Rose was just finishing her morning cuppa when there was a knock on her door.

"It's unlocked, Mum!" she called.

The door swung open and Jackie walked in, closing the door after her. "Good morning, sweetheart."

Rose stood and gave her mum a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Morning, Mum. Want a cuppa?"

"Yeah, but I can make it. You want another one?"

Rose nodded, smiling. Tea made by Jackie was always better somehow. She could never figure out why that was but she wasn't going to turn down the magic.

"Is himself hiding around here somewhere?" Jackie asked after setting the kettle to boil.

"Nah, he's back at his flat. Wanted to spend some time with just you," Rose said.

Jackie looked up from where she was dropping teabags into mugs. "You found yourself a good one there, Rose."

Rose looked away, knowing her cheeks were burning. She hated lying to her mum like this but she was in too deep to quit now. "Yeah, I did. So, did I tell you about the show we have going on the gallery right now?"

Jackie smiled at Rose's obvious topic change. She hadn't minded talking for ages about John on the phone the past few months but apparently in person it was a different story. She knew what her daughter looked like when she was flustered and this was it. Something was going on but Jackie was confident Rose would confide in her before her trip was over.

"No, I don't think you have love."

"It's gorgeous. I can take you down to see it if you want. It's all one artist and she's recreating famous fairytales but each one has a twist and they're just lovely. The brushwork is honestly incredible and the emotion conveyed in all of them…" Rose paused and sighed, "It makes a girl jealous some days, but it's amazing."

Jackie splashed some milk in both of their cups and then set Rose's in front of her on the counter. "No reason for you to be jealous, you're just as talented, Rose."

Rose smiled at her. "You're biased."

"But I'm also right," Jackie insisted.

Rose turned away from her tea and pulled her mum into a hug. "You know I miss you, right?"

"I miss you too, love," she said, hugging back just as fiercely. "But you're doing just fine up here and I'm so proud of you."

Rose pulled back, eyes a little watery. "I love you."

"Love you too. What brought this on?"

Rose shrugged. "Just a bit emotional this morning."

Jackie picked up her tea and leveled an assessing look at her daughter. "You're not pregnant, are you?"

"God, no!" Rose sputtered. "Not even close to being pregnant. Not even thinking about it."

"It's the not thinking about it that gets you in trouble."

"I'm not pregnant, Mum."

"Alright, I'm not quite prepared for grandkids quite yet anyways. Now go on, drink that tea before it gets cold."

They continued to chat as they drank their tea and then Rose excused herself to finish getting ready for the day.

"I was thinking we could go show you around town," she said, walking out of her room while putting in an earring. "Show you the sights. Maybe have some lunch and I can show you the gallery if you want. I have a few paintings there that I'm working on."

"Sounds brilliant. Are you bringing John?"

"I'm going to start thinking you're here to see him instead of me," Rose said with a laugh.

"I just want to take the chance to size him up while I'm here. Make sure he's good enough for my little girl," Jackie said.

"He's a good guy, Mum."

"I can see that. Go ahead and invite him along though, we'll see if he manages to spend extended time with me and still have my approval."

"Don't do anything drastic," Rose warned. "I'd like him to stick around."

Jackie just smiled and Rose rolled her eyes.

"Alright, I'll call him and invite him along," Rose acquiesced. She shut herself back into her bedroom to make the call.

John answered on the second ring. "Hello, Rose!"

"Someone's chipper this morning," she teased, smile already forming at the sound of his voice.

"Might have made coffee when I got up," he admitted.

Rose groaned. "So you're going to be hyper all day, aren't you?"

"At least for the next hour, I've been awake for a while already. Need me? For the thing?"

She shook her head, irrepressible grin lighting up her face. John hopped up on caffeine was always a treat. "I do. Mum specifically invited you to join us on our tour of downtown. I'm planning to take her out to lunch and also by the gallery to see the exhibit we just set up and the pieces I'm working on. You in?"

"I'm definitely in. Should I come down there?"

"Might as well," Rose said. "See you in a few?"

"Yup!" He popped the p at the end of the word and then disconnected the call.

Rose walked out into the sitting area, still grinning.

"What're you so pleased about?" Jackie asked, her own smile forming.

"That man is a nutter," Rose said. "He'll be here shortly but he apparently had some coffee this morning so he's bouncing off the walls. John cannot handle his caffeine."

Before Jackie could answer there was a knock on the door. Rose practically skipped over to let John in.

"Hello," she said, tongue sneaking into the corner of her smile as she swung open door. "Fancy meeting you here."

He grinned back at her, smile just this side of mad and it made something in her stomach flutter. "Crazy coincidence, that," he answered. "Good morning, Rose Tyler."

John cupped her face with both of his hands and leaned down to give her a soft kiss that was over almost before it begun. It still left Rose reeling, even as he brushed his thumb in a caress over her cheek before releasing her and going to greet Jackie.

