Usual disclaimer, thanks!

A/N: I know this is a bit shorter that usual, but I hope you all like it nonetheless!

Chapter 24

Maybe it was the way heartfelt way that he told her their story coupled with the fact that she was a budding writer who could appreciate such a turnaround in a tragic tale. Maybe it was how they always looked at each other when they thought nobody would see, although that had changed in recent months. Then again, it could have something to do with the fact that her husband was already good friends with the woman. Whatever it was though, Amy could no longer find it in herself to harbor any resentment toward Rose Tyler when it came to the Doctor and his negated relationship with River.

So when Amy was about to knock on Rose's door the next morning and was stopped short by the Doctor quietly exiting the room and nearly walking into her, she didn't have to fake the smile that crossed her face. Besides, at least he had the sense to look slightly uncomfortable at being caught. "Oh! Hello," he greeted her, blushing slightly.

"Morning," she grinned. "Your bowtie's undone, you know," she teased, unable to resist.

"Oh, shut-up."

Laughing as he stalked away, Amy continued on and knocked at Rose's door, ready to make peace with the woman she hoped would fully accept her as a friend.

"So where exactly are we going?" Rory asked as the Doctor did his usual dance around the center console.

"A planet called Midnight. Lovely. Haven't been for years, but I think it's time. Just a bit of rest and relaxation after a very taxing few months."

"And you're sure about that?" Rose asked, entering the control room with Amy.

"What?"

"The whole 'rest and relaxation' bit," Amy said. "We know you. We know how this works."

"And last time you were there…" Rose trailed off, seeing a shadow cross the Doctor's face as he sighed, no doubt remembering both the alien attack he encountered and Donna. "Sorry, didn't mean to bring her up." She rubbed his shoulders gently to help soothe the painful memories away.

"Who's that?" Rory asked.

"Donna," the Doctor sighed. "Donna Noble. She was brilliant, wasn't she Rose?"

Rose wrapped her arms around the Doctor's middle, hugging him from behind. "None of us would be here without her."

"What happened?"

"She had to forget. There was no way for her to survive knowing the truth."

"You protected her," Rose reassured him. "She saved countless galaxies, and you saved her. We should go see Wilf though, I think I owe him a laptop." Noticing the questioning looks on both Amy and Rory's faces, Rose explained. "Donna's grandfather. I might have gotten a little annoyed with his computer once upon a time..."

Now it was the Doctor's turn to question Rose. "When did you-"

"The night of the 27 planets and the Crucible, when I was trying to find you, actually right before I found you. I found Donna's family. That's how I knew about what happened to Harriet Jones."

"But we didn't see you..."

"No webcam."

"I'm sorry," Rory interjected. "Harriet Jones, former Prime Minister?" Rose nodded. "Right. Carry on."

"A queen from ancient Egypt on a spaceship with dinosaurs and you don't bat an eye. But mention a recent PM..."

"Point taken."

As the Doctor piloted them into the vortex, Rose excused herself from the control room having volunteered to cook breakfast. It seemed a rather lame excuse, but it was something that she knew the Doctor would accept as probable. She also knew, thanks to her co-conspirator the TARDIS, that he would be kept nicely distracted when Amy and Rory joined her in the kitchen.

Sure enough, there was a minor flare-up under the time rotor that the Doctor needed to address. In order to get out of the way, Amy and Rory made their way over to Rose and were somewhat disappointed to find that there was, in fact, no food. "I thought you were cooking?" Rory asked.

Rose tossed him an apple. "Go get dressed, something nice, and meet me back here in 5 minutes. We don't have long…" Unsure what she had planned, but feeling rather excited at the prospect of doing something behind the Doctor's back for once, they both did as instructed. Rose grinned when they returned. "So, I have a present for you both - I know you've felt torn between lives recently, and this is something that I can do, but the Doctor can't know. Not yet, anyway. Okay?"

"Is it dangerous?"

"Do you trust me?" Rose countered, a golden glint forming behind her eyes.

Amy looked at Rory, who shrugged. "Geronimo."

Taking their hands in her own, Rose concentrated on allowing the Bad Wolf part of her to take over. Golden tendrils of time energy enveloped the three and the TARDIS dissolved from view as they quickly found themselves in a large foyer area, the golden light now fading.

