Hey babes! Back again with a new chapter to this little story. Wasn't entirely sure if I was going to post this as a separate story altogether or not, but then I ultimately decided to just post it as a chapter two, since I think it still sorta works under the title the story already has. Knew I wanted to do this little follow-up but it took me a little while to get it exactly how I wanted it. So I hope you all like it.

Enjoy!

Letting out a breath, Rose pulls her hair out of its ponytail and runs her hands through it a few times to get the waves and knots out. It'd been a long day at the Torchwood office filling out paperwork, her absolute least favorite part of the job, and she's beyond exhausted. She would much rather be in the field protecting the planet from unfriendly aliens, reaching out to the peaceful ones, or keeping The Doctor—John—company in his lab while he tinkers away. Sometimes if she's there, they wind up making out on one of the lab tables like horny teenagers. Not every time, but often enough that people no longer forget to knock before entering.

Unfortunately, given the nature of her job and the fact that John can't sit still long enough to focus on paperwork, no matter how hard he tries, she ends up doing it all. He's tried to help her before, and it never ends well. So she just does it herself and only asks him about the more specific details she's unsure of. And he's always more than willing to help her out. People have learned to knock before entering her office now, too.

Smiling to herself, Rose slides in between the sheets, shifting a bit to get more comfortable with her back resting against the headboard. She clocks the exact moment John enters the room, already halfway into his pajamas, his clothes from the day getting tossed into the nearby hamper as he walks past it.

"So, another adventure story tonight?" he asks, pulling the covers back on his side of the bed and climbing in.

Rose smiles and nods. "Yeah." This is her favorite tradition of theirs over the last few months since settling into life on Pete's World. If they aren't too exhausted from the day's events, The Doctor will tell Rose about a new adventure he went on in those couple of years without her. Each night is a new story (sometimes two or three if they're short enough) and she loves hearing all about them. Even though she only started hearing the stories after meeting Martha and Donna, each new one shows her exactly why The Doctor asked those particular women to join him in his travels. "Where are we at now with Donna's adventures?"

"Hmm, let me see, we've covered Agatha Christie, and a few other alien planets, like the one where Donna was mistaken for the people's Queen, which leads us into…" he trails off as his brows furrow together in thought. "The Library. This was certainly an interesting one. I don't think I've ever told you about the Vashta Nerada. They live in the shadows and feast on any kind of flesh that passes through."

"Sounds sinister."

"Well, really, they're like any other life form, just trying to live their lives. The only problem is they don't care, they'll kill anyone or anything they come across."

"But you were able to stop them," she says. It's not a question, she's sure he succeeded.

"I was able to make a deal with them to get everyone out and to safety," he corrects. "Well, nearly everyone. A few people died before the Vashta Nerada would even listen to me. And even at the end of it…I couldn't save her. Not properly, anyway."

Rose's brows furrow slightly. "Her? Her who?"

"This woman…an archaeologist from the future. Turns out she was also a time traveler, knew me from my–well, his–future. She seemed hurt that I didn't recognize her, said that she called for me and I came like I always do, but I wasn't the version of me she intended to see there. I meant to plug myself into the matrix that day, to allow everyone to get out and save the mind of the little girl who was the computer, but River wouldn't let me."

A spark of something clicks in the back of Rose's mind, an image of big, tight curly hair. But it's gone just as quickly.

"I tried to stop her, of course, but she'd handcuffed me to a pipe, with both our sonics just out my reach."

Rose raises a brow. "She had a sonic?"

"My sonic. Apparently, I gave it to her, but she wouldn't say when or why. I realized why later, of course, and was able to preserve her mind in the matrix, so she's not really gone. But the me that's still out there…hopefully he still has all of those supposed adventures with her to look forward to." He breathes deeply. "She was a real mystery, that River Song."

The name echoes in Rose's mind, a weird sort of ripple happening in her memories, two in particular pushing through all the rest and settling at the forefront of her mind. "She's your wife."

John looks at her curiously. "What? How did you…what?"

"River's your wife. Or, well, his wife."

"How do you know that? You've never met River."

