A/N: Last one of this bit!

The Singing Trees (3)

The Vixi were singing- Rose could hear it flow through her mind like rich, sweet water. The notes were pure and unheard, and Rose fell instantly in love with the song. After several seconds, she joined in.

How different her mental voice sounded!

It was… beautiful. It rose and fell like a gently rolling hill, making the loveliest of melodies Rose had ever heard- the sounds and tunes and pitches melding together in the perfect harmony. It was utterly unlike her normal Cockney drawl- maybe this was what the Doctor meant by different voices…

But she was too busy listening to the song that they were singing to concentrate on her voice; there were no lyrics to it, but words were sewn into the very fabric of the notes. And everything Rose heard, she could understand, in a way; it sang of times she didn't know, of planets and stars and wonderful legends- stories and myths and fantasies and other people's dreams; of pasts and presents and futures passed down through generations upon generation of Vixi; never changed, never forgotten.

What is this, Doctor? She asked as she sang- although singing should have consumed all of her concentration, Rose found it was startlingly easy to do both, as if part of her was designed to do that, and the other part was suited to talking, making it as simple as breathing.

Memories and stories and countless anecdotes are created and passed on through these songs. He explained. Listen. Rose listened, and underlying all of the bits of broken song was a story (how she knew that's what is was, she didn't know); about a girl- young ... but so old at the same time. Rose couldn't see her face, but she could almost sense what she looked like- white and darkness, ice-blue (Rose paused to listen again, more information seeping into her head) all the colours mixing to form a picture in her mind's eye; black curling hair, skin paler than she'd ever seen on a person…

She's a legend, amongst the Vixi- she's famous on a lot of planets, actually; she saved their entire race a few hundred years ago, and they've never forgotten her. He whispered softly.

She dead. It wasn't a question, but Rose noticed that the Doctor hesitated slightly longer than usual before answering her- as if he were indecisive… or in pain.

But she lives on, in the stories.The Doctor continued, Rose not noticing the hiss of pain behind his usual cheery words. As long as there are Vixi to pass them on, she's immortal, living an endless life in their history.

That's… beautiful.She whispered, lost for words.

Yeah. His reply was short and clipped, as if were a topic that caused him great discomfort, so she didn't press him to elaborate.

Show me what you really sound like. She said suddenly- more to banish the darkness that was underlying their conversation, but she actually was very curious- and it shook the Doctor out of his black mood.

What?

You said before. Rose prompted. That you were shielding me from what your voice really sounds like. She paused. So... your mental voice is different than your real one, and this is what I really sound like? She marvelled at the flawless voice that echoed through her mind; it couldn't be hers!

She heard the Doctor laugh, the noise resonating deep inside a forgtten part of her mind.

More or less, yes. He answered. This is your mental voice, Rose.

So, will you show me yours?

Well... he paused thoughtfully. I suppose I could reconnect the physic-kinetic networks and manipulate the causal nexus strands linking our minds...

Rose blinked. Er, all right... you do that.

The Doctor was silent for a moment.

There we are! He said finally. You should be able to hear the difference.

But Rose wasn't listening.

She was too busy trying to control her mind, which had skittered in every direction possible when the Doctor had spoken. She couldn't move.

Rose, are you alright? Rose felt herself collapse as he spoke again. But his voice was just so beautiful...

Now you're just exaggerating.

Rose blushed. She'd forgotten the Doctor could hear everything she thought.

Not really. She admitted. It's lovely.

That seems a popular opinion. The Doctor said smugly. I've been told that so many times...

Rose felt a pang of unexplainable jealousy, but she pushed it away. Vanity was never a good look for you, Doctor.

He laughed, and Rose forgot about his remark; the simple sound was breathtakingly beautiful; like sparkling wind chimes. She loved it- it was so different from his usual voice, but behind the perfect words lay a distinct Doctor-ishness; but more poetic, like he was singing. Singing all the time...

The flawless voice of an angel.

Now that is going too far, Rose. The Doctor chuckled, and she hissed with pleasure at the sound. She couldn't help it- every syllable he uttered made her heart sing- why was it affecting her this way?

You're human; I can't hold it against you if my voice makes you powerless. The Doctor sounded so smug and satisfied that Rose would have scowled if she hadn't been hanging helplessly on every word he said.

