(All rights and stories about Death belongs to Expanded Universe of Doctor Who and Classic Series, I just altered them a bit for my story)
Rose was flying, she could feel time passing by and she could feel the power of the vortex that cocooned her, she opened her eyes and was scared for a second, she was with the Doctor a minute ago, now she was on some astral plain, she was here once when she became the Bad Wolf, she recognized this place between the worlds. It was just there, it didn't weight anything, had no light, no darkness, no time, nothing, it was just there and there was creatures who held the immense powers of the Universe and she didn't like it, she knew why they called her, but she is Time, she can do whatever the hell she wants and it's none of their business.
She actually liked this gang, when she first came into power they met her with respect and honor, just like she did for them, they were all entwined by the powers they were given and duties they shared. But right now she wanted o kick their butts.
She could see many creatures here: White and Black Guardians better known as Good and Evil, Destiny, Life and Death. White and Black Guardians looked like two gentlemen in their 50th, they were wearing simple office suits, except Good was wearing a white costume and Evil a black one, Destiny looked like a she was 10 years old, she had curly red hair and very light eyes, Life and Death were twin sisters, or brothers, they didn't have a gender as such. They all were once mortals but by the Universe they were assigned their new identities, but none of them used to be humans, except for Rose.
-Why am I here? - she asked – Not that I am not happy to see you…well, I'm lying. I am most defiantly not happy to see you. What do you want?
-You know perfectly well why, Bad Wolf – said Destiny, her almost transparent eyes scanned Rose– You stayed in mortals' world for way too long and all because of your Timelord.
-So? I am Time, I exist everywhere, I am already dead basically, like you guys, I can have a bit of fun.
-We are not here for fun! – growled Evil – We are here to fulfill our duties! We were given our powers…
-Yeah, yeah, yeah, so we could help the Universe until the end of days. – Rose rolled her eyes-I know that, thanks.
-Than why you behave like a mortal? Your human emotions distract you! You had your life with him, it's time to let go. – said White Guardian
-I can't – Rose said quietly - I promised I'll stay for ten more years and then be gone. For good.
-Are you sure? Are you sure that you'll be able to leave him? – asked Life – You love him, we all knew love but we sacrificed it for the Universe, you on the other hand still attached.
-It's not like I am messing with human – said Rose firmly – He is a TIME lord, the answer in his name, plus he was partly the reason I became this. I didn't just stay with him, I helped to save Gallifrey and now…this is my reward.
-We all took part in saving Gallifrey – said Death carefully
Rose closed her eyes, she knew that they had their reasons, but she had hers, she did so many things…and now she wanted to feel happiness just for awhile.
-My friends, I know that you concerned, but I promise that I won't stay or change anything, I'll leave him and mortals' world forever when the time comes. I already fulfilled all my duties and I deserve peace before I disappear forever.
Life and Death smirked.
-Like that ever gonna happen – they said together.
-I trust the Bad Wolf – Destiny stood up for Rose– We promised to be truthful with each other and I see no lies in her words.
-Yeah, but that's not what we meant, - said Life – You see, you all guys have your secrets, we have ours.
-What do you mean? – asked Destiny
-You'll see when you die – grinned Death
-Oh, come on! Are you really implying there is life after death? Seriously? To us? We are sort of have the immense knowledge of the worlds and I personally never met any implications of the afterlife – said Evil
-That's because you weren't looking hard enough – said Life – I am not saying anything, or imply anything, let's just say we don't get how the Bad Wolf can bend time the way she wants and you have no clue about death and re-birth, the real ones, I mean. We all can restore life if we won't while they are still in the Universe.
-I have no idea what are you talking about – said Rose, she felt her head started to hurt a bit. Too much information – But I kind of figured that there is something after we die.
-Sure you did! –said Death smiling – You are Time, you saw and felt re-birth so many times that this thought had to come into your blonde head. But we won't say anything more, professional secrets and all.
-Blonde jokes from Death, seriously? – asked Rose with a smile, Death chuckled. – OK, can we get back? I promise, I'll leave Trenzalore and he won't see me again. And I won't reveal myself to anyone again, all my adventures are over and I'll be stuck with you guys.
-Good to hear, although you won't, because we won't – said Life – As soon as you finish your business, we are all gonna have a bit of vacations until the new Universe will take place. I actually hope that someone else will take our duties next time.
