The Big Bang

Time traveling was something the Doctor did. He was a Time Lord after all. So, going back in time was something he did quite a lot. He had been doing it for centuries, so needless to say he was very experienced in these matters. But usually, when he did go back in time, he was seeing other people's past, not his own. This time he was.

Because this time he had flown the Pandorica into the heart of the exploding TARDIS. And until he threw himself into the crack in time and got stuck on the other side, he would keep on seeing his own past.

Now if one's past was a happy one, he (or she) wouldn't mind seeing his (or her) past all over again. Indeed there were some happy moments in the Doctor's past, but most of his past was filled with pain. Pain he had felt and pain he had caused other people. It was a past that the Doctor had no desire to see again.

Yet, he was afraid. Afraid to stop. He knew that if he threw himself into that crack, his chances of coming back were slim, so very slim. The only way he could get back was if Amy brought him back with her memories the way she did Rory. But the human mind, he knew, is such a frail thing. It had taken Amy quite some time to even remember Rory.

So as he stared at young Amelia Pond on that night that he hadn't returned, he hesitated. Could he do it? Could he really throw himself into that crack? Could Amy really bring him back?

His lack of faith in his companion surprised him. Amy had never given him any reason not to trust her, apart from the one time she left a message for herself telling her not to let the Doctor do any exploring. But she didn't even remember leaving that message and she had proven herself time and again since then. And if there was one thing that the Doctor had learned, it was that he could always count on his companions...while they lasted.

So with his faith in Amy renewed, he turned towards the crack to bravely threw himself in. But his hesitation cost him. He had hesitated just one second too long. For that one second was just enough to suddenly send him even farther back in time.

The first he thing he felt was cold. He shivered instinctively. Then the Doctor noticed that it was snowing, not heavily, but snowing none the less. Snowflakes had already begun to gather on his head and shoulders. He brushed the snow off his hair.

"Yeah, something like that." He froze. He knew that voice. It was a voice that he thought he never would hear again. A voice he was sure had died away forever. It had once been his own.

He peered around a corner and spotted himself hidden in the shadows...well, himself as he was before he regenerated into his current form. He quickly realized that this was shortly before he regenerated, but it was not himself that caught his attention. It was the young woman that he was talking to.

Rose. He felt a lump rise in his throat. It was his first time seeing her with these eyes and he couldn't tare his gaze away. She was just as beautiful as he remembered and he thought of her often. He had changed in looks and personality since this last encounter with Rose, but one thing remained the same, he still loved her with every breath in his body and with every beat of his two hearts.

"Maybe it's time you went home." The agony on the face of his younger self mirrored his own. Both of them were thinking the same thing: Home is with you,Rose.

"Yeah."

"Anyway," said Rose smiling and both Doctors felt a pang of hearts looking at that smile, "Happy New Year!"

"And you." The Doctor mouthed the words at the same time that his other regeneration uttered them. The Doctor closed his eyes, just listening. He knew what came next. He had replayed this conversation in his head numerous times since it had occurred. "What year is this?"

The Doctor relished the sound of the crunch of the snow under Rose's feet as she turned around. "Blimey! How much have you had?"

"Well..." 2005, January the 1st, thought the Doctor just seconds before the answer came from Rose.

"2005? Tell you what, I bet you're going to have a really great year." The Doctor opened his eyes in time to see Rose's surprised look.

"Yeah?" She smiled. "See ya!" Both Doctors stared at her as she turned and entered the building. They watched as she ran up the stares and out of view.

The Doctor closed his eyes, tears running down his face. He should have thrown himself in that stupid crack sooner! If he had, he would have been spared this painful memory. This made the forth time that he had lost Rose. How could he bare it?

He suddenly realized that he no longer felt cold and that it was no longer snowing. In fact, he felt rather warm. The Doctor opened his eyes and groaned. Why was fate so cruel? He just gone through that last parting from Rose again and now here he was standing on Dålig Ulv Stranden watching as Rose was torn between his younger regeneration and his human version. Why?

All three of them were oblivious to his presence, as were Donna and Jackie who were standing nearby watching the conversation. He was grateful for that, otherwise he would be forced to explain who he was and his sudden appearance; neither of which did he have any wish to do.

"Alright then both of you, tell me this," said Rose as both men stepped towards her; she turned to the real younger regeneration, "when I last stood on this beach on the worst day of my life, what was the last thing you said to me?"

"I said 'Rose Tyler.'"

"Yeah, and how was that sentence supposed to end?" The Doctor wanted to run. It didn't matter where, he just did want to have to go through this all over again, but his feet refused to cooperate. Tell her.

He watched as his younger self said the words that he had regretted so many times since then. "Does it need saying?"

Rose looked at him for a brief moment, disappointment written all over her face. "And you?" she asked turning reluctantly to the human version. "How was that sentence supposed to end?"

The Doctor flinched as the human version leaned down and whisper in Rose's ear. She stared at him for just a second before pulling him in for a kiss. He closed his eyes against this painful memory.

He could hear his other self and Donna walk back to the TARDIS. At the sound of the TARDIS taking off, he opened his eyes. Rose must have heard it too, for she suddenly stopped kissing the human doctor and ran towards the TARDIS, but it was too late. It was gone, taking Donna and her Doctor with it.

The look on Rose's face shocked the Doctor. He had thought that after he left that Rose would be happy with the human version. Maybe...just maybe he was wrong. Then the human doctor slipped his hand into hers. She turned to look at him, and the Doctor wasn't sure what she was thinking as she looked at him.

