Rose took the testing kit into the bathroom and Alec sat on a chair by the window, waiting for his fate to be decided. He had been so pleased Rose had come back to him but her news was totally unexpected to say the least. In just four weeks, goodness knows what she had been up to and to learn she had just that day back in her time had been facing the Cybermen and she would have chosen to stay and finish it had she not thought she was pregnant, with his child and even then, he thought the Doctor had actually had the last word and decided for her. She would have stayed despite that because she was fiercely loyal to him, so why was she choosing to have the baby here, right now and not in the past?

Rose was in the bathroom, staring at the instructions, never even imagining she would ever be doing this with her chosen lifestyle. It was getting late on in the evening, she was exhausted and really felt like leaving this until morning but they both needed to know for certain. The only question was, if it was negative, would Alec still want her to stay with him? Would she be tempted to go back with the Doctor when he came to collect her and carry on with what they always did? She had a big decision to make and she couldn't make it alone, she had two men to think about and both would be devastated if she stayed with one and not the other.

She hardly knew Alec, had spent two wonderful nights with him and he had given her the one thing she needed, a chance of a fairly ordinary life, with him. He had a steady job, he was now healthy and she was sure he would make a great dad. He'd mentioned a daughter, she herself apparently not much older and he was expecting her back seven years older but she supposed technically she was, she just didn't look or feel it. What would her mother make of it?

Rose closed her eyes and waited for the results, then decided Alec should see so she exited the bathroom and sat across the table from him, putting the test kit down. He took her hand and they looked. It was positive, four weeks. Alec had insisted she had bought the more expensive and accurate kit on the supermarket shelf so as no mistakes were made. He stood up and pulled her from the chair, putting his arms around her.

"Well, I guess that's that then, you're staying and no arguments, we'll get around this. I don't want you putting yourself in danger by going off head first and fighting more Cybermen or anything else. Were you involved when those people were taking those slimming capsules and the fat came to life by any chance?"

Rose looked at him and burst out laughing. "Are you even being serious Alec? No anything after the Cyberman I can honestly say had nothing to do with me. We never really travelled past 2006, well apart from coming here and going to see the 2012 games. We'll just have to wait until he comes back, he said he would give me a few days with you first. So what do we do now Alec?"

"I think you should get some rest. Then tomorrow we'll figure things out, just you and me, whatever is going to happen involving you going off will wait until then, tonight I just want you. You're not going to go off sex altogether are you? Only I was hoping there would be lots of it once you came back."

Rose smiled and put her arms around his neck. "Don't be daft Alec, I don't feel any different, we can have sex as much as you like, at least until I can't any more. Even then we can still be together in other ways, you don't have to worry about that, not ever 'cos me going off you is never going to happen."

Just to reassure him, she began unfastening his shirt buttons, running her hands over his chest. "How are you feeling now anyway? Have you been ok since the Doctor gave you that injection?"

"I feel great Rose but I was just upset that you left and acted like a bear with a sore head, shouting at everyone. I was marking off how many days you'd been gone which got me even more irritated so I shook myself off and counted them as one less day before you came back."

Rose reached up and they kissed, Alec lifting her off her feet and holding her tightly, then remembering about the baby. Instead, he scooped her up and carried her into the bedroom, putting her gently on the bed.

"Wait there, I'll be back in a second."

Rose lay where he had put her, wondering if he wanted her to get undressed or if he wanted to do it himself, deciding to let him have that particular pleasure so he would let her do the same to him, it was all she had thought about for the last four weeks. She did actually feel different but it wasn't going to stop her, not now he was well again. He came back a few minutes later. Rose decided to tease him.

"Alec, if you've come back with some protection, it's a bit late for that."

He grinned. "Oh, that's a shame, I rather enjoyed you helping me last time." He dangled a packet in front of her, grinning.

"Are you even being serious Alec?"

"Well I just was making sure and to prove to you I haven't used them while you've been away."

"I never doubted that Alec." She began fingering the hem of her t-shirt after taking her jacket off.

Alec saw his chance, tossing the small package onto the dresser. "Guess I won't be needing that then?"

"Well if you bring it here, I might consider letting you but only if you let me do it by myself this time?"

He raised his eyebrows. "Well in that case, who am I to turn down an offer like that?"

