Hello again! Yes...that was just slightly more than a two week hiatus. Just slightly. Ok, I'm sorry. In case you have entirely forgotten what the hell But What If was even about, or maybe you just don't care and want to skip it entirely! I don't recommend that but, (seeing as how I didn't quite tie up everything and there was a bit of a hole that will be filled in this one...) oh well. Here's a refresher!

-STORY SO FAR-

So, Amy met a mysterious blonde woman on an alien planet sometime after the Byzantium but before vamps of Venice. That woman is Rose Tyler.

Generally the Doctor flips out and eventually goes to see Jack Harkness at the Torchwood hub looking for her. After a series of complicated events and emotions, Rose makes it back to Torchwood and meets Amy again. Then Jack. Then finally the Doctor!

Emotions, kissing, passion, feels, jealousy, general fluffiness, angst and even some fighting ensue. But, when Rory is shot and killed during Cold Blood, so is Rose. River shows up to drag Amy and the Doctor to the TARDIS, and she tells him he will forget Rose. But that wasn't all she told him. Tricky business and Rose meets Bad Wolf again and learns she will become even more of a Time Lord (genetic make-up entirely changed here). Jack and River work together to find Rose in a very run down Powell Estate. Later, River and Rose team up to find the Doctor yet again and run into Craig! During their search, Rose and River bond and become friends, yay!

Rose finds Rory at Stonehenge, then the Doctor! Reunion time! Long story even shorter, the Doctor learns about Rose's change and is elated, he isn't the last of the Time Lords anymore! But he still goes through with his plan of throwing himself into the exploding TARDIS. Rose is alone. River finds her and brings her to the Pond wedding, where there is another much better reunion ;)

Happy times in the TARDIS again and Amy and Rory go off on their honeymoon! We learn the Doctor is going to propose...sometime. Then, Rose sees Jack again. But this is after the 456...Ianto, Steven and still Tosh and Owen are dead. Jack and Rose get into a fight, where Jack leaves. Depressed feelings all around and Jack goes off on a bender. In the end, a much happier Rose and the Doctor decide to travel on their own for a while. Now...Chapter 1...

-Chapter 1-

In the end, Rose was the one to remind him. And then of course force him to actually do anything about it. Which really, if he was honest, was what was always going to happen. He did have a way of getting distracted...especially when it came to Rose Tyler.

It had been just over one month since either of them had seen the Ponds. A brilliant, brilliant one month. One month in which nothing and everything happened all at once.

The nothing, meaning the thing that the Doctor had completely planned on doing, didn't quite get accomplished. Really, he had planned on it. Well no, he had planned on planning to do it. The planning had just gotten...delayed. The everything, meaning every single glorious day that he had gotten to have Rose right by his side, and mostly to himself.

There were a few off days, he knew there would be. The universe would never allow them a completely perfect month. Although Rose would beg to differ, which she always did.

The one off day that made Rose remember started out fine, perfect really, he even had a plan on where to take her. He should have known right there that the day wouldn't go as planned, when did it ever?

"Rooose! I could grow a beard in the time you're taking! Well, no. Maybe a mustache, but a sizable one!" he shouted from the console room.

Rose came into the console room rolling her eyes and tying her hair up in a ponytail. "Alright, alright, I'm here. What was so important that we had to get up at three in the morning anyway?" she asked, yawning.

He just ginned at the sleepy, and a bit cranky, Rose. "Where's that sense of adventure gone, eh?"

She couldn't help but grin back at him. "Back in bed. Did you know that it's three a.m. or did that not occur to you, Time Lord?" she teased.

He scoffed. "You won't be saying that when you see where we're going." he said, turning his head back to the console secretively with a grin still spread across his face.

She raised an eyebrow. Thought he could keep a secret from her, did he? She moved closer to him and wedged herself between him and the console, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Really? And where's that?"

He moved his hands back to the controls, coincidentally trapping her quite nicely. "You'll just have to wait and see, Rose Tyler." he told her, feigning indifference. Even though all he wanted to do now was kiss the breath out of her.

She pouted. "That's just not fair." she said, moving even closer to him so that her mouth was just centimeters away and her breath was ghosting over his lips. "Know what else isn't fair?" she asked, pressing herself a bit closer to him.

