The Fires of Pompeii

Rose walked out of the TARDIS and just laughed. "Ancient Rome? Really?" Donna danced out of the TARDIS.

"I'm in Rome! Look at me! Donna Noble in Rome!" She ran up to the Doctor and wrapped her arms around him is a grateful hug. He laughed at her excitement.

"Yep! Ancient Rome...well it's not ancient for them. For them its New Rome." Rose smiled at him.

"Or is it new new new Rome," she said. They smiled at eachother in remembrance. The three travelers walked into the depths of a busy shopping street.

"All of these people are dead," Donna noted.

"Don't tell them that," the Doctor smirked.

"I have only a few hours left, let's get shopping," Rose exclaimed. She grabbed Donna by the arm and skipped off down the street as the Doctor watched them go.

"Hang on," Donna said. "Why are these signs in English. Is this Epcot or something? I swear if that man took me to Epcot…" Rose laughed.

"No, no the TARDIS translated languages for you. Those signs are actually in Latin."

"Fancy," said Donna."So to them i'm speaking Latin right now?" Rose nodded. "So what happens when I speak actual Latin to them?" Rose shrugged, unable to answer. Donna immediately approached a vender.

"Vendi vidi vici," she said to her. The lady gave her a curious look.

"I'm sorry I don't speak Celtic." She gave Donna an annoyed look. Rose just stood in the background laughing until her sides hurt.

"Well that was interesting," Donna said.

~ 4 hours later ~

"That was the weirdest food I've ever had," Donna mentioned as they walked down the street.

"I thought it was quite enjoyable," the Doctor commented.

"Seriously though, Ancient Rome needs fish and chips!"

"I would love some chips right now," Rose laughed.

"Oh! I've always wanted one of those," the Doctor said as he spotted a booth a few yards away. He took off running towards it.

Rose's watch beeped and she began to panic. She pushed through crowds of people before she reached the Doctor.

"Doctor," she called. The doctor immediately turned towards her, the wanted item completely from his mind.

"It's time," she said.

"How long have you got?"

"About two minutes."

"Haven't we had this conversation before," the Doctor questioned. Rose gave him a sad smile.

"I believe we have, though the situations were reversed."

"Here," the Doctor said as he started punching numbers into Rose's high tech watch. "The coordinates to where we are. We'll be here waiting."

"I will try not to take too long." Rose wrapped her arms around the Doctor and he hugged her back with vigor.

"See you soon," he whispered to her. Rose felt a moment of doubt fill her chest. She did not want this to be the last time she ever saw the Doctor. She refused it to be.

"See you soon," she replied. They parted.

"Donna," Rose said as she turned towards her. They hugged for a moment.

"Have fun," Rose said with excitement. "It's never a dull moment with this one." She gestured towards the Doctor. "I'm sorry you're stuck here on my account." Donna scoffed. She gestured to the world around her. "Are you kidding! I could live here!" They both smiled at one another.

"I'm looking forward to meeting your baby girl." At the mention of her daughter Rose felt tears brim in her eyes.

"Me too."

"Rose," the Doctor said. Rose turned around to find the Doctor's lips desperately pressed against hers. They parted.

"Kiss my daughter for me," he said.

"Doctor...I," Rose said before she faded away like a hologram. The Doctor couldn't help but feel lonely as he watched the image of Rose Tyler fade away. Donna's hand on his arm brought him back to the present. He smiled at her, thankful that she was there.

"Well Donna Noble, let's see what trouble we can get ourselves into!"

~ Back in Pete's World ~

With the words still hanging on her lips, Rose found herself back at Torchwood being swarmed by people.

"Did you find him! Did you find him!" The questions surrounded her. She put her hands up.

"Okay everyone! Yes I did find him." Everyone in the lab clapped and cheered and Rose couldn't help but get swept up in the excitement.

"Let's celebrate! Drinks on me," someone yelled as the Torchwood employees marched out of the room to the local bar. Rose walked up to Susan.

"So," Susan asked excitedly. "How was the reunion?" Rose beamed.

