"Well, I guess this is goodbye John." Rory said as they said their final farewells. Rory put his hand out for John to shake but John grabbed him in a bear hug instead. The two men had only known each other briefly but they both had gained a friend in the short amount of time.
"You've been brilliant simply brilliant," John said as Rory nodded in agreement, "and one more thing Rory; keep an eye on Amelia for me will you? She's one in a trillion trillion trillion." Rory nodded again as John patted him on the back, the two separating as he turned around to say goodbye to the other two remaining Ponds.
He glanced around the busy room filled with people saying farewell. Everyone's emotions were on high, they had all been through a lot in the past few days and that was all coming to an end now.
He looked around trying to find the curly light brown hair of River or the bright red hair of Amy. Surprisingly he found River first; she was saying goodbye to Martha and Mickey. She finished her conversation as soon as John walked up behind her. "River, it's been great," he stated as she turned around to see him.
"Thank you John. Will I see you again?" She had grown to really like John and would be disappointed if this was their last encounter. John winced knowing that she would see him again, but his time lord self. He didn't understand how the Doctor could look at her and pretend like nothing was wrong. He would hopefully see her again though before she went to library, before she saw him one last time.
"Hopefully yes, Rose and I aren't going to be going anywhere too far away so hopefully we will see you again."
"You're doing it again John." She accused looking at the tall man in front of her.
"Doing what?"
"Looking at me like I'm a ghost."
"No, no I'm not River, because you know what you are very much alive. Oh look there's Amelia!" He hugged her quickly leaving her as swiftly as he could, as Amy came up for her goodbye.
"I can't decide for the life of me if I want to call you ruffly doctor or the Doctor with the trainers." She stated eyebrows arched as she tried to think it through.
"Ruffly?" John asked as Amy nodded and ruffled her fingers through his hair. He smiled down at her, "I'll see you soon Amelia Pond."
She nodded and then grabbed him tightly in a hug as he hugged her back. "You better Doctor."
"Doctor?" He questioned looking down at her. It was strange to hear that. No one, unless they had confused him with the time lord Doctor, had called him that intentionally other than Rose for such a long time. It had been since they had last seen Rose's family, the last time they had said goodbye to them.
"You're the Doctor to her," Amy said gesturing to Rose who was saying her goodbyes to Rory. "And if I know that girl just a fraction as much as I think I do, that's good enough for me."
"Goodbye River," she said to the only person in the room who still put her on edge. She had said her goodbyes to Rory already and was still glancing around the room for Amy.
"Goodbye Rose, I'm glad that I had the privilege of knowing you. In a way it helped me to know him a little better too." River hugged Rose loosely around the shoulders.
"Thanks, I suppose. I'm glad that he's happy River, that you make him happy." She nodded and Rose turned away walking over to say goodbye to Amy.
"Rose!" Amy said a smile grew across her face as she beckoned the blond woman across the room.
"Amy, I guess this is goodbye," Rose said hugging her.
"Nah, not goodbye," She said shaking her head, "but I do want to tell you thank you Rose."
"Thank you? For what?" She looked up at the girl in front of her, the Doctor's newest companion.
"Thank you for everything, for taking us with you in your Tardis, for being a great friend not only to me but to him, and for making the Doctor who he is. Thank you." Rose nodded, holding back tears.
"I'll see you soon then?"
"Yes, see you soon." Amy agreed before walking away to say goodbye to Jack.
Rose looked out the back window where she could see him leaning against the Tardis. She had one more goodbye and she wasn't sure that she could make it through this one.
They stood steps apart. She stood in the grass while he stood inside of the blue door way. She knew she was going to cry, she could feel it.
He stretched out his hand cupping her cheek smiling down at her. "It's not like I'm never going to see you again."
Tears started to stream down her face. "But I don't know that." He let go of her face and gathered her up in his arms, stepping down onto the grass. Her ear pressed up against his chest, listening to his beating hearts.
"Rose Tyler, Dame Rose of the Powell estate, bad wolf. I'll never stop coming to see you as long as I live. I will never make that mistake again."
"You did with them. Why won't you do it with us?" She said glancing back at Mickey and Martha who could be seen through the kitchen window.
"Martha left me, free will. You, you would have stayed with me forever if I would of let you." She nodded, head still pressed against his chest, soaking his shirt with her tears. "This isn't good bye Rose, I promise."