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…

Notes 3: I have no excuse, except that life went down the drain in a major way. I didn't get the grades I needed for uni, my depression came back almost worse than ever before, and life has been, basically, a load of rubbish. I stayed with Steviesun recently, and she started the muses talking again. It's all her fault grins blame her.

Day Five
Rose shifted slightly on the uncomfortable bed and sighed softly. The Doctor lay behind her, immersed in reading something. He was also ignoring her, and Rose felt rather as though she didn't deserve it.

Especially since, she thought crossly five minutes later, after flushing the toilet and rinsing her mouth out, she was going to be giving birth in seven months. He damn well ought to be pampering her.

A hand touched her shoulder briefly before rubbing her back. She hummed and leaned back against him. His arms went around her, hands moving to rest on her stomach. She closed her eyes and put her hands over his.

"There's a baby growing in there," the Doctor murmured.

"Yes," she acknowledged, carefully keeping her tone as neutral as she could. "Our baby."

"I really didn't think it was possible," he admitted. "I thought…I mean, humans and Gallifreyans are compatible, I knew that, but…"

"You never thought it would happen to you," Rose nodded. "Me neither." She turned her head so her cheek rubbed against his chest. "You don't mind, do you?"

"Of course not!" The answer came so quickly, and he was so adamant, that Rose was reassured. She relaxed against him and smiled. "You didn't think I wouldn't want this child, did you?"

"I don't know," Rose said slowly. "You always say you don't do domestic…"

"Oh, Rose…" He trailed off, and his arms held her a little tighter. "You're – it's – " He tried to put into words what he was feeling. In the end he turned her around and kissed her. Her arms went around his neck easily. "I love you," he muttered when they separated. "And a baby – our baby. It's incredible."

"People call babies miracles," Rose said with a slight laugh. "And this one…there's another Time Lord –"

"Or Lady," the Doctor put in quickly.

"So you're not alone anymore," Rose finished, ignoring his interruption.

"Rose…I wasn't alone." He cupped her cheek with his hand and seemed to look into her. "I have you."

She was just about to reach up to kiss him when the bedroom door was flung open and Izzy bounced in.

"Morning!" she said. "Sleep well? How's the baby? You'll never guess what I've found!"

Rose blinked and pulled her robe tighter around her. "Izzy?" she questioned cautiously.

"She ate something," reported Tim, who had followed Izzy in. "Sorry. I'm trying to keep control of her. She's worse than the twins on sugar."

"I knew I shouldn't have brought you two," the Doctor grumbled. He moved around the bed and pulled his jumper on. "Would you get out?"

"Doctor," Rose scolded. A moment later she returned to the toilet and threw up.

"Ew," Izzy said cheerfully. "I'm gonna go find Paul, I've worked out a loophole he can exploit!" She left the bedroom. Tim, with an exasperated look, followed her. The Doctor watched as Rose washed out her mouth.

"We really need to get you to the TARDIS," he muttered.

"We need to find that time jumper," Rose countered. "That's a bit more important, isn't it?"

"Nothing's more important than you," the Doctor said honestly. He picked up the length of material – her dress – that she'd discarded the night before. "How do you put this thing on, then?"

"With difficulty," Rose said. She disrobed, took the material from him, and started wrapping it around herself. "So, what're we doing today?"

"I'm going looking for the time jumper," the Doctor said absently, watching as Rose was shrouded in cotton. "You're going to sit very still and not do anything dangerous."

"Like hell," came Rose's cheerful reply. "I'm going to help Izzy and Tim in trying to find something to help these people."

"Rose," the Doctor began sternly. "I know you want to help, but – "

"But nothing," Rose interrupted him. "Doctor, why am I here if you won't let me help?" She pinned the dress at her shoulder and ran a hand through her tangled hair. "Theta. You promised. You said I could help." She crossed the room and stood in front of him. His hands rested easily on her waist, a thumb rubbing gently. "What's wrong?" she asked after a moment.

He bowed his head, resting his forehead on her shoulder. He held her loosely, but his touch seemed to burn.

"I don't want to lose you," he said after a long moment of silence. "I couldn't bear to lose you, Rose. Not again. And the baby – I never thought, never dreamed I could have a child. I mean, I knew I would, but…"

"Knew? How?" Rose demanded, startled.