He knelt on the bed, pulling her t-shirt off then reaching to unfasten her bra, kissing her breasts as he did.

"I missed you Rose, every night I could see you lying beside me, smiling at me when you woke up, after I had woken first and watched you, the sun catching your hair on the pillow. Then you would move back to me and we'd kiss for a while then you would come and lay on me and we'd make love again after I flipped you onto your back, pulling up your thin nightdress that had a plunging neckline and thin straps. I'd look at you and kiss your exposed skin, then pull down the straps and kiss both your breasts while you put your arms around my neck then ruffle my hair then you'd kiss my neck and make a big red mark that I couldn't hide under my collar and Miller would smirk all day."

"Then why are you still fantasising Alec? I'm here, right now and we don't have to wait until morning. I want you now."

He pulled down her black trousers, then her white cotton knickers, diving down to kiss her further down as she fumbled with the zip of his trousers, him helping by pulling them down at the back, reaching back with his hand while Rose pulled them down at the front until he was free of both his trousers and his boxer briefs, much to Rose's delight.

"Alec, pass that packet over."

"Mmm? Oh you were serious? It doesn't matter Rose, like you said, it's a bit late for that."

"I want to Alec, now pass it over."

He humoured her and reached for the packet, ripping it open. Rose proceeded to put the item on him, a bit too fast for his liking but Rose savoured it, smoothing it as she went. She had a wicked smile on her face.

"This is what I dreamt about Alec, we can still use them now and again even if we don't exactly need them. Now it's your turn to go on top."

"Rose, I don't want to put my weight on you, I don't want to crush you."

"I'm fine Alec, just once won't harm, just prop yourself up, I want to do this properly."

"Oh Rose, I think we did it properly the first time, don't you?"

Rose giggled. "Shut up and get on with it Alec."

"I don't need telling twice Rose."

Rose squealed with delight when they touched, Alec being gentle at first until she encouraged him by pinching his bum and telling him not to go easy on her. Doing as asked, he made the final effort to bring them both tumbling over the edge together, Rose panting for breath as he slowly came away from her. Feeling the loss, she moved him onto his back and lay on him, both trying to recover.

"That was even better Alec, I wish I'd not stayed away as long."

"So do I Rose please, don't go away again."

Still trying to recover, which Rose thought was going to take a while, she tried to explain again why she couldn't, not permanently.

"Alec, I'll stay as much as is possible, you know that and I'll keep out of trouble, I promise. I'll stop travelling around, I'll stay with my mum and the Doctor can keep bringing me here all the time. He'll do it, I know he will. Please Alec, don't make this any more difficult for me, you know I want to so I'll be here as much as I can. I'll keep those doctor's and hospital appointments, you can go with me if you're up for it."

"You're not excluding me Rose, you know I want all that with you, my ex kept me out of all that, we were both working and she chose times I couldn't go with her. I'm not doing that again. This time I want it all. Don't worry, she doesn't have anything to do with me, it's all I can do to get my daughter to talk to me."

"Sorry Alec. I want you involved in every part of this. We'll have to move soon, if we're to get a place ready, I don't want to not be able to do things. Will we need to get another furnished place?"

"No, I have some things in storage and we can buy the rest. There's plenty of time."

"Yeah, I suppose, though the sooner we start, the better. I may come back and find you've done it without me."

"Don't joke about it, I wouldn't do that, well except this once but I did that so you didn't have to go back to the hotel. I knew you'd call when you arrived."

"I'm tired Alec, it's been a hell of a day for me and I don't know what happened to my mother. The Doctor was sending her to the other universe until it was safe to come back and I'm surprised she hasn't shown up here looking for me."

Alec was just telling her they would find out soon enough but Rose was already settled on him and was asleep.

ooooooooo{silversurfer60}ooooooooo

The Doctor didn't know how long it had actually been but after he had put the Tardis into orbit, he'd had a visitor and saved the world from a giant red spider with the help of a bride-to-be called Donna and had drained the river Thames in the process. He was so glad Rose hadn't been there for that but as soon as his guest left to go back to her family, he went back into the time vortex and tried to get back to where he had left Rose, trying not to make it too long. He still had to tell her about her mother not coming back.

