Time Lord Fugue

Chapter one- Reunion

"Rose."

The woman in question stopped dead in her tracks, her head whipping up in shock to gaze at the man sheepishly sat on the chair before her.

"John?" She screeched. "What are you doing in here? I've been through this so many times now, it's bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding!"

"I think I know the traditions of a wedding Rose."

"So why are you here? Out! Now!" She pulled him to his feet and physically dragged him to the door. Confusion flickered briefly over the man's face, swiftly replaced by dawning realisation and then pain. He put up his hands in an attempt to get her to be quiet so he could explain himself; but, as with all Tyler women (in his view anyway), it is incredibly difficult to make them shut up.

"Rose!" He cried, trying to make himself heard over her ranting.

"Don't 'Rose' me mister. If this whole thing goes base-over-apex because of this... I swear, I swear, I don't know what I'll do!"
His protests fell on deaf ears as the door swung open. Unable to see how else he could get Rose to listen to him, he grabbed her wrists and pressed her palms flat against his chest. She could feel the gentle thud of two heartbeats. Two hearts.
Rose froze and stopped trying to throw him from the room.

"Rose, it's me," he said simply, placing his hands over hers. She stopped ranting.

"D...Doctor?" Rose squinted at his face, so familiar and yet so different, older even. "But it can't be... You said this world was sealed off properly this time- returning is impossible." A sad smile crossed the Doctor's lean, angular features.

"I know but, well..." he paused to sigh, "Jack managed to convert his Rift Manipulator and ta dah! Here I am." The chocolate brown eyes peered at her face, silently hoping she would believe. Rose stared at him a moment longer, struggling with a tide of emotions, before her face crumpled. She sobbed and launched herself at him, throwing her arms around his neck and relishing the feel of strong arms holding her tight, the distinctive sandal wood- and- universe scent that said ' The Doctor', a soothing aroma, his quiet voice a balm to her ragged soul.

"I missed you so much," she sobbed,

"I know." Abruptly she wrenched herself from their embrace.

"But you have to go. Now." Seeing his puzzled look, she clarified with a bitter laugh and shake of her head: "this isn't supposed to be possible, you said yourself, the worlds aren't stable enough for universe hopping any more. And now I'm marrying John-'' she sped on, stopping his question "the other you- it isn't fair on us if I'm constantly waiting for you to turn up. I'm happy here Doctor. I have a life, a job and I'm about to marry the man I love most, I... I just can't do this anymore. Living the double life, it's too much now. And I know you understand Doctor, it's the reason you always kept some sort of distance between us. You can't do everything to stop a relationship, and then change your mind now I'm with someone else."

Rose had to battle hard, not only to keep her voice steady, but to prevent herself from bursting into tears at the sight of the doctor's lost, hurt, forlorn expression. He closed his eyes slowly, wincing and swallowing convulsively as he turned his head away from Rose. After a few moments the doctor looked back at her, who flinched at the haunted pain and sorrow in his usually sparking- with- life eyes.

"Right. I'll just, go then." He managed to choke out before mentally shaking himself. "Goodbye Rose Tyler. Have a fantastic life." He added, in complete sincerity, looking from the floor to her eyes, a replay of the emergency programme he had previously recorded when he believed he would never see her again. "And rose? I... I lo..." She placed a finger softly on his lips ensuring that once again, he wouldn't get to finish his sentence.

"I know, Doctor." She whispered, before removing her finger and replacing it briefly, chastely with her lips in a kiss meant to last them forever. As she retreated, realisation broke on them both simultaneously and a single, glistening tear made its lonely trail down his left cheek as his eyes begged her to reconsider, already knowing she wouldn't. "Goodbye, my Doctor." She murmured as she followed his dejected form shuffling over to the door that hid his TARDIS. "I will always love you."