Rose followed the Doctor out of the control room, but found the hallway beyond already empty. She wandered aimlessly for a few minutes, hoping that she might find him by chance. After turning a few corners, she heard footsteps coming from behind and then the Doctor's voice.

"No luck finding your alien tech. I did, however, discover one very clever stowaway."

Rose turned around and gasped in surprise. The Doctor stood at the other end of the hallway, their daughter carefully balanced on his hip. Without taking his eyes off Rose, the Doctor placed Hope on the ground. Hope needed no encouragement, immediately running into Rose's waiting arms. She clutched at her mother's shirt and let out a sob of relief. Rose gathered her daughter close to her chest, burying her head in the little girl's tousled hair and murmuring comforting words in her ear. "Shhhh. It's all right. You'll be home soon. Everything's gonna be fine."

Rose felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up to find the Doctor crouched beside her. He gave her what appeared to be a small smile of reassurance.

"You should take her inside the TARDIS. She'll be safe there." He turned to Hope and brushed a tear from her cheek. "Hey, precious. My that's a big yawn. Now, I've got this spaceship and, if you like, you can take a nap onboard. What do you say?"

Hope brightened and nodded enthusiastically. They walked back to the TARDIS in silence, Hope clinging to Rose and the Doctor with his hands buried in his pockets. When they reached the control room, Mickey looked more than a little astonished at their quick return. The tension still radiating from Rose and the Doctor, however, was less of a surprise.

"Is everythin' all right, then?" he asked cautiously.

"Yeah," Rose said, but the lines of worry across her brow told another story.

Upon seeing the TARDIS, Hope halted mid-step and traced the contours of the box with her eyes, absorbing information from every small nick and splinter. Instinctively, she knew exactly how incongruous the blue police box was in this time and place. This new awareness was startling and she was unsure of what it meant. "It feels familiar," she concluded.

"Of course she does," the Doctor said, stepping forward to unlock the door. He held it open and beckoned them inside. "Follow, your mum. Go on."

Hope entered cautiously and blushed when she felt a warm buzz of welcome in her mind. She kept close to her mother as they crossed the console room and entered the hallway beyond. The Doctor nodded curtly at Mickey as he passed by and then shut the door. The change in the gentle hum of his ship caused the Doctor to pause beside the console, skimming the edge with his fingertips.

"What next?" asked Mickey.

"We find out why they wanted her," the Doctor stated, absently fiddling with a few switches.

"Rose told you then?"

Abruptly, the Doctor stopped and turned around. "Mickey, I bet you're famished!"

"What?"

"Must of burned lots of calories on that search."

"But we didn't even--"

"A jaunt to the kitchen will do you good. It should be right where you remember it. Restocked recently too, if I remember correctly. Plenty of tea and jam and...well, other things."

The Doctor pushed Mickey somewhat forcibly into the hallway, steering him toward the kitchen.

"All right, all right. I'll leave you to your brooding," Mickey muttered, rubbing his shoulder.

"Oi! I'm not brooding!"

Mickey rolled his eyes and then continued in a more serious tone. "Listen, you mean the world to her, you know that, don't you? But it's been rough, for her, livin' here. You be careful with her."

The first door Rose opened led to a room with pale pink walls and a large bed overflowing with pillows and an overstuffed duvet. She stroked the doorframe in thanks as Hope dashed inside and dived into the bed. Settling her koala on a pillow, Hope turned to make an appraisal of the room.

"It's perfect!" Hope exclaimed with a wide grin and then looked perplexed. "Has it always been here?"

"I think it's new. This ship's alive, sweetheart. She creates things as needed."

Hope's eyes grew wide in wonder and Rose knew a barrage of questions was forthcoming. Rose shook her head and pulled the covers up to her daughter's chin.

"Hush. You need to sleep. You can ask all the questions you want tomorrow."

Hope pouted for a moment and then buried her head in a pillow. "I can hear singing." She yawned and snuggled deeper under the covers. "S'like a lullaby."

"That's the TARDIS. She'll keep you safe." The Doctor smiled from the doorway. "No nightmares for you."

Hope nodded sleepily. "I can tell."

The Doctor leaned against the wall just inside the room, head tilted slightly as he watched Rose finish putting their daughter to bed. The room was new and he could tell that his ship was quite pleased by the result. If he let the TARDIS have her way, Hope would be spoiled endlessly.

Brushing a kiss against the sleeping girl's forehead, Rose carefully rose from the bed to leave. She ducked her head as she passed the Doctor, avoiding his gaze as he followed her out the door, shutting it carefully behind them. He set off down the hallway and she followed, letting him determine their pace and destination. Without warning he grabbed her hand and briskly led her in another direction. As they walked the passageways became less and less familiar, until Rose was certain she had never been this far down. Finally, the Doctor opened a door and pulled her inside.

