This is the end my dear whovian readers. I hope you've enjoyed reading this as much as I have thinking this up. Have a fantastic time reading this, and if you can spot the quote from Terry Goodkind, I applaud you. Couldn't help but throw in one of my favorite quotes from my favorite author in here. And a nod to one of my other favorite fandoms.

Here is the chapter in which called for the M rating. it is in between the **'s if you cannot read unpleasantness.

For a man who wore both suspenders and a belt at the same time, which Rose was entitled to think looked good on only Jack and a fictitious space cowboy from the tele, Jack had an impressive sense of style. He had been very right about the skirt he had seen in the store. It was a little snug as it reached her ankles, but it had a slit up one side to about mid-thigh that had given even Jack paused as she had tried it on.

It had taken a bit of coaxing from Jack to convince her to buy it, but only once she said she wouldn't be wearing it for tonight. It's a waste of an outfit! Jack had tried to argue, but Rose wouldn't hear it. They had gone across the street until she found herself something she had considered acceptable to wear, and then spent the rest of the time chattering about the people that passed them by.

Jackie had not seemed very concerned when Rose and Jack returned with a few bags from their shopping trip, which surprised Rose a bit. Normally Jackie would have jumped on Rose, asking where she had gotten the money to afford more clothing then made some sort of comment about getting heirs and graces while she was off traveling. Not this time though. Jackie just kissed Rose on the cheek when she announced her intent for tonight, reminding her, "You are worth so much Rose, and I'm proud of you."

So, armed with a set of feminine armor, Rose had gotten ready to face down to the Doctor. And that was how she was going to think of their meeting. She wouldn't let herself be pushed back into a corner, not again.

She had dressed herself to feel better about herself as she wore a new set of jeans, a cute quarter length sleeve pink top, and the luxury of wearing a new pair of high heels (which, when you run for your life constantly, the chance to wear them was a treat). Her makeup was on point, which was minimal compared to what she usually wore, and her hair was let down for once. This was her armor, and no one could tear her down.

Even as she stared at the doors of the Doctor's ship, Rose didn't pause in apprehension for what was to come. She didn't think about what could happen after tonight, whether she would be sleeping back on the TARDIS or if she would be job hunting in the morning. Thinking beyond this point would just wear her down, and she wasn't going to let that happen right now.

Pushing the door open Rose entered the TARDIS, enjoying the sounds of her pleasant humming, and the smell of being home. Rose couldn't see the Doctor about, she was a few minutes early after all, so she walked up to the console. With careful fingers, Rose ran her fingertips along the console, avoiding any of the levers and switches, her mind wondering would this be the last time she got to do this. She paid no mind as she walked slowly around the console, taking in the sounds of the TARDIS, the feeling of her panels under her fingers, of the memories that teased the edge of her mind.

Then she noticed her journal, sitting in nearly the same spot in which she left it in the early hours of dawn. Her eyebrows furrowed as she stared at it, sitting innocently on the console, the only thing missing is the sticky note she had placed on it the night before.

"Can't bring myself to read it," the Doctor said from behind her, causing Rose to start a bit. He had snuck up on her, and she had been so lost in thought she hadn't heard him approaching. Her eyes darted to him, her mouth getting ready to say something before she noticed the Doctor was dressed up.

Well, as dressed up as the Doctor could ever be, Rose thought to herself.

He was wearing an oxford shirt, the same shade of maroon she had first met him in, tucked into his black pants and he was still wearing his heavy boots. He even had a tie on, a silvery little number that made Rose pause at the sight of. Rose had to raise an eyebrow at the tie, it just didn't seem like the Doctor.

"Too much?" the Doctor said, looking uneasy down at his outfit. Rose had to crack a smile at that, seeing him so uncomfortable.

"Tie's a bit much," Rose said. It looked good on him, but she could see he was far from comfortable.

"Right," the Doctor agreed before he loosened the Windsor knot and pulled it off, stuffing it into the pocket of his pants. "Seemed silly anyways. Who would run around with a noose around their neck every day anyways?" The Doctor tried to smile as he stayed back from her, stuffing his hands into his pants pockets.

