Married life with Rose and Alec

Chapter 9

As they sat holding the watch, Alec's hand over Rose's, the bright light returned, swirling around them, whispering softly "Rose, Rose."

"Doctor, I'm hear, I'm listening" Rose managed to say.

"Rose, I'm so sorry I lost you, with both my hearts, I'm truly sorry I never got to finish the words I wanted to say. Rose Tyler, I love you and I want you to happy and I know I left you on that beach wondering if I was going to say it. I couldn't admit the truth when you were with me because I knew I would change one day and I didn't want you to see me when I did because I was afraid you wouldn't still love me. You've found someone else, Alec Hardy and he looks just like me. I want you to be happy with him, Rose because I know he loves you the way I did and I know he'll take care of you and you can both now move on. Rose, you'll only hear this message now you've both opened the watch together and you're married. He's a good man and you both deserve to find happiness together. This is the only time I'll be able to communicate with you, the watch will become just a watch but I'll know you've opened it. I'm so sorry Rose, I will always remember you no matter how many times I regenerate, you will always be in my hearts. Alec, look after her and love her, I know I broke her heart when I left her that day but you can help her and yourself move on. I sent you those dreams and ideas so you would find her. She's clever and I knew she would be drawn to the sea and find you. Just both have a fantastic life and Rose, be magnificent and always remember me as I will you."

They both just sat there, stunned as they listened. It was the voice Rose remembered well, the voice that had called her to Bad Wolf Bay on the worst day of her life. Rose never knew if she was supposed to go there, he'd asked where the gap had come out but deep inside, she thought he already knew where it had come out. That somehow he'd chosen it and while he was waiting for her, he got the watch through and sent those dreams back in time to Alec whom he must have also known about and planted the idea about the sea to Rose. She had no idea how long he had been waiting there for her, it had taken them some time to get to Norway by car. She knew he could do the impossible and he did. He had also given his blessing to her and Alec's marriage and that meant everything to her. "Who's going to hold his hand now?" she thought.

The bright light disappeared in a swirl back inside the watch as they both looked at each other and Alec put his arms around her and held her tightly. Tears were running down Rose's face and he wiped them away with his hand and kissed her tears.

Alec was the first to speak. "Well I guess we know now. There's no more mystery, we were meant to be together. Rose, my love, I think there may be more to it though, the way we were instantly attracted to each other from the day we met. How he found me somehow and I ended up in Broadchurch. There are just some things we are never meant to know and that's fine, I think that's how he wanted it. I think he did more than just send me dreams, that part of his personality seeped through to me as well but they didn't manifest themselves properly until I met you. I was angry and bitter when I arrived here, just ask Ellie and as I told you, I wasn't going to have that surgery but something made me go through with it."

"Alec, when I first met him, before he regenerated, he was also angry and bitter and he said I'd made him better. Maybe he saw himself in you and knew you needed me to make you better too," said Rose, tears still on her cheeks and Alec still trying to brush them away. She pulled away and took his face in her hands and pulled him close then kissed him tenderly. "Let's both agree now to let this alone, we know all we need to know. We don't need to know any more. I promise you now, Alec Hardy, I will never mention him again. You are the man I married and I want you to grow back your beard because that's how I fell in love with you and I'd feel more comfortable if you did grow it back. I don't need you to look like him, it's all over now. We know the answers and we need to get on with our lives now. You don't have anything to prove to me."