DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN THE DOCTOR WHO CHARACTERS. THEY BELONG TO THE BBC. I AM JUST BORROWING THEM.

Down to Earth

Pete Tyler stood down below The Zeppelin. He had piloted it himself and taken no crew. This new development had made him very cautious. He was a very powerful man and could let any of this get out of hand. Jackie cold and shivering voice over the phone had tried to explain what had happened. She said things to keep him calm knowing how he felt about this alien/man. The whole ride he thought hard. The Doctor, a human on earth. He would be an asset to the earth if this "clone" was as good as the original. But would this be a the same man.

Moments past when he finally saw them through the glass windows of the hotel. The silhouette of his wife who had left without a word. There was no sign of Mickey. Jackie had told him of the fate of Mickey Smith. He would miss the man. Then The Doctor caught his eyes. Pete felt rage as he saw the doctor and Rose absentmindedly holding hands. Rose had gotten her wish. Had she in her right mind thought it though. Could she push aside all the hours she sent crying for this man. He and Jackie had to watch as their daughter suffered. Pete clenched his fists. He wanted to go in there and rip that man apart for haunting his daughter so so long. Had Rose not told him of her pain and suffering. The point is which she had not lived at all and stayed in the house. no rest no food nothing. Jackie had told them of their bond but even Jackie eyes told a lie.

Jackie saw him first running into his arms, holding him tight.

"How are they doing?" He whispered into her hair.

"Good so far" She whispered kissing his cheek.

The Doctor and Rose walked up smiling.

"Hey there Pete, um Dad" Rose smiled giving the man a hug.

"Glad your alright" Releasing Rose he looked at the Doctor. The Doctor swallow hard and looked back. Pete Tyler. The dad was that alive. He remembered when he saw him die three times. That was a different man then he saw before him. Peter moved and made the Doctor jump

'shit' the Doctor thought to himself. His grief had shallow him whole when he lost Rose but he been alone. Her family had to see her. He was sure that Pete Tyler would most likely kill them embrace him. There was silence, a breath, even a couple of heart beats before Pete stuck out his hand.

"Welcome" The Doctor let go of the breath he didn't realize he was holding. Reaching out his hand Pete shook his hand firmly.

"Thank you" He smiled,Pete returned a forced smile.

"So shall we go" Jackie chipped up, trying to break the tension.

Pete grabbed Jackies hand and helped her to the ladder. The Doctor followed suit the women looking over the shoulder. Another moment of panic hit The Doctor. Pete said nothing and started to climb.

The Doctor made it to the top and found the parents already to the cockpit. Rose ran over to him and grabbed his hand.

"Let me give you a tour"

After walking around the rich mans over done air ship. Complete with three bedroom, a kitchen, dining room and two entertainment lounges they found a place to sit. The Doctor sat on the window seat with Rose sitting at his hip. For a moment it was silent again. his heart had stopped beating so fast and he had Roses hand in his.

"Earth is beautiful"He said just staring out at the landscape. Rose leaned against him sharing his view.

"You're right" he looked up at her. Had she missed the world while she mourned their separation. Their eyes meet and a sadness laid there.

"I'm sorry" He whispered.

"For what?" she tried to smile.

"Your father has a hate for me Rose. I didn't let the realization hit me until I saw his face." The Doctor squeezed her hand. "I put you through so much." He looked sadly through the large window. "Not just when were apart. but when we were together" He looked back at her. Rose eyes held pain in them and that pain had aged her. He reached out with his other hand and caressed her cheek. "So much pain" He felt his reserves fail him. Holding back his tears, he stood ,releasing Roses grip. " I shouldn't have ever let us get that close"

Rose stood "Are you apologizing for taking me with you?" The Doctor didn't answer. Rose stomped up to him.

"Don't you dare apologize" She fumed " I could have said no. There were times I could have said that I wanted to go home" Rose grabbed his shoulder for him to face her. "I saw what was going on and I wanted it." His eyes were so full of despair she couldn't stand it. Rose grabbed his lapels, then met his eyes.

"You've given me a life that many can only dream about. A strength about myself that I wouldn't have just living on the estate." Roses heart was beating so fast. How could he be doing this now after all they had gone through. The Doctor put his hands on her shoulders.

"I...." He began but couldn't speak. Rose pressed herself into his chest.