How come mine isn't doing the same to you? She asked crossly, and the Doctor lost his smugness.

Oh it is. He admitted. But I have better restraint than you, petty human.

Petty human with a lovely voice. She retorted, and he didn't argue, of which she was thankful; any more of his voice and she'd be completely out of control; it was so beautiful it made her chest ache.

But she couldn't let it cloud her judgement.

To distract herself, Rose focused more on the song that was still being sung. It seemed the entire song was about the woman who'd saved them;

With every line, a picture sprang up in front of her eyes, burning on her retinas like cool fire. An invasion- spaceships hovering, shooting. Acres of forests burning. Screams. Vixi fleeing.

And in the midst of the chaos, the woman, with a long black coat on. Rose sensed it was hers, but it reminded her strongly of the Doctor's. She was walking through it all. Talking to the aliens; saying words Rose knew so well, but coming from the wrong mouth.

You get one chance- stop now. Because if you don't, I have to stop you.

The aliens laughing bitterly. And then screaming as they ships were torn apart and they were sucked into the Void. The girl, not waiting to be thanked by the Vixi. Disappearing into the mists. Her departure witnessed, but the memory had grown clouded with the generations- marked only by a noise.

A whir of ancient, familiar engines...

Time Lord. Rose gasped, breaking out of the trance. She was a Time Lord?!

Yeah. The Doctor answered shortly.

A Time Lord saved the Vixi. Rose said slowly, and then smiled. She sounded like you- what she said to them. It's what you would've said.

The Doctor didn't say anything.

Doctor?

It's time we stopped now. He said, abruptly breaking their connection, the song in Rose's head ceasing suddenly, leaving her with a bizarre sense of loneliness.

Opening eyes she hadn't realised she'd closed; Rose looked around, blinking in the harsh sunlight.

"Shame it's over so quickly." She remarked sadly, and the Doctor laughed.

"Rose, we've been sitting here for over and two and a half hours." He paused. "Well, if we're going to be precise; two hours, eighteen minutes and four seconds."

Hours? It had seemed like mere minutes. Rose coughed, embarrassed. "Oh, right- yeah, I knew that."

The Doctor smiled; stretched and stood up slowly; Rose followed, her shoulders popping painfully and she hissed at the stiffness. Maybe they had been sitting down for hours.

* * *

"Now, why don't you tell me where you want to go next?" The Doctor said, his long coat swishing as he chucked it blindly- as always, it landed with stunning accuracy that only the Doctor seemed to possess- onto the coral-like beam as he strode past.

Rose swallowed and smiled at him. "This your last one before I take over again remember, so give it some thought- I can't wait." He said, grinning. "I think I've been shown up enough for one lifetime."

Rose stopped; a though coming to her.

It was the one place she wanted to go now- but could she ask? Should she?

No, she shouldn't be entertaining such thoughts-Rose wasn't even sure it was possible- it just wasn't fair to him…

"Rose?" the Doctor's voice brought her back to reality, and she felt guilt rise in her throat. "You made your mind up yet, woman? I don't know; human females these days- in one ear, out the other! Come on, out with it. I won't laugh- tell me and we'll go, promise."

Rose looked up. Anywhere? "Really?" She asked timidly, and he grinned encouragingly, completely clueless.

"Course! You're in charge, so I have no say- we go where you want to go." He paused. "Unless you want to go to the sun. You don't do you?" Rose shook her head.

"Well, then out with it girl! What planet do you want to go to?"

Rose could only shake her head. "You won't like it."

The Doctor only snorted. "I'll be the judge of that- just say it. I won't freak or have a hissy fit like a big girl or whatever else it is you're worried about."

"You might." She said, running a hand over the TARDIS console nervously, unable to meet the Doctor's gaze.

"Can…" Rose hesitated and then continued in a rush, as if she was afraid if she didn't, the words would be stopped if she didn't say them fast enough.

And then she said the one thing she knew she shouldn't ever ask.

"Can we go to yours?"

Really enjoyed writing this story- it was written solely so I could go to Gallifrey! Hehe...

Anyway, next part is called PART FIVE: Solace and Solitude- I'll post the first next weekend, if you're hopeful.

Reviews?