Rose found herself standing in a small apartment kitchen. The walls were a bit yellow but looked like someone had recently scrubbed them in a vain attempt to clean them. In fact, everything in the kitchen looked that way. There was a small table against one floral wallpaper covered wall that could seat no more than two, perhaps three at a squeeze. Two vinyl covered chairs were pushed in tidily at each side. A window at the end showed a view of the estate below and was framed in simple lace curtains. An oven, fridge, benches and cupboards lined the opposite wall to the table. Rose smiled at the familiarity before heading out the door in search of the Doctor who, according to past experience, shouldn't be far.

As predicted, when she entered the lounge across the hall from the kitchen, there he sat on an old sofa with his back to her, huddled over some sort of experiment slash invention that was spread in bits and pieces all over the coffee table.
'Hello Doctor.' She greeted, walking around the sofa and hoping he'd know her and there wouldn't be a repeat of the last time she'd seen him.
He jumped and looked up, having been engrossed in what he was doing.
'Rose!' He cried joyfully and ripped off the strange contraption he'd had on his head that had served as a magnifying glass.
'That's me.' She grinned. He seemed much happier than she'd seen him in a while. 'So what's been happening?' She looked around the living room that was about three times the width of the kitchen and boasted a window at the same end. The only furnishings were some reasonable curtains, the sofa, coffee table and another chair opposite.
'Oh! We were thrown back in time by some Weeping Angels and now we have to live in 1969 until a very clever girl in 2007 named Sally Sparrow saves us all.' He grinned at her as though he was having the time of his life.
Rose grinned back, a little uncertain.
'We've been here for two weeks now. It's odd not to be the one to save the world, but to just wait for someone else to do it. But it's been fun! We met a very nice man down the road called Billy, and Stella in the next apartment has brought us lots of food. Valerie got the curtains for us. Martha's working in a shop! That's where she is now. Has to support me. I don't think she likes it very much.' He mused and then grinned as though he didn't really care how much she enjoyed it.
'You're going out of your mind aren't you.' Rose grinned.
'No. No. It's very lovely. Very domestic.' He shook his head. Rose raised an eyebrow at him. 'Oh alright yes!' He fell back on the couch and sat in a slump, his arms crossed over his chest. 'London was very boring in 1969. Nothing happens! It's just all beans on toast!' His lower lip crept out from underneath the top one and he looked very put out.

'But I thought 1969 was meant to be a brilliant year. Flower power and all that.'
'Hippies are fun for a while but after a bit they get to you. I used to travel with one, well she was close enough anyway. But no, I used to live in England in 1969 and so I'm already at all the good things that are happening so I can't go.' Rose was a little afraid that that sentence made perfect sense to her. 'Well… I could go but… don't have the TARDIS and I have to be here to make sure everything works out right for Sally.' He fell silent. Rose smiled at his desperation to move and explore and do something.

'Wait a minute, Martha's working in a shop? Poor thing.' Rose grinned. The Doctor nodded and grinned back.
'She hates it. I don't think she's ever worked in one before.'

'I'm sorry about last time Rose.' The Doctor grew serious. 'I was hiding.'
Rose nodded that she understood.
'You remembered me.' Rose smiled shyly.
'Of course I remembered you. You're… you.' The Doctor looked at her as though disbelieving that she'd ever doubt he would always remember her. If she was from his mind she should know that. He assumed that his mind had done a very good job of recreating Rose, insecurities and all.
'Doctor… Is there really no way for you to come and get me?' She looked down at her hands.
'Even if there was, you've probably moved on with your life by now… forgotten all about me.' The Doctor tried to look happy with that outcome but he just couldn't make it reach his eyes. 'You have Mickey and your mother and Pete.'
'No. I'd never forget you. Doctor. I've wanted you to come… so much.' Rose felt her voice begin to choke. 'Please. If you know a way, please come. I meant what I said at Canary Warf. I want to stay with you. Forever.'
The Doctor shook his head.
'Stop it.' He begged. He had to do what was right for Rose. Even if he could do it. What if he did and got there without destroying everything and then she didn't want to come? It would break his hearts even more than they were already. At least at the moment he had the illusion of Rose with him. It frightened him a little how much he looked forward to her turning up, and how happy he was when she did. He squeezed his eyes closed and rubbed his hand over them.

The door opened and shut and Martha called out for him. He sighed in relief. With Martha there he could be distracted away from his own thoughts. He stood and walked towards the kitchen where she'd gone to unload the shopping from her arms.
'Doctor. Please.' Rose begged.
The Doctor refused to turn around so he didn't see the tears spilling down her cheeks. He shook his head and continued out of the room. Rose rubbed her hands over the pain in her stomach and let a sob rip from within her. 'I love you,' she whispered as she faded away.