"No, I think I have. And I've met a version of you that actually knew her."

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.

.

Landing with a hard thud, Rose groans, her eyes closing tightly at the slight pain that resonates through her. The jumps never get any easier, despite how many she's done the last few months, but some have certainly had more comfortable landings than others.

She takes a moment to gather her bearings, and then slowly stands to assess her surroundings and figure out where and when she is. She's sure they've been getting closer to where she needs to be, and she prays that this time they actually got it right, that she ended up exactly where she needs to be.

It takes her longer than she tells herself it should have to realize where she is. It's not a design she's used to seeing, but she'd recognize the exterior doors anywhere.

And then she feels it. That familiar, pleasant humming she felt all around her nearly every day for two years. She almost wants to cry out of sheer relief. "Hello, gorgeous," she whispers as she slowly turns and comes face to face with the TARDIS console, the lights around her brightening and then dimming again, almost as if the ship is saying hello back. She quickly sends a message on her mobile and then continues her admiration of the sleek console design.

But then the worry sets in again. The console had stayed the same the last time The Doctor regenerated, but she's seen photos of his past lives and past consoles. She's sure that such a drastic console change also means a new Doctor. Maybe he won't want to see her again, maybe he won't want her around. Maybe he's changed too much to want her anywhere near him. She prays that's not the case because it would break her heart.

Footsteps echoing in the distance make her pause.

She's unsure at first what to do, but then she takes a deep breath and turns toward the second-level entryway that's lit slightly. "Doctor?" she calls out, grateful that her voice sounds stronger than she feels, and prays that it really is him and not a Companion. She doesn't want to have to deal with that.

The steps stop. Then they start again but move a bit quicker. "Really?" a thick, heavy Scottish voice carries down the corridor. "We're doing this now? Isn't it bad enough that you had to show her room to River which made me have to relive the pain of losing her?"

She sucks in a sharp breath as soon as he steps into the space and moves toward the stairs. She isn't entirely sure what she expected, but at the same time, she finds that it makes perfect sense as well.

"Doctor," she calls again once she's found her voice. She swallows thickly past the lump that's formed in her throat. "Doctor, it's me."

He barely glances in her direction as he stands at the console and fiddles with various knobs and levers. "This isn't funny," he grumbles, glaring at the time rotor. "Knock it off."

She slowly moves closer. "It's not a joke, Doctor. I'm here."

"No, you're not," he says adamantly. "You can't be here. You're just an image from my memory being projected by the TARDIS because I talked about you for the first time in centuries."

Her heart breaks. "Centuries?"

He scoffs. "You're a projection of my mind, don't act like you don't know. We saved the universe, as always, and then you left me again. Can't say I blame you, though. You were able to do the one thing I would never be able to give you. No matter how much I wanted to try."

She swallows again, finally stepping up beside him. "Doctor, look at me. Please."

He's quiet for a moment. And then he slowly turns to face her, though it's clear it's the last thing he wants to do. "There. Happy?"

She shakes her head. "No. I need you to look at me, really look at me. Do I look like a projection to you?"

His bushy brows furrow tightly together as he stares at her, scrutinizing every part of her, though he mostly focuses on her face.

It's a long, quiet moment as he looks at her. And then his eyes go wide. "Rose?"

She grins through her tears. "Hello."

He opens and closes his mouth a few times. "I'm…I'm not a hugger in this body."

Her smile falters. "Oh."

"Though, I suppose I could make an exception for you, Rose Tyler. I'll always make an exception for you."

She beams and closes the distance between them, wrapping her arms tightly around him and burying her face in his jacket. "I've missed you."

"I—I've missed you too."

She keeps herself wrapped around him for a moment longer, basking in the steady double heartbeat beneath her ear, a sound she's been eager to hear again since the moment she landed in Pete's World. She doesn't want to break the peace she's feeling, but she knows she needs answers.

Taking one more moment to herself, she steps back and wipes the tears off her face. She breathes deeply and smiles up at the Doctor. "So…something tells me I haven't landed where and when I intended."

