The TARDIS materializes. "Oh, hello there. Um... I think I got the year a bit wrong..."

So before you say anything, I don't know when I'll be able to write the real Doomsday arc, but I have started to rewatch and reread my story(more parts than not making me cringe, but oh well, years passed after all) and while trying to write a one-shot to get back into these characters... This chapter was born. Which is, in all senses could be considered as an prologue/one-shot to Doomsday. You don't Have to reread all my story to understand what's happening in this story. When it will be necessary, I'll write the summary once again ^^

Other than that... I soooo missed you, guys! I hope at least one person stayed. And I'm just... yeeh. I'll grovel more when I write the Doomsday arc.

P.s. The following chapter has the summary of all arcs so far.

#Prologue to Doomsday

Thousands of miles away from the planet Earth, on the asteroid number XXX7# bazaar, the life was busy as always. A petite woman was standing by one of the stalls, twisting a tiny ornate bottle in her hand around. The locals of the planet were all around at least 10 feet tall and had a bit of a massive form. It was clear that she was not a local girl. Her features, though, were of a rare beauty. Ghrahaians (the name of the local species) were mostly dark skinned people, it was a rare sight to see a white woman, with golden hair and rosy skin. But Ghrahaians were nothing if not a good mannered species, so they refrained from ogling the exotic foreigner and went back to their own chores.

That didn't stop foreigners from looking, though. Or try to win a favor of the woman. But they all were ignored. She had been staring at the trinket for the last thirty minutes and was yet to move from her spot or respond to anything around her.

The merchant could only sigh. He would hate to sound rude (Ancient Souls forbid) but he felt like he needed to give the woman a nudge.

"Shall I wrap it up for ya, dear?" he asked kindly. A crease on her forehead only increased. He sighed. Well, at least he knew he had tried.

"Don't even go down there."
"What? I haven't said anything."
"No, but you thought about it."
"Rose..."
"Hush. I'm serious. We're not talking about it again."
"It could save your life."
"And it could end yours."

Rose felt her tensed body slowly start to relax. She had been staring at this weather predicting trinket since her and the Doctor got here and he left her to go quickly check up on something. Which, obviously, was taking him more than a quick check. And Rose... Rose was left with the task to buy the thing, intended for her mother.

"Doctor, it's Mickey. I'm not leaving him with Daleks on his own."
"Rose..."
"God, we've met Daleks so many times now we're practically family. I can handle family.Besides... Shake wouldn't make a story without Shiver."
"He wouldn't, would he?"

Convincing the Doctor to let her be part of this adventure was not something she would like to repeat ever again, but somehow they had come up with a compromise.

She let a heavy sigh escape her lips. And with that she looked up, addressing the merchant warmly.

"Yeh, thanks. I'd like to take that."

Naturally the Doctor took another hour to finally get to their meeting place, but he was eagerly bouncing on his feet, a grin on his face and she couldn't make herself to complain.

"Everything all right?" she asked with a grin of her own.

"Yep. Perfect. Found the place I was looking for. Wasn't sure if it was on this asteroid or on the asteroid number XXX7.1#. But luckily I got it right."

She chuckled at him, entwining their fingers together as they began to walk together. "Well, that's refreshing."

"Oh, Rose. You'll like it once you see it. There's a lot of history on this asteroid. The whole civilization's worth. Different species, different traditions. And hear the best bit." He turned to grin at her excitedly. "The Ghrahaians here-"

"That's the merchant race, yeh?"

"Yep. The Ghrahaians here are telepathic."

Her eyes widened at that bit. "Really? I couldn't even tell. They all seem to talk… normally."

"Yeh, well. This asteroid has become a culture spot for foreigners. Many species come for a tourist vacation here. Can't have them all restricted to only telepathic ones," he sniffed while looking around.

"I guess that makes sense," she agreed, matching his pace as they walked further away from the shopping area. As they went, the scenery seemed to change. What was bursting with life before, now appeared to have less and less living being around. There were more of nature around. The dirty ground changed into an early grass, the wild flowers replaced by bigger and bigger bushes.

"So, where're we going exactly?"

"You'll see." He squeezed her hand and with a soft smile urged her to follow him through the thick part of the bushes, trying to get towards the clearing.

She stumbled taking the last steps and had to catch onto the Doctor's sleeve to steady herself as they reached their destination.

"Here we're then."

Slowly she lifted her head to look around only to widen her eyes. Before her eyes lay the greenest horizons she had ever seen, even more so than the fields of New Earth. The air around was fresh and clean, something divine about it, but she couldn't really point out what. What truly perplexed her, though, was that the field was covered in hundreds and hundreds of bones. Miles and miles ahead all she could see were white bones. Bigger than humans, but smaller than biggest animals on Earth. Just the right size of… Ghrahaians.

"Now I know why this place is called the City of Bones," she exhaled, taking a step further inside the clearing. "What is this? A graveyard?"

"This…." the Doctor began, taking a few steps just right ahead. "This is a healing place," he exhaled, turning around as he spoke. "Not literal healing, mind. More of a ... mental healing. Well, healing of souls, really. A sacred place for Ghrahaians," he ended with a quiet awe. You could see the fascination shining in his eyes.

