Part 2

::

They arrived at Jackie and Pete's at about eleven o'clock. "Just in time for brunch!" the Doctor grinned, as they unpacked the car.

"You just burnt down our kitchen and you're already thinking about food again?" Rose retorted in disbelief, hauling a bag over her shoulder and attempting to carry both suitcases as well.

The Doctor helpfully took one of the cases from her and then joined their free hands together as they walked up the path to the Tyler residence. "There are only three things in life that I consistently think about," he announced proudly. "One, food. Two, time-and-space. Which, before you ask, does count as one in and of itself. Because I doubt I think about time any more than I think about space, and vice versa. Anyway, most importantly and most frequently, really, three: you."

Rose rolled her eyes but couldn't quite hide her grin. "Most importantly, huh?"

"Oh yes," he affirmed, then bumped his shoulder against hers playfully. "Go on, then."

"Go on what?"

"Reply with something just as cute."

Rose tilted her head to the side contemplatively as they reached the front door and rang the bell. "How about this," she began. "Even though you can be a daft idiot who does daft things a lot, often ruining items of furniture and/or clothing, you're still the only person I could contemplate living with on a long-term basis."

He frowned. "Rose Tyler, that was decidedly less romantic than what I just said."

"And yet true."

He sighed. "Fair enough."

Someone finally came to the door and opened it. "Rose!" cried Jackie happily, ushering them both inside. "How bad is the damage, then?"

"Oooh, not too bad, we shan't need to stay long - " began the Doctor. Rose elbowed him.

"It's pretty bad, Mum. You sure it's all right for us to stay for a month or so?"

"Course it is, course it is! Aww, Tony's gonna love it as well, having his big sister around for a lengthy period of time instead of rushing off all over the world."

The Doctor cleared his throat. Jackie turned to him with a smile. "And you, mister. Although I'd quite like you to keep the adventures to a minimum, 'cos Tony gets into enough trouble as it is on his own, let alone with you, his partner in crime."

The Doctor grinned. "He's jeopardy-friendly like his sister."

Rose had started climbing the stairs to deposit their stuff in their room, but heard his comment and called down, "Oi!"

Jackie picked up one of the bags that Rose had left downstairs and followed her daughter, and the Doctor dragged the larger suitcase up the stairs with great difficulty.

Once in their room, Jackie announced, "Right! Some house rules."

"House rules?" Rose questioned with a wry smile.

"Yes. No touching appliances in the kitchen, Doctor. Or anywhere else, for that matter."

He sighed. "Duly noted."

"Rose: don't let him experiment and sonic things, all right?"

"Right."

"Also, Pete told me to tell both of you that you mustn't go in his study and rifle through his files and paperwork without asking."

"Okay," the replied in unison, sharing a mischievous glance.

"And neither of you are to lead Tony astray."

"As if we would."

"Mmm," Jackie nodded dubiously. "Right then. Lunch in the garden at half twelve, how's that sound?"

"Lovely."

"Thanks, Mum."

"Pete and Tony will be home from the park by then, and we can hear about all your stories from your most recent trips."

"Sounds great!" the Doctor enthused, eager to fill them in on his and Rose's adventures. "Rose brought photos."

"Good. I'll let you get unpacked," Jackie replied, and started to leave the room. Then she seemed to remember something and came back in. "Oh, and if you two are as loud as you were the last time you stayed, the Doctor's going into a different bedroom."

"What do you mean?" asked the Doctor curiously, as Rose blushed and coughed into her hand.

Jackie rolled her eyes and mumbled, "Such a plum," before clarifying for him slowly, "Me and Pete don't need to hear you groaning Rose's name in the middle of the night, okay?"

His eyebrows jumped up his forehead. "As if I ever do such a thing!" he retorted indignantly.

"Doctor, I'd never heard my daughter's name said in that particular way before, and I certainly don't want to hear it again - "

"Mum!"

The Doctor sniffed. "I think you'll find that Rose is far more vocal - "

"Doctor! Shut up!" Rose exclaimed, quickly jumping up and pressing her hand over his mouth. "Can we change the subject, please?"

Already, Rose thought with a sigh. Already her mum and the Doctor were fighting. She could sense a significant argument ahead, and this topic was not one she wanted discussed in raised voices, if at all.

Jackie shrugged. "I wanted to warn you of the house rules, that's all."

The Doctor grabbed Rose's hand away from his mouth and snorted, "House rules?! The other ones, fair enough, but – but this one, Jackie - Rose is my wife, you know, and - "

"Hmm, funny, I did know that – seeing as you say it every five minutes when you're trying to make some sort of point that isn't at all relevant -" Jackie began.

"Yes, well, I like saying it," he huffed unashamedly. "And believe me, I'd much rather stay in a hotel in Barcelona whilst our flat is getting fixed up; at least there I wouldn't have to pretend to be just friends with my own - "

"No one's saying that," Jackie interjected. "I'm just saying that you need to keep it down a bit! I've got another child, you know, who doesn't need to know about this sort of stuff yet!"

"I think you'll find Tony already knows, seeing as he told me – quite horrified, bless him – that he'd seen 'daddy giving mummy a strange sort of cuddle' - " the Doctor started to scoff.

"Oi! Listen, you two!" Rose shouted, interrupting them. "This is not normal. You two should not be discussing this topic. It's weird and gross and just please stop it."

There was a deadly silence for a beat or two. Then,

"Sorry, Rose," muttered the Doctor.

"Sorry," huffed her mum.

"Right. Good. Now let's get unpacked and say no more about it, yeah?"

"Okay. I'll see you two later," Jackie said, eyeing the Doctor warily as she left the room; as though he would pounce on her daughter the second she left.

Which he would've done, only he didn't want to play up to Jackie's expectations and get himself kicked into the spare room a few metres down the corridor. So he simply did as he was told and helped Rose unpack.