said astutely.
She shrugged. "Dunno. Probably the only one alive." She looked up at the sky; it was clear and blue, but she didn't see it. She saw the stars and nebulae and planets and possibilities.
"Jackie said you've nearly died."
Rose didn't want to answer that, so she kept her eyes on the silver BMW that was passing. Yes, of course she'd nearly died, many times. That's what happened when you travelled with the Doctor. Clive had been right, all those months ago. The Doctor's only constant companion was Death.
But she'd steered cleared of that fate so far, and she knew he'd keep her alive for as long as was within his abilities.
"Rose?"
Rose shrugged. "S'not important, Grandpa. It's just not."
"It is to us," Mark said quietly. "To the people you're leaving behind."
She closed her eyes. "I am leaving you behind," she acknowledged. "I love you, Grandpa – I love all of you. But he's…"
"He's it." Mark looked every inch of his age for a moment. "It was like that when I met your grandmother. I just knew. She was it. I would have faced Hell itself for her – I still would."
"That's it exactly," Rose nodded. "I'd die for him. Without a doubt."
Her grandfather nodded, then looked up. "Well, then," he greeted the newcomer. "Welcome to the family, sonny."
The Doctor looked horrified. "Oh god, no," he said flatly. "No way. Rose, no way."
Rose grinned. "S'alright," she consoled. "We don't have to come back for ages and ages after this." She stood up. "What've you got there?" He was holding a plastic bag. "S'not gonna explode, is it?"
"That was just the once," he said crossly, and glanced at Mark to make sure he was all right. The elderly man was watching them with both bemusement and amusement. "Besides, that was quite useful, really."
Rose conceded the point. "So, what is it?"
He shrugged, somewhat sheepishly. "Uh, present." She raised an eyebrow. "Well, I was shopping, and I just thought…well…it's not going to be fun for your cousin, in a cast for the wedding." He pulled a stuffed toy from the bag. "Well, everyone likes Pooh Bear…"
Rose shook her head in amusement. "You're such an idiot," she said fondly. "I do love you."
They both froze, startled. She hadn't meant to say it, and he wasn't expecting to hear it. It was said now, though, and by the smile that shaped his face, Rose thought that maybe he didn't mind.
"That's good," he said after a moment. "You done here yet?"
Mark waved her away. "Go, go," he allowed. "They'll be out soon enough. Enjoy the solitude while you can."
Rose grinned at him and joined the Doctor.
Rose watched Izzy pacing from her position on the grass in Bridget's back garden. It was really weird how much Izzy resembled Jackie right now, she mused. Almost scary, in fact.
"So," Izzy began. "This guy you've been swanning off with isn't a guy, he's an alien." Rose nodded, not feeling the need to verbally answer. The sun on her face was making her drowsy. "And he's…what, a time traveller?"
"Time Lord," Rose corrected lazily. "But basically, yeah."
"And you've been off seeing the galaxy?"
"Universe." Rose yawned. "S'very interesting."
"And that blue box…that's his space ship?"
"Yup. The TARDIS." Rose stretched out. The grass was deliciously warm. "S'bigger on the inside. Bedrooms, library, gym, swimming pool…"
"Swimming pool?" Izzy flopped onto the ground with a grin. "You and he go swimming, then?"
"Nah." Rose closed her eyes. "Too busy. Always somewhere else to see." She paused. "You okay?"
"Yeah…no…I dunno," Izzy admitted. "I mean, Tim's always going on about aliens, but I never thought…"
"Neither did I, 'til I met him," Rose agreed. "S'not something you think about, is it? Space ships and travelling to other planets and things. The aliens I've seen…s'like something out of Star Trek, or something."
"But why did you go with him?" Izzy wanted to know. "Two years ago – why did you go?"
Rose opened her eyes and looked up at the sky. That day. Two years ago, according to her family. It seemed longer to her, somehow. She had been so young back then. So naïve.
"Mum likes to think it was because of him," she said slowly. "Because of the Doctor. But it wasn't. Not really. Maybe a bit, but there were other reasons. All sorts of things that sort of…became clear. I looked at myself and didn't like what I was turning into. I didn't want to spend the next ten years in a shop folding clothes or working a till. I didn't want to live on the estate and have a boyfriend and then get married and have kids and give up my dreams. I didn't just want to be Rose Tyler, dropout and next in line for normal domestic life. I wanted more."
"That's why I asked you to come with me."
Rose sat up. The Doctor was without his jacket for once, and was looking at her intently.
"That's why I asked you," he repeated. "Because I knew you didn't want all this." His hand swept out, encompassing the house, garden, and neighbourhood. "I could see it, when you helped me with the Autons. You loved it – you felt alive for the first time in your life. There was no way you were going to be able to go back to your boring life after that."
Rose reached her hand out to him, and he took it. "I'm glad you asked me," she said seriously. "I wouldn't miss all this for anything."
He gave a rather goofy grin that disappeared rather rapidly when she pulled him down onto the grass next to her.
