Title: Domestic Space

Rating: T

Notes: Sequel to 'Domestic Battleground'. You must have read that in order to understand this.

Notes 2: The Doctor doesn't do domestic, not even now he's married to Rose. But he's about to find out just how domestic things can get – and Rose will find out just why he and the TARDIS don't do families…

Day One

The Doctor locked the TARDIS and cast a wary eye around. "If that kid puts graffiti on my ship again," he grumbled.

"He won't," Rose assured. "You warned him off." She slipped her arms around his waist and tilted her head up. "We, uh, ought to tell Mum about us, y'know."

The Doctor scowled. "Do we have to?"

"She's my Mum," Rose said, eyes wide. "And it has been six months. She ought to know." A smile curled her lips. Six months since they'd married in the chapel after her cousin's wedding. Six months of feeling secure in the knowledge that he did love her, after nearly two years of dancing around the subject. "It won't be that bad," she continued. "And I'll make it worth your while…"

He kissed her. "You'd better," he said when he pulled away, leaving her breathless. "I know this perfect spot, couple of galaxies over…"

She held up a finger. "Birthday with Mum first," she said firmly. "And you behave."

"Yes, dear," the Doctor smirked. He took her hand. "Into the Valley of Death."

"You be good," Rose scolded, setting off towards the estate and pulling him with her.

"I'm always good," he protested. "Except when I'm very, very bad."

She shot him an exasperated look. "Typical male," she pronounced. She started up the stairs, releasing his hand. "At least you're not obsessed with football," she continued.

"Nah, much more important things to see." They reached the flat and he paused. "Did you call and let her know we were coming?" he wanted to know.

"No," Rose said cheerfully, fitting her key into the lock and turning it. "Hello? Mum?" she called, stepping into the flat. "You here, Mum?"

"Rose?" There was a thump, and a moment later Jackie Tyler appeared. "Rose!" She hugged her daughter tight. "It's so good to see you! It's been months – why didn't you call?"

Rose smiled slightly. "Forgot. Sorry. Thought I'd come for my birthday." She frowned and looked back at the Doctor. "You did get the date right, didn't you?"

"He did," Jackie confirmed, smirking at the Doctor's outraged expression. "Your birthday's tomorrow."

"Rose!"

Rose blinked in surprise as cousins Izzy and Tim appeared in the entrance to the sitting room. "What are you two doing here?" she asked dumbly.

"We're going to a show tonight," Tim explained. "Came round to see Auntie Jackie first." He moved forward to hug his cousin. "You look well; where've you been this time, then?"

"Uh, Japan," Rose said, speaking the first name that came into her head. "Hey, Tim. Izzy." She hugged her favourite cousin. "I picked something tacky up for you," she said. "I'll bring it in later."

Izzy grinned. "Japan, huh? Have fun?" She looked at the Doctor, who was standing uncomfortably just inside the door. She laughed. "Poor thing!" she hooted. "You weren't expecting this much family, were you?"

"Just tell me Grandpa Mark's not here?" the Doctor said, a faint plea in his voice. Rose detached herself from Izzy and grinned at him.

"You've faced the stuff of nightmares, and you're scared of one old man?" she teased.

"Tylers are scary," he retorted. He eyed her mother. "Jackie," he greeted tersely.

"Doctor." She pursed her lips and looked him over. "You been sleeping? You look exhausted."

"Mum!" Rose exclaimed. "Do you have to?"

"Yes," Jackie said blithely. "Cup of tea?"

"Yeah, thanks," Rose nodded, letting Izzy pull her into the sitting room. She sent an apologetic look to the Doctor; he shrugged easily. "So, what've you guys been up to?"

"Doing my A levels," Izzy shrugged. "Working hard, that sort of thing." She grinned. "I got into Birmingham uni."

"Fantastic," Rose smiled. "What about you, Tim?"

"Not much," the other cousin shrugged. "Working on buying a house with a couple of other blokes. I got promoted, too."

"Great." Rose accepted the tea from her mother and curled up in the armchair. "Love interests?"

Tim poked Izzy, who flushed. "New boyfriend," she admitted. "He's…pretty cool."

