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A Recognised Loss

Part 4

Venetia stood sleepily in the doorway of the living room, she held her Winnie the Pooh teddy under her arm which matched the prints on her flannel pyjamas, her blonde curls were in a tangled mess on her head. She rubbed her eyes as she looked in the living room – she had woken up early and wanted to watch her Winnie the Pooh DVDs but what she saw stopped her.

On the sofa under a green blanket the strange man lay sprawled out, his head rested on a stack of pillows and his feet hung over the end of the sofa, his long toes poking out of a hole in his sock. His arms lay tightly around Rose whose head was tucked under his chin, her blonde hair lay over his shoulder, she was holding his arms and underneath the blanked his legs were entwined with hers. Venetia didn't know what to do, she could tell there was something between her mum and this man that she didn't know. She was intrigued by this man who made her mum so happy – she knew he wouldn't stay long, the never did – but she wanted her mum to remember this moment. She glanced around the room until she finally saw the camera; she picked it up and took a shot of the pair with alarming accuracy. She smiled to herself as she put the camera down, she then walked to the end of the sofa where the Doctors' toe stuck out, she giggled into her hand then fell to the floor.

She lifted one of her small fingers and gently tickled his toe – the Doctors' foot twitched as he mumbled something incoherent. Venetia giggled innocently as she raised her hand to tickle him again – the Doctors' foot twitched more violently as he began to awaken. The Doctor slowly opened his eyes and the first thing he felt was Roses' body on his, the next thing he noticed was the small head poking over the edge of the sofa – wild blonde curls had been pushed back, her cherubic grin took over her face and her large brown eyes twinkled innocently. The Doctor met Venetias' eyes and opened his mouth to say something – she ducked down behind the sofa hiding but her angelic laughter filled the air – there was nothing he could do but join her.

Rose was jolted awaked as the sound of laughter surrounded her – the sound of a child and a man – a man whose laughter she hadn't heard in years. Rose slowly opened her eyes as she remembered the last day – he was really here, and he was holding her. Rose looked around to see the same sparkle lighting up the Doctor and Venetias' eyes. Rose looked between the pair for a moment sleepily then sighed

'What time is it?' she mumbled as she began to realise she was curled up with the Doctor. A blush began to take over her cheeks as she sat up – moving away from him. He realised he was still holding her tightly so he removed his hands with a small smile allowing her to get up. Rose looked at the little girl who was grinning at her expectantly, she frowned at her

'What?' she asked tiredly. Venetia shook her head before grinning at the pair and running into the kitchen.

'Kids' Rose sighed as she shook out her hair – the Doctor turned to a sitting position ignoring the pain in his neck from spending all night on the sofa, Rose stood in front of him and rubbed her eyes.

'Right' she said 'Breakfast, shower – then we can tell her today' Rose informed him, the Doctor nodded slowly

'What about school?' he asked, she looked at him expectantly then smiled

'It half term' she gently told him, he nodded feeling stupid for not knowing little things like that.

'Don't worry' she reassured him as she began to walk to the bathroom.

'How could I not?' he asked himself as he scratched his head, he looked up to see Venetia grinning at him from the doorway – he smiled back slightly unsure. He didn't know if he could tell her the truth, if she knew he was her father then would she hate him for not being here the last six years? Would he disappoint her time and time again so much that she wished she had never found out? Would he be able to walk away from those big brown eyes and disappear in the Tardis? Would he be able to handle the day an enemy found out she existed and used her against him?

So many questions haunted him, telling him to walk away but then he remembered what it felt like to see your entire family die, to have no one in the world that loves you, and did he want that for her? Could he leave the little girl that looked at him with such expectancy? Could he leave the child who reminded him so much of Rose and what they once had? The Doctor knew that he couldn't answer any of these questions himself – there was only one person who could, and she was smiling at him – it was in that moment he knew he would do anything and kill anyone to protect her.

Several hours later the Doctor sat nervously in the living room, he was wearing his pin strip suit and had attempted to flatten his hair – an attempt that had failed miserably as it stood erratically in the air. Rose walked in the room wearing jeans and a t-shirt showing off her figure, her hair was pulled back off her face and she smiled encouragingly at the Doctor. Lastly Venetia walked in clutching her Winnie the Pooh, she had her blonde hair in pig tails with a few loose curls hanging out, she had a pink dress on with white tights, the little pink bows in her hair matched – she looked like she'd walked straight out of a fairy tale. The Doctors' face lit up when he saw her; she returned his smile then walked up to him

'I'd like you to meet Winnie – he's my bestest friend' she told the Doctor. The Doctor stuck his hand out to the stuffed animal who shook it back with help from Venetia.

'Pleasure to meet you Winnie' he told the bear. 'I'm…' he began before looking to Rose for confirmation – she just nodded in return.

'I'm the Doctor – a friend of young Vennie' he told the bear hopefully. Venetia watched him for a moment then gave him a blinding grin – on that reminded him of himself on occasion. Rose smiled at the pair then walked over to join the Doctor on the soda – the parents both sat looking at their daughter who stood in front of them – neither of them knowing how to beginning.

'The Doctor?' Venetia asked 'That's a strange name' she told him. The Doctor just nodded in return

'He's an unusual man' Rose told her quietly. Venetia looked at Rose then back to the Doctor

'Where did it come from?' she asked curiously

'I don't know really' he said shrugging 'I've just always been the Doctor' he stopped to think for a moment – then he smiled at her

'Where did your name come from? It's not a very common name' he told her. Venetia grinned proudly

'Mummy picked it because she said it reminded her of my Daddy' she told him happily. Rose began to chew her lip nervously and the Doctor watched the girls' happy expression as she spoke of her father

Venetia lowered her voice to a whisper and walked up to the Doctors' ear, she put her hand in front of her mouth trying to protect her secrets.

'Once I heard my Mummy talking to Grandma about him – Grandma didn't like him but my Mummy loved him – I heard her tell her. Grandma said she was de…de..louded?' she stumbled on her excitement

'Deluded?' the Doctor corrected her, Venetia nodded enthusiastically before she continued her story

'She said that all the talk of touching the stars and travelling in time had messed up her heart and now it was really broken' The Doctor felt a sharp pain in his hearts as her words sunk in

'But Mummy never listened to her – she would just nod and smile, I can tell she still loves him – she gets this look in her eyes when she talks about him' Venetia told him proud of herself for remembering so much, then she stopped a bit confused 'It's a bit like the way she looks at you' she finally whispered. Rose froze – her daughter was every bit as perceptive and clever as her father was.

Rose moved on the sofa breaking the atmosphere that had settled over the room – Rose could feel her hands shaking.

'Sweetheart, there's something I need to tell you' she told Venetia – her voice shaking. Venetia stepped away from the Doctor and looked at her mother – sometimes the intensity of Venetias' eyes could really scare Rose. She took a deep breath in

'It's about your father… and the Doctor' Rose began unsure of how to proceed. The Doctor seemed to tense as well and Venetia looked at both of them, her eyes deep in thought and slightly confused.

Rose took a deep, steadying breath in before taking her daughters' hand in hers and the Doctors' in her other hand.

'Vennie – the Doctor is your father'

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