"Are you sure it's okay to leave her with mum and Jack?" Rose asked.
"They'll be fine, it's only for a few of days." The Doctor told her. "But you won't. Rose you won't be any good to anyone if you collapse."
"I'm fine."
"Rose you've been at it none stop since Tala was born with Torchwood and everything you haven't had time to relax."
"Speaking of Jack how did you get him to stay behind with my mum?"
"He was concerned with the welfare of his goddaughter." Rose sighed, looking thoroughly annoyed. "His words not mine." The Doctor began to scratch behind his ear. "Besides I promised him a large present."
"Well he can go shopping in London and enjoy himself I suppose." Rose paused.
"Your mum will look after them both." Rose nodded.
"So where are we going? And if you say 'somewhere we've never gone before' again so help me I'll…"
"It's the truth."
"Yes but you don't need to say it every time we go somewhere."
"I don't say it every time…okay I do sometimes." Rose smiled and pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek. "Where are we going?"
"Solantis."
"Somewhere sunny then?"
"Where did you get that idea?"
"Solan – solar – sun…"
"You humans." A slight cough made him change his line of thought. "You ex-humans, think the words revolves around you. The word 'Solar' doesn't have the same meaning throughout the galaxy." Rose frowned, her husband was the same as always he had to know everything.
"Know-it-all."
"Time Lord." He began.
"Time Lady." She retorted.
"All of time and space."
"Bad Wolf."
"Oncoming Storm."
"Daughter of Jackie Tyler." He opened his mouth to speak, his mouth moved as if trying to speak. He stared in the other direction trying to think of something to say. "I win." He pointed at her.
"Just this once." Rose gave him a triumphant smile. The TARDIS hummed in appreciation at her master being defeated.
"I should've brought Jack. Safety in numbers." He drew his hand back sharply as the TARDIS sent him a mild shock through it electrics. He cursed as Rose laughed at his suffering.
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The Doctor threw open the doors once they landed. He bounced outside. The first thing that struck Rose was the cold, it bit through her. She was glad that she'd taken his hint that it wasn't as sunny as she'd expected; even so her thick coat still made her feel as if she was exposed to the weather.
"Come on." He told her as he dragged her over the hill. As they reached the crest Rose saw a huge glass dome. It almost blurred into the snow that surrounded it. The glass reflected the sunlight. "We'd better get inside before the sun sets. The days are short here," Rose nodded and let him lead her towards the dome.
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As they crossed the threshold of the building Rose felt the warmth wash over her, her husband never seemed to notice changes in temperature but she suspected that was his stubbornness that prevented him from doing so. This version of him as more stubborn than the last.
"Can I help you sir?"
"Yes, we have a reservation, John and…" He looked at Rose, studying her form a moment. "Joan Smith." Rose turned to him when the desk clerk was looking at the register. She mouthed 'Joan?' But he only gave her his usual cheeky grin.
"I'm sorry sir but…"
"Hold on," He reached into his pocket and pulled out his psychic paper. "See, a reservation." The clerk's eyes widened as he looked at the paper.
"I'm sorry sir, I had no idea." He babbled. Theta looked at the paper curiously. He grinned.
"Sir and Dame." He whispered. Rose giggled as the clerk moved towards them and gestured for them to follow him.
As they entered their room, the clerk hastily left them. Rose moved towards the window that looked across the planet. The Doctor wrapped his arms around her waist.
"So, what do you think Mrs Smith?" The Doctor felt Rose's smile.
"Joan?" She asked.
"I have a human name so you needed one."
"I already have one." She stuck her tongue between her teeth, in the way he couldn't resist. "Or would you prefer to call me Bad Wolf from now on?" He chose to ignore her.
"I already have another human name too."
"'The Doctor' is hardly a name." Rose told him pointedly. He stuck his tongue out at her. "Why haven't we brought any luggage?"
"That's what this machine is for." He gestured to a machine that appeared to be a closet at first glance. He pulled open the doors to reveal a machine. "You just tell it what you want…orange t shirt." Immediately an orange t-shirt appeared. He unfolded the t-shirt and showed it to her. "See." She nodded and moved across to the machine.
"Blue dress." Immediately on the screen a selection of dressed appeared of various lengths, patterns and styles. Rose touched the screen where a flowery blue dress was depicted immediately the dress appeared.
"By the 31st century that was the norm for holiday resorts…" Rose clapped a hand across his mouth.
"You said relaxation." She cooed gently. He nodded before she pulled him towards the bed.
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Rose woke to find herself warmly cocooned in her husband's arms, a soft moan made her look up. She reached up and gently brushed her husband's fringe from his eyes. He grimaced and pulled his head away from her. Rose realised he was having a nightmare. She carefully extracted herself from his arms.
"Doctor," She whispered. He remained asleep. "Doctor." She reached down and pressed a gentle kiss to his lips. "Wake up, love." She told him. The Doctor woke suddenly his eyes widened in fear before he realised where he was. He took deep breaths as he tried to calm himself down. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." He seemed uncertain.
"You haven't had any nightmares in months." She told him. "What was it about?"
"Nothing." The Doctor climbed out of the bed and moved across the room away from her. Rose followed him and wrapped the sheet tightly around herself.
"Theta. You can tell me."
"I can't Rose."
"I am your wife!" She shouted, lowering her voice only when she saw him wince. "I've seen inside your mind, if you don't tell me then you're only pushing me away and I know you don't want to do that."
"It wasn't anything that I haven't had before." He told her, trying to dissuade her.
