A/N: This story is 11/Rose. 11 in this story is Ioan Gruffudd. If you don't know him, He's Reed Richards in the Fantastic Four movie. He was also Horatio Hornblower, and his latest role is William Wilberforce in Amazing Grace.

Chapter One

"I don't think I can do this, Martha."

Martha looked up at the Doctor. After several failed attempts, the Doctor had finally made it across the void into Pete's world and had finally located Rose. They were standing side by side staring at her and Mickey sitting at a table outside a small café. The one woman the Doctor had tried desperately to find. The love of his life that he couldn't live without and now that he had found her; he was suddenly terrified to talk to her?

Martha took in the Doctor's appearance. About six months ago, he had died and regenerated after saving Martha from the Valeyard and he looked completely different. The unruly brown hair was gone. It was now a darker shade and slightly curly. The brown eyes had darkened also and he spoke with a welsh accent. His personality had changed too. He was not as happy-go-lucky as before. He was more serious and brooding and the darkness that she had noticed hiding beneath the clown was more pronounced now. She glanced down at his outfit. He was dressed all in black now. Gone were the suits he always favored. Now he wore a jet black long sleeved shirt, leather pants, long, leather jacket and Reeboks. The black wardrobe coupled with the dark brown hair and piercing brown eyes gave him a more sinister air that Martha frankly didn't like. With all the black, she wondered if any moment he would grab some black eye shadow and lip stick and go Goth on her.

She looked at his face and noticed the hesitation in his eyes.

"You faced down an army of Daleks, and the Master, and the Valeyard and you're scared to go over and talk to Rose?" she said in disbelief.

"I…I'm just scared she won't like me now." The Doctor said.

He pointed to Mickey.

"She's sitting with Mickey. What if they're back together? What if she's gotten over me? It's been two years since I last saw her. What if she doesn't want me back in her life now?"

He looked down at himself.

"Plus, I don't exactly look or sound like myself anymore." He added.

"You went through regeneration when you were with her, yeah?" Martha asked.

"Yes, I did."

"Well, did you look different after you regenerated?"

"Yes."

"And did you sound different?"

"Yes."

"Well, she accepted you then, didn't she? So why can't she accept you now?"

He sighed and stuffed his hands in his pockets as he stared at Rose.

"I'm just scared of what might happen if I go talk to her. What if I ask her to come with me and she says no, Martha?"

Martha shrugged.

"I don't know. But I guess there's only one way to find out, isn't there?"

They watched as Mickey rose from his seat and went inside the café.

"Now's your chance." Martha prompted.

The Doctor hesitated as he debated whether or not to go over.

"I won't tell her who I am right away. I want to talk to her first. See if she still wants me." He said.

"And if she doesn't?" Martha asked.

"Then we head back to the TARDIS and go back to our reality and that will be that. At least I know for sure Rose is done with me and I can finally move on with my life." The Doctor said quietly.

Martha nodded. She gave him a reassuring smile and patted him gently on the back as he took a deep breath and headed towards Rose's table.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Hello there."

Rose glanced up and saw a man standing across from her.

"I…um…was wondering if I might sit down? It's too beautiful a day to sit inside and all the tables are full." He said giving her a smile.

Rose paused for a moment as she took in the man's appearance. He didn't seem threatening. Besides, Mickey would be back in a moment with their drinks and if the man gave her any trouble, Mickey would help get rid of him.

"Sure." She said, indicating the chair in front of him.

The smile widened as the man sat down.

"I'm Rose." She said to him.

"I'm…John." He replied.

Rose stared at him. She was sure she had never met John before, but something seemed so familiar about him. Like she knew him without knowing him.

Nah, just my imagination. She thought to herself.

"So...um…you're Welsh, yeah?" she asked, figuring she'd start out with something simple.

"Yes, I am. I'm originally from Cardiff."

"What brings you to London?"

"I'm searching for someone."

Rose raised her eyebrow.

"Relative?"

