'Here we are' the Doctor said, pulling himself to his feet. 'Cardiff!'

Rose helped Martha up from where she'd fallen during the bumpy landing and the two women shared an amused look.

The Doctor, completely oblivious, stroked a hand along the console. 'She could do with refuelling, didn't get to fill her up properly last time, what with…' he trailed off slightly, looking at Jack, who smirked. He cleared his throat. 'Anyway, shouldn't be too long, then we're off!' he grinned at them.

Rose rolled her eyes. 'I'm goin' shopping,' she said firmly.

'Shopping?' the Doctor asked, a frown crossing his face as he turned to the console screen. 'What for?'

'Clothes. Make up. You know… girl stuff. Might have escaped your notice, Doctor, but I didn't exactly turn up here with a backpack.'

'There's still stuff in your room,' the Doctor threw over his shoulder, keeping his eyes on the readout.

Jack and Martha saw Rose's surprised look before she covered it. 'Yeah, but its all what? A year old? More? No thanks! Martha, d'you wanna come? See a bit of Cardiff?'

Martha looked momentarily surprised, then smiled graciously. 'Definitely! He never lets me go shopping!'

'Oi! I took you to that market!' the Doctor said, affronted. 'That time… you remember the market, Martha?'

'And…?'

'And we had a nice time!' the Doctor said, sounding defensive.

'Before…'

'Before I was arrested,' the Doctor muttered.

Rose laughed and headed for the doors. 'Jack?' she offered.

'Much as I'd love to watch you two trying on outfits…' Jack began.

'Stop it,' the Doctor warned.

'I think I'll sit this one out, ladies,' Jack said, grinning.

As the doors closed behind Martha and Rose, the Doctor looked up from the screen finally, looking at the doors with a carefully blank expression.

'Uh… Doctor?' Jack began.

The Doctor looked at him, grinning suddenly as the air of barely stilled energy returned from wherever he'd stashed it for those few moments as he avoided watching Rose leave the TARDIS. 'Hmm?'

'She'll be ok, you know,' Jack began, then cursed himself as the Doctor's face shut down. 'I mean… you should have seen her, on the Valiant.'

The Doctor hit a few keys on the console then straightened. 'Right! That's that sorted. I could murder a cup of tea!' he said, looking up at Jack. 'Fancy a walk?'

\/\/

They'd found a café, far enough from Torchwood that it was unlikely any of Jack's team would turn up and start asking questions. The Doctor was drinking tea, although he'd pulled a face at the taste of it at first.

'You know who makes good tea? I mean a really good cuppa?' Jack shook his head. 'Jackie Tyler. Its got to be the only real skill the woman has. Making tea like a pro. That and screeching. She couldn't half screech, Jack. Shame you didn't meet her. I'd have liked to have seen that.'

'I did meet her.' Jack said.

'What?'

'I met her,' Jack said, sipping his coffee. 'I told you,' he said, watching the Doctor's confused expression. 'I went back to Rose's estate a coupla times in the nineties. Bumped into her mother one day.'

'Jack…' the Doctor began warningly, his amusement at the thought of Jack and Jackie meeting fading fast.

'I just said hi!' Jack protested.

'That's all you need,' the Doctor said. 'Come to think of it that's pretty much all she needs.'

'You know you wouldn't want Rose to hear you talking about her mother like that.'

The Doctor sobered slightly, peering down into his tea. Jack waited. 'She'll never see her again, Jack.'

'She knows,' Jack said. He sighed. 'She told me what happened at Canary Wharf, how you tried to send her away.' He watched the Doctor gulp down tea. 'How she came back.'

The Doctor nodded. 'She always does. I wouldn't have been able to do it without her, actually.'

'Better with two?' Jack said, smiling slightly as he remembered something Rose used to say, back when they all travelled together.

The Doctor nodded. 'If she'd fallen into the void… if Pete hadn't caught her…'

'He did and she didn't,' Jack said reasonably. 'People look out for Rose, Doctor, you know that. And now, she can pretty much look out for herself.'

