-sniffs- The last chapter! I can't believe it!
Okay, so I lied...it's not the last chapter...I have a small epilogue...figured since I put in a prologue better put in an epilogue, too, eh? ;)
This isn't a long chapter, but it's full of fluff at the end. I wasn't sure how to write it, so if it seems...iffy, please let me know how I can fix it. Suggestions are awesome!
Anyway, off to the last official chapter before the epilogue!!
Disclaimer: Me no own. Me wishes I did...
Chapter Nine
The trip back to the village took longer than the Doctor had anticipated. He wasn't surprised, however, when Tala began to grow sluggish. The little girl was obviously exhausted from her ordeal, having gone through it for a total of five days. The Doctor eventually dropped Rose's hand and scooped up the little girl. Tala had fallen asleep almost instantly, her little head resting on her savior's chest. Kudit and Sewati had grown quite, and when the Doctor looked down at them, they rubbed their eyes and yawned wearily.
"We're almost there." Rose assured them. "Just keep going."
They continued to make their way in the dark towards the village, moonlight drifting down through the leaves on the trees. Everyone was worn out, emotionally, and physically. Rose herself felt like she could curl up and go to sleep right then and there…
Finally, the fires of the village could be seen through the trees, and Kudit and Janchi immediately seemed more awake at the thought of seeing their parents again and telling them of their exciting adventure.
The Doctor and Rose walked, hand in hand, into the village, Kudit and Sewati bouncing beside them. The villagers gave a cheer of joy, and a warrior ran off to find the chief and the other parents.
"Mama!" Kudit suddenly cried, letting go of Rose's hand to run to a woman not far off. The woman had tears of pure joy running down her face, and she hugged her child tightly. Rose and the Doctor smiled, and the Doctor scanned the area for Sewati's parents, spotting them not far from where they had left them.
"There are your parents." The Doctor said to Sewati. "You'd better go see them."
Sewati nodded. "Thank you for finding me, Doctor." He said.
"You're very welcome." The Doctor said and he watched as Sewati bound off to join his parents.
"Now all that's left is to find Tala's parents," Rose said.
"I don't think we have to." The Doctor said, nodding towards the chief's hut. Chua and Miakoda emerged, their eyes searching frantically for the Doctor and their daughter. Janchi followed them close behind, and he pointed when he spotted the Doctor with little Tala asleep in his arms.
Miakoda reached her first. She raced up to the Doctor and Rose, and the Doctor gently handed Tala over to her mother, who hugged the sleeping girl tightly.
"Oh Tala!" She sobbed. "Oh my child, my child is back!"
Tala opened her eyes and grinned excitedly when she saw her mother.
"Mummy!" She cried, throwing her arms around Miakoda's neck.
Chua came up behind his wife and daughter, and Tala cried in delight at the sight of her father.
"Papa!" She said, holding her arms out to him. In an instant, Chua was on his knees, hugging his precious daughter close to him. The Doctor could see tears streaming down his face as he kissed the top of Tala's head. After a moment, he raised his head and looked at the Doctor and Rose.
"Thank you." He choked out. "Thank you so much for finding her."
"Thank you for giving us a chance." The Doctor said, putting his arm around Rose's shoulders. He nodded at the other children and their parents. "They're all fine, all three of them. Perfectly healthy, no broken bones, no ear infections. They'll be a little tired for the next couple of days, but with a good night's rest they should be much better."
"We will never be able to repay you for what you have done, both of you." Miakoda said. "We are eternally indebted to you."
"I'm sorry I accused you of kidnapping the children, Doctor." Chua said, shamefaced. "I hope that you will find it in your heart to forgive me."
"Already done." The Doctor said, smiling. "I'm not one to hold a grudge."
"Won't you stay and share in a celebration with us?" Miakoda asked.
"Nah." The Doctor said. "We'd better get going. I've got a promise to keep."
Chua handed Tala back to her mother, and stood to his feet. "Thank you again, Doctor. You name shall be remembered always." He looked at Rose. "Both of you. I thank you for bringing them back to us. The Lenni Lenape will sing of you for many a moon."
He held out his hand, and the Doctor shook it. He then turned and joined his family as they walked back to their hut at the center of the village. Little Tala cast one last glance over her shoulder and waved at the Doctor and Rose, who waved back.
The Doctor took Rose's hand. "Ready to get back to the TARDIS?" He asked. Rose smiled, her tongue peeking out between her teeth.
"Ready when you are." She said.
The two turned and walked away from the village, back towards the uphill path. Just as they reached the outskirts of the village, a voice called out to them, stopping them.
It was Janchi. He ran up to them and stopped.
"Thought I would come and say goodbye before you left." He said. "And to thank you."
"You're welcome." Rose said.
"I want you both to know you taught me something. You taught me to never judge before I know facts. I'll never forget that. And you taught me to always keep those that I love close to me, because I never know how long I have with them." He looked at Rose. "You take care of him. Keep him out of trouble."
Rose laughed. "I'll try." She promised.
"And you," he said, looking at the Doctor. "Remember to never hold back, and now you're lucky to have someone like Rose at your side, got it?"
The Doctor nodded. "Don't I just know it?" He said. "Thank you for all your help, Janchi. I don't think we could have done it without you. Take care."
The Doctor held out his hand, much like Chua had, and Janchi took it. Rose came up and pecked him on the cheek quickly before turning and joining the Doctor.
"Good luck, you two." Janchi said, and turned and walked away.
"So where are we going next?" Rose asked as they walked on.
"Oh, I dunno." The Doctor said. "I was thinking Barcelona, just like I promised." He looked at her, and Rose saw the glint in his eyes, and she grinned.
"Think we'll actually get there this time?"
