Chapter 16

The Doctor walked over to the control panel without answering Rose's question. "What?" she repeated. He set the year to 2053. "Why are we going there?"

He looked up. "To show you your future, when you're seventy one years old." He replied.

"Yeah, but why?"

"I realised I've never shown you what you look like when you're old and grey." He joked. "Nah, not really. One last adventure. You go a bit dotty around seventy three so… let's give your old self a treat. See me again." He grinned.

"Aw, that's really thoughtful." She said. "Do I really go dotty at seventy three?"

"No, I was just playing with you."

"Really?"

He didn't reply. The engines worked for about twenty seconds and then stopped. "After you," he said to both his companions. He followed them out and looked up at a nice cottage in the countryside. The front garden was beautiful; there were flowers planted at random, bright and colourful. There was an tree in the centre, with ripe apples hanging from the branches. The front door was oak, with a brass knocker. The outer walls of the house were painted beige and the windows old. Judging by the temperature, and the blooming of the flowers, it was mid-summertime.

The Doctor shook off his leather jacket. "Cor, it's boiling out innit?" he asked rhetorically.

"I live here?" Rose asked, shocked. "How could I afford it?"

"You'll see." He smiled mysteriously, strolling up to the front door. Rose and Jack hurried after him as the Doctor knocked. It opened, and a man answered the door. Rose didn't recognise him from anywhere. He looked around thirty with smooth clean shaven cheeks and dark brown hair. He was wearing jeans and a t-shirt with shing white trainers. He looked like he worked out. Nurse? Rose thought. Wow, I'm lucky.

"Yes?" he asked. "Can I help you?" he asked politely, seeing the three strangers. He had a dash of American in his accent.

"Yes, we're here to see Rose." The Doctor said.

The guy said, "One sec." he left the door open and Rose saw the hall inside. There was a mirror hung on the wall straight ahead and a wooden hall table underneath. A coat stand had been placed by the door and three coats were hanging from it.

Rose gaped at what she heard the man call her old self in another room. "Mom!"

The Doctor turned to face her briefly, grinning from ear to ear. "He's – he's my son?" Rose asked. "Oh my God, I get a son!"

"Guess who's the father." The Doctor said mischievously, eyes flicking at Jack.

"Me?" he asked, stunned. "What? How? Since when?"

The apparent Rose and Jack's son from the future came to the door again. Having another look, he did have Rose's eyes and Jack's nose… "Come in." he welcomed them. The trio followed him into the living room which had sun light streaming in through the windows. There was a wide screen TV by the window and two leather sofas by the walls. It was extremely modern and everything looked expensive. "Please, sit down, my mom will be down in a moment." He smiled at Rose flirtatiously. She felt a little uncomfortable under his gaze and cleared her throat. He wouldn't smile at me like that if he'd seen pictures of me this age, surely? She wondered. "I'm Sam Harkness." He introduced, holding his hand out to the three of them in turn which they shook. "You are? I only told mom there were visitors and I didn't know your names."

"I'm -" the Doctor broke off as an old lady walked into the room, supported by a walking stick. Rose. She stopped and stared. "Mom?" Sam said, standing up quickly, rushing to her side. "Mom, are you alright? You look like you've seen a ghost."

She laughed which turned into a cough. Sam lowered her to a chair. She flicked her shoulder length grey hair out her eye and smiled at the three people on her sofa. "In a way I have Sam." He looked at her questioningly. Rose, Jack and the Doctor stood up. The Doctor walked over to her and hugged her gently. "Doctor," she said. "You came back."

"Told you I would, didn't I?"

"Yes, yes. My Jack." She said quietly, as the Doctor moved to let Jack through. He shook her hand, slightly uncomfortable. After all, he'd just found out he has a son. "Oh, it feels like only yesterday I saw that face. Shame he's gone…"

"What do you mean, gone?" he asked.

"You don't know? Oh I suppose you don't, do you? You passed away a few years ago."

"Oh. I'm sorry for your loss. I guess." He added. He stepped away to give Rose clearance but the old her sat back, folding her arms. "Paradox, right?" both Roses said at the said time. They smiled. Old Rose looked Rose up and down. "Rose. I'm guessing you're twenty, am I right?"

Rose nodded. "You're looking well."

"My Sam looks after me." She said, patting her son's hand. "You never told me you'd come." She directed this comment to the Doctor. "Care to explain yourself?"

"Wait, mom." Sam cut in. "Sorry, but… you called these people, Doctor, Jack and Rose."

"Believe me now?" she asked him sardonically. "Forgive my son, he never believed me when Jack and I when we told him about our travels. Or that your father was from the 51st century."

"Mom, it's just scientifically impossible -"

"Don't argue with your mother." Jack said, then clapped his hand over his mouth. The Doctor laughed. Jack glared at him and then turned back to Sam. "This is me: Captain Jack Harkness, 51st century, born and bred."

"No matter how many times I try to get him to believe me, he just refuses. Which side does he get that from I wonder?" Rose said. "Maybe you'd believe me if they showed you the TARDIS Sammy?"

Sam shrugged. "I guess. If it really is bigger on the inside."

"Doctor?" twenty year old Rose said. "Shall we show him?"

"Okey dokey." He answered.

Sam stopped in his tracks when twenty year old Rose opened the TARDIS door. "Oh. My. God." He managed, going inside.

"Welcome to the TARDIS." She said. Old Rose was inside with the Doctor, talking things through, she expected. Jack had come out with them.

"This is all a bit… much." Sam said. "I mean, you two. You're my parents."

"I know. I never thought we were a suitable couple, either." Jack joked.

"It's not that; it's just I've never seen pictures of you when you were younger. That's why I didn't recognise you."

"Um, I might go see what the Doctor and Rose are talking about." Rose said, going outside, leaving the two men alone. She lent on the side of the blue box and sighed.

Inside the TARDIS, Jack had a question that he really wanted to ask his son. "Sam? Could I ask you something?"

"Yeah."

"Was I a good dad?"

"Are you kidding? You were the best! Everyone at school wished you were their dad."

"Really?" Jack asked. "What did I do that was so cool? Only, this hasn't actually happened for me yet."

"You… you were the one that taught me how to play soccer. I was the Captain of the team because you showed me how to play."

Jack smiled. "So we're both Captains."

"Mom said you weren't a real Captain. You just go by that title."

"Ah, damn, I'll have to tell her not to say that. No extra macho."

This time Sam laughed. "I don't care. You were the best dad in the world. You always will be."

Not long now! I'm planning the ending though I still haven't come to a decision!