They woke early the next morning and the Doctor decided to try the TARDIS again. Luckily it opened and they all climbed on board.
"Right. Perhaps it's time we thought about taking you home?" Suggested the Doctor to the Hobbits. They nodded in agreement. "Are we taking you back to the grey havens Frodo?"
The other three Hobbits stared wide-eyed. They'd forgotten completely that Frodo would be leaving them again. Frodo looked from one to the other and he couldn't quite meet their gaze. He knew the pain he'd put them through the first time and he knew how much they needed him. And he suddenly realised just how much he needed them.
"No." He whispered and smiled at his friends. "I want to go home."
The others smiled back at him and only the four Hobbits knew how much those five words meant to them all.
The Doctor set the TARDIS into flight and a few short minutes later it landed in Hobbiton. The Doctor opened the doors and led them all out.
The Hobbits bade them all goodbye and wandered down the path to their houses, arms round each other's shoulders.
"Right. Harry, you next. I know it's not quite been a month, but it's been long enough I think. Especially because of the fact that I can still return one month after wards."
The three wizards nodded.
Again the Doctor set the TARDIS into flight and a few minutes later they were stepping out onto the lawn in front of Hogwarts.
Dumbledore was waiting for them.
"Aha. I wondered when you'd be back. I've got some good news."
Harry, Ron and Hermione glanced at each other nervously.
"Yes?" Harry asked cautiously.
"Voldemort is gone." Dumbledore smiled. "He's not totally defeated, because he's protected by dark magic. That's something you will have to reverse Harry. But for now he's not going to be slaughtering anymore. We've not rounded up all the Death Eaters, but we've got a good idea where they are and the order are on to them."
"Yes!" Cried Harry. He turned to Ron and Hermione but they seemed perfectly happy to express their joy by kissing one another.
Harry rolled his eyes at the Doctor and Rose, who laughed and turned to walk back to the TARDIS hand in hand.
Once the doors were shut and the TARDIS n flight the Doctor let out an audible sigh.
"Peace at last."
"I thought you wanted them to join us?" Rose asked peering round the control panel, one eyebrow raised.
"Well yes. But I prefer it when it's just us." The Doctor said walking round to look at Rose.
"I can't stand it when the TARDIS gets over-crowded."
"Yeah, but it did you some good. You know now that you have friends. There are people out there. Your not alone." Rose said edging closer.
The Doctor shifted uncomfortably.
"I like friends. But you're the only person I want travelling with me." He smiled slightly.
"Does it still hurt?" Rose asked suddenly. The Doctor looked up and realised just how close they were getting, but couldn't be bothered to act on it.
"Yeah." The Doctor understood exactly what she meant. In the same way it translated alien script, it allowed Rose and the Doctor an extremely strong bond. One strong enough for them to know exactly what the other was thinking.
"I thought so. It's like a hole in your soul that nothing else can fill. But you know, over time and with the help of someone else, you can make that hole hurt less." Rose and the Doctor were an inch from each other.
"You know that you will always be the one an only special person in my life Rose." The Doctor said.
"Say it then." Rose whispered watching him closely. The Doctor edged away.
"I can't." He said, but his voice betrayed he was just too scared.
"Please. Look we're alone. The only other thing that's gonna hear you say it is the TARDIS." Rose made him look at her.
"Fine." the Doctor smiled. "If you will lay off. You Rose Tyler are the one person in the world who I would go to any lengths to save and I...I love you."
Rose smiled.
"See. It's not that hard." Rose leaned in and kissed the Doctor and knew that finally, she'd been the one who'd saved the world and taught him something.