Her tinkling laugh was exactly the same as he remembered it. She was nine years younger than when he had first seen her, and yet she was instantly recognisable. Her blonde hair hung in pigtails, her cheeks rosy, and a bright smile on her face. He wondered whether she'd remember this moment in the future – whether she'd put two and two together. She certainly wasn't stupid, but she'd showed no signs of remembering him from her childhood. The young girl sat at the table, books in front of her, and a calculator by her side. He stood in the doorframe, watching over her for a moment, a look of sadness upon his face. Life wasn't fair. He couldn't tell her of the adventures she'd have in the future, the times they'd have together. His hearts were aching more than usual, a dull throb in his chest, bringing the pain of her loss to the forefront of his mind. He hoped that in the future, in that parallel world she was happy. He sighed once more, before the raucous voice of her mother yelled, "I'm not paying you to stand in the doorway!" He laughed a little, she'd always been a fierce mum. The tall man crossed over to where the little girl was sat, adjusting his bow tie, and taking off his tweed jacket which he hung over the back of his chair. "So maths eh?" He grinned, "What is it you've been having trouble with Rose Tyler?"
He knew she'd recognise his blue police box immediately, and subtlety was the key here. He grinned as he saw the feisty dark woman in her uniform – she was certainly still brilliant then. They all were though, that never changed, he only travelled with the best. She looked sad almost, he furrowed his brow. He remembered she'd told him about an engagement – the doctor that she'd spent time with when saving the world from the Master, perhaps something had happened there? Unrecognisable with his new face, he walked past her, noting that there was no longer a ring on her finger. He couldn't pry, but he wanted her to be happy, after all, he'd been oblivious to her feelings before, and that was not a mistake he made twice. Thinking for a moment, his thoughts were interrupted by the appearance of another he knew. Ah, the tin dog! He grinned. Perfect. He swivelled around, after having made a few flourishes on some paper. Walking with purpose, he banged into her seemingly by accident, she looked into his face, and he smiled, before almost disappearing. He watched her, unseen, as she found the paper he had planted. In an untidy scrawl it read, "That man over there will understand. Mention the Doctor."
Her ginger hair stood out in any crowd, and even before he saw that he heard her loud voice. He'd missed her, she'd been one of his best friends, and she couldn't even remember just how important she'd been to the world. Truly, the most important woman in creation. He hung back, he didn't want her to see him, to see the box, or anything – he couldn't risk burning up her mind. She looked truly happy, and that made him smile. They were all happy, they'd all been so brave and he'd had so many wonderful times with them, and so he was overjoyed to see them all safe and sound and living out their lives as best they could. He turned to return to the TARDIS (parked just round the corner) when he spotted Wilf. Wilf had been brilliant, he'd been a wonderful help, and he couldn't go without just saying something. "Is she happy?" He nodded over at Donna. Wilf's brow raised, "Why?" The man asked, "Wait..." He gazed in the direction that the Doctor was walking, "It's you!" The Doctor nodded. "Your face?" "I'm still me. Still saving the universe, off in my little blue box!" He raised the tip of his hat, the stetson, to Wilf and disappeared, with a vworp vworp.
He rested against the console, bracing the waves of emotion. Straightening up, he pulled himself together, and typed in the co-ordinates. Lake Silencio.