Chapter 8

When the alarm went off in the morning they both groaned. Groaning was normal for Rose, she was not a morning person. Jon, however, usually popped out of bed with delight, ready to take on the day. Jon swung his legs slowly out of bed and hit the alarm.

"Bloody hell," he groaned, rubbing his neck. "I feel like I ran a marathon last night."

"Well what do you expect after the two-hour shag-a-thon we had?" Rose giggled sleepily. "I can't believe you'd go at it like that when you knew we need to go to work this morning."

Jon turned and stared at her. "Two hours?!"

Rose sat up with another groan. "Don't tell me you don't remember it!" She rubbed her eyes and looked at him. "It was wonderful, although I almost thought you were going to eat me alive for awhile there. It was like you were possessed – in a good way." She smiled mischievously at him.

Jon looked thoughtful. "I do remember it, but it was like someone else was doing it, and I was just watching. Rose," he shook his head, "this is just getting too weird."

"Let's make some coffee and have a bite to eat," she suggested, "we'll think better with some food in us, and we can try to figure out what's going on."

Jon put on his dressing gown and slippers and went into the kitchen to attend to breakfast, while Rose showered. She could hardly walk, she was so sore. She hadn't felt like this since that time she rode a horse when she was thirteen. Rode hard and put away wet, she thought to herself. This would be funny if it weren't so unreal. When she was finished, she put on her dressing gown and went to eat with Jon.

"So what do you think is going on?" she asked.

He shook his head. "I don't know, but I'm afraid something may be catching up with us, and especially my brother. Do you remember that night when I shared my life with you?"

"Uh-huh."

"After you became the Bad Wolf, I always felt a sort of presence within myself that had an unhealthy, sinister interest in you. I'd hoped that keeping you in this universe would keep you safe. Now I'm not so sure."

"You mean the Valeyard?"

"Yes. It occurs to me that if the Valeyard is in my brother, it potentially is also in me. You may not be any safer here than you were there, especially with me being only half Time Lord. I might not have the strength to withstand it."

"Sweetheart," Rose said, taking his hand, "No way!" she mimiced Donna Noble's voice perfectly, making Jon laugh in spite of humself. She joined in his laughter. "I have faith in you, and I have faith in the Donna in you. You will never harm me." She leaned over and kissed him passionately. "Let's get to work. Maybe our staff at Torchwood can help us figure this out."

It was the morning of the tenth day. Rose and Jon both fidgeted as they sat together awaiting the results of the pregnancy test. Jackie and Pete waited with them. Rose knew she was pregnant. She couldn't say how she knew, she just did. Jon often saw her unconsciously stroking her belly. Pete had taken him aside before the test, and placing his hands on Jon's shoulders, he told him, "You know, being a father to someone else's child isn't bad at all, if it does turn out that way. I have no regrets about adopting Rose. As far as I am concerned, she is my daughter."

Jon smiled. Pete was quite possibly the only person who could relate to his situation. Although Jon had initially distrusted Pete when he and Rose had first been left here, he'd come to consider him a good friend. "I know, and thanks, Pete. I'm so glad I have you in my family."

Jackie had hugged Rose that morning with tears in her eyes. "I'm not sure what I'm hopin' for, honestly, Sweetie." She cupped her daughter's face in her hands.

"It's alright, Mum, I know what you mean. But whatever happens, it's OK with me, really."

Dr. Johnson walked into the room. "Well Rose, you're going to be a mother." The collective population of the room exhaled. "We'll have to wait until week 15 at the earliest to do an amniocentesis so we can have a look at the baby's chromosomes. We'll do an ultrasound at the same time to check the baby's development. But at any rate, congratulations."

Rose and Jon hugged each other tightly, tears flowing from both their eyes. Jackie and Pete were doing the same. Then they switched, Pete hugging Jon and Jackie hugging Rose. Then they switched again, after which Jackie punched Jon non-too-lightly in the arm (which elicited a pained 'OI!') and lectured him, "That's my grandchild in there, regardless, you'd better be the best Dad ever!" but the love shining in her eyes told him she had no doubts in that regard.

Jon walked over to Dr. Johnson and shook his hand, and asked the inevitable question, "...And the chromosome results on the sample I took from Rose?"

"No human DNA, Jon."

Jon let out a deep breath. "Well... I though as much." He rubbed the back of his neck in resignation. "I guess we'll have to wait for the amniocentesis to know for sure, but I have a feeling I already know what the results will be."

Dr. Johnson gave him a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. "Wish I could tell you now, one way or the other, Jon."

"I know you do, David. Thanks for all your help, I'm glad Rose and I can rely on you."

Rose had wandered over in the meantime, she looked at Jon questioningly. He shook his head at her, "It went pretty much the way we thought it would, Rose. No human DNA."

"So, we wait 13 ½ weeks to find out who the father is, yeah? That seems like such a long time, doesn't it?" Her eyes filled and Jon hugged her tight.

"S'alright, my love. S'alright." He lifted her chin so he look look into her eyes. "I want this baby as much as you do, and I'll love it no matter what." He kissed her deeply. "Let's get to work, shall we?"