"She's infatuated," Jackie proclaimed. "Remember you and Jimmy? Worse than that."

Rose raised an eyebrow. "I'm impressed," she commented. "Just don't leave school over him, yeah?"

"I wouldn't," Izzy shook her head. "I want to go into advertising, did I tell you that?" Rose shook her head. "I got a placement with Cadbury's for this summer."

"D'you get free chocolate?" the Doctor wanted to know, interested suddenly.

"Don't think so," Izzy shrugged. "How 'bout you, Rose? Anything special been going on?"

"No," Rose lied after a moment. "Nothing unusual. Just, y'know, travelling."

"You'll run out of places to go," Tim warned, leaning against a wall. "What'll you do then?"

Rose glanced up at the Doctor and smiled. "Never happen," she said, shaking her head again. "There's always somewhere else to see."

Rose stretched out on her bed, looking around at her bedroom. She didn't feel like this was her room anymore – it was a girl's room. The room of someone who hadn't seen what she had seen.

Izzy flopped next to her. "So, where've you been?" she asked. "Anywhere I might know?"

Rose smiled. "Nah. I can't name half of them – weird names. Besides, Tim might hear." She glanced at the door. Jackie was keeping Tim and the Doctor occupied so the cousins could catch up, but she knew her family well. "Just the usual. Saving planets, destroying governments, exposing corrupt officials."

"Visit any interesting times in history?" her cousin wanted to know, busying herself with plaiting Rose's hair. "You're careful, right? You remember that Blackadder episode where he messed it all up…"

"Very careful," Rose confirmed. "There's rules and things." And she followed them, usually. She fiddled with her rings. "Saw Elizabeth the first," she offered.

Izzy wasn't paying attention anymore. Her eyes were caught by the ring on Rose's finger.

"Rose," she began in a strange voice, "why've you got a ring on that finger?" Rose flushed. "You didn't. You didn't! Tell me your mum knows about this."

"No," Rose admitted, trying to hide her hand in her sleeve. "Don't you tell her either, yeah?"

"Tell me what?" Jackie asked from the bedroom door. Rose looked up guiltily. "Rose? What's going on?"

"Nothing, Mum," Rose said quickly. "Just…I got a new scar, s'all. On my arm." In the hallway behind Jackie, the Doctor flinched slightly. "Here, look," Rose continued, shoving her sleeve up. "It's fine. Not anything bad." She lowered her arm slowly, watching as her mother's gaze followed her hand. "Oh. Um. Listen, I can explain."

"Explain?" Jackie echoed. "Explain how you're wearing a wedding ring?" She rounded on the Doctor. "You!"

The Doctor took a step backwards, but Tim was behind him so he couldn't escape far. "Now, listen, Jackie," he said, trying to placate her. "It really isn't as –,"

She slapped him.

"Ouch!"

"Mum!" Rose exclaimed, getting off the bed and pushing past her mother. She caught the Doctor's chin and looked at his cheek. "You'll live," she told him, and turned to Jackie. "Mum!"

Jackie folded her arms. "This had better be good," she warned, fairly bristling with anger. "You come back here – after six months – and you're married to him!"

"Auntie Jackie, it was only a matter of time," Tim pointed out. "Anyone can see they're head over heels for each other."

"Stay out of it, Tim," Jackie said crisply. "I'm talking to my daughter."

"I'm not a child, Mum," Rose snapped. "I can make my own decisions. I love you, you're my Mum, but you don't get to decide what's right for me anymore." Her hand flew to her mouth and she looked horrified at the words she'd said. "I didn't – I don't –" She faltered at the look on Jackie's face; she was never gladder of the Doctor's comforting presence at her side, arm slipping around her waist.

Silence reigned in the flat. Rose and Jackie stared at each other. Izzy shifted, uncomfortable, on the bed.

"I didn't mean to come here and say that," Rose said at last. "I'm sorry, Mum. But I love him, and I married him, and I can't let you stop me being happy."

"Rose, that's the last thing I want," Jackie exclaimed, shocked at the thought. "I just…why didn't you tell me? You don't think I'd want to be there, for my only child's wedding?"

