A Change of Scenery

The news reported that the incident was isolated to just England, since that is where they have originated from. After some investigation, they found a hideaway from the monsters underneath London. They were few, and badly damaged. It had taken several years for the Cybermen to repair themselves enough to start converting again. Torchwood was under scrutiny as well as England as a whole. World leaders were wondering if Torchwood should stay centered in London or if one of the other major powers should take it over.

As Jake had predicted, it took a week for Rose to be given a clean bill of health. Joshua was amazed at her recovery. They had discussed her abilities to heal before but this really proved how the Vortex had affected her. Joshua was still scared for her, despite what Doctor Martin and the other doctors at Torchwood told him. He knew what it was like to live for seemingly forever and lose almost everyone you hold dear. He didn't want that to happen to Rose.

Rose was shaken by the near death experience. Before, it didn't bother her. She didn't know if she would ever reach the Doctor again or if he would even want her. But she had Joshua now, and had so much to live for. She did the only thing she could think of to do. She took Joshua's hand and they ran.

~DW~~DW~~DW~

At first, they went to haunts that were familiar to the both of them. Cardiff. Scotland. Even Japan. As they traveled, Rose finally began telling Joshua of crossing the Void. He listened patiently as she told her story. He held her close when she wept. She held him as he told her his own story. He didn't start with his life before her. What he did do was walk her through his memories after she was ripped from him. He held nothing back. He showed her his travels with Martha and how badly he'd treated her. He showed her his memories of being human and how he always thought of her, even when he couldn't remember who she was. He even showed her The Year That Never Was. For him, that was the most difficult part.

After, she shared her own story of the Master. He'd appeared several times in her travels. Sometimes he was benevolent with his drums helping to center him. More often than not, though, he was the psychopath that the Doctor knew well. More than once she had been captured and tortured by him. She even had to endure her own version of The Year.

The ones that hurt him the most, however, were when she ran into an evil version of himself. It didn't matter what name he chose, it was still the two faces that she knew that greeted her. They were also the most brutal. They saw her trust and used it against her. Very rarely was she able to tame the corrupted Time Lord.

He shared with her his biggest fear. That he would become the Valeyard. Not the Doctor, but this him. Rose had seen him as well. Universes where everything had happened just as they both remember, but Rose hadn't been enough to cull his aggressiveness. Still others where she had died shortly after they had been tossed out at Bad Wolf Bay. Those were the worst. He thought her a mirage. A trick of his tortured mind. He made it his life to make hers a living hell. She almost didn't survive with her mind intact.

They traded stories until there was nothing left to share. She knew as much about him as he did her. Once they were done, they began traveling again.

Paris rose her hackles more than any place they had been. Even though she knew he and Reinette hadn't done anything, that memory would always be raw for her. They snuck in with the help of his sonic and he made love to her at the top of the Eiffel Tower. He made it a point to take her to every noteworthy place in Paris. He did it to erase the memory of Reinette as well as to genuinely show her the beautiful sights.

They spent a month going from place to place, replacing bad memories and making fresh ones in unfamiliar places. They never stayed in one area for too long. Rose was using her bank account but both of them had disabled their phones. They needed this escape from the world they knew. Finally, in the back of beyond in Germany, they stopped.

~DW~~DW~~DW~

Germany was beautiful. They stayed that entire week in the same village. Many of the outlying communities and villages still worshiped a the Pagan Deities. Christianity and Islam had still blossomed in this Universe, but they weren't as widespread. Rose was glad. She missed going to other planets and participating in their Seasonal Celebrations. Rose danced around the bonfires and dressed in the traditional garb. Joshua even changed his clothes to participate. They immersed themselves in the culture and had the most fun that either had had since coming back to Pete's World.

From Germany, they traveled to St Petersberg, Russia. Joshua had always wanted to show Rose the White Nights Festival. From the concerts, to the fireworks and eventually the battles at sea, they loved all of it. They had a spectacular time together, without the worries of Torchwood to deal with. But after two months of traveling, Rose, and even Joshua, began to miss their family. So, after the Festival, they started heading back towards England.

They were on a train, heading cross country towards the coast, when Joshua finally breached the subject. They were sitting in the lounge car, hands entwined, Rose's head on Joshua's shoulder.

"Rose. What do you think of me quitting Torchwood?" She shrugged before squeezing his hand and answering.

"I think you should do what you want to with your life, Joshua. You only have the one now and if teaching is what you want to do, I'll support you."

"You won't be upset?"

"Not at all. I'm thinking of quitting myself. I don't need the money. I think I want to enjoy spending my life with you. I think both of us slowing down is a good idea. Now, we just have to break it to Dad."

"I think he'll take it well. We discussed it briefly when I took the job at Torchwood. I think in the long run, he would rather have you safe and happy than to be one of his agents. We'll talk to them once we get back."

Rose nodded and settled her head back on Joshua's shoulder. She wasn't as confident that their leaving would be taken well but she hoped he was right.