"You've changed clothes," Rose said looking at me properly.
"Yeah, we had a few trips, then we realized that we needed you on board," I told her leading her to the console.
"How are your wings?" she asked.
"Great thanks, all healed as promised," I grinned at her.
"Right then, Rose Tyler, you tell me, where do you want to go? Backwards or forwards in time? It's your choice. What's it going to be?" the Doctor asked Rose she shrugged.
"Forwards," she told him.
"How far?" he asked pulling a lever or two.
Rose glanced at me, "It's your choice Rosie."
"One hundred years," she suggested.
He turned a wheel and we travelled for a few seconds before landing.
"There you go, step outside those doors, it's the twenty second century," the Doctor told her.
"You're kidding," she spoke excited.
"That's a bit boring though want to go farther?" he asked, ready turn the wheel even more.
"Fine by me," Rose shrugged while grinning.
He grinned and turned the wheel a dozen more times. Another few seconds of travel and the Doctor gestured to the door.
"Ten thousand years in the future. Step outside it's the year 12005, the New Roman Empire," he boasted, a smug smile making its way to his face.
"You think you're so impressive," she teased, making me grin as I made my to stand beside the Doctor.
His grin drop as he looked to Rose in mock insult, "I am so impressive."
"Of course you are dear," I teased leaning against the rail behind him.
"You wish," Rose continued grinning at him.
"Right then, you asked for it. I know exactly where to go. Hold on!" he called violently turning the wheel and we travelled for a few minutes, the Tardis jerking around nearly throwing Rose and I off our feet.
"Where are we? What's out there?" Rose asked excitedly. I smiled at her as the Doctor nodded to the door.
"Go on Rosie, have a look," I told her and she dashed to the door.
"Where are we?" I asked the Doctor as we followed Rose, but at a slower pace.
"You'll see, he grinned at me grabbing my hand.
"You lot, you spend all your time thinking about dying, like you're going to get killed by eggs or beef or global warming or asteroids," we came to a stop beside Rose looking out at the planet earth, "But you never take time to imagine the impossible, that maybe you survive. This is the year five point five slash apple slash twenty six. Five billion years in your future, and this is the day," he paused to look at his watch, tugging my hand up with his, "Hold on."
The sun flared up and turned a bright red color, "This is the day the sun expands, welcome to the end of the world."
"Oh it's beautiful," I said, leaning my head on his shoulder.
"Shuttles five and six now docking. Guests are reminded that Platform One forbids the use of weapons, teleportation and religion. Earth Death is scheduled for fifteen thirty nine," an overhead pa spoke.
"Come on," the Doctor said leading us from the room to a hallway as the voice rattled on.
"Followed by drinks in the Manchester suite," the voice finished finally.
"So when it says guest, does that mean people?" Rose asked.
"Depends what you mean by people," I said wrapping my arm around her shoulder.
"I mean people, what do you mean?" she asked.
"Aliens," the Doctor told her.
She nodded, accepting but not really absorbing the information yet.
"What are they doing on board this spaceship? What's it all for?" she asked after a second.
"It's not really a spaceship more of an observation deck. The great and the good are gathering to watch the world burn," the Doctor explained to her, releasing my hand to sonic a panel on the wall.
"What for?" Rose asked, stepping out from under my arm to look around the Doctor shoulder at what he was doing.
"Fun," he said simply as a door opened.
"Mind you, when I say the great and the good, what I really mean is the rich," the Doctor said and I snorted out a laugh.
"But, hold on. They did this once on Newsround Extra. The sun expanding, that takes hundreds of years," Rose said confused as she tried to work out the numbers in her head.
"Millions, but the planet's now property of the National Trust. They've been keeping it preserved. See down there? Gravity satellites holding back the sun," he told her pointing to the satellites as we looked out the large viewing window.
"The planet looks the same as ever. I thought the continents shifted and such," Rose said as she examined the planet below.
"They did," I told her.
"And the Trust shifted them back, That's a classic Earth. But now the money's run out, nature takes over," the Doctor finished.
"How's long it got?" she asked.
"About an hour and a half, then the planet gets roasted," the Doctor stated after glancing at his watch.
