First off - WOW! The amount of alerts and favorites I got on this story was crazy! Thank you soo much to everyone reading this!

This is the longest chapter. I put a lot of love, not only in this chapter, but this entire story.

There is a section that I have rated as T, but it's nothing graphic. It's more feelings and the reafirming of a bond.

I don't DW, sadly, and please enjoy.

Recommended listening: first section Lost Along The Way by John Nordstrom; second section Edge of Glory by Lady Gaga; third section Jack's Love Theme by Studio Orchestra; fourth section Far Away by Nickleback; fifth section Goreck by Lamb (long as hell, I know); final section Marchin' On By OneRepublic.

It was very quiet in the Hub when Jack and The Doctor return. The only sounds were that of the various equipment and computers going on in the background, while the employees were silent, unsure of what to say in the face of a solemn Jack and a depressed Time Lord. "Any more energy spikes?" Jack questions hopefully, but Tosh shakes her head sadly. "Something started to happen, but it collapsed quickly. There's been nothing since." Jack nods, sighing softly to himself. Donna, who has been hovering behind Gwen, moves to The Doctor, who looks at her. She gives him a sad little look before reaching out to rest her hand on his shoulder. She can felt the shuddering sigh that seemed to fill his entire thin frame. "Come on, mate." she says softly, nodding towards the TARDIS.

Once inside, Donna can see for herself the damage that has been done. Hope was a powerful emotion, and a double-edged one at that. It can be the key to that which you most desire…or can destroy you. In this case, the hope that The Doctor had that Rose was breaking through, had destroyed him from the inside. He had buried all of the emotions associated with Rose, so for them to be brought back to the surface, it felt like losing her all over again.

"What happened?" Donna asks softly, after they settled down in the library. "Nothing," The Doctor sighs. "There was nothing. Just sand and water…and regrets." He looks off into the distance, his mind taking him back to the last time he saw Rose. "Regrets?" Donna asks. "The last time I ever saw her, was on that beach in the parallel universe…"

He tells Donna about that day on the beach, the hearts—wrenching conversation as they tried to pretend like nothing was wrong, like she wasn't on the wrong side of the wrong universe. He pauses when he gets to the next part of their conversation. "And then…Rose said something that…that very nearly broke me."

There's five of us now. Mum, Dad, Mickey…and the Baby."

He had felt both of his hearts stop when Rose said that. Baby. A Baby.

"You're not…"

For a moment, he saw it all, him and Rose and the little time tot - a girl who took after her mother, in looks and wandering off; or a boy with his looks and tendency to get into all kinds of trouble - the three of them, a family.

But then he remembered…he couldn't have that adventure, not with them. Rose and his child were in another universe and unless he found a way to break through…he would never get to his son or daughter grow up. Rose would have to raise them without their dad.

She must have seen it written on his face because she gave him a sad smile and she shook her head.

"No," she giggled nervously, pushing her hair away from her face, "It's mum." He snorted, not quite believing her. It was possible she was lying to protect him from what he had already figured out; that he would miss not only Rose, but their child. It was then he realized all he wanted was to have a family with Rose. The one adventure he seemed he was going to be denied.

Donna takes his hand, bringing him back to the present. "Did you want her to be pregnant?" She treads carefully. The Doctor lets out a heaving sigh. "A part of me wanted it, only because at least Rose would have our child with her. The other part of me, the selfish part of me, needed to believe it really was her mother, because if Rose had been lying…that meant that I would never have the chance to see my child, to watch him grow up, to be there for him, to be his father." Donna nods sympathetically. "I understand, Doctor." He continues his tale, having to stop once he reaches the end of the conversation, drifting back to that moment…

At this point, Rose can no longer hold back her tears. "Am I ever going to see you again?" She needs to know if there's even the smallest chance that he'll come to her. "

You can't." She'll never know how difficult it was for him to tell her that. For him, it was admitting defeat. Rose is sobbing at this point, but is determined to finish the conversation.

"What are you going to do?" "

Ah, I've got the TARDIS. Same old life." The tears are pressing against the back of his eyes, and the lump in his throat is taking charge, making his words seemed choked.

"On your own?" She looks so sad for him, that he nods in answer her question, because he knows he would start crying.

And then she says it. "I...I love you."

He knew that. Of course he knew that, but up until now, it had never been spoken, but to hear her say it…he can now understand why humans need to hear other people tell them. "Quite right too." He jokes, because he is The Doctor, but knows now was the moment he needed to tell her. "And I suppose, if it's my last chance to say it," He steadies himself, for he's never said them to a human before." Rose Tyler..."

