Second update of the day so if you're looking for the next chapter go to chapter 10 or this one won't really make all that much sense.

Little note: This chapter contains communication across universes. Don't ask me if it's real or how it's supposedly possible because I can't explain it :P All I know is that it's necessary or was at the time.

While writing this chapter I listened to 'Sand in my shoes' by Dido and 'When the pain dies down' by Chris Stills if anyone wants to get in the mood :)

xxx

Rose slowly raised herself up off the lounge to answer the door. The day had been a lazy one and she hadn't been bothered to do anything more than sit and watch the television. Of course this upset Mika quite a lot as she wanted to run around outdoors.

As she approached the door she could see the outline of Jamie waiting for her. Yawning and stretching as she went, she made her way over and unbolted the door.

"Have you been in bed all day?" Jamie asked as soon as she was let in.

Rose shrugged. "I've been on the lounge watching TV actually".

"What are you doing that for?" Jamie frowned. "Are you hiding from someone?"

Rose snorted and shut the door. "You might say that".

Before they could even make it into the kitchen to have tea the door opened again and cold air flooded temporarily into the room.

"Ellie," Rose gasped. "You scared me".

"Sorry," Ellie moved quickly into the room. "But I could kill him you know".

"I'm sorry?"

"Alec," Ellie rolled her eyes. "He confessed to us this morning what happened between you two last night".

"Oh," Rose breathed. "Don't kill him. It wasn't unpleasant".

"There you go," Jamie moved back into the room. "Now all we need is for dad to get the courage to talk to you again".

"You've all been discussing this?!" Rose shrieked.

"Well yeah," Jamie grinned. "Funny thing is he didn't even know who you were to begin with".

"What do you mean?" Rose asked.

"You're the vitex heiress," Ellie shook her head at her. "We all knew you looked familiar".

Rose froze. "So he knows who I am..."

"Don't look so worried," Jamie laughed. "Dad's not mad at you for being rich. He's just terrified because he doesn't know how he's going to talk to you again".

Rose scrubbed her heads down her face much like the Doctor used to. Did he know? Would he find out about the Doctor? He'd surely demand an explanation, anyone would.

"How did I get here?" she murmured aloud. "I should leave before I can cause any more trouble".

"What do you mean by 'trouble'?" Ellie frowned at her.

Rose shook her head and began pacing. "It doesn't matter. He doesn't know me that well. He'll have forgotten about me in a few weeks".

"I think you underestimate his feelings for you," Ellie replied. "No one has ever kept him captivated like this in the time I've known him. Of course, most of them can't stand him anyway".

"I'll go back to London, back to work and bury myself there..." Rose continued as if she hadn't heard Ellie.

"Rose!" Jamie grabbed hold of her shoulders to stop her from pacing. "Do you like him?"

"I'm sorry?"

"You heard me. Do you like him enough to stay for him?"

Rose sighed. "That's the problem. I like him too much. I barely know him and I'm going crazy thinking about him".

"Then tell him. Tell him and put him out of his misery," Jamie laughed. "Give him a reason to smile".

"You're his reason to smile. He doesn't need me. All I do is mess things up," Rose turned away and stepped out through the sliding door to the deck.

The sun would soon set and Rose wanted to be out of the house when it did. What was she doing there? She knew why she had come there, but what was she doing making a mess of these people's lives? Alec was a divorced man and he had a daughter. Ellie had two children as well and now Rose was burdening them with her presence. Of course they would never say anything, and they would never even think about it that way...but Rose couldn't help but feel that maybe she was doing more harm than good trying to have a normal life. She belonged up amongst the stars where she had come to love and fit in.

She wiped a tear from her cheek and silently scolded herself. She couldn't allow herself to still be hung up on the Doctor. Of course she would never forget him or the things she'd seen...but that part of her life was over and it was time to create a new chapter.

Fresh tears formed as she thought of the Doctor moving on. Was he happy? Had he regenerated again? Did he miss her at all? Something in her heart told her that she already knew the answer to that. The things the Doctor remembered were remarkable, and if he felt the same way that his clone had told her...then there was a fairly good chance that he was feeling the same, somewhere amongst the stars with his newest companion.

Rose looked down towards the beach and her heart sped up. A man in a suit was standing there with his back to her, but she didn't need to see his face to know who he was. She raced back inside to find that both Ellie and Jamie had left. A piece of paper sat on the coffee table and Rose snatched it up.

'Rose,

I know you're confused and I know that you wish the decision could be made for you, but I'm afraid life doesn't work like that. I don't even know if this will work but I can only hope. Don't ask me how I know about any of it and don't ask me for more because it's time I asked the questions. This man you met is he worth it? Think about it really hard. If you still don't know then ask yourself this; is he worth missing? To your mother he will only look like I did but to you...he's different isn't he? You can tell the difference can't you? Well, definitely with that stubble and that accent. I know that you won't understand how this is possible and believe me neither do I, but know that even if I could come through for you I would not do that to you nor to him. Give yourself a chance Rose Tyler. I know that you can have a fantastic life if you try. That's always what I've wanted for you; there was just never a time to tell you everything I wanted to say. If this gets through I hope it helps you and that you'll know that although I may never be able to contact you ever again, I will never forget you and you will always have a place in my hearts.

-Always and forever

Your Doctor'.

Rose nearly fainted and had to sit down to re-read the letter. Where had it come from? Was it there when Ellie and Jamie left? Was it even real? She jumped up from the lounge and leaving the letter on the table she raced down the slope to the beach. Alec still stood in the same place facing the water.

"Hello," she called out and he turned slowly.

"Afternoon," he replied with a hint of a smirk. Rose wondered why until she realised she was still in her pyjama singlet and shorts.

"I was just wondering"- she stopped herself for a moment before soldiering on. "Do you want to have dinner with me tonight, my treat?"

Alec smiled down at her. "I didn't think you'd ever be the one to ask that".

"Well I'm full of surprises," she grinned cheekily back.

"That you are, Miss Vitex," he cocked an eyebrow at her.

"Ah," she nodded. "Yes well, there is that".

"I should have known," he shook his head.

"Where's the fun in that?" Rose chuckled.

"You and I have very different ideas of the word fun".

"Oh you have no idea," Rose grinned.

xxx

By the way: The letter was written by eleven but you can read it as ten if you like. :) Please feel free to review and let me know what you thought of the new chapters.