Disclaimer: YES! I OWN IT! No, wait…crap, that's EastEnders. –cries and chucks it out window-

Journey's End

Mother's Consent

"Rose Tyler, I love you too."

Rose gasped sharply here, her face lighting up with the biggest smile the Doctor or Jackie had ever seen her give.

He finally said it!, was the only thought running through Rose's mind.

I finally said it, the Doctor thought. So many opportunities to say it and he'd never done it, and then at the last chance he thought he'd ever had, he was cut off.

All the times he'd imagined himself telling her couldn't prepare him for the sheer joy he felt when he saw her so happy.

"Really?" she finally gasped, more tears falling onto her face. He looked a bit shell-shocked, his mouth opening and closing as if trying to form words.

Rose smirked.

Not even he could believe he'd said it.

Finally, he nodded, closing his mouth, "I do, Rose, I really do,"

Rose suddenly flung herself into his arms, burying her face into the crook of his neck.

"You have no idea how long I'm wanted to hear that!!" she cried through jubilant tears.

The Doctor couldn't help but grin at her gleefulness, and hugged her tightly back, lifting her off her feet.

"Aw, I'm missed you," he breathed, spinning her around – using this as their reunion which was cut off by a damned Dalek - before setting her back on the ground. He then pushed his bubbling feelings of joy and love to the back of his mind, all seriousness returning.

"But you can't just up and go." he said sadly, "You still have a life. A job. A father, a mother, a brother…"

Then, he gave her his hurt puppy-dog look and said questioningly, "A boyfriend…?"

Rose laughed, shaking her head, "Naw, you wish."

She gave him a smile, her tongue poking out between her teeth, "There's only you, Doctor. For me, anyways,"

He glanced over her shoulder at Jackie, "You still have your mum, and your dad, and Tony."

She met his gaze guiltily, as he asked, "Can you leave them forever, knowing you'll never see them again? Never see your brother grow up and have a life? Can you do that to them?"

Rose swallowed thickly, the guilt she'd been battling down rising up. She turned, looking at her mother, before saying in a feeble voice, "M-mum…?"

Jackie was by her in an instant, taking her hands tightly, "You listen to me, sweetheart."

Rose nodded, giving Jackie her full attention. The older woman glared at the Doctor.

"Can we have a bit of privacy?" she said pointedly.

"Sorry," the Doctor mumbled, heading for the Tardis.

"Don't go flying off, now!" Rose exclaimed, panicked. The Doctor rolled his eyes and, instead of going into the Tardis, walked around it, leaning against the far side and admiring the beach. Rose looked back at Jackie, who had a sad smile on her face.

"Okay, Rose. I always knew you'd meet a man someday," Jackie said, "Pretty girl like you, the guys were going to be banging the door down!"

Rose chuckled, gripping her mother's hands tightly.

"And…when you met the Doctor, I could see how smitten you were. And he to you. I always said to myself 'He's the one. He's the one who's gonna take her away from me'. And he did, to the farthest stars in the universe. Of course, the idea of having a son-in-law with those ears took the life outta me, but his face changed, thank God!"

Rose giggled through her tears, letting her mother out of her vice like grip to wipe her eyes. Jackie continued, steadying her own emotions.

"I could see you growing up, darlin', practically overnight. You weren't a naïve, nineteen-year-old shop girl anymore. You were older, wiser, and in love. And believe you me…" Jackie grinned, hugging herself tightly, "It was a lovely sight. Seeing the two of you,"

Her smile faded, "Then, you lost him. Trapped 'ere, in this world, with me and your father. Well, parallel father, but anyway…I could see your pain. I know what it's like to live without someone you love, and I knew no man could ever sum up to the Doctor, not to you. And when he couldn't even tell you how he really felt…"

Jackie covered her face, shaking her head, "I knew you felt like your heart was ripped out, and I could do nothin' but watch. But, then you got so successful at work, and you started building that canon; the last shred of hope you had to getting back to the man you loved! I won't lie to you, sweetie; I personally didn't think you would do it. I thought you were clinging onto a false dream, the last hope you had."

Rose scowled, annoyed by her mother's lack of faith in her.

"But you proved me wrong, love! You built it and were off to the universe we both left behind. Back to your true love; I could see it,"

Jackie sighed frustratedly, "I was so angry when he tried to pawn you off with that cheap knock-off…"

Rose couldn't help but laugh at her mother's description of the second Doctor, "That isn't true, Mum!"

"Well, to me, it is! You loved him, two hearts an' all, and he tried to give you a complete other person! Believe me; any daughter of mine deserves the best, not Knock Off-Nigel."

Rose giggled again, "That 'Knock Off-Nigel' is saving my friend's life."

Jackie took her hands again, smiling sadly, "Exactly. You can have the man you want now. So you go, darling. And, for me and the others stranded here, enjoy your time with the Doctor. Save universes, see different planets, meet aliens, love and be loved…"

Jackie swallowed thickly, "And don't forget your old mum, yeah?"

Rose sobbed violently, enveloping her mother in a hug, "Oh, never! Never ever, ever, ever, ever, ever!"

Jackie clung back, shushing her daughter's tears.

"I won't forget you, Mum!" Rose whispered, "Or Pete, or Tony! And you be happy here, yeah?"

Jackie pulled away, nodding, "We will. And if we have more kids, they'll all know they have a fantastic big sister to live up to!"

Rose nodded, grinning, "Goodbye, Mum."

Jackie nodded, hugging her again, "Goodbye, my lovely girl!"

Rose pulled away, tears spilling down her cheeks and she walked backwards to the Tardis. Once she hit the door, she flashed her mother one last smile.

"Goodbye, Mum. I love you," she said earnestly. Jackie nodded, smiling through her own tears.

Rose grinned hugely, "Here I go!"

And then she pushed open the Tardis door and went into the ship, the door closing behind her. Jackie sniffled, wiping her face as she walked around the Tardis.

"Oi, Doctor," she sniffed, looking at the familiar alien who was leaning against his ship, "My girl's ready and waiting, for her brand new life."

I liked Jackie in this. She's awesome.

REVIEW and get a Knock-Off Nigel! xD