Author's Notes: I do not own Doctor Who, the Duplicate Doctor, Donna or Rose. If I owned Rose, something would have been done... Sorry, what? Anyway, I am so glad everyone is enjoying this, thank you for the reads and reviews. I hope you all enjoy this and please let me know what you think.

John Smith's first new year was rubbish. Reduced from all of time and space to a one bedroom flat with no furniture and filled with thoughts of the Donna he had left behind.

Still, he supposed it was better than being in a jar.

And at least he was finally out of hospital. Pete and Jackie had found the flat for him, furniture had slipped their minds, but John wasn't one to complain. He had spent Christmas alone and finally started his job at Torchwood. Job. He had never had a job, but he supposed he had to do something. So, he went to work, but he still wasn't feeling great. It had been a long recovery, from the effects of pneumonia and hypothermia and he tired easily, so he had refused the kind invitations of his new co-workers Gwen and Adeola to come along with them on their New Year's Eve pub crawl.

This New Year was different, though. He had a proper date, plans, a restaurant was involved and several posh parties, but he couldn't care less about that. He waited for midnight, as Big Ben struck in the new year and he snuck off with Donna to the roof of one of her friends' loft complex.

Then he asked her to marry him.

And she said yes.

"John!," screamed Gwen.

"Oh, my God!," Adeola shrieked.

Adeola and Gwen then proceeded to look at each other and scream at the highest pitch John had ever heard.

Then they jumped up and down.

"Miss Cooper, Miss Oshodi, what's going on over here?," asked Bernard. "This is hardly the sort of behavior we expect at Torchwood."

"Sorry," said Gwen.

"Sorry, sir," said Adeola, she couldn't help but grin, "but John's getting married!"

"Oh, by all means, jump up and down then," said Bernard, seeming quite jolly. "John, when did this happen?"

"Just over New Year, sir," said John.

"Congratulations, John. Well done! Quite a catch you have there."

"Tell us, how did you ask her?," Adeola begged.

"What's all this?"

A chill of dread went up John's spine. He turned to see Rose.

"Miss Tyler, I thought you were suspended," said Bernard.

"Yeah, I know. I have an appointment, I thought I'd drop by and see John."

"You mean you're on your way to see the Torchwood shrink?," asked Gwen.

"I'm getting married," said John.

"What?," asked Rose. "What do you mean you're getting married?"

"I think I'll just go count the weapons locker," said Gwen. "You know, take things out..."

Gwen walked away. Adeola and Bernard backed off.

"To her? To Donna Noble?" She clenched her fists in frustration. "What's so bloody special about Donna Noble?"

"She's joking, right?," asked Bernard.

"Sir..." said John.

"Right. I'm not listening at all. I'm just over here checking this plant," said Bernard.

"Rose, I-"

Gwen walked back over. "You know he doesn't have to explain himself to you, blondie."

"Gwen..." said John.

He looked at Gwen only to realize that the entire department was staring at he and Rose. Bernard surveyed the situation.

"You know what?," said Bernard. "I know it's only ten in the morning, but why don't we all go for an early lunch? Or take a walk in the park? Call it a team building exercise."

"It's raining," said Gwen.

"That's why it's a team building exercise. Coats and umbrellas everyone!"

The entire department left and as they shuffled out Rose stared at John, boring holes into him.

"I saw you at the school," said Rose. "Is that it? You want a family so you just worm your way into hers? Think that's alright, do you?"

"That's not what it's like, Rose," he said, shaking his head.

"Listen, why do you care? You don't love me."

"I..."

"You love the Doctor and he's in another dimension and he doesn't love you."

She shook her head. "No, I don't believe that."

"Believe it. Believe it, Rose and move on. You have too much potential to be wasting your life like this. You could go back to school, you could travel, you could I don't know, get a hobby, just stop wasting your time on something that's never going to happen."

"Does she know what you are?"

"This isn't about her, Rose. This is about you."

Rose shook with fury. "You. You're nothing. You're just some freak accident."

She stalked out.

"You're well rid of that mad little bint."

John turned to see Gwen coming out of Bernard's office, carrying a golf club.

"Gwen, what are you doing?"

"What?," she asked waving the nine iron. "You didn't expect me to actually leave you alone undefended, did you?"

Donna laid in bed next to John, happily taking turns between gazing at his stubble-covered face and the engagement ring he had bought her. She thought it was stunning, she didn't care if it was an emerald, it was antique and John said it reminded him of her eyes. Maybe not as big as the one Ethan had given her, but she had sold that one and gone on a shoe buying binge with the proceeds. Her mum had said to give it to Ella but Donna didn't see why Ella should have to travel through life with the last remnant of a marriage that was doomed from the start. Besides, she'd bought Ella a dolls' house with part of it and she seemed to appreciate that.

She would have to tell them.

She had already told Ethan, who she hadn't seen since the Christmas program. She had texted, which she felt badly about until she got the response of "k" a day later. Josh and Ella, though, that was an entirely different matter.

