"No," the Doctor said in a strangled cry. "I'm not leaving you, not now not ever. Please believe me Rose."

She shook her head and backed away. Desperately, she wanted to believe him but wasn't sure that she could. "Why should I?" Her voice came out as barely more than a whisper.

Reaching out, he tried to touch her again but Rose flinched back. She couldn't just drop this. Let him sweet talk her now and bolt in a few months.

The Doctor scrubbed a hand over his face. "I'm not good at this, Rose. For over a century, I never had to worry about what I said or what I did." He tugged at his hair. "I just did things and bugger the consequences."

"I don't expect you to change," she murmured, sinking down onto the sofa suddenly feeling very tired. "I'll be alright on my own Doctor, really. Please don't think you have to stay out of," she swallowed hard, "obligation."

In a flash, he was on the floor kneeling at her feet. "I want this. I want to be here with you and the baby." His voice hitched. "Our baby. I'm just rubbish at the whole keeping my gob under control. Plus your mum and her non-stop harping about making an honest woman of you makes me want to rebel and say things meant to push her buttons. Not thinking about how it might make you feel." He closed his eyes. "I've never really been a part of a family before, never really wanted to be before I met you. There is nowhere in time or space I'd rather be than by your side. I promise."

"But all those things that you've said." A tear slipped down her cheek. "You made it sound like marrying me, being with me, is the unbearable. Why would you say things like that if you weren't trying to send me a message?"

He sighed and moved to sit next to her. "I'm a prat. I am rude and not ginger and incapable of keeping my foot out of my mouth. I mean, I must really love the taste of crow as much of it as I need to eat at times." Despite herself, Rose laughed. This time when he reached for her hand, she let him take it. "In my experience the Universe is not kind, especially to me and I'm scared because everything that I love, everything that I hope to have gets ripped away from me. So I protest, hoping that if the Universe is listening, that just this once, I'll get to have what I want. I want to you and this life and our very own family." His free hand moved to her stomach and he beamed. She didn't think that she had ever seen him smile so brightly.

"Yeah?" Rose asked, daring to feel hope for the first time in days.

"Oh yes," he whispered, moving his hand from her abdomen to her cheek. "I could have chosen anywhere to go after I was, for lack of a better way to put it, grown out of a hand. Dozens of past companions that I could have chosen to spend my one human life with and I chose you and I'd do it again every time. I love you, Rose and if you want, I would marry you tomorrow. Or whenever you're ready."

The knot in her stomach loosened slightly and she leaned towards him. "And you're not just saying this because I'm pregnant?"

"No, not just because you're pregnant because you are my everything and I'm a fool for ever letting you think otherwise. Can you ever forgive me?"

Another tear fell from her eye and he wiped it away with his thumb. "Just tell me you're sorry," she echoed his words from so long ago.

The corner of his mouth twitched. "I am so very sorry."

Rose leaned over and kissed him softly, feeling his whole body relax against her. "I love you, too. You daft alien," she whispered against his lips, right before her stomach growled.

"Oh you must be starved," the Doctor replied as he scrambled off the couch. "I made you stew. It's filled with protein and amino acids that are essential for the baby's development and it has a spice combination that will help with that pesky upset stomach problem. Let me get you a bowl."

A few minutes later, he returned with a tray holding two steaming bowls of soup and what looked like fresh made bread. Rose smiled as she tucked into the delicious meal. Things may not be completely fixed between them but they were going to be.

~oOo~

A little over a year later, Rose sipped a glass of champagne while she watched the Doctor cradle their daughter close as he moved around the dance floor. It had been a small wedding, only twenty or so of their closest friends and family. Her mum had insisted on a proper reception. A gourmet meal, large center pieces, cake (one layer of which was banana) and of course a DJ. Rose had quickly squashed the idea of a string quartet.

Her eyes lingered on her husband, the love of her life. He may not have done a complete 180 since she told him that she was pregnant with Susan but he had done the absolute best that he could. Never once did he complain about doctor's visits, or holding her hair back while she was curled over the toilet. He rubbed her feet when they were swollen and read a story to her belly every night.

Sometimes he still acted like he wanted to run, mostly when Jackie was breathing down his neck. This time though, when he wanted to rebel against her henpecking, he took Rose with him. They took several holidays before Rose was too far gone to travel, Barcelona, Rome, New York and Morocco.

Across the room, the Doctor caught her eye and waved her over. Lifting the hem of her simple dress, she made her to the two most important people in her life. Immediately, the Doctor wrapped the arm not holding the baby around her waist.

"Have I told you lately how beautiful you are?" he whispered in her ear as he held her close.

"Only a few times today, love." The straightened his tie. "You don't look half bad yourself."

"I don't think I can ever tell you how glad I am that you gave me another chance." He kissed her softly. "This is only place I'd ever want to be, here with my girls."

Leaning her head against his chest, she inhaled his comforting scent while they twirled lazily around the room. She knew exactly what he meant.

Tomorrow, the three of them were leaving for a three week trip to Australia. Her mum was upset that they were taking the baby away for so long, but that's just how their little family was going to work now. The Doctor, Rose and Susan Tyler, seeing new places, running into new adventures, even if it meant that the Doctor was wearing a Bjorn, they were in this together. Forever.