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Chapter 17 - Gran's Popcorn

Rose sat in the kitchen of the Tyler mansion. She was watching Jackie make popcorn on the stove for Jacob and Genie. Rose sat facing her at the bar.

"So, do you like your new place?" Jackie asked.

"Yeah! The view is amazing! I can't wait for you to see it. Have you thought about getting a smaller place? This mansion...well...Mum...it's just huge! Maybe a vacation home?" Rose told her.

Jackie looked up. "Ah. I don't know. I've got a lot to think about at the moment."

Rose didn't tell her that she knew about Pete being kicked out of the house. She figured that her Mum would tell her if she wanted her to know.

Just then, Rose's phone received a message from the Doctor.

"Hey. Where are you at? Jackie's?" it said.

Rose typed back. "Yeah, we're in the kitchen making popcorn for the kids."

"It's just the two of you there, right?" he wrote back.

Rose thought that was strange. Jackie asked who she was texting.

"Oh, it's the Doctor. He's wondering where we are."

Rose texted back. "Yeah, just me and mum in the kitchen. The children are upstairs. Why?"

She sent the message as she looked up at her mum. She had opened the pantry door and was looking for something.

Jackie spoke. "That's sweet. I wonder how long he will be today? Tell him to just come over here after he's done and pick you up. I'm sure he's got something swell planned for you tonight."

Jackie continued to look in the pantry for the popcorn salt. As she closed the door, Rose nearly gasped when the Doctor was standing behind where the door had been. Jackie hadn't noticed he was there. He looked at Rose and quickly put his finger to his lips and smiled.

Rose bit her lip to keep from laughing at him. He carefully stayed directly behind Jackie, so she wouldn't see him.

Jackie continued. "Is Lewis driving him today?" she asked as she opened the refrigerator and squatted down. The Doctor saw a jar of jam in the door. He grabbed it quickly as Jackie closed the door. She still had no idea he was there. He continued to stay directly behind her as he ate the jam out of the jar on his fingers.

Rose was nearly crying from trying not to laugh.

Jackie fussed at Rose. "Rose! Did you hear what I said?"

Rose looked back down at her mum. She cleared her throat and said, "Oh, yes. Sorry. I think it is Lewis. I'm not sure."

Jackie stood at the stove, cooking. The Doctor continued to eat the jam. Jackie still had no idea he was there.

Jackie asked as she put her hand on her hip and leaned against the cabinet, "So, you think he's alright? I mean. With everything? Seems like he's doing good to me. Caroline, Harriet and Howie sure like him."

Rose nodded. "He seems alright to me. I wonder though. He seems to think today is a big day to be celebrated. What's he on about?"

He made a face, shook his head at her and pointed forcefully.

Jackie laughed. "You are an idiot. I can't believe you haven't figured that out. He told me you didn't know. I thought he was joking."

Jackie walked back to the pantry to get some bowls for the popcorn. The Doctor stayed directly behind her. She still had no idea he was there.

Rose asked her mum. "So, you don't know, either?"

Jackie came back out of the pantry, followed by the stealthy Doctor. He continued to shake his head at Rose and point at her. Disapproval of her questions clear on his face.

Rose laughed under her breath at him.

Jackie poured the popcorn into the three bowls. "Well, of course I know! But, I promised him I wouldn't tell you."

The Doctor smiled and raised his eyebrows at Rose as if he said, "See! Ha!" He sat the empty jam jar down on the cabinet quietly.

Rose threw her hands up. "Fine. You two have your secrets then!"

Jackie took the biggest bowl of popcorn and turned around. The Doctor grabbed her shoulders and yelled, "Boo!"

Jackie threw the bowl of popcorn straight into the air. Popcorn went all over the kitchen. She screamed, "Oh the fucking hell!"

Rose was hysterical with laughter. The Doctor caught the bowl as it came back down.

The Doctor told Jackie through his laughter. "I'm sorry, but I've wanted to do that ever since I made this watch. I couldn't resist."

Jackie smacked him hard in the shoulder. "I'm going to kill you!"

She chased him of the kitchen shouting as he laughed, "GENIE! TONY! SAVE ME FROM GRAN!"

He ran through the sitting room that they used, and then into the main room and up the grand staircase. Genie and Tony saw him laughing and running towards them. He scooped them both up in his arms and continued to run until he reached the landing on the staircase. They both laughed at his wild actions.

Jackie stood at the bottom of the staircase and pointed up at him. Rose was still laughing. Zeus barked playfully.

Jackie laughed at him, but still trying to be angry. "You rascal! I can't believe you did that! I'm going to kill you."

He laughed, "I'm so glad I wore the trainers today, Rose! Ha!"

The Doctor laughed at Jackie as he held both Tony and Genie in his arms. "Now, come on Jackie! You wouldn't hit a man holding children, would you?"

"You have to put the down sometime!" she told him.

Rose was still laughing at him.

He walked back down the staircase, holding the children. He walked by Rose and kissed her quickly as he walked back to the kitchen. Zeus followed him.

He stopped in front of Jackie and continued to laugh. "I'm sorry. I couldn't help it. Thanks for not telling Rose about that."

Jackie and Rose followed him. "How the hell long were you standing there?" Jackie demanded as she tossed her hands in the air.