"Is that why we're here? I mean, is that what you do? Jump in at the last minute and save the Earth?" she asked and I shook my head.
"We're not saving it, time's up," he told her.
"But, what about the people?" she asked worriedly, looking to us.
"It's empty. They're all gone. No one left," I told her, trying to ease her worry.
"Just me then," she spoke softly, gazing back at Earth.
"Who the hell are you?" a voice called. I turned and saw a blue man with golden eyes.
I raised an eyebrow at his blunt greeting as the Doctor said, "Oh that's nice. Thanks."
"But how did you get in? This is a maximum hospitality zone. The guests have disembarked. They'll be here any minute," the man voiced.
"That's me. I'm a guest. Look, I've got an invitation, look. There, you see? It's fine, you see? The Doctor and Jezabelle, plus one," the Doctor stated showing him the psychic paper.
"I'm Jezabelle, he's the Doctor and this is Rose Tyler, she's our plus one. Is that alright?" I asked as the Doctor put the paper away.
"Well obviously. Apologies, et cetera. If you're on board, we'd better begin. Enjoy," he said before walking away towards a podium on the opposite side of the room.
"I'm not found of his attitude, and he deals with guest?" I quipped watching the man go.
"Says the woman who nearly sassed herself to execution," the Doctor told me smirking at me.
"That was one time, and it wasn't my fault. The king started it, calling me a prostitute, repeatedly," I grumbled to myself walking over to look at the displays.
"What was that paper?" Rose asked as she followed me.
"The paper's slightly psychic. It should me what I want them to see. It comes in handy," the Doctor informed her.
"He's blue," she said slowly as if she still didn't believe it.
"Yep," I told her popping the p.
"Okay," she said and the blue man, I assume the steward, began to announce us.
"WE have in attendance, the Doctor and Mrs. Jezabelle, and Rose Tyler. All staff to their positions," he spoke.
I rolled my eyes, "Why do they always assume we're together?"
"You're always touching him, in some way or another," Rose muttered into my ear.
"I do that to everyone, though. Why don't they assume I'm married to you? At least it'd be funny," I pouted, making Rose laugh.
We didn't have to wait much longer until the steward began announcing more people.
"Hurry, now, thank you. Quick as we can. Come along, come along. And now, might I introduce the next honoured guest? Representing the Forest of Cheam, we have trees, namely, Jabe, Lute and Coffa," he spoke into the microphone as three tree people entered the gallery, one woman and two men.
"There will be an exchange of gifts representing peace. If you could keep the room circulating, thank you. Next, from the solicitors Jolco and Jolco, we have the Moxxx of Balhoon."
A blue alien, this time mostly head and body, entered sitting on a transport pod.
"And next, from Financial Family Seven, we have the Adherents of the Repeated Meme."
A group of figures cloaked in robes entered next.
"The inventors of Hypo-slip Travel Systems, the brothers Hop Pyleen. Thank you."
This time two fur clad reptilians.
"Cal Spark Plug. Mister and Mrs Pakoo. The Ambassadors from the City State of Binding Light."
I was unable to see who entered as the trees approached our group.
"The gift of peace. I give you a cutting of my grandfather," Jabe said taking a small potted plant from her escort and passing it to the Doctor.
"Thank you. Er gifts," he looked at me and I routed through my pockets finding a tin box I had put in there last week. Cracking it open I grabbed one of my old feathers and went to present it as the Doctor said, "I give you air from my lungs."
He then preceded to breathe on Jabe which she accepted, then said, "How… intimate."
"There's more where that came from," he told her, flirtingly.
"I bet there is," Jabe replied in the same tone.
"The gift of peace from the Tyler clan," I spoke offering the feather to Jabe after she and the Doctor were done flirting.
"We thank you, miss," she said kindly before turning to the next guest.
"Air from your lungs," I muttered to the Doctor poking him in the ribs. He stepped away from my reached and shrugged, "First thing I could think of. Why do you have a tin of feathers in your jacket?"
"The Tardis gave me the tin, bottomless. So I put my feathers in it. I try to keep my feathers, for moments like this, they make great gifts," I explained to him and he nodded in agreement with my thinking.
