Woman Wept

Rose Tyler was grieving.

It wasn't what one would call apparent. If the Doctor hadn't spent so much time watching her(not that he would ever admit it to anyone, he hardly could admit it to himself) he doubted he would have noticed it. It was the little things that added up, she didn't seem to want to burden him with it. But he wasn't blind. He saw the slight bags under her eyes, the tendency to suddenly freeze her smile or have it fade slightly out of nowhere. The eyes that were full of a new weight, a new darkness that had not been there before.

The Doctor would have never called her innocent per say, not really, because there was always a gravity to her that belaid pain and grief that no one truly innocent can possess. Because innocence is that of being free from pain and the horrible things in life. Rose Tyler had known hardship, worry and pain. She had, by her own admission had taken a bad turn in her early life. Running away from home, dropping out just before her A levels. She had worked most of her young life to ease things for her single mother then worked to support herself and some stupid ape when she was fifteen. She had been battered, she had taken a fall in her life. But she had adjusted, grown from that pain. Recovered more or less from it(not fully, as no one ever does).

But he had given her a new pain.

She never knew her father, not really. Only from stories of a heartbroken widow, a fairy tale, just as his own bittersweet memories of Gallifrey were. But seeing a man die like that is painful on any soul, and he has found that Rose Tyler is an endlessly emphatic one. And watching her father die has torn away some of her last remaining innocence, dimmed that brilliant light he saw in her.

There was a serious contemplation to her now, a soft hesitant each time they would leave the TARDIS. A tension to the set of her mouth, a furrow between her brow. He wondered if being able to see her father's death had brought some things home for her, shown her the consequences and dangers that his life could bring. The cruelty of letting someone die when you could've saved them, knowing the nature and laws of Time and Space, holding themselves to that. He was the last one left to uphold it all, keep the entire cosmos together and Rose was nothing if not understanding on how things worked in life, no matter how hard it was.

She had taken nearly everything in stride to this point… But there was always something that broke that stride, always a point of tension that made his companions either die or run away from him fast as they could. Some, well some he tried to save, left some behind because he thought he could spare them from being around him.

Sometimes he wonders what had ever happened to Sarah Jane or Ace once he never saw them again; but he does not look back, not fully, only has the temptation to peek on occasion, even if he never follows the compulsion. Sometimes he is so close to it, sets the coordinates to the place and time he last left them, wondering if they would run to him with open arms or run at the sound of the TARDIS appearing, so he doesn't dare and presses the controls to random.

He wonders if Susan had been called back to the Time War, as he had. The thought that he Locked away his beautiful Arkytior in the raging destruction of the War stutters his hearts and makes him ache in ways that brings him to his knees. But these are all lingering thoughts in the back of his head, distant spirals of unconscious and dangerous wandering of his mind at the darkest moments when Rose nor the adventure is not there to distract away regrets of what has occurred in his life.

He often wonders what will be his regret with Rose Tyler, will she die in a foolish effort, as Ardic did(she is kind enough, near stupid enough to try). She could become someone important somewhere in Time, rise to a point of power, as Romona had. Or she would find someone she adores, cherishes like no other, as Leela or Susan did(the thought sends a burn through him, a rage that frightens him and he tries not to think of it). Or will Rose Tyler one day see too much, see a side of him that he was running away from(a ravenous, unstoppable Oncoming Storm) and simply walk away, demand to be taken back to her mother and Rickey like Tegan had?

Or will the Universe simply use that tangled, golden weave of Time-lines that surrounded her and snuff out her fantastic flame in whatever event or events that made her so damn important to Time itself? The Doctor does not know, nor care to know. Not yet. Not when he still has her brilliance by his side. Not when he could pretend that her sweet 'there's me' is a promise of a lifetime like her tone had implied, like her steady gaze that day had sworn to him.

"Rose."he says, and he is leaning against the jump seat, where she's seated, and he tries to ignore how his hands want to reach over and grasp her spare hand(those impulses are growing, and he tries to temper them best he can), he crossed his arms instead.

She looks up with tired eyes. He wants to take that away. Bundle up her sorrows and toss them into the nearest supernova, he had been good at that, a body ago. When he had been a romantic, a poet, oh, how easy it would have then. But he is not that man anymore, in so many ways. He tries though, as well as he can with rough thoughts and rough features and a disconnection he can't shake since the War.

"Yea'?"she sets aside her reading device, and Porco sniffs at it before he curls further into her side. Absently, she scraches between his ears, pale pink painted nails

"Go to the wardrobe room. Dress as warm as you can."

Her brown-green and gold speckled eyes spark, light up in a way that they haven't in awhile. A good start than, he thinks.