"It was...It was perfect." Susan smiled at her. Mickey walked up behind Susan.

"Congrats Rose!"

"Hey Mickey," Rose said as she went round to give him a hug. "Haven't seen you in awhile. How was the vacation?"

"Extremely relaxing. And well needed!"

"Good to have you back Mickey Mouse," Susan added. Mickey gave her a nodd in thanks and a nudge on the arm.

"And your arm? How is it," Rose asked. Mickey had broken his arm on a Torchwood mission to investigate a suspicious alien. He looked down at his casted arm that was strapped to his chest.

"It's good. So you saw him? You saw the Doctor?" Rose's eyes filled with tears as she smiled at him

"I did."

"How is he?"

"He's...the Doctor. As wonderful as ever. I told him about Lily."

"And," Susan and Mickey said together.

"He was overjoyed. The best reaction he could have had. I don't know what I was worried about."

"Aw Rose," Susan said.

"Which is what I wanted to talk to you about. Before we focus on getting me over there permanently. Is there a way that I can take Lily with me on my next trip?"

"Next trip? But how will you find him again," Mickey questioned.

"The Doctor gave me coordinates and we are going to meet there. And I need to go as soon as possible. He's waiting for me."

"Well, we'll have to recharge the machine…"

"That's fine," Rose interrupted. "But could I take Lily with me? The Doctor really wants to see her." Susan sat there puzzled for a moment.

"It could be possible…"

"It could!"

"Yes, but it's dangerous Rose." Rose lowered her head.

"I know," she said in a strained voice. "But it doesn't have to be does it? I'm daft for even considering it."

"No," Mickey said. "You aren't daft. You're desperate to get the child to her father." Rose gave Mickey a grateful smile.

"I can do some brainstorming," Susan said. "But in the meantime go home, Rose."

"What," Rose exclaimed. "I want to stay here and help. I can do the calculations on this machine backwards and forwards."

"I know Rose but you just crossed universes. Go home and see your daughter. I'll call you."

~ The Tyler Mansion ~

Rose sat in the dining room with her sleeping daughter in her arms.

"I just can't believe it," Jackie said as she paced the room. Rose rolled her eyes. "That alien found out about his daughter and he didn't even propose to you! I mean, you had a child out of wedlock! It's the proper thing to do!"

"Mum," Rose said. "Calm down." Jackie waved her off.

"Ug, that man," she said as she sat at the table by Rose. Rose just gave her an annoyed look.

"Mum, please!" Lily stirred and Rose gently kissed her forehead.

"And no granddaughter of mine is crossing universes! Not on my watch."

"She may not, mum. If it's even a little dangerous then I'm not risking it."

"Well…"

"And the Doctor offered coming here."

"Did he now?"

"Mum," Rose gave her mother a stern look. Rose felt her pocket vibrate. Right on time, it was Susan. Rose answered with haste.

"Hello."

"Rose I have had a stroke of pure genius," Susan exclaimed on the other line. Rose heard Mickey say something in the background. "And Mickey helped too I guess…"

"What is it? Can she travel?"

"She can! And it's completely safe!" Rose felt her heart lift at the news.

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely," she could hear Susan's smile on the other end. "I'll tell you the details when you get here." They hung up. Rose bounced out of her chair.

"Mum I've got to go!" Rose packed up Lily's things and raced out the door.

"Be safe," her mother yelled. Rose put Lily in her carseat and set off to Torchwood. Her excitement grew and grew the closer she got. She heard Lily waken in the backseat.

"Good morning luv," she greeted her. Lily began to fuss.

"I know, honey. I'll feed you in a moment." When Rose arrived she took Lily in her arms swinging Lily's bag around her shoulder and raced to the elevators. When she reached the floor, she approached Susan.

"Hey," Susan greeted her as Rose put the bag down.

"Mickey can you hold her for a moment while I get her bottle." Mickey nodded.

"I'm going to give you to Uncle Mickey, Lily." She handed the fussing baby to Mickey. She immediately smiled when she saw him and was in his arms.

