He still came to her in dreams. She wasn't sure if he was actually there, or only a stray piece of her imagination, but he was there and it was comforting. They could not speak, but holding hands was enough. Everyone needs a hand to hold. He walked with her through galaxies and into nebulae. They visited planet after planet, in endless solar systems. When she felt the dream ending, they would turn and face each other. Their lips moved in silent unison. "I love you", and she would wake to find an empty hand and an empty heart. The dreams continued, although less and less frequently. Once a week turned into once a month, then once a year. When at last she had nearly run out of days to live, she had not seen him for more than a decade. Then, one night, he was there. They clasped hands and began walking as they had done so many times before. Instead of walking through new, distant lands, they walked into places she had been before. Their first adventure. Their last. When she could feel the end in sight, he turned to face her. He grasped both of her hands and stepped forward to kiss her forehead. His lips began to move, and she was surprised to hear his voice again. The words that had waited so long to be spoken were finally heard. "I love you". And Rose Tyler never woke up.
Far away but closer than ever, a man in a blue box felt both hearts break in two. She had finally gone where he could not follow.