"Alright. Give me a mo'."she says, and she flashes him a quick smile.

That smile that is tongue-in-teeth, brilliant and very rare nowadays. It lightens something in his chest, eases the tension in her brow. She hurries off. He rushes to the console, large, calloused hands doing a dance across the controls that has become second nature to him. The other five pilots a faint wish in his mind, one he hadn't had before when the Old Girl was still slightly newer, (she was ancient when he was so young, but she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen) when he had Susan and when the automatic navigation and pilot system hadn't been destroyed.

The TARDIS faintly hums in his mind, so soft that a lesser Time-Lord would not have heard it, the reason so many had dismissed the notion of life in the TARDISes until order had been brought to them all. She is all excitement, a soft note in her song of elation and anticipation

"We're going to treat her today, Sexy."he states, and the answering hum is brilliant and slightly louder in his head.

~BW~DW~BW~DW~BW~

They land with a small, soft jolt just as Rose pulls a thin jumper(a fancy one from the thirtieth century that is thin and soft as the finest as silk and is a smart fabric that adjusted temperature that was perfect for the human body) over her head. She stumbles slightly, hand getting caught in the jumper for a fraction of a second before she straightens it. The Old Girl was being generous today, she thought, humming a quick thanks as she wrapped a long, colorful scarf around her neck, secured a beanie over her curled hair and slipped on a pair of thin gloves.

Back home, it looked like she was just getting along for fall, what with the jumper, boots that she had worn with her 1800s getup, smart fabric tights and a cute skirt. But really, as Rose had read she could be on Antarctica and be completely comfortable, long as she lifted her scarf to cover her face for most of the time. It also gave her mobility that she would have to forgo in thick, bulky clothing of her contemporary century. So smart fabric it was she mused.

The prospect of a treat, something the Doctor had in mind had a small thrill through her. She prayed, hoped that it was someplace new. That it was some place that would not throw in her face that she had changed things in this second live through of her life with the Doctor. That all those things were changing her into… Something else. Worse it was something that was her own doing. The words of her mother that damn day never rang more than it did now.

The very thought sent a shiver down her spine, made her curl into herself.

Rose had not felt such fear in a long time. She did not want to become someone else. Did not want to become a stranger when she looked in the mirror. She was Rose Tyler, damn it. Defender of the Earth to those of Pete's World, the Valiant, the daughter of Jackie and Pete Tyler. She was so sure when she started that she would always be that, always so damn sure of who she was. Rose was not so sure now. Was not so sure that she would not lose herself in onslaught of carrying the Time Vortex once again.

She would create herself.

She would become the Bad Wolf: she always was, never could escape it, never could run no matter how much she wanted too. Because two people she loved not to mention the entire human race was counting on her.

"I want you safe my Doctor… I bring life..."

Whether or not she would lose herself within the Heart of the TARDIS was another thing entirely. The fact that even connecting lightly with the TARDIS was difficult to escape settled heavily on her mind. The fact that her meddling with her own time line already had changed her own memories made her tread more carefully than before, terrified her even more than the Bad Wolf did. At least she knew that was her, this, this she did not know. She felt paralyzed. Unable to scream, unable to really move. She just went through the motions. All the situations she and the Doctor had landed in were relatively new or mundane trips that had at the most only a little running. The different order concerned her more than before.

Rose was so afraid to change a thing. It had already changed her past- perhaps it would alter her present. Perhaps the Year that Never Was* in Pete's World would slip away from her, fade into the timelines of maybes and could've beens. The Paradox she caused with her father, the death of Joseph Ganesh, Mr. Sneed, all that would be siphoned away from her. That had created her as much as looking into the heart of the TARDIS. She would become a blank doll or fade into her former self.

That scared little child that had the stars ripped from her eyes when a stupid boy punched her in the face. When she had ruined her musical future by crashing that damn hot rod, and changed her entire world when she followed a man who took her hand and said 'run'. She had grown up so much since then, moved away from being so angry and discontented at her lot in life, and her own bad decisions and missteps.

But, thought Rose, touching softly on the side of the TARDIS when she sent her a gentle, reassuring hum. That was thoughts she could put off for today, push aside. Had so much to look forward too. She was herself now, and the Doctor wasn't the only one that was good at running away when things got rough emotionally.

"I told ya to dress warm."said the Doctor, as she made it to the console room.

She blinked, looked down at her form fitting clothing.

" 'S smart fabric."she said simply and the Doctor blinked, grinned.

"Was that why you were browsing through thirtieth-century rags?"

His smile sent something warm through her, despite everything. He made her forget, even for a second.

