Just a Little Bit Different - A Doctor Who Fanfic

Chapter 1

~~~Just a Little Bit Different~~~

CHAPTER 1

~~~

"So, I'm rather excited to see the place where the famous Tyler family's been living," the human-Doctor flashed Rose his giddy-as-ever smile, and she couldn't help smiling back. This was the first time he'd used "future tense" since they'd left Norway; all the pair had done was reminisce about their past adventures and slip in and out of slumber.

The blonde sighed a little and popped a cold chip from a few hours ago into her mouth. "But, Doctor, you've seen it. When we first encountered the Cybermen?"

"Don't tell me you haven't changed it up a bit. Like your mother's the type to leave things where they are."

"Oi!" Jackie called from the driver's seat where she had recently relieved her husband of his duty. "What's that meaning?"

"Oh, hush up, all of you!" Peter groaned, but halted as they passed a sign declaring they were in London. "Look, nearly home now,  can we have ten mintues of silence?"

The little Jeep took on a hush as the family carried on through the streets of the great city. Looking out of the vehicle, Rose couldn't help thinking that this was not the city she'd grown up in, but merely a replica. This wasn't the planet she used to call home either, but it was simply a place where she now lived. A year ago, she was absolutely positive that this place would never be home.

Looking at the Doctor now, lost in his own thought, her doubts were almost completely gone. A smile danced across her lips and she didn't even bother to hide the fact she'd been staring when he turned to look at her. Her legs may have been cramped, she'd eaten nothing but greasy fast-food on the way home, and she didn't know what to make of her Doctor situation, but she knew that home was wherever he was. Be it here, or halfways across the universe, being with him just felt right.

"Right, here we are."

Rose jerked. She'd been so preoccupied with her thoughts that she hadn't noticed the car had stopped. Out she stepped, taking it in. She was home, really and truly now.

"Nicer than your old flat, is it, Rose?"

The Doctor was squinting against the bright, autumn Sun as he stared at the mansion. Pete's crazy schemes were what paid for the house, and Jackie trusted him completely, staying at home and caring for baby Tony, who'd been being taken care of by the day care for the past few days.

"I dunno. I had nice memories from living in that ol' flat." She gave him a knowing smile.

"Rose has been searching for a flat of her own now that we've been here for a few years. Been saving up money from working at Torchwood and doing odd jobs for the neighbours." Jackie piped up. "I suppose you two will be livin' together, yeah?"

Rose thought about that as she kicked off her shoes in the entrance hallway and hung up her coat. She shot a nervous glance at the Doctor, but he was already giving her the same look. She realized just how tired she was the moment she stepped in the door, almost ready to collapse again.

Nobody had said anything for a few moments, so Rose began to speak. "I mean, if he wants to...."

"I don't know if she'd have me..." The Doctor started at the same time. The pair looked at each other and broke out in shy, blushing grins.

Peter cleared his throat, which broke the two apart. "Well, if you two are finished flirting like lovesick teenagers, you're in the way."

"Peter, they're adorable. Don't be such a spoil-sport." Rose flashed her mum a grateful glance as her father's acknowledging grunt echoed down the hallway. He was probably headed to bed, though Rose knew he would be much more pleasant once he'd gotten some shuteye.

Now that they were all settled in, Jackie gave the Doctor a once-over. "All right," she began coolly, sitting down on the soft, faux-suede couch. "So, you're the human version of the crazy Doctor that stole my daughter from me. Is that right?"

Rose sighed inwardly. There was no way of avoiding her mother once she had gotten her mind set on something, so she gave in and sat on the couch beside her, motioning for mop-headed friend to do the same. He resignedly obeyed, but answered the older woman with a chipper, "Yep, that's me! Is that all?"

"No, that's not all, ya bloody moron!" Jackie wasn't quite yelling, and she didn't seem mad, but her voice alone was enough to make the Doctor flinch - and that goes for his likeness, too. Rose put a comforting hand atop of his, and suddenly, he saw stars.

Her mother, however, wasn't finished.

"You go across the Universe to God-knows-where, leave my daughter here, and now, after all of that with the Dal- the Daler-"

"Daleks," Rose helpfully corrected her.

"You leave my daughter here and...? Now what? We're just supposed to accept you into our house for however long?"

"Yeah, pretty much," the Doctor chuckled with a half-smirk that sent the colour rushing to Rose's cheeks.

"Mum, the Doctor and I will find our own flat in just a couple of months. Until then, he can stay in the guest room." 

The older blonde sighed. "So, that's it, then? You two are a couple?"

Again, the duo glaced at one another sheepishly, trying to read one another's minds. It was the Time Lord lookalike who spoke up first, however. "Yeah. Yeah, we're a couple."

Jackie shook her head in disbelief. "I could write a bestseller." She laughed, but for some reason tears were glazing over her eyes. "The Day My Daughter Fell For An Alien. Could you see that, Rose? No, no, I'm alright," she whimpered as Rose motioned to hug her.

Rose turned helplessly to the man she loved, unsure of why her own mother was crying, and even more uncertain of what to make of it. He shrugged his shoulders and gave his attention back to Jackie Tyler, who was currently dabbing at her makeup-laden eyes with a now-shoddy-looking tissue. She resembled a panda bear.

"Now listen here, Doctor," she continued as if nothing had just happened, with only a slight voice tremor. "I don't care what you two did in that crazy blue box of yours, nor do I care what the both of you do once you get your own cozy flat. But under my roof, there will be no snogging, and the doors need to be left open when you're in the rooms with my daughter, you hear?"

Stunned, the tall man nodded.

Suddenly, her demeanor changed again, to one of a tired, pathetic old woman. "And... and Doctor? Don't leave her again. Whatever you do. Or I'll be givin' your ass a whoopin'."

"I will never leave her, ever again." He quietly replied, tightening the grip on Rose's hand. He hadn't realized until now that their palms had found one another, entwining their fingers with each other's. Jackie stood up and nodded to them both before padding up the stairs to her and her husband's shared room.

The silence was extremely uncomfortable for Rose, being the first time in ages she'd been alone with the Doctor. She wanted nothing more than to curl up in his arms and cry, but she decided against it. He'd seen far too much crying in his life, especially so once he acquired Rose, and she knew how tired he must be. She was, at least.

"Come on, then. I'll show you to your room." She donned a fake butler's voice for her guest.

"After you, milady," he replied, keeping his grip on her hands as he trode up the large, cherrywood staircase.

And for once in this sad, angry form of the Doctor, he felt happiness and serenity. The feelings seem to be elicted only from Rose, and he hoped it would never change.