"What gave you that idea?" he asks, one corner of his mouth twitching, as if he wants to smile. "Was it the TARDIS? Or my devilishly good looks? Though, I'm still not sold on the eyebrows."

She laughs. "I know you're not my Doctor, but I don't really care. I'm here with you, and that's something I was starting to worry would never happen."

"Well, I won't deny that it's certainly great to see you again. Even if it has been centuries."

Rose's eyes go wide. "You weren't joking about that?"

He shakes his head. "No. It has been…a very long time since we last saw each other."

"Do you even remember the last time you saw me, then?"

He almost looks offended at her question. "Do I remember? Rose Tyler, I haven't forgotten a single thing about you. How could I? I may have changed faces a few times and had new people traveling with me, but I never forgot about you. Well, we never forgot about you," he says, gesturing vaguely to the console.

Rose smiles softly. "Even after centuries?"

"Especially after centuries."

"Don't suppose you can tell me about the last time you saw me?"

He smiles sadly. "That's not really a good idea. I may have already lived through it all, but it's still going to happen for you."

She sighs. "I figured as much. I do get back, though? Back to where I'm trying to?"

"Oh yes. You help save the universe again. And you do it wonderfully."

"Well, that's good. And I suppose…since it's been centuries for you, I'm long gone by now in your eyes."

"Yes, I suppose you are, in a way. Honestly, I try not to think about it."

"Right. Um, could I ask you something?"

"Anything."

"When I landed, I assume you were talking to the TARDIS. It was right after I called out for you the first time, and you said it was bad enough that the TARDIS showed my room to someone. At least, I'm assuming it was my room."

"That doesn't sound like a question. You said you had a question."

"Who's River? And why did you sound so upset that the TARDIS showed her my room?"

He slides his hands into his pockets and leans back against the edge of the console. "That was two questions; you're really not very good at this."

She shakes her head. "Just answer 'em."

"How long have you got?"

She shrugs. "As long as it takes."

"Right." He takes a deep breath. "River is….well, technically speaking she's my wife."

Rose's eyes go wide at his words. "You got married?"

"Technically."

"What does that even mean?"

"We got married in an aborted timeline to save the universe."

"You know, somehow, that makes perfect sense." She shifts on her feet. "Where does my room come into play in all of this?"

The Doctor sighs. "River's going to die. Very soon, I might add. She's busy right now, but when she leaves here, she'll be leaving for her final adventure with me. I think the TARDIS knew what was coming for her after this, so she showed River some old rooms. Yours was one of them. It looked exactly the same as it did that day when you…left for the first time. Do you remember that?"

"How could I forget?" she echoes his words back at him. "Only been a couple of years for me."

"Right, of course. Well, I haven't been near your room since that day. River convinced me to tell her about you. So I did. I told her everything, about how important you were, and still are, to me."

"You did?"

"Yes."

Rose takes a small step back and leans against the stair railing behind her. "Could you tell me about her? Your wife? 'Cause I distinctly remember you saying once that you don't 'do domestics'."

"Oh, well, I was a much different man back then. And River's actually the daughter of two people who traveled with me in my previous body."

"Blimey, how long were they traveling with you for?"

He shakes his head and waves his hand in the air. "No, no, it's a bit more…"

"Wibbly wobbly?" she teases.

The Doctor sighs. "For lack of a better term, yes. Now please don't interrupt."

She shrugs. "You paused. Go on."

"Thank you. The first time I met River, it was her last time seeing me. We always saw each other out of order. I didn't find out who she really was until the day of her birth, the day she was kidnapped so she could be forged into my perfect killer. It didn't take, of course, we found a way around it."

"Of course you did."

"River's brilliant, though. I think you'd like her."

Rose continues to listen as The Doctor tells her all about the woman named River Song. She listens attentively, taking it all in and finding a deep appreciation for this woman who evidently loves The Doctor so much she was willing to let the world completely fall apart to save him. She can't say she wouldn't have done the same if she were in that position.

But even as he talks about River and the wonderful things she's done throughout her life, Rose can't help but notice the sadness in his eyes and voice. He said it himself that he's essentially sending River off to die when she leaves him, and that he won't ever see that version of her again.

