Title: She Remembers
By: Midnight Unicorn
A/N: Review at your leisure

When it happens, Donna isn't surprised. This is just the way things work out. Of course she would see him again. Of course she would remember.

Sometimes in dreams she would see him, the blue box, the things they'd done, but by the time she sat down for breakfast only a feeling remained, like something was missing, like she was missing something important. She could only dismiss it, plowing forward with her uneventful life, although she didn't see it that way.

It was Christmas, cold, cloudy overhead so maybe it would snow. She was window shopping, no real intent to buy anything. Everything for her friends and family had already been bought and wrapped and awaited deliverance.

She was just walking, head tipped to one side, barely noticing her surroundings, expression dreamy and preoccupied. And then there he was, running out of an alley right in front of her.

And she remembered.

"Doctor."

He turns quickly, distracted, almost missing her at first glance, and then despite whatever imminent peril he or the world may be in, he freezes.

It hurts, that's what really surprises her. Remembering the fun they had together, the pain and the laughter caught up in the tears, and knowing the things he knew, his memories that weren't hers. It bloody hurt to have her brain burning inside of her.

But she didn't cry, she didn't make a sound, her gaze locked with his.

"Doctor, we have to go!"

She is startled by the fragile girl at his side, with wild dark hair, her determination blazing in her focused face because Donna is nothing to her, and she is so bright with naivety that it hurts, too. River Song doesn't know her fate, but Donna does.

She looks back at the man, his face white with despair and shock. He looks older, new lines by his eyes and there's a diagonal scar on his temple, digging into his hair line. She can't help but wonder how long it has been for him.

"Donna."

A smile graces her face as the pain consumes and overwhelms her fragile human body.

"Thank you."

He's not fast enough to catch her as she falls, and River is hanging on his arm, keeping him from going to Donna, reminding him that the planet is about to explode.



Strangers pass by, and whisper. A woman just collapsed on the street, dead, but she was smiling. How weird.

As soon as I saw the season finale I had this idea as I'm sure many others did, but I just let it stew. And then today I was like 'Why am I NOT writing this?' So here it is, hot off the press and unedited. If you want to make suggestions, I may incorporate them. I feel like there's room for more.