"I love you," Rose Tyler choked out. It played like a broken record in the Doctor's head. No, it was what happened next that took the Doctor's mind by storm: "and I suppose, if it's my last chance to say it…Rose Tyler," and then the nothingness. The sadness the Doctor felt was like nothing before. Sure, he had lost people he loved, but he loved Rose. And she loved him. Donna was a bit of a distraction, he supposed, but not enough to stop the hurt. It was years before his encounter with Martha. It took him so long to recover, and his heart was still sore. He spent that time between trying to get to Rose. He debated punching a hole in the universes and saving only himself and Rose, but he knew Rose would never forgive him for that.

"Doctor," said the voice beside him. "Doctor! Listen to me, you stupid Time Lord!" The Doctor turned to the girl beside him. Martha, if he was remembering correctly. She rarely spoke in such rude terms, so he must have spaced out-no pun intended-for quite some time.

"Oh, yes, sorry. Where were we?" The Doctor scratched the back of his head, a confused look masking his sadness. "Better question, when are we?" The Doctor looked around, seeing nothing but zeppelins and—the Doctor's confused demeanor dropped. He knew exactly where they were.

"I dunno, you're the one who brought us!" Martha snapped. "It took me almost an hour to get your attention! What is wrong with you? It's like you were flying the TARDIS asleep!"

"That's because I was, Martha," he said, face turned towards the zeppelins. "Why are we here, though, is the real question. We shouldn't be able to get here. Not in a trillion universes should we be here. It's impossible!" The Doctor started forward, talking a mile a minute. "You see Martha, I've been here only twice before—twice! This kind of thing, it's impossible! I shouldn't have been able to come a third time—hey, I shouldn't have been able to come the first time! Where is she then, huh? Where's Bad Wolf? She's the one who brought us here, I'm sure of it." The Doctor was running now, Martha trying hard to keep up.

"I haven't a clue what you're saying, Doctor! Who's Bad Wolf? Where are we? Doctor stop running! I have questions!"

"Of course, you do, Martha, but this is more important. This," the Doctor stopped running in front of a little flat. "This is her home, Martha. Well, it was a few years back. Well, in our universe. But, if I am very, very lucky-as I tend to be-she lives here now in this universe."

"Whose house is it, Doctor?" Martha's anger spiked as the Doctor left her on the sidewalk. "Doctor! What are you doing, Doctor?"

The Doctor stood, still as a statue, staring at the door. Before he even lifted a hand to knock, it was opened. The Doctor could only stare at the sight before him. A little boy, three or four years old—he supposed it was Jackie and Pete's kid, if only it didn't look so much like him. The Doctor kneeled so he was at eye level with the kid. "And what's your name, then?

"Gawifway," the little boy responded. The Doctor was nearly certain the boy said Gallifrey (he couldn't be certain, though-the TARDIS didn't translate baby talk well). It broke his heart but healed it in a way he couldn't quite understand.

"I'm the Doctor. Is your mummy home?" The little boy peered up at him with strong brown eyes, the same shade as his own. "You're a sweet tyke, aren't you? Can you get someone inside to come talk to me?" The little boy nodded, waddling off and calling for his mummy in a sing-song voice.

"What is it, Rey?" A voice answered. "Did you open the door again? I told you to stop doing that!" Footfalls grew louder as the speaker neared the open door. The Doctor stood again, his expression stern. "No. It can't be! Is that really you, Doctor?" Jackie Tyler exclaimed, looking at the Doctor.

"It's really me, Jackie."

"Oh, come here, you!" Jackie enveloped him in a hug, nearly collapsing his lungs. "I can't believe you're here! Oh, just wait until Rose gets home from Torchwood! She'll be thrilled!" After releasing the Doctor, Jackie patted the little boy on his caramel-brown hair. "And this, Doctor, is little Gallifrey."

"Yeah, the little tyke himself told me." Doctor smiled down at Gallifrey. "So, you said Rose is at Torchwood right now? When does she come back?"

"Yeah, she's at Torchwood. She comes home in just a bit. Come in, Doctor, have some tea. And invite whoever that is too. Who is she, anyway?"

"OH! Right, sorry. Jackie, Martha, Martha, Jackie. Is Pete home?"

"No, he's on a business trip to France. He goes by Peter now, though."

"Right, right. And I assume Gallifrey is yours?" The Doctor asked. He was apprehensive of the answer. If Gallifrey was his, it meant Rose lied at Bad Wolf Bay. If he was Jackie's, then he wasn't the Doctor's. "Little tyke from the end of the world?" The Doctor said with a laugh.

