A/N Rose still struggles to grasp it all, while the Doctor gives her some needed space along with one more revelation.

Happy New Year to all!

Chapter 26

Despite the doubt, confusion, and initially even fear that had clouded Rose's features throughout their conversation, she hadn't run away. The Doctor took relief just in the fact that she'd stayed to let him explain.

The Doctor now held his breath, his respiratory bypass kicking in as he asked his next question. How their lives would proceed from here forward hinged on her reply. "Do you believe what I've told you, Rose?"

Rose stood silent for a few seconds as she thought about her reply. She didn't think she'd ever been more disarrayed and overwhelmed at any point in her life than right in this moment. Simply processing all of this felt like it was going to be a nearly-insurmountable task. Yet in spite of that, when she listened to his words, when she looked into his eyes, she felt trust. Rose believed him. "I can't believe I'm really saying it, but I...I think I do."

The Doctor released the breath of apprehension he'd been holding back as he visibly relaxed. One major hurdle down, at least.

"But I still just feel so mixed up about...everything, all of this. It's just so...much," Rose added, sounding overwrought. Believing him when he said he was the Doctor, her husband, and the father of the child she learned she was now carrying didn't mean she had sudden clarity – it meant she was left reeling from it all.

The truth of the matter was she now felt incredibly nervous and uncertain just being around him. She didn't even know what to say to him now. Yes, she had been undeniably drawn to him this past week and a half, which now made sense. She'd always felt that way about the Doctor, apparently regardless of the face he wore. During this time of not consciously realizing who he really was, she'd also had some very pleasant and blush-inducing daydreams concerning him; but this, THIS was plunging with both feet into something Rose didn't feel anywhere near ready for. The TARDIS might be considerably bigger on the inside, but right now, as they stood here with little distance between the two of them, it suddenly felt very constricting, if not a few degrees warmer.

The Doctor nodded his head in understanding to her admission of feeling confused. "I can only imagine how you must feel trying to process all of this. Feeling mixed up is certainly a normal reaction in such a situation, so don't feel wrong because of that, Rose."

Rose gave a small, grateful smile, momentarily dropping her glance down to his hand that still rested over hers as he gave a gentle squeeze.

She knew there was a multitude of things still left to discuss, and her mind would no doubt come up with a plethora of questions once she'd had a chance to fully process all of this; but for now, Rose needed space. She needed to find her breath. If nothing else, she needed the familiarity, security and guidance of her mum.

Almost shyly, Rose lifted her eyes and looked back into his face. "I know we still have so much to talk about, but right now I think I just...I just want to go back and see my mum again. Is that alright?"

The Doctor tried to curtail any feelings of disappointment. He certainly didn't expect her to suddenly just resume their current life together – she didn't really even know just what that was. She needed time, and that was the one thing he could give her. "Of course it's alright, Rose. I understand wanting to talk to your mum about all of this."

This quickly brought up yet another issue to the Doctor's mind. He knew there was still something else she needed to know very soon, and after all of this, what was one more revelation? As astounding as this would undoubtedly be to her, Rose now at least remembered time travel and aliens and other such previously unimaginable experiences. Now, she was in a better frame of mind to handle this news, and he knew this was a time when Rose was going to need as much reassurance as possible from those who loved her.

The Doctor lifted his hand off hers and raised it to rub the back of his neck. Just how should he go about explaining this one? He cleared his throat. "There's at least one more thing you should know, Rose, and I suppose I should tell you this now."

Rose looked at him warily. How many more revelations could there be?

The Doctor ventured further, cautiously gauging her response. "If you'd like, I can take you to talk to your mum and your dad."

Her brow furrowed deeply. They'd been down this road once before and it had involved Reapers, an experience she didn't care to repeat. "What'd you mean?" she asked hesitantly.

He blew out a breath. "Well, it's all a rather long story. But the short of it is, Pete Tyler from a parallel universe – a universe we once traveled to – is now living here...and is married to your mum."

