Chapter 6

"Is it gonna be that bad every time he regenerates?"

"I don't think so. Already the link feels weaker. I think it was so intense for this me because that him was the me that…made me." She smiles at his confused expression. He wriggles from her arms, sits up with his own strength. She stands up, notices her legs shaking. She looks out to the water, watches the slowly encroaching waves.

"This bloody beach," she says. The Doctor reaches out to her, she helps pull him up.

"Well," he says with his usual swagger. Were he not a shade paler green than his usual color, Rose isn't sure she would know he almost died. "That's not so much the beach's fault. That, my dear, was bloody bad timing. I might have felt it a bit at home, but I think the walls between the universes must be thin here. That's probably what happened on the zeppelin earlier, too." He holds out his hand for Rose, wiggles his fingers.

"You're acting like nothing happened," she responds, skeptical.

"Nothing did."

"He died."

"No," he puts his hands in his pockets. "He regenerated. There's a significant difference, you know that."

"He might've. Besides, coming back on the other side doesn't make it hurt any less," Rose crosses her arms in front of her chest, hugging herself.

"True. But I didn't die. And if I was going to, I don't think it would matter where we were."

"You scared the shit out of me," she spits, a bit angrier than she intends. Shakes her head at herself.

"I'm sorry," he tenses, looks at her with genuine concern. "I…"

"'S okay. Not like you planned it," she replies with a soft smile. He chuckles then, and she looks up at him questioningly.

"I'm not going to say it," he responds. She glares. "A bit of sarcastic Donna coming out again. You'll get angry. You may even slap me. I'm not sure I can take that. You've been trained by the best slapper in London." She continues to glare. "Fine. Promise you won't slap me?"

"Yes. Only because it's your…" she stops, looks thoughtful. "That's poetic, I guess. It's your birthday."

"Brilliant!" He laughs, hugs her. She does not hug him back immediately, but cannot hold off for long. "Born and re-born. Sort of. Close enough."

"Doctor?" she murmurs into his chest. "You're really all right?"

"Yes. Now. Are you?" He pauses, sighs.

"Yeah." A beat. "Doctor?"

"Yes, Rose?"

"I've decided you're not allowed to die. For a very long time."

"I don't intend to. I rather like this life," he steps back and looks at her. "There's so much left to do. I think after we get married I may even like to try owning a house." Rose's eyes widen; in the stress of the other Doctor's regeneration, she forgets the earlier part of their afternoon. Now she remembers that the Doctor proposed. It was so matter of fact earlier, now it seems surreal. Good surreal.

"A mortgage? You?" She smirks.

"Well, I didn't say that. Your family is rich," he smiles. "And I'm sure we can get rid of the carpet. Not certain we can get away without doors, though."

"I thought this beach might beat us again," she looks down. "But it didn't."

"Nope," he pops the 'p.' She stands beside him, laces the fingers of her hand through his.

"Doctor?" She asks. He hums in reply. "I love you." She pauses a moment and smiles at him, he smiles in return. "And I'm really, really happy. A year ago, I wasn't sure. But here we are. Me 'n you. Still having adventures, even though they're a little slower and closer to home. Together forever."

"And shagging."

"Way to ruin the moment," she slaps his arm with her free hand.

"I happen to think that is one of the major perks of this whole stuck-on-earth, part-human life. Strike that, the perk. The majorest of perks," he smiles so brightly she can't keep the put-upon expression on. "Frankly, if I was given the choice today between centuries of space adventures and a single lifetime shagging Rose Tyler…"

"You've earned your points for the evening, Doctor," she grins, biting her lip.

"Good to know. Shall we?" They begin the path toward the zeppelin. "That was a rather interesting birthday, if I say so."

"Sorry," she mutters.

"Don't be. Wouldn't have it any other way. We came back to the place we ended and started. There were endings and beginnings. Seems rather poetic to me," he smiles back at her. "I think, maybe not every year, but I think we should come back every so often."

"Why's that? I mean, it's beautiful, and I get facing up to it obviously, but to keep on coming back?"

"Maybe it's growing on me. Besides, the walls are thin here. We can come back and say—well, think—hello."

"To the Doctor? You're sure you're okay with that?"

"I'm not sure I'll ever be okay with whatever I am and he is and how we are the same and not and all that. I am, however, very okay with how this has all ended up. He gave us this life. Literally gave me life and gave me a life with you and gave you a life with me. It seems appropriate to say thank you. And maybe gloat, seeing as I'm rather certain I got the better end of the deal."

"You're awful," she smiles, "and wonderful." They crest the dunes and begin to walk toward the zeppelin. The Doctor pulls out his cell texts the crew to let down the ladder. When he pockets it again, Rose asks, "Doctor, before, when you said 'I didn't plan it' and then laughed and then you weren't gonna tell me?"

"Yes," he looks a bit sheepish.

"What were you going to say?"

"I was going to say," he looks over at the zeppelin, sees the ladder begin to descend, measures the distance in his head. "Technically, you planned it."

Rose glares at him, lifts her arm to slap him. Before she reaches him he turns to sprint for the ladder. She chases him. So they run, laughing.