Author's note: Well, that was a long and unexpected hiatus. My apologies to everyone who thought the story was over. You are right, it is a crappy ending. I can't promise that I'll be consistent with posting again, but I will make more of an effort. Thank you to everyone who has stuck with me, your feedback and enthusiasm inspire me.
Disclaimer: not mine, don't own, all the things.
For Lupin, who has been badgering me about this and knew there was more.
Donna, dry and smelling clean again, sat nursing a cup of tea in the kitchen. She hadn't seen the Doctor, or Rose, since she yelled that they'd better not go anywhere without her and she was going nowhere until she had a nice hot bath, but she assumed they were in the console room. Probably snogging. Or doubtfully, from what Jackie said. But still together.
Or not. She thought as Rose walked into the kitchen, yawning and running a hand through her smooth blond hair.
"That looks lovely, can I join ya?" Rose asked, looking longingly at Donna's tea.
"Course." Donna gestured to the empty chair at the table.
"Haven't really had a chance to talk with you." Rose said, sliding into the chair. "What with himself doing a barnacle impression."
Donna chuckled and was rewarded by Rose's special grin, tongue in teeth.
"You know," Donna began slowly, "The longer I'm back on the Tardis, the more I remember of that… timeline… thing."
Rose's smile took on a curiously fixed look.
"That must have been hard for you." Donna said, softly.
"A bit. I knew it was wrong though, I'd already been to his future, so I knew he couldn't be dead. Not really."
Donna nodded. "'S funny though. At Christmas, when we were out of London, there was this other family there too, and oddly enough one of them looked like Martha. Of course, there was the Royal Hope thing, too. Seems like someone changed a couple things."
Rose laughed. "Martha went to the same hotel? That's funny."
"You saved her." Donna pushed. "Even though you knew it would all come undone."
Rose looked into her mug. "Couldn't bear it." She muttered. She looked up and away, seeing days past. "Martha and I, been through a lot."
"That Saxon bloke." Donna said. "Martha told me some of it, after the Sontaran thing." She continued as Rose cocked her head.
"I was sorry to do that to Martha." Rose sighed, "But she really is too smart for her own good. Well, perhaps for the Doctor's good." She paused. "You don't mind, do you? Me coming along, I mean."
Donna laughed. "Course not. The first time I met the Doctor… He'd only just lost you, and I think it could have destroyed him. Well, I guess it would have, if I wasn't there." She said, thinking again about the timeline that was still dreamlike. "With you back, it's like he's whole again. And besides, I like you."
Rose laughed too. "And I like you, Donna Noble. Where do you want to go next? The Doctor owes you someplace nice after that sewer."
"I dunno. Don't even know where to start. Last time we went somewhere that was supposed to be relaxing, the Doctor got himself possessed and nearly killed." She said mournfully. "Mind you," Donna pursed her lips, "It was one hell of a spa."
Rose tilted her head thoughtfully. "There are some nice places in the 51st century. By that time, they combined shopping malls with elaborate gardens. Good shopping and it's lovely."
"Sounds brilliant. Will we be able to drag himself along?"
Rose grinned. "There are, of course, a few of his favorite gadget stores there."
"Perfect." Donna laughed.
They fell silent for a bit.
"The one thing I don't understand," Donna said, "Is the Library. How did you know that River was going to be there? How do you know River?"
Rose cursed under her breath. "Sometimes," she began slowly, trying to decide best how to lie her way through this mess, "There are things that must happen, must always happen."
"Fixed points." Donna interrupted, nodding, "I've seen one of those."
"Okay, River's death in the Library was one. I can, sort of, talk to the Tardis and she can tell me about important things that haven't happened yet. It's how I saved his arse so many times. I haven't really met River. But I know that I will. And," she paused again, "It isn't something that you should tell the Doctor about. Seriously, it could change everything."
"I think he already knows you know her."
"What?" Rose scanned timelines going forward, everything was in place. "What exactly does he know?"
Donna screwed up her face as she tried to remember one conversation in a very long and confusing day. "I think… I think I only told him that River knows you in the future, that we talked about you in the Library."
Rose let out a sigh of relief.
Donna studied her. "How much are you hiding from the Doctor?"
Rose blushed. "More than I'd like, but enough to keep the universe from collapsing."
"That serious? He's not going to be happy when it all comes out. I'm assuming it will, at some point."
"He won't be the only one." Rose said softly and let the conversation lull.
"How do you talk to the Tardis?" Donna demanded.
Rose ran a hand through her hair. "Remember on the Crucible when I was, well, glowing?"
Donna shuddered. "Bit hard to forget, really."
"I was connected to the Heart of the Tardis. I'd done it before, and it left a bit of a bond." She smiled wryly. That was probably the grossest understatement she'd ever made, 'bit of a bond'.