"Hopefully." The Doctor said. "Or we could go to the planet Pannia! The inhabitants are pink yaks that sing about bubblegum." He frowned. "Although, last time I went there I got stuck in one of the pits…like tar, that bubblegum is…smells good, though. Fruity."
Rose giggled. "Wherever you want to go." She said, placing her head on his shoulder. "I'm just glad you're alright."
"So am I." The Doctor said. "I thought I was a goner there for a moment."
"So did I." Rose said. "I don't think I've ever been so scared in my life. I thought I'd never see you again." She lifted her head. "You're not a dream, are you?"
"I don't think so." The Doctor said, looking down at her. "Last time I checked I wasn't."
Rose smiled and laid her head back down. "Good." She said. "Because even if you are, don't wake me up."
Finally, the TARDIS came back into view, and the Doctor slipped his key into the lock. Jiggling it a bit, he stepped inside, breathing deeply.
"Ah!" He said. "Good ol' TARDIS!"
The TARDIS hummed, and it sounded much happier than it had before when Rose had returned alone. The old ship's lighting changed, and she began to sing again.
"I think she's happy you're back." Rose said. "She seemed…depressed when I came back without you."
"Miss me, did you, old girl?" The Doctor asked, stroking the doorframe of the TARDIS lovingly. The TARDIS gave a rumbled reply, almost like a hungry stomach growling.
"You know, she showed me Emergency Protocol Three without me even having to use the sonic screwdriver."
"Really?" The Doctor asked, looking at the TARDIS.
Rose nodded. "Guess she knew what I needed." She said.
"Guess so." The Doctor said, pulling Rose towards him, resting his forehead against hers. "I meant everything I said in that hologram, Rose." He said softly. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier. I have a lot of regrets, and a lot of things to be regretful for, and not telling you sooner is one of them."
Rose shook her head. "It wasn't time for you to tell me." She said. "So don't go beating yourself up about it."
The TARDIS' lighting changed, an upbeat song began to play. The Doctor cocked an eyebrow.
"I think she's telling us to dance." He said.
"I think so, too." Rose agreed.
"Well, then, Rose Tyler, may I have this dance?" The Doctor asked, stepping back and offering Rose his hand. Rose smiled and took it.
"You may." She said.
The Doctor and Rose twirled and danced around the TARDIS console, their feet never ceasing to stop, smiles never leaving their faces, hearts beating as one. The TARDIS kept the beat, her lights dimming and brightening with the notes of the song. Both the Doctor and Rose found themselves remembering World War II and the gas masked child stalking them, back when they had first met Captain Jack Harkness.
The Doctor spun Rose back towards him, and suddenly the entire atmosphere changed. The music slowed, and the lights stopped blinking erratically. Instead the lights danced around the room, one here, one there.
Rose looked around the room. "I think she wants us to slow dance."
The Doctor said nothing, just pulled Rose closer. He took her left hand in his, and placed the other on her waist, while Rose put her hand on his shoulder.
And the two began to dance to the slow, enchanting melody the TARDIS was singing, lost in each other's eyes, not thinking about anything else but each other, and how finally, finally, it was all coming together.
"You know," the Doctor mused. "I've been thinking about why the TARDIS brought us here."
"Because she knew Tala needed our help?" Rose suggested.
"Well, yes, that," the Doctor said. "But there's something else, I think. I think the old girl finally got so fed up with us – well, me – not being able to admit our feelings for each other. Maybe she figured we needed a little extra push or something."
Rose smiled. "Maybe she did."
"Whatever the reason, I'm glad she did." The Doctor said. "Because now I can do this, and never have to worry about it." He leaned down and captured Rose's lips with his own.
He poured everything that he was into the kiss. That one, simple gesture told Rose everything she needed to know, he was sure. It told her how much she truly meant to him, how he would undoubtedly die without her, how she had brought him back from the abyss when he was falling in a downward spiral without any hope of getting back up again, how there would never be anyone else that meant as much to him as she did at this very moment.
They finally broke apart, and he held her close, afraid to ever let her go.
"I love you." He whispered in her ear.
Rose rested her head on his chest, once again hearing his hearts beat, in perfect rhythm with hers, out the samba she knew belonged to her.
"I love you, too." She whispered back. "My Doctor."
"My Rose." He smiled and squeezed her tightly for a moment before stepping back and grinning ear to ear. "Now, how about we get to Barcelona?"
Rose grinned and walked over to sit down in the captain's chair. "How about it?" She said.
The Doctor ran about the console, flipping switches and pressing buttons.
"You know," Rose said out of nowhere. "We'll have to tell my mother. About us, you know, being, well…together?"
The Doctor looked at her suddenly, his eyes wide.
"Do we have to?"
Rose laughed. "Yes, Doctor, we have to." She said. "And don't worry; I won't let her slap you this time."
Relief flooded the Doctor's eyes, and he smiled. "Rose Tyler, Defender of the Last of the Time Lords." He said.
"You know what I find funny?" Rose asked, yawning tiredly. "You're not afraid of Slitheen or Daleks or liquid gold or space pirates, but you're afraid of my mother, a human."
"Your mother is one scary woman, Rose Tyler." The Doctor said in his defense. He flicked one last switch. "Ah, there we are!" He said triumphantly. "Off to Barcelona!"
He turned back to face Rose, only to find her fast asleep in the captain's chair. He smiled and flipped off the switch that would take them to the anticipated Barcelona, instead allowing the TARDIS to cruise the time vortex. He picked up his coat from where Rose had left it near the door and draped it over her.
"Good night, my Rose." He whispered, kissing her cheek. "Sweet dreams."
As she dreamt, Rose smiled.