Morning couldn't have come quick enough for Jackie Tyler. She longed to get back to her little boy and husband and hoped that today's long day of travel would go smoothly. As she got up and began to get ready, she wondered how things had gone last night for Rose and the new Doctor. She hoped that at the very least the situation between them hadn't gotten any worse… heaven knows it would be a long enough trip without the added awkwardness between those two.

She was gathering the last of her belongings when there was a knock at her door. It was Rose, and while she looked tired, Jackie was relieved to see her looking much better than she had imagined she would.

"Well, you look like you got more sleep than I expected," Jackie told her daughter as she gave her a quick hug.

Rose sat down on the bed and nodded, stifling a yawn. It hadn't been as much as she would have liked, but definitely far more than she had anticipated she would get.

"Yeah… I didn't think I would be able to sleep at all, actually. I tried for a few hours but couldn't turn my mind off."

"That's what I feared, sweetheart… but you managed, then?"

"I did… well, after I talked to him."

"Oh? And how did that go?" Jackie stopped what she was doing and sat down next to her daughter, ready for more tears.

Rose gave her mother a small smile and shook her head in disbelief. "He's so different… so much more open than the Doctor. But I guess he can afford to be."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Rose sighed. She wasn't quite sure she understood it all that well herself, but she had a feeling that letting herself accept it would play a big part in whether or not she could build a future with this new man.

"Mum, he told me he loved me."

"Well, of course he does. Anyone can see that, Rose!"

"But if he does then the Doctor did too."

"Oh love… did you really ever doubt that?"

"But mum, he left me."

"Rose Marion Tyler, now you listen to me. That man loved you enough to walk away when he saw that you had a chance at a happy life here. With a man that could love you and age with you… give you a normal life, here with your family, Rose! Now I know I haven't always liked him much, but I will always be grateful to him for keeping you safe and bringing you back home, even now, at an incredible cost to himself."

Rose got up and walked over to the balcony door. Unlike yesterday it was sunny outside, the wind calm. She took a deep breath, willing herself to stay calm. She understood what both her mother and the other Doctor were telling her, but it still stung.

"I know mum. I just… I don't know how I will ever be able to look at his face and not hurt."

Jackie went to her daughter's side and put her arms around her shoulder. She wished she could take this burden from her, but knew that only time would be able to do that.

"Sweetheart, give it some time, yeah? You never know… he might surprise you."

Rose looked at her mother and gave a small chuckle.

"He already has. Last night he… he was so kind, mum. I know this can't be easy for him either. The things he said… the Doctor never would have. It's like it was so easy for him."

"Maybe it is."

"I suppose it will take some getting used to. The differences, I mean."

"It probably will, Rose. Don't you remember all the rows Pete and I had when you and I first got here?"

Rose laughed and ran a hand through her hair, shaking her head. "Do I ever… It's a good thing the mansion's so big!"

Jackie smiled at her daughter and pulled her in for another quick hug. "You're right; it certainly helped when we both needed some space… Well come on then, let's get going, we have a long day ahead of us. You better go and find that Doctor of yours, make sure he hasn't gotten himself into any trouble! I'll meet you downstairs for breakfast, yeah? "

Rose nodded and set off to find him, wondering how things would feel between them today. Perhaps it was the conversation they had last night or maybe just the fact that she had finally gotten several hours of uninterrupted sleep, but whatever the reason, she had awoken feeling not quite so miserable.

Arriving at his door, Rose knocked. She hoped she could keep her emotions in check today; she certainly would try very hard to. Again she knocked, wondering if he had already gone downstairs in search of a banana or something. She rolled her eyes but smiled at the thought, and decided to try the door just in case, before heading downstairs. She didn't remember hearing him lock it last night.

Sure enough, it was unlocked.

Rose peaked her head in and looked around. "Doctor?" she called out softly.

No answer.