"Hey there beautiful girl," Mickey greeted her. Rose unzipped the bag and grabbed her bottle quickly.

"Okay," Rose said as Mickey handed her back to Rose. Rose moved to the swivel chair next to Susan in front of the control panel and started feeding Lily. Lily drank the bottle thirsty.

"Okay fill me in," Rose said. Susan smiled at Lily for a moment.

"She really is beautiful, Rose." Rose smiled down at her. Lily's big brown eyes met hers as she drank.

"She is isn't she?"

"She looks like the Doctor," Mickey added. The three scientists smiled down at the baby.

"Now," Susan began. "I remembered that we invented these bracelets a while back that linked two people together so they couldn't be in different places. We use them when agents go into uncharted territory so they couldn't lose eachother."

"So Lily and I can wear them and we will cross to the same universe." Susan smiled.

"Exactly. Now I can set the machine to transport two people instead of one."

"What about the pain of it? I don't want to put Lily through that."

"Well," Susan said. "I can give her a sedative that's baby safe. It's like baby aspirin that will put her to sleep."

"And she won't feel a thing?"

"I think so."

"Think so? You have to be positive Susan."

"I mean, she will sleep through it. And you know that it's safe to tavel, Rose. You know that you've done it a million times and nothing has ever gone wrong. " Rose sat there thinking for a moment. She looked down at her daughter. She thought of the desperate look on the Doctor's face when he asked if he could see her.

"Let's do it," she said. Susan smiled.

"Great! Let me put the sedative in her bottle." Rose took the bottle from Lily's mouth and she whined in protest.

"It's okay darling. It's just for a moment." She kissed her. "Now you're going to go to sleep for a bit and when you wake up we'll be with daddy," she said as she rocked her. Susan handed her back the bottle and she put in back into Lily's mouth.

"I'll go get the bracelets," Susan said as she left the room. Mickey sat in the chair Susan was in.

"How do you feel?"

"Nervous," she answered. "But it doesn't seem real to me. Like this is all a dream. We've been separated for so long." Lily finished the bottle and her eyes drifted shut.

"Sleep well my love," Rose whispered to her.

"So when did the thing with Susan start," she asked Mickey. His mouth fell open.

"What are you talking about!"

"I sensed a vibe. Are you two together?" Mickey blushed.

"No," he answered.

"But you like her," Rose smirked at him. "She's very pretty and intelligent too." Mickey nodded, not answering her. Rose laughed at his discomfort. At that moment Susan entered the room.

"What's so funny?" Rose smirked at Mickey while he turned his head away, turning very red.

"Oh nothing," Rose responded. Susan looked down at Lily.

"Good, she's asleep. What about bringing all of Lily's things?" Rose shrugged.

"The TARDIS has everything."

"Here are the bracelets," Susan said. She slipped one onto Rose's wrist and put the other one of Lily's on her upper arm and tightened it so it fit.

"Perfect," she said. "Ready?" Rose nodded.

"Ready. Hey Micks, can you get Lily's boba wrap out of the bag. I want to strap her to me." Mickey got the wrapped out of the back and helped wrap Lily against Rose's chest.
"Now I'm ready," she said. She kissed Mickey on the cheek.

"See you in eight hours," she said as she grasped Susan's hand.

"Thank you," she said to her.

"No problem," Susan answered. "It's fun!" Rose walked into the arch of the machine.

"Okay," she said, giving them a thumbs up. "Wish me luck!" Susan pressed the button. Rose and Lily disappeared.

~ Pompeii ~

The Doctor and Donna stared down at the destroyed city. The Doctor felt a sense of heroism when he saved that family from Pompeii's destruction.

"You're right," he said to Donna. "I do need someone. Welcome aboard!" They began to enter the TARDIS. Donna halted.

"Doctor," he faced her. "Rose." The Doctor turned very pale. In all the excitement and panic he had forgotten the Rose was meeting them there.

"No, he said as he looked towards the city. "I set the coordinates to outside the city but...what if she went back to look for us…"

"Doctor," Donna pulled him out of his terrible thoughts. "I'm sure she's alright."

