Before River could say anything The Doctor was out onto the street, spinning round panicked. The thought to Rose being in any sort of trouble still scared him, he had to make sure she was safe. The Doctor knew exactly where she would go, he raced down the road at an incredible speed. Leaving River behind, helplessly trying to catch up with her husband, she had never seen him act with such urgency before. This girl must have meant a great deal to him, she paused and watched her husband fade into a busy London, she sighed hopelessly.
The Powell estate hadn't changed much since the last time The Doctor had seen it, the bins and people flashed past him as he ran up to Rose's house. The one person she would want to see right now was her mum. The Doctor banged on the door furiously, desperately hoping Rose was inside. Jackie Tyler opened the door. The Doctor could hear her before he could see her,
"All right keep you bleedin hat on mate, what the he-" She cut herself off at the sight of him and without a word raised her right hand and belted him straight on the face. The Doctor knew Rose was inside, he smiled apologetically at Jackie.
"She was right, you do look younger. But you've hurt her Doctor, she won't say it, but I know my little girl. She's heartbroken." She told him. Lost for words The Doctor let his head drop, he already knew that. Jackie motioned fro him to go through and see Rose, he made his way to her old room, and turned his head in at the doorway. Rose was on her bed lying in silence.
He sat on the end of her bed, looking round her room. There was another awkward atmosphere between them, both had so much that they wanted to say, but neither knew how to begin. It felt wrong, this was Rose Tyler. The woman he had loved, the woman he still loved. The fact that he could no longer talk to her made him crumble inside, he would have given anything for her to just hug him right now and smile like she used to. Her smile always filled him with hope, everything in the universe was right if Rose was by his side and smiling.
"Rose.." He whispered carefully. "I'm sorry"
She sat up at the sound of his voice, even though she was feeling hurt, she didn't want The Doctor to feel guilty about anything. She moved over and sat beside him, taking his hand in hers. Rose knew she had to let go, of everything. Then she could finally move on with her life, even if she did still love him.
"You've got nothing to be sorry about" she smiled, "I should say sorry" her smiled was breaking underneath the tears. The pair sat in silence, nothing needed to be said. They both knew that they would always loved each other.
"I just assumed, it was just me. That I was special. It's selfish, because if you are happy with River then I am happy for you. It just hurt to know that you love someone else, after everything." She explained, this was her way of getting some kind of closure from this all. The Doctor studied her, he had forgotten all the little things that he missed about her, the way she played with her hair, how she would get embarrassed and avoid his eyes, how she picked at her nails when she was nervous. But Rose had grown up since she had last travelled with him, he could tell. She had a sort of mother instinct about her. She was always so caring and compassionate, she would help anyone who needed it, even a dalek.
"I thought I was the only one" she finished as she got up and looked out of her old window, she had spent so many hours there, just waiting for something. The Doctor looked down at the floor, thinking about how she must have felt. There was a loud thud from the hallway, and the pair heard Jackie ranting at whoever was at the door. Rose turned to face The Doctor.
"She hasn't changed" she giggled quietly.
"Not at all" The Doctor joined in. The pair smiled at each other. The Doctor got up, he took both of Rose's hands and looked deep into her eyes. Rose held her breath, she knew that she shouldn't be feeling like this, falling in love with him all over again, but she simply could not help it.
"You were always the only one" he told her.
Directly opposite the pair, through the wall, standing in the hall was Jackie and River. River hang her head against the wall as she heard The Doctor. She couldn't help but let out a small tear. Understanding that she was someone close to him Jackie put her arms round River. The two woman, who had never mentioned two words to each other before stood in silence. They didn't even know each other's names but Jackie could offer River a little comfort. River stood back from her and composed herself.
"Never let him see the damage" she reminded herself, she smiled at Jackie Tyler, "Tell him nothing, I wasn't here" Jackie nodded in agreement, and River left the Tyler house, making her way to the TARDIS.