A/N: This is it. The seventh and final part. I hope you have all enjoyed the ride, and thank you to Draco'sLoverr for leaving me reviews that make me flail and smile and go all giddy. This chapter might be a little... confusing. Seeing as the scene basically has three Doctors in it, I wanted the narrative to reflect that, hence the weird jumps between POV's.

Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who or the lyrics for "Out on the Town".


7. As Long As My Heart Beats

So come on, let me in
I will be the sun
I will wake you up, I am who I was
Just open up your heart

- Fun.

The strange trio seemed deadlocked in their own little bubble. Rose, literally caught in the middle, looked from one Doctor to the other.

"Don't you see what he's trying to give you?" Donna said, trying to make the blonde realize what was going on.

The second Doctor explained, how he was part human, how they could have a life together because he would grow old. The dance continued. Donna, amidst all the commotion, with synapses firing at Doctor-speed, was still amazed. The Doctor, the real one, was trying so hard to do the only thing that would lead to a happy ending for Rose. Couldn't they see it?

"When I last stood on this beach, on the worst day of my life, what was the last thing you said to me?"

It wouldn't make a difference. He knew it all, he had the same memories, he felt the same pain of anguish at the thought of that day. It was not the trick question she had hoped it would be. No one heard what he whispered in her ear, but they all knew nonetheless. The Doctor backed up, quietly walking into the TARDIS, Donna two steps behind. It was still leaving her and never seeing her again. It was still a white hot knife of pain slicing through his hearts. The only comfort he could draw from his pain was that at least Rose was not completely alone. She had a Doctor. It might not be him, but it was the closest thing they'd ever come to being together.

The moment the TARDIS dematerialised was the moment their paths truly divided. Up until then, from the moment he sprung into existence, he had been a duplicate, a perfect mirror image. Not anymore. He took Rose's hand as she stared at the spot where the blue police box had once stood. It would take time. She had been given a second chance at happiness, but she knew that there was still another one of him in the universe next door. No matter. He loved her, with all his heart, with both hearts of his mirror image. He would be everything he had been, everything she needed him to be. He pulled her into a tight hug, whispering in her ear:

"Rose Tyler, I will love you for as long as my heart beats."


A/N: Reviews are better than... No. Let's face it. Nothing is better than the Doctor giving Rose a life with TenToo. But reviews are still appreciated.