Donna gently shakes his arm. "What happened?" The Doctor scoffs, bitterly. "I ran out of time. Me, the last of the Time Lords, didn't get the chance to tell her how I felt, because I ran out of time." He looks at her mournfully. "That is my biggest regret, Donna." She nods, and hugs him tightly. After a few moments, he tells her that there's something he needs to do, somewhere he needs to go, and he needs to do it alone. She tells him she understands and hugs him one last time before exiting the TARDIS and watching it disappear.

Right around the time Jack starts yelling about another energy spike, more powerful than the previous spikes. "Something or someone is trying desperately to get through!" There's a loud sound, like thunder crashing, and they all watch on the CCTV as a figures appears not too far from them.

A figure that looks shockingly like Rose Tyler.

The jet ride back to London is a quiet one. None of the three occupants have said anything since Rose's meltdown back at Bad Wolf Bay. Mickey was racking his brain, trying to think of what to tell Jackie when she saw them, what he could say that reassure her that Rose wouldn't do anything stupid as to end her own life, when really, it was on everyone's mind. Jake was watching her silently, wondering if she really would take her own life. Rose is numb. Absolutely numb. She can't feel anything, something she welcomes against the devastating emotions she has gone through an hour ago. She just feels so tired…

"Rose." She looks up at her name, and it's Mickey. "We're here, babe." Yay, back in London. Rose felt herself getting angry again. She wasn't supposed to be here! She was supposed to out of this bloody universe and in her own one! She was supposed to be with The Doctor! Safe in his arms, breathing in his scent, knowing that nothing would ever tear them apart ever again!

It wasn't fair!

She nods and drags herself up and off the jet, blinking in the sunlight and looking around her. And then she feels it. Around her neck, the key to the TARDIS she never takes it off. The key that had been stone cold since she had arrived in this stupid world. The key that was now blazing hot. So hot, it began to burn her skin and she quickly wrenches it off with a cry of pain. She stares down at the ground, along with Mickey and Jake, at the glowing TARDIS key. "It's glowing," Mickey points out, "It's never done that before." And then it hits Rose. "The rift!" She shouts, startling both men. "We came through the rift before, remember Mick? That's why it didn't work! We're supposed to be in Cardiff!" God, now it all makes sense! Rose grins at them excitedly and bolts for the car, whooping joyfully. Mickey and Jake race after her. What did they have to lose?

Normally, the trip to Cardiff takes an hour. Rose makes it in forty-five minutes. They pile out of the car, Jake shaking slightly from Rose's driving, and they can all feel the energy. "Yes! This is it!" Rose raises her arms in victory, as she feels the tingling intensify. This was it! She turns to the boys, both of which are looking at her wide-eyed. "Rose, you're glowing!" Jake says, pointing at her. Rose looks down her body and sure enough, she is. She looks back, grinning so widely, Mickey can clearly see The Doctor. "This is it, boys! I'm going home!" She reaches out and hugs them both briefly. "Give Mum and Pete and Tony my love, Mick." He nods, feeling a little choked up. "Promise me, you'll kiss him when you see him." He jokes and Rose grins.

It's the last time either of them see Rose Tyler ever again.

Jack leads the group out the hub and towards Rose, who looks a bit disoriented. It's freezing cold and he's forgotten his coat, but it doesn't matter because Rose is here! "Rose!" He shouts, loud enough for all of Cardiff to hear and she whirls around. "Jack?" She cries out in disbelief and he reaches her, scooping her up in his arms and they're both laughing and crying. He holds her tight before pulling away. "I see you finally made it!" He jokes and she laughs hysterically. "Yeah, I did! And you! You're here too!" She grins and hugs him close, feeling like things are finally falling into place. All she needs is The Doctor.

As if reading her mind, Jack chuckles. "You just missed him. When you didn't show up the first time…well he didn't take it too well. He's off, moping." And that was putting it lightly. "I tried, Jack, I really did! I didn't think of the rift until it was too late." She says frantically, upset that she's upset The Doctor. "Hey, it's ok. I can get him back here," he soothes. "Let me give him a call—"

"What? The Doctor's got a phone now?" Rose asks in disbelief. Jack laughs. "Oh, yes. Makes tracking him down a lot easier now." Rose grins. "Come on, let's get inside and you can meet the team."

V

Rose has never felt more comfortable around a group of people like she did around Jack's team. The fact that he even had a team was funny already, but this was a good lot. She really likes Ianto and Tosh and Owen (even if he kept hitting on her) and Gwen. She senses something between Jack and the beautiful Welsh, and she makes a note to talk to him about it later.

