Last chapter. :( I'm quite sad to end it, but the time has come. Please enjoy the chapter and I will have a note for you all at the end of the chapter. Enjoy!

P.S. For those of you who may have received two notices of this chapter, it's because I changed something. So don't be alarmed!

The Doctor leaned over the TARDIS console, eyes fixated on the screen in front of him. He was fairly certain that several of his enemies had escape. The TARDIS had picked up a few energy surges barely a second before the black market vessel had detonated, but that wasn't a major concern for him at the moment. He had a choice to make now.

He glanced over at James, who was leaning against the railing, chewing on his lower lip and staring at the floor in deep thought. Amy and Rory were on the seat beside him, both watching everyone in uncomfortable silence. River was behind him, boring holes into the back of his head, like she knew exactly what he was considering. Really he didn't have much of a choice, at least for the time being.

He suddenly turned around and looked made eye contact with each of his friends, his gaze landing lastly on the Meta-Crisis. They had both put up mental barriers towards each other so they didn't have to feel or hear what the other was thinking every other second, but the link between them was still very much a mystery to both of them, and the barrier was only able partially block thoughts and emotions. James' mental block was up, and although what the Doctor could feel from him was vague, there was one emotion that was distinct and clear to him. James was afraid. Afraid of what, he wasn't sure, but it was there, clear as day and pouring out from behind the mental block.

"James..." the Doctor began, "the ah... damage that Mr. Boots caused was... more than expected. He basically advertised you all over time and space... for all of our enemies to see. It's going to take a lot of work to undo what he's done." He looked over at River and could see her shaking his head, begging him not to do what he was about to do. He ignored her. "So... until then... I want you to come with me."

James looked up, shocked at what he'd heard, the fear suddenly vanishing. "What?"

The Doctor smiled. "Well, it's a lot easier to fly the TARDIS with two people, plus I'm sure there's loads more tinkering we could do and I don't trust Torchwood or UNIT alone with you. That's just a disaster waiting to happen. Now, my only option... is to bring you along. So!" he said, clapping his hands together and grinning excitedly, "What do you say?"

The Doctor knew River was looking at him and he knew she wanted him to take it back; change his mind. She liked James, but the rumors still concerned her, and she wanted James far away from the Doctor and the TARDIS. The Doctor disagreed. He couldn't think of a better or safer place to watch over James than right beside him. Despite her dislike for the idea, she made no objections.

James, meanwhile, was just staring at him, surprise plastered onto his face. "You mean that?"

"Do you not want to?" the Doctor asked.

"No! No, no. I... I just didn't think..." James stammered, running a hand through his hair, making it stick up in odder angles than usual.

"Well, come on then," the Doctor said, circling to the other side of the TARDIS and pressing a few buttons, "I'm not going to wait around all day for an answer. Are you coming with me or not? Yes or no?"

"Well, yes, I just-"

"Great! Then how about you help me get the TARDIS going, hmm? I've got another pit-stop before we-"

"What about Rose? What am I going to tell her?"

"Nothing," the Doctor said. "No need. We'll just drop you off to the last time I saw her when the time comes. She won't even know that we'd gone anywhere." When James didn't immediately speak, the Doctor looked at Amy and Rory. "Would either of you be opposed to him tagging along with us for a while?"

"Are you joking? We'd love it," Amy said. "It's nice having you around."

"The flying's been smoother since you started helping the Doctor," Rory agreed.

"Oi!" the Doctor protested. "I fly the TARDIS perfectly fine!" He paused, then, pointing a finger, added, "It's the vortex that's bumpy, not my driving."

River covered her mouth as she laughed silently.

James smiled at Rory and Amy gratefully, then walked over to the console and began following the Doctor's lead. "So where is it that we're going?"

"Agora," the Doctor answered.

"What for?" Rory asked.

"The Calla's are going to notice when postcards stop showing up," the Doctor said.

"That's going to break their hearts," Amy said. "Do we have to tell them?"

"It's going to break their hearts when they stop hearing from him," the Doctor replied. "The least I can give them is some closure. They deserve at least that."

The TARDIS was sent through the Vortex, back to small town of Driode, parking just in front of the Calla's house.

Like before, the Calla's came shuffling out of the house at the first sight of the TARDIS, but as the Doctor came out to greet them, he noticed something had changed about them. Mrs. Calla was crying and Mr. Calla was beaming.

Everyone stepped out of the TARDIS, looking at the elderly couple in bewilderment.

Mrs. Calla got to the Doctor first, grabbing him and pulling him in a tight hug.

"Oh! Hello," he said in surprise, looking down at the top of her gray head with confusion. "What did I do?"

Mr. Calla quickly joined his wife, embracing his wife and the Doctor in his arms.

"What's going on?" Amy asked. When she got no response, she addressed them, "Mr. and Mrs. Calla?"

"Is everything alright?" Rory asked.

"It couldn't be better," Mrs. Calla said, her voice muffled in the Doctor's chest.

Mr. Calla pulled away from the hug and held out a card to the Doctor, putting a hand on Mrs. Calla, who released the Doctor.

