She tipped his face bringing it closer to hers, close enough that they were breathing the same air, "Really?" she asked amused. "What's a girl got to do for a little forgiveness?"
The Doctor smirked, "Rose, I honestly don't know." She leant closer, both their eyes fluttering shut. Rose kissed him properly for the briefest of seconds before…a beach ball hit the Doctor in the back of the head.
"Four!" called a familiar voice.
They both stumbled, The Doctor holding Rose close to his body. Once they were steady Rose moved out of the Doctor's embrace and peered around him, what she saw didn't surprise her in the slightest. And that surprised her. Jack and Mickey ran towards them both wearing goggles, weighed down with backpacks and holding golf clubs.
She tried not to smile. She tried very, very hard. And lost. The Doctor on the other hand, was not impressed. Rose moved between the boys and the Doctor, while he stared disdainfully at the beach ball lying near by. "So you're packed? I thought we were still going to stop by your place?" Rose asked looking at Jack as he pushed his goggles up.
"We are, I just had to grab a couple of gadgets we cannot possibly travel the universe properly without." He paused a moment for a breath "Actually, most of this is Mickey's-"
"Oh, no!" the Doctor shouted – suddenly paying a lot more attention to them all – "I agreed to one. One guest, not two, not three. One! Jack's bad enough. Now I have to put up with Mickey as well?" he ranted, pacing and looking from Jack to Rose and back again.
"Doctor, now come on I'm sure Jack…" Rose said quickly and soothingly. She looked at Jack for clarification, in case they were getting the wrong end of the stick. "I'm sure Jack didn't mean that the way it sounded." She finished doubtfully.
"Well, why can't Mickey come along?" Jack asked pointedly. Mickey during this wisely kept his mouth shut, keeping from looking directly at the Doctor in case looks could kill.
"Why? WHY?" The Doctor asked outraged. "Twenty seconds ago you almost killed us with a beach ball!" he started pacing in wider circles and muttering things under his breath. The only distinguishable thing being Rose's name as he gestured for her to sort it out.
Her eyes slid to the boys, "Guys, I'm not sure what reaction you were expecting."
Jack shrugged, "Pretty much exactly that, actually. We just figured you could talk him round."
Rose glared, "Because that's so easy?" she hissed, beginning to get a little annoyed herself. She shot a look at the Doctor behind her and moved closer to the boys; she pulled Mickey's goggles off. "Come on then. If I have to stick my neck out for you, you're gonna have to speak for yourself. The last time you travelled with us didn't exactly go so well…you abandoned us for a parallel world – certain never to see us again. Not that the universe seems to work that way – the impossible is very possible. Then later, you swan off and go join Jack's team –not that you said goodbye to me or anything."
"Maybe, I didn't think that it would be the last time we saw each other." Mickey argued.
Rose rolled her eyes, "Sure. Whatever."
Mickey reached out and took her shoulders, looking at her earnestly "Rose, just think about it okay. Would it really be that bad if I tag along? It wouldn't be boring."
Rose glanced at Jack and he raised his eyebrows, she considered what Mickey had said for a moment. "Well, it certainly wouldn't be boring." She agreed reluctantly. Mickey nodded and she sighed, "Alright." She closed her eyes " But I make no promises on good behaviour. He's gonna need to some time to adjust to the situation." Jack leapt forward and wrapped her and Mickey in a bear hug, which they both laughed and tried to get out of.
"The old team back together again, plus one." Jack crowed.
Rose shushed him, "Okay, okay, hurray and everything but keep it down, we have to approach the Doctor about this carefully."
"Why do you guys always insist on looking at me as the hanger on? The third wheel?" Mickey muttered.
"Maybe coz you're always hanging on." Rose retorted impatiently.
Jack held back a grin, interrupting before Mickey could reply. "Now, now kiddies, play nice. We need a united front if we're going to win this war."
The Doctor wandered back over to them, hesitantly. The three people before him schooled their faces, Jack keeping an arm around Mickey as he dropped the one around Rose. "I assume can we get going now?" The Doctor asked carefully.
Rose with a final look at the men beside her moved to stand in front of the Doctor, "You…could." She began slowly, giving him a bright smile.
The Doctor's eye twitched and he looked down at her distrustfully, "And you solved this how?"
"Would it be so terrible-"
"Yes." The Doctor answered shortly, he waved a hand at Mickey. "You didn't even want Mickey to come with us the first time – I had to convince you that it was a good idea!" Rose shot him a disbelieving look and winced as she heard Mickey's sharp intake of breath behind her.
"Too far" Rose mouthed at the Doctor furiously.
"Oh. I thought we were having an honest conversation – silly me."
Rose's eyes darken and she smiled humourlessly at him, her arm shot out to stop Jack interrupting when she sensed him move closer. She licked her lips, "Let's get this straight. Mickey and Jack are welcome to travel with us anytime – Family remember. The only family I have in reach, so you are going to like it or lump it. And here's the kicker" she said stepping even closer, almost as close as they'd been before. "You are not going to say anything. Do I make myself clear? You're gonna keep your feelings to yourself about this for a couple of days. It shouldn't really be much of a stretch for you should it? She finished softly.
The Doctor held her gaze, she didn't back down. "No, it shouldn't." he conceded.
Rose sighed and looked back at Jack and Mickey, "You guys should store your stuff now before we get going to Jack's to pick up the rest of it – although what more you could possibly need when you have a time machine I don't know." She said her mouth quirking up at one side as she tried to lighten the tension.
Jack shrugged out of his backpack, handing both it and his golf club to a surprised Mickey. "I've got a better idea. You two can store this in the Tardis, while Rose and I get a cab to mine and get the rest. It'll save time." He suggested. "And we'll be able to leave sooner."
Mickey looked at Rose and then didn't wait for any confirmation from the Doctor before shuffling off under the weight of his load towards the Tardis. The Doctor looked at Rose; "You're just going to leave me with him?" he pointed at Mickey.
"Yep, she is. I would have thought you'd be all for a plan to get outta here quicker, strange." Jack murmured thoughtfully. He moved behind Rose sliding his hands down her arms and then examined Rose's outfit. Jack smirked slowly, "Hang on did we interrupt something?" he asked stroking the fabric of the Doctor's jacket.
The Doctor sighed at Jack's grinning face over the top of Rose's head, he rolled his eyes "No." he said sourly. "Rose was cold." He muttered by way of explanation and then strode off to kick the beach ball at a struggling Mickey. Both Jack and Rose winced as it made contact. "Four!" The Doctor called after a pause.