Bits In Between

By Lumendea

Chapter Forty: Airs and Graces

Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who or any of the spinoff material, and I gain no income off of this story, just the satisfaction of playing with the characters.

AN: Sorry folks, a family member has been in the hospital all week so I haven't had it in me to get a whole chapter written. They're finally on the mend after surgery, but it's been an exhausting week.

…

It wasn't often that Jackie Tyler wasn't sure what to do. She'd managed this far in her life by making a decision and sticking with it. There was no place for hesitation in her life. There were bills to be paid and an odd teenager to keep an eye on. Not that she managed to keep eyes on Rose nearly as much as she wanted to. The girl had a talent for slipping out, and Jackie was aware that she couldn't hover all the time. At least Rose had more sense than some of the other kids around here.

Mickey had made good for himself. The military was a bit of a surprise, but it seemed to be doing the trick for him. He was settling. Now, if only her Rose would recognize that and give him a chance, everything would be perfect. They had money now, even if Jackie was still trying to wrap her head around that, and a real and stable future in the middle class was possible for Rose if she would just focus. They just needed to make the decision.

Jackie pulled herself out of her thoughts as Mrs Herbert started to speak. "That girl of yours is bound for trouble," Mr Herbert sniffed. "Airs and graces, going to fancy schools and now inheriting money. I'd be worried if I were you about what she got up to. Rich men don't just leave young women money like that."

Jackie's fingers tightened around the handle of the curling iron. She couldn't lie that the sudden appearance of money, actual sums, in their lives hadn't thrown her. There'd been a moment that she worried about just why Harry Wallace saw fit to leave her girl money. She'd gone over everything she could remember; every word Rose had said, and every phone call made with Mr Wallace, but there was nothing. There had never been any hint of something she should worry about. When Rose was in that village, she'd even had a phone call with the woman who owned the cottage to check-in. The girls had been alright, and while Mr Wallace had been visiting friends in the area, there hadn't been any reason to worry.

"And now she keeps talking about university. She's a smart girl, Jackie; no one would argue that, but she's always been a bit feral." The last word was said so snidely that Jackie was inclined to hit the woman, even if she wasn't wrong. "If she has any sense, she'll date Mickey and marry that boy before he starts asking too many questions."

Jackie's hands dropped. She was almost done with Mrs Herbert. Just finish, she told herself firmly. Do the job and get paid. Don't get emotional about the gossip of an old, nasty woman. It isn't worth it. Yes, there was money now, but it was Rose's. Even if Rose had offered her a new home if she wanted, Jackie knew she only had to ask. She didn't have to finish the hair of someone insulting her daughter for twenty quid.

But Jackie finished Mrs Herbert's hair. Habit took hold, and she directed the conversation to the latest shop in the courtyard to open. It was a tiny clothing store, and Jackie knew it wouldn't last the lease. There were bets on how soon it would fold. She felt a touch sorry for the poor fool who'd opened it. Even the chippy hadn't lasted, even with Rose Tyler living upstairs. Still, Jackie was grateful when Mrs Herbert was done and took the payment with a fixed smile. The other woman didn't notice.

Once she was gone, Jackie looked around the flat with a blank expression. Too many thoughts and emotions were raging through her mind. This flat… she and Pete had planned on it just being a starter home. When they'd realized she was pregnant with Rose, they had needed something, and the Powell Estates had been cleaner and safer than a lot of the housing options. But Pete had talked about getting a house in the future. That dream had died with him on that road.

Except maybe it hadn't. Swallowing, Jackie walked to the wall and studied the photos hanging on it. There were so few of Pete. Not by choice. They hadn't had much time together. Only two of them had Pete with Rose, and in one, he wasn't even looking at the camera, talking to a mate while holding Rose with one arm. Jackie hadn't been impressed with that, but now the photo made her chest ache.

This place was where most of her memories were. This place was where she'd lived with Pete, all the good and bad of that relationship, and this was where she'd raised her daughter. But Mrs Herbert's words echoed in Jackie's head. They could stay. There were no rules about how much money a person had. But the jealous gossips were trying to pick at Rose, to tear her down and make Jackie think the worst of her daughter. Not everyone, of course, many of their neighbours remained lovely. But some were approaching cruel, and others were coming up with any excuse to come knocking and looking for a handful of notes. It was probably for the best…

Leaving the Powell Estate, leaving this flat terrified Jackie. She could admit that deep down. This had been home for so long and secure. Even when money had been tight, they'd been safe here. Even when things with a boyfriend went wrong, she'd felt secure in this old flat. There were memories of Pete here, memories of her little girl growing up here.

They could stay. With the money, Jackie could easily afford it and even improve things a bit with better furniture and new decoration. It would be the smart money thing to do. A ticket out of the poverty that had been nipping at her and Rose's heels like wolves in the winter ever since Pete died wasn't something to waste. And with Rose going off to school, it would just be her.

But Rose would come home to visit and hear people saying those things. Sure, some of the neighbours were proud and held Rose and Shareen up as examples, but the jealousy under the surface could turn ugly at any moment. Shareen would never stay. For her, this was a way to get away from her mother and start her own life. Jackie wouldn't be surprised if Angela never heard from Shareen again, though Jackie expected Shareen would keep an eye on her just in case she spiralled again. Sharon's family were stable and steady and far enough from the estate that the gossip didn't hurt them.

That would leave her Rose as the only target of the venom. That would leave her dealing with people saying things like this about her girl while Rose was away at school. Her having to listen to every sob story people decided to throw her way.

They could stay. And emotionally, Jackie wanted to stay. Leaving was scary, but it was safer. It was more stable, and she'd be a fool not to take this chance to build a better life. Eighteen years and she'd done nothing with herself. Probably not school; she wasn't like Rose, but maybe some new job training and finding something else. Rose was an adult now; Jackie had done her job. A new house would push her to embrace a fresh start. Not that she'd forget her friends here, Jackie wasn't the sort for that, but she wasn't going to take insults towards her daughter.

Jackie jumped as the front door opened, and Rose sauntered inside. There was a small smile on her face, and her bookbag was over her shoulder. She'd been studying again. Jackie smiled a little. That was part of what had led them here. Rose working so hard, never listening to anyone telling her that she couldn't do it.

"Rose," Jackie called.

"Yeah, mum?" Rose paused in her stride and looked in her direction. Something must have shown on her face because Rose's smile faded. "Everything alright?"

"We're moving," Jackie said firmly. "I've decided." Rose's eyes widened.

"We don't have to," Rose reminded her. "I mean-"

"No reason to stay here," Jackie said firmly. "We can afford better now. You were talking about a proper house. Sounds like a plan."

Rose's eyes brightened. "Alright, mum. We'll start looking tomorrow. I'll call an agent."

Jackie nodded in agreement before she could change her mind. Rose offered her a beaming smile. It didn't dispel Jackie's doubts about leaving the only home she'd known for eighteen years, but it helped. And depending on what they choose, maybe Jackie could invite Rita Anne to join her. That would keep Rose and Mickey in touch. And a spare room for Shareen and Sharon to crash in if needed. Rose stepped closer and hugged Jackie tightly.

This is what Pete would have wanted for them, Jackie reminded herself. She kept a tight grip on Rose and looked at one of the beaming photos of Pete. This is what he'd also hoped for, and now it was happening, even if not in the way they once hoped.