Notes: This chapter is really short, sorry... but it's important before I get into the End of Time stuff. Trust me, it will be worth the wait for End of Time. I really appreciate everyone sticking with me through this. I hope you'll stay for the next installment after End of Time... I think I'm calling the next story A New Friend. So keep an eye out for that and please keep reviewing! :D
Chapter Eleven - Fear
They were running again. Rose knew it. She could tell from his need to keep moving from one place to the next. Everything was safe little educational trips again and Jamie was seven years old now. They'd have to get back to their regular life of saving the universe and preserving timelines, as Jamie was destined to do, soon.
But she could tell the Doctor was afraid. The prophesy from Carmen so long ago, and the message calling him to visit the Ood, both had him very worried.
"What is it, love? What is it about these warnings that has you so scared?" Rose finally asked him when they were lying in bed one night.
"I knew there was no fooling you, Rose Tyler. Even Jamie can feel the timelines stretching around this. I've been told my song is ending. I suppose it could just mean regenerating again, but I don't want to die, Rose," the Doctor responded, his voice growing tight as he allowed his fear to show.
"We'll be here for you, you know that. You aren't doubting that I'll still love you? You know that could never happen, yeah? You're still you, I know that," she said, trying to reassure him.
"It still feels like dying. It hurts and who I am dies. Some new man takes over and walks away; who I am now, is gone forever," he said sadly.
Rose hugged him tightly then, needing to give him comfort for what was coming.
"I thought... when you were lost, Donna and I went to a planet called The Library. While we were there, we met a woman called River Song. And she knew me, though I had never met her before. She died. She died to save thousands of people that were trapped in the computer core. I was going to hook myself into the computer to save them, but she knocked me out, handcuffed me so that I couldn't stop her and took my place," he told her and paused as he considered how to explain the rest.
"She knew my name, Rose," he said quietly.
Rose gasped. Then she blinked at him.
"Not... well, she whispered in my ear... You know that a part of Jamie's Gallifreyan name that we keep a secret, is the same as a part of mine? Part of our parents' names are pieces of our name, like your parents are Tylers and so are you. She whispered that part of my name. You were gone, with no hope of coming back. I presumed that it must mean that I would marry her some time in my future and her past, but now that we have Jamie and could have more children, that most likely isn't what her knowing that means," the Doctor explained.
"So, that girl, Jenny, that you told me about. Your daughter that died. If she were still alive, she'd share that part of your name too, yeah?" Rose asked, not sure how all of this was relevant to his current fears, but always happy when he opened up with her.
"Yeah, she would. But the reason I'm telling you this is important. If her knowing my name isn't dependent on my survival, then, it's possible that the message about my song ending is more than just regenerating," he said sadly.
"Don't say that, love! You said she knew you, not just your name, but YOU. Don't discount that. And we don't know how long I'm going to live, just because I don't seem to be aging normally right now, doesn't mean I'm immortal or would regenerate like you. You might remarry when I'm gone," she told him, trying to reassure him that he would live, even if the idea of him with someone else was painful.
He hugged her even tighter then and kissed her hair. "The other reason I'm telling you, is that if I don't survive, it's crucial that you know about her importance, but we shouldn't tell Jamie about her death. If she turns out to be his sibling or his child or spouse, it would be painful to know that was coming for so long," he finished his explanation.
"Alright. I know about it now, and I won't tell Jamie anything. But you are going to survive. You might regenerate soon, and I will be heartbroken to lose another version of you. I'll miss this you just as much as I miss the last you, but I will love every version of you, Doctor, no matter what," she reassured him and moved to kiss him deeply.
There were silent tears on both of their cheeks as they embraced and offered each other consolation. They both knew it was time to face their fears and answer the call of the Ood from two years ago. But for tonight, they would revel in each other.
Rose sat up a moment to lift her nightgown over her head and the Doctor spent that time removing his pyjama bottoms as he watched her. Their lips crashed together and their legs entangled in a dance that was very familiar to them both.
His hands roamed her curves, as if it might be the last chance for him to ever feel her. Rose's hands tangled in his hair and scraped his back as she rolled beneath him. He took advantage of the position she allowed him and moved to kiss every inch of her perfect skin.
His lips travelled across her jaw to her ear, and down her neck to her clavicle. The Doctor took his time mapping the flesh of her breasts with his tongue and thrust into her when she squirmed impatiently. He kept his pace slow and gentle, just enjoying the pleasure that hummed through their link. He joined their minds together tightly, as he always did when they made love, and whispered sweet phrases in Gallifreyan into her mind. Words of love and devotion that she wouldn't understand but felt the meanings from him nonetheless.
They stayed suspended in their blissful actions for what felt like forever, yet never long enough, before they both needed to drive toward the end. Rose wrapped her legs around his waist and the Doctor began thrusting harder and faster, angling his hips so that he hit her body in just the right place every time.
Rose began murmuring filth and nonsense as her pleasure grew to the breaking point. With a few more mighty thrusts, they both fell and Rose's body clenched around him rhythmically as she drifted back to reality. Within moments, they were both floating to sleep in each other's arms.
-'-{ }-'-
Rose was standing in a field of red grass that stood almost to her waist. The sky was orange and there were two suns in the sky. Pink clouds swirled around the distant mountain tops and she could hear a soft tinkling sound. Turning to look behind her, Rose saw that the leaves on the trees were silver and shone brightly in the sunlight.
Under a nearby tree, stood an older woman with dark red hair, wearing long red robes that had golden embroidery and a high collar. Her hands were clasped in front of her and she approached Rose with a soft smile.
"He has chosen well, you are lovely indeed, Rose Tyler," the woman said to her.
"Who are you?" Rose asked the strangely dressed woman. She thought she must be on Gallifrey. The details fit with the few descriptions her husband had given of his home world.
"Events are moving quickly. My son will need to act now or all will be lost. He will need your help during the confrontation, you will need to break the connection," she told Rose.
"Are you the Doctor's mother?" Rose asked from her reference to her son.
"You mustn't tell him about this, but remember that you must break the connection, Rose. And thank you," she said finally, not answering Rose's question. The wind picked up all of a sudden and the woman disappeared in a swirl of silver leaves blowing through the trees.
With a final breath of the fragrant flowers of Gallifrey, Rose awoke in the arms of her husband. Today would be the day, and it was not going to be safe or easy.
