Thunder rumbled in the dark sky bringing the promise of rain to come. Pulling his long coat about him, a man stepped out from a most unusual box and into the field before him. Carved stones were scatted in rows and columns about the moorland with a few trees interlaced in between.
The man's eyes glanced from grave to grave as he walked amongst the stones. Mud caked his white trainers and more thunder was heard overhead. Soon he arrived at small grave dappled with shadows from an overhanging tree branch. Kneeling down in front of the stone, the man reached out and traced the words etched into the granite.
ROSE MARION TYLER
1987-2006
Lost in the battle at Canary Wharf.
Beloved daughter and friend.
The man sighed to himself as painful memories filled his head. Her wail echoed in his head as she was pulled toward the Void. He screamed her name as Pete Tyler materialized just in time to catch her. She cast him one final desperate glance and disappeared with her father to his world.
A rain drop landed on his head as he pulled himself to his feet. Bringing a hand up to his face, the man rubbed his eyes trying to forget. Rose stood before him as a hologram in the TARDIS. For her, he was at Dårlig Ulv Stranden—Bad Wolf Bay. Tears brimmed in her eyes as she gazed up at him.
"Rose Tyler, defender of the earth!" he had said to her. "You're dead officially back home. So many people died that day and you've gone missing. You're on the list of the dead."
The wind had picked up at the bay, blowing her hair into her face. He forced a smile at her as he whispered, "Here you are, living a life day after day... One adventure I can never have."
"Am I ever going to see you again?" she choked as tears ran down her face.
"You can't," he had said with a heavy heart.
The man tilted his head back and looked up to the sky. The rain fell softly on his face occasionally, but he paid no heed.
"I-," Rose had started to say before bowing her head. He gazed down at her, wanting to comfort her and tell her that it would be alright.
"I love you," she finally wept. The man had felt his hearts break and he fought back tears.
"Quite right too," he murmured. Rose Tyler—his Rose—nodded and sobbed softly. The man knew he had only a few moments left before her image would disappear.
"And I suppose," he whispered. "If it's my last chance to say it… Rose Tyler—"
Rose faded away as the gap closed, leaving him alone with tears falling down his face.
The man let out a choking sob as the memory faded with her. He wiped the rain from his face and felt salty tears run down his checks in place of them. Covering his face with his hands, he stood there as still as the stone in front of him. He knew he should be happy that she was still alive, and not trapped in the Void. But she was still trapped; trapped in a parallel world so far away from him. And he could never see her again.
Sighing softly, he reached out and placed a hand on the grave.
"Goodbye, Rose Tyler," he said softly. Turning away from the stone, he walked back to his ship and opened the wooden door. He then stopped and peered through the rain, pinpointing the stone once more. Hidden under the shadow of the oak the grave stood. The empty grave; one that would never be filled. The Doctor turned away once more, closing the TARDIS door behind him with shattered hearts.