Neither the Doctor nor Rose noticed when Jack left the room, quietly slipping out so the two could reunite in peace and quiet. He had better things to do anyway. With a grin, his heart feeling full now that he knew his friends finally had a chance at being happy, he made his way back out into the celebrations.

The Doctor gently moved his head into a slightly more comfortable position, his cheek rubbing against her soft hair and stirring up her scent again. He breathed in the smell of strawberries, vanilla, something he couldn't name that had always just been her scent, and felt the tingle of time against his nose. He felt tears well in his eyes at the familiar sensation of breathing her in.

Rassilon, he'd missed her.

He held her close to his chest, feeling her shape fit against his so perfectly and her arms wrap around his torso. She rubbed gentle circles on his back, and though she was only touching his coat, he felt his skin tingle at the contact.

Reluctantly, he leaned away from her, amused to hear a displeased sound from Rose's throat as he did so. He carefully brushed a lock of hair behind her ear, letting his thumb graze her cheekbone as he did so. She leaned into his touch, smiling slightly at the feel on his skin on hers.

"TARDIS?" He suggested hopefully. She smiled at him and nodded, removing her arms from his waist and taking his hand in hers, intertwining their fingers. He felt joy bubble in his stomach. It had been so long since he'd held her hand…that hand that always seemed to fit perfectly inside of his. He used his thumb to rub reassuring circles on the back on her hand, unable to take his eyes off her face as they walked slowly towards his ship.

They ducked and dodged the crowd of celebrating people, which had grown in size as more and more people found each other.

When they finally reached the TARDIS, safely tucked away in a quiet alleyway, he quickly pushed his key in and opened the door, gallantly letting Rose go in first. He watched as she slowly made her way in, looking around the familiar setting with a soft smile on her face. He felt the TARDIS's joy at being reunited with her Wolf, a hum in his mind that was almost excited.

Rose slowly walked up to the console, lightly touching the buttons and the rotor and his ship seemed to keen with delight under the blonde's touch, which made both Rose and the Doctor smile widely, though a second after the Doctor felt a frown tug at his eyebrows.

Since when had Rose been telepathic?

He watched the TARDIS and Rose interact for a few minutes, seeing Rose smile and laugh at the hum of the TARDIS that she could obviously feel in her mind and he felt a pure sort of happiness squeeze at his hearts. His two girls, reunited.

Unable to stay away from her (he'd just gotten her back!) the Doctor surged forward, closing the distance between himself and Rose in only a few steps before taking her into his arms again, holding her tightly, desperately, to his chest, as though he were afraid she might disappear if he blinked.

Which he was.

"Rose," he breathed against her hair, murmuring her name multiple times before he pulled out of the hug. "How are you here?" He asked her desperately, pulling back from their hug so that he could see her face and gently run his fingertips along her jaw line.

She stared up at him with shining whiskey-coloured eyes, brimming with unshed tears and happiness. Cautiously, giving him plenty of time to pull away, she put her fingertips on his temple.

He closed his eyes, shuddering at her touch and at the feel of her mind brushing against his. He felt a soft hello come his way, and he grinned, his eyes still closed, reveling in the contact she shouldn't have been able to feel.

In an instant, he was bombarded with images.

Darlig Ulv Stranden. Abandonment. Hope.

Nightmares. Fear. Abandonment again.

John. Frustration. Anger. Shouting.

Nightmares.

John. Comfort. Relief. "Please don't leave me."

"I'll be here as long as you want, sweetheart."

Kisses. Kisses on her nose.

Kisses on her forehead.

Kisses on her lips.

Uniform. Torchwood. Promotion. Sergeant. Salute.

Weapons.

Hugs.

"Dress like you."

TARDIS key.

John. Blue Suit. Smile. Kiss.

Picnic. Laughing. Happiness.

"I had the stars and time at my feet, and I can't think of any time I've been happier than the time we've spent together."

"You make me so happy, and you don't even have to do anything."

Ring. "Will you marry me?"

War. Sontarans. Fear. Alone.

Dying.

Waking Up.

Fear.

The Doctor stiffened at this last image, his whole body reacting against the thought of not only Rose dying, but Rose becoming a fixed point in time. He waited for waves of discomfort, like he got from Jack, and frowned when none came.

John. Comfort. Fear. Together.

Work. John. Dress. John. Cake. Banana frosting.

"You haven't aged a day."

Fear. John.

Harriet Jones. Happy.

Dress. Veil. John. Happy.

John.

"For the rest of time, there is no place I'd rather be than at your side, if you'll have me."

"There's me." Laughter.

"When I needed you most – to remind me of who I really am, there you were."

"If you'll have me, I'd like to love you for the rest of my human life."

Kiss.

Family. Happiness.

Joy. Work. Fear. John.

Happiness.

John.

Sick. Fear. Hospital. John. Fear.

Hospital. Jackie. Alone.

Hospital. Pete. Alone.

Hospital. Tony. Alone.

Hospital. John. Sick. Fear.

John.

Hospital. John.

Alone.

Isolation. Fear. Anger.

Work. Alone.

Bad Wolf. Fear.

Telepathy. Fear.

