Season Four: "The Fires Of Pompeii"

The sounds were the same sort of sounds one might hear at any point in time, in any marketplace, on nearly any planet, in any galaxy. Attention grabbing shouts, prices being haggled, even the sounds of livestock and mindless chatter. But this wasn't just any marketplace. This was Donna's first trip in the TARDIS, and she'd asked for the biggest cultural landmark she could think of.

"Ancient Rome," the Doctor said, pulling back the curtain that blocked the TARDIS from the street and leading Rose and Donna into the street. "Well, not to them, obviously. To all intents and purposes right now... this is brand new Rome."

Rose laughed softly and shook her head at his babbling, glancing over to their new companion.

Donna stared around her with an enthusiastic smile stretching across her face. "Oh my God, it's... it's so Roman. This is fantastic!"

She hugged them both, almost in tears from the sheer happiness she felt. "I'm here... in Rome. Donna Noble in Rome. This is just weird. I mean, everyone here is dead."

They walked along, taking in the sights, the Doctor holding Rose's hand tightly, always like he was afraid to let her go.

"Well, don't go telling them that," he chuckled.

Donna glanced back with a cheeky grin, but stopped as something caught her eye. "Hold on a minute. That sign over there is in English. Are you having me on? Are we in Epcot?"

Rose glanced at the sign, now able to see both the original Latin and the TARDIS translation. But she well remembered her first trip still. "That's the TARDIS translation circuits. Just makes it look like English... speech as well. You're talking Latin right now," she explained. "She likes to help."

"Seriously?" the redhead asked, amazed.

"Mmm," the Doctor smiled. Seeing a new companion's first reactions was always a treat for him.

Donna tipped her head, her tone testing, "I just said 'seriously' in Latin."

"Oh yeah," Rose laughed.

Donna burst out with laughter as well. "What if I said something in actual Latin? Like 'veni, vidi, vici'? My dad said that when he came back from football. If I said 'veni, vidi, vici' to that lot, what would it sound like?"

Rose looked questioningly up at her husband who shook his head.

I'm not sure - you have to think of difficult questions, don't you?" he accused Donna playfully. "Just like her when she started out."

Rose elbowed him. "Well, hopefully Donna's less jeopardy friendly."

"You finally admit it then?" he asked.

"Dunno what you're talking about," she responded airily.

Donna shook her head and grinned. "I'm gonna try it."

They watched as she walked up to a stallholder. The man grinned, thinking he'd found a customer.

"Hello, sweetheart. What can I get for you, my love?"

The new traveler took a breath and spoke clearly, "Veni, vidi, vici."

Unfortunately, the stallholder only tipped his head with a confused look. "Hunh? Sorry? Me no speak Celtic. No can do, missy."

She nodded slowly, heading back to her friends. "Yeah. What does he mean 'Celtic'?"

"Welsh. You sound Welsh," the Doctor explained, grinning at the two women. "There we are. That's something."

The three of them walked on, admiring the local wares when Donna turned to them, concerned.

"Won't our clothes look a bit odd?" she asked worriedly.

"We could go back to the TARDIS and use the wardrobe," Rose offered, grinning at the Doctor.

"Oh no you don't," he scolded her playfully. "Takes you forever in there. Besides, this is ancient Rome, anything goes. It's like Soho... but bigger."

"You've been here before then?" Donna asked, her curiosity piqued.

He nodded thoughtfully. "Hm, ages ago. Before you ask, that fire had nothing to do with me. Well, a little bit, but I hadn't gotten the chance to look around properly. Coliseum... Pantheon... Circus Maximus... You'd expect them to be looming by now. Where is everything?"

When he stopped and looked around, Rose did as well. She'd not been to Rome before, but if the Doctor was looking for something out place, then so was she.

He pointed down a street. "Let's try this way."

The trio walked on, passing vendors and citizens just living their lives. The Doctor watched Rose, her hazel eyes alight as she saw yet another civilization she'd never seen before. Even after years of travel and school and losing almost everything she held dear, deep down she still held the same love for all people and civilizations that he'd fallen for in the beginning. She'd been the reason he stopped rushing toward death, and she still was. He reached out and took her hand, causing her to turn that brilliant smile in his direction.

"I'm not an expert," Donna interrupted them, "but there are Seven Hills of Rome, aren't there? How come they only got one?"

The couple looked at her in confusion for a moment, then ahead to where the redhead was gesturing. In the distance was one large mountain, looming threateningly over the city. The ground shook, and the Doctor held Rose close until it stopped.

"Here we go again," the heard a man nearby say as the vendors grabbed their stalls and merchandise, clearly used to this shaking.

"Oh no," Rose moaned, the mix up clearing almost immediately.

Donna looked at them, "Wait a minute! One mountain... with smoke... which makes this..."

"Pompeii," he groaned, clutching his wife to him a bit tighter. "We're in Pompeii... and it's Volcano Day!"

Within moments, the three people were running like mad back toward the place they'd arrived, a bit of panic in their veins. When they arrived, they found only an empty spot where their beloved home had been.

"You're kidding. Don't tell me the TARDIS is gone," Donna groaned.

The Doctor nodded, pale and worried. "Okay."

"Where is it then?" she demanded.

Rose gave her a wry grin that didn't quite reach her eyes. "You told him not to tell you."

"Don't get clever in Latin, Blondie," Donna tried to joke.

The Doctor shook his head and darted to the nearby vendor. "Um...excuse me! Excuse me! There was a box-big, blue box. Big, blue, wooden box...just over there. Where's it gone?"

The vendor glanced over then grinned cheekily. "Sold it, didn't I?"

Rose stomped toward them, and the stall holder flinched. Even the Doctor cringed somewhat at her thunderous expression. She spoke in a furious voice that told of a slap coming. "But... it wasn't yours to sell."

He held up his hands in self defense. "It was on my patch, wasn't it? I got 15 sesterce for it. Lovely jubbly."

Rose's hand flashed to slap him, but the Doctor caught her wrist with a practiced ease. "Who did you sell it to?"

The man flinched backward. "Old Caecilius. Look... if you want to argue, why don't you take it up with him? He's on Foss Street. Big villa can't miss it."

"Thanks. And you're lucky I didn't let her go," the Doctor winked, running off with Donna.

Rose stood there a moment, glaring at him. "What did he buy a big, blue wooden box for?"

The Doctor dashed back and grabbed her hand. "Come along, darling. Let's not bother this man any more. We've got a box to retrieve."

The two of them rejoined Donna who looked at them expectantly.

"Ha! I've got it! Foss Street, this way!" he said, forcing himself to be cheerful.

The redhead shook her head. "No, I've found this big sort of amphitheatre I think... We can start there. We can get everyone together. Then maybe they've got a great, big bell or something we could ring. Have they invented bells yet?"

