"Are you sure that you couldn't go any lower?" The Doctor asked the vendor. "I need this part and all I have is 450 kads."

The gruff man didn't care how much he had. "Sorry, unless you've got 500, it stays with me. Come back later with more and I'll be right here to sell it to ya."

The Doctor groaned in frustration and mumbled, "Really shouldn't have given that money to Donna." He placed the part back where it belonged and began to walk away, trying to stuff the money back in his pocket. Speaking of which, where is Donna?

He scanned the crowd and his eyes fell upon her red hair. He started walking towards her, but when he saw who was standing next to her, he stopped dead in his tracks.

His lungs stopped working and he was sure that if he didn't have two hearts, he would have had a coronary, because at least one of them stopped beating.

It was her.

"Rose."

She was just standing there next to Donna, with a look of shock on her face that he must also have. His mind was flooded with questions. How was she here? Why was she here? Was she here with another him? Why is she with Donna? How long has it been for her?

But all of them were wiped away as he slowly, but surely began to walk towards her. Towards Rose. She mirrored his actions and they both began running at top speed, people dodged out of the way so they wouldn't get knocked down, but neither of them gave any attention to anyone but the other.

At the last few yards, their arms were already outstretched to hold each other and they fell into each other's embrace. He hugged her like his life depended on it and, now that he has her back, it might just.

He pulled back just slightly and looked into her eyes. Oh, those eyes. Those eyes had once held the Time Vortex. Those eyes saw him as a good man, not as what he was. Those eyes were the most beautiful things he's ever known.

"Rose?" His voice cracked with emotion. "Am I dreaming again?"

She grinned. "If you are, then don't you dare wake up." The Doctor laughed lightly and for a few seconds, they just stared at each other, in complete astonishment that they actually could.

Slowly, they started to drift closer and closer until their lips made contact and they kissed each other just so sweetly. It was slow and steady at first, because they both just wanted to savor the feeling of showing each other exactly what they meant to the other, but then it became more passionate. He held her tighter and her hands had gone to his hair, ruffling it and scraping his scalp.

He decided right then and there that this was the best feeling in the universe. In this moment, it felt like the world, all worlds, revolved around them. In this moment, stars burned brighter than before and everything just took a calm. In this moment, everything was right in the universe, because the Doctor could feel none of it. Nothing. All his senses were turned toward a little pink and yellow human. And there was nothing better than that.

They slowed back down again and they broke apart, resting their foreheads against each other. Rose was gasping for breath, but she still had enough air to say, "No, definitely not a dream, then."

They just grinned at each other, still unaware of Donna's attempts to break them out of that trance. "Oi! Spaceman! I'm talkin' to you!"

He whipped around, still holding Rose in his arms. "What?"

"Would someone care to explain to me why the stranger I was talking to and the man I travel with suddenly decided to run up and snog?" She asked with a hand on her hip and an annoyed look on her face, waiting for an answer.

"Uh-well, Donna, this is Rose Tyler. Rose, this is Donna Noble." He gestured in turn to both.

Donna's eyes went wide and her jaw slacked. "Hold on, Rose? As in theRose?" She looked to him and he nodded in reply. She laughed. "Oh my goodness!" She rushed toward Rose and gave her an abrupt hug. "I've heard so much about you! You're all he talks about!"

Rose smiled and gazed teasingly at the Doctor. "Am I?"

His face turned red and he reached up an arm to scratch his neck. "Well,"

Suddenly, a horn sounded out and the noise of the crowds hushed into a quiet whisper. People began making their way inside and others rushed to their houses which were farther away.

Donna and Rose looked around in confusion. "Doctor, what's goin' on?" Rose asked.

He started walking with Rose holding onto his arm. "It's sort of a ritual the Cronans have. Every day, the people go into their houses and read from the historical scrolls of their nation. Every household has them. It's illegal to skip this ritual and the punishment for it is life in prison. Imagine that. Just one day of not reading the scrolls and you're doomed to live in a cell for the rest of your life. Which means, unless we want to get thrown in jail, then we better get back to the TARDIS."