Rose opened her mouth to speak, closed it, then opened it again to let a bewildered laugh escape that had risen up in her throat. "A...a parallel version of my dad?" she murmured. "After everything else, should I even be surprised?" The Doctor let out a relieved chuckle as Rose slowly shook her head in bewilderment. "How...how long has he been here? I suppose I can guess why I haven't seen him yet, but where is he now?"

"He's been here just over a year – starting the Vitex Corporation again in this universe. He was actually scheduled to go away on business right when this happened, so he left as planned because as you can imagine, his presence here would have been very hard to explain to you otherwise – especially when your mind was so fragile right after the injury. But he's coming back the beginning of next week, just a few days from now. I understand if this, on top of everything else, is just too much right now, Rose; but if you'd like, we can travel ahead just a bit and you can see them both."

Rose considered it for a minute, nervously chewing her lip. This was yet another enormous matter to try and wrap her head around. Story of her life at the moment. She'd now learned the Doctor had become a new man, who incidentally was now her husband through some sort of bond, was pregnant with their child, and now learned she had a parallel father, too. Enormous, yes. But in a negative way? Maybe not, once she'd actually had a chance to begin catching her breath in all this. She needed familiarity right now, but Rose also found herself craving to meet this man, the father she'd never been able to have but wanted all her life. "I...I think I'd like that. Yeah. Yeah, I want to see him." She gave the Doctor a small smile. "And...thank you."

He returned her smile and made her flush with his reply. "Anything for you, Rose."

The Doctor turned and walked down the ramp, closing the door that had been left open while gaining her trust, then went to the controls to take her to the designated day. Despite the added enormity of this for Rose, he knew she needed reassurance from as many as possible right now, especially her family. And the Doctor knew Pete Tyler was a man who could help give her just that. He only hoped that in time Rose would feel comfortable enough to talk to him and seek his support as well. For now, he'd at least take her to the ones she did feel she could talk to.

Still outside the Powell Estate but now three days ahead, the Doctor stepped around from the console and nodded to Rose. "Here we are, then. Earth. London. The Powell Estate. Weeell, I suppose that's nothing new, really. Especially considering that's where we were already parked. But you now have a mum and a dad waiting just beyond those doors."

Rose smiled faintly at this Doctor having done what her Doctor always did best: taking her to destinations she never could have imagined.

Rose moved back around from behind the jump seat and came to stand near him.

The Doctor's hands slipped to the pockets of his trousers as he lapsed into a moment of uncertain silence, then spoke up again. "I'll just...wait here, then." He inclined his head towards the console. "Maybe flush out the transducer cells and realign the maxivectormeter. Been neglecting that." He looked back towards her. "Take all the time with them you'd like, Rose." The Doctor honestly didn't want to even let Rose out of his sight, but he knew he had to give her some space right now and let her take this one step at a time.

Rose wasn't really sure what more to say just then. She'd already thanked him, and she didn't feel right making a big show of 'goodbye,' so she simply nodded and walked down the ramp and opened the door. But then she turned back to look at him, her expression full of uncertainty – uncertain of both what stood inside the doors of this ship and what lay beyond them.

The Doctor smiled reassuringly. "They'll both be glad to see you. And I'll be waiting for you, Rose," he promised. "However much time you need and however long it takes, I'll still be right here."

Rose held his eyes for a moment before smiling back slightly, then slipped out the door.

The smile slid from his face as he watched her walk away. The Doctor released a long breath and murmured, "However long it takes."

Upon reaching the door of the flat, Rose suddenly began questioning if having the Doctor bring her a few days ahead so she could meet this version of her dad was really such a good idea after all. She needed the reassuring familiarity of her mum, yet she was about to meet with more newness and uncertainty.

Taking in a deep, strengthening breath, she turned the handle and opened the door, catching the two occupants inside by surprise as she stepped in.

For a second, Jackie wasn't even thinking about Rose seeing Pete; she was too focused on seeing her daughter again. She rushed forward, enveloping Rose in a hug and voicing the worry she'd been feeling as Pete hung back from the two, watching Rose with caution. She'd seen him now, but she wasn't flipping out. At least that was one good sign.

