The Tardis came to a stop as it reached its destination. They were near a set of apartment buildings near Lanyon Place. Tate didn't yet know that they were stopping to visit his mother.

The Doctor, Nova and Rose both stood around the console. "I've never been to Ireland before" Rose mentioned, making both Time Lords look at her. "And I tell ya, I'm starving! I'm really looking forward to this dinner"

"I'm hoping Deborah made her Irish stew" Nova's tummy rumbled just thinking about it. "Yep. I can smell it now"

"Mmm. Sounds delicious" Rose hummed in approval. She clapped her hands together. "I'll go get Tate"

Rose ran off leaving The Doctor and Nova alone. They stepped closer to each other, filling the empty space between them once occupied by Rose. "Before you meet Deborah, there's somethings you should know about her"

"She's not gonna slap me, is she?" The Doctor asked.

"What?" Nova quirked an eyebrow. "Why would she do that?"

The Doctor scratched the back of his head, something Nova found he did quite often. It was cute. "I have a history with mothers and them slapping me" He thought back to Rose's mother, Jackie.

"Oh, no" Nova shook her head. "No, Deborah's a hugger. She might even end up flirting with you a bit. You're tall, smart, handsome..."

The Doctor smirked at her. "You think I'm handsome?"

"Maybe I do" Nova smiled back at him. "But Deborah might think so too. She's a handsy woman"

______

Rose had found Tate in one of the bedrooms. "Tate?"

"Hi Rose" Tate greeted her. "Is everything alright?"

"Yeah. We've just landed"

"Oh" Tate piped as he walked over to Rose. "Where are we adventuring now?"

"Actually, we've stopped for dinner"

"Great. I'm starving" The two of them started walking to console room. "Don't you find that you're always hungry after a trip?"

"Yes!" Rose agreed. "All the time! All that running really drains the energy out of you, which makes you tired as well. Glad the Tardis has a bedroom"

"Me too" The two companions came to the console room to find Nova and The Doctor standing incredibly close to each other laughing, whispering and smiling at one another. "They owe us money"

"That's right, they do" Rose grew a smirk on her face like she was planning something. "We also need to get them to go on a date"

"A date?" Tate repeated. "I don't know. Nova's not really the romantic type"

"Well not with humans, obviously" Rose reasoned. "But those two are Time Lords. They're both the last of their kind. They're meant to be together"

"What are you two whispering about?" The Doctor asked when he and Nova noticed them.

"Nothing, Doctor" Rose denied. "Just how hungry we both are" She sent a discrete wink in Tate's direction.

"Well, come on then" Nova beckoned. The group of four exited the Tardis.

"Where are we having dinner anyways?" Tate wondered. "Parisian cafe in the 1940's? Picnic on the moon?" He narrowed his eyes when he saw the familiar apartment building. "Dinner with my mother. Great"

"Surprise!" Nova cheered as she jazz handed. "Sorry, Tate. Deborah wore me down"

______

They took the lift all the way up to the tenth floor where Deborah's flat was. When they reached the door to her flat, Nova knocked on it.

"We're having dinner and then I want to go" Tate huffed, crossing his arms.

"What have you got against your own mother?" Nova interrogated. "She's the kindest woman alive"

"You didn't grow up in the same house as her"

The door opened and a woman in her early forties appeared. It was none other than Deborah Peltzer. She smiled happily. "Oh, Tate! My wonderful son!"

Deborah pulled him into a hug. Tate made a weak attempt to wrap his arms around her. She let go of her son and then hugged Nova. "And Nova, my dear girl!"

"Lovely to see you too, Deborah" Nova returned the hug.

"Thank you, sweetheart" Deborah let go of Nova. She then looked between The Doctor and Rose. "And you two must be my Tate and Nova's new friends. I'm Deborah, but you can call me Deb or Debbie"

"Pleasure to meet you, Debbie" Rose held out her hand. "I'm Rose Tyler"

"Rose, my dear, I don't do handshakes" Rose yelped in surprise when Debbie pulled her into a hug. She looked to her son and mouthed to him. "She's pretty!"

Tate rolled his eyes and groaned. "Don't start, mum"

Debbie let go of Rose. Her eyes finally settled on The Doctor. "And you would be?"

"I'm The Doctor" He greeted with a grin.

"The Doctor, hmm?" Debbie took his face in between her hands. "Aren't you the handsome one" she swooned. "And you've got an odd name like Nova's got. Tell me," she let go of him. "Are you like Nova? Alien?"