The Doctor looked up, amused. 'She always could. Well… aside from managing to find more trouble than anyone I've ever met… you included,' he added.

Jack shook his head. 'That's not what I mean.'

'Then what?'

'Commander Tyler,' Jack said, meaningfully.

'Oh… that? That's just a title.'

'I'm not so sure,' Jack said. 'You didn't see her on the Valiant, after you left. She was… she was damned good, Doctor. Whipped them all into line in the name of a Torchwood that doesn't technically exist in this universe anymore. Not like I would have done it. The way you do it. She's learned a lot from you.' He looked out of the window, feigning indifference to the Doctor's intense gaze. 'There's times I could have used someone like Rose here. She's got the heart and the head for the work.' He looked back at the Doctor now, catching his friend's eyes. 'She thinks you won't like it.'

'What? Her staying on Earth?'

Jack laughed derisively. 'She'd never do that. Oh no! She thinks you won't like that she can do that. Can take charge of the military guys and bend them to her will,' he said, raising his eyebrows dramatically.

'What do you think?' the Doctor asked.

'I think you're proud of her.'

The Doctor smiled and sipped his tea.

\/\/

Rose and Martha found the Doctor and Jack leaning against a railing, not far from the TARDIS. Martha approached and leaned next to the Doctor on the railing. Rose walked back to the TARDIS, stowing her purchases away inside before joining them.

'Rose!' Jack greeted happily. 'Glad you two got back before I left.'

'You're leavin'?' Rose asked.

'I keep thinking of that team of mine. Responsibility,' he said, with a nod to the Doctor.

The Time Lord stepped forwards, extending a hand to Jack. 'Defender of the Earth,' he said. 'Can't argue with that.'

'But-' Rose began.

The Doctor, rather than shake Jack's hand, had grabbed his wrist and was running his sonic screwdriver over the Captain's vortex manipulator.

'I told you-' he said, 'no teleport!'

'And what about Rose's?'

'Well… yes. But I can't have you walking around with a time-travelling teleport. You could go anywhere – twice. The second time to apologise.'

Jack grinned and winked at Martha. Then he became serious. 'And what about me? Can you fix that? Will I ever be able to die?'

Martha felt Rose stiffen beside her and smiled at her gently.

'Nothing I can do,' the Doctor said. 'You're an impossible thing, Jack.'

'I've been called that before,' Jack grinned.

'Jack…' Rose said, stepping forwards. 'I'm sorry, I didn't-'

Jack kissed her forehead. 'Now, now Rosie. You got nothin' to be sorry for sweetheart.'

She smiled up at him and flung her arms around him, hugging him tightly. After a moment she released him and stepped back, coming to lean on the railings beside Martha and the Doctor.

Jack threw them a sloppy salute. 'Sir, Ma'am, Commander,' he added grinning cheekily at Rose. He turned as though to leave, then turned back, a thought apparently occurring to him. 'But I keep wondering…what about aging? 'Cos I can't die but I keep getting older. The odd little grey hair, you know? What happens if I live for a million years?'

The Doctor regarded him for a moment. 'I really don't know,' he admitted.

Jack chuckled self-deprecatingly. 'Ok, vanity. Sorry. Yeah, can't help it. Used to be a poster boy when I was a kid back on the Boeshane Peninsula. Tiny little place. I was the first one ever to be signed up for the Time Agency. They were so proud of me. They Face of Boe they called me.

The Doctor felt Martha and Rose straighten slightly on either side of him, a sign their thoughts had followed the same path as his own.

Seeming not to notice, Jack went on, 'Hmm, I'll see you.' He turned and jogged across Roald Dahl Plass, leaving the three of them staring after him.

Martha was the first to speak. 'Can't be.'

'No,' the Doctor said, sounding as though he was trying to convince himself. 'No, definitely not. No.' Martha giggled uncertainly. 'No,' the Doctor said, more firmly this time.

'Why not?' Rose asked, her eyes still on Jack's retreating back.

They stared at her.

\/\/

As Martha entered the TARDIS the Doctor leapt out of the jumpseat, almost bouncing around the console to meet her.