The Doctor shook his head.

"An old girlfriend. I'm hoping to rekindle our relationship."

"Oh, well, I hope you find her."

"I did, actually."

Rose stared at John's enigmatic smile and the nagging feeling that she knew him resurfaced.

"I'm not sure if she wants me back, though." The Doctor added. "She might be with someone else now."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. I hope she isn't."

"Me too." he said giving her a pointed look.

Rose suddenly felt the need to ask.

"Um, I hate to pry, but what's her name?" she asked.

The Doctor opened his mouth to speak.

"Oi! Who's this?"

They looked up at Mickey who was standing in front of the table holding a glass in each hand and giving the Doctor a dirty look.

Perfect bloody timing, Smith, as usual. He thought to himself

He forced a smile onto his face.

"Hello, I'm John." He said extending his hand." I was just…"

"Leaving, yeah I know." Mickey said angrily.

"Mickey!" Rose admonished him "He's not hurting me. He wanted to sit out here and all the tables were filled up, so he asked to sit with me."

Mickey glanced around and noticed an empty table near them.

"Yeah, well, there's an empty table right there so if you don't mind…"

He paused as a black woman hurried to it and sat down. The Doctor held back his laughter as Mickey's mouth fell open.

Thanks, Martha, I owe you one. He thought.

He gave Mickey a look of innocence when he glared at him and sat down hard in his chair. He held his hand over his mouth trying to hide the smirk as he watched Mickey angrily pass a glass of Coke to Rose.

Mickey sipped his Coke in silence as the Doctor stared directly at him gleefully enjoying the fact that he was making him uncomfortable.

After a moment, Mickey finally slammed his glass down on the table.

"Look, buddy, would you please move? My friend and I want to talk in private.

The Doctor raised his eyebrow.

"Friend? So, you two aren't dating?" he asked, as hope swelled in his hearts.

Mickey's mouth dropped open.

"I don't believe that's any of your bloody business." He spat out.

He looked over at Rose.

"The nerve of this guy." He said gesturing to the Doctor.

He looked back at him.

"Why'd you sit here anyway? You flirtin' with Rose, is that it? You saw her sitting alone and decided she might be a good shag?"

"Mickey!" Rose said as she felt her face turn red.

She gave an apologetic smile to the Doctor.

"I'm so sorry. Mickey is out of line and…"

"The Hell I am!" Mickey cut in. "He's probably some pervert, Rose. Probably chats up young women all the time so he can lure them to his flat and rape them."

Rose groaned and put her head in her hand as several people looked their way.

"Mickey." She muttered. "Will you please be quiet?"

"No, I will not be quiet. I want him to leave!" Mickey said angrily.

"No."

Mickey jerked his head around and stared at the Doctor.

"What'd you say?"

"I said no." he said defiantly. "I am sitting here talking to Rose and that's all I am doing. I have no intentions of hurting her. If I did, I would have thrown her in the back of a van while you were inside the café and driven off. Now would you please calm down? You are making a scene!"

Mickey stared at him, shocked. He angrily pushed his seat back and stood up.

"I am going inside to calm down." He said to the Doctor. "I am giving you ten minutes to clear outta here and leave Rose alone. If I come back and you're still here, I will make your life a livin' Hell. You got that, buddy?"

"Yes, sir." The Doctor replied.

Mickey stared at him for a moment before stomping back indoors.

"Oh God, I am so sorry." Rose said embarrassed. "I don't know what got into him. He's just so protective of me."

"Yeah, I know. That's why I hated having him on board the TARDIS with us. It was hard to kiss you with him glaring over my shoulder."

"And he's been under a lot of stress lately." Rose went on. "And…"

She paused as John's words suddenly sunk in.

"Wait, what did you just say?" she said staring at him with wide eyes.

She stared at his warm smile and the mischievous gleam in his eyes. Suddenly, she realized why he had seemed so familiar.

"No." she breathed. "No, it can't be."