Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The first time Rose Tyler died, she was fourteen.

She was in her room, knife in hand, note next to her, hatred flowing through her like a river. Her mascara was everywhere- her lips, her cheeks, her chin- anywhere the tears could reach. The knife trembled in her shaky hands, and she dropped it onto her thigh, slicing a hole in her leggings. Her grip tightened until her knuckles turned white and she blinked a few tears away.

It’ll be better this way, she told herself. They’ll move on.

You don’t deserve to live.

The single thought erased the rest of her hesitations. She finally brought the blade down, stabbing it through her wrist and oh, it hurt and it felt like everything was on fire and then she was on the ground. Her hand was bleeding and then the blood was everywhere and she pulled the knife out and then she was gone.

She woke up in the same spot mere moments later. The cut was fully healed. There was no bandage, no visible stitching, nothing. 

She had lived. 

Somehow, the universe had given her a second chance.

And she wouldn’t waste it.

Rose didn’t tell a soul. She crumpled the note up and burnt it before anyone could see. Especially not her mum- she couldn’t burden her with this.

She convinced herself she dreamt the whole thing up, downed a few sleeping pills, and moved on.

The scar was still there, though. It had faded, ever so slightly, but it was there. 

A reminder who she was: the little human who was too fucked up to die.

—————

The next time she died, she knew it wasn’t a dream.

The car was black. It almost looked like a Bentley- but who drives a Bentley nowadays? It had slammed into her with an amount of force she’d never felt before. She could feel every single bone in her body shatter ; she could feel her skull fracturing as she hit the cement.

“Is she dead?” She thought she heard someone say, but couldn’t tell. Her ears rung.

“Calm down.” Another voice, this one more exasperated. Almost…slutty? She couldn’t be sure- the intonation, the tone, everything- it screamed slut.

But that was rude. She shouldn’t judge this possibly slutty person.

“Oh, you’ve just killed her! I’m so sorry!”

“She’s not going to die. Now let’s go.”

Okay, that one warranted the slut comment.

The other one gasped. “How can you be so sure?”

Good question.

“I just am. Now come on, Angel. Let’s get going.”

The two men(?) left as quickly as they’d come. (Which was quite quick- she was almost positive the one who’d been driving was going well over the speed limit.)

This is it, she’d thought, listening to the tires screech as the car drove away. I’m going to die.

Finally.

And for one singular, utterly blissful moment, that was true.

Then her eyes opened. 

The bright sunlight burnt as it hit her eyelids. The cool breeze felt like a slap to the face. 

She was alive. 

The bloody universe had done it again.

She shook her head once as she sat upright, then curled up and cried until she vomited.

She went home, and when her mom asked her what happened she broke down and started sobbing.

Her mom was crying too, suddenly, and she frantically asked Rose what was wrong, if she was sick, and what the hell happened to make her this upset, but Rose couldn’t get anything coherent out.

Maybe she was sick.

It would explain a lot.

————-

She’d stopped aging.

It was a bit hard to tell- she was eighteen, so her body wouldn’t be changing much anyway, but somehow she knew. 

It was like everything had stopped- she could feel herself coming to a slow, grinding halt.

Oh well, she mused as she looked in the mirror, admiring the way the dress fit her curves. At least I look pretty.

————-

She should’ve gone.

The blue police box faded in and out of view for a moment longer before disappearing, along with the most interesting being she’d ever met.

She should’ve gone.

Mickey clung to her legs like she was his lifeline, pulling her back to the present, and she pulled him up to stand.

She averted her eyes, trying to hide the obvious regret she knew was showing on her face for a moment, turning to walk away. She said something, though she wasn’t sure what. Her brain felt foggy. Maybe she was dying again.

A soft whirring caused her to freeze.

No way.

She whirled around, eyes wide, a small smile on her face. 

The Doctor stood there, leaning back with his arms crossed. 

“By the way,” he started, that stupid smirk covering his face, “did I mention that it also travels in time?”

She turned to Mickey. “Thanks,” she said simply.