"What if my daughter is with her."

"Let's go," Donna said. "Let's go to where we were supposed to meet."

"What if..." he said, panic in his voice.

"We don't know that! Let's go!"

"You're right." They ran into the TARDIS.

Rose appeared on a hill outside on Pompeii. After the nausea subsided she immediately looked at Lily, who was sleeping soundly. She let out a breath of relief.

"Thank you," she whispered. Rose turned to see the destroyed city, covered with hardening lava.

"No," she whispered. The Doctor and Donna were down there! As she stepped forward she heard the screech of the TARDIS. She whipped around as the TARDIS faded into view. The Doctor immediately ran out.

"Rose," he called looking around him, Donna following at his heel. They made eye contact. All three of them let out a breath of release at the same time. The Doctor ran towards her.

"Rose," he whispered. Seeing the baby in her arms caused him to halt. Rose began to walk towards him.

"She's here," he said. Rose's tears of joy began to fall at the look on the Doctor's face. When Rose was close enough the Doctor looked down at his daughter for the first time.

"Doctor," Rose said. "I would like you to meet your daughter." Tears streamed down the Doctor's face as he watched Lily sleep.

"She's…" he croaked out. "She's so perfect. Can I hold her?" Rose smiled sweetly at him.

"Of course you can." She slowly look Lily out of the wrapping,. She only stirred a little before Rose held her close and kissed her forehead. She put Lily into the Doctor's open arms. He let out a sob of joy as he held her tight.

"She is so beautiful," he said through his tears. He held her up and kissed her cheek. "And soft. She's so soft." He looked at Rose. "She looks like you." Rose couldn't help but sob at the view of the Doctor finally holding his daughter in his arms.

"Everyone at Torchwood says she looks like you," she laughed, tears still streaming down her face. She looked past the Doctor to see Donna standing by the TARDIS smiling at them. Rose beckoned her over. Donna stood between them and looked at Lily in the Doctor's arms.

"She's gorgeous," she said. "I think she looks like both of you." They laughed. Donna reached out and stroked Lily's hair. "Her hair is so soft."

"I know," Rose said as she kissed Lily's head. She looked at the Doctor's face as he looked completely mesmerized at Lily.

"Doctor?"

"This doesn't feel real," he whispered.

"I know what you mean," Rose said. She turned her head towards the city.

"What happened?" Donna followed Rose's gaze.

"It's Pompeii." Rose gasped she read about the destruction of Pompeii in school.

"Oh my God," she gasped. "I'm so glad you both are okay."

"Yea," Donna said. "It was…" She paused for a moment to compose herself. "It was awful."

"Let's get into the TARDIS," Rose said. She lead the Doctor, who couldn't keep his eyes off of Lily, into the TARDIS. Rose took off the Boba wrap and placed it over the rail.

"I'm going to go take a shower. I smell like a bonfire," Donna said. Rose could see the fear, confusion, and helplessness behind Donna's eyes. She walked towards her and wrapped her arms around her.

"I'm so sorry you had to experience that," she whispered to her. Donna gave her a small sad smile and left the console room. Rose approached the Doctor nervously.

"Are you alright," she asked. "After all that." The Doctor looked at her, still tears in his eyes.

"It's over now." He looked back down at Lily. "Only this matters." Lily began to stir in his arms.

"She's waking up," he said in a panicked voice.

Rose placed her hand on his arm. "It's okay," she whispered. Lily sleepy opened her eyes and looked into the Doctors. He let out a joyful sob.

"She does have my eyes." Rose smiled at the two of them. Lily smiled back at the Doctor.

"She loves new people," Rose said. "Very uncommon for babies. But...she is home now." The Doctor looked at Rose through his tears. Lily yawned and the Doctor let out a small laugh.

"How was the trip?"

"Everything went really well," Rose said. "The woman I work with, Susan, she's a genius."

"Make sure to thank her for me."

"I should burp her," Rose said as Lily reached out towards the Doctor. The Doctor lifted his finger and let Lily's hand wrap around it.