"Oh, that man! 'Don't worry,' he said. 'I'll sort this,' he said. Then the TARDIS disappears and doesn't come back for three bloody days! I've been worried half sick!"

Rose held her tightly. It felt so good to be in her arms. "I'm sorry, Mum. I didn't mean to worry you. It hasn't been long for me, though. Not long at all. After telling me about...everything, the Doctor brought me ahead a few days so I could see you...both, at the same time."

Jackie eased her hold on Rose as Pete moved forward, his concerned eyes meeting hers. If the Doctor purposely brought her here, then hopefully that meant she was at least well enough to handle seeing him. Jackie had filled him in on all that had happened. He wondered if she had now regained any more of her memories. Rose's watchful expression told him she probably still didn't remember knowing him, though.

Well, there was one way to remedy that. He closed the distance between them as Jackie stepped aside. "Hello, sweetheart," he greeted as he stroked his hand across her cheek, then drew her into his arms.

Her guard came down as he held her. The doubts Rose had been having about seeing him were instantly squelched the minute she found herself in Pete Tyler's embrace. This felt right, and Rose found herself willingly returning his comforting hug. He was here, alive. He wasn't dead, lying in the street amidst the remains of a shattered vase. Even if this was a parallel version and not her biological father, that didn't make him feel any less like her dad in this moment. "Dad," Rose whispered, holding on a little tighter.

"Oh, I've been so worried about you, love. Your mum's phoned me every day to let me know how you were getting on. I didn't want to leave, but, well...at the time we all thought it was for the best."

"I know," she spoke into his shoulder, his arms around her comforting and somehow familiar. "If I'd seen you here right after it happened when I first woke up, I would have thought I'd properly lost it." They both chuckled as they eased back.

Rose gazed into his eyes with a look of wonder. "I...have a dad," she murmured, as much to herself than anyone.

He smiled, his eyes soft as he reached up to stroke her cheek again. "Yes, you do."

"From a parallel universe," she continued with a soft, breathy laugh of bemusement.

"That too," he chuckled. "Though to me, this is the parallel universe."

She smiled a little wider. "S'pose it is, yeah." For anyone else's family this would be insane. But for her, she supposed it was simply typical.

Jackie moved closer again, reaching for Rose's hand and giving it a squeeze. "And how are you feeling now, sweetheart?" she asked, hopeful.

Rose was brought back to everything else she was currently facing. She shook her head slightly. "Honestly? I really don't know, Mum. I don't even know what to think about all this right now. It's just...overwhelming." She began to have those same thoughts of feeling misled over being kept in the dark about all of this, even though she knew they were only trying to do what was best for her in doing so. Rose couldn't help but voice those thoughts, though. Not in angry accusation, just honesty over her feelings. "I just wish you could have said...something about all of this to me. Finding out like this is so hard, Mum."

Jackie held her hand a little tighter. "I know. And I'm sorry, Rose. But all we've been tryin' to do in all this is what we thought was best for you. And we were going to begin telling you gradually. No one meant for it to be this way."

Rose nodded. "I know. I just..." She blew out a puff of air. "I guess this hasn't exactly been easy for anyone."

"C'mon, loves. Let's all just sit down." Pete suggested.

Rose couldn't quite take her eyes off him, still awed by his existence.

"Where's the Doctor now?" Jackie queried as they made their way to the couch, Pete settling in the chair next to them.

Rose had to pull her thoughts off the man in leather and replace the image with pinstripes as she answered. "Outside, in the TARDIS. He said he'd wait for me while we talked. I just needed...some time."

"And has he told you about...everything?" Pete asked.

Rose's hand unconsciously came up to rest over her abdomen. "Yeah," she answered softly, her gaze falling distant. "Not all the details just yet, but the...the main ones." She exhaled slowly. "And I just don't know what to do now. Where do I go from here? What do I...do?"

Jackie reached for Rose's left hand that rested on her knee. "You don't have to do anything, sweetheart. Just take your time. Let all this settle in first before even thinkin' about anything more."