"They have great article. Looks like the 'retro' look is rather popular."she said with a roll of her eyes at what they deemed her decade. She does a little twirl, showing off her black tights and cute little ruffled skirt as it swirled tightly around her.

To her complete delight, the Doctor's eyes lingered even as the tips of his ears turned bright pink(that never changed, not even in his next body). He coughed, looked back to the console.

"Yeah, well, at least you won't freeze your bits off."

"Neither will you."she said, and she tugged lightly on his jumper. It was slightly thicker than normal, but other than the addition of gloves and his jumper, he looked pretty much the same.

He snorts.

"Superior biology, me. Don't need your silly fabric."

It's her turn to snort.

"Your jumper is thicker. Besides your body is naturally cooler than humans, better constructed to hold off extreme temperatures."she says simply, rolling her eyes.

It's his turn to roll his eyes.

"Right. Well, are you ready?"

"As ever. Lead on."

When the door to the TARDIS opened, it was not something new. It was Woman Wept. Rose blinked, and gasped as she stepped out onto crisp, clean snow. Porco toddled in front of her, the swine bundled up just like her, two hooved feet sinking as he jumped about in curious delight. Her face hurt from smiling so much, eyes wide as she tried to take in Woman Wept as best as possible.

It was just… As awe inspiring. Her memory had not done it justice. She took a few more tentative steps, relishing the sound of her feet against the snow. The chill that settled over her was minimal due to the smart fabric and she watched in delight as her breath came out in small, ghostly white puffs. The towering waves, frozen in an instant were so high that they swayed like skyscrapers did when she looked up at them

They were so perfectly clear that she could see alien life forms frozen within, long, tendrils of things that looked akin to jellyfish and sliver bodies sleek and dangerous as sharks. Rows of teeth, fins posed mid dash or flared in defence. They were beautiful, all colors bright against the cold monochrome of ice and snow. She breathed deeply through her nose, a startled laugh coming out of her.

This was one of her favorite places in all the universe to visit. They had come back again and again. Parked once on one of the glaciers with Jack, had a picnic with tea and these lovely little muffins from some planet in the Jearl-Fo Empire. Another time she, the browned eyed Doctor and Mickey had done this enormous snowball fight, everyone against everyone, she had built a fort by one of the waves near this enormous seahorse looking thing. In the end, both she and the Doctor had ended up ganging up on Mickey who had the best aim out of all of them. Then there was all the times they had come alone, when Jack or Mickey were asleep or otherwise occupied, they would sneak off for a bit of tea or hot chocolate, just sit and watch the Lights flicker across the sky and reflect off of the frozen waves in a beautiful, electrifying display of color.

She didn't realize she was crying until a cool, gloved hand came to touch her near the eye.

"Brought you here to enjoy it, not cry."he said gruffly, northern burr washing over her.

She beamed at him.

"Oh, but it's beautiful,"she assured, and she laughed, spinning in a wide joyous circle, "I can't even begin to say how."

"We're on the planet Woman Wept in the Chione system. Some Fifteen hundred years ago, the planet's sun did something strange, collapsed in on itself, or so says the data banks, stopped its heat in an instant. The planet froze in a second." he lectured quietly, looking towards one of the enormous wave to their left, "On the continent, apparently, it was in the middle of a giant storm, tumbling waves and all."

She gazed at around her, gently wiping away at her tears.

"So the animals, the ones in the glaciers, do you think they felt it?"

His eyes turned towards her, soft.

"No. Happened too fast, I suspect."

She nodded, and came closer, hands coming to hesitantly come to grip his's.

"Good."

They walked on, the Doctor, her and Porco. His voice filled the biting silence that otherwise would have only been broken from occasion gentle wind that swept across the continent. He talked about the life, about the fact that some of the aquatic animals on the TARDIS may or may not be from this planet. Talked about how the ecosystem of the planet worked, how this was the only continent on the planet, no life on land, only aquatic life. How he had visited this place about two-thousand years before, walked on the sandy, newly formed soily and dived to capture as many different species as he could.

"The TARDIS is like a menagerie, or Noah's Ark," she frowned, "Do you have dinosaurs on board?"

The sheepish look on his face as he turned away spoke volumes. His red ears gave her a hint. She laughed.

"Right. Hopefully, nothing that with lots of sharp teeth."she mused.

"I can neither confirm or deny."he muttered.

She blinked.

"Right, that'll help me sleep at night."

"Stay away from the Attic."he said seriously, tugging at his ear.

"Oh God."

Porco snorted, and the Doctor wiggled his brows at her.