Mickey blinked once, visibly confused. That was alright- he didn’t need to understand. “Thanks for what?”

She grinned, leaning forward and pressing a gentle kiss to his cheek. “Exactly.”

He stiffened, freezing in place, but she had already whirled around and was racing towards him. The Doctor smiled at her as though he knew it all along.

Maybe he did. She certainly should have.

And maybe she should have considered waiting, or getting to know him better first, but the bond she’d felt with him was stronger than anything she’d experienced…ever, really.

It hurt a bit to leave Mickey, hurt even more to leave her mum, and with each step forward, she whispered a soft goodbye. Finally, she was in front of him, and he opened the door for her.

A true gentleman.

She stepped inside the TARDIS, not glancing behind her once.

She’d never felt better.

————-

“So, anything I need to know before we get going?” The Doctor asked, turning from the console to her. 

She shook her head a little.

He raised an eyebrow, as if to ask “really?-“ but didn’t press, simply turning around. 

She wasn’t sure why she didn’t tell him then. 

It was months later, and she still wasn’t. 

————-

The End of the World. What a fitting way to go.

The heated air seeped into her skin, sending rushes of fire through her body. She pressed a hand to her forehead. 

It was hot.

She wanted to smack herself, but couldn’t find the strength to lift her arms. 

It was hot. Duh. 

Wow, Rose, great critical thinking skills. 

Her face flushed red, and she sank to the ground. The flame crept closer to her vision, and she closed her eyes. Her body slowed down, and she patiently waited for the pain to stop. 

She woke up a minute later to cool air. Her lungs welcomed the refreshment, and she gave a deep sigh. A hint of doubt crept up in her throat, and she swallowed it down.

She knew had died again. Heat exhaustion, probably.

It wasn’t as scary this time. She’d been traveling through time- Hell, this was the end of the Earth- five billion years in the future.

Maybe it was just because she knew she wouldn’t be alone.

“Doctor?” She called, pulling herself up to sit, looking around for him. The door was open, now- he must've unlocked it. She got up and walked out, shaking her head to clear the remaining fog away, going to find The Doctor. Maybe she’d tell him.

Or maybe not. It wouldn’t hurt to keep it to herself a little longer. 

What’s a few more years, anyway?

————-

“You’re alive!”

The sheer excitement in The Doctor’s voice was enough to make her forget about the hot metal blaster being poked into her back. She was sure it would leave a bruise, or a burn, but couldn’t bring herself to care. 

His tone carried an obvious smile, and she mirrored it as best she could.

“Can’t get rid of me.” 

She stared up at the camera, hoping the weight was carried over the coms. She hoped he could feel the words she wasn’t saying, never had said before.

“I thought you were dead.”

Her smile faltered, expression softening. That won’t happen, she wanted to say, but bit the words back.

Not here.

Not now.

“Open the bulkhead!” The Dalek cried out again.

Her entire body lurched forward, but her feet stayed planted. “Don't do it!” She practically screamed.

“What use are emotions if you will not save the woman you love?”

If the Dalek could smirk, she was sure it would have been.

Wait- what did it just say?

He loved her?

Her eyes widened a little. She’d loved him too- of course she did, but the thought, the words- they’d never materialized until right then.

She didn’t have time to think about it, though. The Doctor was already speaking again. (He didn’t deny it, Rose noted.) “I killed her once. I can't do it again.”

“You won’t!” She whispered. “You never will!” 

Her words were drowned out by the monstrous groan of the bulkhead doors opening. Nobody would hear what she said. She’d already forgotten. The lump of guilt pressed on her chest so forcefully she almost thought she was dying again.

He was endangering everyone, and it was her fault.

All.

Her.

Fault.

Rose came to the decision then:

She had to tell him, and soon.

She glanced over at The Dalek, which was currently rolling away, and shook her head before running after him.

Not here.

Not now.

————-

The next time came quicker than she’d thought.

She didn’t have any visible wounds, but there was a niggling doubt in her throat. 

Or maybe that was the fumes.