'Off we go! The open road! There is a burst of star fire right now over the coast of Meta Sigmafolio. Oh, the sky is like oil on water. Fancy a look? Or…back in time. We could…I don't know, Charles II? Henry VIII? I know! What about Agatha Christie? I'd love to meet Agatha Christie! I bet she's brilliant!' Martha still hadn't moved, still hadn't responded. He settled, knowing what was coming. 'Okay.'

'Where's Rose?' Martha asked.

'Wardrobe room,' he said. 'Reckons her old clothes are no good so she's picking out new ones.'

Martha nodded. 'They need me,' she said, her tone almost apologetic.

This was horrible, the Doctor thought. She shouldn't be apologising to him. Shouldn't be apologising for not staying. For anything, really. He smiled gently at her. 'Of course they do. You're brilliant.' He stepped forwards and hugged her.

'I am!' she laughed, stepping back. Her expression sobered. 'You gonna be ok?'

'Always. Yeah.'

Martha turned towards the doors, but hesitated and turned back to him, apparently having more to say. ''Cos the thing is, it's like my friend Vicky, she lived with this bloke, student housing, there were five of them, all packed in, and this bloke was called Sean. And she loved him, she did. She completely adored him. Spent all day long talking about him.'

The Doctor allowed his puzzlement to show on his face. 'Is this going anywhere?'

'Yes!' Martha said, scandalised. ''Cos he never looked at her twice. I mean, he liked her, but that was it. And she wasted years pining after him, years of her life, 'cause while he was around, she never looked at anyone else.' The Doctor swallowed as she went on. 'And I told her, I always said to her, time and time again, I said: Get out. So this is me, getting out.' She reached into her pocket and withdrew her mobile phone. 'Keep that,' she ordered, throwing it to him. ''Cos I'm not having you disappear. Either of you. If that rings, when that rings, you better come running. Got it?'

He smiled softly. 'Got it.'

'Take care of her,' Martha warned, pointing at him. He nodded. 'And I'll see you again, mister.'

As Martha closed the door behind her the Doctor turned to the console, sending the TARDIS into the vortex. He felt soft pressure on his arm and looked up. Rose was standing next to him, watching him intently.

'You ok?' she asked.

He smiled. 'Course.'

She sent him a look, silently telling him she didn't believe him. 'I'm sorry. About Martha. She didn't have to-'

'Yes,' he interrupted. 'She did.' He looked back up at the console and Rose retreated to the jumpseat.

'She had feelings for you.' A statement. Not a question.

He shifted, uncomfortable with the direction the conversation was taking. He remembered the Master's words. The tone of disdain. This is just too human. But this was Rose. 'She left because I didn't – because I couldn't – return them.'

'I know,' Rose said.

He looked at her over his shoulder. They watched one another for several long moments, neither wanting to break the moment. Then the Doctor asked, 'Where to?'

'Can you take me home?' she asked quietly. 'I just wanna…'

'Of course,' he said quickly. 'Powell Estate, here we come.'

\/\/

When they landed he followed her to the doors, letting her exit first. He hung back as she walked a few steps away from the TARDIS and watched as she looked around the estate.

She raised a hand to her mouth and he started forward, placing a hand on her shoulder and gently turning her around, pulling her into his arms.

'I'm ok,' she insisted, even as he felt her fingers twist into the fabric of his jacket. She stepped back, running a hand over her eyes. 'Is it…?'

He understood. She wanted to see her mother's flat. The place she'd grown up in. 'It's still there. Empty. You can go in.'

She nodded and turned, heading for the stairwell. When he made to follow her, she turned back to him. 'I'll only be a minute. You don't have to come.'

He knew what she was getting at, but was unwilling to let her out of his sight again. 'Oh I don't mind.'

'Really, Doctor. I think I just need to do this on my own, you know?'

He looked at her for a minute, his eyes tracking over her face. Then nodded, accepting defeat. 'Ok… well… I'll just. I'll just be in the TARDIS. If you need me for anything or… anything.'

She smiled at him. 'Be right back.'