The couple glanced at each other, then at her in utter confusion.

"What do you want a bell for?" the Doctor asked.

She shook her head as though she couldn't believe this brilliant man could also be so dense. "To warn everyone! To start the evacuation! What time does Vesuvius erupt? When's it due?"

Rose glanced away, saddened that Donna had to learn about fixed points. She still felt the sting of her own lesson in that.

Her husband looked at their friend grimly. "It's 79 AD, 23 of August which makes Volcano Day tomorrow."

She smiled, obviously thrilled to have so much of a chance to do what she thought was necessary. "Plenty of time. We can get everyone out easy."

"Except we're not going to."

Even Rose winced at his harsh tone as the Doctor grabbed both women by the hand and began to walk.

Donna didn't move, tugging him back to face her. "But that's what you do. You're the Doctor. You save people."

He shook his head. "But not this time. Pompeii is a fixed point in history. What happens happens. There is no stopping it."

He tried to go forward again, but she still refused to move an inch.

Says who?" she snapped.

He glared at her. "Says me."

"What, and you're in charge?"

Rose felt the tension rising between the two and frowned. She hated when her loved ones fought, and especially hated it when someone unwittingly made the Doctor feel guilty when he already carried such a burden with him.

"TARDIS, Time Lord... yeah."

"Donna, human... no! I don't need your permission. I'll tell them myself."

She'd had enough. "Both of you stop it, yeah? You're acting like a couple of five year olds, and I'm not babysitting you."

They both blinked at her.

"I'm not kidding. You're bickering like enemies and you're friends. Doctor, maybe you could explain first that no matter what we'd rather do, some things can't be changed or they unravel all of time. And Donna, you start yapping on that the world's ending, you're gonna look a right nutter. Now, whether we like it or not, we're getting the TARDIS, and we're getting outta here."

She stormed off, going in the direction that felt like it would lead to the TARDIS, leaving the other two to follow sheepishly after.

"I just might have something to say about that, spaceman!" Donna shot at him as they followed the irate blonde woman.

He rolled his eyes and snapped back, "Oh, I bet you will!"

They entered a villa with many marble carvings spread throughout as another round of rumblings moved through the city. The Doctor caught a bust and returned it to its column and smiled at the man.

"Whoa!" he joked lightly, slapping its cheeks. "There you go."

The man of the house stopped in surprise, "Thank you, kind sir. I'm afraid business is closed for the day. I'm expecting a visitor."

The Doctor nodded easily, "Oh, that's me. I'm a visitor. Hello."

He leaned forward to shake the man's hand.

"Who are you?" the man asked in confusion.

The Doctor wagged his eyebrows. "I am... Spartacus."

And so am I," Donna threw in without considering it.

Rose barely covered her snicker.

"Mr. and Mrs. Spartacus?" the man asked.

The Doctor shook his head, alarmed. "Oh no, we're not married."

"Not together," Donna cried out, equally flabbergasted.

"This! This is my wife!" he exclaimed, pulling Rose forward, flashing her ring.

"Hello," she smiled, holding out a hand. She saw no reason to give a fake name, even if it was rather amusing. "I'm Rose. Please excuse these two."

"Oh, then brother and sister? Yes, of course. You look very much alike," the man nodded, briefly taking Rose's hand. "And you are as lovely as your name, madam."

The other two looked at each other curiously. "Really?" they asked together.

The man continued to address Rose. "I'm sorry, but I'm not open for trade."

"And that trade would be?" the Doctor asked brightly.

"Marble. Lucius Caecilius. Mining, polishing and design thereof. If you want marble, I'm your man." He seemed to stand a bit taller. Obviously he took great pride in his work.

Rose smiled, she enjoyed seeing people who liked their lives.

"That's good," the Doctor smiled. "That's good, 'cause I'm the marble inspector."

He held up the psychic paper, and Caecilius paled considerably. His wife fluttered her hands a bit.

"By the gods of commerce, an inspection!" She rushed to the young man sitting next to a fountain in their home, and took a cup from his hand, dumping the contents into the water. "I'm sorry, sir. I do apologize for my son."

The young man gave a shout of indignance. "Oi!"

Caecilius gestured for the woman to join him at his side. "This is my good wife, Metella. I- I must confess, we're not prepared for a-"

The Doctor shook his head, looking around and spotting the TARDIS. "Nothing to worry about. I- I'm sure you've got nothing to hide. Although, frankly, that... object... rather looks like wood to me."

He began walking toward it, Rose abd Donna just a half step behind him.

"I told you to get rid of it!" Metella hissed, shooting her husband a dirty look.

Caecilius whined, reminding Rose greatly of the Doctor when he wanted something. "I only bought it today."

"Ah, well," the Doctor sympathized. "Caveat emptor."

The marble worker blinked in surprise. "Oh, you're Celtic. There's lovely."

Rose place a hand on their home. "I'm sure it's fine but we might have to take it off your hands for a proper inspection."

The Doctor nodded enthusiastically. "Oh yes, you never know with these sort of things."

Donna smiled winningly at the man. "Although, while we're here, wouldn't you recommend a holiday, Spartacus?"

The Time Lord shot a glare in her direction. "I don't know what you mean, Spartacus."

The redhead continued, "Oh, this lovely family, mother and father and son... Don't you think they should get out of town?"

Caecilius frowned. "Why should we do that?"

The Doctor rubbed his hands over his face. Why couldn't Donna just trust him that he couldn't fix this?

"Well, the volcano for starters."

The man was truly confused now. "What?"

She said it again, slower and more clearly, "Volcano."

"What-ano?"

Donna shook her head. "That great big volcano right on your doorstep."

"Husband, sister, for shame. We haven't even greeted the household gods yet," Rose said, grabbing both their arms and pulling them toward the shrine in the corner.

The three of them pretended to pay homage to the images on the frieze while the Doctor explained in clipped, hushed tones.

"They don't know what it is. Vesuvius is just a mountain to them. The top hasn't blown off yet. The Romans haven't even got a word for volcano. Not until tomorrow."

Donna snapped at him, "Oh great. They can learn a new word... when they die."

The blonde woman laid a hand on their friend's arm. "Donna, stop it."

Refusing to cow under their quelling stares, the red haired woman simply glared. "Listen, I don't know what sort of kids you've been flyin' around with in outer space, but you're not telling me to shut up. That boy... how old is he, sixteen? And tomorrow he burns to death."

"And that's my fault?" he asked, the misery and guilt of hundreds of years stifling him.

"Right now, yes!"

"No, it isn't!" Rose hissed, placing a hand on the Doctor's arm. Whatever else she was going to say at that moment was lost as a servant entered the room and announced another guest.

"Announcing Lucius Petrus Dextrus, Chief Augur of the city government."

