The Bits in Between

Chapter Eighteen: Childhood Friends

By Lumendea

AN: Takes place right before the final chapter of Child of Earth. Some of you asked where Rose's goodbye with Sharon and Shareen was. The answer was that it made the chapter too long, so I decided to expand it and post it here.

…..

The sun was shining down brightly across the patio of the café. All of Cambridge was bustling and busy, though most of the locals seemed to be hiding. Rose didn't blame them; it seemed like every hotel and inn was full of visitors for today's ceremony. Just to be safe, her own mum had insisted on coming up and staying the night before though Rose was worried that Jackie was afraid of staying in the house.

"How are you taking it all?" Shareen asked.

Their table was thankfully in the corner of the patio, with the fence providing some shade. Cups of tea were in front of each girl, and Rose was toying with her TARDIS key absentmindedly. Sharon and Shareen were seated across from her, warm smiles on both of their faces.

"Excited," Rose said. "Nervous, a bit afraid, which surprises me, but also feeling ten feet tall. I'm not really sure." Shaking her head, Rose dropped her hand and took a deep breath. "I'm ready for this, so ready, but the Doctor and I are in different places."

"He's already in love with you," Sharon said. "He's told you so."

"Yeah, but in love and ready to verbalize it, ready to start a relationship are two different things."

"Ture," Shareen agreed. She nodded thoughtfully, and Rose hoped that her psychological knowledge would keep to itself; she didn't want to be analyzed today. "It's good that you recognize that. Just be his friend and be yourself, Rose. Enjoy seeing everything and living on the TARDIS."

"Thanks." Rose gave them both a smile. "Honestly, I'm not sure how I would have coped with everything without the pair of you." Her expression softened, and she looked at Shareen and Sharon in turn, urging them to see the truth of her words. "Really, I mean it. You've been there for me to talk to, cry with and laugh with as I needed. You knew the whole truth and always guarded it and supported me. I know that couldn't have always been easy, so thank you."

Both of her friends looked a little teary, and Rose reached out both of her hands across the table. Shareen and Sharon grabbed one each, and the three held hands for a long moment. Rose was going to miss them. Their close relationship wasn't what it had once been. They no longer saw each other every day as they had as kids. Shareen and Sharon were rarely dragged into her adventures, and they lived together while she'd been an hour away. Yet, the distance had never eroded the bond between them. Even knowing that someday they'd be gone and she'd be out of time to see them, Rose didn't regret any of it.

Sniffing, Rose was aware of tears trying to slip out of her own eyes. She looked at her friends, and they all giggled nervously, sharing in their mixture of sadness and happiness. Rose was done with school while her friends still had a few more years of medical training ahead of them. They'd be amazing, fantastic even, but she was leaving.

"Stop playing with your key," Shareen said. "You'll be fine, Rose."

"Sorry." Rose forced herself to drop the TARDIS key, letting it fall against her chest. "I'm just nervous."

"I know, you keep saying. Focus on finishing school," Sharon said kindly. "You finished a concurrent degree at Cambridge University. You're the first person in your family to ever go to university, and you went big! Give yourself a moment to be proud of that."

Smiling, Rose nodded. That was all true enough. Before the Doctor and aliens had become a constant part of her life, she'd focused on the idea of going to Cambridge. Back then, she hadn't been confident that she'd be accepted into one of the most famous schools in the world, but she'd managed it. Exhaling, Rose relaxed back in her seat with a pleased little smile.

"Are you ready to order?" the waiter asked, coming over to their table.

"No," Sharon said. "We're still waiting on someone."

"Very well, I'll check back."

Their waiter smiled and sailed over to the next table. As busy as the place was, Rose felt a touch guilty. "Hope Mickey doesn't take too long," she said.

"He won't," Sharon said. She tilted her and smiled. "In fact, I see our boy coming over now."

Rose turned in her chair and grinned as she caught sight of Mickey entering the patio and weaving his way between all the tables and chairs. "Sorry I'm late, girls," Mickey said. He rushed up next to their table, dressed in civilian clothes with sunglasses on. "Hope you haven't waited too long."

"Hi, Mickey!" Rose bounced up from her chair and hugged her old friend tightly. "Thanks for coming!"

"How's your Gran?" Sharon asked, standing up and getting a hug for herself.

"She's fine, harassing the hospital staff. I think the nurses are eager to send her home."

"Ah, the old Battle Axe will never change," Shireen observed fondly. "Too bad you couldn't just set her and Jackie on Eclipse."

"That would have been terrifying," Rose said. She shook her head and fondly, and they all sat down. "Mum was scary enough trying to claw her way out through the window to get at the diamonds."

Mickey laughed. "I can imagine. Everyone mostly held it together at the base, but there were some odd reactions at HQ."

"Odd reactions?" Rose asked, a hint of worry in her voice.

"Uh… let's just say that the enlisted now have a 'It's Raining Diamonds' parody song. I wouldn't be surprised if it's online soon. It's not bad."

Rose groaned, fighting back her amusement while Sharon and Shareen snickered. Mickey laughed warmly and looked at the other girls. "How's she doing?"