"I hope you don't mind I used your name Rose," I said grabbing her hand, the tin of feathers in my other hand.
"Fine by me. Can I see one of those feathers?" she asked excitedly.
"Course, here," I said offering the tin and popping the lid open with my thumb.
She grabbed one and admired it with a smile on her face.
"Keep it, I've got plenty," I told her, releasing her hand as she tucked it into her jacket.
"Thanks," she whispered, and I nodded at her.
"From the silver devastation, the sponsor to the main event, please welcome the Face of Boe," the steward called and I beamed.
The Doctor passed the plant to Rose as the next guest approached, "The Moxx of balhoon," the Doctor greeted happily.
"My felicitations on this historical happenstance. I give you the gift of bodily salivas," he said then spat right onto Rose's face and I had to hold in my giggle.
"Thank you very much," the Doctor told him, grinning.
"A gift of peace," I spoke handing him a feather, and the Doctor breathed on him.
He wheeled of and I giggled quietly, wiping Rose's cheek with my sleeve.
"You good?" I asked, grin still in place on my face, making her glare at me.
"Yeah, well enough," she told me swatting my hand away.
I winked at her then turned to see the Repeated Meme.
"Ah! The Repeated Meme! I give you air from my lungs," the Doctor spoke before breathing on them.
"I offer you my feather, as a gift of peace," I said handing them a feather. One took it while another offered a metal sphere.
"A gift of peace in all good peace," it spoke as the Doctor grabbed the sphere tossing it in the air before handing it off to Rose.
"And last but not least, our very special guest. Ladies and gentlemen, and trees and multiforms, consider the Earth below. In memory of this dying world, we call forth the last Human. The Lady Cassandra O'Brien Dot Delta Seventeen," the steward announced as the doors open to reveal a piece of skin with eyes and a mouth stretched across a metal frame, veins pulsing beneath the thin skin.
"Oh, now, don't stare. I know, I know it's shocking, isn't it? I've had my chin completely taken away and look at the difference. Look how thin I am. Thin and dainty. I don't look a day over two thousand. Moisturize me. Moisturize me," Cassandra spoke and one of the two men in white scrubs stepped forward to spray her with the solution into the cans.
"Truly, I am the last Human. My father was a Texan, my mother was from the Arctic Desert. They were born on the Earth and were the last to be buried in its soil. I have come to honour them and say goodbye. Oh, no tears, no tears. I'm sorry," she sniffled as one of the men patted away her tears, "But behold, I bring gifts. From Earth itself, the last remaining ostrich egg. Legend says it had a wingspan of fifty feet and blew fire from its nostrils. Or was that my third husband?" she stopped to laugh at her own joke as a single ostrich egg was wheeled into the room, "Oh, no. Oh, don't laugh. I'll get laughter lines. And here, another rarity."
I looked over my shoulder to see Rose walking away from us to look at Cassandra from the side. A 50's juke box was wheeled in a second later.
"According to the archives, this was called an iPod. It stores classical music from humanity's greatest composers. Play on!" she called and tainted love by soft cell began to play.
I giggled as the Doctor started to bop around beside me, before seeing Rose flee the gallery.
"Rose," I muttered going to follow her, the Doctor close behind me.
I glanced back as Jabe interrupted the Doctor's path to take a picture before he continued after me and Rose.
"Would the owner of the blue box in private gallery fifteen please report to the Steward's office immediately. Guests are reminded that use of teleportation devices is strictly forbidden under Peace Treaty five point four slash cup slash sixteen. Thank you," the voice of the steward rang out overhead.
I stopped and looked back at the Doctor, "I'll find Rose, you go to the Tardis, yeah?"
"Yeah, see you in a bit," the Doctor told me before turning around and going the opposite way.
I continued after Rose, a few more corridors later and I found her in a private observation room.
"Hey you okay?" I asked softly as I sat down on the stairs next to her.
"Yeah, I will be. Just need a moment to gather my thoughts," she said leaning into my side. I wrapped my arm around her and rocked us gently.
We sat like that, watching the sun and the Earth, in silence.
"Rose? Jezabelle? Are you in here?" the Doctor called a moment before he entered the room.