Just as he was about to break his resolve and kiss her, she slid out from between his arms and moved swiftly around the console.

The Doctor stood with his mouth a bit open. "Those are two different levels of unfair, yours was just cruel." he said, suddenly running to catch her. She laughed and ran just fast enough so she was out if his reach. Then she flung open the TARDIS doors and ran outside.

"Oh please, get a room."

Rose stopped laughing and froze in place. The Doctor wasn't so quick and bumped into her. "Ha! Gottcha. Wait, what?" he said, wrapping his arms around her waist and only then noticing the other person standing in front of them.

"River!" Rose exclaimed happily, gently pushing his arms off her and rushing up to hug her friend.

The Doctor frowned. "Brilliant timing as always, River."

River laughed over Rose's shoulder, still hugging her. "Oh shut up, sweetie."

Rose pulled away and beamed at River. "What are you doing here? And why didn't you call?" River's smile faltered, something both the Doctor and Rose caught.

"Hold on, where are we? How far along are you?" the Doctor asked, checking his pockets for their journal. He refused to call it a diary.

Rose rolled her eyes and turned back to pull it out of his left jacket pocket, flipping to the last page she had filled out. "Right...we don't have much. Got the Pandorica...and the fifth moon of Peth. And we have Australia too, but that's it."

River raised her eyebrow. "Really? Oh you are far behind. So let's see...huh." River said, after checking her diary for the dates she had written down. "So are Amy and Rory still with you then?"

Rose's eyes widened and she slapped her hand over her mouth. The Doctor looked a bit guilty and looked down. "Oh my god." Rose said.

River raised an eyebrow. "Really? Were you two that busy?"

Rose dropped her hand but her mouth was still wide open. "We forgot Amy and Rory...we forgot Amy and Rory! It's been one whole month and we forgot!"

"Well, we were slightly otherwise occupied..." the Doctor said, trying to distract Rose again, but she just turned around to whack his arm with the diary.

"Doesn't matter! They're our best friends and we forgot to pick them up!"

River smirked. "Oh Doctor...looks like someone's in trouble." she teased.

He rolled his eyes. "It's fine, the TARDIS can go back to a week after we dropped them off and everything will be fine. They won't know it's been a month for us, it'll only be one week for them."

Rose hit him again. "That's not fair to them, is it? Of course we won't keep it from them that it's been longer for us."

"But Amy will be angry..."

Rose rolled her eyes now. "Yeah, she will be. But lying to her won't make her happier in the long run."

River laughed when the Doctor opened his mouth to respond. "Oh Doctor, quit while you still have feeling in your arm."

Rose couldn't help but grin at that and she turned back to River. "We haven't seen you in nearly two weeks, what have you been doing?"

"Well I can't tell you that, I'm a bit ahead again. It's been awhile since Australia for me. But not too long I don't think. So, come on. Tell me what you've been up to."

Rose and River sat in the library while the Doctor went off to do some much needed repairs. He hadn't done enough of those lately, and the TARDIS really did need it. He just hadn't wanted to waste the time he had with Rose doing repairs...but he probably should have done a bit more of them.

River smiled. "So, one month with just you and the Doctor?"

"Not counting Peth and Australia, yeah. It's been...brilliant. Really, really brilliant." she said, unable to hide the wide smile that spread across her face.

River laughed. "Please tell me you two are keeping it in the bedroom? Wouldn't want to eat at that table if you two have-"

Rose's mouth fell open and she hit River's knee. "River!" she said but she couldn't help laughing. "God you're just as bad as..." Rose trailed off, forgetting how much talking about him still hurt. It was silly, one month gone and the mention of his name still changed her whole mood.

River saw Rose's face falter as she didn't finish her sentence. River frowned. "Rose...what's wrong? And don't say nothing because you and I both know that's a complete lie."

Rose bit her lip and looked down at her hands. River didn't know...that was a first. "Um...yeah. It's not nothing. It's been a month and look at me, still acting like it was yesterday. To be honest, I didn't know it was going to be this bad for this long..."

River frowned more and moved closer to Rose. "Rose, tell me. What happened?"