They were hanging out during World War Two. Of course she’d managed to inhale some smoke, or plane exhaust, or- or something. At this point, she didn’t even know.

Served her right for going anywhere without any kind of protection. She didn’t think she’d ever be able to wear a gas mask again, though- not after everything that happened. 

“Are you my mummy?”

She shuddered.

“Go to your room,” she thought to herself, then gave a small cough. Her hand raised to hide it, but when she removed it, blood stained her fingers.

Shit.

She wiped it on the inside of her sleeve before The Doctor could see.

She only had to last a few more hours. Just a few hours more at the most, and then she could curl up and die in the comfort of her bedroom, wrapped under the blankets. 

She’d never actually died in a bed. In her bed room, sure- the memories of her fourteen year old self were still ripe and fresh- but she’d never died under the covers. 

The Doctor probably wouldn’t question her if she said she was tired.

“You humans,” he’d say, “You’d sleep your whole lives away if you could.”

But she should tell him. She had to.

Her mouth opened, words building up- ‘doctor, I’m dying, and I’m also immortal. This has happened before, so don’t worry, but I am going to die and everything will be fine so don’t freak out please,’ but her lips pursed into a small, thin line as she saw The Doctor whirl around with the biggest smile on his face.

“Everybody lives, Rose!” He grinned so widely it looked like it almost hurt his face. “Everybody lives!”

Even through the pain building in her chest, the bile in her lungs, she couldn’t help but smile back. 

Maybe she could have just one dance…

Or two. Or three.

————-

“Do that for me, Rose. Have a fantastic life.”

The universe was a cruel, cruel thing.

Tears pooled in her eyes, refusing to spill down her cheeks. 

The words echoed in her head again, and she slammed her fist against the ground.

He was dead.

Moreover, he knew he was going to die.

And she couldn’t do anything.

She stood, storming to the bathroom and slamming the cabinet door open. Some unlabeled medication was in there, and she popped the cap, spilling some into her palm and downing them dry. 

It started with one handfull.

Then another.

Then another.

Soon, the entire bottle was gone, all of the little orange pills either spilled or swallowed dry.

It wouldn’t kill her- she knew that. 

Once more, yet again, Rose Tyler wished she could die.

“Do that for me, Rose. Have a fantastic life.”

“I don’t want to,” she sobbed, curling up on the floor as the TARDIS continued to buzz about. He’d be mocking her if he saw her now, she knew that, but she couldn’t help the tears that spilled. “Not without you.”

She wasn’t sure how long she stayed down there, but soon enough, she felt the familiar rush of calm before the storm. Her vision blurred, mind slowed down, and she closed her eyes, slumping onto the ground.

————-

“I think you need a Doctor.”

Had she been in the right mind, she would have laughed at his joke, but the pain overwhelming her wiped the thought away. She stumbled towards him, tripping over, well- nothing, really- but his arms were already outstretched to catch her.

He pressed his lips to hers, and she reciprocated. 

It was sweet and perfect and so utterly him.

Her Doctor.

His Rose.

Always.

Forever.

She felt the energy leaving her, and then so did everything else. Her knees buckled, but she felt him catch her before she could hit the ground.

She was dying- she could feel it.

It wasn’t scary though, for once, and it was all because he was there.

Rose Tyler was dying, yet she was perfectly at peace.

No, she felt better than that.

She felt…

Fantastic.

Chapter Text

She’s in Norway. 

“I can see everything.”

Bad Wolf

“All that was.”

She’s standing on a beach.

Bad Wolf

“All that could ever be.”

Bad Wolf

“All that should never be.”

He was in front of her.

Bad Wolf

“It hurts.”

Then he wasn’t.

Bad Wolf

“I think you need a Doctor.”

There were two of him.

BAD WOLF

“Rose Tyler.”

One left.

BAD WOLF

“ROSE TYLER.”

Everything was gold.

“ROSE.”

BAD WOLF

BAD WOLF

BAD WOLF

BAD WOLF

BAD WOLF

“ROSE?”

The world flashed gold, then her eyes opened to see a very worried looking Doctor above her. 