The next few days were to be filled with Rose trying to get to grips with going backwards and forwards in time to be with Alec and still see her mother in the past though she knew she wouldn't be able to see her in the present time, Jackie got confused enough as it was. She also had to explain to Alec that the nearer she got to being able to stay permanently, she didn't know how that would exactly go until it actually happened and hoped the universe wouldn't implode or something. Alec had laughed as they talked, walking down the promenade in Weymouth eating ice cream after lunch.

He had booked them into a hotel for the night and taken her to buy a sexy nightdress, the kind he had been dreaming about, Rose only too willing to fulfil his fantasy. On the Sunday morning, Alec woke first and was able to make his dream come true as he watched Rose sleep then watched her smiling and moving over onto him. As she sat astride him, running her fingers over the hairs on his chest, he asked if she could feel the baby yet, putting his hand gently on her stomach.

"No, not really, I think I've put a bit of weight on but not much, things are feeling a bit tighter, I guess I'll have to get some bigger clothes. I'll have to get some the next time I go back to the Tardis. I thought he would have been back by now."

"Don't wish him back too soon Rose, I want some more time with you. Can't you make it so that when I come home from work every night, you've been away and come back to me?"

"I'll really try Alec, if I can get him to do it. Sometimes his driving is a bit off."

Alec smiled. There was no way he could settle for her being away for four weeks at a time. If she could be there every night when he got home, he could live with her being away during the day. After all, what was the point of having a time machine if you couldn't take full advantage of it?

He drove them back to Broadchurch, pulling in behind the chalet to see a familiar blue box where he had been parking. Rose got out of the car first just as the Doctor opened the door.

"Hello Rose. Been away for the weekend?"

"Talk about stating the obvious Doctor."

Alec was getting their overnight bag out of the back of the car.

"Alec, everything ok? Have you had any problems health-wise since I gave you that injection?" the Doctor asked.

"No, I've been fine apart from Rose not being here. Thanks for bringing her back to me."

"You're welcome."

Rose went up to him and gave him a hug. "The test was positive, we've been celebrating. Are you coming to see inside the chalet? It's only temporary, we'll have to find somewhere else soon though it kind of reminds me of the Tardis. Where's my mum? Did you take her back home? I thought she would have demanded you brought her straight to me."

"We all need to talk Rose, inside would be better."

Alec led the way and opened the door, Rose going in first.

"So come on Doctor, you must have sent all those Daleks and Cybermen back into the void, what else have you been up to while you were waiting for me to spend some time with Alec?"

The Doctor stared out of the window, Alec eyeing him. He turned around.

"She's not coming back Rose, the void closed before she had time to get back. Mickey stayed to help me and when all the Daleks and Cybermen were gone, he used his device to go back, he was supposed to send your mother back as soon as he got there but just seconds after he left, the walls closed."

Alec took hold of Rose, who threw her arms around him. Rose was lost for words as Alec sat her on the sofa.

"I'm sorry Rose but there's no way back, intentionally or accidentally, the walls are sealed, permanently. I went to your flat and got some valuables out for you, they're in the Tardis. Some photos and your dad's trophies and some other stuff, didn't have a lot of time to look around apart from your room, things I knew you would want. They put your mother on the list of the missing, so many people did that day and I told your next door neighbour you were coming to live with me so she would tell your relatives. You should still have all your ID in place, nothing will have changed. You can safely contact anyone, tell them you've been living abroad or travelling, whatever you like. You're free Rose, you can stay here, with Alec."

"But my mother, was she ok? You told her you'd taken me to Alec?"

"Yes she knows you're safe. If there's a chance for her to come back Rose, I'll get her, I promise. Even if I change again, I'll get her back to you."

"What do you mean change?" Alec asked, keeping hold of Rose.

"If I regenerate Alec. Timelords can change if they are dying. I didn't always look like you, that must have been a bonus. I don't exactly always have a choice. Sometimes I do. Maybe the last time, I was meant to look like this, I don't know but looking the way I do, it was easier for Rose to find you."

"Hang on Doctor, don't think I'm with Alec because he happens to look like you, that's not how it works."

"I'm not saying that Rose but think back to when you two met. You thought he was me and he talked to you."

"Rose, it's ok, I know what he's getting at and I know that's not the case, I may not have gone over to talk to you that night had Becca Fisher not thought it was funny and mistook me for the Doctor, just like you did. It doesn't matter that we look alike, I know that's not why you're with me."

