Rose was in her room listening to an old S club 7 CD. Well, it was old in her universe; apparently they were still together and still going strong here. Mickey had not long left her. They'd walked round the garden a few times, talking about little things, like the new baby and their jobs at Torchwood.

Her new job frustrated her almost as much as her old one used to. Whenever they got the slightest thing wrong about an alien Rose would put them right and long for the days when she could among them rather than sitting in her office filing their biographies into the right categories.

Never had a dream come true

'Til the day that I found you

And even though I pretend that I've moved on

You'll always be my baby

I never found he words to say

You're the one I think about each day

And I know no matter where life takes me to

A part of me will always be, with you.

Rose changed the track, trying to ignore the fact that the song lyrics seemed to be almost taunting her by describing her feelings at that moment. She seemed to be angered by the simplest thing nowadays. Maybe it was just because she couldn't muster the energy to be happy. It was so much easier to be sad or angry.

Shadows on the wall forming outlines of your face

I reach out to touch you through time and through space

Rose decided not to listen. She only had the music on so that her parents didn't worry. She was pacing round to make it sound like she was doing something. This way she could guarantee a few hours peace.

She'd go down for dinner in a bit. Most of the time she just wanted to take something up to her room, but then her mum just panicked and it wasn't good for her when she was pregnant. Besides, Rose realised the Doctor would want her to move on. It would kill him to know she was so depressed.

Let me sleep for a while

Let me dream of your smile

Rose turned the music off and decidedly walked down towards the kitchen. She smiled slightly as she saw her parents cooking and Mickey setting out the plates.

"Can I help?" She asked, trying to sound cheerful, but not trying too hard in case she sounded insincere.

"Yeah, the cutlery's in the draw, you can put that out for me," Jackie said, turning to look at her daughter a surprised look on her face. "Thanks."

Rose actually found that she enjoyed setting dinner out and she laughed at something her Dad said whilst they were eating. Inside she still hurt but she had made a promise to herself that she'd stop her family worrying. It wasn't fair on them.

Later that night thought when she was trying to sleep she found that she was still haunted by the Doctor. Every time she came close to falling asleep he'd appear at the end of her bed, or by the window and she'd jerk awake only to find it was a shadow, or a car going past that made a noise vaguely like that of the TARDIS.

Part of her sometimes hoped that in some way she was still connected to the TARDIS and that some of the dreams she had were real. She had another one that night.

She wandered down the corridor towards the console room and found the Doctor sitting on the chair gazing at the central column. By the looks of things he'd fixed everything, upgraded it and now had nothing else to do.

Rose stretched out a hand to touch him but he suddenly jumped up and set the TARDIS in flight, dancing round with a little less oomph than he used to have.

When the TARDIS landed he darted to the door and stepped outside, Rose quickly following. He'd landed on Raxacoricofallapatorius. She'd only been there once but Rose would recognise the oddly shaped tree's anywhere. In fact only last week she'd been filing them away at Torchwood-

"Rose?" Her head snapped up at the sound of her name. "You've really got to stop dreaming about me."

She stared open mouthed at the Doctor who was looking straight at her.

"How can you..?" She trailed off and the Doctor smiled sadly.

"I'm asleep," he replied. "This is my dream too. But if we touch it would be catastrophic. Not only would two universe collapse, but we could seriously brain damage each other."

Rose bit her lip hard trying not to cry.

"But I miss you so much," she said quietly.

"You've got to stop reaching out," the Doctor sighed. "Live your life Rose. You know we can't see each other, I don't think I can live knowing that all you do day after day if mourn me. You deserve better. There's a whole planet of men who you know won't leave you."

"But…" Rose gulped, trying to blink back tears. "I love you."

"I know," the Doctor said, his own eyes shinning. "But those feelings will fade."

"But I don't want them too," Rose moaned, the tears falling now.

"I know," the Doctor shuffled his feet awkwardly. "But I'll always be special to you. I'll always be your best friend."

Rose nodded, wiping her eyes furiously.

"You should find someone to travel with," she said sniffing.

"How can I replace you?" The Doctor said laughing slightly.

"But who's going to hold your hand?" Rose asked her voice higher than normal. The Doctor felt his own tears start to fall then.

"I'll find someone I'm sure," he said his voice cracking. They stood looking at each other for a moment.

"Say it," Rose said suddenly.

"Say what?" The Doctor asked confused.

"What you were going to say before you disappeared," she said pleadingly. He grinned.

"Rose Tyler-"

Rose woke up. She groaned, and burst into tears. She'd been so close to hearing the one thing she wanted too. She sat up shaking with sobs. She didn't even know if the dream had been real or not. She supposed it didn't really matter, either way, she knew that's what the Doctor would've said to her.