He watched her go, aware that he wanted to drag her back into the TARDIS with him, to at least insist that she allow him to go with her. When she was out of sight he turned and walked back into the TARDIS, hands shoved in his pockets, shoulders slumped, well aware that he was the very picture of a dejected lover.

He busied himself for five minutes, checking the TARDIS systems, assessing the extent of work he had ahead of him before the TARDIS would be fully time-and-space worthy again. He had so many places he wanted to go with Rose, he should really get started now to make sure they could visit them as soon as possible.

'Right,' he said aloud. 'That's enough time.' He turned and headed back out of the TARDIS, pulling his coat on as he went.

Half an hour later, Rose left her mother's old flat. Closing the door behind her. The Doctor was leaning against the railings on the balcony outside, looking out over the estate. 'I thought you were waiting in the TARDIS?' she asked.

He turned, a mildly guilty expression on his face. It disappeared as soon as he saw her. She'd been crying. More than a bit. 'Rose… are you ok?'

She nodded, trying to smile at him, but the movement dislodged more tears and he pulled her into his arms, holding her body securely against his. She wrapped her own arms around him, burying her face in his chest as he pressed his lips to her hair.

'Rose? Rose Tyler!' the voice came from further along the balcony and Rose lifted her head to see who it belonged to.

'Oh, Bev,' she said, trying to inject some enthusiasm into her voice. 'Hi.' She turned to face the Doctor again as the woman approached. 'One of mum's friends. Be nice.'

'I'm always nice,' the Doctor hissed back, grateful for the break in the tension. 'As long as she doesn't kiss me or hug me or try to – Hi!' he said, grinning as the woman came within hearing distance.

'Rose Tyler! Where the hell have you been? And where's that mother of yours? We heard-'

'It's all right, Bev,' Rose said, easily overriding the older woman. 'We're both fine.' She seemed at a loss to explain their absence and her own sudden reappearance.

'Jackie met someone,' the Doctor said quickly. 'A man.' Rose found his hand and squeezed, silently thanking him.

'She met someone and just left?' Bev asked sharply. 'Just like that?'

'You know mum,' Rose said. 'He sort of… swept her off her feet.'

'Hmm,' Bev said, apparently placated. 'This your fella then? The one you keep disappearing off with?'

'Uh…' Rose began.

'Yes,' the Doctor said. 'I am. Hello!' he gave a little wave with his free hand.

Rose grinned up at him, leaning into his side. He smiled back down at her, his fingers tightening around her own.

'Jacks always said he was a bit of a looker,' Bev said, grinning conspiratorially at Rose. 'Are you going to take over the flat?' she asked doubtfully, casting an eye over the Doctor's suit.

The Doctor waited for Rose to respond, suddenly unsure of what she was going to say. Would she want to stay here? Did she even want to come back to the TARDIS?

'No,' Rose said, tightening her grip on his hand as though she'd felt his doubt. 'Just came to pack the place up really. Then we're off.'

'Travelling again?' Bev asked, cocking her head to one side. 'Your mum always said you had itchy feet.' Rose smiled and nodded. 'Well, I've got to get down the shops before they close,' Bev said. She gave Rose a stern look. 'You get your mum to call me when she gets a minute. If she can tear herself away from this new bloke!' she winked at Rose and walked past them, heading for the stairwell.

Rose and the Doctor stood where they were for a few seconds, looking over the balcony. The Doctor watched Bev totter away on heels that were ridiculously high for a trip to the shops. 'You don't have to go, you know,' he said after a while. 'You could-'

'What?' Rose asked, looking up at him. 'Stay here?'

'Well…'

'Do you want me to? Stay here, I mean.'

He considered telling her he wanted her to do whatever would make her happy. Thought about asking her what she wanted to do, forcing her to make the choice with no input from him. But he'd done that, hadn't he? At Canary Wharf. Sent her away, even. Made the choice for her. And she'd come back. She always came back to him. For him.

And he needed her. He knew he did. It was terrifying and amazing and crippling and probably the most brilliant thing ever. All at once.

