Chapter 1 – Back Home

Rose opened her eyes, slowly a dark blue room with a set of drawers and a wardrobe came in to focus. She yawned and rolled over to see the Doctor asleep soundly next to her, his face youthful and untroubled for once. She smiled, the Doctor had slept beside her all night, she stroked his head before getting up and leaving the room to head towards the kitchen. She put the kettle on and made herself some toast whilst reading the morning paper. The Doctor appeared around ten minutes later, yawning and rubbing his eyes, his hair stood up in in all directions.

"Morning," he mumbled and sat down.

"I haven't slept that well since...well since before I can remember!"

He grinned and kissed Rose on the cheek as he went to pour himself a cup of tea from the kettle.

"So what's the plan for today?," he asked.

"Um...well I thought we could pay a little visit back home actually." Rose predicted his response.

"But why? Don't you have everything here? Why go home?" He looked hurt, like he was going to lose her.

"Doctor! Don't worry I don't mean permanently! Just for a visit. Trust me, the Tardis is my home now and that's never going to change." Rose stood up and embraced him, he calmed down and smiled.

"Why the visit then?"

"Well. I want to see my Mum and...well it's my birthday."

The Doctor stopped dead. He turned to face her.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't realise. You know, all this time I've known you and I never thought to ask when your birthday was. I'm sorry Rose. Happy birthday!" He looked very guilty.

"Doctor don't worry! I never told you when it was, you weren't to know! So how about it then? Just one visit?" Rose hugged him tightly and suppressed a smile, she had had an idea.

"Of course!" The Doctor beamed. "Anything for my Rose!"

They finished breakfast and went to get dressed before meeting in the console room.

"Okay set course for Earth, England, London, the Powell Estate." The Doctor's voice rang out as he controlled the Tardis, flying her with speed and precision. Rose sat on the railings and watched from her usual position. They landed with a dignified thump.

"Best landing yet!," Rose giggled as she disappeared in to the Tardis to find a jacket and he shot her a sarcastic look before grabbing his coat.

The Doctor slowly opened the Tardis doors to reveal the Powell Estate, same as ever. Grey walls covered in graffiti and overflowing bins. He glanced upwards and swallowed hard, he could see the door, the door of the flat he had set foot in a few times before, the Tyler's flat. He shuddered and rubbed his cheek, trying to suppress that painful memory. He was quickly interrupted by Rose bounding down the stairs and out of the Tardis doors, dragging him by the hand.

"C'mon Doctor! Look, I know you don't want to go in but it is my birthday and she is my mum!"

The Doctor sighed in response as he was dragged through the square from the parked Tardis and up the first flight of dingy stairs towards the flat. He stopped half way along the long darkened hallway.

"Do I have to go in Rose? Can I not just wait out here, you go in and see her, collect your presents and we can go?"

"No Doctor! She's my mother and I haven't seen her in ages, we can't just leave now. I have to be there for my own birthday and wherever I go, you go!"

The Doctor nodded and gave in with a sigh and a faint smile. He loved it that she was so determined they be together all the time. They had hardly left each other's side this past few weeks in the Tardis and well...he liked it. He saw the flat door along the hallway and gulped.

"But she slapped me! Hard! Remember! You can't blame me for wanting to avoid the temper of that woman!"

Rose giggled at the memory and the Doctor rubbed his cheek.

"It hurt!," he whined.

Rose turned to face him. She took his head in her hands and kissed him deeply. It only lasted a few second but it felt like forever. She finally pulled away and turned, walking down the corridor. The Doctor stood motionless, spellbound. Rose turned back about ten paces away.

"There's more of where that came from, tonight, if you come in with me. It is my birthday after all!," she added with a wink.

He grinned and ran down the corridor after her. They stopped outside the door of the Tyler's flat and knocked, the Doctor searched for Rose's hand and held it tight, she grinned back at him.

"Rose!" Jackie Tyler appeared in the doorway moments later, as loud and as boisterous as ever.

"Rose, oh my darling, you've come back to me!"

Jackie took her daughter in her arms and hugged her as if she were about to disappear from the very air in front of her. She gave the Doctor a cold momentary glance over her shoulder, she never had really forgiven him for taking her Rose away.

"Happy birthday my darling!"

"Thanks Mum!," Rose replied gleefully.

She followed Jackie in to the flat, signalling for the Doctor to follow. He did, but cautiously.

"Tea?" Jackie called from the small kitchen.