True enough, now Rose could spot some living Ghrahaians gathered around some of the bones. From the distance it appeared as if they were talking… to the bones.

"What're they all doing?" she asked in wonder while taking her spot by the Doctor's side.

"Mostly praying… talking with their dead."

"They can actually do that?"

As they went further, more and more Ghrahaians could be seen. Some were alone, some were with their families. But one thing connected everyone together here. Everyone looked so serene at this place. Despite it being a resting place for their dead, neither seemed to be mourning a loss. Some were more solemn than others, but in everyone's eyes hope seemed to shine.

"Ghrahaians are generally a very loyal race," the Doctor began to speak again. "Not many survive the loss of their loved ones."

"But… nobody seems to be… well, grieving. Is this what you meant by a healing place? Is it like… affects them to not stay sad forever?"

He smiled slightly. "It's more than that."

A tiny crease appeared in the middle of Rose's forehead. "How d'you mean?"

"Their spirits don't just go anywhere. They stay inside. Inside their bodies. Well, remains of them, really." The Doctor stopped by one of the remains, giving it a soft caress with his hand. "Those bones are not just empty shells. They carry the very souls of their ancestors. Giving wisdom to the younger generations."

Rose looked around at all those people gathered together. All seemed to have found peace with this place. Her brows furrowed in thought.

"But as you said… if they can talk with their loved ones again… How can they bear to leave this place? I mean, having a way to talk with someone dear that you lost… you wouldn't want to leave this place. Forever."

"Some don't," the Doctor said in a soft voice. Rose glanced at him with an open look on her face. The Doctor swallowed tightly before continuing. "See over there?" He pointed on the right side from where they stood. "It's not just remains of one Grahaian. It's a pair. If you look more closely, one appears to be laying down, probably a natural death, while the other is hugging its frame, staying huddled together."

"Oh no. This is so sad."

"They are not alone," he said in a voice which made Rose look up. She wondered what the Doctor was thinking while watching all this. She swallowed before speaking again.

"So, those two literally get to stay together forever."

"Yeh," he told her, turning to give her a tender smile. She gave one in return.

"Come on," he urged her while taking her hand in his. "Sometimes they sing in their minds. If we're lucky, we just might get to hear them."

They came to a stop near the pair the Doctor had mentioned before. No wonder Rose mistook it for a single being before, it appeared the other was so tightly wrapped around the other one, like he never wanted to let go. Her heart went out for them. But at least they had each other.

She missed to notice how the Doctor already took the place at one side of the bones structure, sitting comfortably at them. Rose's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.

"Um... Doctor?"

"Come here, Rose. It's pretty comfortable here." He grinned at her, patting the other side where she should sit on the bones. She worried her lip with her teeth as she regarding him.

"Is it all right to just sit there? Isn't it like… disrespectful to the dead or something? I thought this was a sacred place."

"And it is," he agreed eagerly, his eyebrows raised. "But despite those remains containing the living souls, they are still not flesh and blood," he spilled in one breath. "You can't actually hurt them physically. They were brought here for this very purpose."

"What, to be sat upon?" Rose frowned at the notion.

"Something like that."

Rose swallowed the retort she had on the tip of her tongue and sighed.

"All right then. Excuse my rudeness," Rose smiled nervously as she gracefully lowered herself to sit on the bones.

The Doctor chuckled softly. "They can't hear you like that."

"Oh."

"Hold on." The Doctor closed his eyes, concentrating on something. Rose followed his hand which was placed firmly against the bony surface. Rose narrowed her eyes in thought. Some sort of link probably?

She watched how the Doctor's face changed from concentrated to awed in seconds time. He inhaled deeply, his mouth parting slightly. "Oh… It's a lovers song. An ancient one too. " He smiled tenderly at that. "Oh… They have stayed together for such a long time.

"I wish I could hear it," Rose whispered involuntary and then realizing what she said tried to backpedal but the Doctor already had his eyes opened and only gave her a warm smile.

"Here. Give me your hand." He extended his right hand for her to hold onto and pressed their entwined hands together against the bones.

Rose felt a familiar rush of energy inside her mind. She gasped at the sensation she only had to experience a couple of times before.

"Shh, it's all right. I'm here with you."

"Doctor...?"

"Hello."

"Hi."

She chuckled in her mind.

"Oh, I'm never going to get used to this. This is just so… overwhelming. I don't know how you do it."

"Well, there's one advantage of being born with it. Hold on. It's starting."

~Hmmmm…nnn…mmm…~

A soft song started to play. Rose guessed it could be a woman's voice but it sounded more melodious than anything she had ever heard.

"It's… beautiful. What is it?"

"Universal sounds, accords, instruments…every sound in existence. Her words are literally being translated into sounds."

"Oh. So she's actually speaking to us?"

"To us, to the universe. Can't really tell. Ghrahaians are very private in their telepathy. Only the Ghrahaians can hear what each other say. On the other hand, travellers get to hear them sing ancient songs."

~Nanarara….nunutudurudu….~

After a while they both opened their eyes, coming back from their telepathy.

