Snapshots (1/3?) (Fic)

[sdjalana]

Title: Snapshots (1/3?)
Inspiration: Doctor Who, Pete Tyler, Jackie Tyler, Rose Tyler
Disclaimer: I own nothing, which is so very sad.
Rating: PG
Author's Note: I came up with the idea for this on my way back from Taiwan. Kept thinking about family and relationships, and this part just kind of wrote itself. Currently set to be three short chapters, but that could change. Set shortly before the events in Norway, during Doomsday (season 2). Unbeta'ed, so all mistakes are mine.
Summary: It is much easier to become a father than to be one. --Kent Nerburn

Snapshot 1

 

Her eyes were always sad.

It took him over a month before he realized that. Gone was the spirited young woman (daughter) he had met a lifetime ago. In her place stood a person who looked like her, but never smiled with her heart. It was difficult for him to relate to her, this woman (daughter) living in his house. His second chance at happily ever after wasn't hers.

"Talk to her," his (new) wife urged. "She's your daughter."

He agreed and smiled (grimaced) at Jackie before wandering out to the garden, her daily haunt. She (his daughter) sat unmoving, a pale, solitary figure sitting on a stone bench amongst the well-manicured lawns and dormant flower beds waiting for the spring, almost as if she were an unknown sculptor's masterpiece, a snapshot in time of quiet sorrow (lost love).

"Hello, Rose."

At first, he thought she hadn't heard him, so still was she. Then she reluctantly tore her gaze from the sky (hidden stars) and focused on him. She nodded in greeting, not uttering a sound as he sat down next to her.

Time passed in silence, painfully (for him) waiting for the other to speak. He cleared his throat and felt her questioning eyes on him.

"So," he began, then paused. The seconds stretched into minutes as they waited together on the cold bench. He struggled to say something (anything) to clear the tension floating between them. She didn't seem to care.

"Talk to her," Jackie had said. As if things were so simple. What did one say to the woman who was and wasn't your daughter? I'm sorry I rejected you last time you came here? I'm sorry you're stuck in this universe without him? I know you've been unhappy, but you need to move on? I think your mum may be pregnant?

He sighed. "So," he tried again.

"So," she repeated with a faint smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"Unusual weather we've been having." (Idiot)

"Is it?" Her lips twitched, the only sign that she was amused.

He muttered a curse (bollocks) at his inability to speak to her (his daughter) before reaching out to hold her hand. She blinked in surprise at his unexpected move.

"I'm sorry," he said simply, conveying a wealth of emotions and thoughts with those two words.

She smiled, and he could feel the wall of ice melting between them. "I know."

And for the first time in a long time, her smile reached her eyes.

Comments

[azriona.livejournal.com]

Oh, I like that. We don't see a lot of Pete-centric fic out there, and this was very sweet. I liked the bits in parenthesis, too, very clever. :)

[jalana.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I was playing around with this whole hidden thoughts thing, and I wanted to portray Pete's uncertainty toward this new daughter of his--the parentheses seem the best way to do that.

I really appreciate you taking the time to read this, by the way. :) Thanks for reviewing!