Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Rose, the poor thing. Right on the verge of a panic attack. Is the Doctor safe, or are her fears founded?

Sit back and find out!

Love always,

Avoline

He ran to the main gathering room. That's where they said she was. In the main gathering room, crammed in a corner, refusing to come out. He turned, glancing at the bundle in the warrior's arms.

"Don't worry," she commanded. "Go to your friend!" He nodded and turned back, his hand forcing the door open.

He saw her. She was curled up in a corner, just like they said, shaking and sweating, her fingers pulling at her hair. Time stopped for just one moment, then he bolted to her side. His hands ghosted over her arms, just enough to make her jump and scream.

"Rose, it's okay," he soothed, pulled her closer to him. "It's okay, Rose. It's okay. I'm here, now. I'm here. There's no need to panic." She sagged against him, her sobs reaching his ears. "It's okay. I'm here. You don't have to be afraid anymore."

"I thought you were dead," she gasped between sobs. He kissed the top of her head, cursing himself for ever making her think that.

"You know better," he comforted. "You've seen what happens. You know I'll be just fine." He wiped her tears away and tiled her head back, meeting her gaze. "And I've brought you something, Rose. Something I think you would cherish." She gave him a confused look, and he stood, pulling her with him. His eyes shifted to the Sylurian beside him, and the moving bundle in her arms. "One of the Sylurians attacked a group of humans before we could stop her. This was the only one left alive." He leaned towards the blond's ear as she stepped towards the warrior, Illura. "He needs a mother, Rose." Her fingers barely brushed the blanket.

"He," she whispered. His fingers grasped one corner of the blanket and pulled it back to reveal the infant within.

"I haven't given him a name," he murmured. "I'll leave it up to you. He's only a few months old."

She extracted the child from the lizard woman's arms and held him close, her eyes fixed on his sleeping face. He stood beside her, silent, giving her time to process everything while he himself fought back tears.

This was what she wanted. She simply wanted to be a mother, and even if this child wasn't her own, she would become his mother. She would be the one to raise him as her own. He was helping her live out her dream. And if this one child wouldn't be enough, he would find another. If he had to, he would find a hundred children for her to raise, so long as she felt complete on the day that she...

He couldn't. He couldn't think about that. Not so soon after loosing Rory and Amy. He refused to remind himself that one day, he would loose her. He would go on as if she were a Time Lord. He would refuse to acknowledge her mortality.

Or the mortality of the child she held.

"Hello, Pete," he heard her coo. "Hello. It's okay now. I'm here. I'll take care of you, little Pete."

She would name him after her father.

"Lovely name for the child," Veesa commented. He nodded in agreement, too choked up to speak. Her dream was coming true, even if not in the way she originally wanted.

Maybe his life wasn't all sadness after all.

He brought out the old cot from his childhood and set it on the floor next to the bed. The blankets were still just as soft as when his grandchildren slept in it, and what better cot to use for Rose's child.

"Oh, Doctor," she whispered, little Pete asleep in her arms. "Is that..."

"Yeah, it is," he answered. "I slept in it when I was his age, and it has held many Time Lords and Time Ladies."

He didn't tell her that it once held his children and grandchildren. He didn't tell her that, for a few moments, it held his wife, River. He didn't tell her that it was older than time itself.

Let her enjoy her motherhood.

"Oh, it's perfect," she breathed as she set the infant on the soft blankets. "He'll sleep so well in it. I'm just sure of it." He smiled and pulled her close to him, only to feel her lips against his cheek. "Thank you for bringing him to me. For saving him." His smile grew as he kissed her forehead.

"I would never let a child die if I can avoid it," he murmured. Her arms tightened around him.

"I know," she replied softly. "I know. And that's why I love you." She pulled back and smiled at him.

Then her lips met his.

He froze, then returned the kiss. He had been waiting for this, for her to be comfortable enough to want this. And he would settle for just a kiss for a while.

She still had some healing to do.