"Ooff." He hit the ground. "Rose! What'd you do that for?"
She grinned. "No reason." She pushed him onto his back and snuggled against him.
"Get a room," Izzy complained good-naturedly. "Or actually, don't, the guest bedroom's right above mine."
Rose flung an arm out and half-heartedly poked her. "Watch it," she said lazily.
"Yeah, yeah," Izzy said. "So where've you guys been? Have you met any famous dead people?"
"Oh god," Rose groaned.
"Charles Dickens!" the Doctor enthused. "That was fantastic! He was such a genius!"
"Yeah, that was an interesting experience," Rose remembered. "I was almost smothered by aliens in dead bodies trying to take over Earth."
"I apologised," the Doctor said sulkily.
"Okay," Izzy said quickly. "On second thoughts, forget I asked."
"Probably a good idea," Rose agreed. The Doctor's arm was securing her to him, and his heartbeats sounded in her ear. "S'all very complicated, anyway."
"It isn't," the Doctor contradicted.
"Maybe not to a Time Lord," Rose allowed sleepily. "Even if you weren't, you've got – what, eight hundred and eighty years of experience on me?"
Izzy sat up. "Eight hundred and – you're nine hundred years old?" she demanded.
"Thereabouts," the Doctor affirmed.
"That's so mental."
"Doesn't matter," Rose dismissed. "Hush up, I'm trying to nap."
"Comfy pillow, am I?" the Doctor jested.
"The best." She snuggled closer. "You don't mind, do you?"
"Nah." He aimed for nonchalant, but didn't quite pull it off. His free hand moved to stroke her hair gently. He glanced over at Izzy. "You alright?" he checked.
"It's really weird," Izzy said, pushing herself upright. "But you make Rose happy, and that's what's important." She headed indoors. "I'll see you later," she called back.
Rose hummed and slipped her hand under the Doctor's jumper, drawing random patterns on his skin.
"How'd it go with the battleaxe?"
"He's not that bad," she protested. "And he's…I think he's in a bit of shock, to be honest – Izzy too. But I don't care."
"Good." He didn't look at her when she opened her eyes curiously. "I can't let you go, Rose. Not now."
"How did it take us this long?" Rose asked softly. He didn't have an answer for her.
"Dammit, who owns Fleet Street?"
"Me," Anna sang out happily. She checked the card. "Twenty one pounds, please!"
Josh counted out the paper money and handed it to her. "I'll get you when you land on the greens," he promised.
"Don't say something that isn't true," Izzy grinned, rolling the dice. "Ha! Double!" She avoided landing on Oxford Street or neighbours and rolled again. She stared, counted the squares, and swore.
"Izzy," Bridget scolded. "Not in front of the kids."
"I'm not a kid," Anna scowled.
"But it's not fair," Izzy said, not quite whining. "He's got two hotels on them already!" She moved the tiny iron along the board, landing on Park Lane with bad grace. "How much, then?" she demanded.
The Doctor grinned and told her. "I like this game," he said as Izzy paid up.
"Only 'cos you're winning," Rose commented. "You hate money, I know you do."
"Ah, but this isn't real," he pointed out. "And doesn't have pictures of monarchs on."
Rose stuck her tongue out and rolled the dice. She was sitting next to the Doctor at the kitchen table, where Bridget's family was playing Monopoly. It was comfortable and – dare she think it? – domestic. She was rather surprised the Doctor was having as much fun as he was – but then, Tommy had been carefully seated as far as possible from him. He and Anna were playing together.
A three, and she landed on the Community Chest square. "You win local beauty pageant, collect ten pounds," she read out. "Ha! Me?" She took ten pounds from Bridget, who was being the bank. "Thanks, Auntie." She got up. "Anyone want a cuppa?" she asked.
"Milk, no sugar," the Doctor said absently, watching Anna roll the dice. "Don't suppose there's any chocolate biscuits?"
"Second cupboard to the left," Bridget told her niece. "Thanks, Rose." Anna finished her go, and Bridget took her turn. "How the –" She shook her head in disbelief, landed on Vine Street, and handed over some money to the Doctor.
"I'd give up," Rose advised. "He's a genius."
"Not really," the Doctor said absently. "Josh, your go."
Josh rolled, groaned, and mortgaged one of his properties to pay Rose rent.
"How am I doing?" Rose asked, bringing mugs over to the table. She gave the plate of biscuits to the Doctor. "Don't eat them all," she admonished.
Izzy took her turn. "Who owns the electric company?" she inquired.
"Ooh, that's me," Rose said. "And the waterworks, too, so that's twelve times nine, which is…?" she trailed off, looking expectantly at the Doctor.
"A hundred and eight quid," he said absently, debating the respective merits of a bourbon cream and a chocolate digestive. Rose made the decision for him by taking the digestive. "Oi!"
"You don't have to decide now," she pointed out. "Your go."
He grumbled and rolled, moving the tiny top hat along the board. He landed on Trafalgar Square and handed over some cash to Anna. "I might have wanted the digestive," he complained.
