The hours had never gone by so slowly.
He could hear the clock in his head; a slow tick, tick, tick as each second counted off. She had not moved not an inch since he had placed her down in the bed. The guilt was already eating him as he stared at her unmoving form. How was she going to react when she woke up and realized where she was and who she was with? He had a feeling it wasn't going to be a happy one. Not like when she had seen him when the stars were going out. He did not think a hug was going to be coming in his direction- more likely a slap. He slowly rubbed the side of his face, grimacing as he did. It would be well deserved, he thought, but was still going to hurt like hell. Rose had never hit him, but her mum had and Jackie had one hell of a slap. Considering Rose was her mother's daughter, it wasn't looking good.
How was he going to explain this to her when she woke up? Hey, I'm sorry I left you with my soon-to be-dead clone, but he sent you back here to give you back to me. Oh, and you never get to see your mum, dad and Tony again. Sorry he didn't tell you his plan. Welcome back! Now, where do you want to go? He chuckled lightly at himself, imagining Rose's face as she just sat there staring at him like he had sprouted a second head. He looked up quickly when a small sound caught his ear, but she had only turned over in her sleep. He could see her face clearly now- the tears that she had shed earlier were dry but still left marks down her cheeks. He longed to reach out and tuck a piece of stray hair behind her ear like he had done so many times before, but restrained himself. Instead, he took his time to mark the changes in her face that had happened since he last saw her.
It had only been about 7 months for him, but for her it had been at least two or three. Time ran differently when you travelled through it. He traced the outline of her face with his eyes, hair a little shorter like he noticed earlier that night, face a little slimmer, the cheekbones more pronounced. Any baby fat was long gone now. Her nose was still cute as a button, full lips open slightly in sleep, but it was her eyes he yearned to see- those beautifully emotional brown eyes with flecks of honey.
Those eyes which showed so much emotion, that danced with delight with her laughter. He hoped she would laugh with him again. She deserved that. If his other self was telling the truth, she had not laughed in a long time. He just wanted her to wake up no matter what might happen when she did. whether it was a slap, a hug or…
Or…
A familiar voice broke through his thoughts.
"Where the hell am I?"
Rose was awake.
It was time he faced the music.
