Author's Notes: There's been a lot of wonderful stories about Rose and the human Doctor post Journey's End that I've enjoyed reading. This is my contribution about them starting their new life together.

In the Bleak Midwinter

Chapter 1, Lines in the Sand

Chapter 1: Lines in the Sand

Rose stared in shock as the TARDIS disappeared. The years of work, the frantic search through more universes then she could count, and it had all ended here again. The windswept beach that had haunted her dreams, and words that continued to go unspoken.

Only they hadn't. He was here, holding her hand. He had said the words, a soft whisper in her ear that had echoed through her as if he had shouted them. The Doctor's face, the Doctor's voice, it was everything she had ever wanted. Except somehow not.

Behind them Rose could hear her mother talking on her mobile, to Pete, Rose assumed, since for once her mum was keeping her voice down. The Doctor continued to stare at her, not saying anything. It was unusual for him to be so quiet, or maybe it wasn't, for this man. They'd both insisted that they were the same, but if they were, then how could one of them leave and one stay?

"Right," Jackie said, and Rose let go of the Doctor's hand to turn around and face her mother. "Pete's coming, and he's bringing a jumper for you."

She'd directed her comment to the Doctor, and he tilted his head and looked at her in confusion.

"What do I need a jumper for?" he asked, plucking at his shirt.

"Not that kind of jumper. A portable teleporter," Rose explained.

"Ah," he said, and then his eyes narrowed, "Teleport?"

"They're not the same as the ones they used before to cross dimensions. They're just for transport on Earth, and we really only use them in emergencies anyway."

"This is an emergency?" The Doctor asked.

Jackie snorted, "We've been abandoned in Norway miles from the nearest town in the middle of December! Yes, I'd say this bloody qualifies as an emergency."

The mention of the date made Rose suddenly aware of how cold it was and she shoved her hands in her jacket pockets. The Doctor was apparently just noticing the temperature as well.

"Blimey, it's cold! Is this what winter feels like to humans? It's a wonder you haven't all moved to Australia."

"Yes, well thanks for the brilliant suggestion!" Jackie shot back, "We'll get on that right away!"

Rose ignored the bickering and trudged across the beach to where the TARDIS had stood. She looked down at the marks it had left in the sand, a few lines and a slight depression were the only signs it had been there. When the tide came in it would be washed away, and it would be like it had never happened at all.

A tall shadow fell across the TARDIS's footprint. Rose looked at it, a new thought occurring to her.

"Did you have any choice in this?" she asked, not looking at him, "Did he decide for you too?"

The Doctor sighed, "It wasn't really a question of choice, Rose."

"There's always a choice," she insisted. "He chose to leave. But did you choose to stay?"

"I didn't need to choose. There's no other place for me, then here with you."

Rose closed her eyes at his words. She had asked the question, but she didn't know how to respond to the answer. All she wanted to do was the scream, "Why?", at the universe, at the Doctor who left, at the Doctor who stayed, "Why did this happen? I don't understand!"

There was a sudden bang and flash of light several feet away from them, and Rose looked up to see Pete had teleported in. Jackie yelled, "Thank GOD!" and Pete ran past them to sweep her up in a hug. After a long moment, they broke apart and made their way over to where Rose stood with the Doctor.

Rose hugged Pete and whispered, "Thanks, Dad," forcing a smile for him. Pete looked from her face to the Doctor standing slightly behind her, and Rose wondered what her mum had said to explain the situation.

"Hello Pete. Good to see you again," the Doctor said, stepping forward to shake Pete's hand.

"Doctor," Pete nodded, "So Jackie says you're coming home with us?"

The Doctor glanced at Rose and she met his eyes. This universe had never felt like home to her, no matter how hard her mum, Pete, and Mickey had tried to get her to accept it. Home had been the past, the future, the furthest reaches of space. Home had been a bigger on the inside blue box. Home had been wherever the Doctor was.

And now he was here. There was still a Time Lord out there beyond her reach and her heart ached for him. But the man next to her had held her in his arms and he had felt like home too.

Rose held her hand out and he took it instantly.

"Rose Tyler, I love you."

There was always a choice.

Right now she chose to believe.

"Yeah," Rose said, squeezing the Doctor's hand, "We're going home."