She knew it might have seen odd to Jackie if he hadn't kissed her hello but she hadn't even thought to prepare herself for the possibility as she opened to door. She turned and watched as he started regaling her mother with a story about the coffee maker he'd modified for the lab that someone had exploded somehow.

Rose stifled a laugh, regaining her balance a bit as she did. This was classic John. He was wearing a pair of dark wash jeans that were secretly her favorite, a blue oxford with the sleeves haphazardly rolled partway up his forearms, and was rambling on excitedly.

She walked over and rested a hand on his arm, startled when he went completely still at her touch, stopping mid-sentence. "You two ready to go?" she asked.

"Yup!" John said, voice going squeaky.

Rose gave him a look, wondering exactly what was going on with him. Jackie stood and retrieved her handbag from the kitchen and announced that she was ready as well.

They decided to walk as their building was close to the city center and parking was in short supply. Rose caught John's hand in hers, tangling their fingers together and swinging their hands as they walked and she asked her mum if there was anything in particular she wanted to see.

John had gone oddly quiet next to her so she squeezed his hand before prompting him to tell her mum about the latest story his sister Donna had called him about.

Just like that, he was off and jabbering again, leaving Rose wondering about what was going through that head of his, even as she laughed at the tales of Donna's exploits in investigative journalism.

Within minutes, his odd behavior had been pushed to the back of her mind as they took Jackie on a whirlwind tour of their city, showing her all the little spots they liked best in addition to the main attractions. She and John held hands and joked and laughed with each other and Jackie and generally had a marvellous time.

John didn't even bat an eye as Jackie not-so-subtly interrogated him about various things. He did however, blush when Rose stood on her tiptoes to plant a kiss on his cheek at one point.

When their feet started to ache, they nipped in to Rose and John's favorite lunch spot.

"This is where we had our first date," Rose confided to Jackie as they waited in the queue.

"We had chips!" John chimed in, grinning and bumping his shoulder against Rose's.

"I had to pay for them."

"Why's that then?" Jackie asked, leveling her gaze on John.

He rubbed the back of his neck, looking sheepish. "Might've forgotten my wallet at my flat."

"Cheapskate," Rose teased.

"You take that back!"

"Never."

"Has anyone told the two of you that you're both ridiculous?" Jackie asked.

John and Rose looked at each other and then back at Jackie, answering in unison. "Yes."

They got their food and chatted amicably as they ate. Rose was amazed at how well John was dealing with her mum who was not necessarily going easy on him. The fact that he kept throwing soft smiles at Rose and reaching out to touch her without any particular reason was probably winning him points with Jackie even as it sent Rose's heart racing.

She'd honestly never guessed that he was this good of an actor.

Once they were finished, they all headed over to the gallery where Rose worked. She took them on a tour of the small space, telling them all about the art that was currently on display with obvious enthusiasm.

When they reached the back of the gallery, Rose ushered them into the hallway of offices where they conducted the business side of the gallery. She opened the door to what the owner allowed her to use as her painting space and gestured for Jackie and John to go in.

"I'm working on more flowers right now," she said as she stepped towards the canvasses propped up against the walls. "None of them are done yet but I think I'm going to end up liking them. I'm at least happy with how the colors are coming along. Oil paint has never been my favorite but it's what works for these."

"Oh Rose, these are gorgeous!" Jackie cooed, stepping closer. "You know this green one would look great back in the flat."

"I'll keep that in mind for Christmas," Rose said, grinning.

"I love this one," John broke in. He was standing in front of her most recent painting.

It was still in its early stages but Rose had finally given in and started painting her namesake flower. It was a pale pink, almost white, with just the barest hints of darker colors in the shadows cast by individual petals.

"I mean, they're all brilliant but this one in particular."

Rose smiled up at him, slipping her hand into his as she moved to stand in front of the canvas with him. "It's my pet project," she admitted. "Thank you, John."

He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "Any time."

John moved on to other canvases and he and Jackie both were effusive in their praise.

"I'm telling you, sweetie, soon it's going to be your work out there in the gallery," Jackie said.

"She's right," John agreed.

"You're both extremely biased," Rose said with a laugh. "But I can take a compliment, so, thank you."

She led them out the back door and they all stood on the sidewalk for a moment, enjoying the late afternoon sun.

"I don't know about you two, but I'm beat," Jackie said. "Never sleep well the first night in a hotel and then all this walking. Done me in. Think I'll go back to the hotel and make an early night of it."

"Do you want us to get you a cab?" Rose offered.

"Nah, we're not far. I'll just walk."

"Text me when you get there, yeah?"

"I will, love."

Jackie hugged Rose and then eyed John for a second before giving him a quick hug as well. Rose giggled at the shocked look on his face.

"See ya tomorrow, Mum," Rose said.

"See ya!"

She turned and walked off in the direction of the hotel, leaving John and Rose in front of the gallery.

"Home?" she asked. "We could pick up some curry on the way there."

"Sounds brilliant!" He grinned down at her and they set off as well.

It didn't even occur to Rose that there was no need for them to be holding hands until they were almost to the take-out place. She didn't let go of his hand even once she did.