EEP! It's been over a week and I'd meant to post this sooner. Life got superbly busy last week and ... well, you know how it goes. I thought this would be the last chapter, but it seems I have just a little more in me. So if you'll all bear with me for one more post after this, we may just have a short story done and finished.

Thanks to everyone who has followed along with me and given me encouraging words through this. I keep writing because I feel like you guys are there as my support :)


They stayed there in the dark beauty of the room for hours, lost in each other as new lovers often are. When they finally emerged to seek out food, more due to Rose's insistence than his, they couldn't help but touch each other. Little strokes here and there, revealing their comfortable familiarity with each other. As they entered the kitchen, the Doctor was drawn in so she could nip another kiss from him. Then another. It was the disgusted, "Do you gotta do that right there," that had her drawing back from a third kiss. She sent an embarrassed glare toward Mickey, her cheeks warm with color.

The Doctor, on the other hand, looked pleased. "Ahh, what's the matter, Mickey? Don't tell me you're bored already," he prompted as he led Rose in, one arm looped around her waist. Mickey's eyes flickered to the arm, then to Rose. "Ain't bored," he muttered sulkily. "I just fink I ought to be able to eat myself a sandwich wi'out you two coming in here, all snug and happy again. Puts me off my appetite. Like we didn't see enough of that with you and Reinette."

Rose could have slapped Mickey for the jealous lash. It was beneath even him, and she almost bit at him in response. The Doctor put a suppressive hand on her shoulder as he suggested, "Why don't you and Rose have a sandwich together, then? I'll go find Reinette, see if she'd like to join us for a meal. Then I have a plan for the four of us." In a softer voice, he told Rose, "He needs to get this off his chest. Talk with him. I won't be long." He gave Mickey a pointed look, all smiles as he left the two of them there in an uncomfortable silence.

The two humans shared a look of disgust, both disgusted with the other. As Rose made herself a nice, thick-sliced sandwich with roast beef and crisps, Mickey let his jealousy churn up inside of him while he watched her every move. Finally, he'd had enough. "You just going to let him walk over you again? After all he done with Reinette?"

"It's not like that anymore, Mickey. We cleared things up between us."

"Until the next time," he retorted, his fist banging against the counter. "Until he finds some next pretty thing and he moves on without you. You know he will."

She shook her head in answer, slowly turning around and leaning against the long line of counter, hands perched on the edge. "He loves me," she told him. Mickey shook his head, so she repeated, "He loves me," with emphasis. "We talked, Mickey. We cleared things up." She wanted to ask him why he couldn't be happy for her, but that small dredge of guilt in knowing he still harbored unrequited feelings for her stopped her tongue. So, instead, she offered him a weak smile. "Besides, I still got enough of my mum in me to keep that head from turning too far."

Mickey almost smiled back at her. She was back, he realized gloomily. She was relaxed, happy, in love. "Yeah, well..." he let the thought go. On a shrug, he went back to viciously devouring his sandwich. When Rose sat beside him, he ignored her in favor of swigging down a Swisgoid soda. They'd become his favorite in the time he'd been on the TARDIS - like drinking a bit of every possible soda on Earth without the sugar. Rose was staring at him with unease while she nibbled on a crisp, waiting for him to either continue his thought or to resume the argument. No matter what happened, they were still good mates, and he'd always have her back. So, with a wipe of his hands on his pants, he muttered, "He loves you, then. I guess that's good, right? You going to keep on traveling with him, then?"

She nodded, finally relaxing and taking a bite of her sandwich. It gave her a chance to consider her words before speaking. "I didn't think I was going to. I thought I needed to find the next big adventure on Earth. The thing is, Mickey, I'm in love." He snorted, looking away, until she touched his arm. "With this," she explained. "Not just the Doctor, but this ... seeing life I never thought existed, going to places I never imagined. Did you know that there's a planet that's made of song? You touch things and it literally churns up flowing melodies. You'd think it would be beautiful, but it's really annoying after a time. There's a planet full of wings. Creatures just covered with wings because the ground is dangerous to touch, unless you know how to step." There was a gleam in her eye again. He studied her with a trace of sadness, finally letting go of the idea that she'd ever come back home and settle for a mundane life. Rose always had wanted more, and was always a curious sort. Maybe that's why she got into the trouble she often did.