"It just…happened," Rose tried to explain. "We didn't think about it, it just…"

"Just happened," the Doctor nodded.

Jackie closed her eyes. "When?"

Rose shifted awkwardly. "Uh…six months ago." She grabbed the Doctor's hand. "After…after Bella's wedding."

Izzy shook her head incredulously. "How?" she demanded. "Without anyone knowing?"

"It was while everyone was going to the reception," the Doctor volunteered.

Jackie folded her arms. "Well?" she demanded, staring at the Doctor. "You love her, then?"

"Yes," the Doctor said immediately. "Always have, always will." Rose drew closer to him, and he held her tightly.

"But it's not safe."

"That's not important," Rose said softly. "Not…not with him."

Jackie's eyes narrowed. "Just tell me you're not pregnant," she said demandingly.

The Doctor choked. "You're not, are you?" he asked.

Rose looked as appalled as he did. "No!" She pulled away and turned to face him. "Why, wouldn't you want my baby?"

Faced with glares from two Tyler women, the Doctor did the only thing he could possibly do. He rummaged in his pocket and pulled out a packet of sweets.

"Jellybean?" he asked, a hint of desperation in his voice. Behind him Tim guffawed.

"You'll never get out of this one," he said cheerfully. "I'm hungry; anyone want Chinese?"

"Sweet and sour pork," Rose said quickly, throwing a thankful look at her cousin. "Ooh, and prawn crackers. I love them." She slipped past the Doctor and joined Tim in the sitting room. "I'll come with you," she offered.

"You're not going anywhere," Jackie ruled. "Tim and Izzy can go for Chinese." She grabbed the Doctor's arm and pushed him into the sitting room. "You, sit," she said firmly to Rose, and shoved the Doctor onto the couch. Rose sat next to him, scratching nervously behind her ear. "Tim, you buy it and I'll pay you back, yeah?"

Tim nodded. "Sure, Auntie Jackie. Anyone want anything special?" The Doctor opened his mouth to answer, but Jackie glared at him and he subsided. "Okay. We'll be back in half an hour or so." He jerked his head at the door. "C'mon, Izzy."

The two cousins departed. Rose curled her feet under her, watching her mother carefully.

"I was going to tell you," she said after a moment. "When we came back – and this is the first time, so…"

"But you didn't tell me, Rose," Jackie reminded her wearily. "I found out." She sat down. "Look, I'm happy for you," she said, unconvincingly. "But I just…" She spared the Doctor a cursory glance. "He's an alien, Rose."

Rose grinned. "Not so much. Not after some of the things I've seen." She glanced sideways at her husband – and she'd never get over thinking or saying that! – and smirked. "At least he isn't blue."

The Doctor frowned slightly. "What's wrong with being blue?" he wanted to know.

"Nothing," Rose said airily. "Just, y'know, aside from the obvious? They're all so…" She cast about for the right word. "Small."

Jackie smiled sadly. She'd accepted the loss of her daughter months before, but seeing her like this was like a kick in the guts. She sometimes wondered whether they'd all be better off if Rose just didn't come home again.

Jackie had finally stopped asking about the marriage, and whether Rose was sure about it and about the Doctor, and they'd all enjoyed the Chinese for lunch – including the Doctor. Rose didn't think he particularly minded Tim and Izzy, even if he still did proclaim loudly and vehemently that he didn't do domestic.

In fact, he'd been enjoying arguing the respective merits of iPods over other MP3 players with Tim so much that Rose had felt able to slip down to the TARDIS to pick up her gift for Izzy.

She hadn't expected to find Mickey perched on the dustbin by the TARDIS, reading a paper and waiting for her.

"Mickey," she called out, shoving her hands in her pockets and slowing slightly. "Hi."

Mickey looked up, a grin on his face. "Rose! Didn't know if you were in there or not," he indicated the TARDIS, "and no-one answered when I knocked, so…"

"We're visiting Mum," Rose said. "For my birthday."

"Right, that's tomorrow," Mickey nodded.