-What do you mean? – asked Destiny in her very unchild voice.
-Well, we already did everything, right? – said Death - We witnessed the birth and death of this Universe, we fixed everything we had to, we killed everything we had to and brought to life, you Destiny created all possible ways for every possible creature, you Time did your job. What I mean, we exist for too long and we don't exist at all at the same time. We all finished our mortal business, except for you, Bad Wolf, and we can now move on. We already revealed ourselves in every possible and necessary points in time and space from the beginning to the end. And now, we can rest.
-You mean like we are going to a Paradise? – asked Evil sarcastically, his black eyes were shining with amusement
-Ha-ha, - laughed Death – Of course not, but you'll see. Bad Wolf, we'll be waiting for you here. After all what 10 years for us? A glimpse. Good luck with your Timelord, we all had troubles with him.
-Yep, I remember when I tried to persuade him to find the Key of Time, seriously he was so stubborn – said White Guardian
-I tried to kill him, but everything was just against me - sighed the Black one – I suppose you Time and Destiny were responsible for that.
-Yeah, he is a troublesome. – was all Rose said, she didn't want to go into that old story - See you all in a glimpse.
With that Rose felt herself at home, she find herself where she left, in her bedroom. The Doctor must have woken up awhile ago; his bedside was empty and cold, Rose got up and went down the stairs. The house was empty. OK, that's weird, the Doctor wouldn't go somewhere without telling her, maybe someone attacked while she was asleep?
She changed into jeans and hoodie and went outside, she heard as someone was building something on the backyard, thanks God, that's mean that the Doctor decided to play with his tools. Rose smiled to herself, she really did behave like a human.
-Doctor, you know for a second I though you went off fighting aliens without me, I wouldn't want miss the fun, you know that, right?
The Doctor glanced her and dropped his tools, he looked at her with huge eyes and open mouth unable to say a word. He just stared at her, his whole body was tensed and he was trembling.
-Doctor – said Rose tenderly – Is everything all right? Why are you looking at me like that? I didn't sleep for that long, did I?
In three big steps, the Doctor crossed the backyard and embraced Rose, she returned the hug and then she felt the Doctor was trembling with tears, ok, that was even scarier then she originally thought. What could possibly happen in 10 minutes while she was gone? Wait a minute, Rose inhaled deeply, it wasn't 10 minutes!
-I thought you left me – said Doctor harshly – Rose, why would you do that to me? Without a warning or goodbye! Where were you?
-Doctor, - she freed herself and looked at him – How long was I gone?
-Two weeks.
-WHAT?! – damn Eternals, Rose thought – Doctor, listen to me – she took his hands – I am sorry I was gone for that long and you had to think terrible things but I was summoned somewhere, I swear I was sure I came back the minute I was gone.
-Summoned, what do you mean summoned? – The Doctor was angry, Rose's disappearance broke him, she was supposed to stay with him for 9 more years and he wanted answers. – Rose, tell me what's going on, please, I need to know.
-Come on – she grabbed his hand and they appeared in their room, they settled on their unmade bed. Rose knew that the Doctor was furious, she would be too, but it's not like it was her fault! It's hard to jump from one plain to another! Good thing she came back in two weeks, not two centuries.
-Doctor, I was summoned by Eternals – as always, Rose didn't like all the pre-talks and decided to get to the point.
The Doctor felt as if he were dragged into the frozen water. This wasn't good, that was beyond any good! He met Eternals a few times and he still thanks every atom in the world that he survived those meetings, he didn't like to think of them, but then he looked at Rose's golden eyes and figured that perhaps she was an Eternal herself now, he should have figured that.
-Are you Eternal too? – he asked
-Of course I am, I thought it was obvious – she shrugged
-I didn't like them and I do like you, so I didn't want to build a parallel, but now that you've mentioned them…What did they want?
Somehow, he knew that it has something to do with him and her being here. She shouldn't be here, in mortals' world as she said, she stayed here because of him and got in trouble for that.
-They wanted to be sure that I'll leave you when the time comes – she said quietly
-Oh…
-They were concerned, that I'll…well that I'll break the rules and stay here with you until the end.
The Doctor frowned a bit
-Did they have any reason for that? As far as I know, you always left me when you had to.