“Hi.” She managed, sitting up and rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.

“Good, you’re awake! I got a little worried when you got shoved into that wall,” he laughed. “But I should have known you’d be fine! You’re Rose Tyler!”

Oh. 

The sudden memory of her skull fracturing hit her like- well- it felt like she’d run into the wall all over again, really.

She’d died lived.

“..’f course I’m fine!” She said, forcing as much confidence into the words as she could. “Not made of glass, me.” 

“Ain’t that right.” He grinned. His new regeneration kind of looked like a mad scientist, what with the fluffy hair and the long coat (and apparently the new teeth), but it especially looked so when he smiled.

He sprang to his feet, holding a hand out for her. “Allons-y, Rose Tyler!” 

She grinned back up at him, taking his hand and pulling herself up, stumbling into his arms. He caught her immediately.

“Allons-y!” 

—————

It was a new planet. They’d almost died, again. They hadn’t, again. 

Now, The Doctor stared at her, some unintelligible emotion in his eyes. She wanted to ask what was wrong, but didn’t. Finally, he spoke.

“How long are you going to stay with me?”

She looked up at him, giving a soft smile.

“Forever.” She said, and she meant it.

He could see it ; could feel that she was being wholly truthful. His expression softened, and the corners of his lips subtly moved upwards.

She held his gaze for a moment.

Forever, she thought.

That sounds pretty damn nice.

—————

This was not nice. 

No.

No.

No.

Tears filled her eyes as she stared at the wall in front of her. It was cold, so cold it hurt to the touch.

So, naturally, she banged her fists against the metal.

Like that would work.

“Take me back!” She cried between each pound. “Take me back! Take me back.”

She lost him.

Again.

Pete shook his head a little. “It's stopped working. He did it. He closed the breach.”

“No,” she sobbed. “No! No! No!”

Doctor.

Doctor.

Please.

She swore she heard his voice, saying her name, hushed and whispered the way he always did. 

“Rose.”

She closed her eyes as the tears continued to spill.

“I’ll find my way back,” she whispered, hoping he could hear, but knew he couldn’t. “You have my word.”

She said forever, and she meant forever.

And she’d be damned if she let the void stop her.

—————

Well, she’d sort of done it. 

The Holo-Doctor stared at her, smiling sadly as he spoke. She couldn’t remember what he’d said before. Just what he was saying now.

And god it hurt.

“Rose Tyler, Defender of the Earth. You're dead, officially, back home. So many people died that day and you've gone missing. You're on a list of the dead.”

She wanted to laugh. Or scream. Or both. 

Yeah, that’ll never happen.

“Here you are, living a life day after day. The one adventure I can never have.”

The sadness in his voice made her want to cry. She blinked, then realized she already was.

“Am I ever going to see you again?”

Please say yes please say yes please-

“You can't.”

That was almost enough to send her to the ground. Her knees buckled, and she forced another question out. “What're you going to do?”

“Oh, I've got the Tardis. Same old life, last of the Time Lords.”

The TARDIS.

Her mind was racing. Of course, she could build her own TARDIS! That sounded ridiculous, but it would be fine! She was the Bad Wolf, after all- she could figure something out.

But now, he was leaving. 

“On your own.” She looked up at him, staring him dead in the eyes. “I-…” her voice cracked. It made her want to vomit. “I love you.”

There, she’d said it. She’d never said it before, and now she was saying it, and then he was leaving.

He gave her a sad smile and a small, almost unseeable nod. “Quite right, too. And I suppose, if it's one last chance to say it, Rose Tyler, I-“

The holograph disappeared all too soon and then he was gone and she was on the ground, tears pouring down her face and hands clutching at her chest. As though that could fix her heart. 

Her mum raced over, hugging her in a feeble attempt at comfort.

Nothing could help right now.

Not even the pills she would down once they got back home.

Not the knife she’d use to slit her throat weeks later.

Not the poisoned drink she would down for a girl at a college party.

Not the bomb that would explode on her while she was trying to build a TARDIS.