Rose smiled at the Doctor. "Dunno, may look dashing on you," Rose teased, just to see the Doctor's look of apprehension.

"Oi! It'll clash with the leather," the Doctor retaliated, a split second before he noticed she was teasing him. "Not one to dress up me. Only for very special reasons," the Doctor said.

"And this is a special occasion?" Rose asked, her smile falling a bit.

The Doctor looked about for a moment before his eyes came back to rest on Rose. "Is for me," the Doctor said. "Have something to ask you Rose, something that won't cost you anything if you agree to it." The Doctor took a step forward, "Just hear me out?"

Rose crossed her arms across her chest, turning her shoulder towards him. Her stomach tightened in apprehension. "What is it?"

The Doctor flexed his fingers at his side, his fingertips running along the material of his pants. "I want to show you something, a one-way thing you see." His hand came up to touch his temple and Rose understood what he was trying to say. "Just a few moments of my life, with no chance of accessing your mind. I can't lie to you this way, you'll know if I am."

The Doctor spoke with honesty, Rose could see it in his eyes. She could see the hope in the swirling blue of his eyes, the fear of rejection from her. It broke her heart to see him looking so unlike the confident man she knew. Yet, she knew she had to do what was good for her too.

"How can I trust you Doctor?" Rose asked sadly. His words echoed in her head, a threat she never wanted to hear fall from his lips. "I don't think I can."

The Doctor took one step forward, slowly and hesitantly, letting her feel like she had the freedom to move. "Telepathic one, me. Need to touch your temples to have proper access to your mind. If you touch mine, I can forge a one-way link, temporarily of course. Just to show you something. You can pull away any time, no repercussions at all." He spoke quickly, almost without breath. He watched her, waiting for her reaction.

Rose looked at him, studying the Doctor like she wasn't sure this was a trap. He was being earnest, and every tick of the clock that passed in silence, the Doctor felt a piece of his hope die. Breathing became harder to do, and he could feel his hearts stuttering.

"If I ask you a question" Rose said hesitantly, "will you answer me, no side stepping, no misdirection, no lies?"

"Yes," the Doctor agreed, a little breathless from hope rushing back to him. "The link won't let me lie."

Rose unfolded her arms and took a step towards the Doctor, coming within reach of each other. "If you've lied to me Doctor, tricked me in any way, I'm gone." Rose stated, the heels she was wearing allowing her to stare directly into the Doctor's eyes. "You leave, and never bother me again."

"Yes Rose," the Doctor agreed, shoving his hands into his pockets and staying very still. "Just have to touch with two fingers, rest I'll do."

Rose nodded, her face blank as she reached forward. How many times had she thought of doing this, touching the Doctor in this very same manner? Not once had she ever thought it would be with hesitation and trepidation. Never had she believed it would be because she couldn't trust the Doctor.

Her fingers laid gently against his temples, her eyes locked with his own. Rose could feel an odd sensation, just on the edge of her awareness that pulled at her. It was like a tether, a line that she followed outside of herself and into the Doctor's mind.

It felt like she was floating in his essence, quiet an odd sensation for her. Then came the flashes of memories, of staring at herself from the Doctor's point of view. She looked ragged, the circles under her eyes too dark to hide with the concealer, and her presence just screamed 'haunted' to him. She could feel the worry, the gnawing sensation inside him that stabbed at his hearts every time he looked at her. She could feel the fear he was feeling, that something was horribly wrong with his Rose, and he couldn't fix it if he didn't know what was wrong. And he wanted to fix it, to make her smile once more and chase away the nightmares that were keeping her up.

She wouldn't talk to him about it, Rose couldn't hear what was being said but she remembered the conversation vividly. It was upsetting him that she wouldn't open up to him, and feeding the fear he felt inside. His desperation became her own, and his mind tried to find a way to make her talk. And he came to an idea that even he didn't want.

He snapped the threat, could feel his lips moving around the sounds that had in one moment shattered her trust in the Doctor.