The Doctor nodded. "I'm actually a Time Lord, like she is"

Debbie gasped in excitement and looked at Nova. "Maybe you'll finally have your chance at love, sweetheart. You're always saying you wish you had someone to love and spend the rest of your life with"

Nova cleared her throat. "How about we go inside?" She brushed past Deborah and into the apartment, unaware of the longing look that The Doctor was giving her.

______

"Why did you have to agree to dinner!?" Tate hissed at Nova. The two of them were currently in the bathroom. "You know how I feel about my mom! I can tolerate her on holidays and birthdays, but any other day—"

"She's your mother!" Nova retorted. "One day you're gonna lose her, or maybe it'll be the other way around and she'll lose you. She's the only family you've got—"

"You're my family, Nova" Tate said. "You, The Doctor, and Rose"

"Tate, you know you're not gonna be with me forever"

"I don't want to hear that right now, Nightingale" Tears started rimming at his eyes. "What matters is that I'm with you now. Let's just focus on that"

Nova smiled, bringing a finger up to wipe a stray tear on his face. "I'm sorry, Tate" she apologized. She then grabbed Tate's hands in her own. "Just do me one favour. Try to get through this dinner"

"Alright"

______

Rose was in the kitchen with Deborah, helping her gather dishes and utensils. "Have you ever had Irish stew, my dear?" Debbie asked.

"No" Rose shook her head. "But Nova says you make the best around"

"Oh, she's just being generous!" Debbie blushed. She came to a stop in front of Rose. She smiled at the young girl and tucked her hair behind her ear. "You're a very beautiful girl, Rose"

Rose smiled at her. "Thank you Debbie"

"If I had known that Tate met another girl, I wouldn't have invited Kathy along"

"Who's Kathy?" Rose didn't know why, but she felt anger and jealousy bubble at the name.

"Oh, she's no one, my dear" Debbie assured her. "I teach a yoga class and Kathy is a girl who attends. I was hoping her and Tate would hit it off"

Rose pressed her lips into a thin line. "Oh"

Debbie nodded and sighed. "It's time for my son to settle with a girl, and as much as I love Nova, he can't possibly expect to travel with her forever"

"Well, why not?"

"The same reason you can't travel with The Doctor for the rest of your life" Debbie sighed sadly, and then a smile perked on her face. "Have you got a boyfriend, Rose?"

"His name is Mickey" she answered with uncertainty.

______

Nova and The Doctor were both setting up the table. Nova had been awfully quiet. The Doctor had noticed. "Everything okay, Supernova?"

Nova looked up at him and gave him a small smile. "Yeah, I'm fine"

"There was something that Deb said to you" The Doctor began. He heard an audible sigh come from Nova. "Something about you wanting to spend the rest of your life with someone"

Nova laughed awkwardly. "Oh, that!" She shook her head. "I told her that one time, but I was just talking nonsense..."

"It's not nonsense to feel that way, Supernova" The Doctor walked over to her. "Because I understand what that feels like" He cupped her cheek in his hand. She closed her eyes, enjoying the warmth of his hand against her skin.

Their moment was interrupted when there was a knock on the door. "I'll get it!" Debbie squealed with excitement. The two Time Lords stepped away from each other as the woman ran to the door. She opened it, revealing a smiling redhead on the other side.

"Hi Debbie!" the redhead greeted. "I'm not too late, am I?"

"Oh no, Kathy. You're right on time" Debbie pulled Kathy inside. "Kathy, these are friends of my son. Nova and The Doctor"

"Nice to meet you both" Kathy waved. "Where is Tate?"

"Probably still in the kitchen with Rose"

Kathy raised an eyebrow. "Rose?"

"Yes. Another one of his friends" Debbie grinned. "Well, dinner's ready. Why don't we all sit and eat?"

______

Debbie informed Rose and Tate that everyone else was ready to start dinner. The two of them brought the food over to the dining table. When Tate saw who was sitting at the table, he went wide eyed with a smile. "Kathy? Kathy O'Connor?"

The redhead gave him a big smile. "Tate Peltzer! Good to see you again!" Tate and Kathy hugged each other.

"Oh," Debbie muttered in surprise. "I wasn't aware you two knew each other"

"Really mum?" Tate said. "Kathy and I were schoolmates. I talked about her all the time!"

"Is this the same Kathy that you had that huge crush on?"

When Rose heard that, she crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes at Kathy. Kathy, however, had yet to notice the blonde woman. "Mum" Tate blushed. "Stop it"

"Yeah" Rose agreed. "Why don't we all take a seat? I'm starving"

Everyone found their seats at the table. Deborah sat on one end of the table, and Nova and The Doctor sat together on one side. Tate took a seat on the side opposite to them. Rose went to sit beside him, but Kathy beat her to the seat. So, Rose had to settle for the end opposite Debbie.

