A New Start

In which the Doctor is confused while Rose is optimistic

The whooshing noise of the TARDIS was slowly starting to fade away and the clone Doctor didn't know what to do about this whole situation.

Rose stood on the beach, sadness still in her heart though it was also a weird mixture of overwhelming happiness. Looking away from where the TARDIS had once been, she stared up at her Doctor, who seemingly looked confused. Holding tightly to his hand she shook it to pull him from his daze.

"What's wrong?"

He was startled from his thoughts when Rose spoke. "I don't know what I'm going to do now. I'm a human now, with no TARDIS..."

Rose cracked a smile. "You're going to get a job, settle down and be normal." Squeezing his hand comfortingly she spoke in a reassuring tone. "You can live with me, it will be fun! You'll get to experience what its like to live a normal slow paced life!"

The Doctor grimaced at that thought. All his life he has been traveling through time and space itself, around the universe, protecting it with the help of his brilliant companions. Now, he had to settle down and live a normal human life, while never being able to see the universe at it's fullest like he used to. Still, he had Rose by his side, and he was pretty sure she would do anything in her power to help him feel somewhat like he belonged in this planet.

"I suppose..." he replied with uncertainty.

"Don't look like that! It will be fun, you're gonna love it!" A little too happily she started to drag him from the beach up towards the road where her mother was waiting in the car.

He sped up his steps to catch up with her, and looking in the direction she was taking him, he grinned and began, "Looks like dear old Jackie is going to have to deal with me for a while."

Rose laughed slightly though she could imagine the headache she would soon get. The Doctor and her mother sometimes didn't get along all too well... 

Reaching the car she waved a happy go lucky hand and opened the door piling in the passenger side and gesturing for the Doctor to get in the back.

The Doctor opened the back door and just as he was about to settle in, Jackie turned to look at him from the rear view mirror. He gave her one of his signature smiles and a wink and she rolled her eyes and turned toward the road starting the car.

"So where are we headed now? To Pete's house? Well, I suppose it's your house now also..." He added as an afterthought.

"Yes, to home." Smiling Rose put on her seat belt and turned around in her seat to peer back at him. Come to think of it, the Doctor hadn't truly been in her house... well, once, but it wasn't a very cheery visit.

"Well, does Pete know I'm coming, you know, to stay?" He asked with uncertainty. He hadn't been this uncertain since, well, never. But he supposed it was one of those human things he was going to have to get used to. He hated the feeling of not knowing what to expect from this new human side of him.

As the car sped down the road, Rose bit her lip. She hadn't truly asked her father about him staying but... how could he refuse? This man, well the original of him (that sounded too odd to even think about) had saved him more than one time. So he should be grateful and allow him to stay for a while until he gets his head on straight and figures the world out in the slow lane.

"No," Seeing how nervous he was she patted his hand and with a warm smile added, "But don't you worry, I'm positive he will let you stay."

"Well it'll only be for a couple of days, possibly weeks until I figure out what to do with my life now," He swallowed hard and continued in a half serious, half amusing voice, "Do you think my degree in cheese-making will help me here?"