Rose could hear her mother and the other Doctor trudging along some thirty feet behind her. He kept sneezing and it was starting to grate on her nerves. The real Doctor never sneezed.

Just up ahead she spotted some twinkling lights in the twilight. She never thought she would be returning to this little town. She didn't think she would be returning to this world, period, and so she had said her goodbyes. Leaving her parents, Tony, and Mickey would be incredibly difficult, but it had been both the hardest and easiest decision Rose had ever made. She belonged with the Doctor, it was that simple. Looking back on her preparations with the dimensional cannon, she had even accepted the possibility of death. After all, jumping from one parallel universe to another is risky business, so she prepared herself for many bad outcomes. When Rose set off to find the Doctor she wasn't sure she would be able to, but it had never once crossed her mind that she wouldn't be staying with him if she succeeded.

She chanced a quick glance over her shoulder. Her mum was busy talking away and making wild gestures, more than likely recounting her perilous adventure. The man in the blue suit shuffled along quietly at her side, head down, hands in his pockets. She felt a twinge of guilt as she observed his tense posture. After snogging him senseless, she had just as suddenly shut down at the sound and sight of the dematerializing TARDIS. He had come up beside her, slipping his hand into hers giving it a reassuring squeeze. They'd looked at each other for a moment and then she had turned away as the weight of her momentary lapse of judgment came crashing down on her.

Would the real Doctor have left if she hadn't kissed the other?

This new Doctor had tried comforting her. "I'm still him, "he'd said. "Rose… please, look at me."

But she wouldn't. She couldn't look at that face and see him but not him. And so she had sat on a nearby rock and buried her face in her hands, as grief, anger and confusion overwhelmed her. He had joined her and continued to talk to her, softly, urgently. But she shut him out and eventually he too fell silent. She had known then that she was hurting him, but she just couldn't quite bring herself to properly care at that moment.

The Liervik Bed & Breakfast was less than a block away now. She knew she would have to face him sooner or later, but right now she just needed time. Time to think and grieve for the future she had briefly held within her grasp and then lost once more. She also needed to figure out what to do with him. What did he want and expect from her? Was he really the same as her Doctor? They had made it all seem so simple, back on the beach.

"That's me, when we first met. And you made me better. Now you can do the same for him."

Rose had balked at this. "But he's not you."

"He needs you, that's very me."

Donna had spoken up then, trying to help. "But it's better than that, though. Don't you see what he's trying to give you?" Turning to the new Doctor she said, "Tell her, go on!"

Rose had turned questioningly to the other Doctor.

"I look like him, I think like him. Same memories, same thoughts, same everything. Except I've only got one heart."

"Which means?"

"I'm part human. Specifically the aging part, I'll grow old and never regenerate. I've only got one life, Rose Tyler." And then his features had taken on a look of insecurity not common for her Doctor. "I could spend it with you… if you want."

This stunned Rose momentarily, as she grasped what he was trying to tell her. "You'll gr-grow old at the same time as me?"

"Together."

She had almost smiled as she shook her head in disbelief and slowly approached him. Extending her hand, she placed it over his chest and felt the steady beating of one lonely heart.

Behind her the Doctor was digging in his pockets. Suddenly he threw the other a chunk of TARDIS coral, making travel through space and time a possibility for them once more. Donna piped up and stunned everyone by rattling off how to accelerate the coral's growth. The Doctor in blue positively beamed. Then the TARDIS had groaned and the Doctor was explaining their need to leave quickly. Rose felt a panic suddenly rising within her. As he turned towards the TARDIS she had run after him.

"But, it's still not right! Cuz' the Doctor… is… is still you."

"And I'm him."

Not knowing what else to do and not quite believing what she was being told, she countered, "Alright. Both of you, answer me this. When I last stood here on this beach, on the worst day of my life, what was the last thing you said to me?"

The Doctor's eyes had never looked so ancient and tired. He remained silent.

"Go on, say it," she encouraged.

His brows furrowed and he spoke, "I said Rose Tyler."

"Yeah, and… how was that sentence going to end?" she continued to prod.

Shaking his head slightly he responded softly, "It doesn't need saying."

He was about to leave her and still he denied her this one thing? Anger threatening to overwhelm her, she turned to the Doctor in blue, desperate to know if he truly was who they claimed him to be.

"And you Doctor? What was the end of that sentence?"

This new Doctor had taken a step closer, and placing his hand on her arm leaned in and whispered those words she had long been waiting to hear, "I love you."

For a moment they just stared at each other, Rose and this other Doctor. Then before she could even process what she was doing, she had found herself in his arms, kissing him with all the pent up love, despair, and hope she had been holding onto for all those years. He responded instantly and with just as much urgency, pulling her close. His arms encircled her waist as hers found their way up around his neck, and into that glorious hair.

And then, she heard the TARDIS groan and in that instant, before she even had the chance to pull away and confirm with her eyes, she had known he was gone .How could she have been so stupid? While she was busy kissing one, the other had walked away forever. Of course he'd left her. Why wouldn't he when she had so clearly sent him the message to shove off?

As she reached out to open the entrance door to where they would be spending the night, she sighed and gave her head a little shake. The rational part of Rose's brain reminded her of something she would rather have not acknowledged. While she was busy berating herself for bringing about her fate with one impulsive kiss, the fact remained that the Time Lord had brought her back to this beach having very much already made up his mind to leave her behind.

Quiet footsteps and a muffled cough alerted her to the fact that Jackie and the other Doctor had caught up with her. She could feel him shuffling awkwardly behind her. Hand on the doorknob, Rose briefly closed her eyes, took a steadying breath and turned to face him. "Well, I guess we better get you out of the cold before you get sick, yeah?" She looked up searchingly at this new Doctor who seemed so sad and genuinely surprised to have even been addressed by her. This made Rose squirm inside… she hadn't meant to make him feel so insignificant. She gave him a small smile and then turned back around, ushering them quickly inside. As she walked past, Jackie gave Rose's arm a little squeeze and a pointed look at the Doctor's back.

This would be a difficult night, but not just for Rose, Jackie was trying to remind her.