Torchwood (Entry Two of The Diaries of a Teenage Time Lady)

Hearts to Hearts

Just a cute, little fun interlude going into "The Girl in the Fireplace." ;)

Enjoy!

***

"Did you really want Mickey onboard, Daddy?"

The Doctor looked up to see Anna was on her knees on the captain's chair, watching him work under the console. "Sit right."

She readjusted. "Did you?"

The Doctor sighed. "I felt like I owed Sarah something. We weren't exactly the kindest people to her."

"She wasn't kind back, was she?" Anna tilted her head. The Doctor blinked, looking at her. "She implied some mean things. Is it bad if we were just defending ourselves?"

"I never did thank you for that, by the way," the Doctor grinned at her. "For standing up to her like that, about my secrets."

Anna shrugged. "You and Rose would do the same for me."

"We would," the Doctor nodded, seeing where she was coming from. "Good point."

Anna watched him a bit more, then abruptly asked, "Did you mean it when you said Rose was like my other mother?"

The Doctor smacked his head on the grating, he was so startled. "Ow!" he hissed, rubbing the back of his head before looking up at Anna. "What was that?"

"When you said Rose was my other mother," Anna nodded. "Did you mean it?"

The Doctor paused. It had been a heat of the moment remark, but then he thought it back over. He'd been walking back when Anna's voice had called him to get to the Maths rooms. She had sounded scared, so he'd run the rest of the way. He'd barely entered the hall when he heard Rose giving Sarah Jane a piece of her mind. And as he had stood there, listening as Rose defended the two of them, he had never felt more grateful that the girl was traveling with them. "I did," he nodded, still working on what he was doing. He didn't see Anna's eyes light up as she grinned to herself. "Not many people stand up to people like Sarah Jane like she did, and she didn't even hesitate." He winked at her. "Don't mess with the family of the big Bad Wolf, eh?"

Anna giggled and nodded, jumping down off the captain's chair to hug him. "Night, Daddy."

"Night, Kara," he kissed the top of her head.

Anna beamed and skipped off, and the Doctor shook his head, going back to what he was doing, not even realizing his daughter's thoughts were starting to go in another direction.

***

"Kitchen's down the hall, and the TARDIS should make you a room just down there," Rose pointed as she showed Mickey around the main living areas of the TARDIS. "Go on, I know you want to look around."

"Thanks, babe," Mickey grinned, giving her a quick kiss. "Love you."

"Love you," Rose responded almost automatically as he headed down the hall. As he went exploring, she blew out a breath and headed to the kitchen, already knowing without a doubt who would be coming in shortly. After all, they did have a tradition.

Sure enough, as she started to work on making the mugs of hot chocolate, Anna poked her head into the kitchen. "Is Mickey gone?" she asked, looking around.

"Finding his room," Rose smirked, watching her as she nodded and climbed up onto one of the chairs. "What's wrong with Mickey?"

Anna shrugged. "I had a question I wanted to ask without him around."

"OK," Rose shrugged, working on getting the drinks warmed up. "What is it?"

"Do you like Daddy?"

Rose nearly choked when she heard the question. She whipped around, eyes wide. Anna wasn't grinning in a teasing way, like she'd been expecting. She was deadly serious. Rose swallowed. "What brought this up?" she asked.

"I guess I was just thinking about Sarah Jane," Anna shrugged.

"Oh, no," Rose sighed, shaking her head as she brought the drinks over. "I want you to listen to me, OK?" Anna nodded, and Rose leaned down so they were at eye level. "Do not let what Sarah Jane said go to your head," she advised. "Implying is one thing. That implication happening is another thing entirely. When the Doctor first told me about your mum, I could hear it in his voice, the two of you meant everything to him. You still do. No matter what, his family will come first. He won't love another woman easily." She paused. "That means you will have the last say if he ever does."

"And if I say it's a good thing?"

Rose nodded. "Then that's that."

Anna nodded thoughtfully, and Rose took another drink. Then - "You didn't answer the question."

Rose really did choke that time. "Annakamara!" she gawked at the little girl, who now was giggling like a maniac.

"Ooo, full name from Rose?" the Doctor asked as he looked into the kitchen. "What did she do?"

Rose just blushed further, Anna's giggling now reaching hysterics. "Go," she shooed the girl off.

"Night," Anna grinned, taking her mug and hugging Rose tightly before skipping off.

"No, seriously, what did she do?" the Doctor raised an eyebrow.

Rose sighed. "I think your daughter is about to start playing matchmaker."

Both of the Doctor's eyebrows shot up. "God help me, that's terrifying."

Rose hid a smirk behind her mug as the Doctor went about making a cup of tea. "Not as terrifying as who she's gonna set you up with," she muttered under her breath.

"What was that?" the Doctor looked back at her.

"Nothing," Rose shook her head as she quickly finished her drink. No offense to Anna, but she hadn't entirely considered a relationship with the Doctor. Her relationship with Mickey was already struggling, and that was just because she had her hands full with the little Time Lady. That had been why she'd blown up on Sarah Jane instead of going on a rant about how she could handle time travel so much better than her. Anna would come first, always. And if that meant no relationship for her, then she could handle it. "Nothing at all."

That didn't mean she wasn't a bit excited to see what Anna would do when she played matchmaker. She was prepared for it to be downright hilarious.

***

I believe Anna has just started captaining the Doctor/Rose ship. All aboard! XD

"The Girl in the Fireplace" will be right up!