Title: Everlasting

Rating: K+

Summery: Rose and the 10th Doctor stop off in London for Christmas just a few months after the regeneration has taken place. Both still adjust to each other has changed, as well as how they've changed themselves. Regeneration was never a straight line, it has ups and downs just as the rest of life does. (10/Rose)

Authors Note: The 'Interlude' marked the halfway point of the story, meaning it will be wrapping up here pretty soon. I never expected it to turn out like this, as it was originally intended to be a one-shot but so many readers wanted more! And here I am on my fifth chapter just within a few weeks! I feel the need to credit those who inspire me, which are my readers, and the wonderful doonarose. Honestly this woman has written such brilliant fanfiiction! This chapter also might be a bit shorter than the last ones; I had a bit of difficulty with the format. However I believe it turned out rather nice in the end.

"What the bloody hell is that!"

She stopped half way from exiting the TARDIS and looked over her shoulder at him. He stood there in front of the control panel, hands in his pockets, mouth agape and stared. Her nose wrinkled at him when her gaze followed his to the large red and black backpack she had lofted around her shoulder. A smile found its way onto her lips as she moved her black hat on her head, giving him a daring adventurous smile. Her satisfaction had come lately in not telling him everything she was going to do.

His mouth snapped shut and his brain was able to function again after the surprising shock of seeing her carrying around a mountain climbing bag. How many gifts was she planning to buy and stuff in that huge thing? It could probably serve all of Africa! Alright, maybe not Africa, maybe Turkey or possibly Quebec of Canada. He shook his head and stared at her again, refusing to repeat himself.

Rose laughed at his expression. "Mum asked me to do some errands, she's going to a Christmas party of her friends and I'm supposed to bring some things."

"'Some things' means a whole food supply for an entire nation?" he said, still gaping at the size of the bag. "What does your mum's friend live up in the Alps? That thing is absolutely huge!"

She laughed again. He rolled his eyes at her taking in the pleasure of his confusion and shock.

"It's a party, Doctor, a Christmas one at that. There's going to be loads of people, of course I have to bring something so big." She teased back and stepped out of the TARDIS, but paused and looked over her shoulder at him. His eyes narrowed, he just knew she'd ask something absurd.

"You think you can take me there?"

There it was.

He shook his head and blew the hair out of his eyes with a single breath and turned around, beginning to set the coordinates into his ship. Rose squealed to herself and closed the doors of the TARDIS, setting her large bag down and running to his side, watching. He glanced at her through the corner of his eyes, knowing that she was trying to memorize what he did. Rose had always fancied herself to learn how to work the TARDIS, and he had always fancied himself not to teach her. But now after the regeneration Rose had found it was easier to ask, but he was still unsure. He had given her the quick response of once he was settled in his new form he'd teach her.

He zipped around to the others side of the console, pulling a few levers and pressing a few buttons. He could understand why Rose wanted to fly there. It was quick, and with two weeks of not having the TARDIS move at all, it was completely understandable. The TARDIS was also happy, expressing it through how quickly she responded to his commands despite her age. He couldn't blame her either, being stuck in snow for two weeks must have been unbearable. He promised to give her a new paint job after the dangerous holiday known as Christmas was over.

The TARDIS shifted as she landed and he stood, gesturing to the doors for her to exit. Rose smiled and ran over to him, giving him a small kiss on the cheek before hustling over to her bag. He stood there for a moment, perplexed for the second time that morning, before his mind realized that she was outside the TARDIS. He quickly bounded after her, nearly knocking her down in the process as he leaned outside of the TARDIS's doorframe. He looked up, finding a small house on a hill.

Well, he thought. That explains the backpack.

She began her descend but stopped, and looked over her shoulder. He stood leaning in the doorway of the TARDIS, hands in his pockets, smiling at her as thick white breath slipped out into the air. Her eyes traveled to the house then to him, her head tilted in question. His reply was a shake of his head and a downcast of his eyes. She understood his reasoning. He was so timid around her mother; he'd be worse around her friends and wished not to embarrass her. Her eyes traveled back up to the house, then to him and nodded, beginning her climb again.

He watched her from his spot, how her feet would slip at times and she would steady herself with her upper body and arms. She had very little proper posture, and whatever skills of it she would have learned from gymnastics long ago were not in affect anymore. He would stand straighter every time she slipped and make a move to help her, but she would put her hand up, determined to show him she could do some things on her own. Ah, the arrogance of humans. But he smiled when she smiled back at him, standing in triumph before continuing to tackle the problem before her straight on with no doubt. He wondered where she had learned it form. Was it from him? Or maybe it was a natural born instinctive motive in all humans. Perhaps that was what attracted him so much to these little people, just beginning to walk. They held their heads high even in the face of certain defeat and continued forward, marching as soldiers. He smiled.