The moment the words left his lips, he knew he never would've been able to violate her trust like that. It was a lie, a calculated lie in hopes she would talk, scream at him, do something so that he knew what he could do to help her. He just wanted to help her, to see her smile again like she had before being taken hostage, to bring her peace like she did him.

And he knew in the instant before her hand came up to slap him, he was a colossal idiot for even thinking saying such a thing was an option.

The memory faded, leaving Rose momentarily lost as she tried to get her bearings back. The Doctor's mind was gentle as he eased her back towards her own body, gently nudging her until she could follow the path back on her own.

Rose's eyes opened and immediately went to the Doctor's own. He was looking serious as ever, no real emotion written on his features but his eyes were filled with regret.

"Got mad after that," the Doctor admitted, his voice hoarse with guilt. "Don't know if you could hear me thunderin' about like a big oaf. Was mad you had slapped me Rose, was mad at myself for suggesting something so stupid, was mad my pride was wounded, mad that nothing had gone like I had hoped." The Doctor hung his head, looking down at the grating on the floor between the two of them. "I just wanted to fix things."

"Doctor," Rose said softly, her hands falling down to her sides. She could feel the echoes of the memory running through the Doctor's head, feel what shame and guilt he felt now for acting like he had. She needed to pull back, for her own good. The Doctor's hands came out of his pockets to hold onto Rose's hands gently, letting her feel like she could pull free at any time.

The Doctor looked up at Rose, his eyes looking panicked as he spoke. "I've got two hearts Rose, both of them belong to you. You came in and breathed life back into them when I thought for sure there was nothing left of them after the Time War. I would do anything to help you Rose, and probably mess it up doing so, but I would do it for you."

The Doctor was rambling, not quite sure how he managed to find such a gob on him all of a sudden. Go me for making no sense at all, the Doctor sneered at himself.

The Doctor was so focused on how badly his mouth was running and how he wasn't making any sense, even to himself, that he didn't see the determination in Rose's eyes. Her hands came up and it came as a shock to him the moment his fingertips touched her temples, intertwined with her own to keep him trapped.

The rush was sudden, the memories assaulted him with her inexperienced touch. She was forcing him into the memories, not intentionally, he could feel that through the link. But she had no idea what she was doing, and the Doctor just gritted his teeth and let her take the lead.

He could see the dingy little flat, smell the cigarette smoke seeping from what little furniture was in the trashy flat. There were bottles of alcohol strewn about, beer and other cheap hard liquors. Rose was standing in the center of the room, looking about with sad eyes at what her life had become. Her feet hurt from working all day down at the small diner, her back and shoulders ached from the lifting and moving, and she was so tired.

She moved about, cleaning up the mess automatically, not really feeling anything. She worked to pay the bills, and had to clean up the apartment after him, that was her job according to Jimmy. Papers that were scattered about with crud drawings and lewd phrases she stuck in a pile, ignoring what they said because she just stopped caring to read them. She had learned long ago they really had nothing to do with writing music, unlike what Jimmy would have her believe.

She hadn't heard Jimmy sneak up on her until his arms were wrapped around her waist. Rose stiffened as she felt his arousal pressed into her backside and could smell the stink of liquor on his breath.

"No Jimmy, I'm too tired," Rose said, her voice much smaller than what the Doctor had come to expect from her.

A cruel hand snaked up to grab ahold of her breast in a nasty grip. "You don't say 'no' to me Rosie," Jimmy snapped drunkenly at her, causing her to drop the garbage bag she had in her hand. "Come on then Rosie," Jimmy started pulling her backwards, and Rose's insides seized in fear. No, not like this.

Rose clawed at Jimmy's hands, her feet lashing out as she tried to free herself. The only thought in her mind was 'no' and the Doctor was swimming in a tidal wave of fear at what was going to happen. Her fight or flight instincts had kicked in when she couldn't think and she fought like mad.