Rose and I both picked our heads up to look at him.
"Aye, aye. What do you think, then?" he asked sitting to our left.
"Great. Yeah, fine. Once you get past the slightly psychic paper," she told up and I rubbed her arm.
"They're just so alien," she said suddenly, "The aliens are so alien. You look at them and they're alien," she tried to clarify.
"You'll get used to it, Rosie," I muttered to her softly.
"Good thing I didn't take you to the Deep South," the Doctor teased and I kicked his foot.
"Where are you from?" she asked us.
"Earth, like you," I told her.
"All over the place," was the Doctor's reply.
"They all speak English," she said picking another topic.
"Not really," I said playing with her rings, twisting them around her finger.
"No, you just hear English. It's the gift of the Tardis. The telepathic field, gets inside your brain and translates," he explained for her.
"It's inside my brain?" she asked, a startled tone to her voice, as she picked her head off my shoulder.
"Well, in a good way," the Doctor tried to sooth.
"Your machine gets inside my head. Gets inside and changes my mind, and you didn't even ask?" she accused pulling herself out of my arms completely to face the Doctor from the base of the stairs.
"I didn't think of it like that," he said softly, looking down as he sat up.
"No, you were too busy thinking up cheap shots about the Deep South. Who are you, then, Doctor? What are you called? What sort of alien are you?" she asked, her voice raising.
"Rosie, please just leave it," I tried.
"Just the Doctor," he said.
"From what planet?" she asked, not lowering her voice in the slightest.
I sat up straighter, "Rosie, please stop."
"Well, it's not like you'd know where it is," the Doctor said, his voice raising a bit.
I placed my hand on his arm as Rose shouted at him, "Where are you from?"
"Rose, stop it," I tried again.
"What does it matter?" the Doctor asked, his voice strained as he shook off my hand and stood up.
"Tell me who you are!" she demanded.
"Rose," I scolded sharply growing tired of this argument.
"This is who I am, right here, right now, alright? All that counts is here and now, and this is me," he said angrily, just as put out with this conversation as I was.
"Yeah, and I'm here too because you brought me here, so just tell me!" she said and he turned him back to her stepping up to the window.
"That is enough out of both of you! The next words out of your mouth will be an apology!" I shouted finally and they both looked at me in shock, mouths tightly shut, before turning away from each other.
I sat back down, after standing to yell at them, and rubbed my face. Resting my forehead in my hand, I closed my eyes as I waited to hear apologies from either of my two companions.
"Earth death in twenty minutes. Earth death, in twenty minutes," The computer announced before going silent again.
"All right. As my mate Shareen says, don't argue with the designated driver," Rose said finally in a half assed apology.
"Can't exactly call for a taxi. We're out of range, just a bit," she said.
I opened my eyes leaning forward on the steps to rest my elbows on my knees.
"Tell you what," the Doctor started, pulling the sonic out of his pocket and taking Rose's phone apart.
"With a little bit of jiggery pokery," he muttered poking at the back of the phone.
"Is that technical term? Jiggery pokery?" Rose teased.
"Yeah, I came first in jiggery pokery. What about you?" he teased back, smiling at her.
"Nah, failed hullabaloo," she replied smiling as well.
"Oh, there you go," the Doctor said replacing the battery and returning the phone back to its place then handing it to her.
I leaned back against the steps as Rose called her mum.
"Mum?" Rose asked in disbelief laughter bubbling up a moment later.
"Nothing. You alright though? … What day is it? … yeah, er, I was calling just cause I might be home late. … No I'm fine, top of the world," she hung up and looked to the Doctor in shock.
"You think that's amazing, wait till you see the bill," he teased.
"That was five billion years ago. So she's dead now. Five billion years later, and she's dead," she said sadly.
"Bundle of laughs, you are," the Doctor told her.
The station shook sharply interrupting any reply Rose may have had.
"That's not supposed to happen," the Doctor stated looking towards me.
Sorry for taking so long, I've been trying to write my Harry Potter story but it just wasn't happening, so I've had to put it on hiatus. For those of you who read it, I apologize. I have explained why in the AN I posted to the story already.