No.

The only comfort was him.

And she didn’t have that.

Not right now.

—————

The ginger- Donna, she was sure her name was- spoke again, locking eyes with her.

“Why don't you ask her yourself?”

No sooner had the words been uttered, The Doctor turned around. His eyes widened as he saw her staring, and so did hers. She almost started crying right then and there because oh god it was him.

It was really him.

Her Doctor.

He was there.

He was real.

She’d done it.

She smiled, and then he was running towards her and she was running towards him and everything was okay for a single, blissful moment.

—————

Everything was not okay. 

She’d gotten him back- she’d finally, finally gotten him back!

And now he was leaving her.

Again.

“But he's not you.” She whispered, finally articulating the words she thought she couldn’t say. 

The Doctor smiled. “He needs you. That's very me.”

Break my heart, why don’t you? She thought bitterly. Not like I only have one.

Donna (who Rose had semi forgotten was there) gave a small, sad smile. “But it's better than that, though. Don't you see what he's trying to give you? Tell her. Go on.”

The Other Doctor turned back to her. Maybe he’d never looked away. “I look like him and I think like him. Same memories, same thoughts, same everything.”

It was…sort of him.

Sort of her Doctor.

He continued. “Except I've only got one heart.”

She blinked once. “Which means?”

“I'm part human. Specifically, the aging part. I'll grow old and never regenerate. I've only got one life, Rose Tyler. I could spend it with you, if you want.”

She could hear the fear in his voice, the fear that she would reject him, that she would say no. “You'll grow old at the same time as me?” 

No you won’t. 

You’ll die.

He smiled. “Together.”

I’ll live.

You won’t.

Her Doctor spoke again. “We've got to go. This reality is sealing itself off for ever.”

She shook her head. “But, it's still not right, because the Doctor's still you.”

He smiled. “And I'm him.”

She looked back at each of them before looking back at Her Doctor. “All right. Both of you, answer me this.” She took a deep breath. “When I last stood on this beach, on the worst day of my life, what was the last thing you said to me? Go on, say it.”

His smile faltered. “I said, Rose Tyler.”

“Yeah,” she sighed, “and how was that sentence going to end?”

The Doctor nodded sadly, tears pooling in his eyes. “Does it need saying?”

“And you, Doctor?” She turned to him- the other him. “What was the end of that sentence?”

He leaned forward, whispering in her ear.

“I want chips.”

A laugh bubbled up in her throat, but it died as the New Doctor leaned in, and suddenly she was pulling him to her and his lips were on hers.

She could hear the whirring of the TARDIS as it faded out of existence. He merely pulled her closer, placing one hand on her waist and the other on the small of her back. 

She would outlive him.

“I’ll find you, Doctor,” she mouthed against his lips. 

“I am yours,” she said aloud. “You are mine.”

He pulled back, staring at her with wide eyes.

She smiled, allowing a single tear to slip down her cheek.

“Forever.”

He nodded, smiling back, raising a hand to wipe the drop away. 

“Forever,” he echoed, not knowing he was lying right back to her.

—————

She’d started aging again.

Her hair had started graying ; her skin had wrinkles now. She looked like her mum.

Somehow she knew she wasn’t dying, though. If she looked close, she could see pulses of gold moving beneath her skin.

She would be okay.

—————

“I don’t understand.” John choked out. 

He’d chosen a human name- John Noble, then John Tyler-Noble. She called him The Doctor at first, but not often anymore. 

He’d chosen her, she’d chosen him.

She’d lied, so had he.

Only he hadn’t known.

She’d finally caved, finally decided to be honest. “We have to talk,” she’d said, and he’d immediately agreed.

“Y-you’re…” he hesitated, searching for the right word. “Immortal?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

“You’ve died before.” Not a question this time. It was a statement.

“Yes.”

“With me- well, other me.” Another statement.

“I’ve died lots of times,” she mumbled. 

He sighed. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I don’t know.” She whispered. “I just couldn’t make myself say the words.”

“Why say them now?”