He held onto her tight though as he dragged her out of the room, back towards the bedroom that reeked of body odor, cigarettes, and stale alcohol. The Doctor wanted to fight, to help Rose out, to stop the memory, but Rose had no control and the Doctor couldn't wrestle his way free of her mind.

Jimmy threw Rose onto the bed, watching her bounce on the cheap mattress stuck in the corner of the room and hit the wall with her back. She cried out in pain as he descended on her, thinking she would be easier now that she was in pain.

But this was Rose Tyler, and in a flash of desperation and determination that she would not be Jimmy's victim anymore, she lashed out despite the pain. Her movements were blurry, and her hand had been in a tightly held fist, but the aching was worth it after she had punched him in his manhood. Jimmy rolled off of her, screaming obscenities at her that she hardly heard. Quick as she could, she scampered out of the room, dodging his hands that lashed out at her, and not looking back as she fled the apartment. Good job Rose, the Doctor whispered to her as he felt her resolve set in.

No more, Rose told herself as she fled to the park near where she had been living with Jimmy. Never again.

The memory shifted, advanced to when she had moved back in with her mother's. The Doctor recognized the small space from having passed it while being in the Tyler residence. Rose was just staring into the mirror, no real thoughts in her mind as she looked on numbly. The Doctor couldn't see the warm spark in her brown eyes, the life in them that made him love Rose all the more. They were dead, staring without being alive, and the Doctor stopped breathing. He had never wanted to see her eyes so lifeless again.

Without regard for the Doctor being in her mind, Rose pulled her shirt over her head. Her breath hissed out and her left shoulder screamed at her, but she managed to get the dirty shirt off, leaving her in a bra. The Doctor's stomachs clenched hard and he worried he might be sick once more.

Her flesh was dotted with layers of bruises, some small enough to be fingerprints, some big enough to be fists, all scattered across her exposed skin. Rose's eyes barely gave a glance to the rainbow of colors dotting her torso, instead turned her shoulder to see how bad the bruising was. It stretched across her shoulder and down her side, a very angry shade of purple that was near black. How she was able to move her shoulder, the Doctor guessed was sheer will, because she shouldn't have been able to move it. And she had managed to land a solid blow on Jimmy while that had been forming.

The memory shifted again, and in that moment of confusion, the Doctor pulled back, pulling back hard enough to throw himself back a step. His hands shook, and his breathing was ragged as he looked up at Rose. She was calm on the outside, her eyes pink and tears running down her cheeks, but he could see every emotion that passed across her eyes.

"I told myself 'never again' Doctor," Rose said as she crossed her arms across her chest in an effort to comfort herself. "I won't be put in that position again, not even for the chance to see the universe.

"I saw what happened to those girls, Doctor," Rose said as she turned away, her hand reaching out to caress the edge of the console, feeling some comfort in the hum of the TARDIS. "I saw what they had been put through, what that bastard had tried to do to me." Her voice filled with venom as she spoke. "Showed him you don't mess with Rose Tyler, not if you want to keep your male bits where they are. Do you know what he did instead?"

The Doctor shook his head, keeping quiet as he waited with apprehension. Rose turned around and pulled her hair up, showing the Doctor the deep burn marks that she had hidden from him upon his initial inspection. "He took great pleasure in my screams Doctor. Every time you caused him problems, he would spend time venting his frustration out on me." Rose pulled up her shirt to show her midriff and the fading purple bruising where he had hit Rose repeatedly.

"I took the beating and the shocks," Rose said, pulling her shirt down, "kept them hidden so they would heal and you wouldn't feel the guilt of my choice. I tried to keep his attention on me, to protect the other girls there in his compound.

"But one of the girls there was his favorite. He was crueler to her than any of the others, including me. He enjoyed breaking her Doctor, the poor girl wasn't much older than me. I saw no life in her eyes, not even when I tried to give her hope that you would save us." Rose looked down at the tips of her heels, shuffling them across the grating. "She killed herself to escape him, just a few hours before the revolt began."

"I'm so sorry Rose," the Doctor whispered. He wanted to hug her, to pull her into the warmth of his arms and keep the memories from ever touching her again. But she pulled back when he tried to step forward, her hands coming up to wipe away the tears trailing down her cheeks.

