"Oh I'm rewinding...my time stream...unraveling...erasing" The Doctor looked upon himself and Amy, his mind filled with 900 years of existence. The Daleks, the Cybermen, Susan, Ian, Sarah Jane, Donna...
Rose.
His heart leapt when he thought of her.
He saw Amy when they were on the Byzantium. He warned her, told her to remember- to trust him.
He saw her again when she was just a girl. A child. Told her the story of his TARDIS, the brand new, ancient box.
He stood on the Dalig Ulv Stranden, watching from behind a boulder to his other self, the half-human one, holding hands with Rose, his Rose. As the TARDIS faded into nothing, with his past self and Donna inside, he watched the fierceness cross Rose's face as he left her for the second time.
He faded into a crowd, as Rose ran exasperated towards the gates and a confused Donna. He took his chances and walked by her, whispering "Bad Wolf" loud enough so Rose could hear. She looked around, searching for the source of the words, but he slunk back into the crowd, realizing Rose would never recognize him in this regeneration.
He ducked behind a building as Donna ran up to Rose, babbling about keys, looking as excited as ever. He watched her walk away and disappear, the dimension jump leading her to another destination, another dimension, to find his old self again.
He sat looking through the windows of a stairwell, as Rose and his old self walked hand-in-hand through the estate. This would be the last time they could spend together. It was the Daleks and the Cybermen were coming. He didn't stay long.
He peeked from a fireplace to Rose and Reinette talking, his heart leapt with Reinettes declaration, and dropped from Roses replying expression.
He watched from behind a bush as Rose, his Rose, jumped on Mickey-the-idiots back as he exclaimed "IT IS DEFENDED". He left before thoughts of Harriet Jones and Torchwood could cloud this memory too much.
He looked on as his younger self screamed into the air "EVERYBODY LIVES ROSE! JUST THIS ONCE, EVERYBODY LIVES!". Roses smile was unmatchable, her teeth sparkling. He faded into the crowd again, feigning confusion at his presence in the train yard.
He stood there, motionless, scared to do anything to disrupt their meeting. He stared, willing his younger self to come in, to save her. Why was it taking so long, they were about to get her. Where am I? Get here soon! Rose!
And a door opened.
A hand grabbed and a word uttered and both of their lives were changed forever.
"Run."
I think I'd like to skip the rest of the rewind now...
AN: This original idea came to me like 2 years ago, and I started writing this fic but never finished. I ran across it today on my google drive, so I'm gonna see if there's anymore I'm completely forgetting that I wrote. Unbeta'd, so all mistakes are my own, as are any mistakes I made in timing and/or locations, though I think I have it all straight. Hope you enjoy.