| Ocean Stars | Sequel to Deeper | COMPLETE |

Chapter 3

Rose exited the car, a big yawn forming in the back of her throat. She took out a little box from the backseat before closing and locking the door. And then she yawned again. Blimey, it was getting late. Or rather early, since it had long passed 4 AM when she arrived back at the TARDIS.

Rose stood in front of the time machine, her gaze lingering. How she had missed her. Old friend.

Rose.

There it was again. That voice. What is that? She pursed her lips, biting the inner of her cheek, and paused, listening in closely. But to no avail. The voice had stopped. Was she truly losing it?

Her eyes shot up when the Doctor had opened the door. Only it wasn't the Doctor. Well, it was, but not really. She was hoping to see the other him.

„I got what you needed." Rose said, her voice maybe a bit too cold. Had she really grown to be so distant towards the man she once loved?

Loved. Past tense. Or did she still? I mean, it was still the Doctor. And she loved them both, but not the same. The Doctor, her Doctor, was definitely alike, only a bit more human. And open.

But, the Time Lord had never really received the opportunity to be open, so maybe he could be identical? Could have this Doctor loved her the same way the other does if the other would not have been created?

Rose kicked herself mentally. How could she even think like this? He was the one that left her when she didn't even want to. And by leaving her she fell in love all over again. Which was good. Very good.

She handed the Time Lord the box, then entered the TARDIS, jumping to her Doctor's embrace. They looked at each other for a moment, then closed the gap, manifesting a warm and honest kiss.

„Missed me?" the Doctor asked.

„Always."

The Time Lord closed the door, trying to ignore the happy couple. He could not, however, not sneak some peaks now and then when they weren't not looking. The Doctor sat on the console chair and she leaned against his lap.

„You've given me...a box." the Time Lord rubbed the back of his neck. „A tiny box."

„Yeah, why'd you do that for? Thought you'd bring back the dimension cannon." the Doctor was just as confused.

„Now, why would I do that? For my dimension cannon to work, I needed some kind of energy myself. A link. A boom. So I brought you my boom." she smiled.

The Time Lord eyed the box suspiciously before opening it, and then he grinned. „You're a genius." he said, now holding in his hand no other than the TARDIS key. Rose's TARDIS key. Which was glowing.

„Right, before you take me out to fight aliens, I'm in some desperate need of sleep. Coming?" she lend the Doctor her hand, which he gladly took, and off they went looking for a bedroom.

The Time Lord stood there in silence, watching the two fade away. And then he sighed, leaning back the console. He looked around, sniffing the air. Alone.

Rose pushed the door to her old bedroom open, only to reveal the upgraded version of what she once had. The walls were now covered in a warm beige colour and instead of a one-person bed, she noticed the queen-sized one. The Doctor looked around curiously.

„Never seen your bedroom before." he said.

„That's 'cause you were always on my case about running. Never took time to stop. Always some new adventure in the back of your mind."

„Never stop running, Rose Tyler." he snickered. After a moment of silence, he continued. „I'm sorry. I should've spent more time with you. Back then, I was just so scared. Scared of what I was feeling. Scared of what might happen."