Disclaimer: "Doctor Who" is the property of the BBC, and I'm simply borrowing… No infringement is intended.

Author's Note: This is a sequel to "Heart of the Storm." Many readers seemed anxious for a continuation of that story, so here is a little taste of my next offering. Subsequent chapters won't appear for at least a week, but I promise that I'm working on them now! (11/03/08)

It appears that this did not post properly yesterday, so I am trying again! I apologize for any confusion (11/04/08)

**

Candles lit the small room, casting flickering shadows over Rose and the Doctor. Her head rested against his shoulder, her thick, glossy hair tickling the delicate skin beneath his collar bone. He smiled at the sensation then dipped his hands into the water to scoop up the lightly scented bath oil. He rubbed it gently over her swollen belly, and she sighed in appreciation.

She was nestled between his legs in the large bathtub with her hands resting over his bent knees. One long, slender foot rubbed lazily against the back of her thigh. She spread her fingers over his knees and traced figures against the tops of his shinbones.

"Adoration," he said, sensing the motions and reading the symbol kinesthetically. "You remembered."

"'Course I did," she replied. "I'm going to teach her this one as soon as she's able to read."

"She's my daughter," he responded cheekily, "so that'll probably be in just a few months."

"Think she'll need to be born first."

His fingers splayed over her stomach. The baby shifted slightly, and his palm pressed gently against his daughter's little nudge. "I've been thinking, Rose."

"Uh oh. We're in trouble now." She turned her head to kiss his damp shoulder.

Undeterred by her affectionate teasing, he continued, "I want to take you to London. We can stay with your mum and Pete 'til the baby's born."

"You want to deliver her there?"

He nodded. "I've contacted London Royal Hospital. They'll give me privileges—"

"But what about Cumberland Hospital?" Rose asked, recalling the pleasant feel of the area's nearest hospital. "I thought we'd decided to go to Whithaven. You felt comfortable with their facilities."

"I know, but I'd rather err on the side of caution."

She knew he was thinking about that terrible night five weeks ago when she'd gone out in the gale to assist their elderly neighbor. No one could have predicted the microburst that exploded just outside Mrs. Hudson's house. Rose had barely dragged the unconscious woman into the safety of a closet when a massive branch barreled through the wall. Through some quirk of cosmic compassion, neither Rose nor the baby had been seriously hurt, but the experience had shaken the Doctor considerably. He'd been solicitous to the point of cloying for days afterward, but she thought he'd gotten past it. For the last three weeks they'd walked on the beach, finished papering and painting the nursery, and enjoyed the last bit of time they'd share as a family of two.

"Is something worrying you?" she asked, her own concern growing. "You said my blood pressure was all right, an' the scan last week was fine. Wasn't it?"

"Yes." He smoothed his hand over her hair to calm his wife's growing anxiety. "It's nothing specific. I just want to be sure that everything goes smoothly, and London Royal's much better equipped than West Cumberland."

"But Maggie was gonna come an' assist." Rose was quite fond of their neighbor, a retired nurse who still occasionally helped the Doctor.

"I know, and I'd have liked that. I know you would have, too. But this way your mum can be there—"

"Pete's gonna send her in the helicopter," Rose reminded him.

"Right. But if the weather's bad she might not make it in time."

Rose knew that he was right; he usually was. But somehow facing the noise, pollution, and crowds of London felt wrong just now. The quiet of the seaside, the warmth of the villagers, and the tranquility of their pretty little cottage were all she wanted for her and their daughter.

"We can come back here within the week," he told her as though he'd read her thoughts.

"Yeah, suppose so."

His right hand trailed down her shoulder to trace the outline of her heavy breast. "I really think this is for the best, Rose. For both of you."

She nodded. "'Course."

He slid his left hand up to join his right in soft caresses. He was trying to distract her; she knew that. But what a lovely distraction it was. She surrendered herself to his talented hands and skilled mouth and saved further discussion for another time.

**

To be continued…