They kept walking, on and on, his voice washing over her, lighting her heart. Porco was just as much as a delight, playfully nudging her and snorting as if he were talking as well. The perfect way to forget. When the sun in the distance started to set, the thirteen moons on the horizon getting clearer and clearer, they started to head back. It was when they were a little bit from the TARDIS that she untangled her arm from his.

"Go on ahead, just want to enjoy it for a second longer."

The Doctor gave her a jaunty wave, and she turned to stare across the beautiful landscape of beautiful tundra. She took a deep even breath, closed her eyes and tried to ignore the fears of the future that were creeping up on her. Instead, she focused on the chill in the air, at the feeling of her slightly numb face and the warmth her clothes provided and the assurance that she was who she was for now. Even with the uncertainty of her own future identity.

"Woman Wept, one of my favorite places."said a voice, calmly and cheerfully.

Rose jumped a mile in the air. Eyes wide, she turned towards the voice on the supposedly empty planet, heart pounding. It was a girl, she looked about fifteen, pretty, tall with this ginger hair that the Doctor would envy. She wore a short little skirt on her mile long legs, a scarf around her long neck, and a calm smile. In her hand was a yard key, and if she wasn't mistaken from how hard it was to look at it, a perception filter. She looked like someone she had known in the parallel world, pretty, feisty Amelia Pond-Williams, much younger of course, from the thirty something woman she had worked alongside with.

"Take me here every once in awhile, always had the best snowball fights. And oh, hot chocolate, I know you love tea but I can't lie and say that the hot chocolate isn't one of my favorites parts of visiting this place."

Rose blinked, and the girl smiled.

"Right, here I am, nattering on and you're having an crisis." laughed the girl, scottish and melodic voice high and lifting, "So hard you know, looking at you and not talking your ear off. It's so easy to talk to you. Always have been."

She tucked her hands into her pockets of her leather jacket, boots crunching across the ground as she got closer. Without meaning to, Rose took a step back, hands raising in a defensive position. It was a far cry from her twenty-year old self's perfect stance, but it was much better than the sloppy mess she had been in Hendrick's basement. The girl paused, blinked and laughed.

"Sorry. I must be freaking you out, Rose Tyler. To be fair, this is my first time doing something out of order..."

Rose licked her lips.

"So you know my name."she paused, eyes squinting, "Wearing clothes that are roughly what, from my decade? You have a yale key, considering your approximately two galaxies away from earth, you have some sort of time-travel device and space hopper. Add the fact that you're Amelia Pond, knew a version of you-"

The girl smiled wider.

"From Pete's World, yeah?"she grinned, "Oh, loved that story. Me a badass Agent in a parallel universe, and married to Rory? The best."she beamed.

"You're from my future."she said it so calmly, even as internally she was trying not to scream. The Face of Boe, Jack from the future, that was one thing…

But this girl was beyond that, an relatively unfamiliar face in this universe and the fact that she was here-

"Yeah, I am, so put your mits down Raggedy Girl."said Amelia, "I'm hear to deliver a message, nothing more nothing less."

Rose slowly lowered her hands, eying the cheerful Scott wearily.

"Molto bene! Your scary when you're on the edge, that you are."

"Raggedy Girl?"

The girl's lips twitched.

"Spoilers. Oh, that is wonderful to say."

Rose blinked, brows furrowing.

"Oh, don't make that face, you can't know everything about the future. You had that for a while but Time doesn't generally work like that."said the girl, teasingly stern.

Despite herself, Rose found herself smiling.

"The fact that I have a future at all still surprises me sometimes."

The girl blinked then, her face softened.

"You died. I always try to ignore that part of the story. Was so hard to believe because you were always right there. I hated that part, always made me want to cry, even if you came back."

"You know so much."said Rose, and unlike with Jack it was not a comfort, not now when so much was at risked at being changed, both in the past and in her future.

"Oh, you have no idea, Raggedy Girl."she smiled, "Oh the places you'll go."

"You sound like my father."she whispered, and the fear crept onto her, clutched at her fastly beating heart.

The girl took another step closer and ignored Rose's flinch when she gripped her hand.

"Look, Rose Marion Tyler, don't you dare be afraid."Amelia's voice was soft but fierce, and she squeezed her hand.

"I'm over my head."she blurted, and the feeling of the enormity of what she was doing settled in the pit of her stomach.

Rose had lived through a lot. Had died and she was not one to lose confidence in herself after everything she had been through. But the words her mother had said to her so long ago festered in her heart of hearts, lingered and seeded something of real, tangible terror. She didn't want to die or lose herself. But she also knew deep down in her heart that she didn't have a damn right to be doing what she was doing. She could destroy the entire universe with her recklessness, beyond just destroying herself again. Even with this pretty girl holding her hand, a secret promise to what may come did not reassure her of what she could expect of her life when she finally finished her time-line.

