She was hurt, really hurt... he promised he won't do that to her... and it's exactly the very first thing he does after that is run after some french mistress leaving her -and Mickey- behind. She sighed, it was something he wouldn't even dared to think before, when was nothern and leather, pinstripes was a pretty boy, lovely to see, but right at this point, she would give anything to have her doctor again.

And there he was heartbroken because his lady friend died and giving them any indications that he wanted to be alone, she couldn't help but ask him

-Why her?

-I don't know, but the droids seemed to think she was compatible

Oh for goodness sake, she didn't bloody care why that woman was important to the droids but to him, what could Madame de Pompidour have to make her , Rose Tyler shopgirl from the Powell State... ah, she stopped at the thought, feeling she was worthless and... alone.

The Doctor was lost in his room, probably, and so was Mickey, it was safe for Rose to take her treasure out. The only thing she had stolen in her life, well, technically not stolen, it's not as if she took her away, it has been always in the TARDIS, she just moved it from the wardrobe to her room, his leather jacket, the only thing left from the man who took her heart along with her hand as he said "RUN!"

She was feeling defenseless, so vulnerable that it seemed only natural to put it on. The moment she did it she understood the jacket completely, she felt guarded, shielded and safe, it also made her feel he was holding her. She saw him regenerate, turning into this new, pretty version, and at first, once she asimilated the process, she was convinced they were the same man, not tonight, not after the day's events. Today she saw the saddest and cruelest of the differences. She whispered to the TARDIS

-You're a time machine, can you help me? I promise I won't do anything stupid like last time, I just.. I just wanna see him, please?

She felt the TARDIS moving, very quiet, as if she was sneaking, not wanting her Thief to find out. Still in his leather jacket, Rose ventured outside into the console room, everything was normal, and The Doctor was not in sight, her footsteps were careful, and she opened the door so slowly, then she looked outside and was welcomed by a wonderful and familiar view. She whispered a thank you and went outside.

He was looking at the horizon, lost in thought when a familiar scent reached his nostrils, soft herbs and tea and ... only one person smelled like that, and that person was Rose Tyler, and right now Rose Tyler was at her mother's house, he just dropped her there for tea, but he wasn't staying and do domestics, no. He turned around and saw her, it was her but wasn't his Rose, this one looked a bit different, and she was wearing his jacket, more to the point she was in emotional pain, his precious girl only had that look on her face once, when her father died, he wondered why was she here, but he couldn't help approached her

She was frozen, while she was longing to run to him and hug him tightly, she knew this was probably going to cause another paradox like the time she met her dad, she took two steps backwards when he gripped her wrist

-Stop, it's okay - he said reassuring her - if we're careful they won't come, I know you learned your lesson -with that he pulled her in his arms

She held him tightly and started crying, letting it all out while he was rubbing her back trying to soothe her

-shhh, it's okay, you're safe, I'm here, probably twice in fact - he started looking for himself, there was his TARDIS no doubt, where could he possibly be? -where am I? - he asked Rose

She calmed enough to say with and upset tone - In the TARDIS... wait, he can't see you- and made an effort to move

-There's no problem with that Rose, it has happened before, more than once - he snorted fondly

-But I don't , you're- she stopped and he understood he had regenerated, hopefully into something decent, with a proper sense of fashion, he couldn't stand the idea of his Sixth body's tastes, but still Rose was uneasy so he pulled her away, there'll be more time to meet himself later

Once they were more relaxed and she felt safe he asked

-What's wrong? What is it so terrible that you want me to change it ? - he assumed that was the reason he was seeing a future version of his Rose

She shook her head and then stared at her, she wanted to tell him that she missed him, that this new version was no better and that she wanted to be back with him, but that was beyond complicated, her thoughts were out of control, she was happy to be with him, and she was longing to tell him how much of a jerk he would become in the future, she just didn't think it was a good idea. But perhaps her mind was really a mess because he simply said

-So I regenerated into a idiot, what did I do?

She kept staring at him and he smiled at her fondly

-It's okay, his mere presence assures the fact that I won't remember, so you can tell me

And with that she started talking, she told him everything how he ran into those windows more than once without second thoughts about her safety , how she was straddled with killer robots telling her she was compatible while The other Doctor was partying with Reinette how she jumped like a knight and his horse leaving her behind and how once he made it back to her he abandoned her again.

If he could, he would gladly punch himself into his next regeneration considering how good this one had turned out, but since he couldn't he held his precious girl a bit more tightly, he always hated himself in this body, unable to forgive himself for killing his own kind, but Rose came along and he started feeling better, however at this point he hated his next body as much as he loathed his last, he wanted to punish him, to make him suffer. As it happens he wanted to go back to his pre war self, that hopeless romantic, with a youthful disposition and a carefree attitude. Perhaps he couldn't, but Rose could, yes, at this point he could tell Rose hated him, if not this, his future self, and he couldn't afford her to leave him no matter the body. Perhaps if she could spend some time with him she knew what he was really like without all his trauma she could help him become that man again, yes, he had to.

-Look Rose, I think you need a vacation, take a couple of days

She smiled, was longing to stay with him, then he shook his head

-No, not with this daft old me, there's no use of breaking your heart in the past to heal you in the present, I promise to pick you up at seven, remember?

-Time machine, remember? -she retorted gripping his arm tightly

-You'll be with me- he reassured her, -but not this me, Rose, I want to know the best version of me, - he looked into her eyes- the man I used to be, the man I want you to help me become again, oh Rose, if there's anyone who can help me it's you, I know that after the way he -he swallowed - the way I treated you I don't deserve your help, but it's because of that that I really need it, I don't want to become that, please, help me become myself again, I beg you.

She nodded without fully understanding, just because she couldn't deny him anything.

He smiled and took her to his own TARDIS