lostwolf | Regenesis of the Pack

Prologue, Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6,Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, Chapter 13, Chapter 14,Chapter 15, Chapter 16

Chapter 17. Pick a Star

Rose lay curled next to the Doctor on their bed. She was contemplating the universe, or at least the bit of it one could see from England, while he massaged her back, soothing tense muscles.

‘So, I’m not gonna get much bigger for a while, yeah?’

‘No. The baby’s brain and respiratory by-pass system will be developing for the next four months, so she’ll only grow a little. She won’t start to grow significantly until the final trimester.’

‘That’s good. Being this size isn’t too bad. I can still get about easily. I just get a bit achy by the end of the day.’

‘Hence the back rub,’ he said, nuzzling her neck.

‘Mmm. Hey, don’t stop!’

‘Sorry, got distracted for a moment!’ His chuckle was suggestive and Rose reached behind her to slap him smartly.

‘Back. Rub.’ She instructed.

‘Yes, flower!’ He resumed his ministrations and his instruction. ‘Before the end of this trimester you’ll be able to talk to her, telepathically. She can hear you already, though, so if she’s too frisky and you need to sleep you just have to send her calming thoughts and she’ll get the message.’

‘Sokay, I don’t feel her much yet, it’s just little movements, bit like birds’ wings.’ She rolled onto her back, cutting short his massage. ‘Can we go and see Sarah-Jane?’

‘Now?’

‘No, not right now. Nearer the time. It would be nice to have another woman to talk to, is all.’

‘Oh, of course we can, Rose. Just say when.’

Rose nodded and kissed him. ‘Right now I want a nap, then I want an adventure.’

‘Oh no you don’t. Nap, yes, adventure, absolutely not.’ He crossed his arms and attempted to look firm. Rose pouted.

‘That’s is not going to work this time, missy! We’ll go somewhere nice and relaxing, maybe with some shops and a beach.’ He paused, remembering what had happened on the last planet that fitted that description. ‘Strike that. We’ll go somewhere with absolutely no beaches. Just shops. You like shops. I’m sure I can find somewhere without a coast and lots and lots of shops.’

Rose giggled at him. She really didn’t care where they went. In her experience adventure found them, whatever the Doctor’s intention.

‘Okay. Sounds good.’

He blinked at her. She didn’t normally give in so quickly. Hormones. He decided it must be her hormones. Delighted with his swift victory he snuggled next to her, wrapping an arm around her and angling her back towards the ceiling.

‘Right, love. Which way shall we go? Pick me a star to steer us by.’

Rose bit her lip and concentrated. Lifting her arm she pointed confidently to the right.

‘That one. Steer by that one.’

‘Auriga. The Charioteer. Good choice. You rest, I’ll go set us a course. Remember, you have to stay in here until we arrive. I’ll come and get you when it’s safe.’

Rose nodded and settled back into the covers. Sleep had claimed her before the Doctor had left the room. He tucked a blanket around her and headed off to steer towards the star she had picked; Theta in the Auriga constellation.

**************

Rose jolted awake as the TARDIS landed. It felt strange being stuck in their bedroom rather than hanging on for dear life in the console room. She’d have to get used to it, though. She was banished to the room during flight for the next nine months. Vaguely discontented by this manifestation of how much her life was going to change now she was having a baby, she dragged herself up and headed for the bathroom to shower and change.

She was just emerging from the bathroom when the Doctor appeared.

‘We’ve landed.’ He announced.

‘I could tell. Your landings don’t improve any even when I’m safely tucked up in bed!’ She grinned at him cheekily. ‘So, where are we then?’

‘Koncoloz. It’s a little planet just off the constellation you picked. Lots of lovely shops! Absolutely no coast. Only water’s in inland lakes and underground rivers. It’s perfect!’

Rose sighed and wondered when he was going to get over the whole thing with Silva and let her visit a beach again. ‘Sounds fabulous. So, we gonna go shopping then?’

The Doctor’s face fell a little at this. He hadn’t really thought his grand beach avoidance plan through.

‘Um, perhaps you and Jack? There’s a few things I need to work on here.’

Rose arched an eyebrow at him, thoroughly unconvinced. ‘They’d better be good shops,’ she huffed.

‘Oh, they are. Very good. Now off you go and I’ll see you later.’ Rose stretched up on tiptoes to kiss him, before heading off to find Jack and begin their assault on the shops of Koncoloz.

************

The Doctor watched the retreating backs of Jack and Rose on the TARDIS view screen. As soon as they were out of sight he headed outside. After five minutes he found the shop he was looking for, another twenty before he emerged clutching a small box. He snuck back to the TARDIS, confident that his little expedition had been unobserved.

*************

Rose was trying on maternity wear at a cute little boutique she’d found off the main street. So far she’d picked six outfits as well as some underwear to accommodate her expanding form.

‘I think you should buy this,’ Jack hollered from the back of the shop, holding up a skinny t-shirt with the words ‘Trouble brewing’ written over the place the bump would be. Rose giggled and nodded, indicating that Jack should add it to the growing pile of intended purchases. A pair of jeans and some pretty nightwear later, they staggered out of the shop, Jack weighed down by all of the bags, having insisted that as a pregnant woman she shouldn’t have to carry anything. Luckily for Jack several of the purchases required alteration for Rose’s diminutive form so he wasn’t having to carry everything.

‘I can pop back tomorrow morning, before we leave, and pick the rest up. I can’t wait for the Doctor to see me in that little dress I brought. If I make it out of the bedroom in it I’m going to be very disappointed!’

Jack chuckled, noting how radiant Rose looked. Her energy was back and the row with the Doctor was forgotten and as a result she positively glowed.

He was so busy watching her he failed to notice the unsolicited interest their conversation had attracted.

Chapter 18