"Then tell me." He slowly turned to face her; she saw tears down his face immediately her face softened. Rose stepped towards him, embracing him tightly.
"With everything that's happened…" Rose gasped as she saw herself being approached by a cyberman, his arm outstretched to attack, she tried to dodge but the arm clamped down on her, she felt electricity flow through her body, through not only herself but the bundle she carried, looking closer she saw it was Tala, a scream filled the room.
Her eyes snapped open and she stepped away from her husband, a hand covered her mouth. The Doctor's eyes widened in shock.
"How did you do that?" He asked, she shook her head.
"You didn't touch my face?" Rose asked, he shook his head.
"Maybe…maybe my mind is developing?" She asked, he looked at her blankly. It was unsettling to see him so confused.
"Rose Sigma you are brilliant." She found herself pulled into a crushing hug.
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"No way am I going in there…" The Doctor protest very, very loudly. Rose blushed as people turned to face them.
"Its just a pool." He grimaced slightly at the water. "I haven't been in one for ages, at least while I was carrying Tala." She pulled an adorable face.
"I'm still not going in." Rose sighed.
"I guess I'll just have to watch those lovely lifeguards all by myself."
"Do you want me to carry the towels?" He asked quickly Rose laughed.
"Sometimes you can be so predictable." She handed something to him and he went whiter than snow.
"Why are you giving that to me?" He didn't dare look up from her engagement and wedding ring in the palm of his hand.
"Because I don't want to get them damaged in the water." Rose saw him visibly relax. "When I said forever I meant it." She studied him for a moment. "You haven't been like this for a while. That 'thing' with TORCHWOOD has really shook you hasn't it."
"Rose, I'm a Time Lord, I'm not supposed to feel like this."
"That's what make you different. You care about everyone and everything. It's not something to be ashamed of. You've changed." They stood in silence for a few minutes.
"I thought we were going to the pool." he told her suddenly before dragging her off.
As they grew closer to the pool Rose had expected a basic swimming pool not a tropical island. The Doctor let out a triumphant cry as he found an empty spot. He sat down on the sand, before quickly standing up as he realised the sand would make its way up his trousers. Rose shook her head slightly before laying the towels down onto the sand. As they lay down Rose snuggled into his embrace. The Doctor gently caressed her ring finger.
"You have a tan line." Rose laughed, turning into his chest.
"You probably have one too." He pulled his own ring off and looked finding a very faint tan line. "You don't tan well do you?"
"It's not my fault." He moaned. She laughed slightly.
"It's going to be a shame to go home." Rose whispered. "But I miss Tala so much."
"Me too." He pressed a gentle kiss to her hair. "I wonder if Jack's survived your mother." Rose gently slapped him. "Well at least he has one sane person with him. Though he'll still need therapy."
"I turned out alright." Rose muttered.
"An exception, but your…"
"Shut up!" Rose silenced him with a kiss.
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Rose slowly crept out of bed and towards the bathroom. She stopped in her tracks suddenly.
"What are you doing?" She cursed slightly.
"Going for a shower before someone uses up my shampoo and conditioner in their shower." She thought it was a bit strange he didn't say anything to that. She stepped into the shower and began to pour some shampoo into her hand. Immediately a sweet yet sickly smell filled the air causing her to gag. "THETA!!" She screamed. Immediately he ran into the room and yanked back the shower curtain.
"What's wrong?" He asked as he wiped sleep from his eyes. She handed him the shampoo.
"That isn't my shampoo."
"But its in your bottle." He looked at the bottle closely; everything pointed it to being her shampoo.
"Smell it." He looked at her as if she were mad. He sniffed and pulled a face. "The conditioner smells the same. It was fine yesterday." She saw his eyes glaze over. The Doctor quickly left the bathroom and emerged carrying his screwdriver. He tipped some of the contents into the sink. Rose peered over his shoulder. He aimed his screwdriver at and caused it to crystalise. He frowned and gently lifted some powder to show Rose.
"This shouldn't be in there. Or this." He lifted up his other hand. "This is a chemical binder, it binds chemicals that wouldn't normally react together. And this…" His expression turned grim. "It's Aspirin."
"Aspirin? You said Time Lords couldn't have Aspirin, it would kill them." He nodded. "But what's it doing in shampoo? Its not likely to have any effect there…"
"Rose have you ever accidentally swallowed some shower water when in the shower? Silly question of course you have, some of that water is bound to have traces of soap and shampoo in, and in that would be the Asprin. It only takes small amounts to kill a Time Lord." He noticed Rose beginning to shiver. "Come here." He wrapped a towel around her shaking form. "I think we'd better go home."
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They didn't even get through the door before something attacked them.
"Thank god you're back!!" The pair were enveloped in an enormous hug.
"MUM! What's wrong? Its not Tala, is it?" Rose asked afraid of the answer. Jackie shook her head.
"Its Jack, he'd being too nice!" The Doctor exchanged a confused look with Rose. "He's offered to do everything. It's not natural." The Doctor walked past a sobbing Jackie to Jack, looking at him in awe.
"How did you manage to do that?" Jack shrugged.
"It's a gift." He smirked. Theta smiled and looked towards the bundle in the cot. "She's been an angel. She obviously takes after her mother." The Doctor rolled his eyes before walking over to his daughter. He picked her up; as if she sensed him she woke up and smiled at him.
"Hello Tala." He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. Jack moved up behind him.
"So did you bring me back a present?"
TBC