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The Doctor and Rose walked down the busy streets of London, looking around at the familiar sights. "It's weird," Rose pointed out, "'cause you know it's not the same place you grew up in, but it looks exactly the same. I mean, I worked in that shop for a year in high school. Broke up with my first boyfriend in that restaurant over there. But it wasn't that shop, or that restaurant. It was a whole universe away. And still, when I look at the shop, I feel like it did happen there. I have to keep reminding myself I don't belong here."
The Doctor nodded, and she continued. "It's like when I first found out my mum had disappeared. I was crying, at first 'cause I thought we were in our own universe. But even now, when I know she's not really my mother, I still feel like my mum's dead. And in a way, she is. She had a daughter named Rose. She had a husband who died years ago. She lived in the same place, probably did the same things day after day as my mum did. It's like she's dead, but I can still see her again."
"It's not exactly the same, you know."
"What?"
He looked at her. "You were talking about how everything looks the same. But it's not. Parallel universes are always different, even if it's just in the smallest way. Maybe Rose Tyler did break up with her boyfriend in that restaurant, and maybe this Jackie did live her life the same way as your mum. But something changed. You can't have two universes that are exactly the same.
"Although," he continued after a pause, "I suppose that whatever is different here might not affect you. Maybe this universe was created by a man in Sweden. Or in Mexico. Or on Raxacoricofallapatorius. Or, for that matter, in all three places. And more. There's really no limit to how many things can be different in a parallel universe."
"This universe is our future. Could that be enough?"
"Not if history takes the same course. But you see though, that's the problem. This is our future. If we wanted, we could find ourselves, and figure out what's in store for us. But whatever created this universe, whatever difference is hidden here, maybe the choice does affect us, but the point where the universes diverged might not have happened yet for us. And if we somehow find out what it was and what the outcome was, it could change our futures. And not necessarily for the better."
"Someone's nervous today," Rose commented.
"Someone has to be. Parallel worlds are like gingerbread houses. So full of temptations. Especially worlds like this, where you can figure out your future."
"Well, consider me warned. I won't interfere if you don't drag me kicking and screaming back to the Tardis. Now, since we have another 23 hours here, how about we go do something fun?"
"Like what?" The Doctor looked slightly worried.
"Well, it looks to me like there's a party going on in there." She pointed to a large building where a bunch of people in fancy dress were streaming through the door.
"What, a business party?"
"Bet they'll have food." Rose flashed him a winning smile, and he submitted.
"If it's that or chips, I'll take the fancy business party. Just to eat, though. It's in a laboratory. Laboratory parties usually include scientists. And if I have to explain to one more scientist that their life's research is wrong…"
Rose grinned again, and began walking up the steps to the party at Lazarus Laboratories.