Hi guys! I'm back! So this will be a bit strange and it may be a little confusing. I only finished it this afternoon and I haven't edited yet. This chapter is pretty much the end of TEN for those who love him. Like I told you, there will be little bits of ELEVEN, but not too much. There's probably only one or maybe two chapters left, so I hope you stick around for those. Yet again, I am so sorry for taking so long to update. It won't take me so long to finish, I promise.

xxx

Rose sat on the very edge of the TARDIS floor, her feet dangling down into the nothingness of space. Donna's cries still echoed in her mind as she played the memory over and over again. A memory that Donna would never remember.

The Doctor patted her shoulder and moved to sit down beside her. They sat in silence for a few minutes, just looking out over the stars.

'I-I could've…'

The Doctor shook his head and pressed a soft kiss to Rose's forehead. 'No, you couldn't have. If you had done that it wouldn't have been natural. It would've been wrong like Jack or Eva'.

'What good am I if I can't save people?' Rose sniffed.

'You are an amazing woman. Rose Tyler. You save so many people just by showing kindness and compassion when others do not'.

Rose smiled weakly and gave leaned forward to give her husband a tender kiss.

'There's still a storm coming, isn't there?' Rose whispered.

'I'm afraid so,' the Doctor whispered and pulled her closer to him.

'Then we have to make the most of the time we've got,' Rose murmured back.

Xxx

A month passed since Donna left them and the Doctor and Rose had spent much of that time enjoying themselves. They took several luxurious holidays and even went on a cruise around Antarctica. Sadly, no amount of fine food or penguins could stop Rose from worrying about the future and about what was going to happen to them. Her gut was still telling her to run, but her heart needed her to stay.

It was one sunny afternoon that Rose was standing outside the TARDIS waiting for the Doctor, when something strange happened. The phone that never rung started to chirp unexpectedly. Rose was bewildered, but quickly opened up the door to take the call.

'Hello?'

'Leave'.

'I'm sorry?'

'Leave now while you still can'.

'Who is this?' Rose asked.

'Come to Trenzalore'.

'What?'

The line cut off.

Rose wasted no time. She hurried back inside the TARDIS and down the corridor to their room. Pulling on her favourite black jacket, she checked her watch and vanished.

Xxx

*Alarms blaring overhead*

'Rose, what're you doing here?'

'I need help, Jack,' Rose replied seriously as she strode past him into the Torchwood hub.

'Anything you need,' Jack hurried along behind her and gestured for her to take a seat.

'I got a phone call through the TARDIS phone today, which doesn't even work so it doesn't make any sense'—

'Who was it?'

Rose shook her head. 'I'm not entirely sure, but I think it might have been River'.

Jack nodded slowly. 'What did she say?'

'She told me to leave. She said, go to Trenzalore'.

'Trenzalore?'

'That's why I'm here,' Rose continued. 'I was hoping you'd know what Trenzalore was'.

'I've heard rumours'.

'Yes?'

Jack hesitated. 'It's said to be where the Doctor is buried'.

'You mean his-his…'

'His tomb, yes,' Jack nodded.

'Why would River want me to go there?'

'Who knows? Maybe there's something you have to see, or maybe she's just trying to keep you away. Either way, I'd trust her if she knows what's going to happen'.

'But I don't even know where to go'.

'I don't know about Trenzalore, but I'm glad you stopped by. You're needed, this place and this time,' he handed her a small slip of paper.

'But that's…' Rose trailed off as she looked over the writing on the page.

'I know,' Jack smirked.

'I wrote this,' Rose whispered. 'But I've never…'

'You gave it to me and told me to give it to you the next time you arrived. You're even wearing the same clothes,' he laughed.

'Why there? Why then?'

'I have no idea,' Jack grinned. 'But you said it was important'.

Xxx

The sky glowed orange and the grass-covered hills shone dark crimson in the light. As peaceful as this scene seemed, the valley beyond it was a vastly different story. There was no way of describing Gallifrey that would really do it justice. Beautiful was too simple a word, yet spectacular still fell short.

'How did I get here?' Rose whispered to no one. A single tear escaped the corner of her eye, and she wiped it away, sniffing.

'Rose'.

'Doctor,' she gasped. 'Where are you?'

'Gallifrey'.

'What?'

'I met myself and there's this window. I can feel you. Where are you?'