"Well, everyone dig in!" Debbie invited. "And please don't be afraid to have seconds or thirds!"

______

Everyone talked and ate throughout dinner. Tate and Kathy talked the most out of everyone. The two of them laughed and reminisced about their childhood. Rose stared at them while she shoved spoonfuls of stew in her mouth.

"Remember prom?" Kathy asked Tate.

"How could I not? I was so nervous to ask you, but you said yes!" Tate reminisced with glee. "And I remember how beautiful you looked in that dress"

Nova had managed to notice the way Rose was staring at the two so she butted into the conversation. "You know, I've never had a prom before, but I did chaperone a few school dances"

"Really?" Kathy wondered. "Do you have a younger brother, cousin, or a nephew?"

"No" Nova shook her head. "It's just a kid I know. Peter is a sweet boy, and he's very smart too"

"I was voted prom queen at my prom" Rose spoke up. Kathy looked at Rose with an annoyed smile.

"I'm sorry, but who are you?" Kathy asked rather rudely. Rose rolled her eyes.

"Rose. I've told you my name like five times already"

"Oh, right. Sorry, I'm forgetful" Kathy took a sip of her wine. "Or maybe you're just incredibly dull" she muttered quietly, in hopes that no one would hear, but she underestimated the Time Lords sitting in front of her.

"Rose Tyler is not dull!" The Doctor defended.

"He's right!" Nova agreed. "Rose is one of the most exciting people I've ever met! And she's very smart too, and has an eye for fashion if I do say so myself"

Tate groaned, hiding his face in his hands. "On no"

Kathy laughed at Nova. "Look who's talking! The nineteen seventies called. They'd like their clothes and hair back"

"Don't insult my Supernova!" The Doctor hissed.

"And by the way," Debbie glared at Kathy. "I gave her those clothes"

"What do you do for a living, Kathy?" Rose asked, a devious smirk on her face.

Kathy smiled proudly. "I'm an editor for a fashion magazine"

"Really?" Rose snorted. "That's it?"

"Well it's more exciting than what you probably do. Let me guess," Kathy eyed Rose up and down. "You just work at a clothing store, selling the designs that are in the magazines that I edit" Kathy laughed. "You probably work in the shop that sells all the cheap knock offs!"

"You want to know the kind of life I live?" Rose stood up, smacking her hands on the table. "I've helped save London twice from a Slitheen invasion. I've seen the literal end of the world, and New Earth. I've seen ghosts and living plastic. I've met Charles Dickinson and Queen Victoria. By the way, did you know that she was a werewolf?"

Kathy looked really angry. "Stop making up lies!"

"She's not lying" Tate stuck up for Rose. "She's telling the truth, and I'd know because I've been places you wouldn't believe either" Tate circled the table until he reached Rose. He draped his arm over her shoulders. "So don't you sit there and call my friend dull, because if anyone here lives a dull and boring life, it is you"

Kathy huffed angrily and stood up from her chair. "You've changed Tate! I thought we could pick up where we left off, but it seems you're picking the blonde bimbo over me"

"Don't call her that!" Tate growled.

Kathy rolled her eyes and looked to the two Time Lords. "And I don't know what exactly you two are, but I will find out. And when I do, you two will be sorry"

With one last angry huff, she made her way out the door, slamming it shut. There was now a tension in the room which Deborah broke. "Who wants some dessert?"

______

After that awkward dinner, the group of four were happy to be back in the Tardis. Rose was a little upset from the way Kathy spoke to her, but she was also happy that her friends were quick to stick up for her. "I just wanted to thank you guys for sticking up for me"

"You don't need to thank us for that, Rose" Nova said.

"You're our friend" The Doctor added. "We won't ever let anyone call you dull again because you're not"

"I'm sorry about how Kathy spoke to you" Tate apologized. "She never used to be like that"

"You don't need to apologize on her behalf" Rose assured him. She felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. She checked it to see that she got a text from Mickey.

I think I've found something. The Doctor might be interested.

"Mickey thinks he's found something" Rose said. She looked to The Doctor. "Something you might be interested in"

The Doctor sighed and rolled his eyes. "If it's coming from Mickey, how interesting can it be?"

"Hang on, he's just texted me more details" Rose scanned her eyes through the text. "Something about a school and abnormally smart kids"

"I don't know" Nova shrugged, walking over to The Doctor. She rested her arm on his shoulder. "My interest is peaked"

The Doctor smiled down at Nova. If had interested Nova, he wasn't going to say no to her. "If my Supernova is interested, I'll do it" Then he looked to Tate. "What say you, Tate?"

"Hey, another exciting adventure with my three best friends?" Tate grinned. "How could I say no to that?"