-Yeah, but this time is different, I forget sometimes with you that I am not a human anymore – she looked in the window – I guess they decided that I need to be reminded.
-You were thinking of staying? – he asked in a bit shaky voice.
-The thought crossed my mind once or twice. – she closed her eyes - I am sorry, Doctor, but even when this thought beams into my head, in the end I still know that I can't stay and I told them that.
The Doctor leaned the back of his head to the wall. He knew that Rose wasn't his companion anymore that she just stayed here because of her kindness and love for him, but he also managed to fool himself sometimes, that perhaps she'll stay here with him and now the reality broke into their little world. They had 9 years 10 months together, approximately. And then she'll be gone and he won't see her ever again. Rose could see his grim thoughts, she squeezed his hand and he looked at her with his ageless eyes, he looked like a Timelord now, powerful and old, he smiled weakly at her and she curled up against him. They didn't talk for a long time, they didn't need to. They just needed each other. Slowly they drifted off to sleep.
Rose woke up after couple of hours; she didn't need to sleep since technically she was awake for 3 hours at most. The Doctor on the other hand didn't sleep well for weeks and needed his rest, she decided to eat something and got down to the kitchen, she found a few sandwiches and made herself a glass of warm milk. She looked into the window, she was so tired of Trenzalore's eternal snow, how she wished to go somewhere sunny and flowery, she couldn't imagine living here for centuries as the Doctor suppose to do. She hoped that these years they spend together will ease his life here.
-For a minute I thought you were gone again – the Doctor said from behind, he was wearing nothing but his pajamas bottoms.
-Nah, I just wanted a snack - she smiled - Wanna join me?
-Sure – he limped to the table – Warm milk and sandwiches at 3 in the morning? I feel like I am 12 again.
-You didn't do such thing when you were 12 – said Rose
-Oi! We can at least pretend that I had a normal, happy childhood!
-Sorry, love – she smiled- your rules on Gallifrey still give me shivers.
-No kidding – he said while chewing a sandwich – You, RoseTyler, would have escaped that place too. Anyway, I wanted to ask something, just out of curiosity. When you were summoned – he added carefully – Where exactly were you? It's not like you have a supernatural round table for Eternals, do you?
-Well of course not, Doctor – Rose laughed – You know, your curiosity will bring you no good.
-Oh, come on, Rose Tyler, I am already dying, your secrets are safe with me. – Rose rolled her eyes.
-Well, we were in some astral plain, sort of, it exists beyond time and space and it can contain all our powers. By the way Black and White Guardians said "hi."
-What? You know these two old guys? – he frowned - You have waaay too many powerful and dangerous friends.
-Oi, I am one of them! And actually I talked to Death and she said something weird.
-You talked to Death – he said with a mock expression - How can anything be not weird?
-Why are you so surprised? – Rose asked – You've met the Eternals, you even talked to Death, why can't I, considering that I am Time?
-I never spoke to Death, Rose. I think I would have remembered something like that – he said flatly. This conversation was insane even by his standards.
-Hmm…-Rose said thoughtfully – Maybe you wouldn't, perhaps she erased your memories after you did the job – she sipped her milk, the Doctor was looking at her with open mouth – What?
-You are saying I met Death and she erased my memories of that. – the Doctor shifted uncomfortably
-Maybe, this is not my domain and I am not allowed to intervene in others' business. But we rarely reveal ourselves to the mortals and usually erase their memories of us.
-Did you ever erase memories?
-A couple of times, yeah. I remember I talked once to this Emperor of Green Valley, you know in the Union System, he proclaimed their lost Goddess and tried to marry me so we could create the most powerful heir in the world – Rose laughed- Poor lad, I guess I erased too much of his memories.
-Well, I can't really blame him – the Doctor said in a seductive voice, he leaned closer to her and captured Rose's lips – After all you are the Bad Wolf – Rose smiled – Even when we travelled, you were proposed, what? 6 times? And I remember you got married once, to that ancient guy – he trailed down his kisses to her neck and then kissed gently between her breasts – But you've always been mine.
Rose didn't really hear what he was saying she just enjoyed the feeling. The Doctor took of her hoodie and snogged her thoroughly, he decided to take the lead and she didn't mind one bit, he was really good at that.