"Come on!" A girl with chocolate brown hair and bright blue eyes called to her brother as they galloped around a field of golden grass.

"Alright!" Her brother panted back, his own chocolate brown hair scruffy and sticking up in odd places much like his fathers.

Following the two children was a tall man in a pin stripe suit and long brown trench coat and a blonde woman in her early thirties. They walked behind their children, their hands linked, happy with just being together.

"Come on Dad!" The boy called out when he reached his sister. "You said you'd play hide and seek with us!"

"Ok, I'm coming," the man grinned and let go of his partners hands, chasing after his children, laughing as they squealed.

The blonde woman watched the three of them, shaking her head at just how childish her partner was. He'd always been like that though. Ever since he'd first picked her up on Earth fifteen year previously…

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A tall man in a pin striped suit wandered through the grave yard sighing to himself. His son and daughter were walking behind him, heads bowed, watching their feet as they clutched a bunch of daffodils and a bunch of Rose's.

They stopped in front of a grave and the man in a pin striped suit placed a hand on each of his children's shoulders. They laid the bunch of daffodils, muttering something as they did so. The man wasn't really listening, he was destroying himself from the inside wishing he could've saved the next person they were going to visit.

They spent longer in front of the second grave, the children looking distinctly shiny eyed by the time they stood up. But the man didn't move. He couldn't bear to see the name scrawled on the grave.

He bent and hugged his kids tightly, tears coming to his own eyes as he read the inscription again and again;

Rose Tyler.

The Doctor took several deep breaths. These were two very different outcomes, and it was down to him as to which one would come true. The thing was he had no idea how to make things right.

Rose hadn't taken a breath for more than a minute now and if she went any longer without oxygen it was likely to leave her brain damaged, or worse.

He began running hands through his hair, but he had no plan. No last minute hair brained scheme to save them. For once, he knew that he couldn't risk his own life; he'd already risked Rose's.

His hearts were breaking, but he wouldn't let it show. Whilst Rose was still there, there was a chance he could save her. He could do something, anything, at least try and rectify what he'd done.

It's our fault…

The Doctor spun round and saw that the twins were both awake. Awake and fully aware of the situation.

We shouldn't exist… go back in time and fix things Dad…

The Doctor stared at them horrified.

You are not to blame. I can't go back and stop it. It wouldn't just be you who disappeared, the reapers would come… I'd destroy he universe… Rose wouldn't want that…

The Doctor glanced back at Rose, grief washing over him again. How could he have let this happen? He knew the risks involved with her being pregnant with his kids, why hadn't he forced her to have an abortion?

He sighed. He knew that even if he could have the time again he'd never force Rose to abort the kids. For her sake as much as the twins; he couldn't make her go through something like that.

No… I have to face facts, there's nothing I can do. It's going to be just like the Time War. I should've died, but instead everyone else does. I'm sorry kids, I've failed you…

The Doctor sat on the bed his face in his hands, dangerously close to breaking down. If it weren't for his kids, he'd slink off into time and space and remain in the TARDIS until he finally withered and died.

It's not your fault Daddy.

The Doctor smiled. Ever the optimistic. That was one of Rose's attributes. Their kids were so perfect, but it didn't seem fair that Rose wouldn't get to see them grow up.

"I'm sorry, Rose, I'm so sorry…" the Doctor's voice cracked as the tears began to roll down his cheeks.

"What for?" Asked a voice from behind him.

The Doctor looked up and he could've sworn that his hearts actually stopped beating. Rose was sat up, frowning at him worriedly.

"Oh god, Rose," the Doctor got up and sat closer, pulling Rose into a hug. "You just… I swear… I…"

"I know, I know," Rose said quietly. "I did just die. Only I didn't…"

The Doctor pulled back and looked at her confused.

"What?" He asked.

"Do you know what happens when you die?" Rose asked carefully.

The Doctor shook his head.

"It's not somewhere the Time Lords had access too," he replied. "The one place we could never report from."

"Well I don't know either…" Rose rubbed her head. "Or at least I'm not supposed to. I died, but… I… I met someone… they sent me back… I dunno… maybe I imagined it, you know, lack of oxygen and everything."

The Doctor nodded.

"Maybe…" he hugged her again."I'm just so glad you're still alive."

"Me too," Rose smiled to herself.

A few weeks, several visits to Jackie's, and much worrying on the Doctor's part later, Rose and the twins had settled down a lot.

All three were in a routine which meant they were fed and rested and being the family the Doctor had always wanted. The family he'd had once.

He smiled slightly as he stood in Jackie's kitchen doorway watching the two Tyler women, play with the twins who were lying on their backs on the floor, looking up at them with big blue eyes.

Rose hadn't talked much about what had happened when she'd 'died' and the Doctor had been more than happy to leave the subject. They were all alive and well and that was all that mattered to him.

The only thing she had said once was that it had defiantly been someone she knew that she'd met that had sent her back. The Doctor was pretty sure he knew who it was and his suspicions were confirmed when he ran a scan in the TARDIS.

Turning back into the kitchen he smiled at the golden figure stood there. Only the Doctor could see it, and he knew it wouldn't last long. In fact he'd only disturbed the person long enough to say one thing.

"Thanks, Mickey," he smiled genuinely.

The golden figure of Mickey smiled back, before dissipating into a million golden sparks, floating back to the vortex where he could keep an eye on things until Rose, the Doctor and the twins came to join him.