DISCLAIMER: I'VE NOTHING TO MY NAME, CETAINLY NOT DOCTOR WHO

A/N Apologize by One Republic is our song for today. Because the last chapter was incredibly short, I decided to give you a gift of sorts and treat you to a longer chapter. May it fill you with joy and bring peace to your mind. :-) Oh and I'm terribly sorry it's late, but that's what vacation does to you.

Apologize

Rose stared at the empty white wall, her face strangely blank. It scared the Doctor, to see her so expressionless, so utterly lost. He knew she was thinking of her family, locked on the other side of the void forever. He wondered if she regretted her decision. Would she still choose him if they were to return to that moment almost a year ago? Certainly, she seemed genuinely happy as they had continued their adventures, but there was now an emptiness about her, a dark cloud of sorts. As the anniversary of Canary Wharf approached, she had become worse and worse until he was seriously worried about her health. In the end, he had a decided a trip to where it had all started would maybe do her some good.

Now as the Doctor watched her, he couldn't help but think it was perhaps the worst idea of his existence. The cold, echoing building, in all it's emptiness brought the memories rushing back. The stark wall was more imposing than ever before, and only served to bring back the pain. Yes, his choice was certainly not the wisest he had ever made.

"Will we ever see them, again?" Rose asked quietly, breaking the stillness for the first time.

The Doctor knew the answer was no, but looking at her tear filled eyes, he couldn't bring himself to utter the word. "I don't know, Rose. There's a chance the gap will open up again eventually. Maybe things will end differently next time."

"I hope so," she whispered. Rose stood in silence once again, occasionally brushing her hand forlornly across the wall. The Doctor stepped to her side, wrapping a comforting arm around her, hoping in some way to make it easier for her. He had never wanted this for her, never dreamed she might someday be just as alone in the world as he.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," He murmured against her hair. "This is all my fault."

Her arms wrapped around his wiry body, hugging him tightly as tears came more freely down her cheeks. He held her close, rubbing her back tenderly while she sobbed quietly into his shoulder. A soft hand at the back of her head, seemed to calm her the most though. Soon, her cries quieted and she allowed the Doctor to brush away the last of the tears. Her brown eyes looked into his, the pain still present, but gratitude and strength dominating her gaze. He smiled warmly, knowing she was ready to return it now.

"No one's to blame, Doctor," Rose said. "You're the one who saved their lives in the first place."

"But," he protested.

"But nothing," she said firmly, staring him down. "Don't you go dare blaming yourself for something that couldn't be stopped. Would you rather they were dead? And what about me? Would really want me dead over separation from my family?"

"No," the Doctor muttered somewhat ungraciously. "I prefer having you all very much alive."

"Good. Now how about we pop over to New Earth?" she asked throwing him her trademark grin.

"We've all ready been there," he said hesitantly.

"I haven't lost my memory," Rose retorted, tugging restlessly at his hand. "Now come on, I want to go to New Earth. I want to lie in the apple grass with you by my side, and I want the most out of my forever."

The Doctor grinned and together they took off running for the Tardis. He had feeling that this day, so horrible and painful to begin with, was going to turn out brilliantly.

The Doctor pulled away from Rose, his breath fast and uneven. Her lips were swollen, and her cheeks were ringed with pink. Their light playful banter as they laid in the grass had someone led up to him kissing her quite unexpectedly, which had then led to her kissing him back with more intensity than he knew a human could possess. He was a hard man to keep up with, what with his respiratory bypass system, but Rose had proven herself very well. Extremely well.

"What am I doing?" he whispered, suddenly frightened of all the possibilities flooding his mind.

The Doctor untangled himself from her arms and legs, and pulled farther back. His hand was in his hair, all ready messed up, courtesy of Rose. His mind was spinning as he saw their whole future together. It was bright and shining, and wonderful, but the end result... how could he stand by and watch her fade like that?

"You're apologizing," she growled, yanking him back down by his tie. "Three years. Three years I've been waiting. And now you're apologizing for making me wait."

Rose's lips were on his again, hot with unbridled passion, and he found he didn't have the will to stop her. His hands sought out her hips, as she moaned with pleasure. He couldn't fight it, not anymore, not with her. She had a point, a very good one at that. Too much time had passed all ready, and she wasn't the only one who wanted the most out of forever. So with that, he dropped the last of his barriers, the last line of defense, and pulled her tighter against him. After tonight neither of them would ever have to be alone again.

"I can't believe you didn't invite Jack to our wedding," Rose said as she entered the Tardis with the Doctor. "He's our best friend, and you didn't even ask him to come!"

"You told me you only wanted your family and Mickey added to the list we previously made up," the Doctor replied in his own defense. "You never said anything about Jack."

"Well, excuse me for being overly excited that my family happened to pop through the void two days before my wedding! Is it really surprising I forgot to tell you I wanted Jack to come too."

She snapped, though her eyes still bright with happiness, dismissed any lasting fear the Doctor had of her truly being angry.

"You wanted me to come where?" Jack's voice came from the captain's chair.

Rose squealed with delight as she threw herself into his arms, and the Doctor watched on, trying to squelch the momentary jealousy flaming up in his chest. He was married for Rassilon's sake. There was absolutely no need to be jealous of the best friend, who accidentally wasn't invited.

"Oh, Jack," she said happily. "The Doctor and I just got married. Although, he'll have to be more careful if he plans to keep me." Here she threw the Doctor a glare that made him want to slink away shamefully. Rose kind of had that effect on people when she was angry.

Jack laughed heartily as he looked between the newly weds, assessing the very differing expressions. The Doctor was not at all pleased. Jack would not have such an easy time keeping Rose happy, as he thought he would. The Tyler temper ran just as strongly through her as it did through her mother. The Doctor had been on the receiving end of a number of slaps, especially lately.

"Oh, come on Rose. I don't want to talk to him," the Doctor grumbled, as he grasped her warm hand in his. She squeezed his hand lightly, assuring him he hadn't fallen out of her graces just yet.

"Fine, I suppose he can wait for tomorrow," Rose said, and she turned to go down the hall.

"What are you doing?" Jack asked with an unsurprisingly suggestive look.

"The Doctor owes me an apology," Rose replied before promptly disappearing down the corridor with the Doctor in tow.

He flashed her a smile, which she returned slyly, as they walked towards his bedroom. Ever since the day on New Earth apologies were... well... interesting.