~January, 2005~

"Did you see that guy's face Val?" 18 year old Raelyn asked as she and her girlfriend trudged through the snow.

"Yeah, I don't think he was expecting the two of us to kiss", Valerie Sinclair giggled.

"Well, considering how hard he was flirting…" the brunette remarked.

"Uh that was NOT flirting", the ginger cut in "I've seen pineapples with more ability to flirt than…what was his name again?"

Raelyn laughed loudly and answered with "Jack something, I think" she chuckled again, putting an arm around her shoulders, kissing her temple "I love how your mind works, Valerie" she stated.

"And I love you, Rae", Valerie proclaimed, stopping close to the block of flats that Raelyn and her mother lived in, though not for much longer as they'd just finalised the sale on a new house on Bannerman Road.

She went to kiss the brunette when they both heard a groan. The two of them glanced into the alleyway to see a brown haired man in a suit, doubled over.

"Hey, you ok?" Raelyn called, concerned.

"Yeah", the Time Lord managed to get out.

"Too much to drink?" Valerie enquired.

"Something like that", Doctor fibbed.

"Do you need us to call you a taxi?" Raelyn asked "or is there someone who can come pick you up?"

The brunet shook his head "t-there's no need", he waved off her offer "I don't live too far away".

"Alright then", the 18 year old said, none too pleased at his dismissal but if he didn't want help, she couldn't force him to accept it. "Anyway…Happy New Year".

"And you" the couple turns and starts to walk away "What year is this?" the Doctor called after them.

Raelyn stopped and turned back "Blimey, how much have you had?!" she remarked and the Doctor just shrugged "2005, January 1st", the violet eyed teen replied, answering his question.

"2005?" he repeated doing his best to hide his smile. He knew that this was going to be the year that changed her life. It was the year that changed his too. "Tell you what. I bet you're going to have a really great year", the Doctor told her.

"Yeah?" the young Smith smiled "See you". She turned and continued on her way with Valerie. The Doctor watched them both disappear into a block of flats before he heads back to the TARDIS. His steps are slow, each giving him a lot of pain. He was so close to the end. He had just had to hold off until he got back into the box.

The Time Lord turned the corner and saw the TARDIS. He took a step forward and cried out in pain, falling to the snow covered ground. He tried to get up but his legs wouldn't move. He vaguely heard a set of running footsteps approaching him "looks like I just got here in time", a light feminine voice remarked.

The Doctor glanced up and almost cried in relief upon seeing his Raelyn. He never thought he'd see her again, not after everything he had done. "Rae", he whispered "You're here".

"Course I am", the older version of the violet eyed brunette knelt down, grasped his arm and hauled him to his feet "did you really think I would leave you alone in your last moments?"

"But I thought…you hated me?" the Time Lord gritted out, cringing through another bout of pain.

"That's a conversation for later. And trust me, we will be having it", Raelyn replied "but for now you NEED to get back into the TARIDS, you've held off for too long". If the Doctor hadn't been fighting off his regeneration, he would've insisted that they have this 'conversation' now. Instead, he just let her lead him to the blue box. As they reached the TARDIS, Raelyn stopped and carefully hugged him. "Eleven's hour is coming", she whispered in his ear "it's going to be fantastic". The brunette drew back slightly only to press a light kiss onto his cheek. "Be seeing you soon", she added and with that she turned and walked away, her boots crunching in the snow.

The Doctor watched her go, torn between running after her and going into the TARDIS. However, another round of pain clinched it for him. Regeneration first, Raelyn second.

He quickly unlocked the door of the TARDIS and stepped inside. After he closed the door, he leant heavily on it for a moment only moving when he noticed his hand starting to glow. Using the hand rail, he made his way up to the console and took off his coat. The Doctor slowly made his way around the console, leaning on it heavily as he set it in motion for the last time in this particular body.

He then stepped back taking in his beloved ship one more time. "I don't want to go", The Doctor said quietly on the verge of tears as a soft golden glow started to envelope his face. He raised his hands slowly staring at the regeneration energy emanating from them.

This was it.

Farwell body number ten.

The Doctor flung his arms out and energy poured out of him. A scream came out of his mouth as he changed only stopping when he completely changed into the Eleventh Doctor. The newly changed Time Lord made a quick inventory of his body, completely unaware that his regeneration had pretty much destroyed his beloved ship.

"Legs. I've still got legs. Good", he kissed his knee "Arms. Hands. Ooo, fingers. Lots of fingers" the Doctor touched his ear "Ears, yes. Eyes, two. Nose", he poked his nose "well I've had worse", he remarked thinking of his ninth self. The Doctor prodded his chin "Chin, blimey. Hair…" he runs a hand through his hair and his eyes widened "I'm a girl!" he cried before clutching his throat, feeling his Adam's apple "No. No. I'm not a girl" that's a relief he thought. Then another thought occurred to him. He grabbed a chunk of hair and pulled it in front of his eyes "And still not ginger!" he grumbled. How hard was it to be ginger? Seriously that's all he wanted. At least one regeneration with ginger hair. Was that too much to ask?

Suddenly another thought struck him. There was something he was forgetting. Something rather important. And then an explosion went off. "Ha! I'm crashing!" he almost cheered as it had reminded him of what he'd forgotten, though in the back of his mind something else was niggling away at him. Something else he was forgetting…

Another judder broke through his thoughts and bringing him back to the situation at hand.

The Doctor clung onto the console, not at all perturbed by the fact that his ship was tumbling back down to Earth. In fact he gave a whoop of excitement. "Geronimo!" he hollered as his ship continued to fall.