Chapter Text
Her Savior
Chapter One- Starting Over
Rose Tyler stepped out of her best mate’s truck and looked at her new home.
“You sure about this, Rose? You trust this woman?” Mickey asked coming up the sidewalk to stand next to Rose.
“Yeah. Just feels right, Micks. This is gonna be good.”
“If you say so, babe. Come on then. Let me get this stuff inside and set up before Martha gets here with Chloe.”
Rose stood on her toes to give Mickey a kiss on the cheek in thanks. The flat was situated above a white two-car garage. She ambled up the stairs located on the outside of the building. As she climbed, Rose took in her surroundings. The garage blocked her view of the main house, a gorgeous two story Victorian home. However, she got a bird’s eye view of the neighbor’s home. It stood out from all of the other houses in the posh neighborhood in only one regard: it was the most unusual shade of blue Rose had ever seen. It was beautiful sitting on a corner lot with a large backyard. She was happy to see a swing set in the yard and hoped that Chloe would have some potential playmates next door. Letting out a deep breath, she pulled the key out of her pocket to unlock the door. Apparently, she wasn't fast enough for Mickey.
“Oi! You gonna open that door or stand there starin’? This box is heavy!”
“Sorry, Mickey. Let me get it.” She fumbled with the key, but managed to unlock the door and she stepped aside on the landing so the young man could enter and set the box down before he dropped it. He stood with his hands on his hips, surveying the place.
“Well, it’s definitely smaller than your flat on the estate, but it’s nice, babe,” he said as he put his arm around Rose’s shoulders. He placed a kiss to the top of her head. It broke his heart what Rose and Chloe had gone through and he wanted to be as supportive as possible.
“Yeah, but it's jus' the two of us. We don’t need a lot of space. Chloe's doctor said that she is prob’ly gonna be sleepin’ with me for a while. So, sharin’ a room won’t be a problem ‘cuz she’ll be in there anyways.”
“She’ll get better before you know it. She is one tough six-year-old. She takes after her mum.”
“Thanks, Micks.”
“Now come on an' show me around.”
It didn’t take long to show Mickey the space. It was only around 575 square feet with one bedroom and one full bath. Once inside the door, the living room was to the left and the kitchen with a tiny dining area sat to the right. Down a small hall (and saying small was being generous) were three doors. The door on the left housed a stand-up washer and dryer combo. Rose was grateful for that. No more trips to the seedy laundromat. Across from that was the bathroom. Mickey was impressed with the size of the bathtub.
Rose laughed. "I know! It's almost the size of the whole place."
At the very end of the hall was the bedroom. Rose was grateful beyond words that the flat came fully furnished. Her old furnishings just triggered too many painful memories. She had been relieved to have been able to leave them behind along with that part of her life. A mahogany full size bed was to the left of the room and a twin bed to the right with a window between them. The closet to the right was just big enough for her and Chloe's clothes.
All the furniture matched. The walls were painted a medium shade of tan with maroon rugs on the hardwood floors and matching drapes on the windows. Rose couldn't believe she was able to afford a place this posh looking. The fact that it was above a garage didn't matter.
Back in the living room, Mickey plopped down on the maroon cloth couch. As if reading her mind, he remarked, "This stuff is fancy. I know exactly what Jackie woulda said if she seen this place."
A wistful smile lit Rose's face as she fiddled with the hoop earring in her left ear. "She'd accuse me of gettin' airs and graces, I know. But I didn't decorate this place. That was all Sarah Jane." Rose sat down on the matching oversized chair. "What I wouldn't give for mum to be here now. I'd get an 'I told you so' but I would gladly take it, if it meant she were here."
Mickey nodded in sympathy. Jackie Tyler had made her opinions on matters clear. She had been a force to be reckoned with. No one had thought that even a heart attack would be able to stop her. Her death had come as a shock to all. Chloe had never got a chance to meet her Gran, since Rose had still been pregnant when Jackie passed.
Mickey started to put his feet on the coffee table but stopped once he caught the look Rose shot him. It scarily reminded him of Jackie.
"I guess we should get the truck unloaded," Rose said, pushing herself up with a slightly pained groan.