"That could've been my fate Doctor," Rose said. "It almost was. But I got away and put myself back together. You showing me the universe has helped me to realize I may not be worth much to others, but I am worth more than anyone will give me credit for, and I know it." And the Doctor could see it, the steel hidden in her eyes. He could see the strong woman who had been through a lot in her life and had come out stronger than those who tried to break her.

"Doctor, were you really willing to let that Dalek out, just to save me?" Rose asked, her red rimmed eyes boring into the Doctor's stormy blue eyes. "Or was it a tactical move to face down the Dalek?"

The Doctor reached for her hands and Rose held them up for him to take. He covered her fingertips with his palms as he allowed her access to the memory.

He recalled every detail of the conversation with Van Statten, the rage and pain that seeing a Dalek had brought forth in him. The man's arrogance, how it rubbed the Doctor the wrong way. The fear at hearing the power couldn't be sustained. How his hearts stuttered to beat as he whispered his apology to Rose, who would never hear how much it hurt him to make the tough decision. Rassilon, why did he always have to make the tough choices that ended in the deaths of those he cared for? He prayed, feverishly and in so many languages, that Rose would make it in time. He needed her to make it in time.

She hadn't made it, his precious Rose. She was trapped on the other side of the bulkhead and he felt numb, knowing what that meant for her. And she was so strong, trying to tell him it wasn't his fault. She wouldn't have traded any of it, even if it ended in death, and the Doctor wished he could have killed the Dalek back in the room when he had had the chance. Just a little longer, and he wouldn't have had to make the choice that would end in her death.

Something black rose inside him, drawing him down into a dark spiral in the moments before she died. He was going to do things, things that Rose would never have approved of. Starting with the arrogant git Van Statten, then he was going to ensure this place was never found again. Because Rose had been ripped away from him, he was going to give into the urges, just this once, to forget he was the Doctor and loose himself in the Oncoming Storm. He couldn't feel anything beyond the pain of her loss, why should they be allowed to feel anything at all for what they had brought forth?

Then there she was, standing alive and whole and the Doctor couldn't believe what he was seeing. His hearts leapt into his throat as he watched her being threatened once more. He wasn't going to let her die again, no, he couldn't let her be killed. He would sacrifice whatever it took to save her, the rest of the people inside this bunker, what little of his sanity he had left after the war, whatever it took.

The Dalek had it right, even if he couldn't admit it to himself. He loved Rose, and listening her be strong in the face of death only made him love her more.

No, he would save her, even if he had to kill the Dalek himself to do it.

Rose pulled back to her own mind, her eyes opening up to stare at the Doctor. He just looked at her, unsure how she would react. She just studied him, weighing what she knew in her head against what she felt. The Doctor held his breath, waiting to see what she would do.

Rose's hands slid from his temples to around his neck as she threw herself into his arms, finally allowing herself to break in front of him. The Doctor wrapped his arms around her shaking body and just held her, his face buried into the side of her neck as he couldn't believe his good fortune. One hand snaked up to cup the back of her head as she cried into his shoulder, mindful of the spots on her neck as he did so. He would fix the bruising and the burns as soon as she let him, but for now, he just let her cry out her hurt.

Rose stepped back and slapped him, with only part of the strength she had used several days ago.

"OH COME ON!" the Doctor yelled as he cupped his face.

"I am worth many things Doctor," Rose said as she sniffled. "But I am not worth all the lives you were willing to risk for me." Then Rose threw herself back into his arms. "No one decides my fate but me," she whispered into his shoulder.

"Duly noted Rose Tyler," the Doctor agreed, rubbing his cheek. "Just be sure to slap whomever else tries to decide for you."

Rose let out a watery laugh. "Then I suspect you will be slapped more often than you may like."

"I don't like being slapped at all!" the Doctor protested, pulling back to see the smile on Rose's lips and the sparkle in her eyes. "Rather attached to this face, even with the big ears and all."

