Bit of angst here, and a bit of resolving unfinished business. I used some lines from some of the episodes as they fit in so beautifully here.

-0-

Inside Void Walker, her emotions were in a tailspin. Something was going on here, something bigger then she first thought. This did not sit well with her. Ever since the accident, she always knew what was going on. Well, to be honest she was always able to figure out fairly quickly what was needed and what to do. Now, she was left grasping at the unknown, and she didn't particularly enjoy that fact.

She needed to think, and she knew just the place that could help her. Grasping at the air, it rippled in her hands. Somehow it became bigger, deeper, and vaster then the simple transits from before. It was not often that she did a direct skip like this, and it took a bit out of her. This time, she needed it. She needed that moment, that touch of peace; she needed a balm to the pain in her soul. Stepping through, she let it take her to her guilty little secret. To the one place that soothed her.

Laughter rang out in the center of the Tardis. Amy, Rory, and the Doctor were involved in some elaborate game that seemed to amuse them endlessly. It made the Void Walker smile, tucked up in her corner there watching them.

This was a universe that never needed her. The paths were sure and strong. She could just let go here and be at peace. No one ever saw her, so she didn't have to worry about what she looked like, or what she did. That allowed her a place to rest, in the only place that ever felt like home anymore.

Soothed, she watched them silently until the game was over. It gave her a chance to let her mind and emotions rest. The joy that filled this place brought her so much peace. Some days she sorely needed that. Days like today. So she watched, until the Ponds were tired and the Doctor shooed them off to bed.

Here, she was at her most natural form. At least what she thought was her default setting now to speak. Oddly enough it virtually matched the form she had in the chaotic universe she knew she had to go back to soon. The only difference was that her shirt here was a pale pink. She really shouldn't be here, but since she wasn't impacting anything, she came anyways.

Void Walker watched as the Ponds left the console room, and the Doctor moved to the center. He was doing what he always does, tinkering with the Tardis. It made her smile.

"You never call, you never write, you just swan in and out of here without a word whenever you please." She stiffed eyes going wide at his words as he turned. "I have to admit, it's rather puzzling having and inter-dimensional voyeur on the Tardis." He slowly stalked towards her, his gaze resting on her astonished face.

Dumbstruck, she simply stared as he sat down next to her, barely inches apart. He smiled, "Hello." That required an almost instinctive response on her part, and she answered. "Hello."

"Ah-ha I knew you could speak. Anything clever enough to travel the way you do must have enough intelligence to communicate." He seemed rather pleased at that fact.

Sitting up very straight she kept her gaze latched on to his face, going over all the details. "You can see me; you know I'm here then."

His smile became a touch secretive. "I always know you are here. You look like Rose, you feel like Rose, but you aren't are you? You are not my … not the Rose that used to be here anyways." At that he looked away towards the ceiling before resting his gaze back on her face.

"No, I'm not. Hang on if you always knew I was here, why didn't you talk to me before now?" Her eyes narrowed as she studied his face.

"I thought it would hurt too much."

That he didn't need to explain to her. She knew the Doctor very well. Given the option between facing things and running away, he'd likely just run away. Her expression softened. "Then why are you talking to me now?"

His gaze flicked down to his hands before it went back to her face, he took his time answering. "Something is different, you feel different. I wanted to make sure you were okay." There was a small mental nudge from the Tardis. "Okay that and the Tardis told me too. She can be rather bossy at times."

That earned him a laugh and smile at his exasperated air. She reached over to pat the wall, "Thank you girl." They both felt the hum, and sort of mental hug from the living ship.

Pulling her knees up to her chest she wrapped her arms around them while she studied him. She rested her chin on her knees as she debated what to say. "I suppose today is different. I'm in a situation I haven't been in for well over two centuries. Most times I know exactly what to do, and how to nudge things along while having the least amount of impact. However now, I've managed to land right in the middle of a mess where I have to take direct action. It's making me, uneasy."

He watched her face as she talked, his gaze never wavering. "Well I can see why that is a bit bothersome, but that's not all of it is it?"

She gave a sigh, shifting to rest her cheek on her knees still watching him as she spoke. "Perceptive. Well, the fact is, I'm worried. For one, that universe is a huge mess and it's going to take years to get it all strengthened out."

"What else?"

"Never could fool you could I."

"Of course not, I'm clever remember?"

