In Your Arms

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

The Doctor sat in a chair in the library. Rose lay on the couch across from him, fast asleep. Slow and steady breaths left her body. She slept on her side, facing him. His eyes softened as they rested on the relaxed features of her face.

Rassilon, he had missed that face so much more than words could express. As happy as he was for her to be back with him, he couldn’t help but worry about her. She had gone through a lot that day.

Her facial features suddenly contracted into something that looked painful. Before he had much time to think about it, she rolled over and arched her back and let out a frightened scream. Without the slightest hesitation he rushed to her side. More wails escaped her, each making his hearts clench. He said her name gently, but she didn’t respond.

He placed a cold hand on her shoulder. Her startled eyes flew open and she instinctively moved backward, smacking against the back of the couch.

“Hey, it’s okay,” he said softly. For a moment, her eyes met his. Then tears leaked out of them. “Aw, Rose, don’t cry!” He hated it when she cried. He cupped her cheek and wiped a tear away with his thumb. But this only caused more tears to form.

Instantly he felt guilty. He wanted to pull her into his arms and murmur soothing words to her like he used to, but something within him stopped him. Before Canary Wharf, he wouldn’t have even hesitated. But now…they’d both changed. Back then he knew what she’d wanted, but he wasn’t so sure now. She’d grown up. She was more independent.

After a minute, he decided he didn’t care and swept her into his arms. One arm slipped around her waist, while the other cradled her head against his chest, where tears soaked his shirt.

She pulled back slightly, avoiding his eyes. “I’m okay,” she said. He gave her one of those disbelieving looks. She glared back at him. “Really, I am.”

“Rose…” He shook his head. He knew she really wasn’t. As a matter of fact, he wasn’t okay. And anyone could tell that those screams had not meant anything good.

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“But don’t you see what he’s trying to give you? Go on, tell her.” Donna nodded to the meta-crisis Doctor.

The original Doctor looked at Rose as she turned to face his duplicate and began to explain how she could have that promised forever with him.

There was an emptiness of sort that hung in his stomach, but he did his best to push it away. He wasn’t going to be selfish—not this time, not when it was for his precious Rose. If she was happy, he would be happy. At least, that’s what he told himself…

“I’ve only got one life, Rose Tyler…I could spend it with you…if you want.” There was that familiar tint of hope in his voice that she would accept him. He’d used it after the Sycorax “invasion” when he had asked if she would still travel with him.

How could she refuse?

She reached out a careful hand and placed it on his chest, on his heart—his single beating heart. The edges of her mouth twitched upward briefly. He really was part human. He wouldn’t outlive her by hundreds of years. They could actually, really be together.

And suddenly, with no warning, the meta-crisis Doctor lurched forward and clutched his chest, and Rose jumped back. He wheezed and fell forward. She reached out to grab him before he hit the sand face first, but was a moment too late. She knelt beside him quickly and turned him over on his back. She heard the Doctor and Donna rushing over to them (though her mother still stayed a few feet back). He coughed hoarsely and blood trickled out of his mouth.