I'm sorry in advance. But it WILL get better. Soon. I promise. (And according to my sister it's only fair it hurt to write it, so if that gives you any consolation...)


Chapter 3:

Earth, 2008, shortly after the destruction of Davros and the Daleks.

Rose walked the Doctor back to the TARDIS, where Martha, Donna and the other "Doctor" were waiting for them. Even without noticing, their hands found each other's the way they always did. In a way, even though it's been over two years since they lost one another, it felt as if it hasn't even been a day.

"It's good to see you again," The Doctor's voice was quiet but warm. She looked at him and he smiled brightly. "Brilliant Rose Tyler." The words were said in a slightly admiring tone she knew was hers alone. Two years, and he hasn't changed, not even in the slightest.

"You too." She returned him a smile, truly happy. "I'm glad you weren't alone," She added then, surprising him. "You shouldn't be traveling alone."

He gave her a lopsided grin. "And you shouldn't be in another universe. Things change."

She shook her head slightly, but didn't argue. When the Doctor made a decision, no one could change his mind about it. It didn't matter that he really wasn't supposed to be on his own and probably never was alone prior to that – he wouldn't listen to reason anyway.

Walking by her side, the Doctor was also thinking about the subject, although from a slightly different point of view. He was so happy when he first saw her; when Donna first said the words "Bad Wolf"; when she stood there next to him in front of Davros; but now that the whole thing ended, his mind was reeling once again, and he slowly realized that as much as he wanted her to stay, she couldn't. And that was tearing him apart inside.

"Rose…" He stopped a few steps away from the TARDIS, making her stop as well. She turned to him, complete faith in her eyes. "I need to take everyone back home."

She nodded in understanding. "Do you want me to come with you or should I stay here? I need to bring-"

"You, too." He cut her off. The pain in his heart was almost unbearable now. "You need to go back home." Her eyes widened in shock and pain, but he continued nevertheless. "You need to be with Jackie and the family you built there. I can't… You need to go back home."

"But… this is home," She mumbled, her voice filled with pain.

He looked away, unable to bear the look of her looking like this anymore. He knew that if he looked at her for a moment too long, he'd take her in his arms and never let go of her again. He needed her so desperately – but he had to do what was right for her.

"I'll send the other Doctor – the meta-crisis Doctor – with you. It's for the best, for both of you. He'll make you…" His voice broke and he took a deep breath, trying not to show her how hard it was for him, "He'll make you happy. Happier than I…"

A sound of movement made him turn around. Only then he noticed he was alone – who knows for how long.


Bad Wolf Bay, Alternate Universe Earth, 2008

"When I last stood on this beach, on the worst day of my life, what was the last thing you said to me?" The Doctor could barely look at her green, full of pain, eyes. She spent so long searching for him, and now he was leaving her again – this time, voluntarily. "Go on, say it."

"I said, Rose Tyler." His voice was so soft and so sad at the same time. She refused to hear it, refused to acknowledge the fact that he was hurting more than she was.

"Yeah, and how was that sentence going to end?"

"Does it need saying?"

No, She thought as she looked into his eyes. No, it never did. Not when you've given me a child you don't even know of. But I want to hear it. I need to hear it.

But even though she wanted to keep pressing him, she turned to the other Doctor, the new, human Doctor, and asked, "And you, Doctor? What was the end of that sentence?"

He looked into her eyes for a long moment before whispering "Always love you" in her ear, just as the Doctor – even though she didn't see it – mouthed the very same words. Tears filling her eyes, she pulled him to her for a kiss, a long, deep kiss the way the Doctor had always wanted to get from her. His eyes filled with pain as he watched her for a long moment before turning away and returning to his TARDIS, Donna following him.

"Did you give him the piece of the TARDIS?" She asked as the ship dematerialised.

He nodded. "The Doctor and Rose in the TARDIS," He muttered. "Just like it was supposed to be."


London, Alternative Universe Earth, 2008

Rose wasn't sure what her son – their son – would think when he sees the meta-crisis Doctor coming home with her. She never spoke about his father, and even though he wasn't even two years old, he was part Time Lord and already had the ability to ask about him. Knowing she would never see the Doctor – her Doctor – again, she wondered whether or not she should tell him the man coming with her was his father.

The Doctor looked at her silently as they drove home. She could sense he wanted to ask what was wrong, but remained silent, knowing she needed some time to process everything she had just been through. As they reached the two-story house in the middle of London, though, he spoke for the first time.

"Rose," His voice was soft and so much like the Doctor's. Her Doctor's. "I know… this isn't what you wanted. I know this isn't what you've been hoping for. I'm sorry… for being here; for forcing the Doctor to leave you here again." She felt tears rising in her throat. "I understand it if you hate me." The pain in his voice was so clear all of a sudden. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for that. But I love you. And I won't… leave you alone. I promise."

She turned her head to look at him, her green eyes meeting his brown ones. Her right hand gently cupped his right cheek and she traced the outlines of his lips with her thumb. "I don't hate you," She whispered. "I could never hate you. I love you. But I…"

"Rose Tyler," He whispered back, his eyes fluttering shut for a moment at the feeling of her thumb touching his lips. "Rose…"

"There's something I need to tell you," She mumbled.

"What is it?" His eyes were focused on her all of a sudden, telling her he was listening carefully to every word she was saying.

"You were right. I was pregnant." She took a deep breath. "Doctor, he's… he's your son." Well, his son. "He's part Time Lord. I don't know how…" She trailed off when he kept staring at her, not responding. "Doctor?"

"There's a boy?" He whispered, shock and awe mixing in his voice. She nodded. "How is it… that you always find me when I'm the most… destructive, and manage to make me into a whole man?" His eyes met hers again and she suddenly saw the reaction she was hoping to see – pure happiness. "Oh, Rose…" He whispered before kissing her lovingly, his soft lips pressing against hers.

"Are you ready to meet him?" She asked quietly when they broke apart, after her mother parked.

He nodded and gave her his oh-so-familiar bright smile. "Never been more ready for anything my entire life – and I've had a lot of it, mind you." She laughed.

"Come," She pulled him after her as soon as she got out, hurrying towards her son, who has been waiting for her along with her father and little brother.


Inside the Time Vortex

"I don't want to talk." The Doctor grunted in response to the TARDIS' hum once he returned Donna to her home. As great as it was to see Wilfred again – the Doctor was surprised at how much he really liked the old man – the pain of losing Donna, right after losing Rose again, filled his mind entirely, blocking out any other thought that didn't involve Rose, Donna or his pain.

The TARDIS didn't seem to mind. He loved the old girl, but sometimes she couldn't understand why he had to let his pain sink in and become such an important part of him. It's been happening increasingly since the Time War, and every time he lost someone, she tried to help him; get him to talk about it; get him to have fun again.

"No." His tone was sharper now. She hummed in disapproval. "I don't want to talk. I'm not going to talk. There's nothing to talk about."

You're in pain.

"Of course I am."

What would Rose-

"Oi!" He cut her off. "No. Leave Rose out of this."

You didn't have to leave her.

"Enough." The Doctor's voice was now frozen. The TARDIS hummed her apology, knowing she took it a step too far. He directed her to stop on a random planet for a night's rest, ignoring her apology. "I'll be back later," was all he said, his voice still frozen, before leaving and shutting the door behind him.


Yes, this was a reference to the scene they cut out in the end of Journey's End, where the Doctor gives them a piece of the TARDIS. I'm simply not sure how many people saw it, so I made it just a reference.