A/N: Adding in this author's note to say a couple things! First of all, I am such a massive Who fan. I wrote this in between classes in my college's library…well, I wrote about a paragraph before my mind wandered and I began to write 'bad wolf' all over the page and doodled a little TARDIS. I hope you enjoy it.
Secondly, I'm not sure if I'll continue this! I kind of want to, but I don't want it to be like everyone else's stories on here (which have become almost like a bedtime ritual for me…I try and read one every night). Let me know in a review or PM if I should continue this, or leave it as a one-shot.
Thanks for reading! I appreciate it!
The waves crashed relentlessly, never-ceasing reminders that I was here. Resolutely stuck at Bad Wolf Bay. The man next to me caused so many questions to race through my mind. He was the Doctor, and yet, he was not. But he had been the one to say the words I had so desperately wanted to hear, not my Doctor.
I didn't know what to think.
His hand was gripping mine, a familiar and distant sensation. Instead of feeling and savoring the moment, I was brought back to early days, years ago…ages ago. Despite how crazy it all had been, it seemed simpler than this.
He looked like him. His hand in mine was his; it felt like it always had, held mine in the same firm and comforting manner. He carried himself just like I remembered. But there was one crucial difference—he had one heart, not the two of a Time Lord. He was part human.
There he stood—my equal. The one thing that could have kept me from being with the Doctor 'forever', as I had once naively proclaimed, was my own humanity, and now this Doctor would endure its sting as well.
I knew he had done this for me. He thought it would make me happy. And perhaps one day it would. But having him leave once again hurt even more than the first time.
"Rose?"
I looked up from the sand at the sound of his voice. It was all so surreal. No matter how many planets I traveled to, or time periods I crossed with the Doctor, this was the hardest to grasp. Hearing my name spoken by this…other Doctor…it didn't feel right. Yet.
But the Doctor believed I could be happy. And even if it wasn't what we wanted, maybe it was what we needed. He may not be the Doctor I fell in love with, or the one I'd been trying to get back to all this time. But he was the only Doctor I could have, and that would have to be enough. It would be enough.
I looked over at him, noting the concern that creased his brow. I exhaled deeply and then tried a smile. I didn't know where to go from here, but we'd be able to experience that together, two people who were entirely out of place in this parallel world. I squeezed his hand, feeling relief when I saw his face relax and the worry fade away.
"Let's go home, yeah? You must be hungry." It wasn't the most appropriate thing to say after all that had happened throughout the course of the day, but it was all I could think of.
I carefully watched his face, expecting him to disappear before my eyes.
"Oh, no, I'm fine." But his stomach gave a grumble of protest. "Weeeellll…I suppose a quick meal wouldn't hurt."
"That's what I thought," I smirked, pulling him away from the surf. "I can fry us up something at home. Let's go."
Effortlessly, instinctually, he responded: "Allons-y!"