Right now, she really wants to talk to Donna. She was The Doctor's newest companion, and Rose was extremely relived when Jack told her that she wasn't going to have to fight the woman for The Doctor. She remembered her first meeting with Sarah Jane, but it was different with Donna.

She finds the ginger (she bet The Doctor's secretly jealous) and pulls her off to the side. "Hey, Donna." Donna smiles warmly at the blonde girl. The Doctor had been right; Rose was beautiful. Not quite what she expected, thanks to the stories, but looking at her, she seemed perfect for the Time Lord. "Hey, Rose." "So, how'd you meet The Doctor?" Donna launches into a hysterical re-telling of her first adventure with The Doctor, her turning him down, before reuniting with him again. Rose grins through it. The Doctor had found a keeper in Donna Noble, and she was thrilled that she had kept him company for the last year.

"I want you to know, Rose, that The Doctor has missing you just as much as you've been missing him. I meet him after you two were separated and he was a right misery. But it was more that, though, he was just so…sad. I felt bad for him. And then when we met back up, he still hadn't found you. He seemed a bit better, but there was this look about him, like someone who had been through a lot." Rose nods, biting her lip at the thought of The Doctor in pain. Donna went on to tell Rose about how she got The Doctor to open up and how he told her all about Rose Tyler and the adventures they'd had and ultimately, how they had been separated. "He's been lost without you. There have been times where he's acted like he's had nothing to lose. I've had to pull him back now and again. He needs you." Donna says and Rose hugs the older woman, so grateful that she had been the one to be him whilst she was gone. "Thank you." Rose breathes out shakily. Donna nods, hugging her back. That sealed it; Rose Tyler was The Doctor's match in every way.

"Ladies, as much as I'm loving the bonding," they look up at Jack's voice and see him holding out his mobile. "How about we call in a doctor?"

The Doctor had put up a bit of a fuss, telling Jack that he wanted to be alone, but Jack kept insisting that he was needed back at Torchwood.

"There's been another energy spike, not as big, though. Come take a look."

"Seriously, Jack. I really don't care."

"Seriously, Doctor, I don't care if you don't care. Get your skinny ass back to Cardiff. Now."

They can hear The Doctor sputtering and protesting Jack's demand before Jack hangs up, grinning like a child on Christmas morning.

"I can't tell who's more excited, Jack or Rose." Gwen jokes and Donna laughs. Rose was bouncing on her heels, unable to stay in one spot. She was wearing the biggest grin anyone of them had ever seen, and if Donna looks at the right angle, she can see The Doctor in Rose's features. They were perfect for each other. "Let's wait outside!" Rose suggests, grabbing the jacket Gwen had loaned her and racing out the door, Jack behind her.

V

Donna's mind had been drifting before she's brought out of her thoughts by Jack's nudge. He's grinning and she was reminded of why they were standing in front of the Millennium Center in the freezing weather. "You're going to want to see this," he said with a grin, beyond excited.

As he said this, the TARDIS wheezed into existence and Donna watched as Rose froze in her pacing and looking over at the spot, relief and hope and joy written all over her face. She watched as the wooden door opened and The Doctor stepped out, looking like the world had taken residence on his shoulders. He seemed every bit his nine hundred years of living, his grief over his lost lover still taking over his handsome features.

It really was amazing to witness, as they both caught sight of each other, The Doctor stiffened once he saw Rose, before squinting, like maybe he was imaging it. Rose took a couple of shaky steps towards him and when he realized that it was indeed Rose, his eyes widen to the size of dinner plates, his lips parted in shock. His feet seemed more than able to take him to Rose, for he was moving before his brain caught up with his body.

And then they were running, full steam towards each other, wide ecstatic grins on their faces, laughter escaping them, and when Rose slammed into The Doctor, Donna swore that for a moment, it looked like they were both floating in the air, their happiness making them weightless. They stood there, Rose pressing herself against him so tight, it looked like they were trying to merge into one person, so they would never be without each other. It lasted only for a moment before The Doctor pulled away. There wasn't nearly as much contact as he wanted, so as Rose wrapped her arms around his neck, he grabbed the back of her thighs, and with a strength Donna didn't think him capable of, he lifted Rose, who wrapped her legs around his waist. Now he seemed satisfied as he wrapped his arms around her tighter, his face buried her neck, her hands holding him to her.

Donna doubted either of them felt the cold. In fact, she would say that this was the first time either of them felt warm. She felt Jack wrap his arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer to him. "Donna Noble, I'd like for you to meet two good friends of mine, Rose Tyler and The Doctor. And as you can see, they can't live without each other."