"I have a granddaughter," he said plainly. "Or I did. Before the war. Only I never knew her mother, or grandmother. It happened in my future. She was from a different time. So before the war, I knew I was going to have children. But I thought, with my people gone…"

"That it would all change," Rose completed softly. "Oh, Doctor." She raised a hand, cupping the back of his head and holding him to her. "I'm pregnant with your child," she whispered. "And we are all going to survive, and we are going to be happy. All three of us."

"Right." The Doctor pulled away from her and sprang into action. He pulled his jacket on, checked his pockets, and sat on the side of the bed to lace his boots up. "I'll go have a snoop around the town centre and the market place, see if I can track anything down. You go have some breakfast – not whatever your cousin ate, that'd upset the baby – and we'll meet back here for lunch, 'cos you humans need regular feeding."

Rose wisely didn't mention that even the thought of food right now made her want to throw up again. She nodded, slipped her feet into her sandals, and made to leave the room. The Doctor stopped her, fishing something out of his pocket at the same time.

"Take this," he instructed her. "I'm not losing you again."

"I've got the key," Rose objected, turning the item around in her hands. "What is it?"

"It's not from around here," the Doctor said simply. "Put it on your wrist, try not to lose it, yeah?"

"Yeah, yeah," Rose muttered, securing the strap to her wrist. "Go on, then. I'd better find Izzy."

Hours later, Rose was gently shaken awake by Tim. She blinked blearily at him and slowly sat up. A data storage device slipped from her lap.

"Tim?" she questioned, looking around blankly.

"You fell asleep," he told her. "You alright?" He helped her to stand.

"Yeah," Rose nodded. "Just a bit tired, I guess." She touched the key at her neck automatically. "Is the Doctor back?" she wanted to know.

"Yeah, he came back a few minutes ago," Tim told her. "That's why I woke you up. He found that time jumper…thingy."

"Really?" Rose grinned. "Fantastic."

"He seemed a little upset," Tim warned. He led her out of the room and along a long, dark corridor. "The jumper apparently did something bad."

"They always do something bad," Rose said with a slight smile. "And from what the Doctor's said, time jumpers can be dangerous to normal time and space."

"Uh huh. Left here," Tim directed. Rose stepped through the doorway and collided with the time jumper. Rose stumbled backwards against Tim.

"Oh no you don't," the Doctor said grimly. He was on the time jumper in a moment later, gripping its arms and pulling it off Rose. "You behave," he snapped at it.

Rose regained her footing, eyebrows raised. "Trouble?" she asked.

"I'll say," the Doctor said, not looking away from the creature. "Apart from starting this whole civil war racism rubbish, this little thing has managed to rip a rather large hole in time."

Rose wrapped her arms around herself in an unconscious gesture of protection. "So what's coming?" she asked quietly. "Reapers?"

The Doctor shook his head and deposited the time jumper into a chair. "No. Nothing so bad." He glanced her over, making sure she was alright, then looked at Paul, who was standing in a corner of the room. "You getting any of this?" he asked.

"Some," Paul nodded guardedly. "So if this thing goes, everything changes, right?"

"Sort of." The Doctor returned his attention to the alien creature, and Rose got her first good look at it.

The time jumper was short and squat. He reminded Rose of nothing so much as a dwarf. His face was squashed, pug-like, but other than these differences he could have passed for a human child. He was glaring around, particularly at the Doctor.

"Time Lords," he spat out. "I thought we'd seen the last of you lot." Rose glanced swiftly at the Doctor; he didn't seem surprised or shocked by the time jumper's words.

"Well, apparently not," he said coolly. "Did you think I was just going to let you get away with this? You knew I was tracking you. You got onto my ship. Why?"

"To jump," the alien said grumpily. "Why else would I do anything?"

"You idiot," Rose seethed. "Do you have any idea what you've been doing?"

"Of course," the jumper said, looking at her. "Do you?" Rose blinked. "I've been watching you two," he sneered. "Little ticking time bombs, the pair of you."

"Don't talk to her," the Doctor ordered. "You opened a time rip. Purposefully." The jumper glared up at him balefully. "Tell me where it leads."

"You're a Time Lord," the jumper sneered. "You figure it out."

"Tell him," Rose said, deceptively softly. "Or I'm going to break your arm."

The Doctor swung around to blink at her in surprise. Rose stood, mouth open, shocked at what she'd just said.

Tim put a hand on her arm. "Rose, maybe we should go see Miriam," he suggested softly.

"No, she stays here," the Doctor ruled. He was torn between holding Rose and not moving away from the time jumper. The latter won. He looked back at the small alien. "Tell me." In the corner, Paul pulled out a gun.

