Chapter Twenty nine

The flight wasn't as bad as John had feared. There was some pain but he was able to mask it well and aside from one flight attendant who repeatedly made offers of assistance the were left untroubled.

As John massaged his temples for the umpteenth time Rose whispered to him,

"Would a cold wash cloth help?"

"No I'm OK."

"That attendant fancies you."

"She's just doing her job Rose."

"No she isn't and if she is why aren't the others? I keep half expecting to hear her ask if there is a doctor on board."

John shot her a look that made Rose flush and mutter an apology.

"It's alright. I'm alright and if she fancies me well tough because I don't fancy her."

When the seat belt lights were again switched on John heaved a sigh of relief as that meant they would be coming in to land and his infernal head would stop giving him such grief.

"I guess we will be honeymooning in the UK then?" asked Rose.

"Maybe. I've heard Cardiff is pretty."

"Yes it is and there is a good hotel at the bay. I think it's called St David's; even some celebrities are said to frequent it."

"When we get home maybe we should look it up."

Rose grinned at him, "You said home."

He nodded, "Yes I did."

The plane had taxied to a standstill and the cabin crew were getting ready to allow the passengers to disembark. The super attentive flight attendant had made arrangements for John and Rose to exit the plane first and as he left the plane John thanked her.

"Don't encourage her!" Rose hissed at him.

"Don't be so jealous!" John had replied, but secretly he was delighted that she was jealous.

They only had hand luggage as it was only an overnight stay so they quickly made their way to the taxi rank and were driven to their hotel. They had deliberately chosen a different one from the one they had found when John had arrived in Rose's life so it was a little further from the beach than that hotel had been. After checking in and being shown to their room John found he was itching to get going and was pacing the room.

"You're like a caged animal." noted Rose.

"I'm nervous."

"Nervous? Why?"

"Because this is important to us; if this doesn't help you I'm scared for what it will mean for us."

"It won't change how I feel about you John."

"I know but it will make it harder for you to move on."

"I have moved on but I think I know what you mean." She stood up and crossed the room to where he was pacing, catching hold of his hands she spoke gently, "Stop that, you are going to wear a hole in the carpet." John stood still but he was still fidgety. "Shall we go?" she asked.

"Do you need anything?" John asked her.

"Only you."

"Do you know what you want to say?"

"I think so, come on."

They each slipped on a jacket as they both remembered how cold and windswept the beach had been the last time they had been there and that done they left the hotel hand in hand.

The walk was longer than Rose remembered even accounting for the fact that they were staying at a different hotel and when they passed where they had stayed with John she marvelled at how they had manhandled him as far as they had.

And then just as suddenly they had arrived. They'd long left behind the picnicking families as this far along the beach there were no touristy shops or conveniences to attract them.

John held back as Rose walked a lonely path to where the TARDIS had stood a few months before. She turned and beckoned him nearer but he only moved a couple of paces nearer; this was her time to communicate with him.

Rose didn't have anything worked out in her head preferring to believe that when the time came she would know what to say to him. For a long time she just stood and stared at the place that old and so familiar blue box had stood; eventually words came to her.

She told him that she loved him. And then she told him that she hated him. She loved him for showing her all the wonder that the universe had to offer. She hated him for not being able to save her; for letting her fall towards the void; if Pete hadn't…

She had hated him for leaving John in her care but now she loved him for that in even greater measure. She hated what he had said to John; how he'd been born in battle and committed genocide and she hated him for leaving the man she now loved with all her heart and soul with so much physical and emotional pain. And yet she loved him for knowing what she needed when at the time even she hadn't known it herself.

Her last words to him had been shouted at the sky. She had simply said,

"I forgive you. Thank you."

When she turned back to John her face was streaked with tears but beneath the tears she was smiling, and even as she stumbled towards him her arms were stretched out for him to gather her up in his arms which of course he did.

For several long minutes she wept gently in to his shoulder as he held her and rubbed her back and whispered soothing words in to her hair. Finally she pulled back from him and wiped her wet face with her hands. John offered her his handkerchief which she took gratefully. When she was once again calm and composed John asked her what she wanted to do. Her reply was simple,

"I want chips."

"Chips?"

"Yes chips."

"You wanted them once before."

Rose nodded, "I know but today my love, I want them with you. Piping hot and shared out of the paper." As she said those words she laid her head, turned so that one ear was pressed against his chest, and listened to his single human heart beating it's steady rhythm.