He had been around. John hardly spent any time at his flat anymore. Josh and Ella didn't seem to question why Mummy's friend was spending the night, she wasn't sure if it's because they thought they were just having a sleep over or if God knows what had been going on at Ethan's house on the rare occasion they actually made it there.

Ella was easy. She loved John, he had won her over doing the thousand small things Ethan had just bloody failed to do. Not just the big things like the zoo, but Ethan would never be caught dead putting her hair in a French braid, even if he could pull it off. He had pulled off the bun again and before every ballet class.

Josh still purported to hate John, even though Donna suspected he was just putting it on. John had accompanied him to a football game where a friend had invited all his friends and their dads to a corporate box for a boys only, no girls allowed ever birthday party. Poor Josh had tried to get Ethan on the phone and Donna had even had Ianto try, only to track him down in Fiji, where he insisted he wouldn't be back in time for the party. Donna had volunteered to go, but Josh said they couldn't have a girl there, even if it was just a mum. John had finally thrown his name in the ring and Donna could see Josh relenting. It was so clear he didn't want to be the only one there without someone. He finally agreed to go with John but it was "just to keep the numbers even." Then John had helped him with his science project and his maths homework. Donna tried to prod Josh about it, but he insisted it was just for school.

She had a plan. Saturday morning, first thing, they would have a lovely breakfast, she would let them watch cartoons and then they would break it to them about the engagement. Then bribe them with lunch and toys.

Maybe a puppy, but she wanted to save the puppy if she needed it when she got pregnant.

Donna went downstairs with her best placid mum face on.

"Good morning, children," said Donna.

Ella and Josh looked up from their breakfast, eyeing their mum suspiciously. For that matter, John looked at her like she was barmy.

"I've made breakfast," said John, putting a plate down at her place at the breakfast table. "Why don't you eat?"

"Aren't you eating, John?," asked Ella.

"I will, Ella."

The doorbell rang.

"Who's that?," hissed Donna. Doorbell was so not in the plan.

"I'll see, you just... stay there," said John.

John would have been less surprised if he had seen a Dalek when he answered the front door than he was seeing Ethan there.

At least Daleks were consistent.

"Oh, hello, John, wasn't it?"

"Hello, Ethan."

"I'm just here to pick up the kids."

"Are you now?"

Ethan walked in without further invitation.

"Suppose you're staying here all the time now," said Ethan. "Got to make the most of that honeymoon shagging phase, let me tell you, because it dries up."

Yes, he would have rather seen a Dalek.

"Especially with Donna. It becomes all work-work, kids-kids."

A Dalek and Ethan. That would be good. All he would have to do is shut the door.

"Ethan, I would appreciate it if you wouldn't speak about Donna in that manner."

"Ooh, or what? You'll get angry?," he said smiling.

"Dad!" Josh came running from the kitchen, followed by Ella and then finally, Donna, looking as if she'd seen a ghost. She might as well have.

"Ethan, what are you doing here?," asked Donna.

"What? Isn't it my weekend?"

"No, it's not. And even if it was, you never come to yours."

"Mum, can't we go?," asked Josh.

"Yeah, Donna, just switch with me," said Ethan, "you see them all the time."

"We have plans, Ethan," said Donna.

"John's taking us to the zoo," said Ella.

"Zoo? Why would you want to go to the zoo? That's sort of dull, isn't it?," said Ethan. "Besides, he'll be around all the time once you're married."

Donna's face turned red.

She wanted to throttle him.

"Married?," Ella asked quietly.

"What do you mean married?," spat Josh.

"Thank you, Ethan. Thank you so much," said Donna. "This really is the pinnacle of your fatherhood, isn't it?"

"How was I to know you hadn't told them? Sounds like some pretty bad mothering to me."

"Okay, kids, why don't we go upstairs and you can get ready to go out?," said John.

John pushed Ella softly on the shoulder. He tried to take Josh, but Josh ran upstairs before he could catch up.

"Bad mothering?," asked Donna. "You have the nerve to come in here and criticize my parenting?"

"You criticize mine all the time."

"Yes! Because it's horrid, you narcissist!"

"You know, I talked to my solicitor about that slap of yours and she said if I could demonstrate that you had an unsafe environment, I could have full custody of Josh and Ella."

"Don't you dare," said Donna, "you do not dare walk in this house and threaten to take my children from me."

"Fine, sorry I offended you. Thought you might want some time alone with your boy toy there."

Donna took a deep breath. "I'm getting coffee. I can't begin to speak with you without coffee." Donna turned and started walking towards the kitchen.

"Two sugars in mine, thanks."

Donna continued to the kitchen, resisting the urge to kill him and hide the body.

Ella's room was a sea of pink. It had been almost disconcerrting the first time she dragged John in to play tea party. Pink walls, pink carpet, pink dressing table, pink tented canopy bed, it took some time for his eyes to adjust. He helped Ella find her pink- surprise- suitcase that was still packed from the last failed weekend.