"Unfortunately, I couldn't put off coming to Darillium any longer," he tells her once he's finished telling her about his adventures with River. "We literally crashed here and I took it as a sign. So we're here, like she said we were when I saw her at The Library. And she doesn't know it yet, but this is our last night together."

"One night? That's it?"

"Well, one night on Darillium lasts for twenty-four years," he says with a small smile. "I think she more than deserves it."

Rose smiles. "Yeah, I'd say so too." There's a quiet, recognizable beeping and Rose sighs heavily.

"I take it that's not a good beeping."

Rose looks up at him. "I told HQ to cancel the recall, but I haven't checked in since, so they're all wondering what's going on. Means I've gotta leave you now."

"You may be leaving me, Rose Tyler, but you'll see him again, the version of me you're trying to find. I don't know how many more jumps it'll take, but I promise you will get where you're meant to be. And he will be beyond thrilled to see you again."

Rose smiles through her blurred vision. "Really?"

"Of course. How could any of us not be thrilled to see you? When Big Ears regenerated after the game station, he did so with you in mind. Did you never wonder why he looked so young and handsome?"

She silently shakes her head.

"His thoughts were all about you when he changed. You influenced his looks, he wanted to be…well, frankly, he wanted to be someone you could truly love."

"Did he…did you never think I loved that first face?"

The Doctor shrugs. "Honestly, it was so long ago. Who knows what I thought back then? But I'm sure he could tell you, since it's been a lot longer for me than it has for him."

She shuffles a bit on her feet. "Is it wrong that I don't wanna leave you? That I want to just stay here?"

He smiles sadly. "There's a part of me that would love nothing more."

"And the other part?"

"Knows that this isn't where you're meant to be." He steps closer, resting his hands on her shoulders. "You're meant to be with him."

"Can I still miss you?" she asks, forcing the tears to stay inside.

He smiles softly. "Of course you can. But before you go…I hate to do this…but I'm going to have to lock this memory away."

Rose's body tenses. "What? No. I don't want to forget."

"You won't forget. Not forever. Just for a little while. Until the time is right for you to remember. Because when I saw you back then…it was like it was your first time seeing me since that day on Bad Wolf Bay."

"I can pretend."

"I'm sure you could. But we can't take any chances. I promise you will remember this, but only once everything that needs to happen has happened. I'm sure he'll want to tell you all about the adventures he had without you, so when he mentions River to you, you'll remember all of this. I won't do it if you really don't want me to."

Rose hesitates. "No, it's uh, it's alright. Suppose it would be a good idea not to let on right away that I've seen a future version."

"Precisely." He slowly raises his hands to her temples but pauses. "I promise this won't hurt. It'll be like you're falling asleep, and when you wake up, you'll think you just had a boring adventure to a nearly barren planet."

"Hang on," she says as his hands are reaching for her head again. "If I'm not gonna see this you again, could I just…" she trails off, then launches herself into his arms, hugging him tightly. "Thank you, Doctor," she whispers against the fabric of his jacket.

"For what?" he asks, his arms gently wrapping around her.

"For everything."

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.

.

Rose hastily wipes at her eyes once she finishes relaying the newly discovered memory to John. She'd started crying almost as soon as she started talking, and couldn't stop the entire time. She'd had to pause a few times to catch her breath before starting again. But she managed to get through it all. And she's still crying.

She immediately sinks into John's arms when she feels them wrap around her, burying her face in his nightshirt. "I'm so sorry."

One of his hands rubs gently up and down her back. "You've got nothing to apologize for."

"I'm a blubbering mess."

"But you're my blubbering mess," he says, clearly teasing to try and get a smile from her.

It works. Sort of. She cracks the tiniest of smiles but he, of course, can't see it.

She pulls away after a moment and wipes at her eyes again, sure that she's finally out of tears. "I didn't think I'd cry so much."

"It was a powerful memory," John explains. "And it was coming back immediately and unexpectedly. It's only natural there'd be some bit of emotional instability. Completely not your fault. Just an internal imbalance. It'll sort itself out soon enough."

