-1Mickey walked out of Rose's office, a huge grin on his face. As he turned the corner he ran into Pete, who was on his way to find Rose. He'd had enough of her recent behavior, and for the sake of the whole Tyler household he was going to put a stop to it.

"Oi, Mickey. Watch where you're- what's with the grin?" The smile in question lessened slightly as Mickey realized he'd have to tell Pete now.

"I, uh, I've got a note from Rose." He held it out, but Pete didn't look at it as he took it.

"A note? You mean she's not here? She actually left? I must have passed her on the road; I didn't see her in the building or at home…" his voice trailed off as he read the short note. He looked up at Mickey for confirmation.

"The Doctor? He came back?" Mickey nodded. "I thought she said he told her it was impossible." Mickey shrugged now.

"Guess he found a way. Knew he'd be trying. I'm bettin' they didn't have a lot of time, or she would've said goodbye." (Smart boy, Mickey is. Not so much the idiot now, eh?)

Pete re-read the three words on the paper before looking at Mickey. "What are we goin' to tell Jackie?" Mickey grinned, shrugged, and patted Pete's shoulder.

"Exactly what I want to know, Pete. Exactly what I want to know."

---

Rose fell onto her bed in the TARDIS, a content smile and sigh crossing her lips. She was home, she was finally home. She propped herself up on her elbows and looked around before taking a deep breath. Her room still looked the same; it even smelled the same. Everything was exactly as she had left it that day, when she had stepped out simply to visit with her mother and do her wash. Nothing is ever simple when you travel with the Doctor.

He had come back for her. She'd always hoped he would, but knew he couldn't. He said just a few minutes ago that he'd eventually tell her how he got back, tell her everything that had happened to him while they were separated, but he wasn't ready yet. It would take too long and would call up too many bad memories. For now he just wanted to dwell in the present, with her back at his side.

She had grabbed his hand back in her Torchwood office and followed him out into the night. She'd given it no second thought, no look behind her shoulder. The note she left Mickey would fill its purpose; he would say goodbye for her and take care of everything. He and her mother and Pete knew that if the chance ever somehow came, she would go back with him in a heartbeat. She wished she didn't have to never see them again, but it was either live her life with her family, or live it with the Doctor. She'd made her choice when she returned to the Doctor's side after he sent her to the parallel universe, before they were separated.

The two of them had run hand in hand back to the TARDIS, laughing all the way. The Doctor had thrown the door open as Rose gently stroked the blue wood, and the two of them ran in. Tears flowed from her eyes as he started flipping switches and throwing levers at the control console. She walked around the platform, running her hands over the railing as she went. Finally, he looked up, said "Ready?" and upon her nod of consent he looked at his watch, told her to hang on to something, and when the time was finally right, he pressed a big yellow button.

The ride was rough, and for a few minutes Rose wondered if the TARDIS wouldn't be able to survive it. But sure enough, after a few minutes that seemed like hours, the vibrating, creaking and crashing ceased, and all was still and quiet. They were both on the floor, hair tossed and coats twisted about them. The Doctor looked up as Rose brushed her blonde locks out of her face. The next thing she knew he was by her side.

"Are you okay?" Both his face and voice held a tone of concern, which relaxed when she smiled and nodded. He helped her up but didn't let her go once she was on her feet.

"Where are we?" Neither one turned their eyes away from the other.

"We're drifting in the vortex. Not quite up to an adventure any time soon. The TARDIS or us." The air between them grew so thick Rose thought she could suffocate, especially with the intensity in the Doctor's gaze upon her. He suddenly pulled her to his chest, crushing her to him as if he thought she'd be pulled away at any moment.

"Oh, Rose." He buried his face in her hair, and she wrapped her arms around him, holding him equally as tight. She breathed in deeply, inhaling his scent; just one more thing she had missed so horribly over the past year.

She felt him shudder and heard his breath hitch. He pulled back and wiped at his eyes, and she realized he'd been crying. That alone brought back the tears she was fighting to keep down. He placed his hands on either side of her face.

"I thought I'd never see you again. Oh, Rose. My sweet, sweet Rose!" He picked her up and twirled her around in a circle. He began to laugh and the sound was so infectious she found herself joining in. When he set her down he kissed her again.

"Come on. Let's look around the TARDIS a bit. She's missed you." They walked hand in hand through some of the rooms- the library, the kitchen, the wardrobe. Places Rose had visited so often during her two-year stay; places she now looked upon like she was welcoming an old friend.

Finally, she asked about her room. She knew it had been more than a year for him. He had probably had loads of companions and she doubted her room was still the same. When she asked, his eyes darkened slightly before he gave a small smile. He began to lead her to the spot where her room should be.

"She moved it, the TARDIS. Shortly after- after we said goodbye. I wouldn't walk by it. I couldn't. The memories were too much. Then, well, I did have a companion, after a while. Martha, was her name. She came across it one day, opened the door. Guess the TARDIS didn't like it. Next thing I knew it was next to a garden I'd forgotten I'd had, one full of roses" His voice caught on the last word, and when he spoke again his tone was deeper and softer. "I'd go in there, every now and then. When I needed to. When I couldn't remember what you smelled like." A single tear slid down his cheek and she reached across and wiped it away. They stopped outside her door.

He let go of her hand and she turned the knob. The metal was warm and seemed to hum; she'd missed the humming noise of the TARDIS. It was high on her list of things she missed. She entered the room and her eyes immediately fell on her bed, the cover still half-pulled down. She crossed the floor and fell backwards onto it.

The Doctor watched her as she looked around her room, complete contentment on her face. He leaned against the doorpost and stuck his hands in his pockets. He couldn't bear to change anything in this room. It was so totally Rose, every little bit. From the clothes thrown on the floor to the knickknacks and makeup strewn across every hard surface. She picked up a t-shirt, one of her favorites, and buried her face in it. After a minute she put it back on the pile of clothing from whence it came and went over to him.

She wrapped her arms around his waist as he pulled his hands from his pockets to embrace her. She looked up at him. "Feel up to an adventure yet?" He smiled. "Where do you feel like going?" She thought for a moment.

"Take me to some distant planet I've never heard of, where there's a good place for chips and a minimal chance of running into danger." He laughed and she smiled.

"Distant planet with chips I can most certainly do. Minimal chance of danger- I will most definitely do my best. I'm not gonna lose you again." Rose shut the door and they made their way back to the control room. The Doctor put in some coordinates and together they held down switches and hit buttons, falling back into the old pattern with which they were so familiar.

The Doctor put his coat back on as Rose quickly changed her outfit. They made their way to the door, stopping before they opened it. Rose ran her hand along the wood, remembering the last time she had walked out of these doors by the Doctor's side.

He wrapped one arm around her shoulders. "I promise I'll do everything I can to keep you, safe and with me." She nodded and hugged him. "I love you, Doctor." He smiled. "I love you, Rose Tyler." He reached out and opened the door, and with their fingers tightly entwined, they stepped out of the TARDIS, ready to resume their adventure.