"Does the Doctor know that?"
"Yeah, it's the only reason I didn't die, doing what I did, and he kinda demanded an explanation."
Donna seemed to sense that Rose didn't want to discuss it any further. "I'm for bed, then. I'll see you in the morning." She rinsed out her mug.
"Yeah," Rose said, "I should get to bed too. Sleep well."
What equated to the next morning on the Tardis, the Doctor piloted them to a moon in the Orion Nebula. Rose and Donna clung to the railings of the Tardis while the Doctor raced around the console adjusting things.
Rose was fairly certain that she could fly the Tardis now, the normal way at least, as the movements of the Doctor as he set their course formed a pattern that she'd never been able to trace before. They shot through the vortex. With a jolt, Rose felt the Tardis reset their target destination. She sent a questioning though to the spaceship and received a smug, but reassuring, hum in return. For some reason, the Tardis wanted them to land fifty years after the date the Doctor set.
"Huh." The Doctor said as he stepped out. "Well, we're a little off, but doesn't make much of a difference. Clothes are clothes."
Donna gave him a look but quickly turned back to the scene around them. Rose was right, it was beautiful.
Rose, too, studied their surroundings. Her interest in shopping had waned since she was last on board the Tardis but she would gladly accompany Donna. The park though, that was lovely. The rows of shops surrounded a strip of forest broken by the windings of a small river. Well-trodden paths darted between the lusciously green trees. People walked the pathways absently. Even the shoppers sticking to the pavement along the shop fronts were less hurried than those Rose encountered back in the twenty first century.
"Right, meet back here in an hour?" The Doctor glanced at his watch, then at his companions, who returned his look with incredulity written plainly across their faces.
"Fine." He grumbled. "Three hours? Four?" He gulped. "Five?"
"Tell you what, Doctor, take that phone Martha gave you and we'll call you when we're done." Donna suggested, patting his arm. She whirled and hauled Rose with her down the walkway.
"Do you have any money?" Rose asked as they window shopped their way along.
Donna waved a small gumstick like device around. "Unlimited credit." She proclaimed. "I've been shopping with the Doctor before."
They continued wandering aimlessly.
"You alright?" Rose asked.
Donna was standing at the edge of the park. It was a place where the river crept up to the edge. The ginger woman stared into the water with a look of impossible depth and longing. Rose recognized the look as the same one she'd worn thinking of the Doctor back in the other universe.
Donna shook herself out of her reverie. "Yeah," she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, "Just thinking for a bit."
Rose bit her lip. If Donna wanted to share, she would.
A few hours later, they called the Doctor and Rose staggered out of yet another shop, weighed down with (almost entirely Donna's) purchases.
"You'd think," She said, "by this time they'd have a more efficient way of carrying shopping around."
"Probably do." Donna said cheerfully, striding towards the Tardis.
"Whatever it is, next time we're using it." Rose was thankful for her Torchwood trained arms and back under the strain of packages. And thankful they were in sight of the Tardis.
"D-d-d-onna!" A loud voice stammered out.
Donna went completely still, her back straightened until Rose was certain she'd been shot by a stunner. Then she turned towards the voice and Rose could see her pale face, eyes wide and full of hope.
"Lee?" She half whispered. Her arms fell to her sides, scattering purchases and she ran the few steps left to collide with a dark haired man.
Rose raised an eyebrow as they embraced desperately. How was it that Donna knew someone in the fifty first century? The other eyebrow joined the first when the hug changed to a kiss. She stood waiting patiently but when the two showed no signs of breaking apart after a minute or two, she cleared her throat loudly.
Two spots of color burned high on Donna's cheeks as she leaned away from the man. "Lee, this is Rose, she's a friend of mine. Rose, this is Lee, he's sort of… well, sort of my husband."
"Blimey, he is real." The Doctor said. He set a hand on Rose's shoulder. "Hello Lee, I'm the Doctor. I've heard a lot about you. Well, quite a bit. Well, some."
Rose poked his chest. "Rude." She muttered. "I'm a bit confused. Can someone fill me in?"
Lee and Donna looked at each other, easy to do since they hadn't let go of one another.
"Maybe we should fine a restaurant or something? Where we can talk?" Donna suggested.
A few minutes later they were installed at a table in a well-lit corner of an American style diner. It was, Rose decided, a rather awkward conversation. She knew what happened in the Library, just not what had happened with Donna and Lee. Donna knew that Rose knew some about the Library, but the Doctor had no idea. Lee was quiet, as usual. Still, Donna and the Doctor meandered through an explanation of the virtual life Lee and Donna led and the resulting confusion.
"I s-s-saw you." Lee stammered as Donna described searching for him after all those trapped in the Library were freed. "As I w-w-as transp-p-porting."
Donna leaned into his chest.