Rose looked back up at her and tried to smile but she knew it failed miserably. "Um...it's Jack. He and I...he lost Ianto. And other people too. There was some kind of invasion back on earth, and he blames himself. He called and...I didn't know. We didn't make it to Jack in time...we didn't know. He was so, so broken, River, and so angry. I...he hates me now. He really does this time and I couldn't fix it. We got in this fight and-" she stopped, taking a deep breath and looking away again. "And he left. He really left this time. He's gone. He was in so, so much pain, and it's my fault. It's all my fault."

River had never seen Rose quite so...broken. She had seen her when she'd thought the Doctor and Jack were gone, and when the Doctor had forgotten her...but this was a different pain. This was loss, but guilt too. River moved and hugged Rose close, letting her cry a bit.

"Rose...Jack would never hate you. Not ever. And you and I both know he doesn't blame you for that accident. You were trying to help him." She said, rubbing Rose's back.

Rose pulled back and shook her head. "No. River...it doesn't matter. I saw that look in his eyes; he was in so much pain. He doesn't have to blame me for that, I already do. He's in pain because of what I did to him. And then I wasn't even there when he needed me! When he and Ianto and Gwen needed the Doctor and me...we weren't there when Jack called. I didn't know about it, but that doesn't matter. I didn't come when he tried to call. I ruined his entire life, River. He won't ever die. Not until he's a massive decapitated head in a tank. Of course he hates me."

River shook her head. "No Rose. Jack needs you. Now more than ever, even if he can't see that. You and I both know he needs someone to be there for him, he can't live the life he had before. Not anymore. He's changed, even if he can't see just how much."

"River, you don't understand. He left. He told me never to call him. Ever. River that...I'm the last person he ever wants to see. You say he's changed? Who changed him, then? I did. So did the Doctor and Gwen I suppose but...but it was me that ruined it all."

River moved a piece of hair that had fallen in Rose's face, and held her chin so she was forced to look up. "Rose, what he's feeling...it's the worst feeling in the world. He lost his family; of course he's angry and sad. But you are his family too."

"Exactly. And I will always be here for him, but River I can't just force myself on him. I can't make him forgive me. He doesn't even have to forgive me, but if what he wants is to be away, then I have to let him." Rose forced the words out, knowing they were true but wishing with everything she had that they weren't.

River could see the pain in her eyes, and she heard it in her voice. "What about you. Rose, I know you feel guilty, and I know you're always the one to fix other people. But this time? He hurt you too. You're just as important and you feel like you've lost someone too."

Rose shook her head. "No. River, he's always been there when I needed him. The past year...everything that's happened? He did whatever he could to help. And I've been so selfish. So no, I don't want him to apologize. I want...I want the impossible. For him to let me back in."

River didn't know what to say. She pursed her lips and held Rose's hands. "You don't realize how strong and unselfish you are, Rose. He needs that."

"He doesn't want it. Not anymore." she said in a quiet voice.

"Maybe not yet, but he will."

Rose's eyebrows pulled together. "Do you know something?"

River shrugged. "Time lines aren't written in stone, Rose. There isn't much I can be sure of. But this? I can do something about this."

"River..." Rose warned.

"No. Don't worry, I won't kidnap him or force him to leave with me. I'm just going to see for myself." she leaned up and kissed Rose on the forehead. "I'll see you again soon."

Rose hugged her friend. It was impossible to be surprised anymore; River was becoming family to her. "Fine. Just don't do anything stupid, alright? And at least call in advance if you're about to need rescue."

River laughed and stood up. "Oh alright, I suppose I can do that. Goodbye, Rose."

"See you later, River." Rose said crossing her arms as River disappeared. Strangely enough, she had done well this past month. But, she knew that was completely because of the Doctor.

"Thinking about me, are we?" he said, appearing at the doors and smirking.

She blushed very slightly then looked at him accusingly. "You said you couldn't read direct thoughts."

His smirk turned into a wide grin. "I didn't, you just send out a quite distinct feeling when you're thinking about certain things. I'm just glad I was right and that one was about me."

Rose grinned and rolled her eyes. "Who else would it be? And what feeling was I giving off exactly?" she asked as he made his way to her, wrapping his arms around her waist.

Tension he didn't know he had bottled up relaxed when her arms were wrapped around his neck. He still hadn't figured out how she did that...but he loved it. "Well...and I'm not exaggerating, it feels like you're thinking about the person that...well..."

She raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"Maybe I'm assuming too much." he admitted.

