A/N: None of this is mine.

Prologue – Switched Sides

Dårlig Ulv Stranden the Doctor thought with a small, sad smile. Of course I'd say goodbye to her there. "Her" referred to Rose Tyler, his companion of two years, a human female he'd fallen for, as implausible as it sounded for a Time Lord. But Rose had. She had saved him from himself, had given him the solace his broken self needed after the devastation and the guilt of the Time War. And now she was gone, or about to be.

But for now… He had to keep smiling, to keep pretending it was alright. That he was alright.

Because she was there.

"Rose" the Doctor said.

"Doctor" she replied, also smiling, but her voice thick with unshed tears. Then, "Mum."

"Rose…" Unlike the Doctor and her daughter, Jackie Tyler couldn't hide her tears. She was also the only one who was excited rather than forlorn. "Rose! You've found a way back!" The Doctor laid a hand on her shoulder, making Jackie turn. "She's coming back! My daughter is coming back!"

The Doctor shook her head. "She can't."

Jackie pointed at her daughter, standing on the beach. "But she's here! She's right here! Look, she's-, she's-"

She took off at a run, trying to enfold her daughter in a bear hug, but her arms only found thin air, and Jackie Tyler just stumbled straight through the image of her daughter, landing face-first in the sand, where she struggled to stand, not really focusing on what she was doing, moaning "No… no… no…" as the Doctor picked her up and supported her so that she could see her daughter again, her daughter who was now crying too, unable to hold out any longer.

"I'm sorry, mum! I'm so sorry!"

"She's not really here" the Doctor told Jackie. "And she can't come here. My guess is the TARDIS found a tiny crack between the two universes and she's transmitting an image of Rose through the crack so she can say goodbye to us."

"That's what it is" Rose confirmed with a sniffle. "She's burning up a sun so we can have this moment." Then Rose's expression hardened. "But this is not goodbye! I'm not giving up! I know that if I tried to get through to your dimension or to bring you back right now, I'd only make both universes collapse and die, but I'll find a way. I'll find a way if it's the last thing I do!"

"And I'll race you" the Doctor said with a small smile while Jackie looked alternately at the two of them.

"I've got a head start" Rose said in a watery voice. "I can have years and years of head start. I've got the TARDIS."

"I'm a Time Lord" the Doctor answered. "It's going to be a bit humbling and extremely frustrating, having to work with humans to find us a way back to you, but I'm the one with the head start."

Rose laughed amidst her tears. Then her expression saddened again. "Why did you make us switch levers?" she asked. "It would have been me stuck on the wrong side instead of you."

Another small smile. "That magnaclamp I held. It had your name engraved on it. I decided to risk it."

"But why? Now I'm stuck on my own on this side, this universe has lost its biggest protector, and you're stuck here on the bloody long path, possibly forever! It would have been better if it had been me!"

"But it's me." The Doctor forced a grin. "Look at me, about to become domestic and all."

"At least you're not completely alone" Rose said, swiping a tear. She looked at Jackie. "Mum, I know it's a lot to ask, but… can you stay with him?"

"All three of us will, I promise" Jackie replied, sniffling. "All three of us."

Rose's eyes opened. "Mum, you can't ask Mickey to-"

"I don't mean Mickey" her mother interrupted. "I'm expecting. You're going to have a little brother, Rose. And when he grows up, this one here", and she tugged at the Doctor's ear, eliciting a "Hey!", "will tell him all about his wonderful sister and her travels across space and time."

Rose laughed again. "The Babysitter Doctor" she said, bringing yet another sad smile on the Doctor's lips. It would be an insane experience, but if he had to pick between being the War Doctor and being the Babysitter Doctor, he'd take the second anytime.

And he wasn't going to be entirely alone.

The Doctor's face grew serious again. "Rose, whatever you do, you have to promise me something. Find someone. Don't stay on your own while you try to find your way."

"I don't want to find someone! You're the only one I want traveling with me, Doctor! I love you!"

The Doctor reeled back, caught by complete surprise by such a direct admission; it was Jackie who kept him steady, this time, as she breathed a "Rose…"

"It's true. I wanted him- I wanted you- I wanted to say it before I have to go."

"And that's why I don't want you to be alone" the Doctor said. "I don't want you to run on your own and endure all the pain you're going through with nobody to help you when it becomes too much, Rose Tyler, because I-"

He stopped. It was too late. It was already too late when he had stumbled, anyway, because at some point while he was talking to her, Rose had disappeared. For good. Because unlike he'd been letting her believe, the Doctor knew there really wasn't a way back. Not anymore.

The Doctor turned, and embraced Jackie, who was now wailing her pain; he held her tight, muffling her cries. And there, holding Jackie Tyler as she lamented her daughter, the Doctor let go, and finally allowed himself to shed silent tears, for the loss of his life, and for the loss of Rose.

A/N: Yep, this is a Doctor Who rewrite of Season 3 with Rose Tyler – and sans the Doctor. He'll still be around a bit, don't worry, but for the most part, Rose will be on her own and trying to fill his very big boots – or his very skinny suit, if you will. Oh, and find out what it's like to be in charge of the Doctor/Companion relationship!

The story is M rated, and not by accident. Some themes that will be explored require mature eyes, and I'll make my best to provide trigger warnings. Also, two fair warnings: English isn't my native language, and I'm not a very fast or regular updater. For the latter, at least, I'll say you'll always get an entire episode in each chapter (even if they'll vary in length).