"I guess now all that's left is what happens next." Rose said. By the fifty first century, the Time Agency was well established, so at least time travel wouldn't be a completely unbelievable explanation.
"Thing is, Lee," Donna said, "I'm from the twenty first century. The Doctor has a… a time machine, and I can't stay here, I have to go back to my family."
"T-time travel?" Lee said thoughtfully, "My f-family is dead. I c-can come with y-you."
Donna stared at him. "Just like that?"
"I l-love you, D-donna."
"I love you, too." Donna whispered.
"Well, we should head back to the Tardis, then."
Rose smacked his arm. "I think Lee might have a few things to tie up, first."
"Not r-really." The man said, "I only got back f-from the L-library a few months ago. I j-just need to c-call my boss."
"Brilliant." The Doctor grinned dopily. "Rose and I will just carry these packages back to the Tardis and you can meet us there."
"So, where do we take Donna and Lee?" Rose asked after she'd dumped her load of packages into Donna's room.
"I thought back home." The Doctor said, fiddling with the console. "Get papers set up with Sarah Jane. Seem to be doing a lot of that recently... And reassure your mother that you'll come back and visit.
"Yeah, better do that." Rose murmured. Something in the Tardis was being very distracting, a little tickle at the back of her mind. No, she realized. Being in the Tardis only amplified it. A feeling of dread crept over her as she examined the feeling. Something was coming, something bad.
She glanced back at the Doctor. He hadn't noticed her silence. There wasn't enough of a sensation for her to know what was coming, or when. If she found out more, she'd tell the Doctor.
Lee and Donna burst through the door, hand in hand. Well, Donna burst, pulling Lee happily behind her, and chattering a million miles per hour. Rose covered her grin with a hand. The Doctor was less subtle and grinned at his friend like a looby.
"Chiswick, London, Earth, Sol 3!" He declared. Then paused. "Or... to Sarah Jane's first? Get some papers?"
"And expose him to my mum right away? Can't do that, Doctor." Rose said.
"No, no, very true. Good point, Rose Tyler."
"Don't we get a say in this?" Donna demanded.
The Doctor blinked. "Of course."
"Home, please." Donna said. "But don't think about running off, spaceman."
The Doctor landed around the corner from Donna's house in Chiswick. He winked at Rose when she sent him a look.
"Wilf might try to stow away if I parked closer." He said in a whisper that carried.
Donna, walking arm in arm with Lee ahead of Rose and the Doctor, glanced back and laughed. "Highly likely." She agreed.
Rose stopped walking and looked seriously at the ginger woman, causing the rest of the group to stop as well. "Donna," She said. "Do you want us to come with you? We can wait for you in the Tardis, or at Sarah Jane's, if you like."
That earned her a withering look. "Don't be daft. This way my mum won't know who to glare at."
The Doctor rubbed his left hand through his hair -his right was entwined with Rose's. "Er, maybe we should wait out here."
Donna started walking again, pulling Lee along with her. "Don't even think about it, bloody martian."
"I'm not from Mars!" He sputtered in her wake.
Rose caught Donna giving Lee a quick wink.
All the same, Rose wished they could have avoided the scene. Her ears still hurt from the screeching Silvia had done upon hearing her daughter was, sort of, married. Rose, thankfully, had been able to stay out of the line of fire. She and Wilf had quietly edged out the back door when the shouting began. From their spot on the hill, Rose dutifully answered Wilf's endless questions about space travel.
When his questions died out, they sat companionably for a moment, wincing as they heard Sylvia screeching at the Doctor from the house.
"Wilf, if you don't mind, I'm gonna go see my family. Would you tell Donna and the Doctor for me?"
"Of course, sweetheart. You do what you need to. Do you need to borrow a car?"
Rose smiled at him. He was such a sweet man. "Nah." She winked, "I've got my own transport." She hopped to Sarah Jane's attic.
"Thought you'd turn up." The older woman's voice came from just behind Rose.
Rose spun and hugged her friend. "Why's that?"
"Mister Smith detected a surge of artron energy about an hour ago. That's someone's calling card."
"You're brilliant, you are. Is my family still here? How long has it been? That bloody alien better not have botched the landing again."
Sarah Jane laughed. "No, not long. Only been about two weeks, but your family found a house a few days ago, moved out. I can give you the address if you want to go see them."
"Oh, I will." The blond smiled, "But they don't have a Doctor detector, so they won't know if I stay and chat here, a bit, first."
"Tea?" Sarah Jane asked, heading for the door to the stairs.
"Tea." Rose agreed, following her.
"Luke's at Clyde's." Sarah Jane explained when Rose asked. Usually the teen followed the sound of the teakettle, assuming that there would be food involved as well as tea. "So, how long has it been for you, Rose?"
"Only a couple days." Rose admitted.
Sarah Jane's eyebrows arched. "Really? None of us expected you to be back so soon."