"You been here long?" Rose wanted to know. She felt slightly uncomfortable with Mickey now. Technically speaking, she'd never officially broken up with him…

"Nah, just a few minutes," Mickey shook his head. "So, how's things?"

Rose smiled. "Great," she said. "I'm having a fantastic time. It's just amazing. The things I've seen…" She patted the TARDIS fondly.

"Yeah?" Mickey smiled. "Almost makes me wish I'd come with you." He looked a little uncomfortable suddenly. "Only, I, uh…I met someone."

Rose gave a genuine smile. "Good," she said sincerely. "I'm glad. I am," she assured on his sceptical look. "I, um…" She pulled her left hand out of her pocket. "I, uh, got married…"

Mickey gaped, but only for a moment. "He married you? Mister I don't do domestic? Got married?"

"He asked, actually," Rose grinned. "Been six months now." She hesitated, then moved forward and hugged him. "I do miss you."

"Yeah?" Mickey scratched his nose awkwardly. "Well, I…I miss you too." He slipped off the bin and shoved his hands in his pockets. "So how'd Jackie take the news?"

Rose's face scrunched up in amusement. "She slapped him again. Honestly, my Mum…"

"Scary woman," Mickey agreed fervently. "She's insane, she is."

"Nah, just protective," Rose shook her head. "So who's this new girl, then?"

"Uh, Nadia." He gave a smile. "Y'know, works at the radio station." Rose nodded; she had a dim recollection of the girl in question. "She's brilliant."

"You happy, then?" she wanted to know.

"Yeah," he nodded. He looked at her carefully; more carefully that he usually did. "You? Does he make you happy?"

Rose nodded. "Yeah, he does," she confirmed. "He –"

"Rose!"

Rose rolled her eyes. "He can be a bit jealous," she murmured, turning to watch the Doctor as he approached. "Sorry," she called out. "Didn't mean to be so long. Ran into Mickey."

"Right." The Doctor looked Mickey over. "Ricky. How's it going?"

"It's Mickey," the Londoner corrected, but with a thread of amusement in his voice. "I'm good, Doctor. You?"

"Fine." The Doctor slipped an arm around Rose, and she elbowed him in the stomach. "Ow! What was that for?"

"Mickey was just telling me about his new girlfriend," she said, a warning glint in her eyes. "Nadia. Works at the radio station. Dyes her hair crazy colours."

The Doctor relaxed slightly, noticeable only to Rose who knew him well. "Oh. Good for you, Mickey," he nodded. "You keeping up with that website?"

"What website?" Rose demanded, as Mickey looked a little sheepish. "Mickey? What website?"

"I couldn't do it," Mickey told the Doctor. "I couldn't wipe it all. People deserve to know."

The Doctor raised his eyebrows. "Oh, and what about the dangerous bit?"

The human shrugged. "It's not that bad. Haven't had any governments knocking on my door, have I? Nobody cares about some idiot's website, do they?"

"Website about what?" Rose questioned.

"I'll have to post the good news," Mickey went on, a sly smile tugging at his mouth. "'Bout you and Rose getting married."

"It's a website about the Doctor?" Rose worked out, looking from human to alien and back again.

"Don't you dare," the Doctor said quickly, looking horrified. "I've got a reputation to maintain, me."

"Yeah, intergalactic playboy," Rose rolled her eyes. "I'm going to get that thing for Izzy." She opened the door of the TARDIS, then looked back. "You two behave," she warned. "I won't be five minutes."

"No, wait, I'm coming in too," the Doctor said quickly. "Nice to see you again, Mickey. Now run home."

Rose scowled. "Stop winding him up," she ordered.

"Yes, dear."

Mickey laughed. "You're nuts, you two," he proclaimed. "I'm off. Maybe see you before you disappear again, Rose?"

"Sure," she nodded. "We'll be here a couple of days." The Doctor mumbled something and she poked his shoulder. "We will be," she reiterated. "Bye, Mickey."

The Doctor scowled. He looked, Rose thought privately, like a little boy sulking. Which probably wasn't too far from the truth.

"I don't see why we have to do this," he complained, hands in his pockets as he trailed the three cousins.

