Chapter Fifteen
The Doctor smiled as he glanced over to Rose, who was still sleeping in the little hospital bed. He assured the sisters that she was fine, and just needed some rest. She looked peaceful and content, smiling softly in her sleep, probably dreaming. He looked at her smiling for a little while, but then upon hearing a quiet squeal, he walked over to the makeshift hospital cot and lifted the burbling infant into his arms. It was an odd feeling, holding his own child, he felt a lot safer now that Xavier wasn't wrapped up in wires and syringes. The nurse said that the drug treatment went well, and within a few hours he was allowed to take Xavier back to the room his mother was in. The Doctor was still a little anxious about his sudden fatherhood. He hadn't been a father in so long, and he hadn't been completely sure he would be any good as a father again. But then, as he rocked little Xavier in his arms, he knew that the feeling he felt, was anything but unnatural.
"Hey there little guy," he said smiling softly and looking down at his baby...their baby. Small tuft of brown hair, golden hazel eyes just like Rose's, his son was perfect-no doubt about it. He rocked the cooing baby in his arms as the two of them fell into a companionable silence. Then he could sense Xavier whining, and translated the little baby speak he could. "No, mum's sleeping right now she's very tired. It's been a long day for all of us, as I'm sure you understand. So unfortunately you're stuck with me for a little while, best to let her get her rest." The baby gurgled again and The Doctor laughed "Yes it is my real hair," he said running his free hand through it. "You'll probably have some just like it when you grow up."
He felt Xavier's mental presence tickle his mind slightly, conveying a content emotion. "You're a strong one too mentally, a strapping time tot. Don't worry about being a little small though, the sisters say you'll grow fast," he sighed contently "They would be so proud of one like you back on Gallifrey. You are destined for great things Xavier, great great things, I promise. Two strong beating hearts, and beautiful eyes like those? You'll have the whole universe wrapped around your little finger, just like I did when I was as young as you. It's hard to remember that far back, but I do, sometimes. When I was little like you, I used to dream of the stars, and I guess you could say I lived my dreams Xavier. I hope you live your dream too son, whatever it may be. Oh the places we are going to take you, planets you can hardly imagine. Constellations that not even I could fathom were even possible. And you're gonna get to see them all, for as long as you like. Saving people, creating new life and it's all part of the daily grind. That's the best life I can try to give you. I'm not going to lie, and say that it's going to be easy Xavier, because it's not, it's going to be difficult… you and I both know that. Some days, we won't be able to save everyone. But that's okay, because when we feel down about what we could've done, your amazing mum, she'll sit us down. She'll make a cup of tea, and make beans on toast and talk to us, tell us how wonderful we are, and how sometimes it's okay not to win. And that's true Xavier, your mum she's always right. Because sometimes winning… winning is no fun at all." The Doctor could sense Xavier getting tired so he gently rocked him again, before setting him back down in the cot "I'm sorry, I won't bore you any longer," he chuckled softly "Night night, little timelord. Sweet dreams."
Xavier yawned and wriggled around a little in the cot, before drifting off to sleep, and the doctor could have easily stayed there for an eternity just watching him. But then he heard a faint murmur from the bed, and turned to see Rose waking up.
"Doctor?" she said quietly, looking around.
"I'm here sweetheart. How you feeling?"
"Yeah I'm okay, I think I bad wolfed out there for a second. Where is he? Is he okay?" Rose asked, sitting up a bit more.
"He's fine Rose, he's perfect. They're keeping you both in overnight to make sure everything runs smoothly, but he's fine."
"I want to see him."
"Come on then, he's just gone off to sleep so you'll have to come to him I'm afraid."
Rose nodded and slowly stood up. She didn't feel too bad, and could feel Bad Wolf coursing through her veins, fixing any damage that child birth had caused, and bringing her back to her full strength. She stretched slightly, and walked with The Doctor over to the crib. She smiled as she watched her son sleeping soundly in the crib, moving his arms and legs about. The Doctor came and stood next to her, putting his hand gently around her waist, his fingers ghosting around her ribcage.
"He's perfect." Rose said, smiling down. "What did you name him?"
"Xavier Tyler, just like you suggested."
"Really? I wasn't sure if you'd like the name…" Rose said, looking up at The Doctor.
"Xavier was a perfect name. It's Gallifreyan actually, it means hope"
"Wow. Hope. What a perfect name."
"Yeah," The Doctor said, smiling down at her. He gave her a light kiss on the lips, just because he could. Ask him if this was possible a year ago, he would probably have laughed. But there he was with the girl of his dreams, and a son. If you would have suggested this happening to him before, he would never even imagine himself this happy.
"Did you talk to mum?" Rose asked
"Yep, yep. She was worried out of her mind, but I promised that as soon as we could get you both home we'd take Xavier for a visit."
"Okay, sounds good." Rose said "So where did Tia and The Professor go?" she asked, her gaze fixated on the baby the whole time as she spoke.
"They headed back to the TARDIS, to keep an eye on her. Hopefully they're not causing too much trouble."
"Okay," Rose said "I just want to get back there you know. Take Xavier home for the first time."
