A/N: So here's the thing: After reviewing this story a bit I've decided that I'm none too fond of where I put the chapter break for that last chap. I wrote this more as one unit, you see. So I've made the decision to change it. IF you found this story after this third chapter was posted, you won't notice a thing. But if you already read the first two chapters before I posted this third one, you'll see a good bit of the ending of what was chapter 2 repeated here at the start of chapter 3. I'm sorry about this.

"Alright, you two…" Jackie Tyler's voice shattered the silence of the night. Rose inhaled sharply at her mother's agitated tone, opening her eyes at once and realizing for the first time that it really had gotten dark. In startled reaction she rolled away from the man who held her, still not used to showing such affection in front of her mother - even if it was innocent, and even if she knew her mother did not care. The Doctor, however, did not move, making it clear that he was in no way offended by her proximity or their position. He let her roll to face her mother and looked up, but he neither released her hand nor pushed her away.

Jackie did not seem the least bit phased by finding them lying down in the sand, the Doctor's arms wrapped about her daughter. She continued in the same tone she had begun. "I finally got ahold of Pete – reception is terrible out here. He's called the cab for us and he's arranging a flight home. Anyway, the road's that way; must be five miles off! I had to walk all the way down there and back to get service." She pointed behind her, annoyed.

The Doctor nodded, rolling himself slightly to slip his knees under him while still maintaining as much closeness to Rose as he could. He still had not released her hand as he pushed himself to his feet, repositioned their grasp, and helped her up.

"Thanks, mum." Rose said honestly as she remembered yet another marvelous benefit of being made to stay in Pete's World: Her family. She had made ready to leave them forever, but now she was back. When she had said goodbye to little Tony she did not think he understood that his big sister was never coming back; and now he never had to.

As she stood up Rose at last let go of the Doctor's hand in order to wrap her arms about her mother. She pulled her close into a tight, warm embrace, which Jackie returned even tighter. "Really. Thank you." Rose whispered earnestly, as it hit her at last that she would not have to say goodbye to her mother after all. The Doctor had given her more than she could ever have asked for.

"Thank you, sweetheart." Jackie smiled as her daughter embraced her. She could not help but look up to the man behind her. "And thank you, Doctor. Thank you for staying, and letting her stay." Jackie raised an arm from her hug to bring the Doctor into it. He smiled largely and joined in the warm embrace, holding Jackie and Rose together in his arms. They were, he realized for not the first time, his family. More so now than ever. He loved them. It was something he did not ever think he would say about Jackie Tyler, but what was one more surprise with this new life of his?

As their group hug ended Rose's hand found the Doctor's once more, without looking.

"Right then, it's only getting darker. Road's this way, follow me." Jackie turned the led them up a small, sandy embankment.

Even though they had been laying on the damp sand for quite some time it was only just now that either of them realized exactly how cold and windy it had gotten. The Doctor made no hesitation in promptly removing his suit jacket and draping it about Rose's shoulders, but she stopped him. He had forgotten that he was part human now too. He did not know the details of his new physiology, but there was nothing to say that he could not catch cold just as easily as she could now. On top of this, he, unlike normal, only sported a thin T-shirt underneath his coat. Rose already had a jacket, and although she would have normally accepted the gesture, she insisted that the Doctor keep his.

"You've only just got this one body now, and I don't want you getting sick on your first day." She said, sounding all-together like her mother. The Doctor nodded a bit sadly as he was reminded once more of his human nature. Rose gave his hand a small squeeze, which he returned just as firmly. They would make it through.

It was much less than five miles to the road – it probably wasn't even one mile – but in the sand their progress was slow. And that was alright. The Doctor savored this feeling; of truly having a hand to hold. No one's hand fit his quite like Rose's. He knew that he was, quite literally, made for her. Perhaps more so now than ever.

When they finally reached the road nearest the beach they sat on the curb for a while in silence. Rose sat beside the Doctor, their hands still held tight, and leaned on his side. But they did not have to wait long before a pair of faint headlights could just be seen in the distance off to their right. After a minute or two a silver car labeled 'taxi' was pulling slowly up by the curb. The cabby rolled down his window and smiled as Rose stood up.

"Rose Tyler." He said confidently, "And Jackie too, it's been a while!" His voice bore a think Norwegian accent, but his English was very good. "How in the world did you get out here without me?" He chuckled. The Doctor's brow knotted in confusion.

"Hi, Aren." Jackie greeted the driver by name, "It's a bit of a long story…" She said as opened the door and slid into the farthest seat.