She let herself into the room and as she walked forward a few steps, a maroon trainer caught her eyes. It was attached to a blue clad leg hanging off the end of the couch, in front of a now cold fireplace. As she stepped around the couch, she was greeted by an unusual sight… a sleeping Doctor.

He was sprawled out rather awkwardly, an arm thrown across his face, his suit jacket open and bunched up high on his chest. Rose smiled, she hadn't been able to catch the Time Lord this relaxed and off guard very many times during their travels. It had been so uncommon to find him in such a state that she had considered each of those instances a rare gift. She wondered if this half human Doctor would require more sleep… it certainly seemed so.

Kneeling on the floor by his head, Rose spoke up a bit louder this time.

"Doctor? Doctor. Come on, wake up!"

Slowly and with a few incoherent mumbles, the man in front of her came to life. At first he seemed a bit disoriented but at last his eyes locked onto hers and he sat up abruptly, swinging his legs down onto the floor and scrubbing his face with his hands.

Rose bit her lip and tried to suppress a smile.

"So… you sleep now?"

"I've always slept, Rose… just not this much. Time Lords are much more efficient, you know, even in our sleep! Blimey, that's revolting!"

"Pardon?"

"The way you humans sleep away a third of your lives! What a waste! I really can't be doing this! No matter, I'm sure this was just a result of the excess regeneration energy he siphoned into my hand… I've always needed a bit more sleep after going through that process; it can be a bit dodgy, you know."

Rose shook her head and smirked. "Yes, I know but I hate to break it to you, Doctor... you will probably need a bit more sleep than a couple of hours every few weeks. You're half ape now, remember?"

"Nonsense, I don't think-"he retorted but was interrupted mid-sentence by a rather grand yawn. A look of outrage clouded his features and Rose gave an amused snort.

"Rose Tyler, I do believe you are mocking me!"

The indignant expression on his face coupled with his rats nest hair was finally too much for her and she collapsed back onto the floor in a fit of giggles. The Doctor opened his mouth to chastise her but as he saw Rose in her first true moment of unguarded ease since they arrived here yesterday, he just smiled his lopsided grin at her and shook his head. After a few moments he joined her on the floor by the couch and sat cross legged, waiting for her laughter to subside.

"So, how did you sleep last night?" he asked when she had quieted down.

"Better than I thought I would, thank you. I… I'm glad I decided to come talk to you."

"I'm glad you came too. "

She could tell he wanted to say something else but was once more letting her take the reins in the conversation; afraid to push his luck, perhaps? His hesitancy was endearing, but as surprisingly comfortable as she was feeling, all of a sudden, she knew they needed to get going.

"Well, mum is downstairs waiting for us. We need to hurry and eat a quick breakfast so we can get going. We have a two hour car ride to Bergen to meet up with the zeppelin Pete is sending for us."

"Right. We better get going then!" responded the Doctor as he rose quite suddenly and extended a hand to her. She took it and let him pull her up, a bit surprised when she found herself in one of his bear hugs. Just as suddenly, though, he let go and gave her a shy smile as he backed away slowly and pointed over his shoulder at the loo.

"I better… um, I'll just be a moment," he said rubbing the back of his neck.

When he had closed the door behind him, Rose walked to window, closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Her heart was racing and she wished her traitorous body wouldn't react so to his familiar touch. This was going to be hard enough for her mind and heart, now at war one with the other, without having to add silly hormones to the mix.

When he emerged his suit was back in order, as was his hair, in its usual perfectly tousled disarray.

"Right, breakfast then! Do you think they'll have bananas? Oh I'd love a banana, Rose, wouldn't you?"

Shaking her head and rolling her eyes once more, Rose Tyler smiled up at him and began walking towards the door.

"I don't know Doctor, but I'm sure we can manage to find one in Bergen if they don't have any downstairs… come on, mum's probably on her way up here to see what's taking us so long."

With a look of mock horror on his face, the Doctor held out his hand to Rose once more. She took it and gave him a hesitant smile. A grin spread across his face and with a gentle squeeze he tugged her out of the room and down the stairs.