"You really think I'd name my kid Gallifrey? Really, Doctor, how stupid are you? No, Rey is Rose's boy. She didn't tell you in Norway?" Jackie laughed a bit. "Although, I'm glad you think I'm young enough to still have kids." The Doctor's face turned stormy, his brown eyes carefully guarded. He had figured, when he saw the little boy, because he looked so much like his current self, but it was still a shock. "Anyway, Doctor, I think you should come in for a cup of tea. You've got nothing better to do than wait for Rose, anyway. Come in, Martha, was it?"

The Doctor studied Gallifrey closely. He supposed it had been several years since Doomsday. He just assumed Rose would have said something. In a way, she did, but not truthfully. She said the baby was her mum's. "How long is "just a bit," Jackie. When exactly is Rose supposed to be home?" The Doctor asked, but Jackie and Martha were already in the kitchen. It was only the Doctor and Gallifrey. His son. "Hello, Gallifrey. Do you know who your dad is?" It had been so long since the Doctor had a family. He was afraid of it, now, because he had to kill them all in the Time War. For nothing, because the Daleks were still out in the universe, alive. But his people were not.

"No. Mummy said Daddy twavews." Gallifrey smiled. Of course, Rose said that. She didn't want to upset her son but couldn't tell him the truth. And if Gallifrey was the Doctor's son, that meant he was a Time Lord, which was scarier than anything else.

"I'm not the only one, anymore, am I, Gallifrey? God, that name is awful, isn't it?" The Doctor laughed a bit. "Not many options for nicknames, is there?"

"I rather like the name, thank you," said a voice behind him. The Doctor froze. He knew that voice. He would always remember that voice. He stood up and turned toward the voice. "Oh, my God. Is that really you? Doctor?" She had barely finished her question before the Doctor caught her in a fierce hug. "Doctor! You're crushing me!" Rose exclaimed, laughing through her tears.

"Good. I'm never letting go of you again, my Rose Tyler."

"Not even to help me re-name Gallifrey?" She laughed.

"Oh, alright, maybe. Goodness, Rose, I love you."

"Say that again, Doctor," Rose commanded.

"Rose Tyler, I love you." The Doctor released Rose just enough to kiss her. "I have been to the beginning and end of your earth and a billion others, and I have not found one thing I love more than you."

"I love you, too, Doctor."

The Doctor stepped back from Rose but kept a hand on her arm. He studied her for a moment, remembering every detail of her. Her blonde hair, longer and wavier than a few years ago, her dark brown eyes were older, but she was still Rose. Her lips were just as kissable as they were, though. That hadn't changed. The Doctor finally released her, scratching the back of his head. "So, no one else? Not in four years?" Well, four years, six months, and three days.

"Sure, maybe a bloke here or there, but you're the only one for me, Doctor. I never even liked the other blokes. What about you? Have you got anyone else?" Rose asked shyly, pulling Rey toward her. The Doctor gave them a sad smile.

"Well, I've got a companion right now, but she's not really much to me. She's only here to make sure I don't go over the edge. I only ever loved you, Rose." The Doctor's eyes welled with tears. "Her name's Martha, by the way. She's in the kitchen with your mum."

"How did you get here, Doctor?" Rose asked, ignoring the comment of Martha. She didn't care, she knew her Doctor would never lie. She trusted him implicitly.

"Good question," the Doctor replied, bending down to Gallifrey's level again. "I think, Rose, that he brought me here. Is she your Mummy, Gallifrey?"

"Yes! I love my mummy." Gallifrey smiled up at Rose as he hugged her legs. The Doctor looked up at Rose, who was smiling sadly down at Gallifrey, tears bright in her eyes.

"Yea, I'm your mummy, aren't I, Gallifrey? That's your dad. The Doctor is your dad. And he's finally home," Rose said, her voice cracking. "He's as good as ever, isn't he, Gallifrey? Alright, in for dinner, you little monster. Go find Gran. I've got to talk to your dad for a minute, alright?"

Gallifrey nodded and bounced into the house, looking for Jackie. Rose watched him until he turned the corner of the hall, and then she stared into the empty space. She couldn't meet the Doctor's eyes. The Doctor just stared at Rose. "Rose Tyler," the Doctor started.

"No, don't talk. Let me explain, yea? About our little Doomsday kid."