Arms freed, the Doctor took the card and examined it closely. It was another postcard from Mr. Boots, but this one was different. "This one's addressed to me..."

James grabbed it from him, read the contents, then looked at Mr. and Mrs. Calla. "Who delivered this?"

Mrs. Calla's tears increased, but a smile formed on her face.

The Doctor and James exchanged looks.

River took the postcard from James and read it as well.

"What does it say?" Amy asked, coming up behind her and reading over her shoulder. It held only a short message:

I will be present when you fall.

"We saw him, Doctor," Mrs. Calla said softly.

"Dropped two of these off at the door," Mr. Calla said, pulling a second from his pocket and looking down at it affectionately. "One for us and one for you."

The Doctor looked at his card, wondering at the message. He already knew that Mr. Boots was going to witness his fall, so why would he say it again? The Doctor looked at Mr. Calla. "What did he look like? How old did he look?"

"I'm not sure, Doctor," Mrs. Calla answered. "He was walking away when we saw him."

"How do you know it was him and not someone else?" Rory asked.

"I know my Roan," Mrs. Calla said softly, "He looked back and smiled and I knew it was him."

"Did he say anything?" River asked.

"Not a word," Mr. Calla said.

"May I see your note?" River requested, extending her hand.

Mr. Calla gave it to her without hesitation and River read it over quickly before handing it back. It was a goodbye letter. There was no explanation as to why or where he was going; just that this was the last time they would hear from him.

"Where has he gone, Doctor?" Mrs. Calla asked.

The Doctor looked at her and smiled. "He retired," he answered. "But he wanted me to tell you that he's fine and... he's inventing. Doing what he loves."

Mrs. Calla stared at the Doctor for a long moment, then smiled, reaching up and kissing his cheek. "Thank you, Doctor."

He smiled at her, then looked at his companions. "Well, we'd all best be off. Thank you for this," he said, raising the postcard.

"No, Doctor," Mr. Calla said, taking his hand and shaking it briskly. "Thank you."

The Doctor smiled at them, then ushered everyone inside the TARDIS, the Calla's waving them off as they once again disappeared into the vortex. Once inside, the Doctor turned to his companions, grinning at them all. "Alright, gang! Where would you like to go?"

"I can't stay," River said.

"Why not?" the Doctor asked, pouting.

"I'm sorry, sweetie, but there's somewhere I need to be," she said.

"Where's that?"

"I have business with a certain Mob Boss that I need to take care of."

He nodded and smiled at her, disappointed, but trying to play it off. "Until next time, then? River Song."

She smiled, that seductively smile that he could never resist, then slowly walked up to him and planted a gentle kiss on his lips. Pulling away, she said sweetly, "Until next time, my love." She then turned to her parents, hugging each of them and wishing them goodbye. Lastly, she went to James. She pulled him into a hug, then whispered into his ear, "Take care of him."

He didn't respond, surprised at what she had said. It was the last thing he had expected her to say, and when it finally sunk in, he could only manage a small nod at her as she pulled away.

She smiled at him, and although he could still see the doubt in her eyes, he knew she at least didn't hate him now. That would have to do for the time being. He smiled at her.

She went to the doors of the TARDIS and opened them up. She turned, blew a kiss at the Doctor, then jumped out, pressing a button on her vortex manipulator and disappearing.

The Doctor frowned, then looked at Amy and Rory. "What about you two? One last trip?" he asked.

Amy and Rory looked at each other, conversing silently with their eyes before, trying very hard to act nonchalant, shrugged and nodded.

"Well, I suppose one more trip wouldn't hurt," Amy said.

"Yeah, just one more wouldn't be the end of the world," Rory said at the same time.

The Doctor beamed at that, then trotted up to the console. "Well, in that case, and if there are no objections, I say that we should let James pick," he said, then looked at the Meta-Crisis. When neither of the Ponds rejected, he continued. "So James... where would you like to go?"

James looked at him and grinned. "I haven't been to Barcelona in a while."

"Neither have I," the Doctor said, then started working.

James beamed and jumped up to the console, following the Doctor's lead as the two sent the TARDIS swirling through the vortex, all of them screaming with delight as they went off on their next adventure.

Thank you so much each and every one of you for all of your great reviews and for supporting this story. I am very sorry I have been unable to answer any of you, but I have been swamped lately. Again, won't go into detail, but again, thank you so very much. I am free for the next two weeks so I will be able to respond to you this time.

Alright, we've reached this journey's end, but I do plan to write a sequel. It will stand separately from season seven, but will include references and such.

If any of you have anything you would like to see in the sequel, you can leave a review or PM me. It will help me put a storyline together. :)

Also, the reason I did not give Rose an ending in this story is because of the 50th anniversary. I'm leaving her story open for me to easily pick back up once that episode airs, just in case Moffat decides to bring back the Meta-Crisis himself.

If you have any questions for me, comments, critiques, reviews, what-have-you, please share! I look forward to hearing from you all! And feel free to let me know what you would like to see in the sequel! Again, thank you so much!