We always knew it would end in tears. When I let go of the lever and was almost pulled into the vortex I could hear the desperate note in his voice as he called my name. When my Dad caught me our eyes locked and we both knew it was the end.

I healed, not properly, but I learnt to live with it. Four months passed and I started to rebuild my life. But then you came to say goodbye, opened the wound in my soul afresh and this time nothing could patch it up again. There was just this big gaping hole where you used to belong. My soul was torn in two because you were my other half and now I knew for certain we'd never see each other again because you told me. And you are never wrong…

"She's not Rose Tyler, not anymore," Jackie Tyler was once again fretting over her first born. "Pete, what are we going to do? She never used to be like this, she was a perfectly normal, happy girl until she met the Doctor, and even then she was still happy, but now… it's like she's this empty shell."

"I know Jacks," Pete said, making a cup of tea as his wife sat at the table in the kitchen. Her hand went instinctively to her bump as Pete sat opposite her. "But you've got to give her time. She's not only just lost the man she loves but she has to get used to her Dad being alive as well."

"I suppose," Jackie agreed reluctantly. "I just wish she'd talk to us."

"She still talks to him," Mickey piped up walking in. "In her sleep, when she thinks she's alone. She has whole conversations about everything. Like she thinks somehow he'll still be able to hear her."

Jackie and Pete exchanged glances, the worry ever growing. The worst thing was that they knew exactly what was wrong with Rose; they just couldn't do anything about it. She was suffering from the worst possible illness. A broken heart.

"We've got to do something," Jackie said as her baby kicked. "She's going to make herself ill at this rate. I mean what with the baby coming we're going to have less and less time for her and she'll end up closing herself off completely."

"I'll talk to her," Mickey offered. "I might be able to cheer her up a bit even if she still misses him."

"Thanks Mickey," Pete said as the kettle boiled. He poured out the tea and handed two cups to Mickey. "Just do your best."

"I will," Mickey replied quietly, wandering out of the kitchen and into the large hall and the stairs. He took a deep breath and headed up towards Rose's room.

I can hear him coming now Doctor. Mickey's probably worried, like Mum and Dad. I know they're only trying to help, but I just want to be left alone, with my thoughts of you. If we were back in the TARDIS it would be alright because if I wanted to sit in silence, you wouldn't mind. You'd find something to fix and then eventually you'd suggest that I go to bed. I'd always refuse but as soon as I fall asleep you'd take me to my bed anyway. That's what I miss the most Doctor, it's not even the adventure's that were the best part about travelling with you, it was just the small things we did together, just being together. You're the thing I miss most of all of course. You never did get to tell me that you loved me, but it doesn't mater 'cause I always knew. It was the little things, like the way you held my hand or hugged me, or those little glances you'd give me when I was laughing, you know what I'm on about. Though we never said it, we both knew that we loved each other. I think we kept quiet because we knew it could never go anywhere, you're a nine hundred year old alien and I'm a nineteen year old shop girl from London.

Mickey knocked on Rose's door and, when he got no reply, opened it with his elbow. He spotted Rose sat in her window seat, forehead pressed against the glass, looking out across the huge garden thinking.

"Cup of tea," Mickey said, handing one to her and sitting opposite. "You ok?"

Rose took it silently and tried to smile but failed miserably, not even trying to make a verbal response.

"Your parents were thinking perhaps we should go for a picnic," Mickey said not entirely truthfully. Jackie and Pete hadn't said that exactly but they wouldn't complain if it got Rose out the house.

Rose had to try very hard not to burst into tears. He bit down hard on her lip not looking and Mickey.

"We don't have to go far," Mickey continued. "Just to the bottom of the garden if you want."

"Mum doesn't have any Thomp," Rose said hoarsely, speaking for the first time in over a week.

"Thomp?" Mickey asked confused.

"It's a spice from the planet Tranox twelve," Rose said looking at Mickey now bleary eyed. Everything came back to the Doctor.

"We could still go though," Mickey said the hurt of being left behind still present even though he'd known for a long time that Rose would never truly come back to him. "You know, just for some fresh air."

"I don't want any fresh air," Rose replied firmly. "I'm fine; I just want to be left alone."

"Yeah, but the Doctor wouldn't want that would he?" Mickey said daringly, hoping Rose wouldn't have a go at him for mentioning the Doctor's name.

He's right Doctor. You wouldn't want me to sit here feeling sorry for myself, just listening, waiting, fingering the TARDIS key in the hope that one day, somehow you might be able to return to me. You always said it was impossible, but you said a lot of other things were impossible. You said that it was impossible for the Dalek's to survive the Time War, you said it was impossible for there to be any other Time Lords, you said it would be impossible for you to love again…

"Ok," Rose said sighing. "I'll come for a walk. But not too long. I'm busy."

"Doing what?" Mickey asked. "Creating marks on your head where you're leaning against the glass?"

Rose smiled then, just a small glimmer, but it was enough. Mickey stood up and put down his cup of tea, holding out a hand to Rose.

"C'mon," he said quietly. "We don't have to talk; we don't even have to walk very far. We'll just go round the garden."

Rose nodded taking Mickey's hand and still wishing desperately that it was the Doctor, taking her on another adventure.