"Yes thanks," Rose called back, having already made herself comfy on the sofa and switched on the TV.

The Doctor remained standing by the mantelpiece, shifting from one foot to the other nervously. Jackie stuck her head out from behind the kitchen door.

"And you?," she glared over at the Doctor, he seemed to physically pale under he gaze.

"No thank you," he replied, carefully pronouncing each syllable as if it were his last. As Jackie retreated back to the kitchen, the Doctor sighed nervously. Rose motioned with her head for him to sit down, he returned a worried glance but was met with one of Rose's determined no-nonsense glares. It was an order not a request. He sat down. He allowed himself a small smile, he loved it when she took control. The Doctor tried to cuddle up to Rose on the sofa, he wiggled right up next to her and tried to kiss her neck. He was again met by her steely gaze. She shook her head.

"Not here...maybe later," she added just as Jackie came in to the room with mugs of tea and plates of biscuits. The Doctor and Rose shot to opposite ends of the sofa and tried not to look guilty. Jackie hadn't seemed to have noticed.

"Well it is my little girl's special day so here's your present from me." Jackie motioned to an impeccably wrapped box in bright pink paper on the table.

"This one's from Auntie Jean and this card's from John."

Rose eagerly went to open her presents, leaving strips of pink paper in her wake.

"Aw thanks Mum!," she squealed as she pulled out a new jacket.

"It's perfect."

She immediately pulled Jackie in to a tight hug.

"The card. Which John is it from?"

"I'm not sure really. It came in the post. I could be cousin John or John from the market."

Rose continued to open her presents as the Doctor observed her quietly, he hadn't said much since they had arrived, he just watched and was silent as she laughed happily when she opened the box form Auntie Jean to reveal a rather hideous scarf and gloves set. He couldn't remember the last time he had interacted with someone like that, when he had felt that love, wrapped around like a blanket, the feeling you get when surrounded by family. Jackie and Rose hadn't seen each other in months but they were perfectly in tune to each other's actions and feelings. Thinking about it, he couldn't remember the last time someone has given him a present. It felt perfectly, ordinarily human.

Rose put her presents down and turned to her Mum. She paused and glanced over at the Doctor, she had that same scarily brilliant, defiant sparkle in her eye which he had seen on the Tardis this morning. He swallowed hard.

"Actually Mum, seen as it is my birthday, I've got an idea."

Jackie drank her tea slowly.

"Yes dear?"

"Come with us in the Tardis."

The Doctor nearly choked on his custard cream. He paled instantly.

"Erm...Rose? Can I have a word outside please?"

He positively dragged her out in to the hallway of the flat.

"What the hell are you thinking! I don't want her in the Tardis!

Rose fought back.

"Doctor listen! It's my birthday and this will be my present from you! I only want her to come one one trip, just for the experience and then we can drop her back here! Trust me, only one trip."

"You had this idea this morning didn't you!," the Doctor said accusingly.

Rose looked decidedly guilty.

"No! You want you Mum to come with us? I'm not having it!"

Rose flashed him an angry look.

"I'm asking you one favour Doctor! I haven't seen her in ages, we can't just jet off and never come back again! Please! For me?"

"But..." The Doctor lowered his voice.

"What about when we want to you know...be alone together?," he asked quietly.

"Don't worry, the Tardis is huge, she'll get lost. Just stick her in front of any daytime TV and she'll be fine!," Rise reassured him. "But she doesn't know about...us yet and I want to keep it that way okay? So be subtle."

He looked decidedly uneasy and frowned.

"Okay fine, I can do subtle. But there better be something in it for me afterwards if I have to put up with your mother for a few days!"

Rose winked at him.

"Don't worry. There will be."

He grinned, already convinced. They returned to the living room. He cleared his throat.

"Okay Jackie! Would you like to accompany us in the Tardis across the stars? Everywhere and anywhere?"

Jackie stood up and called on the way back form taking the dishes to the kitchen.

"Okay fine. Yes. But if it rains on Mars I'm gonna kill you!"

The Doctor gulped loudly and Rose giggled in the corner.

Once Jackie had packed a bag and called some friends to et them know she was going on holiday for a while, they shit the door to the flat and looked out at the Tardis parked where they had left it, in the corner by the bins. Jackie dropped her bag by the Doctor's feet and walked away, arm in arm with Rose.

"Carry that will you!," she called back.

The Doctor picked it up and slung the heavy weight across his shoulder. He sighed.

He was not looking forward to this.