Amelia just smiled at her face, at her fears clawing at her chest.

"Maybe. But Rose Tyler has always kept moving forward. You ditched school at fifteen, screwed up your dearest dream because you fell in love with the wrong wanker."her voice was steady, and she looked her straight in the eyes, "You are the Defender of the Earth, the Valiant, the big, Bad Wolf… Most importantly, My Raggedy Girl."

Rose blinked at the emotion in the girl's voice, at the reverence and fierceness that this young teen had for her.

"I won't say that this is going to be easy for you… Oh, I grew up on your stories Rose Tyler. The adventures and your heartaches that will come to pass…"

She smiled, brought Rose close to her, hugged her tightly 'round the waist. Rose returned the gesture even as it felt slightly off to hug a complete stranger.

"But… Well, as I was sent to tell you: Be yourself, because that is constant. "She whispered, and then she stepped quickly back, quickly bringing her key 'round her neck.

Rose blinked, turning toward the sound of the TARDIS doors opening.

"Rose, smart fabric won't do well once the sun sets. You need a specialized thermal protection for the fourteenth moon that comes up in a few minutes."said the Doctor, popping his head out.

Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw Amelia, standing absolutely still, her fingertip on her lip and a wide grin.

"Right, sorry, it's just so beautiful."she said softly, heart pounding.

"Well, come on. Leg it."

She carefully did not look in Amelia's direction as she went towards the TARDIS. The Doctor went inside.

"I give you love from the future, Raggedy Girl."whispered Amelia, voice so soft that she strained to hear it from the .

Rose froze for a fraction of a second, before she gave a brief acknowledgement via a nod and hurried into the TARDIS.

~BW~DW~BW~DW~BW~

"Will it be enough?"said Amelia, looking worried.

She smiled.

"Oh sweetheart, don't you worry."

"Well… You… Looked so scared… I've never seen you like that."

Rose Tyler smiled.

"Well I was so young then. Had so much to fix, so much to keep secret. Makes anyone feel a little crazy."

Amelia snorts and sips at her hot chocolate.

"I bet. God, when you said, oh, Amelia, you have to met a younger self because of circular paradox, I was not expecting nineteen year old you."

It was Rose's turn to snort.

"What, you wanted school skirt and mary-janes?"

"Bit. Seen the you before all of this. Been wonderfully odd to see the woman who raised me be the same age as me."

"You are so spoiled Amelia Pond." she paused, took a measured sip of her hot chocolate, "And if he asks..."

"We went shopping at that Mall Planet."she finished sweetly, a big grin on her face.

Rose smirked.

"That's my girl."


AN: I do not own Doctor Who, it belongs to its creators, broadcasting company, and the thespians who gives us its characters.

So. Yes. Wibbly Wobbly, Timey Whimey, this is a story of Time Travelers. Of course, both the past and future must be represented.

On that note, before anyone asks, when it comes to fifth season onwards... Well, let's just say that that is going to be majorly rewritten in this story. The Universe of Doctor Who is immense with its various formats, tv, radio, books, comics... Complicated, and full of so many Gosh darn plot holes that it's ridiculous. Moffat is... A good writer, I really do like his stories for the most part, however, the way he writes the development of the characters and his complete disregard for what has been established bugs me to no end. He does a wonderful introduction to characters, for the most part, but cans, in the end, to bring in new characters. I've haven't seen much past season four of the modern Doctor Who, mainly because of my complete rage of a certain episode were my second favorite companion(but favorite love interest, obviously) is left on a bloody beach for the second time...

But well, I digress. I just want to say that I have seen enough of both Matt Smith's portrayal and Amy to say that I liked it and hope to eventually do their bits in this story... I know more or less what happens up to season Seven because of course the internet is a double edge sword and trying to find fanfiction can sometimes tell you more or less everything when it comes to later things(This is how I got to know what happened in Naruto after I stopped reading it). I will watch that part of the show when I get to it, and try to do it justice even if it makes me bawl my eyes out(looking at you, End of Time). But of course, that is so freakishly down the line because we are not even finished with even series one... Only five more cannon episodes to go!

And of course, keep in mind for lack of timely updates that I'm more or less planning way ahead(I just threw in a bit from a little before series 5!) as I write this story, plus my ten million other stories(not so much, only 22 not including this one) and a million things I have to do for school and keep myself sane... Yeah. Gosh, I made myself nervous just listing that out. But well, I hope you enjoyed the chapter...

Thank you, please review, and happy reading!

Moon Witch '96

P.S. Our favorite Captain is coming up with the Lonely Child next chapter!