"Hello Lily. Pleasure to meet you," he said. Rose took a moment and watched them.

"I couldn't bring any of Lily's stuff. Does the TARDIS have baby stuff." The Doctor nodded, not taking his eyes of Lily.

"I'm sure. I wouldn't be surprised if the old girl hasn't made her a nursery yet."

"Perfect. Here, give her to me." The Doctor paused before handing her over. Lily fussed his Rose's arms.

"It's okay luv," she said as she patted Lily's back. She let out a small burp.

"There you go, girl."

"We should go to the med bay. I'll have a look at her." Rose nodded as she followed.

The moment Rose entered the med bay Lily spit up on the back of her shirt.

"Oh Lily," Rose said as she used her shirt to whip off the throw up that was leftover on Lily's face. Lily smiled happily at her. A smile for which Rose returned. The Doctor was too preoccupied fidgeting with something at the counter.

"Doctor?" He spun around and grimaced at the state of Rose's shirt.

"Lily spit up on me. I'm going to go to my room and change." The Doctor nodded, opening his arms to Lily. Rose gave her to him and turned to leave the room. She stopped for a moment to watch. The Doctor had Lilly at one side while holding some gadget with his other hand. It looked like the perfect picture.

"Alright my dear," the Doctor said to Lily. "Let's have a look at you." Rose left at the moment. She walked the familiar halls of the TARDIS trying to remember the last time she walked through them. It smelled the same as it always has. Rose was home. She stood in front of her own bedroom door. She reached out her hand to graze the rose carvings that the TARDIS had put on the door for her. Slowly, she stepped in. Her room looked just as it had 20 months ago. Every single item was where Rose had put it last. The bed was messily made as if Rose had been in a hurry that day. Pictures on her desk and dresser smiled at her as she passed. The same clothes lying in the same places on the floor. Something next to Rose's bed caught her eye, something that wasn't there before. A rose in a vase on her bedside table. The rose was a dark, beautiful shade of red and it looked as if it had just bloomed. The Doctor must have put it there after she was trapped. A single tear rolled down Rose's face. She was home now. She walked over to her dresser and chose an old shirt. On her dresser where four pictures. The first was of Rose, her mum, and Mickey, all smiling on their couch in their old flat. The second was of Rose and the Doctor in his ninth regeneration cycle. His leather jacket gleaming. His hand was around Rose's waist and the both of them were making a face at the camera. Rose remembered that Jack took that picture. Speaking of Jack he was in the next photograph, his arms around Rose holding her in a tight embrace as her arms were wrapped around him. They both had red cheeks as they smiled at the camera. Rose ran her fingers over Jack's face. She missed him very much. The last photo was one of her favorites with the Doctor. It was taken about a year ago. There were at some strange yet beautiful planet with sparking purple skies but in the photo Rose and the Doctor are smiling at each other as if they have no idea the camera is there. The way the Doctor looked at her in that photo made Rose's heart stop. They look as if they were pulling back from one of their hugs, both of their face's emanating pure joy. Rose took a moment smiling at each photograph before heading back to the med bay.

Rose heard the Doctor singing when she turned the corner. She quietly peaked in the room to see the Doctor holding Lily, holding on of her hands in his, while twirling about the room while he sang a strange song. It must be in his native language. Lily was watching him closely, giggling whenever he turned. Rose leaned against the door jam, just watching, and thanking whomever was in charge of her fait for this moment. The Doctor spun around and saw her. He was taken aback for a moment before smiling at her.

"Welcome back Rose," he said.

"What are you singing?"

"Oh," he smiled at Lily as she reached out to touch his face. "Just an old song from my planet."

"You're such a natural with her," Rose commented. The Doctor smiled.

"Thanks." He turned towards the screen that hung from the ceiling by the bed. Lily saw her mum and her face lit up. She started reaching out to her, opening and closing her grasp. The Doctor smiled.

"Do you want to go to your mummy," he said. Rose took Lily from the Doctor and held her close while the Doctor turned towards the screen. Rose sat up on the bed, putting Lily in her lap. Lily clapped her hands and babbled as if she were singing a song of her own. Rose laughed.