"Well, you can have the bourbon," Rose said implacably. She frowned. "We've been going out of turn," she observed.
"No we haven't," Tommy said at once.
"We have, look – the Doctor missed a turn, after Izzy landed on Park Lane."
"Doesn't matter," Josh said at once. "He's winning, he can do without a turn."
"That's not fair," Anna said worriedly. She was very obsessed with fair and the concepts of right and wrong at the moment. "He should have an extra go."
The Doctor gave a lopsided smile. "S'alright, Anna," he said cheerfully. "I don't mind. Tell you what, how 'bout I have the last biscuit to make up for it?"
"Chocolate slut," Rose murmured, low enough that only the Doctor could hear. He grinned at her. "My turn," she said louder. "Pass over those dice." She rolled and landed on Pall Mall. "Who owns that?" she asked.
"I do!" the Doctor said triumphantly. "Hand it over, Rose."
"I think this game is having a bad influence on you," she commented wryly, counting out more paper money. "In fact, I know it is." She passed the dice over to Tommy, who rolled and landed on Go. "D'you have any brownies left, Auntie?" she asked.
"No," Bridget shook her head, taking her turn. "Somebody must have eaten them all."
All eyes turned to the Doctor, who ignored them and collected fifty pounds from Josh.
"I'm bankrupt," Josh declared in frustration. "I'm out."
Izzy frowned. "You are?" She looked at his cards – he'd had to sell or mortgage all of his properties, and he had one blue five pound note left. "Oh, you are." She sounded rather impressed.
Anna yawned, and Bridget looked at her watch. "Bedtime in ten minutes," she said authoritatively. "Whoever's got the most cash then, wins. No arguments," she added quickly as Tommy opened his mouth. "It's the rehearsal tomorrow, you need your energy."
"Alright," Tommy agreed gloomily. "But it's stupid. The Doctor's won."
"I have," the Doctor agreed smugly. "Come on, Izzy, your go."
Izzy rolled, landed on the waterworks, and swore. Bridget didn't even bother to reprimand her eldest child as she sold a house from Leicester Square to pay Rose her due.
Ten minutes later, Anna and Tommy were also bankrupt. Bridget ordered everyone else to count up their cash.
"Three hundred and forty-one," Izzy announced gloomily. "I've lost, then.
"No, I've only got one hundred and three," Bridget countered. "Rose?"
Rose was grinning. "Two thousand, three hundred and ninety-three," she reported gleefully. "Beat that, Doctor!"
The Doctor looked up from his money. "Two thousand, three hundred and twelve," he said after a moment. "You win."
Izzy gave a happy shriek and pulled Rose out of her chair. The two danced around the kitchen, pretending not to hear Bridget's order for them to stop. The mother gave up after a moment and ordered Anna and Tommy upstairs.
"Teeth and pyjamas," she ordered. "Quick march, now!" She started packing away the game, but stopped when she saw the Doctor's pile of money.
There were three pink pieces of paper – three thousand pounds of Monopoly money. She raised an eyebrow at the Doctor, who gave a half-shrug and continued watching Rose. Bridget smiled internally. She approved of the Doctor, she thought to herself. Rose deserved someone like him.
Later, curled up in the Doctor's arms in the guest bedroom, Rose asked why he'd been so good about playing Monopoly.
"I know you hate stuff like that," she said softly.
The Doctor didn't answer for a moment. "Rose – it's not that I hate it, I just…it all reminds me of…"
"Home," she completed for him. "I'm sorry."
"No, don't be," he said quickly. "S'not your fault, is it?"
"I'd hope not."
"No. It was quite fun, actually – Monopoly, I mean. It changes a lot, I'd forgotten how simple it is in the twenty-first century."
Rose giggled. "Simple! You're so weird."
"Thanks. I think." He pulled her closer. "Too weird?"
"Never." She tilted her head up and kissed him. "God, I love being able to do that," she said afterwards. She yawned and settled her head onto his chest. "S'the rehearsal tomorrow," she reminded him. A thought occurred to her. "Do you have a suit?" she asked.
"A suit?" The Doctor was highly sceptical.
"Yes, a suit."
"What's wrong with my normal clothes?"
Rose rolled her eyes even though he couldn't see it. "If I have to wear that bridesmaid's dress – "
"Can you even call it that?"
"Then you have to wear a suit," Rose continued doggedly. "Besides, you look well sexy in a suit."
He smirked. "I'll see what I can rustle up. Any other plans for tomorrow?"
"Um." Rose had to think for a minute; she was nearly asleep. "Oh, Bella's…thing. Last fling as a single woman, or something. Not a proper hen party, just us cousins – the older ones. You're invited too." She nuzzled closer, yawning. "You can drink vodka, right?"
"Vodka?" he echoed questioningly, to no avail. Rose was asleep.
Please review! Enjoy 'Dalek', or if you've already seen it by the time you read this, I hope you enjoyed 'Dalek'!
Next part out within a few days.
