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“Will I ever get to see you again?” “You can't.” That question and that horrible, terrible answer had been the only thing on Rose Tyler’s mind for months. What did he bloody mean she couldn't?! She loved him, Rose cut her heart open at Bad Wolf Bay, and he didn't even seem to care. How could he? What did she do wrong? Rose was going to end up like Sarah Jane, except Sarah Jane at least was in the same dimension and got to see him again, albeit many years later.
“I love you!” “Quite right. And I suppose if it is my last chance to say it, Rose Tyler…”
Rose didn't speak to anybody else for a week. Jackie, Mickey, and Pete gave her the space they knew she needed and wanted. How else can you cope with the love of your life leaving you in another dimension? The best way you can I suppose.
Then the stars started going out. Rose had been employed at Torchwood since she began living in Dad’s world. Jake let them know she definitely had the credentials. It was the most peculiar thing too. Sure London had its fair share of light pollution, but it was everywhere. Rose knew only one man could solve this, and he wasn't even a man at all. The dimensional teleporters had been a top secret project for nearly a decade, but could only make it to other planets, and only in the surrounding solar systems. But Rose had a bit of Bad Wolf left in her to figure it out. The Doctor had always said that a bit of the time vortex was still left in her head.
A part of her, a tiny small part, only wanted to do this to see him again. To prove him ‘yes I can! I can see you again!’ Who wouldn't though? The idea of seeing the most remarkable man you've ever met, and the love of your life again, anybody would do this.
And then that fateful day came. After a year of reaching out he was there, in front of her. He had missed her, she could see it in his eyes! Then her love was shot by one of the most evil creatures in the universe. She just got him back, she couldn't lose him again. And Rose didn't lose him, he was fine. The war raged on and not only one, but THREE Doctors saved the universe that amazing day. But even Rose knew she had to go back “home”.
Everyone in the TARDIS, even Jackie managed, even with a few jokes about Mars. They were the last stop, and Rose didn't want to go. To her surprise the new Doctor walked out with them. For all the others he stayed in the back, as if in punishment. What could that mean? He also would not stop gazing at Rose. Not starring, or anything like that. Just small glances every once in a while in her direction. Once she realized, which was several times, he looked away or to something behind her. Strange. But he was still the Doctor, and back when Rose and him used to travel he would do that too.
“He needs you. That’s very me.”
Her Doctor, he needed her. He couldn't have her though and they both knew that. Yet those words couldn't do all the damage control that was needed, but they removed a bruise or two. And then the other Doctor spoke up.
“I’ve only got one life, Rose Tyler. I could spend it with you.”
No, he couldn't. Could he? He mustn’t! This new Doctor, this strange hand Doctor. She didn't know him, he wasn't hers. Well, he wasn't not the Doctor. This one was born out of hand she saw cut off that Christmas day. Rose was so conflicted. There was a way to solve this though.
“What was the end of that sentence?” she spoke up to him. That horrible sentence on the bay.
“Does it need saying?” Of course it does! She deserved to know, she wanted to know what he was going to say. Is that so selfish? Does he have to treat her like this after everything?
“Alright and now you. How was that sentence going to end?” Rose spoke up to the metacrisis Doctor. Rose knew what she wanted him to say, but did not exactly expect him to. The Doctor, her dear sweet Doctor, was always secretive, even with her. Maybe it would transfer over to this one. Maybe he would say the same thing and leave her still spiraling. But he surprised her with this one. He leaned down close to her, close enough she could hear his human breath on her neck by her ear. He said the only thing Rose ever wanted to hear from him.
“I love you.”
It was simple but important. And now he could say it to her every single day. Rose grabbed the cuff of his suit and pulled him close. Him, her Doctor. Finally they kissed. And he kissed her back fully. Not just to satisfy her or to play along. But he kissed her. Rose could live in this moment for all of time. She was finally with him after all this fighting and waiting here he was, kissing her back. Apparently the first time they kissed she would never remember, since he was drawing the Time Vortex out of her. The second time it wasn’t even her, but a trampoline in her body, but this third time, well it was far from ideal, but it was both them. And they would remember it.
He never let go of her after that. Once Donna and the original Doctor said their goodbyes, he was still holding onto her hand. As Jackie phoned Pete for a car to get them to the airport, he still clung to her. Although that could have just been due to Jackie going off about no service. On the car ride they were practically on top of each other, yet not many words were spoken. In all honesty what could be said.
As they sat down in a cubby in the private zeppelin and Jackie took a nap, it suddenly occurred to Rose. Here he is, her Doctor. Not the one that left her stranded on the bay and expected her to just be fine and live through it. This is the Doctor that stayed. The one who actually said he loved her. The one who said he could spend the rest of his human life with her. The one she needed and wanted. And Rose began to cry.
“Oh, no love,” the Doctor says, holding onto her, wrapping his arms around her as she burrows her face in his chest. Rose holds onto him tightly, as if he might disappear. He holds her just as tight, kissing the top of her blonde locks.
“You- you stayed,” she chokes out through tear soaked gasps. Rose always felt like she was an ugly crier, but it didn't even matter right now. Because he stayed.
“Yes, and I doubt I’ll be leaving you anytime soon,” he responds in a very Doctor-like way.