"That's it Lily! Sing us a song." The Doctor looked over at them.

"I ran some tests." Rose looked at him.

"And?"

"And she is 60% Timelord, 40% human." Rose let out a breath of relief.

"So she is part human. What does that mean? And she's more Timelord? Can she regenerate?" The Doctor pushed his hair back with his hand.

"I don't know. It's likely that she could regenerate but I honestly don't want to find out. She has human and Timelord DNA so I am predicting that her body will grow at the rate of a normal human but her biology is superior. Not as much as me, who is 100% Timelord but she is more superior than a normal human. Her mind will grow at a faster rate though. She will most likely be a genius. Like her father." The Doctor smirked as Rose rolled her eyes.

"So there isn't going to be any complications," Rose asked in a nervous voice. The Doctor pursed his lips.

"None that I can see but through this rapidly developing stage we should keep an eye of her just in case." Rose looked at the floor.

"And she could regenerate?"

"Possibly." Rose sniffled as she turned her head away. The Doctor put his hand under her chin.

"Rose? What is it?"

"It's just," she said as the tears began to fall. "I'm so happy that our daughter is more like you. You're not the last of your people anymore and now you won't have to be alone. She can spend forever with you. But…" Rose let out a sob. "But I can't. I'm dying everyday. Someday I'll wither away and I don't get to have forever with either of you. You both will have forever without me." The Doctor kissed her forehead.

"Rose, this is our forever. Right now. I want to spend every minute I can with you. I would be honored to watch you grow. Look at our beautiful daughter, she's a baby and you have so much time with her. Our forever is now. And we don't even know if she'll regenerate." Rose gently kissed him.

"I hope she can. I don't want you to be alone." The Doctor gently put his lips to hers.

"I'm never alone."

"I love you," she whispered.

"I love you, my Rose." He looked down as Lily who smiled up at him. "And I love you my Lily," he said as he kissed the top of her head.

"Let's see her nursery," Rose said excitedly, her tears already forgotten. They left the med bay until they found a door painted yellow with flowers embedded in it and Lily written in cursive letters on top of the doors. Rose let out a breath in awe. The Doctor smiled at her as he opened the door. The room was painted a soft yellow with white accents. There was a large crib that was covered in blankets and had stars hanging above it. There was a dresser and a toy chest with lilies painted on them. The rug was so soft that it felt like clouds.

"Wow," Rose said as she entered. "It's perfect."

"Rose," the Doctor said. "Lookup." The ceiling was the night sky. It looked so real Rose felt like she could reach out and grab a star. Shooting stars shot across the ceiling. It was like the room had no roof at all.

"Beautiful," she whispered. Lily squealed with glee as she tried to reach out towards it. Rose closed her eyes.

"Thank you," she said to the TARDIS.

"You've outdone yourself old girl," the Doctor said as he looked around.

"Alright Lily, how about you show daddy how you can crawl while you explore your new room." She put Lily down on the soft floor and Lily took off crawling around. Rose went into the toy chest and got out a few nice looking toys for Lily and put them down by her. Lily immediately went up to them and started pressing buttons and putting it in her mouth. The Doctor watched in awe as she played.

"She's incredible." Rose stood by him and crossed her arms.

"I know, isn't she? This room...it's unbelievable. Back at my place in Pete's world Lily only has a crib that I put in the corner of my bedroom."

"Speaking of Pete's World," the Doctor said. "Can you two cross over here permanently?" Rose sighed.

"I don't know. We're working on it."

"The universes are collapsing."

"What?"

"What you told me when you first arrived. The universes are collapsing. That's why you can come here."

"Yea, the stars are going out. Not just in Pete's World but every world. We don't know what's causing it. That's why we need you." Lily crawled over to the Doctor's feet and reached up to him. The Doctor beamed at her and swooped her up in his arms.

"Hey there beautiful," he said. "Well," he said as he looked at Rose. "Let's figure it out. "