"So, what's this plan the Doctor's got for us, anyhow," he asked, suddenly eager to change the topic. "We're not going off to some other moon resort or something like 'at, are we?"

"Dunno. He didn't tell me what he had in mind. He just said we would enjoy it."


What he had in mind was apparently a visit with the Markees, an ancient culture of pale gray skin with striking silver eyes. Their whole world was pale, muted colors. They made up for this with elegant garb made of such vivid colors, it could make the eyes water. Reinette took to them quite well. They had impeccable manners that she could accommodate to. Even their garments drew her interest. She was soon deep in conversation over tea, which the Doctor had wisely made, and sharing news of intrigue and gossip over people that neither side could know.

The Doctor watched the interaction with some amusement as he told Rose, "I should have thought to come here sooner. People sometimes say they want to see the stars, but what they really want is their own world." He glanced at her, brow arched. "Then there are the others."

She caught her tongue between her teeth as she shared a grin with him. "Yeah? What others would that be?"

"Oh, you know." He squinted at the arched ceiling, ignoring Mickey's snort. He may have forgiven Rose, but Mickey was still very much in competition with the Doctor, and he was making it known. "The adventurous who takes every surprise thrown at them and goes with it. The kind that grab a stranger's hand and let him lead her to the ends of the universe, and then back again without blinking an eye." He reached for her hand. "They're my favorite kind." Again he heard Mickey's responding nasal complaint. With a good natured look at their third wheel, he added in, "You should ask them about the sports they play here. Might be there's something you have in common."

"They play sports here," Mickey asked him with disdain. "What is it they play? Croquet?"

"Well, it's not like they don't play croquet. They also play ooblog - it's kind of like checkers but with fighting live on a board. Crowning your king is a messy ordeal, let me tell you." He drew in a slow breath as he set into listing off the different sorts of games that the Markees played, finishing it off with, "The intriguing thing about them is they like to borrow from other cultures. They read a great amount on Earth. Their idea of playing ball games is to mesh them all together." He was enjoying that annoyed confusion playing on Mickey's face by this time. Rose was trying to hold back her laughter, too. She could tell Mickey wasn't certain if the Doctor was teasing him or not. Finally, the Doctor said, "They have a football match going, too. Not as bloody as the kind played on Earth, but that's because the Markees can jump higher and have levitation field." He pointed down a stone pathway. "Care to check it out?"

"I... I don't know that I should," was the reluctant reply. After all that had happened on Rasigul, leaving Rose behind seemed to be the last thing Mickey wanted to do. But at the same time ... floating football? Did they kick the ball through the air, he wondered.

"Oh, go on, Mickey. You're fine. If the Doctor says it's safe, then it's safe," Rose told him. She recognized that worried expression, but she couldn't be bothered with it, not this time. She wanted this privacy, needed it, just a little down time with the Doctor where they could explore to their hearts' content without any mayhem ... not yet, anyway. "You can fill us in about it later." With a wiggle of her brows, she tucked her arm through the Doctor's and let him lead her away. Mickey stared after them with such a sullen look, she almost expected he would follow after them. But the thrill of the game won out, and he wandered off down the path with his hands tucked into his pockets, shoulders hunched forward to enhance his surliness.

"He's going to be a pill when we get back, isn't he?"

Rose glanced behind her, then up to those amazing brown eyes and answered, "Might be. He's mad at you still, which I understand."

The Doctor rested his hand on hers, then folded his fingers around hers to pull her closer as he asked, "And you? Are you still angry with me?"

She paused to study him, noting his concern. It was nice to let him worry just a little. Finally, though, she shook her head. "No, I'm not. Not anymore. I know how you are, and I like that about you. Always going off wild into trouble. Always showing off." She gave him a cheeky grin, then rose to press a kiss to his lips. "Always saving the day, that's the Doctor. I wouldn't have you any other way."

