Just Imagine...

Stay

The Doctor had thought everyone in Harmony was asleep. He hated the idea of sneaking away in the dark of night but it would probably hurt less this way.
The night air was surprisingly warm and still in the backyard, with glowing flowers from all over the universe and nocturnal insects making a spectacular light show in the garden. The Doctor made his way through those beautiful flowers, not realizing he was being watched.
Up on the roof, Sam was gazing up at the stars and reminiscing on how fast her life had gone from a nightmare to a perfect dream when she caught a flash of movement far below her. She squinted at the dark figure weaving around the fountain and making for the wooden stairs leading down to the beach. Who the hell was that, and what were they doing out here in the dark?
Sam made her way down to the ground and followed whoever it was as far as the bottom of the steps. When her feet touched the sand, she saw who it was.
The Doctor was bathed in moonlight as he walked along the beach, heading toward where the TARDIS had landed.
"Doctor?" Sam called worriedly.
The Doctor paused, but didn't turn around. Then he started running, away from Sam and everything he'd ever loved.
He was leaving Rose and their twins behind. They'd be safer without him, he just brought chaos and heartache and destruction wherever he went.
Determined, Sam sprinted after him. In the years since she'd travelled with him she'd gotten much faster, and she managed to overtake him, standing between him and the TARDIS and throwing her arms up to grab him if he tried to go around her.
"Were you just gonna up and leave without telling anyone?" Sam demanded, "why??"
"Just leave me alone, Sam," the Doctor said, a surprising look of anger in his blue eyes, "this is none of your concern."
"Uh, yeah it is my fucking concern!" Sam protested, blocking him again as he tried to push past her, "what are you thinking?! You can't just leave and abandon Rose and your kids!"
"They'll be better off without me, Sam. You know I attract danger like flies to a carcass, but you are The Queen of Hearts, you have the power of the universe inside you, you can protect her, from what I cause!"
This time it was Sam's eyes that suddenly filled with rage.
"I can't believe you," she said, shaking her head in utter bewilderment, "first of all, I'm not a goddamn bodyguard for you to hire. Second of all, if Rose stuck around enough to wanna bear your children and start a family with you, I doubt she needs protecting, she seems like a girl who can take care of herself. And THIRD of all, you are acting like an idiot. When I was travelling with you, I never felt safer than when I was next to you even if it was incredibly dangerous!"
"Sam," the Doctor pleaded, "you're not gonna change my mind. I'm leaving. I'll still visit, I promise."
"NO!" Sam exclaimed, shoving him backwards with so much force he almost fell flat on the ground, "I won't have this! Listen, you need to think about what you want and forget about everything else. I did, and if I hadn't, none of this would be here! Torchwood Saint Lucia, my family, YOU. Bad things can still happen, you always told me that, but the entire universe knows what happened to the 456 and I don't think anyone has the balls to lift a fucking finger to start a war after they saw what The Queen of Hearts is capable of. I'm keeping the people I love close to me, just like you said! I really just wish YOU KNEW HOW TO TAKE YOUR OWN GODDAMN ADVICE BY NOW, AND FOR THE LOVE OF THE SPIRITS WOULD YOU JUST STAY?!"
Sam extended her arm to the Doctor as she said it, then inhaled sharply when she saw that he had covered his face with his hands and heard him faintly sobbing. Her stomach dropped, and a rush of guilt crashed over her like a tidal bore. She'd made the Doctor cry, and that was the worst feeling she could imagine. It was like she'd made her own father cry.
"D-Doc...?" She stammered, all the rage drained from her tone immediately, "I didn't mean to... I'm s-"
"Don't, Sam," the Doctor cut her off, sounding like he was struggling to keep his voice steady, uncovering his face so that the streaks of tears on his cheeks glittered in the moonlight, "you're right. You really remembered everything I said to you?"
"I took it to heart," Sam murmured, "you showed me the beauty of the universe. I wanna show you the beauty of a second chance at happiness. You can have great new life here with Rose and Nova and Stella, you can join Torchwood and help us start the Planet Alliance. You can... you can be happy again. I know that's what you want, and all you have to do is stay with us. So, will you stay?"
The Doctor stared at her for a moment, then slowly smiled and nodded.
"I'll stay." He murmured softly, taking Sam's hand.
The next morning, the Doctor awoke with Rose sleeping beside him and their twins snuggled between them. It had been a while since he'd been able to fall asleep and the fact that he had surprised him.
"Morning." He murmured to Rose as she blearily opened her beautiful brown eyes.
"Mornin'," Rose mumbled back with a yawn, "where'd you go last night?"
"Just... for a walk," the Doctor lied, "I had to figure something out."