The rain outside the Tyler Mansion was still pouring down as Rose's bedside lamp flickered to life with two clicks.As she held the letter beneath it, gold light shimmered like the sun on Rose's face. She was tired and filled to the brim with mixed emotions from the day. I wish this could wait...but it can't. After breathing a sigh, she glanced behind her. The Doctor was sitting on the edge of her bed motionless with his head bowed to the carpet.

"Are you absolutely sure you want me to read this," She asked, as her thumb traced the unbroken, dark blue seal. "I mean...why bring up the past again if it doesn't even matter now?"

Only a moment passed, but it felt like an eternity until an orchestra of thunder and lighting caused The Timelord to slowly lift his head to meet Rose's eyes.

"Because," He answered, motioning for her to come sit next to him. When she did, he folded his hands around hers, the envelope rustling and creasing under the added weight. "I need you to know what I wrote when I thought my time was done."

Confusion played across Rose's face as small raindrops cast their shadows upon her. That still isn't an answer, she thought. She wanted to press for more details but the expression on The Doctor's face stopped her. At first glance, he didn't look tired. His face still had the same youthfulness the first day they met. But as she gazed into his eyes, she could see all the loss, all the pain, all the heartache he had endured.

"Alright," She said calmly, as her fingers hovered over the fastener. "Now or never, right?" A small, brave smirk formed on her face but to no one's avail. The Doctor's back was facing Rose. His face transfixed on the pink wall for some reason. In that moment Rose knew some form of anguish was going to be unleashed. The only thing she could control was how she was going to react.

Thunder and lighting rattled the house again as Rose broke the seal and unfolded the single page of stationary. Nervously, she brushed a lock of hair behind her ear and finally concentrated on the handwriting and was surprised by its sloppy appearance.

"Thi-," She paused, trying again, "This isn't your handwriting." The letter rustled as she waved it in his direction.

As The Doctor looked back, Rose could see the lighting flash across those chocolate brown eyes. In them, all she could perceive was a mixture of disgust and shame.

"Would you quit making this harder than it needs to be," Raising his voice he shot up from the bed and stared directly into her soul. His face so close she could feel how frightened he was; like a small boy trembling amidst the darkness. "It's written in my hand," calm started to come back to him. "J-Just read the damn thing," he loosely placed a hand on her shoulder, "please." He released her, took a few steps back and sat down again as the thunder suddenly followed.

She nodded without another word and started to decipher the frantic writing:

Rose,

I doubt this letter will ever get to you but, as I lay here in agony, starting my life as someone new again, I needed to write out what I am thinking, what I am feeling. If it feels short, time isn't on my side anymore. And it hasn't been for awhile. Ever since I had to let you go, I've made power-hungry decisions that I wish I could undo. When I looked in the mirror...sometimes I didn't even recognize myself, but I just denied who I saw. When my time drew closer, I thought seeing you one last time on that perfect New Year's Eve would fix everything...

The last part that could be made out caused Rose's blood to run cold. It felt like someone had slammed her against a wall, knocking the air clean from her lungs. She couldn't stop the streams outlining her face. However, on the inside she thought she could feel the golden, bad wolf anger coming alive ever so slightly.

"No wonder you feel shame," She whisper screamed, as their gazes locked. "You wrote this in anger!"

...At first, it did. I walked back to my Tardis, feeling complete inside. But when my years as this version flashed in front of me...all my reckless decisions, especially the most recent ones, stemmed from losing you. And after all these years running, blaming myself for not living up to my fullest potential...I finally have some words to finish THAT sentence: Rose Tyler, I wish to the universe on high that I had never met you!

Control. It was the only word that came to her mind. Control. Control your reaction. The thunder and lighting was nothing compared to the torment Rose was feeling. Her hands held the letter taut as she continued to stare at The Doctor. She knew she could destroy a lot more than a letter if she followed through with her thought. Rip it up, just rip. it. up...No...

