New chapter and I wasn't able to have someone check over this one, so my sincere apologies for anything that is incorrect. Please read and review

I do not own Doctor Who.

Chapter 2:

He looked to the stars once more, whispering his thanks before joining his son in the TARDIS. The TARDIS herself was glowing brighter from the joy of having her small cub back. The Doctor moved over to the captain's bench to wait a few minutes before going to look for James. For him, it had only seemed like eight years ago, but in reality the Doctor had spent much more time away from his son. It had been a rough eighteen years for him. He rubbed a hand down his face to remove any weariness he felt. Sixteen years away from his boy because of a war raging in the other universe. He laughed bitterly. The war itself had only lasted a year at most; he had resolved it after compromising with the leaders of both sides. He glanced around at his phenomenal ship. Seventeen years he had been traveling with her, securing all of the major cracks of time and space in the other universe due to the invasion of Pete's world, the genocide that occurred that day, and the war that had already raged for a year. Just days ago, he had crossed back through the void again after closing the last few remaining cracks.

While in Pete's world or No Man's Land as they now called it, he had collected Rose's belongings from her room in the Tyler Mansion. It had taken him hours of pacing on the brick pathway in front of the estate just to work up the courage to go in again. He had run his hand through his hair countless times before running it down his face. All he could think of were the events of that day that had drastically changed his normally happy and positive outlook on all that was.

He had recently parted ways with Martha after the year that never was. As with most companions he moved around the console crestfallen. All of a sudden, he was thrown off of his feet as the TARDIS lurched violently. The cloister bell had already begun to ring. After a violent landing, he ran to the doors. In the second he reached them, a familiar voice whispered, "Find Him, Find My Cub." Something about that voice was so familiar, but his already over analyzing mind was whirring and could not match the voice to a face.

He shook his head and ran out the TARDIS doors. Metallic dust was gathered in sporadic piles around a field, but what caused the Doctor's hearts to beat wildly with fear and anxiety were the sight of bloodied human corpses everywhere. A quick scan with his sonic revealed that this was Pete's world, the metallic piles of dust were cybermen, and there were tremendous amounts of rift energy. He began to run, desperately looking for those he had left here.

The Tyler mansion was in complete ruin; the windows had been blown out, dozens of armed Torchwood soldiers lay unmoving on the ground, the metallic dust was everywhere. Ominous storm clouds gathered overhead, successfully mirroring the somber mood of the planet. He ran past the smashed front door with a savage need to find a survivor, one last survivor on this brilliant human planet. The first Tyler he found was Pete, slumped against a doorframe in the west wing hallway. Even though the Doctor knew he was far gone, he completed a sonic scan regardless and came to the inevitable conclusion he already knew. He knelt down and lifted him onto a bench that was parallel with the wall. With great care he lay him down then folded his arms across his chest. Stiffly rising from Pete's side, he walked through the doorway he had been in front of. Tears pricked his eyes when he caught sight of a woman cradling a young boy, no more than the age of two, both slumped over in a hickory rocker. Jackie Tyler sat motionless, her arms still tightly wound around her son Tony.

"Oh Jackie," he whispered.

Once again he completed a quick scan of them both before moving on. He had been so overwrought with emotion; the incessant nag of fear in the back of his mind went unnoticed. He didn't even take note of the fact that it wasn't his own. The distraught emotions of the possible fate of the one special person he had left behind had him running out of the room and down the hallway in a matter of seconds.

"Rose?" he shouted, sprinting down the hall, "ROSE!?"

He ran manically through the rest of the west wing before checking the east. The estate's normally regal essence had been converted into a horrible traumatizing scene. The champagne carpets in some rooms held traces of blood and the cybermen dust, whole paintings were scattered haphazardly in various areas, most had been torn to shreds, and upholstery and furniture had been turned over or thrown across the room. He had been inspecting the upper east wing when he heard a faint whisper emerge from what appeared to be a supply closet.

"Hello?" he called out, he moved in with his sonic drawn out, "Who's there?"

He didn't receive a response. Cautiously opening the door, he saw the battered frame of

"Rose..." he gasped.

He was instantly at her side, scanning her with the sonic while cradling her frail frame. Her torso was bloodied and her blonde locks were matted with blood and sweat. He could already see her chest heaving to fill her lungs with enough oxygen. The sonic scan had revealed that she had a partially collapsed lung, several organs were shutting down, and there was central nervous system damage. In other words it was going to be difficult

"Doctor…" her voice came out in a strained whisper.

"Oh my sweet Rose," he gathered her in his arms.

"I can fix this, let's just get you to the TARDIS." His voice shook with emotion.