An older man strode in, a man who knew his position and importance. He wore his cloak so it draped over his right side.

"Lucius, my pleasure as always," Caecilius greeted the man with enthusiasm.

The three travelers left the shrine, watching the newcomer curiously.

Metella jerked her son to his feet. "Quintus, stand up."

The boy stood with a long-suffering sigh as his father gushed on, "A rare and great honour, sir, for you to come to my house."

The man nodded, clearly used to being fawned over. "The birds are flying north... and the wind is in the west."

Caecilius nodded, dropping the hand that had previously been held out in greeting to the augur. "Right. Absolutely. That's good, is it?"

"Only the grain of wheat knows where it will grow," was the hazy response.

The marble worker turned to his wife, "There now, Metella, have you ever heard such wisdom?"

"Never. It's an honour," she agreed.

They saw the Doctor, Donna, and Rose off to the side.

"Pardon me, sir, I have guests. This is Spartacus, and, uh, Spartacus his sister, and his wife, Rose."

The three waved a bit awkwardly.

"A name is but a cloud upon a summer wind," the augur said uncaringly.

The Doctor spread his hands. "But the wind is felt most keenly in the dark."

The cloaked man looked at the Doctor in surprise. "Ah! What is the dark other than an omen of the sun?"

I concede that every sun must set..."

"Ha," the man exclaimed.

"...and yet the son of the father must also rise," he concluded with a smug grin.

Rose sighed. "Just have to antagonize people…"

Lucius appeared very put out. "Damn. Very clever, sir. Evidently a man of learning."

Never one to miss a chance to stoke his ego, the Doctor preened just a bit. "Oh yes, but don't mind me. Don't want to disturb the status quo."

Shifting uncomfortably, Caecilius leaned over and whispered, "He's Celtic."

"We'll be off in a minute," Rose smiled charmingly.

Donna shook her head. "I'm not going…"

Ignoring the strangers the pair of men continued their business. "It's ready, sir."

Rose looked sadly at Donna. "You've got to."

"Well I'm not," the stubborn woman insisted.

Across the room, Caecilius stood at a veiled project, trembling with anticipation of the moment when he would show it to the augur.

"The moment of revelation. And here it is..."

The trio looked back when the cover was removed, and the Doctor stopped dead in his tracks.

"Exactly as you specified. It pleases you, sir?" the marble worker asked.

Lucius nodded, assuring the man, "As the rain pleases the soil."

"Oh now that's... different. Who designed that then?" the Doctor asked, his unquenchable curiosity prompting him to rejoin the pair of men.

"Every bloody time…" Rose muttered.

"My lord Lucius was very specific."

The Time Lord turned to look at the augur, not even attempting to hide his surprise. "Where'd you get the pattern?"

The man drew himself to his full height, adopting the look that normally would quell any who would dare to question him. "On the rain and mist and wind."

Donna was looking at the sculpture. "Well that looks like a circuit."

"Made of stone," Rose mused. "And you just dreamt that up?"

"That is my job... as City Augur," Lucius snapped, annoyed to be explaining himself to women.

"What's that then, like the mayor?" Donna asked in confusion.

The Doctor shook his head, hastily throwing out, "Oh, ah, you must excuse my friend. She's from... Barcelona. This is an age of superstition... of official superstition. The augur is paid by the city to tell the future. 'The wind will blow from the west.' That's the equivalent of the 10:00 news."

A girl, wan and pale, stumbled in from another room, staring at the three travelers.

"They're laughing at us. Those three, they use words like tricksters. They're mocking us," she said in a weak, trembling voice.

"No, no. We meant no offence," Rose promised.

Metella rushed to the girl's side, while Quintus stared in horror. "I'm sorry. My daughter's been consuming the vapours."

"By the gods, Mother! What have you been doing to her?" her son snapped.

"Not now, Quintus," Caecilius hushed him.

Quintus shook his head, not wanting to believe his parents could be so thoughtless in regards to his sister's well being. "But she's sick. Just look at her."

The augur raised his chin. "I gather I have a rival in this household. Another with the gift."

The proud mother sat her daughter on the edge of the fountain. "Oh, she's been promised to the Sybiline Sisterhood. They say she has remarkable visions."

Lucius sniffed disdainfully. "The prophecies of women are limited and dull. Only the men folk have the capacity for true perception."

Donna clenched her hands into fists, glaring at the man. "I'll tell you where the wind's blowing right now, mate."

"Donna, behave," Rose said softly. "We didn't come to cause trouble."

At that, the ground began to quake.

Lucius threw a dark look at the blonde. "The mountain god marks your words. I'd be careful if I were you."

The blonde simply leveled a look at him. "I do not fear the god of the mountain."

Consuming the vapours, you say?" the Doctor asked, partly curious, partly to distract his wife from getting angry.

"They give me strength," the girl rasped.

The Doctor raised a disbelieving eyebrow. "It doesn't look like it to me."

She looked directly into his eyes. "Is that your opinion... as a doctor?"

The three travelers snapped their attention directly on her.

"I beg your pardon?"

"Doctor. That's your name," the girl said, as though reading him.

He reared back in shock. "How did you know that?"

But the girl wasn't done. She looked at Donna. "And you, you call yourself noble."

"What?" the redhead babbled.

Finally, her glassy eyes locked on Rose. "And you… you're… time…"

"Now then Evelina, don't be rude," Metella said gently.

Rose stepped toward the girl, "No, no, no. Let her talk."

The girl, swaying slightly, said softly, "You've come… from so far away, but your essence… it's everywhere…"

Rose frowned, knowing she spoke of the Bad Wolf.

A derisive snort came from the man in the cloak. "A female soothsayer in inclined to invent all sorts of vagaries."

"Oh, not this time, Lucius. I reckon you've been out-soothsaid," the Doctor smirked just a bit more than was necessary.

Lucius turned an angry gaze on him. "Is that so... man from Gallifrey?"

Rose winced, but the Doctor gaped like a fish out of water. "What?"

The augur took his turn to smirk. "Strangest of images. Your home is lost in fire, is it not?"

Donna looked between the people she traveled with and the man who stood at the door. "I don't understand… what are they doing?"

"And you, daughter of... London," the man began, his attention drawn by her voice.

How does he know that?"

Rose frowned, taking a step toward Lucius. "Oi, you just leave her alone, mate."

"This is the gift of Pompeii. Every single oracle tells the truth," he said, looking at Rose. "You cannot command me, Wolf."

The blonde woman jerked as though she were slapped and looked at the Doctor with slight panic. "But that's impossible…"

"He will come to you," he told the woman seriously.

The Doctor growled slightly, his protective nature over his wife coming to the fore as he pulled her back into his arms. "Who is? Who's he?"

"And you, Daughter of London... you have something on your back."