"I don't know," the jumper said after a long, drawn-out silence. "Thought I could distract you with it long enough to get away. There aren't many of us left, after the war. I'm just looking out for myself."

"And there are none of my people left," the Doctor said in a low, dangerous voice. "But I'm still a Time Lord."

Everyone was silent. Tim and Izzy exchanged confused glances. Paul shifted, frowning. Rose held her hands over her stomach. The Doctor took several deep breaths, trying to calm himself.

"I'm going to find out where it goes," he said after a long moment. "And I'm going to take you where you can't cause any more trouble." He fished a pair of handcuffs out of his pocket and restrained the jumper's arms behind his back.

Izzy went to Rose's side. "What's going on?" she asked quietly.

"We're going back to the TARDIS," the younger cousin answered. "We're getting out of here." She tugged at the TARDIS key, hung around her neck. "Let's go, then."

"Wait," Paul said, stepping towards them. "You can't just – "

"Leave? Yes, we can." The Doctor flashed him a beaming grin. "Bye!"

"Doctor," Rose protested half-heartedly. But the Doctor was already out of the door, propelling the time jumper ahead of him. Rose sent an apologetic look at Paul, and followed her husband from the room.

The Doctor was sprawled on the armchair in the control room, staring at nothing with a shocked and destroyed look on his face. Rose leaned against the console, shaking her head. Izzy and Tim stood at one side, standing guard over the time jumper.

"It can't be," the Doctor murmured. "It just…can't be."

"It's impossible," Rose agreed. She knew enough by now to know that. The Time War had wiped entire planets from the skies, but two had been wiped from time as well as space. Skaro – the Dalek homeworld – and Gallifrey, the home of the Time Lords. Those two places could not be reached by any space or time ship.

And yet somehow the time jumper had managed to open a time rift that led to Gallifrey.

"It's impossible," Rose repeated. "Isn't it?"

"It should be," the Doctor said hollowly. "Gallifrey is gone. All its possibilities were wiped out. There shouldn't have been anything left of it – I can't explain why I survived." His hands clenched into fists. "There's no way this should be possible," he said needlessly.

"I don't understand – what's Gallifrey?" Izzy spoke up.

"His planet," Rose answered after a moment, during which it became clear that the Doctor would not – or could not – answer. "It was destroyed in a Time War." She crossed her arms over her chest. "The Daleks are all gone now."

The Doctor spared her a brief smile. "Thanks to you," he said sincerely.

The time jumper suddenly paid attention. "She finished off the Daleks?" he demanded. "She – she's Bad Wolf?"

Rose spared him a glance. "Yeah, so?"

"So? So, she asks?" The time jumper shook his head. "Oh, I was such an idiot!"

"You were," the Doctor agreed curtly. "How did you do it? How did you open a rip in time and space leading to Gallifrey – to a place that doesn't exist?"

"I didn't," the jumper said after a long moment. "I just opened a rip – thought it was gonna lead to the Eye of Orion. I don't know how this happened."

"Might it have something to do with the baby?" Tim ventured. When everyone turned to look at him, he gave a nervous smile. "Sorry, that's a bit rubbish…"

"Not necessarily," the Doctor said slowly. "Rose is different…" He looked intently at her. "You might have done it unconsciously."

"What, brought Gallifrey back into existence?" Rose shook her head. "Doctor -,"

"No, nothing like that," the Doctor assured her. "But you might have re-opened its possibilities."

Rose frowned in confusion. "Doctor – "

"I can't explain right now," the Doctor cut across her. "Let's get this time jumper back where he belongs, then we'll sort the rift out." He glanced at Rose's cousins. "Hold on," he instructed, and sprang into action. He pulled levers, pressed buttons, and twisted dials in a dizzying combination. Rose simply gripped onto the console and watched him with a worried expression.

The time jumper let out a yelp when Tim and Izzy fell over, dragging him with them.

"Watch it!" he shrieked.

"Shut up," he was told by the three humans. Then Rose almost fell over, and the TARDIS came to a halt alarmingly quickly. Rose, queasy, made for the nearest bathroom at a run.

"What the hell?" the Doctor muttered, checking a gauge and then the monitor. "That shouldn't have happened."

"I'm not sure I like the sound of that," Izzy said, joining him at the console. "Doctor? Where are we?"

"I'm not sure yet," the Doctor said absently. "Go check on Rose, will you?"