"Are you marrying Mummy?"

"Yes," said John. "What do you think of that?"

She shrugged. "Mummy likes when you're around."

"I know, I like when I'm around, but what do you think?"

"I like when you're around," she said softly.

John smiled. "Do you want to know something, Ella?"

"Yeah..."

"I like when you're around."

Ella smiled and gave John a hug. He hugged back.

Then he heard something fall in Josh's room.

"Stay here. I'll be right back," said John.

John went in Josh's room. He hadn't been in at all before, Donna had just pointed out the door. Josh seemed insistent on all their dealings being conducted on neutral territory. In fact, Donna was only rarely allowed in and the nanny and cleaning lady seemed to be the only ones with freedom of movement. He observed that he must have been allowed the same free reign in decorating judging by the Manchester United duvet and the collection of posters. Right now, Josh had out his knapsack and what was every piece of luggage from the cupboard, loading the entire contents of his toy box into them.

"It looks like you may have packed a bit much for a weekend, Josh," he said finally.

"I'm leaving forever," said Josh. He walked to the window and took a telescope off its stand then put it back.

"You're not taking the telescope?"

"Dad says it's stupid."

"Why's that?"

"What do you care?"

"I like telescopes."

"You do?" Josh said brightly and then looked down again. He hadn't meant to show interest in John.

"I do. So, why does your dad say they're stupid?"

"I like space and...stuff," Josh said quietly. "I want to be an explorer, but Dad says it daft because Britain doesn't have a space program anymore and can't afford it after the Cybermen, Mexico's not sending up any more shuttles and the only ones doing anything are China and I can't go with them, so I might as well give the whole thing up."

"Well, your dad's wrong," said John. "It's not daft. I used to be like you, I'd look at the stars and think of new life, new worlds. Nothing can stop you from doing something if you really want to."

"You work at Torchwood, right? Do you work with aliens?"

John's eyes got big. Did he work with himself? "Well, yes, quite a bit actually."

"Cool."

Donna entered. "Okay-" she looked around. "Josh, what are you doing?"

"Uh..."

"He's just reorganizing, Donna."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, Mum."

"Anyway, your dad is going to take you and Ella for the day if you like. You'll be back home for dinner and we can talk, okay?"

"Okay, Mum."

Ianto Jones looked up from his desk to see a blonde.

"May I help you?," he asked.

"Yeah, here to see Donna Noble."

Ianto humored her and looked on his tablet computer. "Do you have an appointment?"

"No."

"So, what? You thought you'd just pop by?"

"Yeah."

Ianto put down the tablet. "Okay, little girl, let me tell you how this works. This is the office of Donna Noble. Ms. Noble is the Chief Executive Officer and Chairwoman of the Board of the Noble Corporation, which owns the Noble Family of Networks and properties around the world along with a small hat factory. She is the most powerful person in media holdings in Europe, possibly the Earth. One cannot simply pop by and expect to be received. So, are you leaving or shall I ring up security?"

"My name is Rose Tyler. I need to tell her something about her fiance."

Ianto picked up the phone. "Ms. Noble, there's a Rose Tyler here. She says she has some information about your fiance." He paused. "One moment. I'll ask." Ianto put the phone on hold and looked at Rose. "What was it you need to tell her?"

"He's not who he says he is."

"You'll have to be more specific."

"I don't want to tell you everything!"

"Well, you're not getting in there without telling me."

Rose shook her head. "He's not a man, not a real man, he's a hand from a jar."

Ianto stared at her.

"Is this for like a prank show?"

"It's the truth. Tell her."

Ianto took the phone off hold. "Ms. Noble, she says he's not a real man, he was somehow formed from a hand in a jar." He paused. "I'll relay the message." He paused again. "I hit the alarm ages ago. Oh, lunch should be here in five minutes. They were out of the scallops so I ordered clams, I thought that would be alright." He paused again. "Yes, ma'am. You're welcome."

He hung up the phone and looked back up at Rose. "Ms. Noble appreciates your concern, but is fully aware of the jar metamorphosis situation and won't require your input."

"Is that what she really said?"

"No, she really said 'What does the psychotic bint want?' and 'Tell her to get the bloody hell out of my life if she knows what's good for her.' I tend to try to smooth things over for Ms. Noble." He looked behind her. "Oh, good. Take her picture and warn her. She's banned from the building. If she shows up again, you're to turn her over to the police."

Rose looked behind her to see two burly security guards.

"Have a nice day, Ms. Tyler."

Rose walked out of the Noble building with two security guards staring at her as she started down the sidewalk.

She was trying to decide if she should cry in the street when a woman stepped in front of her.

She was older. Dark brown hair, a black suit and an eyepatch.

"Hello, Rose Tyler."

"How do you know my name?"

"We've been watching you and we want to put you to work."

Rose straightened up and stiffened.

"I'm listening."