Donna was scared. She wrapped her arms around her stomach. "What's that mean?"

Evelina spoke again, her tone one of wonder and respect. "Even the word "Doctor" is false. Your real name is hidden, known only to one, yet burns in the stars of the cascade of Medusa herself. You are a lord, sir. A lord... of time... joined to the blessed Aeternitas…"

With a gasp, the girl fainted, and even though she was frightened of what had been said, Rose rushed to her side.

"Evelina!" Metella cried, joining the blonde woman at her daughter's side.

With a careless snort, Lucius had his men take the stone circuit and left, while the house focused on the ill girl.

The three women were in Evelina's room, watching her sleep.

"She didn't mean to be rude. She's ever such a good girl. But when the gods speak through her..."

Rose and Donna exchanged a look, as the mother unwrapped a cloth from the girl's arm, bathing a rough spot with olive oil.

"What's wrong with her arm?" Donna asked curiously.

"An irritation of the skin. She never complains, bless her. We bathe it in olive oil every night."

Rose stepped closer. "May I?"

At the mother's nod, the blonde woman sat next to the bed and touched the place. "It's stone…"

"Evelina said you'd come from far away. Please, have you ever seen anything like it? She… she called you…"

Rose glanced at Donna before sighing. "Aeternitas."

Metella nodded, her eyes wide.

"Who's Aeternitas?" Donna asked curiously, sitting with the other women.

Her blonde friend glanced at her sheepishly. "She's… she's the goddess of Eternity."

"You're a goddess now?" the redhead quipped.

"In some cultures," Rose shrugged. "I might be able to fix this, Metella… but you can't tell anyone about it."

Metella nodded. "I won't say a word, Aeternitas. You have my vow."

She sighed heavily. "Rose, Metella. My name is Rose."

She laid a hand over Evelina's arm, closing her eyes for a moment. Donna watched as a soft, golden glow began. Her eyes darted to Rose's face, amazed when the other woman's eyes opened and turned to gold for a moment. It faded quickly, and she moved her hand to reveal the smooth skin on the girl's arm.

"Blessed Aeternitas!" Metella breathed. "Thank you, thank you, my lady!"

"Rose, how did you…?" Donna asked, her voice soft with disbelief.

"I'll explain later, Donna," the other woman said, obviously tired. "And Metella, I was happy to do it. Please excuse me, though, I need to tell my husband something."

She left the room quietly, the two women left thoughtfully silent behind her. When she found the Doctor, he and Caecilius were bent over the hypocaust.

"…hot springs... leading from Vesuvius itself," the marble sculptor was explaining as she approached.

The Doctor nodded with interest. "Who thought of that?"

"The soothsayers after the great earthquake seventeen years ago. An awful lot of damage but we rebuilt," he said, both proud of his city's accomplishments and saddened by its losses.

The Doctor frowned. "Didn't you think of moving away? Oh, no, then again, San Francisco."

"That's a new restaurant in Naples, isn't it?"

"Doctor," Rose interrupted. "There's something you ought to know about."

There was a loud grating and rumbling below the ground that caught their attention.

"What's that noise?" the Doctor asked curiously, instinctively reaching out and pulling his wife in close to his side.

Don't know," Caecilius admitted with a slight shrug. "Happens all the time. They say the gods of the Underworld are stirring."

"But after the earthquake... let me guess. Is that when the soothsayers started making sense?" Rose asked him, her eyes narrowed. She'd glimpsed something in Evelina when she'd healed her arm, and it did not bode well for any of them.

The Doctor looked at her in surprise. "Rose, what do you know?"

"Nothing concrete, but if I'm right, then the soothsayers, the ones who consumed the vapors, like Evelina, became a lot more believable after that earthquake."

"Oh yes, very much so. I mean, they'd always been... shall we say 'imprecise'? But then... the soothsayers, the augurs, the haruspex-all of them, they saw the truth again and again. It's quite amazing. They can predict crops and rainfall with absolute precision."

His hand tightened on hers for a brief moment before the Doctor asked, "Have they said anything about tomorrow?"

"No. Why should they? Why do you ask?"

The Time Lord waved dismissively. "No, no, no reason. Just asking. But the soothsayers... they all consume the vapours?"

Caecilius nodded. "That's how they see."

The Doctor whipped out his 'brainy specs' and leaned over the hypocaust. "Ipso facto..."

"Look, you..." the human man said, starting to wonder what this stranger meant.

The Doctor stood straight again, rubbing his fingers together. "They're all consuming this."

"Dust?" Caecilius asked.

"Tiny particles of rock," Rose said with horrified awe. "They're breathing in Vesuvius."

The Doctor kissed her forehead. "Will you keep an eye on Donna while I investigate? We both know she's likely to go door to door and try to evacuate the city. I don't want her to get into trouble."

"I don't want you in trouble either," she warned with a small sigh. "Try not to get caught and thrown in prison."

She left him to seek answers and returned to Evelina's room, where Donna still sat.

Metella brought in two dresses and held them out. "As a gift from our household. Please accept these?"

Donna reached out, touching the purple material of one of the dresses. "This is just gorgeous! I'll be happy to accept!"

Rose nodded. "They really are lovely, Metella."

Donna took the purple dress and went to try it on. While she was gone, Evelina woke and looked around.

"What happened?" she asked, looking around and flinching when her eyes met the hazel orbs of Rose.

"Don't worry," the blonde woman said gently. "No offense was given. Although, you seem to have mistaken me for a goddess."

The young girl smiled, feeling more at ease. "The personification of eternity. You are Aeternitas, but you don't like it. I'm sorry I said it."

Rose shook her head. "Please just call me Rose, Evelina."

Donna reentered the room at that point, adjusting the gown. "All right. If I'm wearing one, you're wearing one, Rose."

Rose took the pale pink dress and left, while Evelina giggled at the redhead. Donna playfully stuck her tongue out at the girl.

"You're not supposed to laugh. Thanks for that. What do you think?" She struck a pose. "The goddess Venus."

The girl laughed harder. "Oh, that's sacrilege."

"Oh and calling Rose a goddess wasn't?" Donna smirked back at her. "Nice to see you laugh, though."

Evelina smiled as the older woman sat on the bed. "That's different. She is Aeternitas."

"What do you do in old Pompeii, then... girls your age? You got... mates? Do you go hangin' about 'round the shops? T.J. Maximus?"

"I'm promised to the sisterhood for the rest of my life," she replied softly.

Rose returned, wearing the ancient dress as easily as her jeans and jumper. "You get any choice in that?"

"Mother chose your gifts well," she said approvingly. "But no. It's not my decision. I have the gift of sight. The sisters chose for me."

"Then... what can you see happening tomorrow?"

"Donna, that isn't fair," Rose said reprovingly.

