A/N: I was inspired by a post on LJ in which the poster speculated that maybe Rose would be the one to find her way back to the Doctor instead of the other way around. This is my take on that idea. Please read and enjoy!


"Doctor..." The ghostly voice filled the air around him as he stood at the TARDIS controls-alone. He listened intently for more, another whisper, desperately wanting to hear that voice again but he didn't. Part of him had died that day on the beach and now every time he was alone he heard her voice and he was reminded of just how alone he truly was.

The messy haired Time Lord moved back to his work, tinkering with the controls, just trying to occupy himself. Martha had left him and now Donna was gone as well. He'd known all along that it wouldn't last forever, it never did, and if it wasn't her then he didnt want it to.

"Doctor..." There was that voice again, the one that haunted him in his dreams. His hearts beat faster, thumping in agony at the sound. Why was he being tortured like this?

"I'm burning up a sun just to say goodbye."

"You look like a ghost."

"Hold on--"

The Doctor spun in his converse clad feet, brown eyes falling upon the scene now playing out in front of him. How many times had he gone over this day in his head? If he'd only have spoke faster, just said it, how much better he would have felt now. He knew he should shut off the replay, but he was frozen in memory, unable.

"What're you gonna do?"

"Oh, I've got the TARDIS. Same old life. Last of the Time Lords."

"On your own?"

By now he had his eyes closed. He didn't need to watch the scene to know that now he nodded and she broke down into tears with her next sentence.

"I lo-- I love you."

"Quite right, too."

Idiot. Imbeccile. Why didn't you just say it? Stop beating around the bush, you've only got seconds left! He was screaming at himself in his head, eyes flying open to watch the end.

"And I suppose...if it's one last chance to say it..."

The Time lord closed his tear-flooded brown eyes once more, it hurt too much.

"Rose Tyler..."

"I love you." The Doctor finished what the hologram couldn't say. What he couldn't say that day. Those three words that he'd robbed her of, those three words he'd never get to tell her, those three words that haunted him.

"I love you too, Doctor."

Big brown eyes flew open wide, surely he was immagining things again. As his watery eyes focused on the space in front of him, where he was greeted by a face and a warm smile he thought he'd never see again.

"Rose!" He nearly gasped, his chocolate eyes taking her in as if she would disappear at any moment.

"That's me." She beamed, peroxide blonde hair framing her face. Those smoky, black lined eyes stared up at him and glinted with mischeif and pride.

The Doctor said nothing and yet eveything he'd missed out on was spoke in his actions. He swiftly closed the space between them with his long legs and pulled her lithe body flush against his, bringing his lips to hers to claim them in a kiss.

He didn't have to say anything. The feel of his lips against hers, soft yet demanding and penitent, spoke for him. After all, they do say, actions speak louder than words.


A/N: Well, that's it! I hope you enjoyed. Please review! It feeds my imagination, really!