Inspired by "Here's To The Past" by A Day To Remember
The Doctor settled himself down onto a chair in one of the sitting rooms of the TARDIS with a weary sigh. He had just lost Donna, he had lost another person in his life that meant so, so much to him. He glanced at the leather bound book on the table beside him, looking inside at the memories it held was becoming something of a bad habit for the tiring Timelord. He pulled the weighted book into his lap, opening the front cover and staring down at the photographs he was beginning to memorize.
Rose had a habit of taking pictures, and The Doctor could never get enough of her insatiable urge to document each of their travels.
"Stand still for a moment!" She huffed, a playful smile in place on her full lips.
The Doctor feigned annoyance but posed for Rose and her camera, earning himself a happy squeak from the blonde has she took note of how the picture had come out.
"It's perfect!" She exclaimed, tucking the camera away without showing it to him, a common habit of hers. She liked him to see the pictures only after they were placed inside of her new photo album. The pages were likely to be filled quickly, and The Doctor could hardly wait to see everything she kept of their lives together.
The Doctor's eyes lingered on the page, quickly growing unfocused as his mind wandered. It had been a year since he had lost Rose and even with Martha and Donna both, he could not move past their separation. His mind continued to drift, imagining what it would be like if he and Rose had not been separated. They would be together, but then she would age, she would long for someone who aged with her. He could not have provided her with what she would have needed.
"Have you ever thought about the future Rose?" The Doctor asked as they trekked through the forest of a distant planet. "Your future I mean. Obviously we have traveled to such times."
Rose swung their entwined hands between them, a contemplative look on her face that The Doctor knew well, and found absolutely adorable.
"Well I always imagined myself as a mum, a few kids. I don't know if I would leave the city, but maybe age would change that." She said after a few moments of thinking it all over. "I would probably have to work, but I'd rather be one of those live-in mums."
"That sounds lovely Rose. Someone will make you very happy."
"Only if that someone is you." She replied with a soft smack against his arm before pausing their steps to pull him down into a kiss. They lingered that way for a few moments before parting and continuing their walk.
The Doctor's mind was plagued with thoughts of his timeless lifespan. How could he possibly be the man Rose would need if he couldn't grow old with her? Even if he stayed with her, it would not be the same. He would not age, he would not experience life like she would. He was like a statue, frozen in time, untouched by both it's cruel aging as well as the growth it provides. Pushing the thoughts away for the time being, he grinned widely at the woman before him as they continued their stroll.
Droplets of water splashed dully against the protective cover over the pictures as The Doctor finally registered the fact that he was crying. Not only was he crying, he was outright sobbing. His ancient, and still somehow young body heaved with effort as he sucked in a breath. Both of his hearts were beating overtime in his chest and he threw the photo album from its place upon his lap. The slap of leather against the ground was nearly deafening as it echoed through the empty TARDIS, reminding The Doctor of just how alone he really was.