The girl looked between them. "Is tomorrow special?"

Rose shook her head. "Don't."

Donna sighed, staring at her hands for a moment. "You tell us, Evelina. What do you see?"

The girl closed her eyes. "The sun will rise. The sun will set. Nothing special at all."

Rose sighed heavily, mournful and relieved. "As it should be."

Donna shook her head. "I can't believe that… look… I've got a prophecy too."

The girl brought her hands up to cover her eyes and Rose felt an odd twinge as she looked at the eyes drawn on the backs of each hand.

"Rose, Evelina, I'm sorry, but you've got to hear me out... Evelina, can you hear me? Listen."

The girl trembled slightly. "There is only one prophecy."

The redhead shook her head. "But everything I'm about to say to you is true. I swear. Just listen to me. Tomorrow, that mountain is going to explode. Evelina, please listen. The air is going to fill with ash and rocks... tons and tons of it and... this whole town is gonna get buried."

"Donna," Rose sighed. "I told you they wouldn't believe you."

The young girl recoiled. "That's not true."

"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry, but everyone's gonna die," the former temp continued. "Rose wants me to just accept it, but I can't. Even if you don't believe me, just tell your family to get out of town... just for one day, just for tomorrow. But you've got to get out! Just leave Pompeii!"

The girl nearly sobbed. "This is false prophecy!" She pulled her hands down and looked at Rose. "Please, blessed Aeternitas, tell me this is false!"

Rose sat on the bed and pulled Evelina to her. "It's gonna be all right, yeah? Somehow, I promise."

There was a sound, a steady rumbling outside the villa.

"Is it happening?" Donna shouted, frightened.

Rose stood, moving to the room's exit. "Too steady, and it happens tomorrow, Donna, we told you. I think that's… footsteps!"

The three ran into the main room of the villa just as Metella shouted, "What is it? What's that noise?"

Caecilius shook his head. "Doesn't sound like Vesuvius."

The Doctor ran in, followed by Quintus. Rose flew at him.

"What did you do now?" she cried out.

"Caecilius! All of you, get out!" he shouted, tugging Rose protectively into his arms.

Doctor, what is it?" Donna asked, growing frightened at the way he pulled his wife close.

"I think we're being followed."

The Time Lord had barely gotten the words out when the grill over the hypocaust was blown into the air.

"Just get out!" he shouted, trying to herd the family out the door. The ground beneath the hypocaust cracked and a loud growling was heard. No one moved as a creature made of stone and magma forced its way through.

The young seer gaped at the creature. "The gods are with us."

The Doctor pulled back from Rose and said desperately, "Water! We need water! Quintus, all of you, get water! Donna!"

The blonde nodded, running out with Donna, Quintus and one of the servants.

Another servant stepped toward the creature in supplication. "Blessed are we to see the gods."

He wasn't so blessed when the creature let out a breath of pure fire and burned the man down to a pile of ash. The Doctor immediately headed toward it, trying to protect the others as he held his hands out to the side.

"Talk to me! That's all I want! Talk to me. Tell me who you are. Don't hurt these people."

Evelina saw two people from the sisterhood grabbing Donna and Rose, and covered her mouth. They'd taken the goddess… this was bad. She couldn't join people who would deny even a goddess, could she?

Once the creature had been dealt with, Evelina wasted no time in telling the Doctor what had happened to the two women. And she prayed that he would be able to get to them in time.

In the temple of the Sibyl, Donna slowly woke, to find her blonde friend glaring at the red robed women surrounding them.

"Rose? Have we seriously been kidnapped?" she looked around. "You have got to be kidding me."

Donna was tied to a pillar, while Rose lay on what looked to be a sacrificial altar, while one of the sisters held a dagger above her.

"Come on, Donna, don't tell me you're bored with our kidnapping already," she quipped. "We just got started."

The priestess growled. "The so-called goddess and her false prophet will surrender both their blood and their breath."

"I'll surrender you in a minute," Donna snapped, "Don't you dare!"

"Really, you'll be sorry if you try," Rose said cheerfully.

You will be silent."

The red haired woman struggled fiercely against her bonds, "You might have eyes on the back of your hands but you'll have eyes in the back of your head by the time I finish with you! Let us... go!"

"Don't you have better things to do?" the woman on the table asked, seeming calm, but keeping a wary eye on the dagger.

"This prattling will cease... forever," the priestess intoned, raising the dagger above her head in preparation to strike.

The Doctor's voice rang through the temple, "Don't even think about it."

Almost dropping her blade in shock, the sister wheeled. "No man is allowed to enter the Temple of Sybil!"

He waved dismissively, though his eyes were hard as he kept them on his Rose. "Oh, that's all right, just us girls." He began to move closer, not comfortable at all with her lying there. "Do you know, I met the Sibyl once. Hell of a woman. Blimey, she could dance a tarantella. Truth be told, I think she had a bit of a thing for me. I said it would never last. She said, 'I know'. Well, she would." Reaching her side, he reached out a gentle hand. "You all right there? You and Donna?"

"Never better," she laughed. "You were very nearly late."

He winked as he pulled out the sonic screwdriver. "I like the toga."

"Thank you, Donna got one too. And the ropes?" she smiled, loving him immensely at that moment.

He shrugged. "Eh, not so much."

"Quit flirting and get us out!" Donna cried in exasperation.

He used the sonic screw driver to free them, scooping his wife up and planting her on her feet at his side where she took his hand naturally.

"What magic is this?" the priestess asked, taking a step back.

The Doctor flipped the sonic and tucked it back into his pocket. "Let me tell you about the Sibyl... the founder of this religion. She would be ashamed of you. All her wisdom and insight turned sour. Is that how you spread the word, eh? On the blade of a knife?"

"Yes... a knife that now welcomes you!" the woman cried, raising the dagger once more.

"Show me this man," a voice demanded from behind the veil on the far side of the room.

Everyone turned as the sisters knelt.

"High Priestess, the stranger would defy us!" the sister with the knife cried.

Let me see. This one is different. He carries starlight in his wake, he and his Wolf."

The Doctor stepped forward, holding Rose's hand and nudging Donna forward as well.

"Ah, very perceptive. Where do these words of wisdom come from?" he asked, peering at the veil.

"The gods whisper to me."

Rose snorted. "I don't remember the conversation."

He elbowed her in a gentle reprimand. "Oh, they've done far more than whisper. Ah, might I beg audience, look upon the High Priestess?"

The curtains parted, revealing a very stiff high priestess. No… not stiff… stone…

"Oh my God! What's happened to you?" Donna exclaimed.

"The heavens have blessed me."

"That ain't a blessing," Rose said softly. "Oh you poor thing…"

"If I might..." the Doctor asked curiously. When she raised her arm, he knelt and touched it. "Does it hurt?"