"You don't have to come," Izzy threw back, smirking. "But Rose is."

"Not going to miss this," Rose nodded. "And you can either come, or go sulk." She reached a hand back; he took it automatically. "It'll be fun," she tried to persuade him. "It's s'posed to be this really romantic musical, and a meal…"

"With them?" he demanded, glancing at Tim and Izzy. "Hmph."

Tim smirked, keeping his face ahead. "Just pretend we're part of the furniture. Walls or something." He stopped and looked back. "Only, uh, visible bits of furniture that have no desire to see Rose and her hubby doing anything."

Rose grinned; the Doctor sulked.

"It'll be good," Izzy said in a no-nonsense manner that was eerily reminiscent of the three aunts, Jackie, Julie and Bridget. "We got good seats, and it's 'Phantom'. Good music. I'm not a musicals person generally, but…"

"Did you see the film? With Emmy Rossum?" Tim wanted to know.

"Oh, what's-his-name was so cool as the Phantom," Rose gushed. "They did that so well. He was just gorgeous!"

"Oi!" the Doctor said indignantly. "D'you mind?"

"Not at all," Rose said, smiling up at him. "You're the only bloke for me." She laughed suddenly. "Look, isn't that – "

The Doctor shook his head in amusement. "I told you; it stays there for years." He paused, looking at the restaurant. "We should eat there. Good food."

Izzy scoffed. "On our budget? Are you kidding me?"

The Doctor shrugged. "My treat. What d'you say?"

Tim looked sceptically at the restaurant. "Looks like the kind of place you have to have a reservation," he commented.

"I've got one," the Doctor shrugged.

"Standing reservation," Rose explained. "He's, uh, friends with the owners."

"Sort of," the Doctor nodded. "Shall we?" He strode towards the building, pulling Rose along with him. She sent apologetic looks back at her cousins, who trailed along.

"Woah," Izzy whispered as they stepped through the glass doors. "This is so cool."

The Doctor rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah." He approached the maitre'd. "Table, please, for four."

The man looked him over, clearly unimpressed. "Do you have a reservation?"

"Sort of. I'm the Doctor."

The man did a double take. "The Doctor? Of course, sir. If you will wait here for one moment…" He disappeared through a door, and the Doctor grinned at Rose. She shook her head in amusement.

"You're so full of it," she told him.

"Who the hell are you?" Tim asked in amazement. "You're just – "

"Yup," the Doctor nodded. The man returned and led them through the restaurant. "Food's great," he enthused. "Just, uh, keep Rose away from the red wine."

"It was only once," Rose said, trying to look like a victim. "And you were the one who ordered it. And besides, that was three hu – " She cut herself off quickly. "Ages ago," she said instead.

Tim gave her a weird look and sat down at the table. "Okay," he shrugged. "So, we getting starters?"

"Ooh, do they still do those prawns in that sauce?" Rose wanted to know, surveying the menu.

"You're not getting those," the Doctor said at once.

"Why not?" she asked, frowning at him. He looked pointedly at her, and she nodded, flushing. "Alright. Fine. No prawns." She looked studiously at the menu.

Izzy shook her head, grinning widely. "You guys are so insane," she proclaimed. "I love it!"

It was nearly one by the time they got back to the estate, and if Tim thought to question why Rose and the Doctor didn't go up to the flat with he and Izzy, he didn't say anything. Rose and the Doctor made sure the cousins were both well out of sight before they entered the TARDIS.

"There," Rose smiled. "That wasn't so bad, yeah?"

The Doctor scowled and checked something at the console. "Yeah, yeah. We have to be here all day tomorrow?"

"You're the one that said I needed a break," Rose pointed out. "And it is my birthday tomorrow." She frowned slightly. "So…how old am I, again?"

"Twenty two." He glanced up at her. "Real time and your Mum's time." He finished what he was doing and held a hand out to her. "Glad you had fun," he said sincerely. "You look tired."

Rose shrugged, yawning, and moved to lean into him. "Not that tired," she denied. "Bed?"

"Definitely."

Please review! Next part up within a few days, revision allowing. Stupid exams...