"I burnt up a sun just to say goodbye."

She froze.

Slowly, Rose turned to face the Doctor. His eyes were boring into hers, intensity pouring out of him.

Her heart was pounding in her chest as hope and pain battled inside of her. That memory was still so fresh from her dream. To have him bring up that same time...

"I've never done that before." His mouth quirked up slightly, but his eyes were dark, conveying the importance of the admission. "I come here sometimes, wishing I could go back in time... I come here, to think of you."

She was frozen, nothing could express what she was feeling at that moment. All of those memories and feelings that she felt that day were breaking through. Except, he was standing right in front of her this time, not a universe away. On the inside she was begging him to continue as she fought to stay calm on the outside.

Then his hand came up to cup her face, and her breath caught.

"I am so, so, sorry that I put you through all of that."

Her eyes fell shut as she let herself, just for a moment, relive the pain of those years apart. Then she felt the Doctor's hand move, gently wiping away the tears she hadn't been aware she was letting fall.

Hope sparked within her as she opened her eyes. Surprise mixed into it when she saw her own pain reflected in his eyes.. Go on, she willed the doctor wordlessly, say it.

Then came the smothered hope as he pulled back and turned away. Rose wrapped her arms around herself as she turned away as well. Her attempt to block the pain in her heart only made his dismissal hurt worse. Her hands shook as she fought not to succumb to the tears that built in her eyes. She was working to put up the carefree face when he spoke again.

"I wasn't finished."

She spun around, barely daring to hope again. Apology shown softly in his eyes as he stood there, holding...

"Is that... my jacket?" Stunned, Rose stood there just looking at piece of clothing in the Doctor's hands, her tears momentarily forgotten.

A small smile crept onto the Doctor's face. "You always did leave your stuff everywhere," he said fondly. Then he grew serious once more. "After you left, I couldn't bring myself to do anything to your room. But this you left laying on one of the railings in here. Through all these years, it's never been far. I would never have forgotten you, Rose, but this way I always had part of you with me." He set the jacket back down, laying it over the railing beside him.

She didn't think it was possible, but the love in her heart for the Doctor grew even more so than before. She was deeply touched by his gesture and it was killing her.

"I wanted, needed, to show you all this because I don't want you to have a shadow of a doubt in your mind."

Then he stepped towards her, stopping right in front of her. Her heart stopped as he took both of her hands in his.

"Rose Tyler, I love you more than you could even imagine." His hands tightened around hers as a smile made it's way into his eyes. A golden glow seemed to fill her vision as her heart shuddered with both joy, and a little bit of relief. The Doctor was always honest, so what he said was true.

"Of all the people in the entire universe, you are like none other. Somehow you always find a way back, and I never want that to change." His eyes shown with the love he spoke of, and she felt it all the way down to her bones.

The tears thatt gave way this time were of happiness, and she didn't even bother trying to stop them. Everything was okay just in that moment, and she knew it was all worth it.

"And I love you, my Doctor."

Then their lips met in a kiss that was years overdue. Her arms came around him, wrapped around his shoulders while he held her, his arms holding her tight against him.

When Rose pulled back to breathe, still held on to him tightly, not daring to let go. "Don't ever send me away again, you hear?"

His voice was rough when he responded. "I couldn't bare doing that again. My hearts belong to you now, Rose, I won't be able to let go of you now." His head rested on top of hers, the two of them just holding on to each other.

Then the TARDIS flashed it's lights at them, startling Rose. "What - "

"Ah. And now it's time for my other... gift..." The Doctor grew serious, stepping back from her. "My.. Duplicate, shall we say, sent you away without time to say goodbye. I know that feeling. And so, your family is waiting at Bad Wolf Bay, all you need to do is stand there." The Doctor's eyes were dark, pain and knowledge were shadowed behind worry.

"I could say goodbye to my mom and dad?" Rose's voice was barely above a whisper. She felt her heart already start to break a little as the Doctor stepped over to the console and pressed some buttons.

"You only have about 3 and a half minutes, and then you need to say goodbye. And remember, they can't actually touch you. Physically, you are just an image. I'll say something at the 3 minute mark as a warning. And Rose? Remember I will be here when it is over." He didn't bother smiling before pressing another button, and then she was on that beach once again.

She looked out over the sand and to her mom and dad. And the pain was shattering. "Mum..." Her voice was hoarse, startling Jackie as she spun around.

"Rose! Oh my God, Sweetheart! Where have you been, what happened, where are you?" Jackie's voice was panicked. She had started to run strait towards Rose, but stopped when Pete held her back.

"Jackie, Love, she isn't actually there." Pete's voice was pained.

Rose tried to smile for them, but wanted to run to her mother and hug them both so bad. So her smile was a bit shaky. "Don't worry Mum, Dad, I'm with the Doctor. The actual one."

"You mean, back in the other universe?" Jackie stood frozen, not wanting to accept that.

"Yeah... The other Doctor sent me back here, and the real Doctor found me." When she saw the tears start to stream down her mother's face, Rose's facade started to brake a little. "It'll be okay, Mum. You have Dad, and soon you will have Tony, and it will all be okay." She was fighting to reassure both herself and her mom. She struggled not to let the tears fall as she stood there, her heart breaking for the loss of her family.

"You hit three minutes, Rose."

She wiped away the tears on her face.

"Mum, I don't have much time. I won't be able to come back. Ever." Jackie was sobbing by that time, shredding Rose's heart to peices. "Dad, you take care of her, you hear? I love you both, Okay?" Her voice grew thick as she fought to get past the lump in her throat.

"Stay safe, Rose." Pete's voice was strangled.

"I love you Rose! Stay safe! And Doctor! If you can hear me, keep her safe! I love you Rose!" Jackie was crying as she said those words.

And then the beach was gone.

The TARDIS was blurred by Rose's tears, and she broke down, crumpling to the floor.

"Oh, Mum..." She cried, feeling pieces of her heart crack off as she thought of every time she had had with her mom, and knowing that that is all the memory of her she will ever have. "Mum..."

Then The Doctor was at her side, holding on to her. He had been through that pain, so he knew there was nothing he could do, but every sob that wracked her body clawed at his heart. Logically, he knew he did the right thing, but he felt terrible about it.

So, he did the only thing he could do. He picked her up and carried her back to her room. She latched on to him as he walked, and he felt his heart break for her just a little bit more.

He laid her down on her bed, never once letting go, and then held on to her as she went through the grieving process.

Author's note: Hey guys... It might take me a few more days for this next one. The ending of this chapter was tough for me, so I might give myself a day extra for the next one. Plus fathers day is sorta day after tomorrow, and that will put things back a little as well. It's not as much a cliff hanger as the last one, so at least there's that. Sorry for being a bit slower with the next one. And thanks again for the reviews! they mean a lot to me! Thank you all!

Oh, and just to make it official, I am not done. There is more fun to come!