"It is necessary," she said indifferently.

"That's a yes then," Rose sighed.

"Who told you that?" he asked gently.

"The voices."

"Is that what was happening to Evelina?" Donna asked, turning to the other women. "Is this what's gonna happen to all of you?"

The sister who'd been planning to sacrifice them stepped forward, her sleeve pulled back to show her forearm. "The blessings are manifold."

Rose touched her arm, a sad expression in her eyes. "They're stone."

"Exactly." The Doctor scowled. "The people of Pompeii are turning to stone before the volcano erupts. But why?"

"This word... this image in your mind, this 'volcano', what is that?"

Donna started to explain, but Rose's hand on her arm silenced her.

"More to the point, why don't you know about it? Who are you?" the Doctor asked, his brow furrowing as it always did when he tried to puzzle out a plot.

The rock woman sat up straight. "High Priestess of the Sibyline."

He smirked and shook his head. "No, no, no, no. I'm talking to the creature inside you. The thing that's seeding itself into a human body, in the dust in the lungs... taking over the flesh and turning it into... what?"

"Your knowledge is impossible," the creature gasped.

Rose frowned slightly, reaching out with the limited senses she'd gained from the TARDIS. This creature was not of Earth. And something in Pompeii's timeline was shifting. This was bad…

The Doctor was still engaged with the priestess. "Oh, but you can read my mind. You know it's not. I demand you tell me who you are!"

A strange, echoing voice came from the rock woman and their companion gasped in shock.

"We... are... awakening!"

"The voice of the gods!" the priestesses exclaimed, chanting. "Words of wisdom, words of power. Words of wisdom, words of power."

Rose tuned out their chanting with an irritated shake of her head.

"Name yourself!" the Doctor demanded. "Planet of origin, galactic coordinates, species designation according to the universal ratification of the Shadow Proclamation."

"We... are... rising!"

Rose grabbed his hand, her eyes flashing for the briefest moment. "Tell us your name!"

The priestess on the bed threw her hood back and screamed gutturally. "Pyrovile!"

Donna looked in horror at the women behind them as they rocked and chanted, "Pyrovile. Pyrovile."

"What's a Pyrovile?" she asked, as curious as she was horror struck.

The Doctor pointed at the rock woman. "Well, that's a Pyrovile... growing inside her. She's at the halfway stage."

"Well, and that turns into?" Donna prompted.

"That thing in the villa, that was an adult Pyrovile, wasn't it, Doctor?" Rose asked.

He nodded solemnly.

"And the breath of a Pyrovile will incinerate you, Doctor," the priestess threatened.

"I warn you... I'm armed," he said, whipping out a water pistol with a flourish. "Rose, get that grill open. Donna, get ready."

What are...?" Donna started.

"Shift, Donna, time for questions later," Rose said swiftly, moving to the hypocaust.

He narrowed his eyes. "What are the Pyrovile doing here?"

The unearthly voice spoke again. "We fell from the heavens. We fell so far and so fast we were rendered into dust."

The Doctor nodded, working it out in his head. "Right. Creatures of stone shatter on impact. When was that, seventeen years ago?"

"We have slept beneath for thousands of years," the creature corrected him.

He waved dismissively, watching Rose and Donna for a moment. "Okay, so seventeen years ago woke you up and now you're using human bodies to reconstitute yourself, but why the psychic powers?"

"We opened their minds and found such gifts."

Rose shivered at the outright greedy tone to the creature's voice.

"Yeah, okay, fine. You force yourself inside a human brain, use the latent psychic talent to bond. I get that. I get that. Yeah, but... seeing the future, that is way beyond psychic, you can see through time. Where does the gift of prophecy come from?"

The creature moaned as though in pain.

"We got it!" Donna cried, yanking the grill free.

"Now get down," he told them, backing toward the hypocaust, his water pistol still aimed at the creature on the dais.

"What, down there?" Donna asked, horrified at the idea.

Rose frowned. "Doctor…"

"Yes, down there! Don't argue! In you get, both of you! Why can't this lot predict the volcano? Why is it being hidden?"

"Sisters, I see into his mind. The weapon is harmless," the priestess who'd planned to sacrifice them shouted triumphantly.

He winced. "Yeah, but it's got a sting!" He shot the water and the pyrovile moaned in pain. He turned to see both women gaping. "Get down there!"

Rose dropped without further hesitation, followed by Donna and then the Doctor. They were in some sort of tunnel caused by the volcanic vents.

You fought her off with a water pistol," Donna cried. "I bloody love you."

Rose didn't say anything, her mind whirled with the information they'd been presented. She almost didn't even notice when the Doctor stood and took her hands, tugging her to her feet.

"This way," he said seriously.

Donna glanced around. "Where are we going now?"

Rose met his eyes and nodded, understanding. "Into the volcano," she answered their friend.

The redhead stopped. "No way."

The Doctor twirled the water pistol and nodded. Though he was smiling, it was clear he'd take no argument this time. "Yes way. Appian way."

They marched toward the heart of the volcano; one wary Time Lord, one worried wife, and one utterly confused companion.

As they neared their destination, Donna asked, "But if it's aliens setting off the volcano, doesn't that make it all right? For you to stop it?"

"Still part of history," he said quietly.

"Well, I'm history too," she reasoned. "You saved me in 2008. You saved us all. Why is that different?"

"Some things are fixed, some things are in flux. Pompeii is fixed," he said, the heaviness in his voice almost palpable.

"How do you know which is which?"

He stopped, turning to face her, the guilt and responsibility for countless lives and worlds obvious in his voice and eyes. "Because that's how I see the universe. Every waking second, I can see what is, what was... what could be, what must not. That's the burden of the Time Lord, Donna. I'm the only one left."

He turned, walking on stiffly, even leaving Rose behind him.

"How many people died?" the redhead asked Rose.

She frowned, hating to see him so upset. "Stop it, Donna."

"Tell me, Rose, how many people died?" she pressed.

"Twenty thousand," the woman said slowly, seeing the Doctor stop and drop his head.

"Is that what you can see, Doctor? All twenty thousand? And you think that's all right, do you?" Donna questioned the man, only able to see the lives that would be lost.

Before either could answer, the roar of a Pyrovile echoed through the tunnels. The Doctor's head snapped up and he sped back to grab Rose's hand.

"They know we're here! Come on."

They ran, avoiding pockets of flame until they reached a vast underground cavern. They gawked at the city built there, Pyroviles walking about as though everything were a normal occurrence.

"It's the heart of Vesuvius," the Doctor said softly."We're right inside the mountain."

"There's tons of 'em," Donna said in amazed horror.

Rose wasn't looking at the aliens though. She was looking for a way out. "Doctor, what's that thing?"

He took out a small collapsible telescope and peered in the direction she was pointing.