She lets out a breath. "That's nice to know, I suppose. Though, I think I am to blame a bit for the crying."

"How so?"

"I'm sad. For him. After meeting River at The Library, he knew that every day spent with her after that was one day closer to her sacrificing herself to save you. And he couldn't let on about it, couldn't risk damaging the timelines in any way."

John smiles sadly. "The curse of a time traveler. At least he finally gave her that trip to Darillium, despite what you mentioned about his previous body always putting it off."

"And given that a night on Darillium lasts for twenty-four years, it is absolutely well deserved. Everything she did for him, everything she went through, including losing her parents like that…she deserves a little happiness for once."

"Well, I only met her the one time, but yes, I suppose she does deserve some happiness in her life. Even if it won't last forever."

"Nothing lasts forever, John," she tells him. "Something both you and him know all too well, I'm sure."

John sighs and nods. "Indeed we do. I'm sure he knew the instant he realized you were really there that your time together was limited. Yet if he's ever felt even a fraction of what I feel for you, he wouldn't have hesitated to have you along for another adventure."

Rose smiles sadly, more tears building up in her eyes. "He knew. Just like he knows where River is gonna end up, he knew that I was gonna end up right here with you. But he couldn't tell me. And even if he did let something slip, he'd just have to lock it away until after the fact."

"He couldn't risk the timeline. Things needed to happen the way that they did."

"I know. It's just…it doesn't make it any easier, does it?"

John sighs. "No, I don't suppose it does. But that's what can make each moment with someone so special. Because when you know the ending, it makes you cherish each moment that much more. And you want to soak up every second, every word, every expression, even if that person doesn't know you yet."

Rose gasps quietly as another memory hits her. One that wasn't locked away, but one that she hasn't thought about in years.

John leans closer. "What? What is it?"

She shakes her head. "Nothing. It's just…when you regenerated that first time, and we were in the TARDIS, I thought I'd seen your face before somewhere, but I told myself it was just because I was scared. But now…I think you—he—came to see me. Before I even met you."

"He did?"

Rose nods. "Yeah. Me and Mum were on our way home on New Years, but she decided to go out again, and I went back to the flat. I heard this man in the shadows, he seemed a little out of sorts, asked me what day it was. When I told him…he smiled and told me I was gonna have a great year. I met you a couple months later. Obviously, I didn't think anything of it at the time…but I know now that that was you. Or, well, it was him."

John nods. "Make sense. Very risky of him, but I get it. And uh, what about River? You said that you think you met her as well?"

Rose nods. "Yeah, the day before you blew up my job. This woman came in and thanked me for apparently saving a friend of hers. I was confused at first, but I get it now. I'd completely forgotten until now. She told me her name was River Song."

"Big curly hair?"

Rose nods.

"That would be her. Knowing what we know now, I'm glad you got to meet her. Even just for a moment."

"So am I. And I think that might be why she came back to see me. Because given everything he said that he told her about me, if I was in her position, I'd want to do the same. Meet the woman the Doctor fell in love with."

"Can I be honest with you?"

"Always."

He grabs one of her hands and holds it tightly while looking her straight in the eyes. "I'm glad you're not in her position. I don't have all of his memories of River. But what I do have is all of his memories of us and all the new ones you and I have been creating since we got here. And I absolutely cannot, and do not, want to imagine my life without you in it at any point. He had to lose both you and River. I don't envy him for that. I mean sure, I miss some aspects of being him, but the one thing I am more than grateful that I have that he doesn't…is you. Because you are the one, singular love of my one, singular life, Rose Tyler. And I truly wouldn't have it any other way. I love you so much."

Rose smiles at her boyfriend through her tears, reaching out to rest a hand on his cheek. "I love you too. And I don't want a life without you either. Ever. You're stuck with me, Doctor."

He smiles. "Yeah. But stuck with you? That's not so bad."

She laughs quietly at the reminder from a conversation that feels like a lifetime ago. "No, it's not bad at all."

So? What did you think? Let me know in a review down below. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Until next time,
Jellybean96 out!