This is my first Doctor Who fanfic, so it probably won't be perfect, but I hope it's enjoyable none the less. I'd appreciate any feedback on it. Thanks! And happy reading! :)

Chapter 1

The Doctor sat in a chair in the library. Rose lay on the couch across from him, fast asleep. Slow and steady breaths left her body. She slept on her side, facing him. His eyes softened as they rested on the relaxed features of her face.

Rassilon, he had missed that face so much more than words could express. As happy as he was for her to be back with him, he couldn't help but worry about her. She had gone through a lot that day.

Her facial features suddenly contracted into something that looked painful. Before he had much time to think about it, she rolled over and arched her back and let out a frightened scream. Without the slightest hesitation he rushed to her side. More wails escaped her, each making his hearts clench. He said her name gently, but she didn't respond.

He placed a cold hand on her shoulder. Her startled eyes flew open and she instinctively moved backward, smacking against the back of the couch.

"Hey, it's okay," he said softly. For a moment, her eyes met his. Then tears leaked out of them. "Aw, Rose, don't cry!" He hated it when she cried. He cupped her cheek and wiped a tear away with his thumb. But this only caused more tears to form.

Instantly he felt guilty. He wanted to pull her into his arms and murmur soothing words to her like he used to, but something within him stopped him. Before Canary Wharf, he wouldn't have even hesitated. But now…they'd both changed. Back then he knew what she'd wanted, but he wasn't so sure now. She'd grown up. She was more independent.

After a minute, he decided he didn't care and swept her into his arms. One arm slipped around her waist, while the other cradled her head against his chest, where tears soaked his shirt.

She pulled back slightly, avoiding his eyes. "I'm okay," she said. He gave her one of those disbelieving looks. She glared back at him. "Really, I am."

"Rose…" He shook his head. He knew she really wasn't. As a matter of fact, he wasn't okay. And anyone could tell that those screams had not meant anything good.

"But don't you see what he's trying to give you? Go on, tell her." Donna nodded to the meta-crisis Doctor.

The original Doctor looked at Rose as she turned to face his duplicate and began to explain how she could have that promised forever with him.

There was an emptiness of sort that hung in his stomach, but he did his best to push it away. He wasn't going to be selfish—not this time, not when it was for his precious Rose. If she was happy, he would be happy. At least, that's what he told himself…

"I've only got one life, Rose Tyler…I could spend it with you…if you want." There was that familiar tint of hope in his voice that she would accept him. He'd used it after the Sycorax "invasion" when he had asked if she would still travel with him.

How could she refuse?

She reached out a careful hand and placed it on his chest, on his heart—his single beating heart. The edges of her mouth twitched upward briefly. He really was part human. He wouldn't outlive her by hundreds of years. They could actually, really be together.

And suddenly, with no warning, the meta-crisis Doctor lurched forward and clutched his chest, and Rose jumped back. He wheezed and fell forward. She reached out to grab him before he hit the sand face first, but was a moment too late. She knelt beside him quickly and turned him over on his back. She heard the Doctor and Donna rushing over to them (though her mother still stayed a few feet back). He coughed hoarsely and blood trickled out of his mouth.

"What's happened?" Rose screamed, her voice high and choked from tears spilling fast out of her eyes.

The Doctor frantically examined the duplicate. "No, no, this wasn't supposed to happen!" he muttered. "He should've been able to handle it!"

Rose opened her mouth to say something again, but just then the meta-crisis gripped her hand. She looked at him, eyes wide with panic. His mouth moved but only gurgled noises left it. Rose quickly placed a hand on his face and moved her thumb gently, just like he would have done to her. One last choked noise left his mouth, trying to form last words, but his breathing stopped too quickly and the light left his eyes.

They just stared at him for a moment. Then Donna moved to close the man's eyelids. Rose turned to the Doctor, tears shining in her eyes."Why…what happened? I…I just touched him and then he just—"

The Doctor rested his hand on her shoulder and shook his head. "It had nothing to do with you."

"Then what—"

"I'll explain when we get back into the TARDIS." He turned away from her and moved to pick up the body. Once he had it, he turned and moved toward his ship. Donna looked after him with fearful eyes and moved into the TARDIS after him. He laid the body down. Donna stood right behind him.

"Doctor…" The moment she said his name, he stood up and turned to look at her. She fought to keep her voice steady. "Is…That's what's going to happen…" To me. For once, she was having trouble talking. "Right?"

"I won't let it." He shook his head and moved toward her until he was only mere inches from her.

"Then…what?"