"Well, you'd better hurry up and think of something. Rocky IV's on its way," Donna said, nudging them both.

"You really are brilliant, my Rose," the Doctor praised his wife. "That's how they arrived... or what's left of it. Escape pod? Prison ship? Gene bank?"

He collapsed the telescope and beamed at her. She smiled back.

"No time like the present to find out?"

Donna shook her head. "But why do they need a volcano? Maybe... it erupts and they launch themselves back in space or something."

"No, it's worse than that," he said darkly, gripping Rose's hand tight.

"How can it be worse?" Donna asked, flinching as a Pyrovile roared.

Rose nudged him gently. "Doctor, it's getting closer."

The angry voice of Lucius Dextrus shouted ahead, "Heathens! Defilers! They would desecrate your temple, my lord gods!"

"Come on!" the Doctor shouted, tugging Rose's hand as he ran.

They ran across the cavern floor, heading for relative safety.

Donna grabbed the Doctor's arm when she noticed they were heading for what they thought was the remains of a ship. "We can't go in!"

Rose felt them jerk to a stop and gestured at the Pyrovile now looming closer. "We can't exactly go back, yeah?!"

"Crush them! Burn them!" Lucius screamed rabidly.

A Pyrovile rose directly in front of them, trapping them for a moment. The Doctor raised the water pistol and squirted the huge creature, which shied away from the sting of liquid and allowed them to keep going.

Lucius taunted them, "There is nowhere to run, Doctor... and Daughter of London. Even the Wolf cannot outrun my Lords!"

The Doctor paused in front of the pod. "Now then, Lucius. My lord Pyrovillian... don't get yourselves in a lava." He glanced at the women by his side. "In a lava... no?"

"No," Donna snapped, looking as though she'd like to beat him for choosing now to joke.

He sighed. "No. But if I might beg the wisdom of the gods before we perish... once this new race of creatures is complete... then what?"

The Pyrovile that had been following them stalked forward, crushing smaller rocks under its massive feet.

"My masters will follow the example of Rome itself, an almighty empire, bestriding the whole of civilization," the seer praised.

"But you've simply crashed... and you've got all the necessary technology, why don't you just go home?" Rose reasoned, hoping to save both the human and Pyrovillian races.

"The heaven of Pyrovillia is gone," Lucius answered shortly.

"What do you mean 'gone'?" the Doctor asked, surprised. "Where's it gone?"

"Like Adipose 3," Rose mumbled.

The man on the cliff waved the hand he had left. "It was taken. Pyrovillia is lost. But there is heat enough in this world for our new species to rise."

Subtly tucking Rose and Donna behind him, the Doctor continued. "Yeah, I should warn you, it's 70% water out there."

"Water can boil and everything will burn, Doctor!" the man shrieked, the ecstasy of his perceived gods' plan driving him wild.

The Doctor slowly put his water pistol away, nodding. "Then the whole planet is at stake. Thank you, that's all I needed to know. Ladies!"

He turned and pushed them both into the pod, slamming the door behind them and sealing it with the sonic screwdriver. He then turned to look at them both.

"Could we be any more trapped?" Donna asked sarcastically. "And this may be the smallest spaceship I've ever seen."

There was a mild roar outside the pod and the temperature began to rise steadily.

"Little bit hot," Rose said with a smile. "Don't suppose you've got a brilliant plan, have you, love?"

He began pointing out things on the console. "See, the energy converted takes the lava, uses the power to create a fusion matrix which wields Pyrovile to human. Now it's complete, they can convert millions."

"Brill for them," his wife groaned. "Not so much for Earth."

"Well, can you change it... with these controls?" Donna asked, absolutely trusting them at that moment.

The Doctor rubbed hands over his face, but it was Rose who answered.

"'Course he can, Donna, but don't you see? That's why the soothsayers can't see the volcano. There is no volcano. Vesuvius is never going to erupt. The Pyrovile are stealing all its power. They're gonna use it to take over the world."

The redhead shook her head, eyes widening as the information sank in. Part of her didn't want to believe it. "But you can change it back."

"Well, I can avert the system, so the volcano will blow them up, yes, but... that's the choice, Donna. It's Pompeii or the world." The Doctor's voice was heavy, sad. It had happened before. The choice of a few or a lot. But the guilt his new companion had been heaping on him… he just didn't know if he could make that decision this time. Would his beloved Rose think he was a monster once she'd actually seen him execute thousands of innocent people?

"Oh my God," Donna whispered in shock.

"If Pompeii is destroyed, then it's not just history, it's me. I make it happen," he murmured.

"It's us, Theta," Rose said, only loud enough for him to hear. Using his nickname had the desired effect and he looked up in surprise. "There is no you or me now, remember? It's us. You ain't in this alone. Never again."

"But the Pyrovile are made of rock. Maybe they can't be blown up," Donna hedged, trying to find another choice.

The Doctor stared into those hazel eyes that calmed him for another moment before moving to work on the machinery. "Vesuvius explodes with the force of 24 nuclear bombs. Nothing can survive it." He brushed two fingers over Rose's cheek before returning to his task. "Certainly not us."

The redhead saw so much in that moment. He knew they would have to do this. And he knew he wasn't going to survive. That was fine. But he knew that this was going to kill Rose… and she knew it. They were silently saying goodbye, because saving the world was more important than either of them. She felt tears burning her eyes. She could be strong. If her death in Pompeii meant that her mother and granddad still had a world to call home… it was worth it. "Never mind us," she said quietly.

The Doctor hesitated and placed a hand on a lever. "Push this lever and it's all over. Twenty thousand people."

Rose felt his intense emotions. Their bond flared in that moment, stronger than it had ever been, and she shoved all the love she had for him into it. With a smile that said she understood and that it was okay, she placed her hand on his.

"I could save the world and lose you," he whispered, his hearts constricting just as they did so long ago when he'd said those words the first time.

"Do it," she whispered, knowing her lines and feeling the same as she did then. It was worth it to save the world.

Donna placed her hand on top of theirs. They knew without looking that she trusted them completely now. With a deep breath from all of them, they pressed down.

The pod jerked and moved, throwing the three occupants around like rag dolls. The Doctor tried to grab Rose and protect her, but there was just too much movement for him to do anything but scream for them to hold on.

It finally stopped, the door bursting off with the impact and they crawled out to find themselves in the market once more.

"It was an escape pod," the Doctor laughed breathlessly. A shaking and roaring noise caught his attention and he turned to see the volcano erupting. Grabbing both Donna and Rose's hands, he burst into a run, nearly dragging them behind.

People around them stood still, staring in horror as smoke, ash and rubble shot into the sky, blotting out the sun and bringing an unnatural night to their city. Soon, the panic set in and they ran screaming, trying to escape this new version of hell that threatened everything.