"When we at that school with Sarah Jane and you were tempted to turn back time and fix your mistakes. She spoke a very true thing. Through all of the pain I knew that it was just something to make me want to find you even more" The Doctor wrapped his arms around her. Rose felt their hearts rapidly beating together.

" Rose Tyler..... I have loved you since I met you. I have wanted you with me every step of the way. So many times I wanted to tell you. But we couldn't be. I guess I was just selfish to think I didn't want to see you die. I just couldn't." The Doctor voice wavered. " I lost so many I loved. I couldn't lose you either. But I was going to one way of another. It was almost like time was waiting then decided for me" A lone tear escaped his eyes and dropped on the top of her head. Rose looked up into his eyes.

"I've had plenty of time to think about us Doctor." She said softly, then pressing back into his chest. "You were my best friend. All you had to do was tell me"

"Rose" the Doctor began.

"I understand it now. How it all works. That what you had to do was bigger then us." Roses tears were caught by the fabric, her heartbreaking creek in her voice muffled. She looked up her face becoming red from her grief.

"Why did you risk it all for Madame De Pompadour?" She cried out "Why all those woman?" He looked away a moment. He couldn't run away from this question. How many woman had looked at him when they were together and when they were apart. It had torn him up inside.

"I am.. was a wanderer. I am amazed of space and of time. Reniette was a very special person to her people. Like any historical figure I wanted to know who Madame De Pompadour was. She ended being a fantastic marvelous person. She did so many things. She needed to finish her time on earth"

"So that's why you left us stranded" Rose voice betraying her anger.

"It complicated" The Doctor said softly.

"I know" She whispered "I just wish you would have said something. A warning. You just left. Leaving Mickey and I to wonder what we were going to do. I had to stay there and lie to both him and myself. Thinking you were going to coming back but knowing it might be impossible. You didn't know did you?" Her eyes went gold for a moment, a look of angry almost hatred filled her eyes.

"No I didn't."

"Did you love her?"

"No" he whispered. "She was infatuated with me. They all were. But they meant nothing to me" he kissed her head. Rose looked up.

"She called me a child" Rose said with a scowl.

"Did she?"The Doctor asked with a smirk

"Don't say a word. I thought she was a bitch" The Doctor laughed.

"I'm sorry" Rose pulled away still hurt.

"Why did you let Mickey come with us? Was is a distraction?" She looked back.

"Yes." He said looking over at her and Rose sat down on the seat.

"What I said to you in front of the cafe. It hurt me to say that to you but it's was true. I loved you then and when you asked I knew in some way to save you was to hurt you and hurt myself" Roses leaned against the window.

"Why didn't you just tell me?" She said talking against the window, looking at his reflection.

"Because I wanted to have you in my life as long as I could, before you would move on" Rose looked back at him.

"You are just like a regular bloke then" He walked over and sat beside her.

"A bloke that was in love with someone he couldn't have" Rose moved to look at him. The Doctor eyes begging for forgiveness. Rose clasped their hands together and looked down at them.

"I would have fought you til the end"

"and you did" Rose smiled and moved into his arms. They held each other tight.

"Can you forgive me?" He whispered. Rose eyes met his.

"I forgave you long ago" The Doctor smiled the best he could.

"I love you Rose Tyler" Rose placed her hands on his face.

"My Doctor" Rose pressed her lips against his softly. His arms wrapped around her waist and extended the kiss. Pulling away the rested their foreheads together.

"Will you stay with me?" He whispered his eyes still closed. Rose now sitting on his lap rubbed her nose against his.

"For...ever" Opening there eyes, Rose moved to lean her back against his chest. Wrapping his arms around her. Both staring out at the Scottish landscape.

Rose sighed happily then kissed her head.

"Stuck on Earth again" She whispered back. Hearing the the stories from Unit when she had used the time cannon.

"Stuck with you that's no so bad" The Doctor smirked into her hair.

"Yeah" She smiled into the window for him to see. He nodded giving her a squeeze. She intertwined their fingers.

"I know life is different but you're not alone" The Doctor smiled briefly, playing with her fingers.

"Not anymore" He whispered.

As they sat both once more is silence, They heard a roaring voice fill the ship.

"WE'RE HERE!!!!!!"

tbc