When they encountered the TARDIS, Rose stopped and stared at it. The Doctor looked to her questionably and asked her what was wrong.

"It's just…I've spent so long looking for that ship and so many times, it's disappeared right in front of me. Just within reach. This is the first time that I'll even be able to touch it since that day." She had tears in her eyes now.

The Doctor held her by her shoulders gently. "Rose, you know that I can't guarantee we'll never be separated again, but I promise that I will do everything in my power to make sure it doesn't happen." He pulled her to him in a warm hug that they held for a few seconds before heading to the TARDIS.

He opened the door and slowly, Rose walked inside, completely in awe of the place she still thought of as home. Everything was exactly the same. The coral struts still stood tall and the console had the very glow that it had always given off.

The tears in her eyes began to spill down her cheeks at the sight. The Doctor was at her side instantly. "Rose?" She looked at him and then turned back, entering the ship fully. She never knew how much she had missed this place. Walking in, it felt like the first time ever being there. The amazement and wonder filled her again and it was fantastic.

Donna was leaning against the console, facing them and smiling. Rose walked up to the controls and ran her hand along them, almost like a hug to the TARDIS. The ship hummed happily as if in reply. Rose smiled and whispered, "I missed you, too."

Donna shoved off the console and walked down to where the Doctor was watching Rose. "So, you've got Rose back and that's good, but I thought you said she couldn't come back. I thought you said that she was somewhere out of your reach. So how come she's here?"

"Good question." He bounded up the ramp to Rose. "Rose, can I talk to you?"

She looked a bit startled by this suggestion, but nodded nonetheless. "Yeah, sure."

"Now, well you're chattin', I think I deserve a bubble bath for finding your 'lady love'." She told them and went off down the corridor.

Rose grinned at him. "I like her. Where'd you pick her up, then?" She asked.

"That's actually what we need to talk about. Rose," he paused, wondering if he really wanted to know, but it didn't matter if he wanted to know; he needed to know. "How long has it been since Bad Wolf Bay?"

"Doesn't matter. "

"Rose." He said, his voice stern.

She blew out a breath and averted her eyes. "Three years. Three years since the last time I saw you."

Unwarranted guilt washed over him. "Rose, I'm sorry. If it weren't for me-"

"It's not your fault. It really isn't. It wasn't any of our fault. We just did what we had to to save the world. If you're gonna blame anything, blame that big, stupid Earth out there. Blame fate or destiny or whatever it is, because, Doctor," He felt her hand on his face, urging him to look at her. "Although I hated all of my time in the parallel universe and searching for you and everything, I still think… I think that it made me a better person. Because I got taken there, lessons were learned, the future was insured, things were said that never would've gotten said had I not thought I was never gonna see you again." He knew just what words were said there and that, even now, he was still too coward to say it. "So, don't say it's your fault. Don't do that to yourself."

"Rose, how did you get here?" He changed the subject to keep the focus off himself. "The walls were too strong, nothing should've happened that you'd be able to make it through safely. So, how did you do it?"

She sighed and he knew that she was annoyed by the rapid change in subjects. "Well, after I was told that it would be absolutely impossible to get back to you, there was someone in my office from that world's Time Agency who was there to sign off for some equipment. You'll never guess who it was." She grinned at him and was practically bouncing in her seat.

Wait, hold on. It can't be. "No!"

Rose laughed happily and he realized just how much he actually missed that laugh. It was beautiful and melodious. If she could hear what his brain was thinking, she'd probably tease him for the words he used. He meant it though. The way her eyes crinkled up when she smiled through her laugh was so adorable. And occasionally, her tongue would poke out between her teeth, making him get distracted from whatever it was he would be doing.

It occurred to him right then, that Rose was talking to him. "It was Jack! But, Doctor," At this point she got a crazy grin on her face and she could barely talk for laughing so hard. "Doctor, he was a nerd!" His eyes went wide as he tried to imagine his friend in taped glasses with pens in his front pocket. "He wasn't a super cool conman Jack. He was a techie!"