"Next time, I swear, I'll get us lost on some hairbrained scheme cooked up by a mad doctor, or maybe we can go back in time to visit Frankenstein."

Her brows shot up in surprise. "Wait, Frankenstein exists? Does that mean the monster is real, too?"

"Hah, no... no. Frankenstein did have some wild ideas about the human body and how to bring life about, but nothing as insane as that," he assured her, leading her back along the path.


When evening came, they left with warm farewells for their hosts. Reinette's cheeks were blooming with warm color again, and she even deigned to address the three of them as she entered the TARDIS again. Mickey had won a few bets, been allowed onto the field to play a few games, and had shown some of the Markees a few dance moves they'd never learned before. He had been a star! As soon as he was back on board, he was bubbling at the mouth, telling Rose every little play by play as he could. She laughed with him and teased his horrible dance skills. The Doctor and she shared a quick grin as they both remembered a time not long ago when he'd swept her up in a dance.

He set the coordinates for France, then pulled the lever to start the TARDIS up, knowing that the mayhem was at an end. They would see Reinette safely home, where she would be free of clockwork for the rest of her life and would live a comfortable, happy existence on the arm of the King. Then they could bring Mickey back to his time and stop off a few days for Rose to share everything with Jackie. Might be best he didn't go in to visit with her. He didn't want to get slapped. Besides, the next great adventure he was wanting to ask Rose on needed some planning beyond a copied beach dimension. He slanted the young woman a quick look, pressing a few buttons to bring a monitor up. He wondered how she would feel about a Gallifreyan ceremony.

Jackie had heard the screech of the TARDIS from her kitchen window. She'd been in a foul mood, having to clean up after her last boyfriend, who was a bit of a prat and a messy eater, if she did say so herself. She'd been glad to tell him off. Her hands were still soapy as she rushed down the stairs to eagerly greet her daughter. The blue box had just materialized when the door opened for Rose to rush out and greet her. They clung to each other, as they often did. Mickey watched them for a moment more, then turned to the man whom he finally accepted had replaced him. "How soon you two going off again," he asked. The Doctor shrugged and rested his shoulder against the doorway, watching as the two women giggled and rushed on about what had happened in their time away. "I guess this is goodbye then, Doctor."

Mickey held his hand out for a shake. As the Doctor took his hand, Mickey warned him, "You treat her right from now on. You do right by her, or I'll find some way to make you sorry."

Solemn, the Doctor shook his hand, then released it. "I promise, I will treat her right. Even Timelords learn from hindsight." Mickey gave him an odd frown, as if he couldn't fully understand what the Doctor meant. The Doctor, however, was unwilling to explain further. "You might want to get in your goodbyes with Rose, too. She knows I'm going to be gone for a week, so you have time with her."

"But you are coming back."

"I'm coming back." He saw the sadness mix with frustration and understood that Mickey would always wait for Rose, friend or lover. "Just a week. I'd never abandon her."

It hurt to say it, hurt even more to realize it, but Mickey stated, "Because you love her."

The Doctor rolled his eyes and smirked as he commented, "Everyone seems to know it, don't they?" When Mickey glared at him, he finally answered, "Yes! It'd be nice if I could say the words to her without everyone else banding them around for me, though." He waited for Mickey's shoulders to relax before commenting, "That's why I want the week to set things together. She needs time with her Mum and you, and I need to make this right. She may have forgiven me for that whole mess with Reinette, but I haven't forgiven myself fully."

Mickey shrugged in discomfort. "Yeah... well..." He tried to look for a scathing comment, but couldn't find anything to respond with. "Yeah," he finally stated, trying his best to sound tough and instead coming out with a quiver. He realized he sounded the fool and had no way to recover from it. So, he gave the Doctor a glare of uncertainty before plodding off down the street. The Doctor gave the younger man a pitying look. It was hard to contend with intimidation.