Death. Fear.

Hopeless.

Anger.

Pain.

Abandonment.

Strength. Determination. Fear.

Old. Young face. Confused. Lost.

Determination.

Goodbye.

Howling.

"Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

"Rose?"

Rose removed her fingers from his temple, blinking several times as her eyes readjusted to the light after having her eyes closed to better focus on the memories she'd been projecting to him. As she lowered her hand, the Doctor captured it in his, pressing a light kiss to her knuckles before leaning forward and pressing another kiss to her forehead. He heard her sigh under the contact, and felt a small tremble pass through her. He ached for her, wishing he could remove the pain he'd caused by leaving her, wishing that she hadn't had to feel so abandoned, time and time again.

"How long has it been?" he asked her quietly, his lips still against her forehead. He felt her shiver as his voice vibrated through her.

She took a deep breath before answering, wiggling so that she was pressed closer to him and resting her head on his shoulders, nuzzling against the crook of his neck. He pressed his cheek against hers and held her tightly. "288 years since I last saw you," she told him quietly, and he felt her voice vibrate through his chest. He sucked in a breath at her admission. She shouldn't be alive. She absolutely could not be alive. But she was. "217 years since I last saw him." Her voice broke a little on the last word, and the Doctor felt his hearts break for his pink and yellow human.

"I'm sorry," He whispered into her hair, "I'm so, so sorry."

Rose stayed where she was, pressed against her Doctor, feeling the comforting thrum of the double heartbeat against her chest. Her throat tightened as he whispered his apologies. She felt like she needed to cry, she wanted to cry to relieve the pressure that was building behind her eyes and in her throat. But she had had more than two hundred years to cry. Rose Tyler had no more tears to give. Instead, she stayed where she was, her head tucked under his chine and resting on his shoulder. She felt her knees start to betray her and her thoughts began to swim. Suddenly she couldn't recall when was the last time she'd slept. Three weeks ago? A month ago? She didn't remember.

"I'm so tired," she whispered against his chest, allowing herself to be vulnerable because this was the Doctor and her body was failing her anyway.

"When was the last time you slept?" The Doctor asked her quietly, reluctant to move from their position, but he'd noticed her knees buckle and felt her lean on him more heavily.

"Don't know." Rose slurred.

Trying not to jostle her too much, the Doctor carefully swung one arm so that it was tucked under her knees and scooped her up bridal style, worry tugging at his mind when she was far too light. She barely reacted during the pickup, and the Doctor suspected she was half asleep already. He hugged her tightly to his chest as he made his way down the corridor the TARDIS nudged him towards, letting her guide him while he kept his eyes on his precious bundle.

He reached her door quite soon, and the TARDIS helpfully swung it open for him. Sending her a mental thanks, he moved into Rose's bedroom, untouched even after all her years of absence, and carefully placed her on her bed. He removed her worn boots and placed them on the floor noiselessly so he wouldn't wake her.

He felt blood rise to his cheeks as he looked at the rest of her clothes. She'd clearly been wearing the same thing for several days, having had no change of clothes and little time for laundry, and realized that he couldn't leave her in those clothes to sleep.

"Rose, you need to wake up," he whispered, carefully brushing her hair behind her ear.

"Go 'way, John." She muttered sleepily. His hearts tugged at him again.

"Rose, you need to change." The Doctor told her, his voice shaking slightly. Embarrassed, he went to the dresser and pulled out the top item – a well loved jumper that looked suspiciously like the one he'd preferred in his last body – and placed it on her lap, feeling his whole face turn red when he realized that while he'd been turned she'd managed to yank off her trousers. Unabashedly, and probably still half asleep, she tugged off her shirt and replaced it with the jumper he'd handed her before collapsing onto her side again.

His cheeks thoroughly flushed, he turned to leave, only to have his wrist grabbed. He turned to see that Rose's eyes were half open, and she was looking at him with fear, an uncharacteristic vulnerability coming through, and she suddenly looked so young. "Please don't leave." She whispered desperately, panic written across her features.

With a sigh, he loosened her grip and pulled away. He carefully removed his trench coat and folded it neatly, resting it on the chair in front of her vanity. He tugged off his shoes and took off his suit jacket, placing it down with equal care. He unbuttoned his cuffs and rolled the sleeves up. Satisfied, he climbed over Rose, settling against her back so that he was spooning her. "Of course." He breathed reassuringly, and he felt and heard her sigh in relief.

He made himself comfortable, playing absentmindedly with her hair or running his fingers gently up and down her arm. Soon, her breathing evened out and her mental shields slipped, allowing him brief access to what could have been dreams, but he suspected that with her level of fatigue she would not dream, only fall into blissful nothing.

He felt fatigue tug at his own body, and realized that it had been several weeks since he'd slept as well. With the TARDIS humming contently in his mind and Rose Tyler curled up at his side, the Doctor fell into a restful slumber for the first time in centuries.

We're very close to the end, friends. Thanks to everyone who's still following. Please take time to review! Your reviews really do mean a lot to me and I get excited every time I get one.

To jackjenfan: Unfortunately, season 4 was canon. No Jenny :(