AN: Hello- thankyou for that rush of support last chap- it's nice to kow people are still reading and enjoying- I hope this sequel comes some way to the first. Hopefully my little 'finale' will wrap it off nicely.

A clue for the temporal enigma- omega. Anyone doing classical studies ought to sense the doom in that...

This chap's quote:

Birds sing after a storm; why shouldn't people feel as free to delight in whatever remains to them?

Right then- so Donna's safe, the butterflies are the Tarme's evolution, and she's filled their minds with hers after they nearly destroyed themselves. After the Doctor's...experience he's unwilling to be close to Amy- but still loves her. Said Scot was seriously burnt after a certain captain's not so subtle plan to simply crush the deadly roses.

And that's what you missed- last time on Growing up! (sorry, always wanted to write that)

Enjoy!

Amy flinched a little as the cold gel touched her neck, and then relaxed as she felt it begin to soothe and heal the burns there. Donna leant around to peer in her face, smiling.

"Better?"

Amy nodded, grinning back. "Much."

"You can look now Doctor." Donna called to the Time Lord, who'd been standing with his back turned to the girls- unable to face Amy's wounds after his experience with the Chimèrion Réaliser.

Stiffly he walked towards the redhead, still sat on a half plant, half metal seat which Donna had settled her on after seeing her burns. Luckily for Amy- since Donna was now the Tarme's queen, and the Doctor-Donna, whilst the Tarme's hive memories were practically non existent, she was able to figure out the right plant to use to heal the girl without resorting to the random kitchen concoction the Doctor had had to settle for with Shaun.

Amy held perfectly still as the Doctor's trembling fingers brushed her neck- the skin was once again clean, white and smooth, as if she'd never been burnt. He pulled his hand back- but as he did she grabbed it.

"Doctor- it's ok- I don't bite." She frowned and corrected herself. "Any more."

The Doctor looked like he wanted to smile, instead pain and disgust rose up in his eyes. Amy was still trying not to be hurt, trying not to react to these bizarre mood swings- but it was getting more and more difficult the longer he seemed to be repulsed by her.

Donna, sensing she had become a third wheel, silently set down the pot holding the cure she'd applied to Amy's burns and left the room- going to find Captain Jack.

The Time Lord turned to watch her go, and tried to hide his grimace from Amy. She saw it anyway, and leapt to her feet.

"Right- that's it- what's wrong? Why are you acting like this? What did I do wrong?"

The Doctor sighed, putting his hands in his pockets and trying not to look at her- trying to hide his pain from her. The problem was, he was succeeding.

Amy's eyebrows pulled up towards the centre of her forehead in confusion, the corners of her eyes narrowing slightly. The Doctor wanted desperately to smooth away her frown lines and stroke her hair, tell her it would all be ok. But he couldn't- couldn't let himself be close to her. He didn't deserve it. He couldn't let what he'd seen become a reality.

He shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "Nothings wrong." He gave her his best grin, "Donna's safe, the Tarme are safe- and you're better, everything is fine. Wonderful. Peachy."

Amy blinked, frowning a little. "I- what- then…"

She reached a hand out tentatively to touch his cheek. The Doctor moved away and Amy made a little sound, halfway between a gasp and a low cry.

The Doctor continued looking the other way, and shut his eyes. "I'm sorry, Amy." His voice was barely a whisper. He turned his face to the room's earthen roof, "I saw….I saw some things, and I can't let myself be- be closer to you."

Amy flinched back as if she'd been burnt- a thousand painful rejections from a lifetime of insecurity and confused delusion crashing down upon her like a waterfall.

"I-I don't understand." Her voice rose as tears washed into her eyes, stinging heat brimming at the edge of her eyelids. "You…You SAID YOU LOVED ME!"

Realising how close she was to panicking, the Doctor suddenly snapped out of his attempt at apathy, grabbing her arms and leaning towards her, trying to calm her down. Tears now streaming down her face, Amy shook her head, breathing rapidly, trying to push him off.

"No- Amy. Amy!" The Doctor took a deep breath and checked behind him to make sure the corridor was empty. His voice was still checked slightly as he said, "Amy- I told you my name. Don't you understand what that means?"

At this, the fiery Scot suddenly froze- gulping a mouthful of air as she turned her face to him. The Doctor sighed in relief, his stormy eyes searching hers.

"Amy- you know I trust you. I honestly don't know how I can, but it's a choice I've made- and you know I'll stick to it."

He waited for a response, and after a moment, the girl nodded.