"I don't believe you." He shook his head, laughing.

"No, I'm not jokin'!" They calmed down a bit. "Anyway, I got the idea to travel back in time to when the rift was open an' I could slip through to this universe. It took some convincin' and lots of tech to get the Agency to even give me a Time Manipulator, but I got 'em to."

He grinned at her proudly. 'Course she did. Rose was brilliant.

"After a few weeks, everythin' was ready. I traveled back to 2007 and when the thingy," She gestured to the vest. "was recharged – still don't know what it's called – I went through the Void."

The Doctor's head snapped up when he heard that last part. "But, you went without a capsule! Were you okay? Rose, that's gotta be-"

"I know." She held up a hand, cutting him off. "I was the one who went through it. But look at me," she prompted when he started to fuss again. "I'm fine. Torchwood fixed me up with some sort of field. Protected me well enough. At least, it lasted long enough to get me through."

The Doctor was certainly displeased with this, but he decided it wouldn't do anything to argue over it. It was over now. So, he kept his mouth shut.

"When I got here," she continued. "I immediately started looking for you. I thought it would be so easy. Mickey fixed up this…" She waved her hands around, searching for a good description. "TARDIS tracker sort of thing. It locked onto the TARDIS's time signature and brought me to where she would be."

He smiled at the way she talked about the TARDIS, calling the ship "she" rather than "it." Ever since Bad Wolf, Rose had had a unique connection to her and seemed to think of her as more of a living being than an object. Rarely had his companions completely understood the extent of the TARDIS's sentience. Rose had always been special though.

"So, I looked for a while and, look, I found you!" She said rather quickly.

"Hold on. What happened while you were searching?" He asked. It didn't make sense that it would be as easy as she made it sound. There would have to be something more. "How long were you out there?"

"Doesn't matter." She dismissed quickly. "So, didja keep my room? Where is it?"

"Rose," Why was she acting like this? What happened that she wouldn't want to tell him? "How long? What happened?"

She looked at him pointedly. "Doctor, it really doesn't matter. It's all gone now. Don't worry 'bout it."

They stood there in awkward tension for a few seconds. Neither knowing quite what to say or what to do.

"So, how did ya get Donna?" Rose asked to break the silence.

"Well, it's a bit of a long story." She walked over to the jump seat and prompted him to sit beside her.

"I'm not plannin' on goin' anywhere." He smiled at the thought. "Get on with it then." She prompted.

"Well," He began. "The first time I met her actually, was right after…" The Doctor paused with a faraway look on his face. He looked sad. "Well, I had barely collected myself from saying goodbye to you when she appeared on the TARDIS and started shouting at me."

Rose chose not to think about Bad Wolf Bay and instead commented on the fact that Donna had been shouting at him. "Why would she shout at you?" She asked, finding it humorous.

"She said I kidnapped her. I didn't though. She materialized in the TARDIS during her wedding."

Rose's mouth hung open. "During her wedding?!"

"Yeah. She just popped up here in her wedding gown and slapped me!" Rose burst out laughing. "Your mum started it all! I've been slapped three times since then!"

"I'm sure you deserved it."

He ignored this and continued his story. "Anyway, we solved it all, eventually finding out that her fiancé was actually in league with the Empress of the Racnoss. Giant, spider, alien... thing." He clarified. "Donna didn't travel with me then, however. I traveled alone for a bit, not really wanting any company. Or needing it really.

"But then, while I was investigating something going on in a hospital, I met a med student named Martha Jones. She helped me solve all of that and I offered her a 'thank you trip.' She said yes and I took her to see Shakespeare. Apparently, Queen Elizabeth the First wants my head!"

"Well, I must say, it is a rather good-looking one." Rose grinned with her tongue sticking out of her teeth ever so slightly and he caught himself staring at her mouth when she snapped him out of it.

"Yes! The hair is rather nice." He ran his hand through said hair for emphasis.