"I hadn't thought about that, it was kind of funny I suppose. I might not have talked to you or accepted that drink but there is one problem Doctor."

"What's that?"

"Well all my papers say I was born in 1987 but I haven't aged, I still look the same as I did in 2006. How am I going to explain that?"

"I'm sure you'll think of something Rose. You don't have to come back to me or keep coming back to Alec, you can stay, right now. Go get yourselves another house to live in, go for your check-ups, have the baby, neither of you have to miss out now, it's permanent Rose. You're here to stay and I promise, I'll keep looking in on you from time to time though you may not always recognise me"

Rose got up and looked at him. "I will you know, I'll always know who you are. Thank you and I'll know you'll bring my mum back if you can. I should try and contact the people I left behind. Oh, Alec mentioned something about the Titanic flying over London. That anything to do with you?" Rose smiled.

The Doctor ran his fingers through his hair and he didn't need to answer. "Maybe in the future but I did just drain the Thames after saving London from a giant red spider with a woman called Donna who appeared in the Tardis after I dropped you off here."

They both looked at him. Alec wondered what he was letting himself in for. They followed him back out to the Tardis and he retrieved the things he had rescued from Rose's flat.

"I expect your relatives got the rest, like I said, I didn't have a lot of time. Is there anything you want from your room here?"

"Yeah, I'll go get the rest of my clothes though I need some bigger ones now."

"Well ask the Tardis nicely and she might provide you with some maternity clothes in your wardrobe."

"Alec, do you want to see my room?"

He followed her down the corridor and Rose opened the door. Just as she had left it, clothes scattered around, like she was coming back but she knew she never was now. She had everything she needed except her mother but considering the alternatives, it still didn't make it right. She should have had Alec, the baby and her mother and hoped her mum would get together with the other Pete Tyler and have a life there but nothing would keep them from thinking about each other all the time.

Alec made Rose come back out of her old room when she started crying, putting his arm around her and taking a case she had filled up, the Doctor taking a holdall and following them back to the console room, Alec picking up the carrier bag full of mementos. He put the holdall on his shoulder and took Rose's arm.

"Come on Rose, let's go home."

"Can I have a minute Alec? I promise I'll be right with you, I just want to say goodbye."

Alec nodded then shook the Doctor's hand.

"Look after her Alec, you both have a new start now. I know what happened with your last case and you will solve it, one of these days, just like you will this one because you have Rose with you now, she'll make all the difference."

"Thanks Doctor. Rose, I'll take these into the chalet then we'll go get something to eat if you want?"

"Yeah, ok. I won't be long."

Alec left the Tardis, leaving Rose and the Doctor alone, facing each other.

"Well Rose, this isn't goodbye, not really. I'll keep an eye on you, I want to know what you have."

"I know Doctor. I was going to ask you to leave me here as much as was possible but I guess there's no need any more. It was fun though wasn't it? All we did together and I never meant for things to get out of hand between us but the kisses were kind of nice."

"Yeah, they were. They made it more bearable when things weren't exactly going according to plan but we couldn't have been together like you and Alec are. He's a good man Rose, he'll get through this murder investigation and he'll do it because you're with him, you always make things better Rose and I will miss you."

"One last hug Doctor, though not the usual kind, I don't want you squashing the baby."

The Doctor made it a gentle hug. "You'd best get back to Alec, he's probably watching out of the window for you."

"Promise me one thing Doctor? That you'll come and see me before you go regenerating again?"

"Of course I will Rose, I wouldn't just go like that and I don't intend changing any time soon and if you hear of something that happened in the past, it was probably me."

Rose smiled and extracted herself from his arms. "Bye Doctor, take care of yourself and find someone to travel with, promise?"

"Promise, you don't know Donna do you? She said that to me."

Rose smiled. "No but she's right. Why don't you go back and get her to go with you?"

"I asked her, she turned me down flat. Said I terrified her."

"She might come round, she might go looking for you if she gets bored."

"Yeah. Anyway, you'd best be off and watch out for your mother appearing because I'll do everything I can to bring her back."

"Never doubted you."

She reached up and kissed his cheek. "Go on, get out of here you daft alien."

The Doctor smiled. "Bye Rose, have a fantastic life with Alec Hardy."

"I will. Bye Doctor. I'll wave you off."