Their fingers still entwined together, Rose smiled at the Doctor in gratitude. "Thank you. This was a beautiful trip."

The Doctor smiled at her, but she could tell the smile didn't reach his eyes. "Something to remember by," he replied tightly. Rose bit her lip as she watched the Doctor looking so vulnerable to her. If only she could somehow reassure him.

"Are you scared?" she asked softly, meeting the Doctor's haunted eyes.

"It's terrifying," he admitted. "The mere thought of loosing you again is paralyzing me. But there's no stopping you, is there? Even if I did lock you up somewhere safe until all the daleks were back to the darkest parts of the void, you'd still somehow come back. March into the front lines of the battlefield and it would be as if I've never even tried."

He didn't bother to tell her that this time his hearts really might stop beating if he were to loose her again. The feel of her hand in his was the only thing keeping him sane now. He squeezed their fingers together.

If there was only a way to never lose you.

"We're going to be fine. You and me. We went thought all that together... I even repeated my own timeline, God. They can't keep us apart," she whispered with a broken voice while desperately trying to swallow her tears away.

The Doctor reached out for her with his right hand, cupping her rosy cheek in his palm affectionately. Almost immediately Rose leaned into his touch, bringing her own hand to rest against his, squeezing his hand with her fingers. His chest was hurting painfully in his rib cage, two hearts beating wildly inside. He knew better than to dwell on could bes now but oh he so wished for at least some reassurance.

Holding their eye contact together, he cut the remaining space separating them, capturing her lips between his own in a tender embrace. He swallowed her surprised gasp, pressing further in, caressing her lips with precise movements. If there was only a way to keep her.

He shifted his right hand from her cheek to cradle her head, tilting it to the side. He could feel Rose's hand wandering to settle on the back of his neck, sending shivers going down his spine, bringing him in closer to her. She hummed happily when he went willingly and settled his other hand against her waist, urging her to come closer still. If only he was able to tell everything to her with a touch.

Somewhere in the back of his mind he could feel a tingling feeling, urging him on. Come on. Come on. Do it. He clutched onto the fabric of Rose's jacket as he felt her tentatively reach out to him to deepen the kiss. He let her in freely. Into his heart. Into his soul.

It started with a tingling feeling inside his mind. Suddenly he felt a fleeting sensation of warmth inside. It felt so good to be wrapped around that warmth. He couldn't remember ever feeling something so soothing. He craved more of it. He tried to seek it further, to hold on to that before he realized what he was doing. And suddenly it was gone with the simultaneous gasps coming from both parties. The Doctor separated their contact between their lips and just stared at Rose with wide eyes.

He couldn't believe what he just nearly did. No. He couldn't believe what he did do. Even if it was only for a fleeting second he actually had lowered his always there steel shields and opened up his mind. For Rose. He could feel himself starting to tremble from inside. It was so selfish. Thankfully not as invasive as if he would have accidently intruded on Rose's mind (thank Rassilon for that), but even so. His mind wasn't a pretty thing to look upon. He could only imagine what she had seen there in those few seconds that he selfishly invited her inside.

He swallowed tightly, ready to go any moment now but before he could retreat, Rose cupped his cheeks between her palms and pressed her mouth firmly on his, not letting him go.

He could only stay frozen for a moment, unable to react. But Rose just wouldn't let him go. She showered him with love and affection, reassuring him with everything her fragile human being had and he was just too tired to think about it rationally.

He loved her. With everything he was. The Oncoming Storm. A Time Lord. The Doctor. She loved him. Despite being only but a human. So shouldn't it be all right to let himself go in this? To have this moment for himself. He sighed into the kiss.

After a few more caresses Rose broke the contact, her cheeks painted in a light blush. He swallowed, unable to meet her eyes.

"Doctor..." she tried softly.

"Doctor, it's all right."

He closed his eyes as a shuddering breath escaped his lips. "Rose... what I just did..."

"Thank you."

He froze, not sure he was hearing her right. But then he felt his head being gently lifted up, so he could meet the hazel eyes looking at him warmly. "I... I didn't really see anything. I mean... nothing concrete. It was just... a feeling."

She could see him visibly relaxing at the words and she would be lying if she said that didn't bother her a bit. But this was not important now. "I still want to thank you for it though. Even if not consciously then at least unconsciously you trusted me enough to open up like that. I know how hard that is for you."

He clenched his teeth together and nodded tightly. He so desperately wanted to run. It was in his blood. That urge, to run when he found himself in extremely uncomfortable situations. But he knew he promised himself and her that he wouldn't do that anymore. So with every bit of restrain, he tried to settle himself down. To stay put. It was hard. Especially when he was feeling now so utterly vulnerable. Still, he tried to keep himself together. It was just bloody hard to do this now. Now, when the storm was still waiting for them, threatening their future.

"Doctor..." Her hands were still cupping his cheeks, as she brought her forehead against his. „I just want you to know that I'll always love you. No matter what."

"Always and forever," she whispered to him, making him wish with his very being for it to stay true.

"Rose."

to be continued...

well your thoughts would be great, if you could leave a review or two. I mean, I AM out of practice, so... you know. I need some (if not confidence boost) then at least some fair criticism.