Ok here is the epilogue, finally, as promised. I want to again thank everyone who read, reviewed and alerted this story. You guys totally rock!

Epilogue . . .

"Where are we?" Martha questioned as the Doctor lead her by the hand down the ramp to the door of their transport.

He smiled mysteriously, "What part of it's a surprise are you not grasping, Dr. Jones?"

She gave him a half- hearted glare that quickly vanished when he leaned in and gave her a quick peck on the lips.

"Trust me," he returned before tugging her closer to and finally out of the door.

When the pair stepped out of the ship, Martha was both surprised and perplexed. She was immediately struck with by a sense of déjà vu. Taking a moment to fully take in the shoreline and docks she recalled so vividly before she turned her attention back to him, "We're in Japan."

"Very good," he replied cheekily.

She turned completely to face him this time, "Why are we here?"

His lighthearted demeanor slowly melted into a more solemn one.

"I was in the control room of the Valiant when the Master gave the order to eradicate Japan. He was upset about the Drast deceiving him but there was also some vague intel that you were also in the area. He thought he could kill two birds with one stone."

Martha's demeanor instantly tensed, "Why are we here?"

"Because I want you to tell me about it . . . all of it."

She knew he meant the Year. She had worked so long to put that behind her but when she brought it up at the meeting on Zorn the memories had overwhelmed her somewhat but now she was once again content and could see no reason to dredge it up again. So attempting to lighten the mood, she put on a slight smile and demurred, "There's no point. After all, it never really happened."

The Doctor would not be placated, "We both know that is not true. Just because most of the world does not remember does not mean it wasn't very real to those who do."

She sighed, "Why now? Things are going so good for us. Why bring this up now?"

"Because things are better for us now and in order to keep it that way, I want you to know and believe that you can lean on me. You mean so much to me . . . so much more than I ever thought anyone would and I don't want you to have to carry the burden of something so huge alone . . . not anymore. So please just tell me. Let me share that burden with you."

Martha remained quiet for a long moment. His sincerity was as startling as it was moving. Never did she imagine his concern for her would be this intense but here he stood before her, asking her to share something she had buried because she needed to be strong for everyone else. She inhaled deeply trying to figure out if and how to begin. It was indeed the most harrowing experience of her life and, she believed, that without it she would never have become the person she was now and because of that realization she knew she could never regret having gone through it. Slowly she found his inquiring brown eyes again and gave him a slight smile while placing a gentle hand upon his cheek.

"I just want you to know that I would do it again, without hesitation. No, it wasn't the easiest time of my life but it was a significant part and I don't regret any of it and I need you to promise me you will not feel guilty about anything I am about to say."

He narrowed his eyes slightly and a small frown creased his brow but before he could object to her condition, she leaned up on her toes and pressed a small kiss to his lips before quietly continuing, "I promise to tell you everything after you give me your word."

The Doctor sighed softly before nodding, "Alright."

Martha gave him one more small smile before leading him over to the edge of the dock that the TARDIS had landed on. Once they were both seated, she began her tale about her time in Japan during the year that all but a few had forgotten. She shared about her missing contact when she first arrived, about the failure of her perception filter and eventual capture by the Drast. She then intently told him about her time in the work camp and all of the workers she regaled with stories of their adventures before finally sharing about the Drast plans for earth and ultimately how she and one of the Master's own agents had thwarted their plans which ultimately sent the Toclanfane towards the island. Just as she had that very day, she cried as she recalled watching the whole of Japan burn before her eyes as she sailed away towards America, hidden on a cargo boat.

By the time her tale was done, the Time Lord had his arms wrapped firmly around her and was gently trying to soothe the memories away. As much as she hated to admit it, it felt good to finally be able to tell her story and let go. For so long she push it to the side, trying to be strong for her family but to finally be allowed to grieve and not need to be a rock lightened her somewhat. Eventually her tears gave way to soft sniffles and more even breathing, affording the Doctor the chance to finally reply to her tale.

"Martha, I am so sorry you had to go through that."