Rose looked between her mum and Pete, pausing before asking her next question, her eyes wide and brimming with uncertainty. "But what about me an'...him?"

Pete smiled gently, leaning forward. "You get to know him all over again." His gaze flicked to Jackie. "Your mum and I know a little something about doing that. The situation is bound to feel uneasy to you right now, but in time, being with him will feel as natural to you as breathing. You might feel uncertain now, but I promise you that will change."

Rose nodded, simply hoping it was true. "I believe what he's told me. But even if he's still the Doctor, I don't feel like I know him – not really. Not like the other him. He's just so...different."

"In some ways," Jackie agreed. "But I can tell you one thing, Rose: he adores you. As much as he might deserve a good slap sometimes, I can't deny that the man is completely mad for you."

Rose smiled shyly. There was so much about this Doctor she didn't know, but she wanted to learn. From the minute she'd 'met' him a week and a half ago and he had begun caring for her, Rose felt a connection to him that defied explanation. Rose realized that's what she had always felt with the Doctor, right from the word 'run.' Maybe this man wasn't such a stranger to her after all.

She just needed to catch her breath while catching up to all that had taken place in their lives during the time she couldn't recall – which was huge, she knew. She had to learn the similarities and differences between the man he was now and the man she once knew, while at the same time wrapping her head around the enormous fact that she was now carrying his child, and that their relationship had progressed to a point she once thought it never possibly could. Not a tall order, then, she thought wryly, releasing a sigh.

-:-:-:-

Rose spent over an hour with Jackie and Pete, getting to know the father she now had in her life while also receiving their support and reassurance. Rose felt a little more clear-headed and less panicked about the entire situation. She now needed to talk to the man at the center of it all.

Rose had wandered over to the window. She peered outside and saw the TARDIS below, waiting silent and steadfast, just as he'd promised. Jackie came over to stand beside her.

"He's still there, waiting for me," Rose spoke, relief and simultaneous nervousness coalescing in her voice. Despite the lingering chill she'd been feeling all day, the sight sent an inexplicable warmth through her.

Jackie placed a hand on Rose's back. "You could decide to wait twenty years before goin' to him, and I promise he'd still be right there waiting for you." Jackie's initial doubts about the Doctor's commitment to Rose and the baby when he'd first found out about the pregnancy and reacted so negatively had been dispelled as she'd witnessed his level of utter devotion to Rose during this time.

Pete walked over to join them. "Do you feel ready to talk to him?"

Rose turned, looking between them both. "What do I say to him? Where do I even begin?"

"Why don't you start with 'hello,'" Jackie suggested. "Knowin' his gob, he'll take it from there and won't stop for hours."

"There's nothing to be nervous about, Rose," Pete reassured her. "He loves you."

She breathed out a strangled laugh. "That's what makes me nervous. He loves me, and in so many ways I don't even know him. Not really."

Jackie inclined her head towards the window. "Well, I know how to fix that. You get to know who he is all over again. But no one's pushing you into anything, Rose. Take however much time you need with this. Like I said, he'll wait for you."

Rose looked towards the window once more. Despite her nerves, she felt drawn to the TARDIS and the man within it like she was being led by a homing beacon. That's where she belonged. "No, I...I think I'm ready. At least to talk. If I have to get to know him all over again then I best start, yeah?" Rose turned and hugged Jackie, then Pete. "Thank you," she whispered to both.

Pete smiled. "We love you and are here for you, Rose. The both of you. Well, the three of you."

The three of us, Rose thought to herself, still utterly gob smacked by the very idea. She was having the Doctor's baby. Blimey.

Rose turned and made her way to the door, and Jackie called out to her upon opening it. "Just be sure to tell himself out there not to keep you away too long. I know his drivin' skills, and I don't want the next time you show up to be by the time the baby's already walking!"

Rose laughed softly as she slipped out the door, remembering her Doctor's less-than-accurately-timed arrivals. Maybe he really hadn't changed all that much from the Doctor she knew. Prepared for this or not, she would soon begin to find out.