It's Not Stalking

Rose

He frowned at the wires and twisted a few together experimentally, glancing between the instructions on the page and the circuit board in front of him.

"Doctor, I think the red -"

"Sh."

"But it says -"

"Quiet."

"But it's my homework." Tony complained, snatching the instructions from under the Doctor's nose. "Shouldn't I be doing it?"

The Doctor blew air between his lips and leant back on the dining room chair, watching as Rose's brother fiddled with his science homework. It was only a simple circuit but if Tony'd let him switch the power source he could easily create a project that would blow even his physics teacher out of the water. "I'm just saying, if you want to settle for an 80% be my guest..."

"80% is an A, Doctor." Tony rolled his eyes and picked up the pieces. "Yes, I'm happy with an A."

The Doctor grinned behind Tony's back. Most of the time Tony was the spitting image of Pete Tyler, but today he reminded the Doctor of Rose. His dirty blond hair needed a cut, falling just below his ears, his blue eyes were focused and his eyebrows drawn together in concentration. The Doctor could hardly believe he was nine already.

He could hardly believe he'd been in this world for eight years.

He'd not voluntarily stayed on one planet this long since -1"9

"Blaidd! Get out of the freezer!" He heard Rose yell as the telltale sound of freezer door squeaked open, no doubt Blaidd was after another ice lolly. She was obsessed with them at the minute. "Honestly mum, I know you like to spoil her but -"

"I know, I know. No sweet things past seven." Jackie Tyler interrupted. They we're outside the dining room, Rose stood waiting for the Doctor to be ready to go. "I 'ave raised two of my own y'know."

"Not a bad job you did either." The Doctor smiled, patting Tony on the shoulder and looking over at Rose.

Jackie rolled her eyes, a tiny smile cracking through her thick mask of Maybelline foundation. But the grin broke through wide as Jackies granddaughter ran into the room.

"Blaidd! There's my little adipose." The Doctor said affectionately, bending down to scoop the small brunette girl up into his arms.

She was wearing a bright orange top today with blue cords, the hems getting caught under her feet where the legs were just a little bit too long. She grinned, her small plump cheeks pink with excitement and her eyes slightly glazed over with tiredness. It was getting pretty late, but no doubt Jackie would let her stay up and watch Dora. Jackie loved to spoil her.

Rose smacked the Doctors arm lightly as Blaidd laughed, "I told you not to call her that." She said with a tight smile.

"I don't mind. Dad says they're reeeally cute." Blaidd beamed, hugging her dad tightly around the neck. "Dad," she said, sneaking a glance at her grandma and mother, as if she was about to ask something cheeky. "Be my Tardis."

"Hold on." The Doctor replied, getting a tighter grip of the six year old and lifting her up and spinning as he made a perfect impression (if he did say so himself) of the Tardis engine.