It was one of the cozier study's in the ship, brimming with books and simply decorated in warm woods. It had quickly become a favorite of this Doctor and Rose's as well when she discovered it. Then it had always been easy to access, often appearing right beside the kitchen or even the infirmary once or twice when it was needed.

While the Doctor was otherwise distracted by an unruly bride, the TARDIS had taken it upon herself to move the room somewhere less obvious. The Doctor noticed of course, but was grateful for his ship's meddling. He had spent weeks in that room, papers and books strewn across the floor, trying to find a way to make the impossible more possible. He had wandered into the room just once since, after the year that never was.

Now the small fireplace was unlit and the room felt unusually chill. The Doctor released Rose's hand as soon as they entered and went to stand on the opposite side with his back facing her. He ran a hand through his hair, mussing the already unkempt strands.

Apprehensive, Rose prompted, "Doctor..."

He took an audible breath and then spun to face her. His eyes were dark with anguish and Rose cringed, knowing that for once she was to blame.

Just two words, but still his voice wavered. "You lied."

"Yes," she replied faintly. "I didn't want to."

"But you did," he insisted.

"I'm sorry." She took a step forward, "So sorry," she murmured, entreating him to understand. "When you said it was impossible...I couldn't make it harder for you. And I..." For a moment she stumbled for words, already dreading the moment when she would finish. "I thought it might make you desperate. Like how you were sometimes before you changed. You might try somethin' risky. Two universe might've collapsed, yeah? I couldn't let you." She looked away, terrified of seeing in his face how her words were truly affecting him. "Then you appeared and I didn't know how to start tellin' you. I wasn't prepared. Never expected...well, I hoped it wasn't so impossible. But I didn't want to jinx it and I'd do anythin' to--"

She didn't notice that the Doctor had moved until she felt the soft pressure of a finger on her lips. She kept her eyes averted, terrified to meet his gaze, certain of his disappointment and rejection. His hand slid down to cup her cheek, carefully urging her to lift her head. She steeled herself against the inevitable and looked up. Her breath caught at the intensity of his focus, the compassion that filled his dark eyes. After how she had treated him, she certainly didn't deserve this.

"Oh, I could never hold a grudge against you, Rose Tyler," he whispered.

He lifted his hand away and wrapped his arms around her, tenderly pulling her close for a hug. Rose was in too much shock to resist. Her limbs remained stiff with apprehension as she tried to understand this absolution. The Doctor brushed his fingertips along her spine, repeating the motion slowly, over and over, coaxing her to relax and trust him. Despite her hesitancy, the familiar sensation was impossible to resist and her body gave way, accepting the support he offered. With a sigh, the Doctor moved back just enough to see her face.

"Rose...I never thought...I mean, really, never thought...well, first of all that I'd ever see you again. It should have been...well, you know. And now, not only do I have you but we have a daughter. A daughter!" He raised an eyebrow critically. "Now that really really really should have been impossible. We're not particularly compatible and my people haven't reproduced that way in...oh...eons." His forehead creased slightly as he admitted, "Maybe I shouldn't say 'impossible' quite so often."

Rose allowed herself a timid smile. "I think you should. Seems whenever you say it the opposite happens." She bit her lip. "You're happy then, yeah?"

"Happy?" His eyebrows lifted and he looked completely baffled. "Rose, of course I'm...I mean it's...it's just..." He paused and his eyes sparkled as he gave her a wide grin. "Fantastic."

It was the Doctor's turn to be surprised as his back hit the bookcase and soft lips pressed against his. For a split second his thoughts drifted to another moment involving that very bookcase and a significant lack of clothing. Then Rose's tongue traced his bottom lip and his eyes fluttered shut as he opened to her ministrations. It's a little awkward and not at all how Rose remembered it, but it's been so long since they've done this.

"Too long," mumbled the Doctor between kisses, clasping Rose even tighter against his body.

They finally separated only as a necessity, air rushing into deprived lungs.

"You still want this then?" He asked, breathing hard, respiratory bi-pass of little use now. "Me, want me, I mean. Because--"

Rose took hold of his tie and made a thorough job of silencing him.

"Was..." He cleared his throat. "Was that a yes?"

"Maybe," Rose teased, pulling him close for another kiss.

This time their motions were languid, a slow exploration of what they had forgotten, what they had long been denied.

"That was definitely a yes."

"Think so?"

"I know it was so."

"That suppose to sound impressive?"

The Doctor chuckled and rested his forehead against hers. "Oh, Rose Tyler. I lo--"

There was a loud cough from the doorway and the Doctor hastily pulled away.

"Mickey! Blimey you eat fast."

Mickey folded his arms across his chest and sighed. "They're outside. Saw 'em on the monitor."

"Oh."

As soon as Mickey left, Rose took a step backwards but could get no farther as the Doctor's hands moved to capture her waist.

"Rose..." the Doctor murmured, reluctant to let her go just yet.

She kissed him lightly and then straightened his tie. "We can finish this later, yeah?"

"Yes." He agreed, beaming. "Oh, yes."