Author's Note: Hey :D This story is not very long or intricate, but I just really wanted to portray this little unseen moment. (Ooh, and the asterisk indicates a switch from Rose's perspective to Handy's. It was just a paragraph break in the original file, but I haven't figured out how to make that work on FF yet xD)
This fic is, of course, named after the Beatles song, and particularly with this video in mind...IN WHICH George's hat is a thing of beauty and John busts some crazy moves:
youtube .com/watch?v=Qf2S7kKLtEQ&feature=fvw Enjoy! :D
---
Sarah Jane. Jack. Martha. Gentle goodbyes, but goodbyes all the same.
"It's easier," she said softly, "seeing it all from up here. Just watching 'em leave, not having to hold the door open or anyfing."
He stared, but she didn't mind. Swung her legs back and forth over the edge of the ledge, imagining where she'd end up if her boot catapulted off into the console.
"You might see them again."
"Maybe Barcelona."
"Hmm?"
"Nothing," she laughed, roughly wiping away her sudden tears. "You wouldn't remember…it's this planet, see, and they've got—"
"Dogs with no noses," he grinned.
She glanced sharply at him, and after a moment murmured absently, "Yeah."
It would have been a long, soulful gaze if Mickey hadn't shut the TARDIS door a little too loudly on his way out. Down below, Donna folded Jackie into a comforting hug and led her towards the kitchen. Promises of tea floated up to the loft.
"Do you want to…?" the Doctor ventured, his eyebrows making it quite plain that he was not referring to tea.
"Nah," Rose replied, though her voice was thick. "He and I, we know where we're at. Besides, it's just gonna be you and me, Doctor, in the end."
With the hint of a smirk, she added, "And the Doctor. And Donna."
*
And he thought, No. For all your wisdom and love and bravery, maybe because of it, you're fiery things that burn up and burn out in a flash. We'll all spark and crackle until we're nothing but ash, even me, and then—in the end—it'll just be him. And if I'm just an ember, do you really…
His mind was brought back to the moment by a lingering pat on his arm; he glanced over in time to see her smile blossom.
"It's funny, innit," she beamed. "Last of the Time Lords—all three of you!"
His mouth twisted into what he hoped was a smile; to hear Rose joke again was amazing, brilliant, molto bene…but this single heart was working double-time. It plummeted again as Rose's own smile faltered.
"Something wrong, Doctor?"
"S'mores," he decided; and because she smiled, he continued. "I'll bet you Donna knows how to make a truly magnificent s'more."
He clambered to his feet and held out his hand, which Rose took gladly, hoisting herself up.
"Wilf probably taught her the tricks of the trade," he mused, embellishing the name with a wrinkled nose. "You've met Wilf, yeah? 'Course you have! Good man, Wilf."
Rose giggled as she hurried after him, down and around the spiral staircase.
"The world's putting itself back together," she said, holding his hand again when they reached the bottom, "and we're gonna go quiz Donna on s'mores."
"And?" he grinned, and looked down at her. Her head rested against his shoulder, and she was warm and golden, a whole sun. Just then, the truth was easy. "We've got time to burn."