"Doctor," came the sharp, needling voice of the only woman to intimidate him. He tried for a congenial smile at best. "Hello, Jackie!" Here it comes ... a huge argument over leaving Rose behind again. He'd been dreading this.

She plowed her sharp nail into his chest, eyes blazing as she demanded, "You've been gone for five months this time. I thought you were only going to be two. That's what you promised me." He rubbed at the area she'd dug at as she continued her tirade against him. The temptation to shut the door with a snap and just dematerialize was superbly strong. "Now, Jackie..."

She fixed him with a stern look that had his tongue drying up. "Don't you Jackie me, you big, dumb alien. At least you brought her back in one piece." She surveyed Rose critically. "You didn't bring me back a changeling, did you?" Rose tried to hide her grin in response as Jackie continued to needle the Doctor. His eyes begged Rose for mercy. When she felt he'd had enough, she set her arms around her mum's waist and said, "I promise I'm 100% human this time, Mum. Really, everything was all right. Let's go upstairs, yeah? Have a nice cuppa. The Doctor has some stuff to do anyway."

Grimacing, he ruffled his hair up, perplexed and annoyed at the way the older woman made him feel like some gawkish young man again. He had to wonder how she'd react to the idea of her daughter doing more than simply taking off with him. His grimace widened into a pained smile. He was suddenly doubly grateful he'd left Rose to her mum for a stay. She had a better chance of handling her mother by the time he'd come back.


As promised, tea had been brewed and was laced heavily with sugar, just the way Jackie preferred. Rose clung to her cup as tears clung to her thick lashes, bottom lip trembling. She had gone over the terrible ordeal with her mother and had worked her way up to Reinette's coming on board. Jackie had been vehement in her dislike of both the woman, even though she knew nothing of her. Bit by bit, Rose's tears had dried as she described the carnival, then the parade, where Reinette had gotten herself in trouble. It was when Rose explained the Doctor's intent to get himself arrested that she had to stop. The look in her mother's eye was murderous. "You mean he left you alone again?"

"Yes, but... Mum, it was different this time." By the look on her mother's face, it seemed that didn't matter. She'd been abandoned again. Her precious, only child had been left behind in the Doctor's need to rescue the French mistress. "He had to help her. He's just that sort. Besides, he told me what to do."

"After last time? When you brought that shaky box of his back and we had to yank the doors open, he let that happen? I'm not so sure that idiot of yours has a brain in his head, sweet'eart. He doesn't think."

"No, Mum, it's that he thinks too much. I can't expect him to think of me all the time." Rose toyed with the edge of her shirt, more troubled than she cared to admit. He said he was leaving for five days. What if he really was leaving her behind, though? What if he'd decided to make a wash of everything in the end? That night on the beach had been fantastic, so surely he wouldn't just up and leave again. Right? "He just needs ... time."

Jackie snorted at that. "Him needing more time. It's you that's needing to think clear, not him. I'm just glad he brought you back to me if he has gone off again."

"It's not like that," she told her mother, almost pleading. A headache was forming behind her eyes now. Too much crying and the stress of the whole ordeal was finally catching up to her. "Mum, I love him." She rubbed at her temples, then closed her eyes and slumped into her mother's arms. Jackie stroked her hair from her face tenderly, sharing that pang of heartache her daughter endured. "I know you do, sweet'eart. But you have to think ahead, if he doesn't come back."

"I don't want to think about that. He will come back." But that niggling doubt was there now. It warred with what her heart was telling her - that he loved her too, even if he hadn't said it. "Can we not talk about that part? Tell me about your latest chap. What was he like? Why did he leave?" She let her mother's voice flow over her as Jackie went into a lengthy diatribe about why Charlie was such an idiot and why had she ever been interested in him? She rested her head on her mum's shoulder and let her mind stray to wherever the Doctor was, wishing she hadn't agreed to a week, wishing she could know firmly that Sarah Jane's prediction wouldn't come true. Wishing, most of all, that he'd told her he loved her.