"Don't! Don't go to the beach! Don't go to the beach, go to the hills! Listen to me! Don't go to the beach, it's not safe! Listen to me...!" Donna called, pulling her hand away, trying desperately to save the people she saw. She saw a little boy crying, alone, and moved to help him. "Come here."

A woman ran forward and snatched the boy into her arms, "Give him to me!"

Tears poured down her face as Donna helplessly watched the devastation until Rose found her hand. "Come on."

The three continue on to Caecilius' villa, where the TARDIS waited. The family huddled together in a corner, trapped by falling debris and absolutely terrified.

"Gods save us, Doctor!" Caecilius cried out, reaching out to them.

The Doctor stopped and stared at the family for a long moment before turning and ducking into the TARDIS. Donna stared in shock and ran in after him, still holding Rose's hand. Once inside, she let go.

"Aeternitas!" Evelina screamed, the sound echoing inside.

"You can't! Doctor, you can't!"

He was focusing on the console, preparing to take them away.

"You can't just leave them!" Donna shouted.

He turned, glaring at her, tears of self loathing standing in his eyes. "Don't you think I've done enough? History's back in place and everyone dies."

"You've got to go back! Doctor, I am telling you, take this thing back! Rose, help me!"

The TARDIS started to dematerialize, the Doctor stone faced while Donna sobbed heavily.

Rose glanced at the time rotor, then at the Doctor, and she moved to his side, placing a hand over his.

"It's not fair," Donna sniffed.

"No, it's not," Rose said, her tone gentle. The Doctor looked at her, his hearts squeezing painfully.

"Can't you understand? If I could go back and save them then I would, but I can't. I can never go back! I can't! I just... can't!" he cried, dropping his head in defeat. "I can't."

Rose touched his face, bringing his eyes to meet hers before kissing him softly. "Just someone. Please. Not the whole town. Just save someone. You and Donna both need this, love."

He stared for a long moment into those hazel eyes he loved so much, then his eyes cut to Donna, wincing at the tears streaming down her face. "I can save just them."

As he reversed the direction of the TARDIS, Rose ran to the door. "I love you, Doctor," she called out.

"I love you, my Rose. Be careful!"

The woman winked, shocking Donna when she saw the golden glow beginning to envelope her. She really did look like a goddess.

She threw open the doors to find the small family huddling away from the falling debris. They looked at her in utter amazement as she held out a hand. Grabbing Evelina's hand, she pulled her to her feet. With a bit of a tug, she pulled the girl, and her family, into the TARDIS.

"Come long, yeah?" she said, her voice echoing just a bit.

Within moments, they were on the hill, overlooking the city, as a cloud of ash and smoke flowed over the rooftops, masking the flow of lava in the streets. Caecilius and his family watched in absolute horror. Behind them, the Doctor, Rose, and Donna stood silently.

"It is never forgotten, Caecilius. Oh time will pass, men will move on, and stories will fade, but one day... Pompeii will be found again... in thousands of years... and everyone will remember you," the Doctor said softly, stepping forward next to the man.

"What about you, Evelina?" Donna asked. "Can you see anything?"

"The visions have gone," the girl said, glancing back shyly. "But I don't need them now. Now that we've seen Aeternitas in her true form."

Rose winced. Perhaps using her abilities to remain safe when stepping out to get them had been a bad idea. Then again… perhaps she ought to stop using those abilities until she figured out exactly what they were.

"The explosion was so powerful, it cracked open a rift in time. Just for a second. That's what gave you the gift of prophecy. It echoed back into the Pyrovillian alternative. But not anymore. You're free," the Doctor explained slowly.

"But tell me... who are you, Doctor... with your words... and your temple containing such size within?" Metella asked, turning to Rose. "And you, my Lady? What's happened to us?"

"Oh, we were never here. Don't tell anyone," he answered cheekily.

Caecilius was still staring at the city. "The great god Vulcan must be enraged. It's so volcanic. It's like some sort of... volcano. All those people..."

His voice broke at the end, and he turned to pull his wife into his arms. Quintus took his sister's hand.

The Doctor and Donna slipped back into the TARDIS, but Rose looked at the family one last time.

"You were given a gift," she said softly, looking at them. "I don't know what's gonna happen in your lives, but I know that you're blessed to have each other. Don't ever let go."

She ducked in and shut the door, the ship dematerializing as she did.

"Thank you," Donna was saying to the Doctor.

"Yeah," he said, looking up at the time rotor for a moment before glancing over at the redhead. "You were right. Sometimes I need someone. Welcome aboard."

Rose walked toward them, looking quiet and troubled.

"Yeah," Donna said, looking at her blonde friend. Somehow, she knew Rose needed some time with the Doctor. "I think I'm going to take a good long shower, and turn in."

Rose smiled at her. "Good night, Donna."

She headed toward her room, the Doctor moving around to pull her into his arms. "I hate when you're in danger. I'm happier when you're safe."

"I can't be safe all the time, love," she said softly. "But I like it better when I'm with you."

He kissed her forehead.

"Doctor, what happens to them? Is there a way to find out?" It wasn't exactly what was bothering her, but he would do anything to make her happy.

Going to the controls, he pulled the monitor down where she could see and he hit some buttons. "Here we are…"

She watched with interest. "Oh, Caecilius got a contract with some Egyptians for his marble work!"

"Yes, and look here, it seems young Quintus became a doctor!"

She smiled and leaned into him. "I suppose he had a fantastic role model for that."

He grinned at her, but it fell when he saw the tears in her eyes. "Rose?"

"I wish…" she trailed off, turning away.

He stopped her, pulling her back. "I know I'm the last person to insist on this, but talk to me."

"I wish I knew how Mum and Mickey were… whether they were happy…" she sighed heavily, a tear escaping her eye and trailing slowly down one cheek.

The Doctor held her close. "I'm so very sorry, my Rose."

She shook her head. "Don't," she ground out. "If I thought for one second I woulda been happier with them than with you, I wouldn't've come back to you. Doctor, I love you. I'm never gonna stop loving you. I miss 'em, yeah, but I'd miss you so much more. I need you."

He kissed her lovingly, amazed at how even when he meant to comfort her, she ended up soothing his tortured soul. "Don't ever leave me, my Rose," he said softly, the vulnerability he only now could show her coming out in his voice. "I can't live without you… not anymore."

"You won't have to," she vowed. "Didn't I tell you forever?"

A/N: I do apologize for the long wait, and I'm not going to bother telling you I was sick or working or anything like that, because – while true – it doesn't matter! What matters is that we have a chapter now! Please leave a review, because as cheap as it makes me look, reviews do inspire me to get that next chapter out just a bit faster. Hey people, at least I'm honest! And I love you all! Thanks for the continued faith!