Too right, Jack, Donna thought with a grin, too right

It's quiet for the TARDIS, say for the soft giggling and male chuckles that can be heard from a bedroom that hadn't been used in quite some time. The room itself showed signs of being shared by two people at some point in time, with female clothing mixed with male suits and ties. The room had stood empty, however, upon losing the owner of the jewelry and make-up. It had all been pushed gently to one side, the other side occupied with dirty tea cups and worn copies of books no human had ever seen. In the middle of the room stood a four poster bed, with dark blue sheets and brown and blue pattern duvet.

This is where we find our heroes.

The room is filled with the sound of a naked Rose giggling softly as an equally naked Doctor places soft kisses up her belly, his fringe tickling her. She winds her fingers through his hair and pulls him up back to her gently, pressing their lips together. He wraps his arms around her, pulling her closer, never wanting to be more than a foot away from her. His body is warm from their previous activities, and he relishes in the warmth, something that had been missing for a long time. He sits up, pulling her into his lap and he looks at her, taking in her features; her flushed cheeks, her bright eyes, her cheeky smile, and oh yes, her wonderfully naked body pressed against his. She laces their fingers together, resting their joined hands on his warm chest and sighs softly, content. These were the moments he had missed the most. The moments where it was just them, sharing a bond so strong, it had enable them to survive long enough to get back to the other. He raises a hand and tucks a stray hair behind her ear. "I love you, Rose." He tells her, like he's been saying it all his life. She rises up slightly and sinks down onto him, both of them moaning at the contact.

God, she needed this. She needed to be with The Doctor so much it had been killing her. She needed the connection, both emotionally and physically. He pulls her closer as they rock together in perfect rhythm. "I love you." He gasps when she twists her hips. He leans forward until she's on her back and he begins to speed up, still keeping the gentle rhythm. "I love you. IloveyouIloveyouIloveyou." He groans, chills running down his spine when she rakes her fingernails down his back, marking him as her own. He can feel her heartbeat, racing as they dance together, and he's sure she can feels his hearts racing just as fast. He's almost there, and he knows she can tell, because she leans up, hooking one arm around his neck and pulling him down to her. "I love you, Doctor," she breathes against his lips and they both cum, harder than they ever had before, seeing stars. He lays there, in her arms, her legs about his waist, still inside her. He buries his face in her neck, breathing in her scent. "I love you." It's all he can say.

When they finally venture out of the TARDIS, none of the team (or Donna) had noticed them. Until Jack made their presence known.

"Oh, well! Good afternoon!" He calls out from the entrance of his office, a smirk on his face as everyone turns to the couple, both of them bright red with embarrassment. "Thanks for that, Jack." Rose says, sarcastically. "I take it by the fact that you two have decided to grace us with your presence, that the TARDIS has well christened. Hey Donna, next time you go to the console room, make sure the chair's clean before you sit down." Donna's groan of disgust mixes with Rose and the Doctor's cry of embarrasment. Jack laughs, ignoring their protest. "Rose Tyler, I must say, you have the look of a woman very well pleased with herself." Jack leers. Rose smirks, cocking an eyebrow. "Look at him, Jack." The Captain looks over at The Doctor. The Time Lord in question is dressed every casually, his tie gone and the first three buttons undone. His hair is a mess and he looks so relax, he almost doesn't look like The Doctor. When he catches Jack's eye, he stretches and smirks. "Sorry, Jack. Still feeling a bit stiff." Rose looks at him over her shoulder with an arched eyebrow. "Still?"

Catcalls and whoops fill the hub, courtesy of Team Torchwood, and Jack high-fives The Doctor. Donna rolls her eyes and groans. "Oh, God. Is this how's going to be from now on? Cause I need to know now." The Doctor shakes his head, snaking his arms around Rose's waist from behind and resting his chin atop her head. "We'll try not to…banter…in front of you, Donna." "Oh, why'd you have to say it like that?" Donna complains, and the team starts to tease Donna about what's really going to happen on the TARDIS.

Jack looks at the couple, who are just listening. He watches with interest as The Doctor moves one of his hands down and resting on Rose's lower abdomen. She looks up at the Time Lord with a smile, kissing him and while Jack knows it's not possible for her to be pregnant after two days (no matter how superior The Doctor claims to be) he has no doubt that within the year, the sound of tiny feet pitter-pattering would fill the TARDIS.

And Jack can't wait to be a uncle.

Oh, The End. Thanks for reading!