Chapter 5

The Doctor tucked the paper bag under his arm, breathed deeply and took a step toward the giant, colourful shop before turning away from it for the third time in a row. He knew he was being ridiculous. Rose had only asked him to pick up a few small items for Jenny and the babies on his way back from retrieving an item that he needed to repair the TARDIS.

But the shop loomed before him, all big and shiny, mocking him with its colours and playful marquee.

"Oh, bugger this," he muttered to himself. He squared his shoulders and forced his feet to march through the doors.

Once indoors, the Doctor's eyes widened at the chaos he observed. Dozens of tiny children were running to and fro, playing with toys, laughing and chattering joyfully. Parents were dotted in every aisle, some of them keeping a firm hold on their offspring whilst others dutifully examined the packaging on toys and other items.

Deciding to get this task over as quickly as possible, the Doctor pulled the list from Rose out of his voluminous pocket and examined it carefully. Noting the headings on each of the aisles, he navigated cautiously through the crowd until he found the one he needed.

He quickly located the required items, and wove his way back to the exit before realizing that he would have to pay. Sighing dramatically, the Doctor stood in the long line up and tapped his foot impatiently as he waited for his turn.

It wasn't until he reached the very cheerful and bubbly cashier called Betty, that he realized he had no money – human or alien - on him.

"Blast," he muttered, digging into his trouser pocket for the psychic paper. He hated doing this, but he had no choice.

Luckily, Betty didn't even question his means of payment, and less than two minutes later he was standing outside the shop again, blinking bewilderedly as he recovered his senses.

The Doctor froze in his tracks and gaped at the TARDIS. The door was ajar with large wooden splinters jutting out of it as though someone had broken through it.

Pulling out his sonic, the Doctor moved forward cautiously, his hearts pounding as he prayed that Jenny, Rose and the babies were okay.

He opened the door slowly, surprised to find the control room completely deserted. As he walked up the ramp he could hear muffled scuffling coming from somewhere down the corridor. He took off toward it at a run, bursting into the library a second later. A quick scan of the room revealed that it had been trashed. Books were scattered everywhere and the sofa was lying on its side.

"Rose?" he called, his brain whirring. Had she fought with something in here? Had Jenny? Was she all right?

Much to his relief, Rose responded. "Doctor? I'm over here."

He stepped over the debris and rounded a corner, his concern only abating once he saw Rose tying a Xevengow to an antique armchair. She finished tightening the rope, wiped her hands on her jeans and came over to him.

"What happened? Jenny and the babies ---"

"Are safe. As soon as the Xevengow came in the TARDIS sealed off their room to protect them."

The Doctor pulled her into a tight hug, he could feel her shaking against his chest. "Are you okay?"

Rose nodded. "I'm fine. It just took me by surprise is all. Jenny and I were taking tea when we heard a crash in the control room. I ran toward it and found this thing. These creatures really want Jenny and her children dead, Doctor. You have to do something."

"You're right." He eyed the Xevengow who was struggling against his bindings. "I'll take care of it. You go check on Jenny and the babies."

Rose kissed his cheek. "Okay. Be careful, you hear?"

He took her hand briefly and squeezed it. "Always."

A brief interrogation revealed that the Xevengow was a new arrival and that more were on their way.

The news caused the Doctor to spring into action. Quickly, he used the sonic screwdriver to create an extra shield to detain the Xevengow, and returned to the control room, retrieving the paper bag he'd dropped when he'd come in.

He pulled out a number of metal objects and immediately set to work on installing them beneath the console. He needed to have a functioning TARDIS before the rest of the Xevengow arrived.

Less than half an hour later, the TARDIS was good as new, and he'd even managed to repair the splintered door. Scooping up the baby things he'd purchased when he was out before, the Doctor headed off to see Rose and Jenny.

"The TARDIS is fixed. We're ready to go," he announced from the doorway.

"Go where?" Jenny asked from the bed, where she was nursing Donna and Val.

"Bedangowlen, to stop the Xevengow from ever trying to harm you again."

"You can do that?"

"He's the Doctor," Rose said proudly. "He can do anything."

"It's true," he agreed cockily.

"Well, almost anything anyway," Rose teased.

"You were right the first time."

Rose just laughed and took the bundle of baby things from him. "Right. So are you going to fly us there or will the TARDIS take us on its own?"

"I just wanted to make sure you were all okay before I took off." He was watching his grandchildren with great love and affection. They really are perfect, he thought.

"We're good. I promise." Rose assured him. "Let's let Jenny be, I'll come help you fly."

Reluctantly, he allowed Rose to pull him from the room.

A few minutes later they arrived at the Torchwood offices in Cardiff.

After a quick chat with Jack the Doctor went off to retrieve the Xevengow, while Rose brought Gwen and Jack aboard to meet the babies and say goodbye to Jenny.

"Oh, they're darling," Gwen gushed, reaching eagerly for the baby Jenny offered. While Gwen cuddled Donna, Jenny introduced Jack to her son.

"He's called Valrzghzubhmn," Jenny told him as she placed the infant in his arms, "After his father."

Jack raised his eyebrows slightly, but didn't comment, instead he gazed down at the tiny child. "He's amazing."

"They both are," Rose agreed.

Jack nodded and turned his attention back to Jenny. "We're going to miss you around here."

"I'll miss you too," Jenny admitted. "Jack, I want to thank you for everything you did for me. You too, Gwen. I would never have made it this far without you."