After she had moved from his sight he retired into his police box, closing the door softly and walking back into the console room. As of late he had found much comfort in this part of the ship than anywhere else. It was closest to the heart of her, where he could communicate his thoughts and feelings more accurately. During his time on Earth, however, he could also tell the stronger connection Rose had with the TARDIS as well. It was no doubt because of her incident with the heart of the ship. The TARDIS had brought them closer together.

But how close?

What a ridiculous thought. They were companions, close companions, but still companions. They trusted each other with their pasts and feelings, even if the regeneration had placed a small rut into it all. However they had recovered and the relationship changed, as do all when people change. However the fact they wanted the relationship to stay the same as it was before was unspoken to each other, neither having the nerve to say it just yet. But he was starting to have his doubts. His regeneration processes wasn't finished yet, just now was he settling into his new accent, there wasn't anything that said their relationship would change. He hopped it was for the better if it changed.

Rose was a unique companion. Most, he admitted, seemed to gather a fancy for him, but not in the way Rose did. It was more than just a physical attraction, but an intellectual and emotional one as well. She was so happy and lively, something he wasn't after the Time War, and it attracted him. He yearned to have that feeling again, the feeling of being alive and being able to think of things besides his past. He invited her, she stayed. They grew to be good friends, and he would tell her pieces of his past, but not all. Never. Then when she was in danger of dieing he sent her home, to be safe. He hadn't counted on her returning to him, to be so persistent, so stubborn to save him. In the end he saved her, and here he sat. He would have rather regenerated than loose her, than have time loose her. The smaller people were always the ones that affected the universe most.

A universe without the peppy Rose Tyler was not one he cared to live in. Then again if there were any universe without any of his former companions, he would not enjoy it. They were all close to him, some more than others, but Rose stuck out. It might have been because she was there during the beginning of his regeneration and was still there, or perhaps of the impact she had on him previously…or her connection with the TARDIS and thus the connection with him. It was rather complicated.

But, in the end, he knew she would become a ghost within his ship, just like the others; the TARDIS acting as a home to their imprinted presences to remind and comfort him. He looked up at the ceiling, leaning against the railing within his ship as his mind continued to wander in thought. He felt queasy at the moment, his knees shaking and almost giving out. His grip on the rail became tighter as his arms straightened to keep himself from collapsing. He didn't want to worry Rose when she returned by having him lying on the ground in another spell of unconsciousness. He felt weak, in need of a bed and rest to calm his pounding head and wandering mind, but he forced himself to stay well until she returned.

His thoughts were interrupted by the opening of the TARDIS door. He looked over, seeing Rose re-enter the ship, taking off her hat. He blinked and looked down at his watch seeing that time had once again flown by without his notice. It was also part of the regeneration, moments where a Time Lord would just look out and ponder whatever was on his or her mind before something brought them to realize what time it was. He stood, greeting her back into their home, forcing his knees to lock so they would not give out on him as he stood.

She smiled at him, taking off her gloves as she slowly walked up the ramp. He eyed her smile, tilting his head and his eyebrows drawn together, but a small mischievous smirk found its way onto his face to combat her own. She placed the gloves onto the console, receiving a frown from him.

"Well we are invited." She said matter-of-factly. He gave her a befuddled look. "To the party, Doctor. You and me, we are invited to come to this party." He frowned at the mention of the party. "It isn't going to be that horrible, Doctor, I'll protect you."

"Rose…it's not that…"

"What afraid you can't dance anymore?" Rose teased. He looked away, sighing and giving her a shake of his head. She frowned then, coming over to him worriedly. She reached to take his hand in hers to comfort him, a worry of time's clasp creeping up on her again. He moved his hand away from hers, but quickly brought her into a warm embrace before she could react. Confused, she wrapped her arms around him, hugging herself to him as he placed his chin on top of her head, stroking her golden hair. Her head rested against his chest, her cheek rubbing into the slightly tough fabric of the vest he wore. The moment passed.

"Doctor?"

"Ssh." He said softly, holding her closer.