"Well I suppose we could always jump in the TARDIS and skip ahead to…"
"Don't even finish that sentence. No cheating when it comes to this." Rose said, giving the doctor a warning look but still smiling.
"Of course not." The Doctor said. And that was okay, because even if he had to stay on the slow path for just one night, he didn't mind. As long as he was with Rose, he could do anything.
oOo
the next day the sisters gave Xavier a once over to check that all of his vital organs had developed properly, and after being happy with his progress overnight, cleared him to go home. The Professor flew the TARDIS back to the hospital, and The Doctor went inside before emerging out five minutes later with a baby carrier that Rose had bought previously. They placed the baby inside and strapped him in, before thanking the sisters and heading back into the TARDIS. Catching his shoelaces on the railings again and falling over, the doctor sighed.
"I really think it's time to redesign the TARDIS." He sighed, standing up and brushing himself off.
"Good idea," Rose said, placing Xavier in the carrier onto the jump seat "Is he going to be okay on the jump seat doctor? I don't want him flying off in case things get bumpy." She said worriedly.
"He'll be fine Rose; I installed magnetic plates to the bottom of the carrier. Nothing could knock him off that jump seat. The TARDIS de-magnetizes it when we need to lift him."
"Ooh, spacey."
"I know," he smiled "But still I think it is definitely time to re decorate. We can leave her downstairs on the estate for a few hours and she'll rebuild. But we can't enter her until she's done." The doctor said.
"Sounds good," The Professor said, inputting the co-ordinates to Jackie's "Somehow this coral desktop doesn't quite scream family home."
"Do you think you're up to it old girl?" The Doctor said stroking the console. The TARDIS hummed lightly in response and he smiled, "Of course you are. Sorry for doubting." He chuckled.
"We've landed." The Professor said, cutting The Doctor's intimate moment with his ship short.
"No we haven't?" The Doctor said, raising an eyebrow.
"Yep, London, 2007." The Professor said, swivelling the monitor round for The Doctor to see the familiar view of the Powell estates.
"But-but… she didn't make the noise!"
"What noise?" The Professor asked, raising an eyebrow.
"You know," said Rose, holding Xavier in the carrier, "the wooshy noise." Then she badly mimicked the sound. Tia laughed slightly in the corner, but The Doctor and Rose both looked confused.
"She isn't supposed to make that noise," The Professor said, smirking "You just leave the brakes on."
oOo
They made their way up to Jackie's flat, and The Doctor's knuckle barely grazed the door before Jackie swung it open.
"Rose my darling! How are you, are you okay?!" she asked, ushering them all quickly.
"Hello to you too Jackie" The Professor smirked.
Jackie chose to ignore him, and gave her daughter a hug. The doctor quickly intercepted the baby carrier out of Rose's arms. "That Xavier," he said, gesturing to Jackie hugging Rose tightly and checking her over, whilst Rose tried to assure she was fine and not cry "Is a Tyler women explosion of hormones and emotions. You never want to get in the middle of any of that."
"Aw let me hold him, my first grandchild!" Jackie said, suddenly finishing checking Rose for any signs that she might be dying and rushing over to The Doctor.
"Sure thing Jackie," The Doctor said, lifting Xavier up and handing him over. Jackie cooed, and teas sprung to her eyes as she rocked the small baby back and forth.
"Such a momentous occasion like this calls for some champagne!" an American voice said. Suddenly everyone turned around and there was Jack, standing in the doorway holding a bottle of Krug Bruth Vintage 1988 champagne, "I nipped back in time to Paris itself to pick this up."
"Jack!" Rose said, giving her old friend a hug "How did you know to come here?"
"Tia texted me earlier, so I thought if I was going to stop by, I'd do it in style. Just can't stay away can you doll?" Jack joked, winking at Tia. Tia just laughed.
"Whatever helps you sleep at night Jack" she replied.
Jack just rolled his eyes and set the bottle down on the table. "Let me see this little guy then, what did you name him?" he asked, as Jackie handed Xavier over, and then headed to the kitchen to get some glasses.
"Xavier," Rose said
"That's a great name. See, I knew you'd pick a good one."
Rose smiled, and went to sit down beside The Doctor, leaning onto his shoulder as he put his arm around her waist.
"Hey there little dude," Jack said "I'm going to teach you so much about women…"
"Maybe at least wait until he's old enough to talk before giving him dating advice Jack?" The Doctor said.
"Please, he'll be better if he starts young." Jack said, laughing. He went to hand the baby back to Rose, but she immediately stood up instead "I'll go and help mum with the glasses." She said. Jack just shrugged and handed the baby to the doctor, who watched Rose suspiciously. There was something up with her, he could tell. He put it out of his mind, to leave the issue to be sorted out later in the TARDIS. For now, he would just celebrate the birth of his son, with expensive vintage champagne, music and happiness in Jackie's homey flat on the Powell estate, until the TARDIS was finished renovating.
Super long today aha. I do love this story, and I love all my readers, reviewers, followers and favourite-ers. You're all fabulous and I love you.