"I question that very much Doctor," Rose laughed again. "You've done plenty to deserve one since I've traveled with you."

"And you've deserved this since I saw you swinging out on that chain to save me," the Doctor mumbled, cupping her cheek and pulling her in for a kiss. Rose only hesitated a moment before eagerly participating. His lips heated quickly against her own and the Doctor's hearts sored to new heights.

Here he was, finally finding the closest to perfect moment he could to kiss Rose Tyler like he had been wanting to for a while now. And she was kissing him back.

The TARDIS let her pleasure be known as well, a chorus of soft bells ringing in the background, that neither of them heard over the sound of their blood rushing in their ears and the excitement of a new chapter of their relationship. She didn't seem to mind at all, rather was just pleased her thief had finally come to his senses. And it only required some head trauma to do it, she laughed to herself.

The TARDIS brushed up against the Doctor's mind, nudging him out of his euphoric state to remind him of what he was forgetting. The Doctor broke the kiss, pressing a kiss to her lips in apology. "Got one more surprise for you," he explained as he unwrapped one of his arms to go digging in his pocket for his sonic screwdriver.

With the familiar whirling, the room darkened, even the console light muted considerably until they were standing in near darkness. "Watch this," the Doctor whispered as he moved behind her, wrapping his arms around her midriff carefully so she could see the show.

The walls started to glow, the blackness slowly bleeding into colors, hues of every color swirling about them. Small pale lights began to wink to life, dotting the walls around them and bathing them in a soft glow. Rose watched as the colors swirled about them before she realized what was happening.

"'s the universe," Rose whispered in awe.

"It's the birth of a small star forming in your constellation Cygnus," he pointed to the light forming in the center of the picture. Gases were being drawn in from above and below the star, creating a beautiful spectrum of colors. Rose just stood in awe of the display, watching as the universe breathed life and beauty into the scene. "Thought you'd like to see it."

"It's beautiful," Rose whispered as she watched the display, eyes rapt to the stars all around her.

"Not as beautiful as you Rose Tyler," the Doctor said and then grimaced.

Rose laughed heartily. "Sounding like a human romance novel there, Doctor?" she teased.

"Spending too much time around my favorite pink and yellow human," the Doctor shrugged. "Was bound to happen. Least it's not beans and toast," the Doctor made a face of disgust.

"Or a mortgage," Rose said, chuckling as she could feel rather than see the Doctor's face.

"Won't mind the domestics so much," the Doctor admitted to her as she was turned away. "'s long as it's with you."

"Can we have a pet then?" Rose teased.

"Wasn't Adam bad enough? Isn't Jack enough? Now you want another?" The Doctor wrapped one arm across her chest and squeezed gently. Rose just laughed, the sound ringing in the Doctor's head sweeter than any bells he had ever heard.

"True, Jack is toilet trained at least," Rose agreed. She turned in his arms to look at the Doctor.

"Care to take a twirl around the console room?" The Doctor said, a touch or mischief.

Rose smiled back. "Thought you'd never ask."

Jack was sitting with Jackie at her dining table, both holding a hand of cards and staring at each other over them. Jack was enjoying the little game of poker, even if Jackie had shot down his idea of making it more interesting. Currently she was winning anyways, and Jack was a bit more disappointed that it wasn't strip poker.

"Think she'll be back tonight?" Jackie asked as she glanced at the clock, noticing the late hour.

"'s after eleven yeah?" Jack said, checking his watch. "Wouldn't count on seeing them until tomorrow."

Jackie sighed as she placed two cards down and drew their replacements. "Should be worried, should go kick the door down and drag her back to her senses. It'll make living harder when she returns."

Jack snorted. "I pity the person who ever puts a finger between those two. They will lose the finger, maybe the whole arm before they have the time to think to pull it back." Jack put three cards down.

"'s deep that is," Jackie agreed as she laid her hand out before Jack. "I suppose it's also true too."

Jack laughed, even as he stared at her straight compared to his three of a kind. "The Doctor will take care of Rosie better than anyone else could ever dream of doing so."