"Sure," Izzy nodded. The Doctor didn't even notice; she followed Rose.

Rose leaned against the wall in the small bathroom. The cool tiles pressed against her back and through the thin material of the dress. Her face was wet – but she didn't really know whether it was because she'd washed after throwing up, or because she was crying.

"I'm no expert," came Izzy's voice from the doorway, "but I think you need the Doctor more than you need me."

Rose shook her head silently. Izzy sat down next to her on the floor.

"I'm pregnant," Rose said after a long moment.

"Yes, you are," Izzy agreed quietly.

"And I'm not just pregnant," Rose continued, as if she hadn't heard her cousin. "I'm pregnant with a Gallifreyan baby. Another Time Lord. The Doctor – he's the only one of his kind left, Izzy. And now there's this baby, and it's such a big thing, and then – " She shook her head blindly. "The time rift," she muttered. "The time rift to Gallifrey. How could I have done that?"

"I don't know," Izzy said. "Humans can't do stuff like that."

Rose shifted slightly. "Izzy…a lot's happened since I've been traveling with the Doctor. Things that I can't explain, that even the Doctor doesn't understand…" She sighed. "Izzy…I'm not exactly human any more."

Izzy blinked several times, then frowned. "How is that possible?" she demanded. "Jackie and Pete – they're human, and you're their child, so –"

"It's complicated," Rose cut her off. "Things happened…with the Doctor, and with the Daleks, and –"

"Who're the Daleks?" Izzy demanded.

"But it's too hard to explain," Rose ended. "And I wouldn't know where to begin, Izzy. But the point is – if I've somehow brought Gallifrey back into the universe, in any way…"

"You think he'll leave you," Izzy guessed astutely. "You're an idiot, Rose Tyler, you know that?"

Rose closed her eyes. "Izzy…"

"He loves you. Everyone knows it. Everyone can see it. It's obvious." Izzy shook her head in disbelief. "Have you even seen the way he looks at you? I mean, bloody hell! He married you, when he knew he'd have to face Auntie Jackie about it! If that isn't love, I don't know what is!"

Rose shrugged and started crying again. Izzy hugged her awkwardly.

"Rose."

They both looked up at the doorway. The Doctor stood there, hands in his pockets.

"You need some sleep," he told her gently. "And we should get you checked out in the infirmary."

"I'm alright," Rose muttered, drying her eyes with her sleeve. She stood up and went into his welcoming arms. She rested her head against his chest, listening to his heart beat. The Doctor glanced at Izzy, then maneuvered Rose out of the bathroom and slowly walked her to their bedroom.

"It's alright," he said softly, once they were lying on their bed. "It's alright to be upset, Rose."

"It's stupid," she muttered, curling up closer to him. "I guess this is why people say pregnant women are hormonal. Sorry."

"Don't be," he soothed her. "S'alright."

"Not really."

"Rose!"

A slow smile curled her mouth. "Sorry," she said, nearly giggling. "I'm alright, I am."

"I know."

That simple confidence in her, Rose mused, made everything alright again.

"So what've I done, then?" she asked. "With the rip to Gallifrey?" The Doctor paused just long enough for her to know that he didn't want to tell her. Stung, she pulled away from him. "Doctor?"

"It's complicated," he said heavily. "It's to do with what you did…Bad Wolf, and all that. But it'll wait for the morning, love. You need sleep." He stood up, careful not to dislodge her.

"Don't go," she said quickly. "I know Tim and Izzy're there, but..." She shook herself. "Never mind."

"I'll be back in three minutes," the Doctor promised, leaning down to kiss her. "I'll just get them to bedrooms, and make sure the time jumper's outside – we landed on its planet."

"Okay," Rose nodded. She rolled off the bed and started stripping after the Doctor had left. She pulled on clean pyjamas and climbed into the bed.

Then it happened.

Rose, help me!

Rose sat straight up, scanning the room. There were no communicators in here – the Doctor didn't like them in their bedroom. It wasn't the voice of the TARDIS – she'd heard that before, and this wasn't it. She had never heard this voice before, and yet she felt like she had always known it.

Rose! Please! Help!

But that voice she did know. It was someone who had traveled with them for a while after she and the Doctor had got married. He had become like a brother to her.

Jack Harkness.

She almost tripped over the duvet as she scrambled to get out of bed. She was out of the door and halfway down the corridor when she ran into the Doctor.

"Rose, what is it, what's wrong?" he demanded anxiously.

"Jack," she breathed. "I heard Jack."

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