Disclaimer: I don't own it. Probably for the best too...

AN: Yes, another reunion one, maybe a little different. I'm not terribly impressed with it, but it wouldn't leave me alone. Read, Review and Enjoy!

The alarm buzzed loudly, and Rose opened her eyes reluctantly. All she wanted to do was lie in bed, not doing anything, until sleep came again. But she had promised.

With a long, loud groan, she pulled herself up and slowly made her way around the still slightly unfamiliar bedroom. Pete had set up a job interview for her with Torchwood. Jackie had hassled her until she'd agreed to go, the couple made quite a team and as annoyed as Rose was for being directed, she admitted to herself that it was amazing to see them working together

She pulled on a modest hot pink shirt, a pair of clean jeans and quickly applied some makeup. Rose stood in front of a full length mirror, and looked herself over. She ran a hand through her hair, and plastered a smile on her face.

It faded as she watched, not a chance, she thought. I can't even fool myself; no way I'm fooling Torchwood. Defender of the Earth my arse, Rose felt her lip tremble and sat back on the bed fighting to hold back tears. Blinking her eyes angrily, she tried not to think about Norway, about the beach, about him. Of course, the memories came unbidden as they had for the past month.

He was gone, and she wouldn't accept it, if she knew the Doctor—and she did—he wouldn't let the void stop him, no matter what he'd said. But he hadn't come, an entire month and he still wasn't here. Rose had tried to go about her new life, but little things refused to make it easy. She'd go to make a call on her new mobile and think about her old one, sitting in her room, the one that could call across time and space, she hadn't eaten chips, and even a stray cat reminded her of him and all their adventures.

Rose shook her head fiercely, and stood up, checking her makeup quickly before stalking out of her room. Hearing her feet clomping down the stairs, she made an effort to lighten her steps.

Jackie was waiting for her in the kitchen. She turned to Rose, brandishing a clean frying pan in her hand, "'Bout time you were up! One o' these days you're gonna sleep right through the day, an' I'm not fixin' you breakfast after nightfall!"

"It's fine mum! I'm up now, dressed and everything." Rose retorted gesturing at her clothed form.

"Oi, you're in one of your moods again. Shoulda guessed with the plates clanking in the cupboard 'cause of your stompin' down the stairs!" Jackie waved the pan toward the dishes.

"Mum, just leave it. I have to go." Rose made a dismissive motion and turned to the door.

For a moment, Jackie looked as if she was going to continue the conversation, but she just closed her mouth and stared at her daughter's receding back as the frying pan fell to her side.

oo0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Rose fell with the door as it closed with a bump. A hand went to her forehead as she brushed the hair from her face. Squeezing her eyes shut tight in frustration, Rose thumped her body once against the door causing the lock to jangle before sucking in a deep breath, preparing herself to apologize.

These petty bickerings were getting more and more constant and, though she didn't want to admit it, her mother was not entirely to blame. In fact, Jackie had probably adjusted best of all to the new world, with Rose being on the opposite side of the spectrum.

Rose turned slowly to face the door and reached for the handle.

She froze.

An unmistakable sound began echoing through the air.

Him.

Rose turned and dashed down the street, bickerings forgotten, toward the source of the sound. An impossible hope rising like a phoenix in her chest, she dodged around the many people so completely oblivious to the drama unfolding. Rose threw an apology over her shoulder as she took out a young man leaving some unnamed shop, her speed never wavering.

The echoed wheezing slowed, then stopped.

Rose paused for a moment, barely winded from her sprint, straining her ears and eyes for some hint of the elusive ship.

A creak. A creak from a door centuries old, being opened and shut by a man not much younger.
Rose spun toward the noise, her feet picking up the pace once again.

One corner turned, one fence hopped, and one rectangular, blue Public Call Box waiting.

She walked up to the familiar ship hardly daring to believe it was true. A flutter of brown caught her eye and she looked up from the TARDIS to see a long brown coat whip around the corner at the far end of the alleyway.

Hope, love, longing and many other emotions flared to life as she quickly followed. Turning the corner, Rose searched the sea of people. Her gaze zeroed in on a wild brown mass of hair.

There he was, standing in front of a shop window, just looking at the display. Time seemed to slow down as she walked closer.
"Doctor."
Mere meters from him, Rose finally dared say it.

The man, though he'd not been moving, froze.

After a moment, his head rose from the display, his body turned to her slightly and his eyes met hers.

Unshed tears blurred Rose's gaze as she stared at the Doctor, her Doctor. A disbelieving grin came unbidden to her face…then fled.

The Doctor had gone pale, a fact accented by his grey suit coat. His face showed only shock and a sorrow so deep he seemed to drown in it. No happiness, no love, no hope.

Rose's face crumpled into a questioning frown, her emotion still thick in her throat. "Doctor? Doctor, it's me. Are you all ri—?"

"Stop."

"What?" Rose pulled back.

"Stop. Now. Just don't."

"But Doctor—"

His eyes flashed. The Doctor took a step forward and, his voice hard, hissed through his teeth, "I said stop. Stop now. I don't care who or what you are, just stop."

He spun quickly to leave and walked past her, back to the alley. Rose, stunned, turned a moment after him and shouted. "Doctor!"

He, having just rounded the corner, took a step back, putting him in line to Rose. He slowly raised his head again to her, his face a mask of pain and anger.

Tears returned to her eyes, and through her emotion choked out one word. "Please."

The anger melted from his face, replaced by a look of longing that made her heart ache just to see it.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."

Then he vanished around the corner.

A/N: I decided to split it up into two parts, the second one should be up later today.