Jackie looked down at the cards thoughtful. "Seems to care an awful lot, the Doctor does."

Jack cracked a grin as he shuffled the cards. "That's puttin' it mildly Jackie."

"So, should I expect grandkids, what with him being an alien an' all?" Jackie looked up at Jack, a touch of concern tinting her wistfulness.

Jack nearly fell out of his chair laughing, trying to imagine how the Doctor would handle Rose's mood swings. "I hope so Jackie," Jack admitted, "because I want to see him take on a hormonal Rose Tyler."

"Bet she will kick him out of the TARDIS and make him sleep on my couch," Jackie laughed at that thought, her side cramping up as she tried to picture the Doctor knocking on the door asking for a place to sleep.

"You'd better hide your toaster then," Jack warned. "He gets stressed and the first thing to be 'fixed' is always the toaster. There's an entire room devoted to dismantled toasters."

Rose woke to the sound of the sonic screwdriver whirling, the skin on her belly warm and tingling with the sensation of the dermal regeneration setting. She stayed still as she opened her eyes, staring up at the Doctor as he sat next to her, in only his pants, tending to the bruising on her.

"Could've used your help after I moved back in with my mum," Rose said smiling up at him, trying to make light of the serious look on his face.

"Not one to hurt others, you know me," the Doctor said as he kept his eyes on his work. She could see the edges of the Oncoming Storm brewing in his eyes. "But I'll make an exception for Jimmy Stone if he ever gives me a reason."

Rose shook her head as she reached out to place a hand on the Doctor's arm, calming the darkness creeping into his eyes. "The git isn't even worth the energy to hate. Besides," Rose sat up, pulling her shirt back down from where the Doctor had pushed it up. "Had I not gone through that, what kind of woman would I be today? Probably would've got my A-Levels and been far away from Henrik's when you came in. Never would've met you." Rose leaned in to press a warm kiss to the Doctor's lips, feeling his cooler ones press her for a deeper one.

When they broke away, the Doctor had set his sonic screwdriver aside and cupped her face with both palms. "Would've been a different setting, but I don't doubt we would've found each other." The Doctor pulled her into another deep kiss. "There are plenty of places I could leave Jimmy Stone that would be better than teaching him a percussive lesson," the Doctor tried to reason.

Laughing, Rose pushed him away as she got up out of bed. The Doctor let her push him away, enjoying the sight of Rose getting out of his bed, even if she was fully clothed. "Let it go Doctor," Rose said, as she headed for the door.

"Can I just..."

"NO DOCTOR," Rose laughed from down the hall. "Now come on, we have get Jack and say goodbye to mum before we leave. Or before Jack seduces my mum."

The Doctor was up in a flash, running down the hallway to catch up to her. "Can we leave the two of them for just a bit? Time machine and all, could be back before they miss us."

"With your piloting? I don't think so."

Rose's cellphone went off then, and the Doctor wrapped his arms around Rose's stomach, enjoying getting to hold on tight without fear of hurting her. Rose reached up to pat the side of the Doctor's face, her fingers gently brushing his temple with her fingers. She could feel the happiness and love the Doctor was currently feeling, even if it was for a fleeting moment and it made her single heart swell.

"Mum's wondering what we want for breakfast," Rose read as the Doctor nuzzled the side of her head. "And says Jack is complaining that he is missing out on the sex."

"Didn't know we were having sex," the Doctor commented. "Should've let me know we were; I would've woken up for it."

Rose turned and thumped his shoulder. "Oi! Trust me, you'll know when we are," Rose said, her cheeks a touch pink and it gave the Doctor all sorts of ideas.

"Will have to see if you're as impressive as you claim, Rose Tyler," the Doctor said as he kissed her on the lips sweetly. "Just not right now for either of us," the Doctor said.

"Agreed," Rose agreed. "Besides, mum's waiting."

"There's a mood killer," the Doctor muttered.

*SMACK*

"OI! WHY IS IT ALWAYS THE HEAD?!"

THE END