A/n: Thank you for reading this! As always; I don't own 'em, just wish I did!

As he worked to disconnect the Rift Manipulator from the TARDIS computers, the Doctor remembered the conversation that he had with Rose's parents right after Jack was born. He was expecting to hear that Rose had been happy and that to come here now was only going to disrupt all the progress she had made in the direction of being happy. He expected an argument, he expected a slap. What he did get was about 101 questions about how he would protect Jack and Rose and keep them happy. He promised Pete and Jackie that he would do whatever he could to make and keep his wife and son happy and healthy.

What it came down to was that the Doctor loved Rose and his son more than anyone or anything that he had loved before, including himself. If it were up to him, his family would always be happy and never be injured or ill. He knew that reality was that those things would happen; injury and illness was simply part of life. All he could do is be careful and love them with both his hearts.

This satisfied Jackie and Pete and they both gave the little family their blessing, but making sure the Doctor understood that Rose and Jack always had a home with them and that he could bring them back at any time. The Doctor assured them that he would try to return for visits, as the technology he used and adapted was able to keep things stable. Jackie then took her grandson and held him close. They were probably leaving soon and she wanted to spend as much time as she could with the baby.

He intended on speaking with Harkness about setting up a time to return to use the manipulator to visit Jackie and Pete. It was safe now and Jack and Rose needed Jackie and Pete in their lives.

As he disconnected the last circuits from the TARDIS, he smiled. He was domestic and he liked it. Rose's questions still loomed but he felt that he could make her understand.

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"Jack, the Gamestation, what happened?"

"I died. The Daleks got me. The next thing I know is that I am waking up in a nearly empty station, you and the Doctor are leaving and I am left behind."

"I'm sorry, Jack. He told me you had a task to rebuild and you were OK. I always felt that you were dead and he didn't want to tell me. I wish I had known, I would have made him go back for you. I would have….. I don't know, kicked his arse?"

Jack Harkness chuckled. "You could have, too. Still could, I guess. He loves you, you know. More than anything else that has ever been in his life."

"I know. Still, leaving you behind?"

"I am 'wrong'. A fixed point in time. Even now I still feel him going against every instinct that he has to be with me. To his credit, though, he tries and to a great degree, succeeds. I forgave him a long time ago. Rose, don't let this come between you."

"I won't, Jack, but he will have to answer to me for it."

"Just don't be too hard on him, OK?"

"I'll try, Jack, I'll try."

Rose hugged her immortal friend. He did feel different, but not "wrong". Rose couldn't put her finger on it. Maybe it was simply their separation, maybe she had some sense of Jack Harkness and his "wrongness". She didn't know, but the Doctor had to answer some questions for her.

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The Doctor was preparing a meal of salad and chips for them when Rose re-entered the TARDIS. Jack sat in his little carrier on the table watching his daddy with a focus that was rare in human children at his age. But, of course, he wasn't fully human and there were bound to be some differences. The Doctor looked up from the salad bowl when Rose walked in. He sensed the confusion coming from her and put the big bowl on the table along with smaller salad bowls and assorted cutlery. "Have a seat, love, dinner is almost ready."

Rose sat down and the Doctor placed a large plate of chips on the table for them both. "OK. You've talked to Jack Harkness. Do you want my side?"

"Only if you tell me the truth with no excuses." She said as she shoved a vinegar drenched chip into her mouth.

"I was dealing with regeneration sickness. For a short time after regeneration, before the coma, I was insane. If I hadn't been sick, I probably would have been able to fight off the instincts. I'd like to go back and change it. I'd like to change a lot of things, but I can't. I really have no excuses; I was wrong and acted badly."

"Oh, you think? I wish I could be mad at you, but Jack has forgiven you and I just can't stay mad at you, as much as I want to. You were wrong; I know it, you know it. Jack tells me that you are doing what you can to make up for it. I can live with that, but if you hurt him again, you will have to answer to me." There was no mistaking Rose's tone. She was serious and he did not want to face her wrath if he ever hurt Jack like that again.

They ate their dinner with active conversation. The Doctor told Rose of Martha, Donna and Astrid. How brilliant they were and how they helped him through the pain of losing her. He told her of the Master and how he hid her in his deepest thoughts and feelings. Rose really thought that she would be jealous of his other companions, it surprised her that she wasn't.

Rose told him of her job at Torchwood and how she was up for promotion, but felt that the position of full field agent should go to Mickey as he was already in the field. She told him of the Alien Artifacts department and the ways that he had helped her without even being there.

By the time that they were done, their son was ready for his next meal. Rose nursed him at the dining table as the Doctor cleaned up from their dinner. Never before had he seen such a beautiful sight. His wife nursing their son.

While Rose changed Jack and put the boy in his cot, the Doctor set up something special and romantic for his Rose. He lit the fireplace in the study and set out a picnic of various sweets and pastries for them. A bottle of sweet Gallifreyan wine was put into an ice bucket. He was going to propose to her again and wanted it to be perfect. He wanted her to know that he would marry her again and again and how happy he was that she decided to return with him.

In time, she joined him in the study. He could tell that she had showered. She was wearing a pale pink gown and robe set that was absolutely stunning. Before he could say anything, she spoke. "Jack is sleeping for the night. I found this on the bed. Thank you, it's beautiful."

"Not me, sweetheart, I haven't had time to shop for anything. Must have been the TARDIS. You look amazing."

Rose said a heartfelt thank you to the ship and settled down to have desert with her love. It took all she had not to laugh at the Doctor's proposal.

"Rose, my love, would you spend your eternity with me? I know that it is not fair to ask for forever, but will you live with me, be my wife in this ship for as long as you can? I promise to make you as happy as I can and love you and any children that we have until my forever, however long that is. If you say yes, I will be the happiest being this side of Raxacoricofalaptorius, forget that, the whole universe, the multiverse!"

Rose leaned forward and captured his lips in hers. It was the best way she had to quiet him and she had been dying to kiss him since their reunion. She laughed when he said, "Is that a yes, then?"

"Yes, you daft alien." As she spoke, she trailed her hand down his tie to rest on the button on his trousers. "Let's go celebrate."

"Rose, Jack is only 5 days old, are you healed enough for that?"

"The TARDIS healed most of the damage from giving birth, right?" He nodded in agreement. "We can stop if there are any problems, right?" Again, he nodded. "Then, I want to make love to my husband."