Rose frowned slightly but remained where she was, silent. She wasn't sure what troubled her beloved Doctor this time, but she felt fear sneer itself into her. Fear that what troubled him lay in an untold past, one that would stay untold. Her grip tightened just a bit more. She noticed he seemed to lean more onto her, and shook. Her head titled as his slipped from its resting place down to her shoulder, his legs finally betraying him and sending him onto her. She stumbled, holding onto him tightly as he collapsed into her arms, unconsciousness taking him. She looked around for help, before holding him closer and making the attempt to drag him to his room. He looked so peaceful, breathing easily, but she knew he was troubled. Even in his sleep he could hide himself under his appearance.

Her foot found the door and she kicked it open, sending light into the dark room. She used her foot to find his bed, pulling him onto the soft covers. Her arm wrapped under his knees and placed them onto the bed as he groaned uncomfortably, shifting but settled. Rose removed her large jacket and pulled the hair from her face before sitting down beside him and moving her fingers to undo his jacket. She paused, unsure if she should continue, what would he say? How would he react? She shook her head; it wasn't worth thinking about now if he couldn't be comfortable in his illness.

Her fingers fumbled nervously over the buttons before she was able to undo them, being careful not to disturb him. She looked up at his face, seeing his eyebrows drawn together slightly in pain. Her teeth sunk into her bottom lip softly as she saw this, his torment. Her hand extended up, moving the bangs from his face in attempt to give him some comfort. He shifted slightly, his head going to the side. Rose gave into the nagging urge she had since she had seen his new form and moved her fingers through his hair affectionately, moving the long and short hairs gently. He gave a shudder; she froze for a moment until he had settled again. Every time he collapsed it became worse. Was this really part of the processes? Or another variable that affected the over all outcome?

She glided her fingers through his hair, bringing them down the side of his face and tracing the outlines. Until now she wasn't able to have a proper look at him, always from a far in fear that he maybe uncomfortable with the situation. He looked rather…dashing, was all she could find to fit him. Maybe that was just the charm of him, the Doctor, no matter the form he took. Yet he was so young now, or at least he appeared to be. She looked him over, seeing now just how well his new attire suited him, it was rather surprising. But as she thought of it, now whenever she thought about him, she no longer imagined a tall man with a leather jacket, but a tall man with a sense of presence stronger than before, and a zoot suit from the Roaring Twenties.

Her hand found its home on his arm, squeezing it when his breathing would labor. Her other hand reached up and undid his tie slightly, allowing him to breathe better. The TARDIS sympathized with both of them, dimming the lights of the room. Rose smiled gratefully up at the ceiling before moving her hand from his arm down to his hand, lacing her fingers together with his and squeezing. He shifted again, moving onto his side in his sleep, still holding onto hers. Rose smiled, putting her other arm against him to allow herself to be comfortable with her Doctor. She paused. That was right.

He was her Doctor now. Maybe he had always been, and she had just taken the human reaction to what he looked like. Whatever the reason, she placed her head against his other arm, closing her eyes and listening to his somewhat labored breathing, feeling he double pulse from his two hearts. Her Doctor was in pain, and there was little she could do of it. It was moments like these where she questioned her own existence, how fragile her life was. She was only capable of a life span of seventy years at the least, and then what?

What would happen to her Doctor then?

Rose bit her lip and shut her eyes tightly, squeezing his hand once again. The thought of her Doctor being alone after she had passed on was so painful. They were close, it was obvious. Whenever one was just slightly hurt the other fretted over it, fearing the worst at times. Life was fragile and could be disturbed at any moment, this she had learned from her father…but, when it came to her own existence with the Doctor, she didn't want to think about it. Her life would be filled with adventures and thrill seeking, and always a place to return home too…but one day, when she didn't return home, what would he do?

What did she want him to do?

Rose didn't know. All she knew is that she did not want him to suffer anymore than he already had for her. When he believed her to be dead from the threats of the Daleks, Rose could see the anger and sadness in his eyes. When he had learned of her well being, the sadness became a heated hate, seething into the souls of anyone who tried to hurt her. He'd kill them. But now he was different, what would he do now? Would he continue to fight or give up the will? There were so many questions it made her head spin and throb.

The TARDIS sensed this anguish and confusion, and eased her mind through their strong bond. It shared with her the ease of the moment here and now, not the future. Through their bond came a sense of understanding and knowledge, peace and comfort, and perhaps what a human would define as love. Rose rubbed her face into the pin stripped sleeve of the Doctor's vest before closing her eyes and letting the feeling take away her doubts and fears, questions and anguishes. The TARDIS gave her a promise.

When she woke, it would be a new day.