"You're full of it." He chuckled. "So, what happened to our Martha Jones?" She asked. He seemed to talk so easily of her, so she assumed that nothing horrible happened.

"Um, well, let's just say I didn't feel the same way about her as she did about me." He scratched his neck in an uncomfortable manner as Rose's eyes widened.

"Oh." She licked her lips and shifted in her seat. "Did she, you know, act on any of these feelings?"

"She didn't and I didn't do anything to encourage her either. I knew early on what she thought of me, so I made a point not to."

"Mhmm." Rose hummed, obviously unconvinced.

"Shortly after Martha left, I was investigating a company called Adipose-"

"Oh, that's right! My Torchwood team took care of that. Little fat creatures, right? Look like marshmallows with faces and limbs?"

The Doctor nodded. "That's them. I was listening in on a conversation between Matron Cofelia and a reporter and I saw Donna through a window in the door. She'd apparently been looking for me ever since the Racnoss. We solved all of the Adipose mess and she started traveling with me then."

Rose nodded in acceptance. "Yeah, okay. I must say though, my story was way more exciting."

"What are you talking about? You haven't heard anything yet! For instance, there was the time when Martha and I got stuck in 1969. We had to live in a flat for two months!"

"Um, sorry. It's just, you said you both had to live in the same flat for two months?"

The Doctor immediately saw his error in telling Rose this information. "Well, actually I think that your story may be a bit more interesting."

"Yeah, it better be." She mumbled.

"So!" He exclaimed, jumping up from his spot. "Where d'you wanna go first? Hmm? Oh! I could finally take you to see Barcelona! The planet, not the city. Or" He began running around the console and flipping switches as he went. "We could sneak in on the filming of White Christmas! Don't know what made me think of that. Maybe we could-"

"Doctor," Rose interrupted. "Aren't you forgetting someone?" Forgetting someone? Who could he be forgetting? "Donna? She's in the bath."

"Oh, right. Wouldn't do to go on an adventure and leave her during a soak."

"I have an idea." She fiddled with the hem of her shirt. "Perhaps, we could find my old room? You do still have it don't you?" She asked, looking worried.

"Yes! 'Course I do. Never moved it. It's in the same spot as always." The Doctor was somewhat surprised that she would think he'd delete it. She meant much more to him than that.

"Right. I'll just go an' get settled, then." Rose moved toward the corridor and the Doctor followed her. Although the Doctor had said her room was in the same spot, she was still somewhat surprised when she saw the dark wooden door with a rose carved onto it.

She reached out a hand and twisted the handle to open the door. She let it swing open so she could look in and see the room. Hesitantly, she walked in and studied every detail to see any difference, but there was none. It was the exact same as it was when she left it.

Her laundry was still piled up in the corner where she threw it because she kept neglecting to get a hamper. Her pictures were still in the same place, taped all over the walls. Her souvenirs were on the exact spot she'd left them on her dresser.

There was only one thing different. Rose knew that she hadn't made her bed before she left. She never did. Not only was her bed made, but it had also been laid on. The Doctor must've come in here after she'd left.

"Doctor," She turned to him. "Did you… sleep in here?"

She expected him to promptly say no, but instead he just shifted uncomfortably. "Well…"

"Why?" She was genuinely curious as to why he would do that.

"I missed you." He was looking directly at her when he said this and Rose was the slightest bit startled by the seriousness in his eyes. "When you were gone, this was the closest I could get to you. Whenever I came in here, I could pretend you were right here with me."

Rose walked right up to him and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing his cheek. "You don't need to pretend anymore."

Yeah, I know. It ends kinda abruptly, but did you like the reunion? Was it believable or did it go too quickly? I have edited it over and over again, not thinking that it was good enough. What do you think? Please let me know. I am anxious to see what you guys think!

I am so excited to get started on the adventures! Basically, I'm planning on finishing the season with Rose and I'll probably end it there. If I have time later on, I might make a sequel with Rose in season 5. Maybe. Review please!