"Ha! You two should have seen it, kids! I got Jackie, good!" he threw his head back and laughed.

As soon as they got back into the kitchen, the Doctor sat the children down at the bar. He went back over to the pantry and got a broom. He was still laughing.

"I'll clean up the mess, Jackie." he was having a hard time sweeping because he was laughing so hard. Rose came over and took over. He wiped the tears from his eyes.

Jackie smacked him playfully on the shoulder. "I think you are mentally less mature than this lot." she told him as she pointed at Genie and Tony.

The Doctor walked over to the sink and washed his hands quickly. He looked at Zeus. "Yes, Zeus! You can eat the popcorn on the floor. Just don't eat too much and make yourself sick."

He rubbed his face as he calmed down. Genie walked over to him and asked. "Are you alright?"

He smiled at her. "Yes. Completely fine. Oh! I have something for you!"

He picked her up and sat her on top of the bar facing him. He dug around in his pocket and pulled out a box that held three smaller boxes. He opened one and looked inside.

"Nope. Not that one." and slipped it back into his pocket.

He opened another one, "Nope." he said as he sat that box on the bar next to Genie.

He opened the last box and exclaimed. "Ah! Yes. This is it. Here you go!"

He gave her the box and helped her open it. It was a pair of little diamond ear rings.

Genie smiled. "For me? Really?"

"What's a princess without some diamonds? And these are very special diamonds, Genie. I dug these out of the ground a long time ago. A really long time ago." he explained as helped her put them on.

Genie felt of them in her ears.

"Is that alright? Do they feel okay?" he asked her.

She nodded. "But, what if I lose them? Will you be mad?"

He bent down and looked into the little girl's eyes. "Listen to me, little one. I would never be mad about something like that. These earrings are extra special. Not only because I found them for you, but because I can never lose them. As long as you are wearing them, I can never lose you either. I'll always be able to find them. Alright?"

Genie hugged him.

He smiled as he held her and beamed. "My Sara Gene."

Rose came over and looked at Genie's ear rings. She asked, "Are these also from-"

"Yep!" he said. "They are from our old town."

Jackie looked at them and smiled. "How lovely, Genie."

He kissed Genie quickly and sat her back down on the bar stool.

"Women and jewelry! Rose, I have something for you, too. But, I'm going to give it to you later. Alright? Okay, and now for Jackie's!"

Jackie was surprised. "What in the world?"

The Doctor handed her a box. "Well, it's not from me. Not completely. Pete had it designed and asked me to bring it to you."

"You saw Pete?" she asked him.

"Yes. He was at a meeting I was in today. And Howie Shepherd, too! Oh boy! That man."

Jackie opened the box to reveal a ring with diamonds arranged in a strange way on it. Her mouth fell open.

The Doctor spoke. "Okay, let me explain. I know it looks strange. See, I visited this place once where the matriarch of each family wore a ring like this. I told Pete about it, and he wanted to get one for you. See, there are six diamonds representing a family tree." He pointed at each diamond. "This one is Pete, and then there is you. Pete's diamond is from here. Yours is from the ... umm..." he looked at the children and choose his words carefully.

"Yours is from your hometown." he explained.

She looked up at him and smiled. "Really?"

He smiled back at her. "Yes. I little piece of home. Then below is Tony, with a diamond from here. Then beside him is Rose and me, with diamonds from there. And then Genie with a diamond from here."

Jackie had tears rolling down her cheeks.

The Doctor smiled at her. "So, you forgive me for scaring you?"

She smacked him playfully. "You idiot. This is beautiful."

Rose came over to look at it closer.

Jackie asked him, "Well, wait. What happens if you and Rose have children?"

Rose blushed, but the Doctor had expected this. This was Jackie Tyler after all. He smiled at her, "You always get a new ring with any changes to the family. That's how that works."

Jackie and Rose smiled at him.

The Doctor continued. "Pete asked me to bring it to you. He said to tell you that he will call you later. He needs to ask you something. And when he asks you, I want you to remember that Rose and I would love to take Tony and Zeus for as long as you need. Anytime. They will be safe with us. Not to worry."

Jackie looked curious. "What the hell? What does he want to ask me?"

He shook his head and smiled. "Can't say. He asked me not to."

He clapped his hands together. "Okay. Rose! We need to go. I want to pop by the flat before we leave because I need to change out of this suit."

Rose stood there looking at him in her jeans and t-shirt. "I probably need to change, too."

He looked her up and down and took her hand. She could feel his barely contained excitement. "Nah. You are good for where we are going. Jackie, you good? We're off!"

Jackie nodded as she looked down at her new ring on her finger. "Yes. Go have a good time."

The Doctor kissed Genie on the forehead and said, "We'll see you in the morning. Gran will be with you the entire time."

Rose kissed her bye as well.

He looked at Tony. "Comrade! I nearly forgot your surprise!"

Tony laughed, "I don't need a ring. I'm good."

"Oh, I know that, mate! Howie Shepherd says the Secret Service guys want another game!"

"YES!" Tony exclaimed.

"I figured you would like that." he rubbed the boy's head as he walked out of the room with Rose. As soon as they got into the formal living room, he turned and put his hand on top of Rose's and zapped them back to their flat.

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