"No," Mickey corrected her, "I will get the truck unloaded. You don't need to be doin' any heavy liftin'."
"Mickey, 'm fine! Enough time has passed. 'M not an invalid!" she retorted.
"Absolutely not, Rose!"
"Knock, knock," came a voice just outside the door. A middle-aged woman with gray frosted brown hair stuck her head around the corner. "May I come in?"
Rose's face lit up at the sight of her new friend. "Of course! Mickey, this is Sarah Jane Smith. She is the angel that is renting me the flat."
"Oh, I don't know about angel. I am happy to have you and Chloe. Where is she?" Sarah Jane asked, looking behind Rose and Mickey.
"Mickey's wife, Martha, is going to bring her along later. I wanted to get the place set up as much as I could before she gets here. Oh! 'M sorry," Rose exclaimed. "This is Mickey Smith. He has been my best mate since we were Chloe's age."
"Nice to meet you," Sarah Jane said, shaking Mickey's hand. He returned the sentiment.
"We were about to start unloading," Rose explained, "but did you need me for somethin'?"
"No," Mickey interjected, "I am going to unload the truck. Just me! By myself. Solo."
"Mickey--"
Sarah Jane cut Rose off. " I have to agree with Mickey, Rose. You should still be taking it easy."
Rose sighed and fought the urge to roll her eyes. "I know you both mean well, but it's been three months!"
"Please, Rose," Sarah Jane cajoled as she put her arm around Rose's shoulders, "just humor us. Anyway, the reason I came over was to tell you that I am heading to Tesco. Did you want to come?"
Rose exhaled. "I didn't even think about that. I don't know where my brain has been."
"It's understandable that your brain hasn't been present, babe," Mickey said. "And that settles things here. I will stay and unload while you go with Sarah Jane." Mickey folded his arms across his chest, daring Rose to argue.
"'M not gonna win this am I?" Rose asked ruefully.
"Nope," Mickey and Sarah Jane chorused.
"Us Smiths gotta stick together," Mickey said with a wink to the older woman.
It worked out to Rose's advantage to go with Sarah Jane. She had to drop some forms off at the school she had enrolled Chloe in and it was on the way to the shop. She could have walked, seeing as it was only four blocks away from her new home but, unfortunately, she still got tired easily. However, Rose would have never admitted that out loud. Ever. She needed to be strong for Chloe.
The school was one of those fancy private schools that Rose would normally never be able to afford, but once again, Sarah Jane had helped her, getting grants and government funding so Chloe could attend. It also helped that her daughter had blown the administration away with her intelligence. Rose had always made sure that starting out on a council estate would not hurt her daughter's education one bit.
However, Chloe's uniforms and school supplies had put a rather large dent in her bank account. That being the case, Rose bought the bare minimum at the market. Sarah Jane noticed and offered to buy more for her.
Rose refused her offer, snapping at the older woman. "No, Sarah Jane!" She slowly exhaled, realizing what she had just done and worked to sound calmer than she really felt. "'M sorry. I don't want to seem ungrateful for all you have done for me, but I just need to do some things myself. Please try to understand."
"I do, Rose. But just know, help is there if you need it."
"Thanks. I'll be able to get more once I get my first paycheck. This will hold us over until then."
After a somewhat awkward silence, Sarah Jane seized the opportunity to change the subject. "You start at the library Monday, right?"
"Yeah. It's Monday through Friday. I'll have time to walk Chloe to school and I'll get off in time to collect her when she gets out. Professor Song was very understanding in regards to that. 'M excited to get started. Not just for the money, but Professor Song told me that if I work there long enough, I should be able to take some classes for free. I want to finish my degree and make a good life for Chloe."
The car pulled into the driveway as Mickey was unloading the last box. Turning off the ignition, Sarah turned to Rose. "It doesn't matter how much money you have or the job, you will always give Chloe a good life by loving her."
Rose nodded and tried to force back the tears. Rose loved her daughter more than anything but nothing would stop her from believing that she had ruined her baby girl's life.
"I know. I just want to do better with this second chance we've been given."