He got back in the Tardis and Rose watched it fade away again. She walked back round to the chalet and Alec held his arms out to her, Rose falling into them with tears running down her face.

"Come on Rose, I'll make us something to eat then you have a lot to tell me. I want to know everything you got up to, don't leave anything out."

Rose looked up and kissed him. "Alec, that may take some time."

"Well you had better get started or you'll be still telling them as bedtime stories to our kids."

"Kids? Do you know something I don't?"

"No but if you think I'm settling for just one, think again Rose Tyler."

After they had eaten, Rose wanted to walk along the sea front and the harbour. "There's lots to do Alec. I have to get signed up at a health centre and the hospital, the Doctor retrieved my birth certificate so I don't have to do that but my passport needs renewing."

"We can do that, then I'll go register at the property letting place up in the town, we can start looking for somewhere. Do you know something Rose?"

"What?" she asked, sitting on the wall with some help.

"I bet everything that's happened that's been peculiar in the last seven years was down to him so I'll have to fill you in on those and you can tell me about your off-world adventures."

"And world war two plus when we met Queen Victoria."

"Oh trust you to have met royalty. Don't tell me you two got knighted or the equivalent?"

"How did you guess? You're talking to Dame Rose I'll have you know."

"Well your Ladyship, it's time we got back home."

Just then, Rose's phone rang, which surprised her since Alec was the only one who had her number. She got it out of her pocket. The screen said 'Mum' and Rose almost dropped the phone, showing it to Alec.

Jackie excitedly told Rose how she got back but wasn't staying.

"The Doctor zapped my phone so I could call you, I'm in 2009 but I have to go back for now. Pete and I got married, you have a young brother. The Doctor said ask Alec about the stars going out."

"But why can't you stay Mum?"

"I can't Sweetheart, I know how hard it is but the Doctor promised me if there was a way, he'd do it. We're in Norway of all places and we're just going back now. Mickey's staying here, his gran died recently so he might look you up, told him to leave it until 2013. I have to go now, I love you Rose."

"Love you too Mum. What's my brother's name?"

"It's Tony and he looks just like his dad. The Doctor's calling me, I have to go, I'll put him on for a minute."

There was silence. "Hello Rose. I know we've probably just said goodbye and if I could let your mum stay I would. We have to go now. Bye Rose."

Saying goodbye to her mother and the Doctor, Rose hung up and told Alec. "At least you know now. It's going to be ok Rose, she'll come back again, for good next time and she'll have a grandchild to come back to."

"Mum said to ask you about the stars going out."

"Right. The day the earth got moved across the sky."

"Trust me to miss that."

"Oh Rose, that's not all you missed. The other Christmas, everyone went crazy and believed they were someone else and a red planet appeared in the sky, you can bet who was partly responsible for that?"

Rose managed a smile.

ooooooooo{silversurfer60}ooooooooo

Eight months later, Mickey had found her and came for a visit, she saw her Doctor for the last time and Rose was in labour, shouting at her partner and saying if he wanted any more kids, he was having them next time. He knew she didn't mean it, it was just the pain she was in. He had just come back into the delivery room after telling Ellie that Rose had gone into labour and imagined that she could hear Rose shouting over the phone. He'd only gone out because he had been told she wasn't ready yet but the baby had other ideas.

A few hours later, he was holding his newborn son in his arms as Rose was getting cleaned up and a few stitches, sitting on the chair beside her. She took his free hand when she was settled and he went to sit on the bed.

"What was that about not having any more Rose? Wasn't it all worth it?"

"Yeah, course it was, I didn't mean to yell at you. You know that don't you?"

"Yes I know. Here."

He passed the baby over to her, putting his arm around her.

"So it's Peter Alan then?" he asked, kissing her cheek then the baby's.

Rose nodded, leaning down to kiss the baby's forehead then reaching for Alec's cheek.

"I love you Alec."

"I know but the only question now is his surname. Is it Tyler or Hardy?"

"That a question or a proposal Alec?"

Alec smiled. He hadn't even thought about it. He wanted to marry her but was afraid she would run away but it had now become clear she was going nowhere, in the past, present or future or even off-world any time soon.

"Well I guess it's a proposal then, if you're offering?"

"I'm offering. You're all I have in the world Alec, you and Peter. You're all I need as well.

The End!