"What are you doing?"
The good news – they're back in the right time. Nobody's realised they've been gone. The bad news – they're now lying in a tangled heap across the kitchen table, Rose appearing conveniently breathless, with smashed mugs on the floor and Pete standing in the doorway, eyebrows raised higher than the Doctor's ever thought possible.
He looks at Rose, a huge grin plastered across his face. "I guess we'd better tell them."
"Which bit? The bit about me being full of time vortex, or the bit about us?"
-
After much talk, and many evaded slaps, they're sitting on Rose's bed, the Doctor clearly relieved that's all over.
"I guess the next step is to see whether the translation thing still works."
"Yeah," Rose agrees. "And what are you going to do next time that runs down?" She points at the sonic screwdriver that's lying on the bedside table.
"Damn. Got anything at Torchwood that you can use to recharge it?"
"Could take a look, I suppose. Probably something lying around in the basements. Or you could grab some parts and make it up as you go along." Rose throws herself back against the pillows, hands behind her head. "So…what about the TARDIS?" she asks, eyes flicking to the piece of wood he's playing with again.
"Like I said, bury it, plant a tree. Don't know where, though."
"I know a place."
-
A little later, they're all gathered around an oak in a quiet corner of the garden. There's not much noise here, just a few birds and a squirrel now and then. Jackie, Pete and Mickey hang back, not really understanding why they're making so much fuss over a piece of splintered wood, but Rose stands close to a small hole the Doctor's dug, near the roots of the tree. She promised herself she wouldn't – that she'd be strong for him – but she can't help crying. She's losing a friend, a wonderful friend, and it feels like a huge hole's just opened up inside her, as though nothing's quite sunk in until now.
The Doctor lays the piece of wood carefully into the hole, whispering something in what Rose can only guess to be Gallifreyan, covers it over, and moves away. He bows in the direction of the small mound and turns to her, head lowered. Rose just moves to wrap her arms round him, lifting his face to wipe tears away.
No one notices the gold glow that's forming among the branches. The shoot that's springing up from the mound as they walk away. The tiny red bud.
-
"Night Mum, Pete, Mickey!" Rose starts up the stairs, sighing. It's been a long day. The Doctor's been hiding away in her – their – room since they buried the TARDIS, and despite knowing he wants to be alone, the temptation to check on him is too strong now. Tapping on the door lightly, she looks in to see him sat cross-legged on the bed, staring at the quilt.
"You okay?" He looks up, and Rose is surprised to see his face is dry.
"Yeah. I'm fine. All over now." He smiles, and gestures for her to join him. She sits on the bed in front of him, taking his hand and smiling back. "You know something?"
"What?"
"I love you, Rose Tyler." He breaks into a wide but sincere smile. "So damn much."
She doesn't answer – just sits staring at him for what seems like forever, right in the eyes, and his smile fades. What's she going to say? But then, catching him completely off guard, she leaps forward, throwing her arms round his neck and kissing him hard. Surprised, he falls back.
She breaks the kiss, grinning and looking him in the eye again. "Love you too. And you know what?"
"What?"
"I mean it. I'm not leaving you. Ever." She bites her lip, as if thinking something over, her face flushing pink. "Doctor…"
"What?" he asks, smirking. Seeing the smirk, Rose's embarrassment disappears instantly and she kisses him again in answer, fumbling with his tie.
"Wa…Rose, wait! I just thought of something!"
"I'm sorry."
"No! It's not that…Rose, do they have Fall Out Boy in this universe?"
"Shut up, Doctor!"
