The Ties That Bind: Mothers

[preserved_ginger]

Title: The Ties That Bind: Mothers
Rating: PG
Character(s): Rose, Ten, Jackie, Mickey
Pairing: Ten/Rose (implied)
Setting: Time-wise, approximately School Reunion, but there are no spoilers for that episode here.
Disclaimer: I am borrowing, without permission, what will never be mine.
Summary: Involved with the Doctor, Rose is trying to throw her mother off the scent.

"So, what's going on between you and the Doctor, then?"

Jackie's tone, for once, was free of any hint of suggestiveness; instead she seemed to be genuinely interested and curious.  Rose decided to see if the nonchalant approach, that the Doctor used to such great effect, would work for her.

"Nothing," she said breezily.  Jackie snorted in disbelief.

"Don't give me that, missy.  Now, come on," she entreated, "I'm your mother, I'm supposed to ask you this sort of thing.  You can tell me anything, you know that."

Rose rolled her eyes.   She was beginning to get irritated with this conversation; much as she loved her mother, she wished that occasionally, just occasionally, she'd mind her own business.  She hoped the Doctor wasn't anywhere near here (although knowing her luck, he would be found standing right outside the door waiting for her); this was a conversation with her mother that she'd like, if at all possible, to keep to herself.

"There's nothing to tell."

Hopefully her mother would take the hint, and leave her alone.  No such luck.

"Oh, come off it, Rose!"  Her mother's frustration, and sheer disbelief, was evident.  "D'you think I'm some kind of idiot or something?  I wasn't born yesterday, you know; I've been watching you.  I've seen the way you look at him, and the way he looks at you and, believe-you-me, those looks only mean one thing."

"Mum, nothing's happening, all right?"

Rose's voice held more than a hint of annoyance now; her cheeks were flushed with embarrassment as she stood up to her mum.  What was between her and the Doctor was desperately delicate and infinitely precious, and there was no bloody way that she was having her mum spoil it for them.  Jackie crossed her arms and looked at her daughter.

"Then why, then, did I have Mickey 'round here only the other day, in tears, because he's lost you to the Doctor?"

Rose looked, mouth open, at her mother for a minute before turning for the door.  I'm going to kill him.  If he's said anything to my mother, I'm going to kill him.

She'd been right, the Doctor was standing outside the door waiting for her.

"Rose?  What's happened?"

His voice held a hint of panic, but she brushed past him without a word.  She saw his face fall at the prospect of being in the same room as her mother, but he'd have to deal with it himself for a few minutes.  She needed to talk to Mickey; there were a few things the two of them needed to sort out.

She just hoped that while she was doing that sorting out, her mother managed to keep her mouth shut.  The very last thing she needed was her mother trying to find out the Doctor's "intentions", for that was probably the best way to ruin their fledgling relationship completely.  And if that happened, she swore to herself, she'd never speak to either her mother or Mickey again.