Author Note: Long chapter so strap in for the long haul and grab some pop tarts or something.

Travel Diary: Day Twelve

Dear Diary,

Well today was officially the worst day of my life. It started out pretty boring and normal. I had finally convinced the Doctor to take me home for a visit and just as soon as we were successfully settled in, my mum starts going on about ghost shifts and a visit from my dead grandfather. It turned out that it wasn't really my granddad but a Cyberman.

See, Torchwood (this secret, high-tech alien fighting organization of bad guys) had been creating a hole between the parallel worlds that let the Cybermen and some Daleks through. Mickey, Jake, and my parallel Dad also showed up and they took Mum with them to the parallel Earth where she'd be safe, besides, she wanted to be with Dad again. The Doctor tried to send me with them so I'd be safe too, but I wasn't having it. It came right back and we set to work on saving the world.

"That's more like it, bit of a smile! The old team...!" Rose said at the sight of the Doctor's smile.

"Hope and Glory, Mutt and Jeff, Shiver and Shake!" The Doctor said gathering the magnetic clamps he had grabbed.

"The Doctor and Rose." Rose offered.

"Yes, the Doctor and Rose!" He agreed, leaning over to kiss her forehead once before handing her the clamp. Walking to opposite sides of the wide room they attached them to the walls and locked them in place. Once the void opened, they would be their lifeline.

With a nod to each other they pushed the levers to "Online" and ran to grab hold of their clamps as they entered Ghost Shift. The screams of Daleks and Cybermen filled the air as they got sucked in to the void. The Doctor and Rose grinned at each other both getting the familiar rush from saving the world.

"Ha! Into the void!" The Doctor shouted and Rose laughed at his enthusiasm, her hair whipping across her face as she smiled. Then the unthinkable happened, the Ghost Shift went "offline." Both the Doctor and Rose's smiles dropped as they glanced over at Rose's lever which was slowly slipping down. The Daleks and Cybermen slowed in their descent into the void. The Doctor's eyes widened in concern as he saw Rose reaching for it and he let out a sharp nervous breath as she fell towards it. She barely managed to grasp hold of it and with some effort she locked it back into place.

The void began sucking full blast and the last of their enemies fell into hell/ Unfortunately this left Rose closer to the entrance of the void. Rose's name stuck in the Doctor's throat as her feet were swept out from under her and she was left hanging on the lever with clammy hands. The Doctor watched helplessly from his side of the room as she struggled to keep her grip.

"Hold on!" He managed weakly.

"I am!" She called back cheekily and the Doctor relaxed a bit. She was fine, or she would be. The last of the Daleks disappeared into the void and with a loud crumbling sound the hole between the worlds closed in on itself. Rose fell to the ground as soon as the void's power released her and, within seconds, the Doctor was at her side.

"You did it. I'm so proud of you." He told her as he pulled into a hug, still crouching on the floor. She was shaking and began to cry. "Shh. It's okay. You're okay. I've got you." He brushed her tears away softly and after a few shuddering breaths she managed a smile, He returned it gratefully.

"I'll miss her." She told him referring to her mum.

"She would be so proud of you. She just wants you to be happy. You are happy with me aren't you?"

"Of course! I came back didn't I?" The Doctor smiled at this and Rose reached up to pull him down into a kiss. He went willingly.

"Come on," He said after they broke apart, "Let's go home." She nodded and he scooped her up into his arms.

"Doctor!" She cried out in surprise. Then she laughed, "I can walk! I promise." Yet she snuggled into his grasp comfortably.

"I should certainly hope you can walk, but right now you don't have to."

"Five quid says you won't make it all the way to the TARDIS without setting me down…"

"Are you calling me a wimp?-"

"…or getting lost."

"-Because I'll have you know that I am very manly indeed."

"Ten Quid?"

"Done."

So now I'm stuck in a different world than my family, but being stuck with the Doctor; that's not so bad. After we got back to the TARDIS the Doctor made me some tea and he hasn't left my side since. It's really sweet but I suspect that part of it has to do with the ten quid he's trying to weasel his way out of paying me. I'm not complaining though because he's invited me to spend the night in his bed with him. And what girl in the their right mind would refuse that?

It's completely innocent of course. I just don't think either of us are ready to be too far away from each other for a long period of time out of fear that the other will disappear.. I do however hope this becomes the norm for us because I am enjoying the feel of his fingers running up and down my back as I write this and the heat of his body lying beside me.

However, it appears he is growing impatient and is no longer content to lie there and watch me write in my diary, because he is attempting to pull it away from me while kissing my neck. This is very distracting and is making it difficult to write. He's just laughed at this (he's reading over my shoulder) and apparently he finds it amusing to jostle my hand while I'm writing so that my writing gets all sloppy.

Well, I'm going to go now because the Doctor is being very insistent that I come to bed, and he is making it nigh impossible to write anyway.

Sincerely,
A very tired, but content, Rose.

Rose finished her journal entry and allowed the Doctor to confiscate the diary and her pen. He set them on the bedside table while Rose settled down in bed. The Doctor turned and leaning over he kissed her lightly.

"Goodnight." He said with a smile into her lips. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him again. He adjusted so he was laying over her, propped up on his arms, one arm at her waist, the other framing her head. Rose ran a hand through his hair and the Doctor attempted to control the kiss from his awkward position. In the end it was what may be considered a snog of mutual enjoyment and one hell of a goodnight kiss.

When they broke apart the Doctor rolled off of her and collapsed onto the bed next to her. He lay there on his back; a wide grin plastered across his face as she snuggled up to his side and rested her head on his chest.

"Goodnight Doctor." Rose whispered, happy for the first time since they'd returned to the TARDIS. The Doctor brushed her hair out of her face and played with the blonde tips. Rose closed her eyes and exhaustion soon over took her. The Doctor waited until he was sure she was asleep and reached over for her Diary. He opened to a blank page and began to write.

My Dearest Rose,

Tonight, I'm the happiest man in all of time and space because I have you. You are the most beautiful creature I have ever encountered and I am completely devoted to you. Even now as I am writing this with you lying asleep in my arms I am completely in awe of you. I keep thinking, what did I do right to deserve this? All the horrible things that I've done, the people I've killed, the civilizations I've destroyed, and here you are. You, who wouldn't harm a Dalek let alone kill innocents, you make me better.

And there I go getting sappy. Rassilon, if anyone as the Gallifreyn academy saw this, I'd never live it down. But I just had to tell you because I realized that up till now I really haven't, so here it goes: I love you.

Straight forwards enough for you? I love you Rose Tyler, and I always will. Sleep well my Rose. I'll be here when you wake.

Love,
Your Doctor.

Note: And that's all folks. Thanks for reading. Reviews are love!