"Well we've got all the way to the airport, am I right? You're lucky I was already so close." Aren answered. "And who's this? Bringing friends along now?" He turned to see the Doctor for the first time as Rose followed her mum into the car. "Glad to see you've finally got a man."

"Aren!" Jackie scolded, but laughed. The Doctor was still standing there staring oddly at the cabby, wondering how he should respond and why this stranger was apparently an old family friend.

"Glad to meet you, sir: Hop in." Aren nodded from the Doctor to the open car door, and the Doctor finally followed suit. It had been a very, long time since he had ridden in a car, especially one of this century.

"It is the airport, isn't it?" Aren next asked, looking back to Rose through his rear-view mirror as his passengers buckled their seat belts.

"Yeah." She answered. "And this might be the last time."

"What, really?" Aren laughed a bit as he pulled away from the curb and began to turn the car around. "Finally giving up?"

"No." Rose answered quickly and strongly. "I finally found what I was looking for." Her hand immediately found the Doctor's and gripped it tight.

The Doctor smiled, but was still confused. He returned Rose's comforting grasp and turned to her with a raised eyebrow. "What's all this then?"

It was Rose he asked but it was Aren who answered. "Rose Tyler has become an ordinary customer of mine. She comes up here all the time. I've never found out exactly why: Always wondered if she even knew herself. She said she was looking for something, or waiting, either way. A few times her and a whole troop of them came up with equipment to boot!"

"We were seeing if being where the crack closed last would help the dimension cannon. It didn't." Rose informed the Doctor.

"Anyway, I don't know how you people can afford the trips, but it's good business for me, and I like seeing you. For a while it was almost every month you'd come up here to this beach. Never knew why this one, as no one else ever comes up here. All the nice beaches are farther south."

"I had my reasons." Rose tried not to blush. The Doctor was staring at her now, his mouth hanging the slightest bit open, his eyes full of a strange mix of wonder and sorrow.

"Fair enough!" Aren answered. The Doctor began to realize why this cabby was on such personal, friendly terms with Rose and Jackie: It was a tribute to how much time Rose had spent in this very cab, and at Bad Wolf Bay. "Like I said, the more I drive from the airport to way out here and back the easier it is to keep my job. And I'll be sad to see you go!" Aren next turned to address the Doctor, trying to catch his eye in the rearview mirror, but the Doctor was still looking to Rose. "This girl's great, in case you didn't know."

"I know." The Doctor responded quickly, without taking his eyes off of Rose. Aren continued.

"Friendliest customer I've ever had. Even if…" he stopped.

"Even if what?" The Doctor finally looked up. Rose bit her lip slightly.

"I, uh..." Aren tried to catch Rose's eye in the mirror. There was absolutely no one on the road, so it was not a risk for him to take such glances in the back seat. Rose gave a slight nod. The Doctor's brow creased. "Even if she is crying half the time." Aren finished quickly, his tone heavy and quiet with shame. "Sorry, I shouldn't –"

"It's alright." Rose told him, holding on to the Doctor's hand even tighter as he turned back to her, wondering if tears would fill his own eyes next. "All that's over now." She said, as much to herself as to the others.

"Rose, I…" The Doctor's voice lowered to nearly a whisper, his mouth agape. She turned to him and did not say a word. She did not stop him. He needed to say this. "I'm… I'm so sorry." The words sounded more honest than she had ever heard him say them before. The meaning of the previous conversation was still sinking into the Doctor's head. She had come back to look for him, to wait for him. In the midst of fighting with everything in her to find him, she had come back to this terrible beach, time after time, just to wish she could see him there once more. That she could hear him say those words. But he never came. After their last time at Bad Wolf Bay he hadn't even tried. He thought it was impossible, but she never gave up hope. She had suffered so much heartache, just because of him. And he hadn't even tried. He could no longer look her in the eye. "I-I never meant to…"

"I know." She cut him off, rubbing his hand where it was still entwined with her own. "And I told you…" a small smile tugged at the corner of her lips, summoning his eyes back up to her own. "I found what I was looking for."

A similar smile crept onto the Doctor's face. "Thank you." He said simply, his tone nothing less than adoring. Rose came to rest against his shoulder, snuggling next to him despite their seatbelts. He pressed a firm kiss against her hairline. "Thank you for never stopping." He whispered "Thank you for finding a way, and… Thank you for letting me stay." He murmured against her, Aren and Jackie had both been completely forgotten now. "Thank you for… being Rose." The Doctor finished.

He could feel her smile against him. "You're welcome, Doctor… You're worth it." he heard her whisper back.

The Doctor smiled and closed his eyes. As he breathed in her scent he realized at last what this new world was: It was home. He was coming home.