A/N: Basically a short series of short drabbles. If you're wondering when the next chapter of Awake will be up, I can tell you this: soon. Very soon. I've already got bits of it written in my notebook.

Title: Snow

Pairing: Rose/Ten

)O(

For once it is snowing. Not just the fallen ashes from a destroyed spaceship, but real winter snow, quieting the world all around. And the cold feels good. His insides are nearly boiling now with both radiation and regenerative energy. He knows the damage can't be repaired, and he won't be able to delay the inevitable for much longer. He's already starting to cook. This is it, then. His final reward.

A sudden sharp pain catches him off guard. Oh yeah, dying hurts. He is falling apart and he can't keep quiet anymore.

"You all right, mate?" Rose. His compassionate, extraordinary Rose. The woman who took pity on a Dalek and somehow found the patience to stay with him even though he was - is - a broken, bitter, selfish man.

"Yeah," he lies through his teeth. He lies because it's so easy, and she wouldn't understand if he told her the truth. Too early in her timeline. Honestly, he hadn't meant to talk to Rose at all, just see her one last time. I don't want to stop being your Doctor.

"Too much to drink?"

"Something like that."

"Maybe it's time you went home," she says.

"Yeah..." Except where is home now, really?

"Anyway, happy New Year!"

"And you." She turns to go, but he doesn't want her to walk away yet. He doesn't want that to be the end, so he calls after her: "What year is this?"

"Blimey, mate, how much have you had?" Rose laughs. Oh, how he has missed the sound of her laugh. "It's 2005, January the 1st."

Of course, 2005. This is the year it all changes for her. These are the days before living plastic, the end of the world (worst first date idea ever) and before Rose Tyler met the universe. For a moment he envies his past self, with all that still to come in the future.

"Tell you what, I bet you're gonna have a really great year." And he hopes she does. Or did. Was it great, Rose Tyler? Was it the best? Was it fantastic?

"Yeah?" she smiles. It's almost enough to keep him going. He could be brave forever if it made her smile. "See ya."

It isn't a tearful goodbye on a beach in Norway, and maybe this is better. Rose runs home through the snow. The Doctor goes to his death, alone again.