A/N: They leave in this chapter, but will be going? Does Martha stay or does she go? Read on to find out...
Rose got out of the car to accept Jack's apology and was not surprised when he kissed her. Thankfully The Doctor laughed. She took The Doctor's hand as they walked towards the house. They all knew what was going to happen. Rose had to go to the TARDIS before history changed to include Rose again, or the Reapers would come.
"You're gonna leave me now, aren't ya?!" Jackie said as soon as they were all in the console room.
Rose looked at The Doctor, for support and to tell Jackie as she was frightened to answer. If she said yes it would be finalising her life with her mum.
"There is a way we could stay for a while." The Doctor said and Jackie looked hopeful, as did Rose if it meant she could stay with her family a little while longer. "As long as Rose stays in the TARDIS, the Reapers will not know there is a paradox. Because this TARDIS is under the protection of the Timelords she will be safe. But we can't stay forever, I need to get this TARDIS back to my eighth incarnation and reset history."
"Thank you Doctor." Jackie said which seemed to mean more than what she was saying thanks for.
"We'll stay for a week. That'll give you plenty of time to say your goodbyes" He took Jackie to the side away from the rest of the group. "I promise you Jackie, that i'll look after her. I couldn't make that promise before but I can now, for you." Jackie looked up with tears in her eyes "And i'll try and find a way that you two can communicate. It may take a while or it could never happen, but I will try to find a way."
"Thanks" was all Jackie could say as the group watched them embrace each other confirming his promise to her and her acceptance of what will happen. Rose was happy to see that her mum had finally accepted The Doctor place in her life.
Gwen and Jack spent a lot of time together. Their relationship was very new when they came on board. So they spent the time to get to know each other away from work. They knew they had to go back one day, but they had a time machine and knew they could go back whenever they wanted to. But they didn't think about going home. They just enjoyed each other. The TARDIS had recognised her connection with Jack and had provided him with his room from her older self. Gwen loved to hear his stories from his past, and looking at the items littered about his room.
He found pictures of him with Rose and another man which she found out was The Doctor. Jack explained about regeneration and the hand that he favoured above Carys' life.
They talked about many things She admitted to being jealous when Jack and Rose kissed, and how relieved she was to find out they were more like brother and sister. She even spoke about missing her mum, but Jack promised that they would visit her as soon as they got back to Cardiff. Jack loved the level their relationship had reached and hoped it would continue to get better.
Martha felt like the spare wheel. The Doctor had Rose, Jack had Gwen, Pete had Jackie. She had no-one.
That was until Mickey came and joined her sitting on the wall looking towards the house.
"It hurts doesn't it." Mickey said to Martha, sitting on the wall next to her looking at his hands that were clasped on his knee.
"What does?" Martha asked in return. She knew what he was talking about but wasn't ready to voice it out loud.
"Watching someone you care about with someone else." He looked at her as she looked at him. As their gazes locked, they recognised the same look in each others eyes. A look that was to get them together.
They started to spend a lot of time together. The Doctor had commented a few time on her spending time with 'Mickey the Idiot' and asked if there was anything going on that he should know about. She would just reply that if there was anything worth telling she would let him know,but secretly decided that he didn't need to know and wouldn't let him in on the details. She knew he could be completely oblivious to what was happening around him, and he was, but she hadn't counted on Rose seeing through their sideways glances and them sneaking away after meals.
Martha was unsure of how to brace the subject with Rose. She knew that Rose was close to Mickey but knew they would have to talk. In the end it was Rose who started the conversation, she gave Martha her consent. Rose felt obliged to since his Grandmother died last year, she felt responsible for him. Rose was happy that Mickey had found someone but was concerned that it would be shortlived with them leaving soon.
Most of the week went quite fast. Rose spent the days with Jackie, Pete and Little Jack and the nights with The Doctor. The first few nights were hard and they were getting harder. She knew they would have to leave soon, but she didn't want to leave her family.
Jackie and Pete had decided to stay. Little Jack had been born there and they were all settled. The money that Pete had in this universe was a big factor and Jackie didn't want to live the way they had done before.
Rose knew she had to go, The Doctor always upheaved her life but she was glad that she would always be with him. She had worried about if The Doctor had not come back for her, that she would have to watch her family die and keep moving so that people wouldn't notice that she didn't age. At least this way she was saying goodbye to her family and not watching them die.
She loved The Doctor so much that she was willing to leave her family. She didn't care that history had wiped her out, she would had found a way.
As the day to leave got closer, everyone was thinking about their options.
Jack and Gwen thought about what would happen when they got back. She had Owen and Rhys to deal with, and he had Ianto. It wouldn't be easy for either of them but they wanted to be with each other. Ianto would understand. Owen maydo as well, it would be Rhys that would cause the most trouble. Gwen and Rhys had been going out a long time, but he'd probably seen this coming.
Jackie and Pete were preparing to lose their daughter, and The Doctor was preparing to take their daughter away from them. He was going to have to comfort Rose while she grieved for her family.
Mickey was getting ready to say goodbye to his best friend. She was there when he lost his grandmother the first time and helped him through it again. He was going to miss her. His relationship with Martha was still new. He knew nothing could come out of it, unless he came with them...
Martha was thinking about Mickey. She wanted to stay with him, but the thought of never seeing them again was hard on her. Could she sacrifice her whole family for Mickey, like Rose was for The Doctor?...
Mickey and Martha spent their last morning talking. They discussed the possibilities of their future.
The TARDIS gave them an answer.
Everyone had congregated in the console room.
Jackie and Pete were saying their goodbyes, Rose was crying while The Doctor was trying not to. He hugged Jackie and shuck Pete's hand. He was going to miss them. They had all grown close over the past week. He felt like he had a family again.
Martha went over to The Doctor holding Mickey's hand. Rose had an idea what was happening and held The Doctor's hand in silent support.
"I'm staying here." She put up her empty hand to silence him. "The TARDIS worked a way out. There is a Martha Jones in this world, but she was lost presumed dead, when the hospital she was working in got transported to the moon. The records show that she eventually turned up, tomorrow. I think that I was meant to stay like Rose was meant to go."
The Doctor took Martha over to one side. "You're sure about this. Once we leave there is no way back"
"I know" She pulled him into a hug which he returned "I'll never forget you" She whispered before stepping away from him and went back to Mickey who was talking to Rose.
"I'm really happy for you Mick."
"Well it was always you and him. You were never really happy here, but I am." He paused while he put his arm around Martha "I'll be happy here"
Jackie, Pete and Little Jack, and Mickey and Martha, watched as the TARDIS disappeared into the the vortex ready to enter the void. Lots of tears were spent by all, as Rose left home for the last time.