He quickly ducked behind a rack of frilly yellow blouses, holding his breath. This was wrong. He should never have come here. In doing so he was being a foolish, self-indulgent fool. The king of foolishness. Ruler of all things stupid and very not clever.
But how long had it been since he'd looked into her eyes?

No. He had to leave. Only a hundred yards to the TARDIS. He'd march right out of the shop with his head down and go straight back. Yes. That's what he'd do. He'd do that right away.
But how long had it been since he'd heard her—

"Excuse me sir, you looking for something? Wife, girlfriend perha..." the beautiful blonde woman trailed off when she noticed the intensity of the customer's gaze. "You alright mate? Sorry if I've disturbed, I thought..."

"No," said the man. She cast her eyes over him as he continued to speak – reasonably tall, young, and attractive, with simply phenomenal hair. "No, I was just ... just looking."

She snapped back to attention. Do your job, you daft girl, you can't afford to lose it. "Right, well, do you need any help or something? I'm Rose, I work here," she smiled, adding slightly flirtier eyelashes to her usual happy-to-help face.

"Rose," the customer repeated, his lips curving into a sad smile. "I know a girl called Rose."

"Is she who you're shopping for? There's a better choice up on the second floor, you know – bit more pricey like, but definitely worth it."

The Doctor shook his head, looking back at her. She was exactly how he had known to be, every inch as beautiful as before. If he'd timed it right, she was due to meet him – the old, angry him – in two days. She'd lose her job. Almost lose her life, too. But then she'd take an outstretched hand, the offer of a man who'd loved her from the moment he'd clapped eyes on her, and she'd sail away with him through the stars, through time, through space. Then she'd lose him, and he'd lose her. He always would.

"No thank you, Rose," he said, studying her once more. This would be the last chance he'd have to do so, after all. "Just coming here was worth it."

Rose frowned for a moment, confused by the customer's odd words. He then inclined his head politely and solemnly, that indescribable, wistful hint still in his gaze, making him look hundreds of years older than he was. Then, straightening his bow tie, the man turned to leave, walking away from her, past mannequins and clothes racks.

A gut instinct told her not to let him go yet, to grab her chance while she could. "Wait a minute, sir!" she called after him, "I didn't catch your name!"

He stopped as she caught up to him. "John Smith," he said, taking in her doubtful expression. She opened her mouth to speak, but he cut her short. "Goodbye, Rose. And also ... hello."