So this came to me suddenly, it might be just a one shot but if people like it I'll create it into a series of different moments of the Doctor's farewell tour.

The Doctor was on the way to his death. It was as if he was walking his final route to the guillotine. It was his farewell tour the only joy in a dying man pain. He had a list. Of course he had, who wouldn't? He took a short glance down at inked names of the people he loved. He smiled when he saw the next name on the list. It would be just another goodbye for them now, how many times had he seen her leave and when had it ever grown easier?

The Doctor danced around the magnificent Tardis wardrobe, spinning as he picked out a selection of appropriate clothing. Finally he was dressed and adjusted the bow tie for a final touch. Then he punched the ordinates into the Tardis and waited.

South London, SE15 if he remembered correctly, and he always did. The playgroup was situated in a church, using its hall from nine til three. He took a breath before swinging the door open.

"John Smith?" A harassed young woman dressed entirely in pink greeted him "Thanks so much for making it" She gripped his hand shaking it firmly "I'm Joyce, come in" Joyce ushered the Doctor into a brightly coloured hall that was packed with children creating havoc. "Just settle right in, the children are very accepting. Snack times at eleven, but before then just help the kids." Joyce sent the Doctor stumbling in the direction of a small table decorated with beads and plasticine.

"Hi" The Doctor waved gawkily at a gaggle of small children who had run over to meet him. There was no reply.

"Who are you?" A little girl stated pointedly after a long silence.

"I'm John, John Smith. Who are you?" The Doctor bent down to shake the girl's hand.

"I'm Britney. Why are you shaking my hand?" The little girl raised her eyebrows and caused the Doctor to quietly drop her hand.

"I'm Chloe" Another little girl piped up next to Britney.

"Hi Chloe" The Doctor smiled across at her, keeping his hands firmly to his sides.

"I'm 4 and a half. Aren't you going to shake my hand?"

Obliged the Doctor shook her hand firmly, "4 and a half is very old" he nodded wisely to the delight to the girls. "And who are you?" He asked a small girl who was hidden behind Britney.

"I'm Rose." The little girl pouted

"Hi Rose" The Doctor's face broke into a huge genuine smile "Do you want me to shake your hand?"

"Yep please" Rose smiled shyly at the Doctor giving him her hand.

"And how old are you?" He asked still gripping her hand.

"I'm four and a bit." Rose beamed proudly up at him.

"I'm older." Britney nudged Rose out of the way. "I'm almost five. I'm going to big school soon."

"I'm going t…"

"You're too small for BIG school."

Rose gave a little yelp "Britney just hurt my toe…"

"I did not!"

"You did!" Rose looked at the Doctor reproached "She did." She whispered as if it was only for his ears.

He nodded comfortingly. "I know" he grinned at the girls, clapping his hands in the process "let's play a game!"

"What game?" Britney asked suspiciously.

"A very good game." The Doctor leaned towards the group as if telling a secret "It's called Run. It's a very special game. Someone is "it" and when they touch you have to stand very still and wait until someone comes and tags you and shouts RUN!"

"It sounds like stuck in the mud." Britney looked displeased.

"No. It's Run."

"It's stuck in the mud" he heard Britney whisper to the others and they nodded knowingly back.

"Who else wants to play?" The Doctor stood up expectantly calling children all around the room to him. Once he was hidden by a mass of children and explained he rules. "Right… One… two… three… RUN!" He yelled watching the children race around the room, and standing back content that having made up the game in a few seconds it was actually not that bad. Suddenly his calm aurora was broken by a tearful Rose running up to him. "Rose!" The Doctor bent down in panic "Are you ok?"

"I feel down." She whimpered gesturing down to a scarlet gash on her knee.

"Ouch" The Doctor told her simply, holding her hand and leading her towards the toilets. Placing her on the cabinet he gently washed her knee letting her childish tears wet the top of his head. "Hey, hey don't cry Rosie" He handed her a crumpled hankie "There you go, let's wipe those tears away."

"I want my mummy" Rose sniffed as the Doctor cleaned her eyes.

The Doctor stood back and stared concerned at the knee "Well, I think we might have to operate." He told her seriously

"Whaa?" Rose's eyes widened in panic.

"Or maybe we'll just use this" The Doctor grinned producing a small Barbie plaster from his endless pockets, and gentled pressed it down on Rose's knee.

"Kiss it better." She told him "Like mummy does."

Obligingly the Doctor bowed his head pressing his lips into the soft plastic. For a moment he just stayed there, letting her play daintily with his hair, and thinking. Suddenly the Doctor looked up and for a second Rose looked down and their eyes locked. She didn't understand, his eyes were like her grandpa's, lonely, old. "I want my mummy."

"Of course." The Doctor helped her down from the cabinet and through to the hall where Jackie was waiting.

"What happened to you?" Jackie shrieked in concern, bundling Rose into a coat and pulling her out of the door. Rose didn't even look back. But he looked on; as always the Doctor watched the ones he loved, alone. "Goodbye Rose Tyler." He murmured softly and forced himself to tear himself away. Then looked back down at the list and with a defiant stroke he crossed a line through her name. "Goodbye Rose." He watched a tear smudge the ink and create and blue river, linking all his friends together.