"Didn't expect to be back." Rose said into her mug of steaming tea.
"Go on." Sarah Jane urged.
So Rose told her about the man who thought he was the Doctor and Donna's fall into the sewers that resulted in them in hitting up a fifty first century mall and finding Lee.
"Oh!" Rose sat up straight. "I just remembered, I'm supposed to read the next page of the journal now." She dug into the inside pocket of her jacket, the one that seemed bigger on the inside, and pulled out her journal. Rose grimaced at the page.
"What is it?" Sarah Jane asked.
"I was right." Rose said. "Something is coming."
"What?"
"I dunno. River just says I need to get my own psychic paper and sonic screwdriver from the Tardis." Rose said. "Probably means I'll be separated from the Doctor for a bit, though. Else I'd just use his."
Sarah Jane set one hand on the shoulder of her young friend. "If any one can walk the path that you must, it's you, Rose Tyler."
The corner of Rose's mouth twisted into a halfhearted grimace. She had a feeling she knew what was next. She had just expected to have more time with the Doctor before rescuing and raising Melody Pond.
Rose and Sarah Jane spent a peaceful hour sipping tea, eating biscuits, and chatting as an attempt to distract Rose from the continuing journey ahead of her.
"Thanks, Sarah Jane." Rose said, finally, as she stood from the sofa and stretched out her legs. "I'm gonna go see my parents. What's the address?"
Sarah Jane read off an address. The Tylers had moved into a house only a few blocks away, so Rose decided to walk the short distance. The air of the summer late afternoon was warm, with the sun still bright overhead. Rose smiled as she walked, noting the well tended gardens, so different from the concrete jungle of the Powell Estate. She rapped on the wooden door of her parent's new house. The house was spacious, though no where near the size of the mansion they'd owned in Pete's World, and the brick gave off a rosy glow with the gold sunlight hitting it.
"Coming, coming!" Jackie called from inside. Seconds later, the door opened and Jackie flung herself at her daughter. "Rose!"
Her shout was echoed from deeper in the house and Tony Tyler came running, and slipping on the polished hardwood floors, to crash into his sister. Rose laughed and hugged them both.
Rose arrived in time for dinner. The Doctor, however, arrived halfway through it. Jackie was halfway through her story about selling their first painting when another knock echoed through the house. Rose, guessing it would be the Doctor, stood to let him in, but Jackie shooed her back into her seat. The older woman ushered the Doctor into the dining room. Rose hid a grin behind her napkin as she took in his expression. His eyes were vacant as he frowned and his hair stood in a gloriously tousled mess.
"Oy, spaceman, are you just going to stand there?" Donna's voice came from behind the Doctor and she shoved her way past him, with, as Rose predicted, Lee in tow.
The clouds passed from the Doctor's face as his grin, slightly manic, definitely kooky, lit up his features instead.
"Right, Rose Tyler, ready to hop on board? We've got a whole new life to set up."
Jackie pouted as Rose stood.
"I'll be back soon, Mum, I promise." Rose kissed Jackie, Pete, and Tony goodbye and followed her friends out the door.
"You lot could have set all that up without me." Rose murmured to Donna as they walked back to Sarah Jane's.
"Yeah, but himself was going barmy." Donna retorted. "And driving the rest of us bonkers. Thought he might be easier to deal with if you were there."
As if to punctuate her words, the Doctor stretched a hand backwards to seize Rose's. She took his hand willingly and stepped forward so she was almost leaning against him as they walked. She stared up at his face, trying to impress it into her memory for the upcoming separation. The Doctor smiled down at her. Rose grinned back, her tongue caught at the corner of her smile.
"Stop flirting, spaceman!" Donna yelled.
Rose looked behind them and found, to her chagrin, that she and the Doctor had walked right past Sarah Jane's house. She flushed lightly.
"So, what's the plan, then?" Rose asked Donna, as Lee, Sarah Jane, and the Doctor huddled around Mister Smith. "Are you two stayin' here?" Rose bit her lower lip. She didn't want Donna to leave the Tardis so soon.
"Yeah." Donna breathed out, looking at the dark haired man she was fairly certain she loved. "I dunno, I thought I was gonna stay forever, but... Lee. We just need time, and some peace and quiet, to figure things out. I mean, it was years that we lived together, but at the same time, less than a day. Wizard." She turned back to Rose. "But it's temporary, you hear? And you'll be hearing from me any time anything the slightest bit weird starts going on."
"I expect nothing less, Donna Noble." Rose replied. A wave of dread swept over her. Rose could feel the future problem creeping closer and she repressed a shudder.
"Are you alright?" Donna asked, peering at her friend's pale face.
"A storm is coming." Rose said, echoing the words the Doctor said after the Olympics. The words that heralded the Battle of Canary Wharf.