Her eyebrows pulled together slightly. "Just tell me?"

"It feels like you're thinking about the person that means the very most to you. Out of everyone you ever met. It's happiness and joy and love and passion. All wrapped into one person that you put above everyone else." he said, now really hoping he wasn't assuming too much.

She gave him a small smile, but that small smile meant more to them than a goofy grin. "That's you. Really, it's an understatement though. How could you not be the one that means the most to me? I want to spend the rest of my life with you, not something that I take lightly."

He was speechless for a moment. Honestly...he had thought that person for her was Jack. Well, maybe not the passion bit. He pulled her closer, but not in the "need sex now" kind of closer, but in the "I just want to hold you close because you mean everything to me" kind of way.

"Not something I take lightly either. Rose...you can't imagine how much." he said softly.

"I think I have a good idea. I love you, you know."

He smiled softly. "I love you more." he said and bent down slowly to kiss her gently. He should do it now. He should ask her right now. It was a perfect moment, just a quiet moment in the Library with no one else around. He should do it now. "Rose..." he started quietly as he pulled back.

"You're brilliant, you know." she said, twisting a bit of hair at the back of his head. "I don't know what I did to deserve you."

"That's just it, isn't it? Rose, you didn't have to do a thing. I-" he was cut off by a ring tone coming from Rose's pocket.

She chuckled and stepped back to answer the phone. "Hello?" she said, biting her lip trying not to laugh at the pouty face the Doctor was putting on. Suddenly there was a click and the call ended. She frowned and pulled the phone back to look at it.

"What is it?" the Doctor asked.

"I don't know...whoever it was hung up and it just says unknown number..."

He frowned and whipped out his sonic screwdriver, running it over the phone quickly. "Well...oh."

"Oh? Good oh, or bad oh?" Rose asked.

He frowned too as he looked at the screwdriver. "Neither. Possibly both. There aren't signals to trace. None. Whoever it was, they knew what they were doing..."

Rose pocketed the phone and looked back up to the Doctor, raising an eyebrow. "Don't think that's gonna make me forget." She said, talking about the Ponds. She knew he loved them too; he just had a tendency to procrastinate when it came to companions.

He shrugged innocently. "I've no idea what you're talking about..." he trailed off, at the same time moving closer to her again.

Not that she minded. She grinned and straightened his bow tie for him. "Really? So then there's no need for me to do...I dunno...something like this?" she asked, standing on her toes and ghosting her lips over his jaw, slowly going up to nip at his ear.

She felt his hands grip her arms just that much tighter, and she knew that if she was looking she would see the way his eyes darkened. "Rose..." he half-moaned.

She stared to pull back, her tongue poking out in a grin. "Stop?"

It was amazing the way she somehow always knew exactly how to drive him crazy. What was worse she still hadn't quite mastered how to control her emotions, not that he minded, so he could feel her mind playing at the back of his. "No." he said, not bothering to try and cover up the new raspy tone in his voice.

"Oh." she mumbled, unable to think of a smart response with the way he was looking at her...just like that she was lost in his eyes. Somewhere in the back of her mind she realized how incredibly cliché she made herself sound. Not that she cared in the slightest.

"Rose...you should really let me finish..." he started again, his voice still uneven and it sent a shiver down her spine.

This time she didn't hesitate. "Doctor? Shut up." she said, and all at once his resolve crumbled as soon as her lips were back on his.

He knew that he really, really needed to finish his question, but he couldn't. It was physically impossible to resist Rose Marion Tyler when she was doing things like that with those gorgeous lips of hers.

But he would. Of course he would. He would ask her tomorrow. Tomorrow was a good plan...that gave him time to stop worrying and enjoy the beautiful Time Lady standing in front of him. He grinned into her neck as he trailed kisses down it. She was a Time Lady. Well really more Galifrayen, but he honestly didn't care in the slightest in that moment. She was his. She was safe, and they were together. Tomorrow could wait.

Bit of a gap-filler chap, but I thought it was needed. Even if you weren't too fond of this first one, hang tight ;)

Don't worry if you really really want more about their month away, things just might be reveled later on...(yes they will).

And also, since the dreaded school is in session, it might be only weekend updates for awhile, but I promise to not let this one fall off the face of the earth...like others. Sorry.