His words caused her to pulled back from him and narrow her eyes in warning, "Doctor . . ."

But he cut her off before her ire could take hold. "It's not guilt. We both know there were no other options and it had to be done but that doesn't mean I have to be happy about the fact that you had to endure so much for the earth . . . for me."

He paused and placed a soft kiss on her forehead before continuing, "I knew you would be successful. I knew of all my companions it was you who would complete this mission. Your heart, compassion and determination would not let you fail."

She gazed up at him and gave a tempered version of her exquisite smile as he earnestly concluded, "And because no one but a few remember, let me be the one to say just how proud I am of you and how much what you did was appreciated."

"I didn't do it for that," she gently retorted. His smile finally came, "I know that but all the same it was appreciated even if it didn't seem like it at the time."

A brief shadow of the end of their first travels together passed between them before both shook it off. Martha returned his smile more fully, her tears having dried, "Thank you."

The couple shared another slower kiss before barely separating. The Doctor studied her more relaxed face for a lingering moment before deciding not to press to know more at that time. He could already see that just sharing that bit had lightened her load considerably and that was his only goal at this point. He wanted her to know they were now partners in this life and that her worries were his and vice versa if she wanted it that way. They had plenty of time to unpack those concerns. For now, they could just enjoy the newness of what they were creating.

"So, Dr. Jones, what's say we find some new adventure to get lost in."

Her smile brightened as she playfully returned, "Well what did you have in mind?"

He lightly shrugged, "I dunno. Maybe we could zip over to Omnicon 5 and see what the Onus are up to or we could drop in on the Dressas of Dementia they have a lovely preserve that contains some of the most exotic wildlife in the universe, or . . ."

His suggestions were cut off by his sweetheart's lips once again finding his. This kiss he noticed took on a more passionate demeanor and when she separated from him her dusky eyes told him she had other ideas. She soon confirmed his calculations with her husky words, "Or we could have our own private adventure back inside the TARDIS."

He gulped in spite of himself at her suggestion. Though they had been officially back together for nearly a month the closest they ever got to being physical had been that night at Tish's house. He admitted, if only to himself, that he had some reservations about this part of their new relationship. It had been a good long while since he'd done something like that and he was not naïve enough to believe Martha was as inexperienced. So he had kept them so busy with adventures that the topic never really had the chance to come up but now as he gazed down at her hooded eyes, he knew any excuse he might proffer to delay the inevitable would not be received well.

He reached out and tenderly caressed her cheek as he softly opted for a bit of truth himself, "It would be an adventure in more ways than one, I'm afraid."

Martha raised a brow, "What are you trying to tell me, Doctor? We are . . . compatible right?"

He cleared his throat, "Yes, very much so but . . ."

He paused and cleared his throat again causing Martha to become more concerned, "But? Are you having second thoughts?"

He immediately began shaking his head, "No, it's not that."

"Then what is it? You're starting to freak me out here."

He sighed, "It's just that . . . that it's been a while for me."

This time her eyes widened in surprise and a hint of amusement, "Really? How long's a while?"

The Doctor avoided her gaze now as he softly replied, "A long while."

She bit her lip to keep from chuckling not at his embarrassment but at the implications of his words. It was clear he was talking decades or maybe longer which meant that this was something she would be the first to share with him in such a long while. When his eyes refused to wander back to hers, she reached out to turn his face back to meet hers.

Then in as tender a voice as she had ever used, she reassuringly replied, "Perfect. The teacher can finally become the student."

Martha could not hide a smirk as his eyes were the ones to widen this time. She then slowly rose from her perch and held out a hand to him which he took and joined her. The pair then quietly made their way back towards their ship. Once at the door Martha gave a small squeeze of his hand as she noticed his other hand slightly tremble while trying to unlock the machine. He glanced over at her and she gave him that smile that always brought him calm and softly said, teasingly, "I promise to be gentle."

"Indeed," he returned with a gentle smile of his own. He finally opened the door and ushered her in before preparing himself for what was to come as he closed the door behind them.

The End