Author's Notes: I meant to post this story before BBC started to broadcast the Thirteenth Doctor's episodes. Obviously, I did not make it. LOL! I hope that you enjoy this little reunion story, anyway. :)

The story takes place after Clara, but before Bill, and completely ignores "The Husbands of River Song." :D

Forever Rose - The Surprise Visitor - Chapter 1 of 2

"I shouldn't be doing this!" the Doctor muttered to himself…just like he always did. However, as usual, he ignored his own warning and set the TARDIS controls to take him to the one place where he felt he needed to be. This body not only looked older than his last few had (sometimes he lost count), but it felt older, too...so did his mind…and his soul. Lately, things had been especially off, just like he had told that charming young waitress in the diner in the middle of the desert. It was as if there was something big that he just could not remember and it made him…restless. Therefore, he directed the TARDIS to a place…and a person…that always brought him some peace – even if that peace was tempered with remembered pain.

The TARDIS materialized with a slight jolt and a small smile appeared on his lips as he remembered how the Old Girl almost always made the landings extra rough while she had traveled with them. It was almost as if the ship was trying to bring them together every time she threw them to the…he paused to think for a moment…grating…yes…the floor had been metal grating back then. Sometimes they landed practically on top of each other and the feeling of her soft body against his would make him think things that an ancient alien just should not think about a young woman. Therefore, he never made the move; no matter how sorely he was tempted, no matter how much he wanted to, and no matter how fast she made his hearts beat. He never gave her the words, either – not even when she said them to him – even though he felt the same. Now she was gone, completely out of his reach, spending her life being loved by someone else. That was exactly why he was here, though. He hoped to catch a glimpse of a younger and more carefree version of her. It would remind him why he needed to continue, to push past this slump, and find a new purpose.

"This is such a bad idea, though!" he grumped to himself again. However, the TARDIS gave him a mental nudge of encouragement and he strode to the door, anyway. When he threw it open, he found himself in a very familiar location. He had brought her back here many times when they traveled together, even though he had never really done the same for any of his past companions. However, it had made her happy, and her happiness had been everything to him…and it still was. In fact, that was the only reason that he had let her go in the end. He would not have been able to give her any of the things that his half-human self could – such as a life lived together. He truly believed that when all was said and done, she would be happier with the Metacrisis – even if that meant that the full Time Lord version would have to live on without her. However, in the end, his companions always left him - in one way or the other. In fact, he should have grown used to it. There had even been several more that he had cared about since the last time that she had been in the TARDIS. However, she had always been so much more to him than just a companion. Somehow, she held a place in his hearts that the others had not managed to touch…and that is why he continued to visit her like this. Such were the thoughts of the Time Lord as he finally stepped out into the Powell Estate.

Immediately, his mind flew back to all of the times his Ninth and Tenth selves had been there with her. His gloom lifted enough for him to grin as he remembered the first time that his leather clad-self had found her there after blowing up her shop and following the signature of the Nestene Consciousness. However, he then frowned again as he remembered the last time his pinstriped-self had been there with her, when the ghosts-that-turned-out-to-be-Cybermen had ultimately led to their separation. He then attempted to shake those dark thoughts out of his head as he headed to the same spot he always did when he came to visit her: the little playground on the edge of the Estate. He knew that it would be extremely dangerous for his psyche to see her during her teenage years, when she looked so much like the woman he used to know…and had cared for so deeply. Therefore, he always settled for seeing her as the child she used to be…innocent, playful, and happy. During his visits, he would simply watch her play and interact with the other children for a few minutes. She had even spoken to him a couple of times in passing. He cherished these new little memories of her, almost as much as the ones of her adult self…and he soon realized that he wasn't the only one.

A few times, he felt the time-skewed presence of another visitor, a handsome man in a long vintage coat, who was leaving just as soon as the Time Lord arrived…or vice versa. Jack had once told him that he had "dropped in once or twice" to check on her while she was growing up…and now the Doctor knew that the immortal man had not told him the whole story. Just like him, Jack seemed to derive comfort from seeing the young girl…and remembering the woman that she would become…and was therefore a frequent visitor. The Doctor had even asked the TARDIS if she dropped him there at the same time as Jack on purpose, but she would never answer…and so he knew it to be the truth. Even though he never spoke to the other man during these visits, (the timelines had to be maintained, after all), it was still good to see him. It was also nice for the Doctor to know that somebody else cared for her…and missed her…as much as he did.

Jack was nowhere in sight on this particular day, however, as he made his way to the bench on the edge of the playground. He sat down before he looked for her because he knew she would be there. The TARDIS always took him to where he needed to be…and right now, he needed to be where she was. Sure enough, as he looked out across the playground, he saw the daring young girl standing on top of the slide, talking and laughing with the slightly older dark-skinned boy on the ground below her.

Aw, Mickey, he thought to himself and his lips curled up into a small smile. A fine man in his own right. He knew that it was true no matter how much his Ninth-self had teased him out of the pure jealousy he felt because of the man's relationship with the woman who they had both wanted. Enough time and distance had occurred for the Doctor to finally be able to admit that motivation for his actions back then – even though he had refused to acknowledge it at the time.

His mind returned back to the current time and after just a few minutes of watching her play, and noting all the mannerisms that he recognized from her older self, he felt his mood…and soul…grow lighter. Just as he started to think that it was probably time to leave, though, he felt a presence sit down next to him. He automatically scooted over to give the newcomer some space before he started with surprise as a very familiar voice greeted him.

"Hello, Doctor," she said…and his hearts threatened to beat right out of his chest at the sound! "You're late, you know," she continued to comment in an almost casual manner. "I actually expected you yesterday. However, you always were a rubbish driver. Therefore, I guess that I can overlook it this time."

He finally forced himself to look at her face and the sight of the oh-so-achingly-familiar tongue-touched smile rendered him temporarily mute.

"Wow! The Doctor is speechless," she teased lightly even though her eyes were suspiciously moist. "Apparently, there really is a first time for everything…"

Just then the little girl ran past them, still laughing, and the older woman that she had become stopped talking in order to watch the younger version.

"R…Rose," the Doctor finally managed to find his voice, and that word…the most important word…quivered in the air between them.

"Don't worry, Doctor," she answered quietly. "I remember…Don't touch the baby!"

"No!" he answered more forcefully. That was not what was important at the moment – even though he was certainly glad that she remembered it because he was definitely in no shape to fight off any Reapers at this point. What was important, though, was the miracle…the impossibility…of her presence in this time and place. He simply had to know…and he had to touch her…if only to verify her reality and set his soul at ease.

"How?" he whispered and the emotion was thick in his rough voice as he held his arms open to her.

"Bad Wolf!" she answered simply before she grinned again and eagerly launched herself into his embrace.

*Doctor Who: Season 3: Episode 11 - "Utopia"