Rose looked up at the twin suns reflecting off the glass dome and sniffed again. Where was she? Where was the simple human now? How had so many amazing things happened to her?

'I'm safe. Not anywhere near the fighting. I don't know how I got here'.

'Listen to me Rose, you have to leave. You could get trapped here if you stay too long'.

'I won't be long, don't worry'.

'I'll be out, promise' she assured him and hurried down the grassy slope. In her mind she could hear a thousand voices screaming. Their voices rang like a sickening orchestra of fear and pain. It got stronger and stronger as she got closer to the city, until she had to stop.

Her head felt heavy and she doubled over in pain. The deafening sound in her head did not abate, but she managed to pull the slip of paper she'd left for herself, out of her pocket.

'Why?!' she yelled out into the silence. 'Why here?'

Focusing on the paper in her hand, she let her senses guide her through air, thick with time, until she reached the citadel. People rushed around her, but none of them noticed her. Her legs started moving her along the corridor, against the flow of terrified citizens and stern-faced officials.

Not one person even gave her a second glance as she descended deeper and deeper into the areas off limits to the general citizens.

'Who are you?' a voice cut her out of her trance and she turned to see a rugged-looking man staring straight at her.

'No one,' she stammered, caught off guard by his accusing tone.

His gravelly voice sounded strangely familiar as he strode over to stand in front of her.

'No one comes this far into the restricted areas when they are no one. Now tell me what you are doing here'.

'I don't'—

'Are you one of the fools trying to infiltrate the vaults?'

'Are you?'

His mask slipped a little and he sniffed.

Rose quirked an eyebrow at him. 'Best regain your composure before you start lecturing. It doesn't do anything for your credibility'.

The man looked astounded.

'So what are you trying to find in there?' Rose asked casually.

The man looked around to make sure that they were alone. 'I need a weapon'.

'A weapon? That doesn't sound good'.

'What are you looking for?' he retorted.

'I don't know,' Rose shrugged. 'I just know I need to get in there, so…how about we team up?'

The man scoffed. 'You won't last two seconds in there'.

'Why? What's in there?'

A shadow crossed the man's features. 'You cannot possibly imagine'.

'Try me,' Rose sighed. 'Listen, whatever is in there, I need to find something. It's important to the fate of the universe'.

'Who are you?' the man asked again with a thoughtful frown.

'Rose. Rose Tyler. And you?'

A pained expression darkened his features even more. 'I used to be the Doctor. But I don't know anymore…'

'The Doctor?' Rose gaped.

'Yes, is there something wrong with that?'

'Nothing,' Rose shook her head. 'I just know you in the future'.

He scoffed again. 'What future?'

'Hey,' Rose reached up and patted his shoulder. 'Don't give up yet. There's still hope'.

'But you have no idea'—

'Yes, I do. I know what you have to do, but don't worry. You won't be alone'.

'How do you know?' he asked suspiciously.

'Because I know your future. Do what you need to do, Doctor'.

'If I do, then I won't be a Doctor'.

'You'll always be a Doctor to me,' Rose murmured.

'Who are you?'

'Stop asking that,' Rose rolled her eyes and withdrew her hand. 'Now, come on, we've got work to do'.

Xxx

Navigating the vaults wasn't too difficult with the Doctor there. He could tell her what things were when she didn't know, until they came to a device used for timeline manipulation.

'You can't use that!' the outraged Doctor exclaimed.

'Don't worry, it's not what you think,' Rose murmured as she picked it up and enclosed it carefully in the inside of her jacket.

'You can't just"—

She disappeared without a trace.

Xxx

It was easy for Rose to ignore the fact that she'd already seen Jack that day as he greeted her. Their previous meeting had not occurred for him and he didn't yet have the note to give her. She explained that she had the device and that he'd already know what to do with it.

They shared a hug and Rose felt strange pulling away, as though she would miss him much more than she usually did. The strange feeling dulled, but remained at the back of her mind as she ascended the stairs.

After leaving the bunker, Rose set off in search of the Doctor. If their last conversation had been a good indication of his current headspace, then he was likely to be in quite a state when she did eventually find him.

Xxx

She found the TARDIS parked on a beach coloured a deep, rich violet. The planet seemed to be a peaceful one as far as she could tell, so the Doctor wasn't likely to be in any trouble. The tall trees that grew out of the soft, spongy ground acted as a kind of archway, leading her further and further away from the beach.

