The Ending

I heard him calling to me. In a dream. I told Mum and Dad and Mickey and we packed up and went. Just like that. We followed the voice for miles and miles. Across country and ocean. Just kept on driving. Unless one day I knew we were here. On a lonely beach in Norway. I walked away from them expectantly but saw nothing. I turned to watch the waves lap on the sands and wondered if he'd come. Then he did.

"Rose."

Rose turned to see that crooked smile beaming at her from a few metres away. She returned it and walked closer. The Doctor stood on the sand, hands in his pockets as always, looking transparent as if he wasn't really there.

"You look like a ghost." She greeted him.

"Do I? Oh." He pulled out his Sonic Screwdriver and pointed it at something she couldn't see. His form began solid and he put the device back into his pocket. "Better?"

"Much." Rose moved until she was stood a couple of feet in front of him. She looked at him, the Doctor, and found herself at a loss for words. She had thought so much about what she would say if she saw him again. And now he was here, she couldn't remember any of it.

"Don't you want to know how I'm here?" The Doctor encouraged gently.

"Go on, how are you here?" She smiled.

"A lovely little device in the TARDIS. It's projecting my image out. There was one crack left in the void and I used it to find you."

"Is there anything that ship can't do?" Rose said with a small laugh.

"Make chips." The Doctor instantly responded. "Although I was thinking about getting a chip maker. I saw a lovely one in a market on the planet Vados in the year 3340. What do you think?"

"I think it's a great idea." Rose tilted her head at him as the conversation died. She ran her eyes over his body and hesitantly reached out but stopped before her fingers brushed his coat. "Can I touch you," she whispered.

The Doctor smiled warmly. "Of course." And before he could blink Rose had closed the gap between them and was wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. He instinctively slid his arms round her waist and lifted her from the ground, holding her tightly against his body.

Rose buried her face into his neck, tears soaking both their skins. She inhaled the scent of the Doctor. Her Doctor. She closed her eyes and never wanted to let go. She wanted to stay with him forever. She'd told him she would. And now she couldn't. She didn't think her heart could hurt anymore but it did. But for this moment it was okay to hurt. Because he was here.

The Doctor pressed his mouth firmly against the head of his sidekick, his companion. His friend. He closed his eyes and tried not to cry when he felt her tears on his neck. A lump formed in his throat as he remembered all the things they'd done together. All the places they'd travelled to. And now he would be alone once more. Just a lonely Time Lord in his spaceship floating forever through Time and Space on his own. Just like he was destined to. The scent of Rose's shampoo teased his nostrils and a watery smile edged onto his lips. Words could not begin to describe how much he was going to miss her. Acutely aware that his time here was precious he reluctantly lowered her to the ground and pulled back, letting his hands linger on her hips.

Rose felt her feet touch the ground and hesitantly pulled away from the Doctor. She smiled at him and moved her hand over his to grip it in her own. Their fingers interlaced without them realising, just like they had been doing for a long time.

"So," she sniffed, using her free hand to wipe her tears away. "When am I gonna see you again?"

The Doctor felt his two hearts break at the question. The one question he hadn't wanted to answer. But she was his Rose. Of course she'd ask the one bloody question he hadn't wanted to answer.