“Because you’re going to age, and I am too. But I’m not going to die.” She felt the tears pool in her eyes as she looked at him. “And you are.”

He didn’t say anything, just simply scooted closer to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. It was enough to send her over the edge, and she released the tears into his shoulder. Her body shook with sobs, and it took her a moment to realize he was trembling too.

“It’s okay,” he finally murmured. “We’ll get through it.”

She nodded against his shoulder, somehow believing the words.

They would get through it.

Together.

—————

Her mum was dead. So was Pete. And Mickey.

John stood by her at their funerals and held her while she cried.

It hurt, knowing she’d outlive them.

It hurt more knowing that she’d never told them why.

—————

She was sitting next to him on the couch when he looked over at her.

“Rose Tyler,” he’d started, but the sentence broke off. He breathed once, and then he wasn’t.

She’d called paramedics, but it was far too late.

He was dead.

She wasn’t.

He’d still never finished that bloody sentence. 

And that’s how it was going to be.

—————

Rose Tyler was dying. 

She felt her body shutting down as she sat by the beach. Her heart slowed, giving one final beat, and she gave a small breath.

“I’ll find you.”

She looked down, watching as her skin began to glow. 

“Do your worst,” she whispered, closing her eyes. The world turned gold. 

She felt everything. 

All that was.

All that could be.

All that should never be.

The world was gold.

Burning.

But she wasn’t dying.

She was the Bad Wolf.

The Bad Wolf was her.

They were one.

They were alive.

…

..

.

The world was still gold when she opened her eyes. Sunlight hit her like a slap to the face. Drips of water splashed onto her skin. She crawled over to the water and stared down at herself.

She looked about the same. Her hair was a little bit curlier, but it was the same color as it was when she was nineteen. Her eyes were still brown, lips still pink. Her tongue moved around her mouth a bit, then she froze. A gasp escaped her as her jaw dropped, and she laughed.

“New teeth,” she muttered, shaking her head. “That’s fantastic.”

And it was.

It really, really was.

Her hands began to glow gold, wisps of energy emanating from her fingertips. She waved her hand and a portal appeared. 

The Vortex.

She grinned, standing up and walking to it.

Doctor, here I come.

Chapter Text

Lonely.

That was the best word to describe Rose’s new life. From universe to universe, no matter what happened, the only constant was herself, the flashes of gold that accompanied her on her journey.

She missed them. Missed having someone.

Mickey.

Jack.

John.

Her Doctor, who probably belonged to someone else by now, probably didn’t even remember her.

She flew through the galaxies, touched the stars with her fingertips, sat on the moon until she suffocated.

Yet she still felt empty.

She sighed, closed her eyes, steeled herself, and jumped into the void once more.

Time to go drown her sorrows in alien foods.

————-

Or not.

When her eyes opened, she realized she was back in London. Everything was so bright, so…modern.

What year was she in? Certainly not 2005.

…

Oh dear.

She shook her head and started walking, glancing here and there as she went. A car flew by, blasting that Queen song about how they “didn’t want to be stopped” (ironic), and nearly hitting her as she moved to cross the street.

A scoff escaped her lips. They had to have been speeding, had to have been going ninety at least! In Central London, of all places!

She caught the license plate- SIDRAT.

Odd, she could have sworn she recognized that…

The memory of a Bentley flashed through her mind. Her eyes widened, and she laughed.

Some things never changed.

She stumbled away from the street, turned around…

…and ran smack dab into someone’s chest.

The person in question had stumbled backwards, hands raised, eyes looking towards the ground. “Oh, I’m so…” he trailed off, eyes widening as he saw her, really saw her, and she saw him.

Jack.

Jack.

Jack.

Her eyes widened too, but she didn’t allow the surprise to show on her face for long. She’d thought he was dead, she’d been nearly certain of it.

Leave it to him to prove her wrong.

She lifted a hand in a salute. “Captain Jack Harkness,” she drawled, smirking up at him.

