I think I have a problem...

Fantastic. I have to get a new word, been using that one for far too long but... fantastic.

I was in that body far too long. Fought the Time War in it. Met Rose in it. I think I knew it was nearing its use-by date, and I definitely had a love-hate relationship with it. It was nice to have a body I could use to wander through the shadows... but there was also so much pain. My people, blotted out of history, by the Daleks. Being alone... being the only one.

I can still hardly believe the Daleks are gone. Maybe they aren't entirely, maybe there are still a few remnants left across the galaxy. But we can destroy them. I'd rather not try the same thing again (wasn't my idea in the first place... Trust Rose to think of that...). Now I'm in double-figures, perhaps I ought to take more care. Hah. Who am I kidding?

It's the kind of thing that usually only happens to you once, if you're not a Time Lord. For me, it's probably been about fifty times, but who's counting? It's what I live for... Standing there, knowing everything is doomed, it's finally over, and then... an angel appears.

In human mythical texts, angels aren't all wings and singing, you know. They're supposed to be these huge apparitions of light... You can hardly bear to look at them, and yet you must, and yet you can't... And you're terrified and amazed and...

And Rose, I never thought I'd see her as an angel. She was... well, fantastic.

I've met a lot of girls over the years. They make me feel quite paternal. I am... was... a grandfather, you know. We have some good clean fun, we dice with death, we save the world, then eventually she decides it's enough and I let her go, all grown up. Of course, there was that little incident in my eighth generation... I think, partly because I had just regenerated, and you tend to feel a bit confused, a bit lonely and at the same time, you feel really young again, and at 900 years that's something to be treasured. And even in my crusty and jaded ninth body, Rose made me feel young - I think because of how she argues, if I'm honest. Never feel like I'm in charge. Take tonight. I'd just saved her life, as Mummy would have wanted, and I was feeling slightly proud despite everything, because at least Rose was safe... and then she comes back, having torn open my precious ship and seen all the stuff you're not supposed to...

And saved me.

And killed me.

And she's gazing at me now with curiosity, of not-quite-recognition, wondering if I'm the same man... And I do feel a bit different. Just after a regeneration. I feel a bit confused. And my stomach's turning in a way it doesn't normally after regeneration, and my hearts are pounding, and I look at her as she tries to work me out... And I feel very very young right now. And I think I have a problem.

I think I'm in love.

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