She was still waiting for him to answer. 'No,' he said, the word coming out strangely quiet. He cleared his throat, keeping his eyes on the dubious vista the Powell estate offered. 'No, Rose. I don't want you to stay here. I want you to come with me. In the TARDIS.' He looked down at her now, 'You know, if you'd like.'

She smiled, properly this time. None of the mouth-only smile she'd been giving Bev. 'I'd love to.'

\/\/

Hours later, Rose heard him wander into the console room, but didn't move from where she was; just kept staring out of the open doors, looking down at Earth from orbit. 'Why do you keep goin' back?' she asked quietly.

The Doctor looked up at her, taking the sight of her in. She was standing barefoot in the TARDIS doorway, looking out at the Earth. She seemed… pensive, he decided. Not quite sad, but getting there. He'd been preparing for the next step in putting the TARDIS back together and hadn't noticed the shift in her mood. 'What d'you mean?' he asked.

'To Earth. Why do you keep goin' back when there's nothing to keep you there?'

It had hit her, he thought. The realisation that her mother was no longer there to bind her to the planet she was born on. Nothing tangible to hold her here. To make her return. He moved until he was standing behind her, just close enough that she could feel him there. Rose sighed quietly and settled back into his arms.

'Lots of reasons, I s'pose. I like it,' he said. 'Brilliant planet, loads of history, extremely jeopardy friendly-' he felt her chuckle at that. 'And… one of my favourite species originated there.'

'Bananas?'

'Humans, Rose,' he said. 'Bananas aren't from Earth.' He pressed a kiss to the side of her head before continuing, 'Also, you might have noticed we look a lot alike-'

'You and bananas?' she said, allowing the teasing quality of her voice to become more apparent.

'Me and humans,' he responded. She could practically see him rolling his eyes at her. 'So I can blend in.'

She turned her head to look up at him. 'You? Blend in? Don't make me laugh.'

'Well...' he said, considering. 'As much as is possible for a man of my dashing good looks and powerful intellect…'

'Not to mention your modesty.' She took hold of his hands where they rested at her waist and threaded her fingers through his. 'There's no one left there,' she said quietly. 'Mum, Mickey… they're gone. I'm an orphan,' she added, a nervous giggle escaping her at the notion.

'It'll always be your home, Rose,' he said softly. She turned to face him and his breath caught in his throat. He stared at her where she stood, framed by the open TARDIS doors, flanked by the Earth. 'We'll come back,' he managed finally. 'Often.'

'So you can visit?' she asked, smiling up at him teasingly.

'Yep,' he said, happy to break the sombre mood if she was. 'Got to keep an eye on it. I won it, you know.'

'Oh yeah?'

'Yeah,' he responded, 'in a sword fight.' He winked, making her giggle. She stretched up to kiss him, pressing herself against him as she did so and smiling against his mouth when he groaned.

Then she stepped back. 'I'm going to get a cuppa. Want one?'

'I can think of better things to do just now,' he murmured.

'Like fixin' the TARDIS?' she asked, feigning innocence.

He narrowed his eyes at her. 'Course. What were you thinking about?' She grinned in response and stepped back from him slightly. 'Close the doors, I need to lower the shields.' He walked back up the ramp and shut down the TARDIS' external shielding devices. When he turned, Rose was standing with her back against the now closed doors, looking up at him.

He walked back down to her. 'If you had other ideas…' he murmured, dipping his head so he could kiss her.

Suddenly the TARDIS jolted to the side, the doors slamming shut. He spun, looking up at the console. Smoke and sparks poured into the console room and alarms began to sound.

He turned back to Rose, looking puzzled for a moment as his eyes met hers. Then he took her shoulder and pushed her to the side slightly, so she was hidden behind a strut.

'Stay there,' he said, 'this isn't right.' Then he turned on his heel and headed to the console, frantically flipping switches to stop the noise and commotion.

Rose started as she realised there was another man up there, his actions mirroring those of the Doctor's. They bumped into one another, apologising automatically before each continued their circuit of the console. She watched them both come back around until they were standing toe to toe, staring at one another.

'What?'