Disclaimer: Technically, I own Doctor Who…in French. Don't ask for the details. Only a genius could understand…or something.

A/N: Father's Day AU. What if Rose hadn't "tooched" the baby? Ha, I love NineSpeak. Here's just one among a billion possibilities. Read, review, the works, thanks.

In Flux

It was as Rose's mother and father bickered that he anticipated exactly what was going to happen. He couldn't allow it. So he darted forward just as Pete leaned down and intercepted Baby Rose before Rose Rose could create a paradox within a paradox. He stepped back, cradling the baby carefully in the nook of his left arm.

"She can't touch the baby." He scolded Pete.

Before the man could manage a reply, a wave of warmth reached him, emanating from the front of the church. He whirled around to see the Tardis fully materialized, then turned to grin brightly at the group. His eyes met Rose's guilt-filled ones. No time to coddle.

"Let's go save the earth."

Rose grinned, somber mood forgotten as she ran after him into the TARDIS. Still cradling Baby Rose, he began to heal time one-handed. "Hold that down there," he indicated a red switch to Rose, then began to type rapidly at the console scanner.

"It's really going to be all right?" Rose prompted excitedly.

He twirled a lever and flipped some buttons before grinning up at her. "All right? It's going to be fantastic!" He had time to bathe in the wondrous gaze she sent his way, the one that always made him feel like a hero before he turned back to the scanner.

His left fingers flew across the keypad. "Just put that right there," he murmured to himself. "And that." The baby cooed below him. "Hmmm, I think so too," he said as if in response to her.

"What did I say then?" Rose asked laughingly.

He looked at her with feigned incredulity. "You should know. You're the one who said it. These humans," he directed this last bit down at Baby Rose with a shake of his head. "Couldn't hurt to change that bit about Madonna there. And…" He dragged the word out and hit a huge button with a flourish. "Fin."

He gazed down at the baby. "How's that for a match then? Time monsters, love. Time Lord, game."

"Oh, go on, you know how brilliant we all think you are," the baby answered 18 years later from across the console.

The Doctor grinned at her. "Right, let's go see the results." He flew down the ramp and outside the TARDIS, Rose's footsteps echoing behind him. Cradling the baby carefully still, he ran across the church and outside. The sight that waited brought a new grin to his face. They were back. All of them. "All's well that ends well as me good mate Will always says." His grin faded as he turned back towards Rose. She was gone. He frowned and looked down. "Always runnin' off on me. Let's go see where you're off to. Probably checkin' up on good ol' dad. Oh look, there he is."

Pete was rushing forward, relieved eyes on Baby Rose. "Seen Rose then?" The Doctor asked.

Pete looked at him as if he were half mad. "But you've got her right there."

Startled, the Doctor looked down, then grinned. "Oh, right. This is yours." He handed her over gently then gazed around expectantly. "Now where's mine?"

Pete adjusted the baby then looked back. "Who are you then? Distant relative?"

The Doctor smiled. "Quite distant. You've forgotten." He seemed amused.

"Guess so," Pete answered distractedly. "Too many to keep track of."

"Right, well, I'll be going then soon as I find my friend. Seen her? 'Bout so high. Pretty, blonde. Tendency to find trouble in a second flat. No?"

"Sorry, no, but I'll give a shout if I see her."

The Doctor's brow furrowed as he searched the crowd for her, wondering if she was with Jackie. But, no, there was Jackie, chatting incessantly with the bride. The Doctor smirked. How different was Jackie going to be now she had her husband? The Doctor froze suddenly, every single cell of him. Different. Things would be…different. He flew faster than he'd ever before in his 900 years back to the TARDIS. But the readings there told him nothing. This was something human, not alien. So he flew back outside to find Pete. Also to keep an eye on the only version of Rose he had access to now.

Pete was sitting in one of the pews, waiting for the wedding party to sort itself out. He was playing with Baby Rose. The Doctor approached carefully, leaning casually on a pew. His eyes lingered on the baby. He swallowed hard. "Interesting wedding?" He tilted his head toward the altar.

Pete looked up warily. "Would have been. Good thing you saved it."

The Doctor started. "I did?" He cleared his throat. "I mean, I did." He paused. "How did I then?"

Pete chuckled. "I'd want to hear it from someone else too, mate. Good thing you talked the groom out of running off. Spare a broken heart or two. Don't reckon his dad's too pleased though. If you want to know what I think, they'd have been better off without the rings."

The Doctor nodded distractedly. Baby Rose was looking right at him. Something about two broken hearts. The Doctor looked at Pete. "Reckon you don't want that for your girl there."

Pete grinned. "Oh, no. She's going to be clever, this one. Not like me. She'll be out in the world doing great things, my Rose."

The Doctor grinned. "I reckon she will." His throat felt dry suddenly. How often did that occur with Time Lords? He couldn't think of the right answer. "Probably wouldn't want her working in a shop like…say, Henrik's."

Pete looked at him strangely. "Probably not, no. Rather she stay in school."

"Tell you what though," the Doctor said suddenly. "She'll probably like the clothes. Make sure she's there on that date." He wrote some numbers on a card and handed it to a bewildered Pete. "Huge sale after six." He held Pete's eyes a moment longer, urging him mentally to understand the importance of this. Then he turned and sat near the front of the church to wait, praying he'd be right.

The seconds passed slowly, each feeling like an hour. The wedding was reorganizing itself, the groom and his dad and the priest back at the front. The Doctor shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He hated waiting. Time felt so long for him. His shoulders slumped suddenly in despair. This wouldn't work. Of course it wouldn't.

Suddenly he heard the shrill voice of Rose's mother. "Sale?!" She nearly screeched.

The Doctor's face broke into a wide smile. Good old Jackie Tyler.

A moment later, someone tapped his shoulder. He didn't have to turn to know who it was. But he wanted to see her pretty smile. Ten minutes had been too long. He missed it.

A/N: Thanks for reading! And thanks for that spectacular review you're about to leave! Shout out for Northern Grunge who's one of me most loyal reviewers, and a shameless advertisement for her awesomeness story A New Journey. Go on and find it after you...Review!!!