“Rose Tyler.” He grinned so wide it looked like it might split his face, and then she was moving towards him and he was heading towards her. It’d been ages since she’d seen him, yet he looked the same. His arms wrapped around her, encircling her in a tight, muscled embrace and burying her face in his shoulder.

She could have died again right then and there- engulfed in his arms, face buried into the fabric of his shirt- and been happy.

Eventually, though, she pulled away, smiling at him. She wanted- no, needed- to see his face again, run her fingers across his chiseled jaw. “Hi!”

“Hi!” He parroted back, laughing. “I don’t mean to sound rude, but aren’t you supposed to be dead?”

“Oh, well. Don’t like to play by the rules, me.” She allowed a small rush of energy to seep through her vision, causing her eyes to flash gold.

Jack’s jaw dropped, falling open so far it was almost comedic.

“You’re so…golden,” he whispered. “What..?”

“Bad Wolf.” She said softly.

He blinked, but didn’t question it. “Doesn’t explain how you’re not dead.”

“I’m immortal. Probably died over fifty times, me.” She raised an eyebrow. “What’s your excuse?”

“Honestly? I think you might’ve done this. Because I was dead, but then I saw this gold light, and…”

“…then you weren’t.” She nodded. “I..could believe that. I was thinking about you when it happened.”

“I’ve been thinking about you ever since. Never stopped.”

Her heart twisted as she saw his face contort, ever so slightly, like he was in pain.

“…neither have I,” she admitted softly.

He pulled her back in, gently this time, resting a hand on her cheek and tilting her face towards his. “May I?”

She smiled, pursing her lips ever so. It was like nothing had ever changed. “Of course.”

The kiss was slow and soft, less rushed, not threatened by looming danger. It was intimate, or would have been, had they not almost gotten hit by a biker.

“Watch it!” He yelled out, continuing to pedal away.

She laughed. “People.”

Jack shook his head. “What’re you gonna do with ‘em?”

“I know, right? Bunch of stupid apes, the whole lot of ‘em.”

He laughed again, and so did she. It felt easy, talking with him. Simple. Like nothing had changed, though it had been well past eighty years. Maybe ninety. She’d almost lost track.

She looked back up at him. “You up for coffee? I’d love to catch up.”

He nodded. “I know a great spot.”

She smiled, and her eyes flashed gold again. “Lead the way.”

—————-

They talked for hours, sitting across from each other in a small, tiny booth with warm drinks in front of them.

“You were pregnant?” She asked, unable to keep the incredulousness out of her voice.

“Yup.” He chuckled, taking another sip. “That’s not happening again.”

She blinked once, eyes wide with disbelief, then smiled. “God, I’ve missed this.”

“Missed what?”

“You.” She said simply, enjoying the way his cheeks flushed at her admission. “I thought you were dead for a while, you know.”

He frowned slightly. “I thought the same about you. It wasn’t until the Doctor told me you were trapped in an alternate universe that I learned otherwise.”

“Oh.” She wasn’t sure what to say to that, so she settled for reaching across the table and taking his hand in hers.

“For the record,” he said quietly, voice softer than she’d ever heard before. “I missed you too.”

She wasn’t sure how long they stayed like that, hand in hand, just enjoying the other’s warmth. He smiled at her, and she smiled at him, and then everything was okay again.

—————-

“So, I’ll see you later, then?” Jack asked, and for once, it didn’t seem like he was trying to flirt. The words came soft and genuine, holding an odd sadness that she would never have expected from him.

She nodded, unsure if he could see it in the dim lighting. “Yeah, you will.”

His eyes grew wide, and she laughed.

“What, did you really think I was never going to stop by?” She winked, and when she reopened them, her eyes were gold. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily, Jack Harkness.”

He grinned, leaning up against the light pole. “Good.”

She wanted to kiss him, so she did, walking forward, stretching up and giving him a soft peck.

“Goodbye, Jack,” she whispered, lips moving against his. They shared a single breath before she was gone, disappearing with a flash of gold.

He raised a hand to his lips, staring at the space she’d been with eyes that were just a little bit too misty.

“Goodbye, Rose.”