"How did she get all of that in her?!" the Doctor asked, blanching once again.

"Same way you do," responded Jackie, with an impatient sigh.

"She has to be bigger on the inside," he muttered, face scrunching at everything he was attempting to clean up. Bella was squirming as Jackie supervised, cooing at her keeping the baby's attention whilst the Time Lord struggled with one of the most unpredictable substances of his long life, delicately trying to simultaneously clean yet stay away from any mess his daughter had produced.

"Oh no! Oh no no no no no!" cried the Doctor, now looking at the dirtied spot on his sleeve. He stared at it mournfully, then began flailing and thrashing, attempting to rid himself of the garment. "Get... this... thing... off!" he said, throwing his jacket across the room, inspecting his shirtsleeve before rolling it up, preparing to give it one more go.

"I told you you should hold 'er legs- most babies won't just automatically stay still when they're getting changed. My Rose used to roll over completely, always wanting to see everything in the room. Of course little miss here's to young for that right now, but give it time- it gets much harder."

"It's so... blech!" he couldn't even finish his sentence tossing yet another wipe in the bin. Finally, after a long struggle involving much squirming (the Doctor) and a few tears (also the Doctor), Bella was clean and happy. The Doctor had just snapped the last popper on her tiny outfit closed, Jackie commending his performance as he brought his daughter close in his arms, when her small face scrunched up once more and a potent smell permeated the air.

Jackie bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing at the Doctor's mournful sob that died on his lips as he gave his bundle of...joy a resigned, heartbroken, ironic chuckle as he laid her back down to begin the long process once again.

"How did you do this by yourself?" he asked wearily when he'd finally taken the full dirty bag out to the TARDIS for disposal, collecting his baby from Jackie's arms. "I've spent my entire life running, sleeping only the bare minimum, living off adrenaline. A few weeks of this precious miracle and I can't tell whether I want to cry, scream, or nap. And I have a wife! And grandparents to help!"

Jackie smiled, remembering days long ago- sleepless, lonely nights in an empty bed with a husband who would never return and a baby who she had to work to support and raise all on her own.

"I cried quite a bit at first," she finally responded softly, startling the Doctor with the vulnerability in her voice. "Broke down on the street, at work, in the market. But Rose needed tending to. She needed someone to be there for her, and she didn't understand that mummy was tired, or sad, or so, so scared. So, one day I stopped crying, woke up, got dressed, fed, dressed and played with my daughter, worked, came 'ome, read to Rose, played until she fell asleep, cleaned the 'ouse, fell into bed, woke the next day and did it again. Because I didn't 'ave a choice, you see. I had my daughter. Pete's little Rose. My Rose. And she needed me to be so much stronger and braver and tougher than I'd ever thought I'd be. And so I was."

She was stroking the top of Bella's head, watching the little girl at peace in her daddy's arms. The Doctor was staring at Jackie with a look of newfound respect. Then he shook his head softly, composing himself when he raised his eyes to her face once more, quietly asking, "Does it ever get any easier?"

Jackie huffed out a small chuckle, then shrugged, her smile wide as her eyes remained fixed on Bella.

"Maybe. Or maybe you get so used to someone needing you, it just becomes your way of life. Then one very bittersweet day, if you've managed to do a decent job, they don't need you so much anymore. And then... you marvel at how it seems like only yesterday you were changing your first nappy and felt so lost and wondered whether you could really make it as a parent. And suddenly, that baby girl who completely changed everything you thought about life isn't a baby anymore. And you see everything she's become and think... it was all worth it."

The Doctor smiled, bringing his own baby girl up to hold her close to his chest, kissing her as he gently rocked her back and forth. He reached out and stroked her little hand, his smile widening as an impossibly tiny fist wrapped around his finger, clinging to him. And he knew he'd never want her to let go.

"You're incredible," he uttered in wonder, and Jackie was amazed to find his old, tired eyes fixed on her. She looked away, flattered, then patted Bella's back in farewell.

"So, I suppose I'll see you two later then?"

"Definitely. And soon I'll be an expert nappy-ier. Nappy-meister. The nap-Doctor. Forget I said that, that's rubbish, never even thinking that again." The Doctor said, Jackie loading up Bella's things in his arms as he held his hand out. Then he turned clumsily, making sure he wasn't leaving anything behind before nodding at her in gratitude. "Right. See you soon, Jackie. And thank you."

She simply shook her head fondly, watching him wobble unsteadily to the TARDIS, trying to keep his hold on baby supplies whilst keeping the baby secure in one arm. Then she closed the door, and smiled.

A/N- I know, I know- this was LONG overdue. But I haven't forgotten, just got sidetracked! Anyway, wow- also unintentionally became a tribute to single mothers. But that's okay, they definitely deserve praise. Hope you enjoyed this chapter!