Chapter 1: Wallow in Your Misery, Doctor

London. Her former hometown. He couldn't seem to leave even though he knew she was never coming back. Leaving Jack and Martha somewhere safe was all he could do at the moment so he could come back without them knowing how upset he was feeling, the absence of her presence finally taking it's toll on his heart.

The Doctor let out a sad sigh as he stuck his hands in his pockets and walked up to the apartments his companion used to live in. Walking inside brought many memories to him as he continued further into the building, heading up to where she had called home before he came and ruined everything.

Walking up the steps to the last floor, the Doctor entered the abandoned apartment that he had locked after she had left. He stopped in the doorway, picturing his companion, her mother, and her supposed boyfriend sitting in the living room, happily chatting together over some random thing. Picturing her smiling brought a sad one to his face, He sighed again and shook his head, walking past the living room and into the hallway. While in the hallway, each door he passed he opened, remembering the person who had lived in the room. The one he was looking in now was the girls' mother's. He chuckled.

'She was the first person to have ever slapped me in 900 years.' He thought lightly, smiling more so then when he entered. He excited the room and traveled down the hall. Stopping outside the door, he took a deep breath, knowing he would probably break down when inside the room.

'You could always turn around and leave. You haven't gone in yet, you can save yourself from the pain.' He told himself. He pondered for a moment in front of the door when he pushed it open.

Purple walls, pink bedding, pink curtains, and a messy purple floor. Just as she had left it when he had taken her away to go on their many wondrous adventures. Yes, he brought her back once in a while to visit her mother and her boyfriend, but she never did pick up her room. If she did, she'd find a way to mess it up before leaving. The thought made the Doctor laugh for a split second. His smile never faded as he went and sat on her bed, looking around the messy room.

A year had passed and everything was covered in a thin lair of dust. He turned to the vanity that sat in the corner of the room, next to the bed, and noticed it was littered with clothing, make up, and some jewelry. The drawer was open slightly, clothes spewing from it's mouth. He chuckled. He turned his head, but something caught his eye from the inside of the drawer. He couldn't see it, but it was something shiny. He got up and walked around the bed (along with making sure he didn't step on anything) and examined the drawer. Opening it, it revealed more clothes and a small black box with a silver bow on it. Curiosity made him pick up the small box and take the lid off.

Inside was a golden locket, two hearts on the front and a long silver chain that it hung on. Taking the chain in his fingers while putting the box down, he opened the locket slowly. The contents inside the locket nearly tore him apart. An inscription on the left side of the locket and a picture of him and the girl he loved on the right side.

Please don't forget me, Doctor.

I love you and always will.

Love, Rose Tyler

Tears formed in the corner of the Doctor's eyes as he closed the locket and held it close to his chest. His smile finally faded away as he sat back down on the bed. Painful memories flooded his head of their last moments together, not even being able to be with each other for the last moment, but instead a hologram to her. He had almost told her too, how much he had loved and cared for her and how he was sorry for doing this to her.

Tears solemnly fell down the Doctor's cheeks as he opened the locket again and smiled.

"Ah, Rose Tyler. How could I ever forget someone like you." The Doctor unclasped the chain and placed it around his neck. He held the golden locket in his hand and got up, finally able to leave the room. Tucking the necklace into his shirt, he locked all of the doors along with the front door and traveled back to he famous TARDIS.

Inside, the Doctor place in the coordinates to where he wanted to go. Two years into the past. The time before he had ever met Rose Tyler. The wanting of being able to see her one last time was his reason for going and wanted to see what it would have possibly been like without him ever coming into her life.

Making the TARDIS work was easy, he pressed a button and the time machine went off in a frenzy, sending the Doctor back into time where he wanted to be. It had only taken a minute for the trip to be final and the TARDIS soon stopped. Taking a deep breath, the Doctor stepped away from the machine and walked out the door.

Two years in time and yet nothing looked different. All except the graffiti on the walls which happened top say Bad Wolf wasn't there, but other than that nothing had changed. The Doctor smiled.

"Right. Now to keep my distance from her." He said even though he knew it was going to be nearly impossible to do. The Doctor walked down the street and immediately saw Rose, who was probably on her way to work. He put his hands in his pockets and secretly followed behind her, making sure she wasn't able to see him. He saw her walk into a store and decided to wait a few before going in.

A half hour went by as people began to stream the sidewalks and the streets, either on their way to work or on their way to school. The Doctor sighed as he began walking again and entered the store.

"Hello sir. Can I help you?" a voice rang. The Doctor smiled and turned to the voice. Looking into the girl's chocolate brown eyes made him a bit speechless at the moment which made her look a bit uncomfortable. "Uh…sir?" The Doctor snapped out of his daze.

"Uh, right, sorry. Kinda spaced out abit." He replied. Rose smiled.

"It's alright." The Doctor nodded his head as he went and looked around the store. In the corner of the store, he found a small glass rose and picked it up. He felt the need to buy something since he was there and decided that he was going to get the rose.

Bringing it up to the counter, Rose smiled again.

"Is this for someone special?" She asked curiously. The Doctor thought about her question and soon nodded his head.

"Actually…yes. It is." He said, smiling at her as she put the rose in a small box to keep it safe. He took out some money from his pocket and gave it to her for the item.

"Well, I'm sure she'll like it." She replied, placing the money in the register and handing him the bag.

"You think?" he asked, not knowing why he was still talking. He was sure that his mind was controlling him to somehow keep Rose talking, and it seemed to be working.

Smiling, Rose nodded her head.

"Uh huh. I think it's really sweet." The Doctor nodded her head.

"Well then, I guess I should be leaving. Have a nice day Rose." He smiled one last time and left before he could see the confused look on the girl's face.

Upon leaving the store, the Doctor walked down the street and came upon a flower stand. He looked at the flowers and spotted the roses.

"So much for keeping my distance." He said to himself as he picked up a bouquet of red and white roses and paid for them. A card came with the flowers and he wrote a small poetic like note on it, but made sure not to sign it.

Walking back to Rose's complex, the Doctor placed the bouquet and the small black box containing the rose outside her door. After placing them there, he went back to the TARDIS.

"Goodbye…Rose Tyler." A tear fell down his cheek as he went back to the future.

A Rose, by any other name

Would sound as sweet, but still

Not as sweet as you'll ever be

I'm Sorry.