"I'm hallucinating," thought the Doctor as he sagged against the TARDIS console, "This isn't real."
"Whether it's real or not doesn't matter," said the Valiant Child, "What matters is I am here."
He had not seen his pink and yellow human in many years, 200 years in fact. Oh how he had missed her, he thought as he collapsed to the floor of the TARDIS. As regeneration pain began to engulf him, The Defender of Earth crossed the room to kneel by his side. She gently cradled his face in her hands and whispered softly in his ear, "I've often wondered what your new face would look like. I've only just met it and now it plans to change again."
"You have to leave, even if you aren't real, the force of my regeneration energy will destroy everything," he gasped out.
The Bad Wolf smile softly, and asked, "Before you go is there anything you would like to say?"
The Doctor smirked softly and then grimaced.
"Quite right too. I suppose since it's my last chance to say it… Rose Tyler, I-"his voice broke as golden light began to suffuse his body.
"Go on," Rose prompted with a soft smile, "Finish it."
"I love you," he breathed, "and always will."
Having finished his sentence, he closed his eyes as they began to glow. He smiled, even if the Real Rose hadn't heard it, and never would, he had finally said it. As every particle of his body began to change he laughed. He always came up with the best lines as he regenerated. Maybe this new Doctor would be clever all the time.