He heaved a sigh, grief clouding his eyes. "You know what I have to do." Of course she did. He was part of her now.

"No." She looked at him with pleading eyes. She couldn't resist not begging him, because she'd rather die than go through what he was about to do. "Please, no."

But he placed his hands on his shoulders. "Oh, Donna Noble…"

"Please don't make me go back!" Tears streamed from her eyes now.

"We had the best of times." He placed his fingers on her temples. She cried out and tried to resist, but it was too late, her memory was fading. And she collapsed against him. His best friend was gone. Gone forever.

The TARDIS door opened once more and Rose walked in, her eyes puffy and red. She looked at Donna and her eyes creased with grief. "Is she…?"

The Doctor laid her gently on the ground. "No," he said. "I wiped her memory. She's safe now." As safe as she can be.

A sob caught in Rose's throat and he swiftly pulled her into his arms. "It's okay," he murmured against her hair, but they both knew it wasn't.

Rose woke up the next morning in her old bed. She ran a hand across the soft, light pink sheets. Her eyes scanned the room. It looked just the same as when she had left. Clothes still lay on the floor, make up scattered along the dresser…

The same chair where he used to sit to talk to her before she fell asleep was still there, too. She remembered when she had first started traveling with him in his previous incarnation, she used to have nightmares. It was just the adjustment to the new life style. She refused to tell him what her dreams consisted of in fear he would mock her for it, but he never pressured her to tell him.

He would simply brush a blonde lock of her hair out of her face and give her a light, friendly kiss on the forehead. Then he'd sit in the chair until she fell asleep. He was always gone by morning.

The door opened slightly and the Doctor's head poked in. His eyes met hers and he smiled a little and walked in. He used to just walk in and sit on her bed to talk. Now he seemed hesitant to do that.

He stood next to her bed and scratched the back of his neck, obviously unsure of what to do.

"Hi," Rose greeted him.

"Hello," he said, "you hungry?"

"A bit," she admitted.

She threw the sheets back and swung her legs over to the side of the bed. "I'm going to shower and change before we eat, though." She could hardly remember the last time she had showered and put on a new pair of clothes. Her hair was greasy and in desperate need of a wash.

He nodded and exited the room.

The warm water was nice against her skin. It soothed her sore muscles.

By the time she was done, the TARDIS had laid out a pair of jeans and a plain, not-so-baggy t-shirt.

When she reached the kitchen, the Doctor sat at the table with a cuppa. Across from him was another. She sat there and took a sip. "Yumm, you remembered to make it just as I like it!"

He grinned. "How could I forget? Last time I made it 'wrong', I had to go through a whole lecture about how much cream to add."

She smirked into her cup. More silence followed.

The Doctor shifted restlessly in his seat. "How'd you sleep?" he suddenly asked.

Rose shrugged. "Fine, I guess."

"No…?"

She knew he was wondering if she'd had anymore nightmares, but truthfully, she had been so exhausted, she couldn't recall dreaming at all. "Nope," she answered.

"That's good." He gave her another small smile.

More silence.

When Rose finished her cuppa, she set it down on the table. "So when are we going to get back to running for our lives?"

He looked up at her with a slightly startled expression. He hadn't expected her to want to go back to running right away. Then he mentally slapped himself. Of course she would want to. She was different in the way where she would actually let herself grieve, but she was like him in the way that she didn't want to stay in one place at a time to think about it.

He remembered when she had gone back in time to save her dad. She was so broken up about it and had cried all night. When she woke up, however, she seemed perfectly fine and they went back to life as usual. She had grown up without a father, but that made the bond with her mum even stronger. Rose had always been able to go back and see her whenever she wanted to.

His hearts ached for her. Now here she was, her family gone and never to be seen again.

"Whenever you want to," he replied. "We could go somewhere today, if you'd like?"

She nodded eagerly. He jumped up from his seat and held out his hand to her. "Then allons-y, Rose Tyler!" She took his hand and they darted off to the counsel room.

He began flipping a bunch of switches and began speaking 50 words per minute. He asked her questions that he didn't wait for her to respond to. He rambled little things that she couldn't understand. Then he looked at her. "So where to?"

"Umm…." She shrugged.

His throat tightened. This Rose was a whole shade sadder than when she'd first traveled with him. Not to mention she was exhausted, the dark circles beneath her eyes proving it. He was worried for her. Was he willing to risk her life when she was in such a state?

No. He wasn't.

He flipped a few more controls, flashed Rose a cheesy grin, and set course for fairly peaceful planet.