DW Fic- Right Beside You 11/13

[salimali]

Title: Right Beside You 11/13
Author:  Salimali
Rating:  PG
Characters:  TenII/Rose, Jackie, Pete, OC
Disclaimer: I don't own DW or any of its affiliated characters.
Spoilers: I assume you're all familiar with Journey's End by now.

Summary:  TenII hasn't settled very well into Pete's world. Rose has to set him free before he destroys them both. Can there ever be a Happily Ever After for these two?

Author Notes: PLEASE NOTE, this is NOT part of the Meant to Be series. This is another take on Rose/TenII's life in Pete's world.

Thank you to the brilliant  wishiknewwho who has been an awesome beta and friend.

Dedicated to my lovely friend nipplemuggins  who is still snowed under with A-Level revision- hopefully we'll see her soon xxx

Chapter 1


Rose Tyler was here. Rose Tyler was in his bed. Rose Tyler had come to rescue him, again. The Doctor mused about how the day had turned out. Here lying in his bed, wrapped around his body, sleeping was Rose Tyler, the love of his life. He grinned as he thought back to how she’d managed to shock him by turning up unannounced, how he was glad that she had taken the steps to come and find him, how he was never letting her go ever again. He hoped she felt the same. They’d yet to talk but the initial indictors were good. They’d kissed, well, more than kissed, but the Doctor knew that sex alone did not solve everything. In fact it could have made the whole situation worse. Glancing down at his saviour, he didn’t think it had been made worse. She was sleeping soundly, that must mean she’s happy with the outcome. Bending down to kiss her, he untangled her arms from around his body and crept out of bed. Ambling over to the mirror he stared his reflection down.

“Lucky bugger.” He grinned. “I am such a lucky bugger.”

Scrubbing his hand over his beard and hair he had an idea. Filling the sink and lathering up his brush, he began to shave. As he scraped away the mask he’d been hiding behind for the last few months, the Doctor began to feel lighter inside. He finally knew who he was. He was more than just the Doctor, he was Dr. John Smith, part human, part Time Lord, fully brilliant and he was in love with Rose Tyler. After splashing water on his face, he smoothed his fingers over it, feeling its contours and the roughness of his newly shaved in sideburns. It felt strange to feel bare skin on his face as he’d had the beard for a while now, after discovering that shaving in cold water wasn’t pleasant and left him with a rash. He searched about in his drawer looking for some skin cream but with no luck. He was helping himself to some baby lotion from Rosie’s bag when Rose woke up. He looked up to see her smiling at him.

“Hello,” she said quietly, pointing at his face. “That’s better.”

“Hello,” he whispered back, moving over to sit with her on the bed. “May I?” He leaned in to kiss Rose chastely.

She giggled. “You didn’t ask earlier.”

The Doctor pretended to be affronted. “No, true, but I’m asking now.” He fluttered his eyelashes and affected the air of begging. Rose laughed and the Doctor’s spirits were lifted as he brought joy to his lover’s heart for once.

“We still need to talk,” Rose stated, bursting his bubble of enjoyment. “I need to understand.”

“And we will, Rose, I promise. I’m so sorry for hurting you and pushing you away. But, no more hurt, no more lies and no more hiding the truth. And the truth is, Rose Tyler, I really love you, more than my life itself and I will spend my lifetime making it up to you. I promise. Do you think you can ever forgive me?” The Doctor held his breath as he waited for Rose’s answer, her face giving away no emotions.

“Doctor,” Rose breathed, “I’ve always loved you. You just needed to believe me. I’ll forgive you, if you’ll believe me.”

The Doctor couldn’t contain his happiness he whooped for joy and picked Rose up, swinging her around the room before placing her on the ground and kissing her passionately. “Oh yes Rose Tyler, I believe you.”

“While we’re on the subject of truth telling,” Rose said, going to stand beside the crib, “just why do you have a crib and baby toys in here?”

As the Doctor wondered how to tell Rose about Rosie, he absentmindedly ruffled his hand through his hair, thinking it too needed a cut, maybe Rose would do it for him later, when he noticed the dismay on Rose’s face. He could tell that she thought he was avoiding telling her the truth. He couldn’t allow her to think that he was being less than honest with her ever again.

“Um, well, would you believe, it’s my baby’s crib? She’s not mine, well not yet but hopefully and soon.” He babbled nervously, this truth telling would take some getting used to.

“Slow down, Doctor, tell me, who she is and how she’s going to be yours soon,” Rose said patiently.

“I’d better start at the beginning, hadn’t I?” The Doctor sat Rose down on the bed and told her all about his first days at the camp, as a patient, how he and the baby had bonded over loneliness and despair. How she had given him a reason to live and a chance to make a difference to people’s lives, and how he had come to work at the refugee hospital. By the time he had finished his story, Rose was in tears again. He wiped them away gently.

“And just what is this special girl’s name then?” she asked curiously.

The Doctor dropped his head and shyly said, “Rose, her name is Rose. Well, Rosie, after you. Yet again my life was saved by a Rose.”

Rose was saved from replying by a gentle cough outside the tent doorway. The Doctor, after checking it was okay with Rose, called for the person to come in. It was Cassie, she was carrying the baby, who she said was missing John. The Doctor took Rosie off Cassie and turned to introduce her to Rose.

“Rose, meet Rosie,” he said gravely, his voice betrayed by the twinkling in his eyes. He was eager for Rose to approve of the baby. He’d promised her that there’d be no more lies, no more hurt and that meant explaining that he planned to adopt Rosie and keep her safe with them forever. He hoped Rose would agree to the plans and he wouldn’t be left facing an impossible decision.

Rose held out her arms to take baby Rosie out of the Doctor’s arms. Cooing over the baby, she introduced herself quietly. “Hello, sweetheart. So you’re the one who saved my Doctor this time, are you? Thank you.” She placed a loving kiss upon her head. Rosie giggled and pulled at Rose’s hair, eager to play with a new friend.