"She's nervous, but nothing worse than that," Sharon assured him. "She'll be fine provided she can sit still through the speeches."

"You brought a book or something, right?" Shireen asked, turning her attention to Rose.

"Uh… no, shouldn't I be paying attention."

"You have to sit through speeches from people that I'm certain haven't done, seen, or achieved nearly as much as you," Mickey said. "You'll be bored within ten minutes."

"Maybe not," Rose weakly protested.

Her friends just chuckled, exchanging fond glances between them. It made her feel better, actually. Sharon and Shireen would be officially training with UNIT now, and Mickey would keep an eye on them. Not that Roes was too worried. Benton was still in command of UK UNIT, and Kate was being prepared to take over as the first civilian head. They'd be fine.

They chatted about nothing in particular until their waiter came back over. Rose tried not to wonder how long it would be until she saw them all again and focus on the moment. Sharon and Mickey talked about their new significant others, and Shareen promised her in a low voice to keep an eye on it. Rose made them promise to call her if it got serious so she could meet them.

Breakfast came quickly, but Rose found it a bit difficult to eat. Her stomach kept turning over, and she spent more time pushing the eggs and beans around than actually eating them. Mickey was happy to take what she didn't eat, ignoring a glare from Sharon. Rose let the happy familiar talk wash over her. Gradually things turned nostalgic. They talked about Powell Estates though no one had visited the area in some time. They talked about Rose's red bike that she was always seen with for years after she got it. They remembered Sharon breaking her leg and how her cast had wound up covered with pictures and signatures. They discussed the past and the future until, finally, their plates were empty.

Rose's brand new phone beeped, and she grabbed it to check the time. She had a text from her mum telling her that the campus was already crazy. "Uh, I guess it's showtime," Rose said. She licked her lips and looked at Sharon and Shireen. "Not sure I'm actually ready for this."

"You are," Shareen assured her.

"Completely," Mickey agreed with a nod. "I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun."

They didn't bother driving. It wasn't so far. The four of them walked back to Shareen's car, where Rose's robe was waiting, and then headed for the campus on foot. Around them, the gothic building rose up into the sunny sky. When she'd first come here, Rose hadn't thought she'd ever get used to them, and yet now they were just part of the backdrop. One more thing that had changed.

"This is our exit mark," Mickey said. Sharon and Shareen both grimace a little, but Mickey just smiled at Rose. "You're amazing," Mickey said. "Giving her a tight hug. I'm sorry I have to head right back to London after-"

"I'm just grateful you came to see the ceremony, but I know your Gran will be driving the nurses spare," Rose said. She stepped back and gave him a wide smile. "Just let me know when you're done, alright."

"I will," Mickey promised. "Gran's still fuming that they wouldn't release her."

Rose could imagine, but Rita-Anne's health wasn't so good anymore. What had remained of her eyesight was going downhill fast, and being drugged hadn't done her any favours. Still, Mickey pulled her into another hug and kissed her forehead.

"Not your fault, babe," he assured her. "Gran knows that too. She's just grateful that you and Jackie are alright."

"Thanks." Rose sniffed a little and kissed Mickey's cheek. "I'm going to really miss you."

"You'll be too busy to miss me," Mickey teased.

"Never."

"Well then, just be sure to answer that phone of yours," Mickey said. "I promise that I won't only call when UNIT wants to see you."

"Between you, the girls, and the companions, the Doctor is going to regret upgrading my phone."

"You told me it wasn't all dangerous situations," Mickey said. He looked a touch suspicious now. "Surely downtime is a thing."

"Yeah, it is, and no, it isn't always dangerous," Rose assured him. "I'll keep in touch, don't worry."

"I will," Rose promised. "You take care of yourself."

"I will." His grip tightened for a moment, but then Mickey released her. He smiled knowingly and nodded at Sharon and Shireen. "I'll find us some seats."

Then with one more smile, Mickey turned and walked away, leaving the three girls alone. Rose turned back to them and exhaled slowly, her nervousness suddenly returning.

"You've got everything, right?"

"Yeah, I handed my stuff over to Ace this morning," Rose said.

"Alright then,"

Shareen handed Rose the heavy robe. It was too warm outside for something like this, but tradition demanded it. Rose pulled it on over her dark jeans and blouse. Behind her, Sharon was fixing nervously fixing her curls. Her fellow students were lining up for their seat arrangements, and Rose knew that her mum and the others were already in place.

"You're done," Sharon said. "All ready to go off into time and space."

"Yeah." Rose tried not to fidget. She knew that she needed to join the others, but she wanted to have a few more moments with her best mates. "I'll miss you two the most, I think."

"We'll miss you," Shareen said. "But you'll visit, yeah?"

"Of course," Rose promised. "Even if I have to take over the TARDIS."

"Well, don't make a habit of that," Sharon laughed. "Don't want the TARDIS disliking you."

They hugged again, Rose putting an arm around each of her best friends. No one said anything as the weight of the moment settled over them. There was nothing more to say. This was goodbye, but it wasn't. They knew what was waiting for her and were just as excited. Yet, it was still hard. Then again, goodbyes, no matter how brief, always were.