She looked at him with sorrowful hazel eyes. Her right arm raised, she rested her palm on his cheek, running her thumb ever so slightly over it. The Doctor placed a shaky hand around hers with a tight grip.

"You can't my love," she whispered, "there's no hope left for me, but there is for your cub. Find him, find our cub Doctor…" her voice trailed off as she tried to regain her breath.

She gave him a weak smile when she saw the look of shock register on his face. He placed a gentle kiss on the palm he was still holding to his cheek.

The light in her hazel eyes began to grow fuzzy, "Promise me Doctor," he retrained his chocolate brown eyes on her face, "take care of him."

"I promise Rose. I promise you Love," his words sounded foreign even to himself as they came out in a strangled sob.

"Remember one thing Doctor," her chest was heaving with effort, "I love you forever."

Her chest nearly ceased to move methodically up and down. Sobs racked through the Doctor's slim frame as he pulled Rose into his lap. He leaned down near her ear and through his tears whispered the one thing he had always wished he could tell her, his name. Placing a feather light kiss on her forehead, he began to sway back and forth with her body in his arms. He leaned his forehead against hers one last time before carrying her out of the small closet. After giving her as proper of a burial as he could, he placed several stones over the sight so he could remember the placement if he ever got the chance to return.

Though his disconsolate thoughts however, came another nudge in his conscious, one that was of fear, one that did not belong to him. His head snapped up for a moment before allowing a nudge of his own to reach out. The Doctor had still been crouched in front of Rose's grave when he felt a series of urgent nudges answer the one he had sent out. He jumped up from his spot and sprinted back inside of the Tyler Estate. He would find this connection because there was only one species that could respond like that with such urgency to one of its own. A Time-Lord.

Entering through the arch that led to the foyer, the Doctor began to look around. Glass crunched underneath his trainers as he slowly moved along both sides of the foyer. He would find whoever it was that could reach out to him. In that moment the estate shook from the rumble of the storm overhead. A whimper came from underneath the stairs. With his sonic drawn in his left hand he made a quick dash to the side of the door.

"Hello? Is anyone in there?" his voice was unsteady.

No answer.

There was another nudge in his mind of fear, he sent out soothing thoughts to try and ease the fear of whoever it was. He wrapped shaky fingers along the brass knob before slowly turning it open. The door clicked open and he opened it cautiously. There on the floor was a large wicker basket and inside of it lay a wide eyed infant. His eyes were still slightly cloudy, but the Doctor could distinguish the hazel color they would become, so he was still under four months and older than two months. The little boy's hair was sticking up in small copper tufts. The Doctor stood there, mouth agape, before noticing a letter underneath the basket. He shifted himself onto the floor next to the wicker basket and draped a hand in to run a soothing finger along the baby's cheek.

My Doctor,

If you're reading this you've a) obviously been able to step through the void and b) undoubtedly found all of the destruction the cybermen left behind.

I'm also sure that I have already passed. There's nothing you could've done for me so don't go blaming yourself, yeah?

I knew I had to do it; it was the only way to save the rest of the species in this universe.

I hope it wasn't too hard on you seeing me the way I probably was,

and I'm sorry to have put you through that.

The cybermen that showed up however weren't normal cybermen though, they were more out of control

than ever.

We didn't instigate anything; they just showed up and began to attack.

I may not be with you anymore, but James will be. He's your son Doctor.

He's our beautiful bouncing baby boy. His full name is James Theodore Calum Tyler-Smith.

I wanted him to have a part of you even if it is just one of your pseudonyms.

He's three months old exactly today.

I don't have much time left, please take care of my cub, take care of our son and show him the stars like you got to show me.

Your Beloved,

Rose

He read the letter three times over.

His son.

Quietly shifting himself directly over the basket, he looked down at his son once again; his eyes began to grow moist once again with an occasional tear rolling down a cheek. He hadn't had a son in such a long time, yet now he had one with the most fantastic woman he had ever known. He used their connection to soothe James before scooping him up. He choked back another sob when James reached up a chubby hand to stroke his face.

There was nothing left in this world, that he was sure of. He tucked James underneath his shirt and coat before tucking the letter into his pocket. The Doctor moved into the freezing rain and looked back over his shoulder, he whispered goodbye and did what he did best. He ran.

That had been the best and worst day of his life. He had gained a son, but lost many loved ones. The Doctor took in a deep breath before straightening himself up to go out and look for James.

Once he was down a corridor, the TARDIS dimmed a bit, sensing her Time-Lords pain over reminiscing poignant memories. She too missed her wolf, but was glad to have her cub back.