Rose's scream rent the air, the pain that gave life felt like death. The Doctor clutched her wrist and her hand, tears flowing from his face too.

"It hurts Doctor, it hurts!"

"What's happening Rose? I don't understand! Please?"

"Tell him!" she panted to the TARDIS, already tensing for the next wave of pain.

She's changing. The musical voice rung out, mentally speaking to them both.

"Into WHAT?" he yelled at the ceiling, the fear he felt coming out as anger. He couldn't lose Rose, not again. There was a long pause, punctuated only by the strain of the TARDIS and Rose's laboured breathing.

"Into a Time Lady" her voice was low, strained with the effort of not screaming. He turned back to meet her gaze.

"Rose?"

"It's true. I asked her to. She didn't want to but I convinced her. It's the opposite of what you did when you became human, only this is forever. And it is forever because - " she gasped with the pain, breaking off.

Hold still Flower. I'm introducing the 60% energy. After the 70% you'll go under so tell him quickly. The TARDIS's voice was brief, focusing her energy on keeping Rose stable.

The pain of the next burst of energy caused Rose to scream louder than before but the worst only lasted a few moments. She began to feel tired and quickly resumed explaining, realising she didn't have long.

"After your planet was destroyed and you regenerated into the man I first met, the TARDIS realised there were no other Time Lords left and that the race had to continue somehow. So while you changed, she repaired the link broken by your people. You don't have only thirteen lives. You're more or less immortal. You can die but you'll keep regenerating. She's implanted the same thing in the DNA she's changing for me. I'll be the same." Rose's eyes began to close and her voice slurred a bit. She forced herself to stay awake for a bit longer. "When you asked me how long you and I were going to be together I said forever. And that's how long it's gonna be. Forever"

A golden glow settled over Rose. She knew she had to say one more thing before she went under.

"Doctor?"

"What is it?"

"I love you"

"I love you too"

She sighed and fell asleep smiling, leaving the Doctor to sit beside her sleeping form, pondering this new twist in the tail. Immortal? Him?

"Does it actually work?"

Are you questioning my power?

"Um, yes, otherwise I wouldn't have thought a question mark after that"

True. Yes it does work.

"And Rose?"

She'll be the same.

"Why did she do this?"

Why do you think? Because she loves you.

"I wasn't gonna leave her, why did she think she needed to do this?"

Because she might have to leave you. She'll die, you were thinking about that very fact earlier. And now, you can have the family you always wanted with her.

"Have you been peeking into my daydreams again?"

…

"?"

Maybe a little bit.

He glared at the wall opposite him.

Just be glad I didn't tell Flower about those more … intimate ones…

"Gah!"

LOL!

"When did you start using text speak?"

NOYB

He glared again.