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The TARDIS doors shut with a quiet creak. Gravel crunching underfoot, The Doctor sighed as she took in the sight of the sunset. It was a fitting sight, she thought. She could already feel the tingling sensation of the regeneration; that combined surge of both near-manic energy and bone-weary tiredness. Wincing, she slowly eased herself down onto the wet gravel of the beach, letting out a soft sigh of relief as her stiff and achy muscles relaxed.
Behind her, the TARDIS doors quietly opened again, soft footsteps crunching across the gravel behind her before Rose softly sat down beside her.
"Think this is a first for me," The Doctor remarked "can't recall ever regenerating from simple old age before" she brushed a lock of hair--now a soft white with age--out of her face, turning to smile bittersweetly at Rose, who looked as young and as lovely as she first had when they first met oh so long ago.
"Yeah?" Rose asked with a soft laugh "first time for everything I guess"
"Guess so," the Time Lord nodded. Shifting, she scooted closer to Rose, leaning against her side, smiling as Rose wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, pressing a soft kiss to her head, The Doctor could feel the wetness of her tears and snuggled closer, tucking her head under Rose's chin and breathing in her scent "still going to stick with me, Rose Tyler?" she murmured.
"Always," Rose laughed softly "you're stuck with me"
"Even if I'm purple with yellow spots?"
"Even if you're purple with yellow spots" Rose assured her firmly.
"Good lass," The Doctor grinned. Lifting her head, she gave Rose a grin and leaned up to softly capture her mouth in a tender kiss that seemed to last forever. Pulling back, she gently brushed some tears off Rose's face before gently laying her head back down against her shoulder "OK," she said softly "guess this is it"
"Guess so" Rose murmured.
"Any words of advice for the next?"
Rose smiled. "Be brilliant"
The Doctor laughed as the familiar golden glow of regeneration began to envelop her form "Perfect" she whispered as the glow intensified. Unlike all of the previous times there was no chaotic explosion of energy, instead it was a soft, almost soothing pulse of light which brightened almost to the point of blinding as the sun finally sunk below the horizon and then the light died down.
Blinking, the new person slowly looked up, softly sitting up and turning to Rose.
"How do I look?"
Rose smiled softly.
"Fantastic" she said...
END