"At least you think you are."

"Oi, Time Lord here remember? Well over a thousand years old. Dead clever, me."

"Oh so you are admitting how old you are now? You used to lie about your age."

By now they were both grinning as they bantered back and forth. He leaned over to nudge her shoulder. "Out with it, you aren't going to distract me."

Quieting she studied him. "Everything that has been happening is forcing me to face some old issues that I haven't wanted to deal with."

Understanding lit in his eyes and he nodded slowly. "Let me guess, dealing with them will hurt. It also might mean, having to say goodbye."

"….. Yes."

"You can't run forever you know. You can certainly try, but sooner or later you have to face it. Trust me I'm an expert in running away."

She closed her eyes, feeling the grief pricking at her. Curling slightly into herself, she suddenly felt strong arms pulling her into his lap. They wrapped around her and cradled her close. "Go ahead and cry, Rose Tyler. I have the feeling you haven't let yourself."

Those words, said by that man, in the way that was oh so familiar, finally broke the walls down. Turning into him she clung as sobs started to wrack her body. She burrowed into his neck as he held her close. His cool touch was comforting.

She felt his mind brushing lightly against hers. It only took a brief moment for her to give in and open up to him. Then his grief swirled into hers, and together they mourned. It was what she needed, and never allowed herself to reach for. This Doctor was giving it to her, unasked, in a universe that had never needed her help. Instead, it was helping her out. It was the balm to a very battered and weary soul.

Finally her sobs slowed and stopped, the grief ebbing. It was leaving peace, true peace, in its wake. He still held her, albeit a bit more loosely now. Grieving together was cleansing for them both. He rested his chin on the top of her head. "Better?"

"Yeah thanks."

She wanted to offer something back to him. Perhaps she had something that would sooth him as well. "She's happy you know." Void Walker could feel him freeze. "They both are happy. They'll have a fantastic life, together."

Then he relaxed, tightening his arms around her for a moment. His voice was barely more than a whisper. "Thank you."

They must have stayed there, quiet and just relaxing for another hour. Finally she leaned back so she could look him in the face. He knew it was time then. "You have to go now, don't you." It was more of a statement then a question.

"Yes." Now she seemed utterly at peace. It was true peace, the kind she hadn't had since before, well before it all started.

"Will I ever see you again?"

"You will see me, but I won't see you."

"Ah, the old nonlinear thing again is it?"

"I think you have practice with that by now."

That brought out a laugh and smile. He seemed to be mulling something over, and she stayed quiet, letting him. "This is goodbye then?"

"I'm not sure, but I think so. I don't know my future, only my past."

He was quiet, making up his mind about what he was going to do next. "Then, there is one more thing I want to do. Something I should have done when I had the chance." Cupping the side her face, he pulled her in close to his. His lips brushed over hers and they shared a soft slow kiss. It was a goodbye kiss and both of them knew it. A door was finally being shut in their lives and this was something they could do together, and then move on.

A thousand thoughts flitted across her mind, and there were so many possible responses. No, that wasn't true; there was only one real response here. That was to smile, to give him one last hug, and get ready to go. Though, the thought did cross her mind, three snogs so close together when she hadn't been kissed in ages. She really hoped she didn't have some sort of death sentence hanging over her head.

She kept that thought quiet in her head. However she heard a sharply indrawn breath when she thought it, and his arms tightened around her before letting go. Carefully they pulled apart, getting to their feet. "As for your other problems, don't forget one of the most powerful tools you can ever give anyone."

Bright eyed she regarded him curiously. "And what would that be?"

He smiled moving to twine his fingers with hers for a moment. "Hope, I rather like hope. It is a very good emotion."

She looked down her eyes flicking back and forth a moment while she thought about it. When she picked her head up again, a smile blazed across her face. "You are right, and it does solve one of my problems. Thank you."

He grinned, "That's me, problem solver of the universes." Dropping her hand he turned towards the console. "Now is there somewhere I can drop you off? Make the journey a bit easier on you?" There is this rather nice spot in Gilglex Five, great for travelers… "Turning back his voice trailed off as he realized she was gone. "And I thought I was bad at goodbyes, classic enigmatic that one."

He turned back to the console. His thoughts were deep, but his step a bit lighter. It was if a small burden had been lifted off his shoulders finally.

Sometimes, before you say hello again, you need to say goodbye.