A/N: Part 2. Sort of working backwards from the actual regeneration. Hope you enjoy it. :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who or the lyrics for "Out on the Town".

2. I Don't Want to Go

I was out on the town
So I came to your window last night
I tried not to throw stones
But I wanted to come inside

- Fun.

The TARDIS gave one last shake, and the Doctor tumbled out. Time was slowly ticking away. It wouldn't be long now. He had saved her for last. Rose. He wanted her face to be the last he saw before shifting into a new form. Wobbling, he finally found support against a wall. His insides were on fire, and he looked wildly around the area. Where was she? Snow lay thick on the ground, the air was chilly with frost. The Doctor didn't notice. The regeneration energy coursed through his body , and all he wanted was to see Rose one last time.

Finally, he heard her. Her and her mother. He heard them bicker before cheerfully wishing each other a Happy New Year. When she spotted him, he found himself almost unable to talk to her. She didn't recognize him, so at least he got that navigational part right. But that was not important. The important part was that she was there. She stood in front of him, alive and so, so beautiful, and he wanted nothing more than to take her in his arms and hold on for dear life. He couldn't of course, he knew that much. The real Rose, the current Rose had a Doctor in her life. Her Doctor had his memories, one heart and the ability to grow old with her.

He found his words again, asking what year it was.

"Blimey, how much have you had? 2005, January 1st."

They hadn't even met yet. They would, in a few months. As Rose walked off, oblivious to the gravity of their brief interaction, he fought to stay on point. TARDIS, regeneration, reset. Game over.

Ood Sigma appeared to him, accompanied by the wondrous song he had heard before, the song of his existence.

"This song is ending, but the story never ends."

He wanted to scream, to tell Ood Sigma. that the story did end. His story ended. In a few moments he would be a new person, and none of his friends would recognize him. He'd have to start over. The TARDIS seemed emptier than ever as he set the controls to take him into space. The Ood song played loudly in his head. He thought once again of his friends, his wonderful makeshift family and all the adventures they'd had. His hands began to glow. Staring ahead, the Doctor imagined Rose standing in front of him, smiling lovingly at him. With trembling voice, he uttered his last words:

I don't want to go.

A/N: Reviews are still better than regenerations. ;)