"But, I saw…something. Something which means I have to find out how to protect you before I can get closer to you again. Just travel with me. Be my friend, like we were. Just for a bit. I'm sorry Amy- but can you do this for me?"

Amy had gone very still, heartbroken that he wasn't telling her about this mysterious 'something' in spite of how much she knew he trusted her. She simply didn't understand.

She swallowed, stepping back and shrugging off the Doctor's hands. He let them fall.

Amy closed her eyes. "I understand. And I will try- for you. Because I love you. But I can't say how long I'll last before-"

She choked on her words, rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand and half ran from the room-heading the direction Donna had gone.

The Doctor stood erect for a few moments longer, and then he crumpled- falling to his knees in the dirt and closing his eyes, hanging his head- her face hovering behind his eyelids like a ghost.

Her unfinished sentence hung heavy in the air of the empty room.

Before I'll have to leave you…

X

When the Doctor came into the antechamber, a butterfly landed on his shoulder. Reminded of one landing on Amy's nose- her bewildered, fascinated expression, and the blush dusting across her cheeks, he allowed himself a slight smile- and then tried to control the feeling of something twisting his gut.

The room fell quiet, and he looked up, nodding to Donna, Jack and Amy- the former pair standing on either side of the Scottish girl. Donna looked at Amy and nodded, giving her a little push. Biting her lip, Amy made her way over to the Doctor.

He couldn't control the slight jump of his heart as she came back to him, but he hid it carefully. He couldn't get too close- couldn't let himself hurt her.

"Alright then, I suggest somewhere hot- but I know I won't be able to choose or control you."

The Doctor raised an eyebrow at Donna. "You think we're leaving?"

Donna shook her head, smiling. "No. I know you are."

The Doctor blinked, his brow furrowing a little, and looked to Amy. She shrugged.

The bewildered Time Lord walked over to the Tarme Queen- Donna Temple-Noble.

"But Donna- I- you only just woke up! There's so much I have to tell you- I mean, don't you want to come with us again? For old times sake?"

Donna shook her head, and the Doctor was reminded of a night, quite literally a lifetime ago, when she was in her wedding dress, and he'd made it snow.

Donna sighed as she read his mind. "The difference is Doctor- this time I'm not saying no because I'm scared. I'm saying no because I have someone who I love, and he needs me right now. I need to explain to him- and see where things go from there. My own adventure."

The Doctor's eyes lit up in realization. Shaun, of course.

He sighed and shrugged, trying to act unaffected by the sorrow her choice- to move on- gave him.

"Alright, but you take care- be brilliant. And if you don't mind, I might drop by some time."

Donna laughed as he hugged her, blinking away a few stray tears.

"Yeah, when the earth's in danger, again."

The Doctor winked. "You never know- might be sooner than you think."

Donna smiled. "I look forward to it." She paused, frowning, and a few butterflies fluttered into the air. "Wait- that sounded bad."

The Doctor grinned, then looked back at Amy. The smile faltered, and Donna stepped closer quickly, grabbing his shoulder.

"Please remember what I said. Please. Don't let a possibility control your reality. You know as well as I do the future isn't set in stone."

The Doctor nodded- but Donna could see him struggling for conviction to the agreement. She hoped he'd find his way.

He nodded at Captain Jack, "you coming?"

Jack shook his head, and the Doctor raised his eyebrows. "Why not?"

Jack shrugged, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Well, Donna might need some protection with all these new off worlder's in her garden."

If it was possible, the Doctor raised his eyebrows higher in disbelief- looking sideways at a group of delicate silver butterflies. Jack laughed, nodding to the fiery redhead standing behind the alien.

"Look, I've gotta be honest-you've got stuff to work out and me-I don't do domestics unless there's a very sexy housewife involved. This one is sexy-" Amy blushed and Jack gave her a lopsided grin before turning back to the Time Lord. "But she's all yours."

He winked and the Doctor's jaw dropped.

Jack laughed. "Catch you later Doc."

Shaking his head, lips curled in amusement, the Doctor gave Jack a quick, mock salute. "Captain."

Good Old Jack- and Donna- I hope Shaun understands...meanwhile, lightning in the time vortex, coming right up- anyone remember when that happened in the 'L' word? And you all thought I was just filling space...

As ever, comments, criticism and questions are welcome- and I'll try and reply to as many as possible- I'm sorry I didn't last chapter, I had to prioritise getting back on top of my writing, and packing for college!

Thanks as ever for reading, I sincerely hope you enjoyed it,

Kat