While this would usually be unnerving to Rose, the forest did not seem to get any darker. The canopy above seemed to welcome in the light, rather than block it out and everything had a slightly yellow glow to it.

Up ahead, there were sounds coming from what appeared to be a settlement. Row upon row of thatch huts lined the clearing and a large fire blazed in the centre of it all as figures dancing around it. Their voices cried out in celebration, which only piqued rose's curiosity.

'Rose?'

She turned at the sound of her name and her eyes were met by one of the strangest sights she'd ever seen. Coming towards her off what looked like a throne of palm leaves was her Doctor, draped in wreaths of flowers. The smell of it all was overpowering.

'Doctor, what in the world is going on here?'

'A party!' the Doctor grinned stupidly and help up a primitive bowl made from a coconut. 'I saved them and now they think I'm their king! They gave me heaps of this stuff, you should try it'.

He thrust the bowl at her and it splashed onto her shirt. The smell of alcohol met her nostrils and she wrinkled her nose. The Doctor didn't seem to be taking no for an answer and continued over to her, holding out the bowl.

Rose took it and sniffed it before tipping it out into a bush. 'Doctor, what are you doing?'

'I'm taking part in life, Rose. I'm enjoying the moment. I'm living for the feeling'.

'Doctor'—

'Come with me,' he seized her around the waist and pulled her with him towards his own hut.

'Where are we going?'

'I want to spend this time with you'.

'Doctor, stop!' Rose pulled her arm free and ignored the sour looks the dancing natives gave her.

'Why?' the Doctor asked her and she finally heard a trace of sincerity in his tone. He was scared.

'Tell me what's wrong'.

The Doctor's face changed and pain flooded his features.

'You already know what's wrong'.

Rose's heart leapt in her chest and she swallowed thickly.

'We both know our days together are numbered'.

'Don't say that!' Rose rushed forward to embrace him and shut her eyes tightly to stop the tears welling in her eyes.

He took her face in his hands and gave her a sad look. 'I don't have long'.

Rose's eyes widened in shock.

'Is that what the wolf showed you?' she whispered. 'Your death?'

The Doctor nodded. 'Well yes, what else was it supposed to have shown me?'

Rose's mask slipped in place and she shook her head. 'I don't know. But I didn't know that it showed you'—

'That's why I've been so distant and I'm sorry,' the Doctor whispered.

'It's okay,' Rose nodded and pulled him back into her arms.

It was as if a door in her mind had been unlocked and she knew exactly what she had to do. She wasn't supposed to be there, with him. No matter how much she fought for him, the universe had a different plan for her, a timeline that needed to occur, and events that had to happen.

Xxx

Her resolve was strong, her decision final. She had given up her humanity for the man, so why not her life? In order to be with him, she'd become him, so much to the point that she was willing to let everything go.

She smiled sadly to herself as she stroked his hair. She'd made too many ripples in the water, too many tweaks that changed the course of time. Still, these things would not be changed back. She would pay the price to keep them safe.

This was her attitude as she followed the Doctor back to the TARDIS, as she lay beside him in their bed, as she shared one final meal with him, as they faced the Master together and the end of time, and as she used the last of her strength to erase their timeline from the Doctor's memory.

She couldn't feel much, not really. The force of being sucked through time felt like a gentle pull in comparison to what her heart was feeling. She could never forget his expression as the last of the memories left him. Never forget the single tear that trickled down his blank face as the Master grabbed hold of her and pulled her back with him.

Time ticked on, another good man died while another celebrated his twentieth year. One hundred babies were born and the Doctor's wife ceased to exist.

xxx

What?! I know, right? So if you're confused, here's a little recap. The Doctor saw a vision of himself dying and he goes a bit crazy, like when he goes and parties at the end of season four. Rose thinks she's going to die because she can sense something's up. It's then revealed to her a bit later on that the Master is going to try to bring all the Timelords back and she realizes that in order for events to take place (like River's timeline with the Doctor) she has to erase the alternate timeline from the Doctor's memory and disappear. What better place to disappear to then a time-lock where she can't interfere with anything and the Doctor can live on happily, not knowing anything is amiss. Now, if you bothered to read this explanation, I thank you very much from the bottom of my heart and I hope you stick around to find out what happens in the last 1-2 chapters left of this story.