The stairs at an ungodly hour were suddenly alive, almost at the same time the main door opened and closed without warning. It was followed by the swish of a robe, trying to keep up. Muddy footsteps ran a few feet from the Tyler household and an abrupt, angry howl was let out as a softball-like pitch hurled a wad of paper into a marshy puddle.

Rose could see the white paper slowly turn black as the ink ran in haphazard stripes. The Doctor stood behind her in a green robe, maintaining an adequate following distance. After what seemed like hours, he spoke.

"Do...Do you hate me?"

Rose didn't fully understand what he meant. She was still drowning in her own feelings.

"What?"

He took a deep breath. "If you want me to go...I'll just..."

She jogged back towards him and snatched his arm before he could go back inside. Her dress was already soaked from the thunderstorm. She sighed to let some of the tension escape.

"Look," Rose turned away for a second, maybe trying to find some invisible lifeline to grasp onto. "Everyone gets mad or angry or upset," Her anger flared up, as she slammed her fists into her sopping thighs,"But the main reason I am so...bloody pissed at you right now is that you didn't tell me about this sooner!"

The Doctor was beginning to feel exasperated. "Well, excuse me for not telling you! We were busy dealing with Casandra and whether or not you wanted the REAL me to come back into your life!"

Blonde hair flew with fury, "Oh, you always have excuses don't you?!"

The Doctor leaned in closer, hands behind his back. Rose's face only inches from his own. Even though she was extremely angry with him, she couldn't help but like his warm breath on her skin.

"No," The Doctor said calmly, "my only excuse is saving the universe and you not only like it," He chuckled at the next thought. "You love it."

Rose was speechless and her face flushed very quickly. She couldn't deny that what he said could be the absolute truth. Had she overreacted? Was she just blowing this whole thing out of proportion? Maybe, she thought, as she scrambled for a reply.

"Why can't you just say you're sorry?" She crossed her arms.

The Doctor looked towards the open sky, the rain pouring down onto his slender face, trying to find the right words. He looked back at Rose, the sarcasm once there was replaced by complete seriousness.

"Is that what you want me to say," He asked.

Rose walked underneath the green colored eave that surrounded the front porch and leaned her body against the wall. The light by the door combined with the rain made her figure glow. She shook her head, not knowing who was right or wrong anymore.

"I don't know," She flung her hands into the air then put them around her shoulders; the rain beginning to make her body shiver. "What do you want to say to me?"

He stood still for a moment as the rain began to pelt him and the earth around him with more intensity. Whenever he looked at Rose he always saw the same qualities. She was delicate, but strong. Funny, but never cruel; unless you really deserved it. She always saw the best in everyone, even when they didn't see it in themselves...and that included him. It was time he showed her he believed there was still good in the universe. He walked in front of her, letting his eyes soak in her features and memorize her face. A nervous but pleasant smile appeared.

"I'm sorry," He breathed, as both hands cupped Rose's face. One thumb swiped away a teardrop still present. "For everything."

The thunder crash symbolized a flashbulb memory in the making. His tender kiss felt like an electric charge as it spread throughout Rose's body. He slowly but gently pinned both of her arms to the siding while tracing them from fingertips to shoulders. She shuddered and couldn't help but feel like she was flying. She returned his love with a type of passionate kiss only reserved for him. It started at the lips then slowly but surely caressed his neck. Suddenly, she twisted The Doctor's tie underneath his robe and, while still in a heated embrace, dragged them out into the downpour. The sheet of water didn't faze them, it only magnified their feelings.

Rose broke it off to catch her breath. Her palm held The Doctor's face as he allowed himself to rest his head against it. She ran her other hand through his soft, spiky hair.

"My Doctor," She said, as she put a few strands of hair back in place. "I will love you till the end of time."

He lingered in her stare a few moments before answering.

"Rose Tyler, I...", He began, then shrugged the thought away. Knowing it wasn't needed. "Oh, you already know."