"Where are we?" Rory asked, trying to mask the shock he felt.

"When are we?" Amy added. "And how did we get here?"

Rose grinned, but remained silent, as she linked arms with each and led them through a set of ornate double-doors. A sea of people, some human and others not, appeared in front of them, all dressed in the same attire. Quickly ushering them past the crowd, Rose led them to a row of seats in the vast auditorium. She heaved a sigh of relief, "Just in time…"

"In time for what?"

Physically turning Amy's & Rory's heads toward the stage, Rose just smiled as the man at the podium spoke and was slowly joined by someone else on the stage.

"River Song, Doctorate in Archaeology."

Amy's had flew to her mouth just and Rory felt tears sting his eyes as they watched River walk stoically toward the Dean to accept her diploma. Rose immediately burst into applause and wild cheers for River's accomplishment, drawing the attention of the woman on the stage. She looked out to the audience, a wide grin appearing as her eyes landed on her parents and Rose in the crowd.

Holding back her own tears, River offered a silent thank you to Rose for this latest gift. Her parents were there to see her graduate from Luna University.

Oddly enough, it was Rory who sat basking in the sunroom of the Leisure Palace with Rose, enjoying the luxury amenities that the spa had to offer while the Doctor and Amy were up to who knows what. Rose had at first been reluctant to let the Doctor wander off on his own, but with Amy by his side she thought that he would be alright. Besides, although it might seem strange for she and Rory to be spending time together in this sort of environment, they were actually enjoying themselves.

"You know, I could get used to this," he said, sounding completely relaxed.

Rose giggled a bit, never having really spent any quality "girl time" with a man before. However, she figured he was probably better company than Amy would have been. "I know. We should do this more often."

"What do you think they're up to?"

"Probably arguing about something. Did you want to find them?"

Rory nodded, almost about to doze off, as one of the attendants approached with drinks. "No, I think I'm good here…"

The two clinked their glasses, toasting their ability to enjoy the peace while it lasted.

The Doctor and Amy were roaming through the shops available to guests on Midnight, on the hunt for something specific.

"Maybe if you said what you were looking for I could help," Amy grumbled.

"I told you, I'll know it when I see it." He continued to drag Amy in and out of various storefronts, finally doubling back to one that he had initially dismissed. "This is it."

Amy rolled her eyes but dutifully followed him inside, surprised by the interior of the shop given the nondescript storefront. She stared in awe as every surface seemed to glimmer, covered by various gemstones in every every color of the rainbow.

"May I help you?" the clerk asked as the pair approached the counter. "Something for the lady?"

The Doctor had been reaching into his pocket and was momentarily thrown by the question. "What, her? No!"

Amy smacked his shoulder. "Oi!"

Shaking his head, the Doctor pulled the small velvet box out of his pocket and set it on the counter. "I need to have this reset, with the design and stones in place."

The shop clerk looked at the ring within the box, a plain gold band with a pink pearl surrounded by a circle of smaller diamonds, unsure of whether it was worth his time. "You know we have many beautiful stones here that could-"

"No. The stones stay. It is a family heirloom."

"It looks like a flower," Amy commented, a thought occurring to her. "Doctor, is that…?"

"I hope so," he whispered, suddenly nervous. "Do you think she will-?"

"Of course," Amy assured him. "When?"

The Doctor shrugged in response, not wanting to admit out loud that before he was able to take this step toward his future with Rose he still had one more person to talk to: Dr. River Song.

Rose stepped out of the TARDIS and inhaled deeply. "Don't you just love the smell of a city?"

"Oh, yes. Nothing like exhaust fumes in the morning," Rory replied sarcastically as he followed her out.

"Shut-up," she told him, shoving him playfully aside so she could poke her head back through the door. "Are you two coming?"

"Yes, yes," the Doctor called back. "Amelia, come along!"

The Doctor couldn't remember a time that he had been happier. He had the woman that he loved and his best friends at his side. Joining Rose at the park entrance, he kissed the top of her head as he took her hand in his. Together they walked through the old stone and rod iron gates into an oasis in the middle of the busiest city on Earth: New York.

A/N: So, I guess you can kind of guess where this is heading, but what do you all think? Maybe a review?