"No problem, it's what we do." Jack flashed his characteristic smile.

"I know, but still, it means a lot to me."

Jack ruffled Jenny's hair fondly. "Anytime. I was glad to help."

The Doctor cleared his throat and four heads spun toward him. "It's time to go."

Jack hugged Val, then handed him back to his mother.

"You make sure you come back and visit sometime." Gwen said firmly as she settled Donna into Jenny's other arm.

"Of course." Jenny agreed.

Gwen waved goodbye and slipped out of the TARDIS.

Jack came over to Rose, enveloping her in a giant hug. "It was good to see you again, Rose. Take care of them. Him too."

"I always do."

"Good."

Jack stood before the Doctor and held out his hand. "Doctor."

"Jack." The Doctor stood stiffly, even as he shook Jack's hand.

Jack tugged, forcing the Doctor forward and pulling him into a hug. "Admit it, Doc, you missed me."

"Maybe a little," the Doctor assented, returning Jack's hug. "Try to stay out of trouble this time."

Jack shook his head, clearly amused. "I could say the same to you. Until we meet again." With that, he saluted playfully and disappeared.

When they arrived on Bedangowlen, the Doctor collected the two Xevengow he'd detained, and left Rose and Jenny on board the TARDIS.

Rose helped Jenny bathe the babies while they waited for the Doctor to return.

"They hardly cry at all," Jenny observed.

"I noticed that too, they're such good babies." Rose giggled as Val flailed his arm, causing water to splash across her face.

"They really are." Jenny was holding a squirming Donna carefully in the warm water as she gently squeezed water from a facecloth over her delicate skin. "I wish their father was here." Jenny added softly.

Rose felt her heart break for the young girl, she'd lost so much in such a short amount of time. "You miss him, don't you?"

Jenny nodded. "I really do. He was an amazing man."

Rose finished washing Val and swiftly wrapped him in a towel and cradled him to her chest. "You're not alone, you know. Your father and I, we'll always be here for you."

Jenny lifted Donna from her tub and promptly mimicked Rose's actions. "Thank you. It helps, knowing that I have family now. I was so scared after it happened, so lost. Now, even though it still hurts, I feel like everything is going to be okay."

Rose pulled Jenny into an awkward, one armed hug. "It will be okay," she assured her. Together they walked to the bed and began dressing the babies.

Just as they finished, both women heard an odd swishing sound coming from somewhere nearby. After exchanging a glance of confusion, they each hugged a baby to their torso and crept cautiously to the corridor.

"Look, it's a new door." Rose said, pointing across the hall. "The TARDIS has created a new room."

"Does that happen often?" Jenny wanted to know.

"She created one for me when I first came aboard."

"Do you think…" Jenny hesitated. "Do you think it's for me?"

Rose grinned and twisted the knob. "Only one way to find out!"

The Doctor whistled happily to himself as he reboarded the TARDIS. His mission had been extremely successful, and he couldn't wait to tell Rose and Jenny the results.

He reached the infirmary and frowned when he found it completely empty. Where were they?

He heard laughter coming from behind him and he turned to see a new doorway directly across from him. He walked toward it, peering around the door to find the rest of his family inside. "The Xevengow won't be giving us anymore trouble," he announced.

Rose spun around, grinning. "Excellent. Look at the lovely room the TARDIS created for Jenny, Val and Donna."

The Doctor stepped inside, praising the TARDIS in his mind as he took in the spacious room. The walls were painted in a variety of shades of green, and the room was divided into two parts. One side contained a large, comfortable looking bed, on which Jenny was currently stretched out on, and the other side held two cradles and a large mountain of neatly organized baby paraphernalia.

"I have my own room!" Jenny beamed at him.

"You do." The Doctor couldn't help but smile back. He walked over to the cradles and gazed lovingly at his grandchildren. "They look happy."

"They are." Rose came to stand behind him. "So how'd you do it?"

"Do what?" he asked distractedly.

"Stop the Xevengow."

The Doctor tore his eyes away from the babies and turned so he could see Rose and Jenny. "Oh. It was quite easy actually."

Jenny looked startled. "Easy?"

"Yeah. It turns out, that the reason their planet was dying was because a fallen meteor rock had blocked their main source of water causing a massive drought. All I had to do was use the sonic to create a hole through the rock. Once they saw the water coming through, it took very little convincing to get them to gather enough men to push the rock aside. Once it was relocated, the water started to flow freely again. They have no need for Valr now, they'll leave it alone."

Jenny stared at him in awe. "You are incredible, Dad." She jumped off the bed and came to him, hugging him tightly. "I love you."

Rose dabbed at her own eyes as she watched the Doctor struggle to hold back tears of joy.

"I love you, too," he whispered, hugging her back. "Jenny," he started once they'd broken apart, "I was going to take you back to Valr, but, if you want, I mean if you don't mind, I mean, I was thinking that maybe instead you could stay here - with us."

Jenny nodded emphatically before he even finished. "I would like that very much."

He exhaled loudly, and Rose suddenly realized how afraid he'd been that Jenny would say no. "That's settled then," she said cheerfully. "What do you say we have some celebratory tea in the kitchen while Donna and Val are still sleeping?"

"An excellent idea!" the Doctor proclaimed. He reached out and took Rose's hand in his, then with the other, he took Jenny's and together, the three of them crept from the room quietly, hand in hand.

Fin