It was if some spell that had been on Rose was suddenly broken for her eyes widened. "Who are you?" The Doctor knew she had seen him. The human version and Jackie followed her eyes.

He hadn't been expecting to be seen, so he was not prepared to give an answer. "Uh.." that was all he could say.

"Where did you come from?" asked Rose, not unkindly. "It looks as if you came out of thin air."

He hesitated, trying to decide what to say, but the hesitation was enough. He seemly confirmed what Rose had just said.

"Oh, you did, didn't you?"

"Don't be ridiculous." said Jackie. "He couldn't have just appeared here suddenly...could he?"

"Only if he has a vortex manipulator." answered the human doctor. "Which it doesn't look like he does. So, who are you and how did you get here?"

The Doctor cast a brief glance at Rose and opened his mouth to answer, but that glance was enough. For a second Rose had looked him in the eye and she suddenly knew. She gasped in astonishment, stopping the Doctor from saying what he wanted to. Everyone's attention was on her.

"Doctor?" she asked softly. "It is you, isn't?" And she looked at him so hopeful and so sure of the truth that he couldn't lie to her. He just nodded his head. Both Jackie and the human doctor's mouth dropped open in surprise. Rose on the other hand threw her arms around the Doctor.

"You came back." she whispered.

"Well, not exactly." He didn't want to hurt her, but he felt she deserved to know the truth. She pulled away and frowned.

"What do you mean?"

He didn't know how much time he had left. He could be pulled back further into time at any second. "It's hard to explain."

"Yeah," said Jackie, "well explain!" He hated it when Jackie spoke like that to him.

"Well, there was this crack. In time. It was threatening to destroy the universe. It was caused by the TARDIS exploding. The only way to stop it was for me to fly the Pandorica.-"

"The what?" asked Rose.

"It's a myth," said the human doctor. "It isn't real."

"I beg to differ." said the Doctor. "I should know. As I was saying, I had to fly the Pandorica into the heart of the explosion. Unfortunately, there are consequences. I will continue to keep going farther back into my own past and witness event all over again until...until I throw myself into the crack." He pointed into the crack which was fairly close by. Rose shivered when she saw it.

"What will happen if you throw yourself into it?" Rose asked. He looked at her. This was very possibly the last time that he would ever see her and he wanted to be completely honest with her.

"I'll be trapped in the other side."

"What does that mean?" she pressed. The human doctor put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"I'll be trapped in the void." answered the Doctor quietly.

"No!" Rose walked up to him. "I can't let you do this, Doctor."

"I have to, Rose. If I don't all of reality will be destroyed and I cannot allow that I have to stop it."

"Then, I'm coming with you."

"Oh, no you're not!" said the Doctor just as Jackie and the human doctor began to protest. "You've got your life to live, Rose. I've had my time. I've had it over and over again."

"So that's it then, huh?" asked Rose. "Am I just supposed to live the rest of my life knowing that you're trapped in the void...in hell, forever? Is that it? How can you ask me to do that?"

"No," said the Doctor sadly, "that's not it Rose. You won't know."

"What do you mean I won't know?" she demeaned. "You just told me!"

He sighed. This wasn't going to be easy. "Because," he said his voice barely above a whisper, but Rose and the others still heard him, "because once I throw myself

in that crack, I will be erased from time...and memory. It will be as if I never even existed, and you won't remember me."

Rose stared at him, appalled. "No." she whispered, tears now running down her face. "No!" she said louder this time. "You can't!"

"I have to." He said firmly, but gently.

"Then I'm coming with you."

"Rose," he put his hands on her shoulders, "if you come with me, you'll be trapped in the void too forever. You too will be erased from time. Your mother won't remember you. Stay here, Rose, and live your life. You have a mother you needs you and the human doctor."

"But he won't exist either will he?" asked Rose. "Will he? I mean, he came from you! If you never existed, then neither did he. Isn't that right?"

The Doctor didn't answer and she knew she had him there. "But you still got your mother and father, Rose! If you come with me, you'll have nothing!"

"Except you," said Rose, smiling threw her tears at him, "which is all I want." The Doctor opened his mouth to speak, but found that he couldn't.

"Rose." said Jackie. "No! I won't let you."

"I'm going with the Doctor." she said firmly, not taking her eyes off him. The Doctor looked over at the human doctor. He was crying. He put his arm on Jackie's shoulder. "Let her go." he said softly. "This is what she wants."

Jackie nodded and sobbed. The human doctor pulled her into a hug and nodded at Rose and the Doctor. Rose turned to the Doctor. "Well?"

He smiled. "Rose Tyler, how did I ever manage to live without you?"

"Is that a yes?"

He laughed. "It is indeed." He planted a quick kiss on her forehead and then hand in hand the two of them moved into the crack.

Amy smiled and the guests gasped in astonishment as a giant blue box appeared from nowhere. "How could we have forgotten the Doctor?" asked Rory, his memories suddenly returning. The door to the TARDIS swung open and the Doctor, dressed in a nice tux and top hat, stepped out.

"Ah, here we are!" He extended a hand and young woman with blond hair and dressed in a beautiful lavender gown took it and stepped out after him.

"Hello, Amy!" he waved at the bride. "I must say, you do look beautiful! Hello, Rory!" he waved at the groom who smiled and waved back.

He turned to the guest who were gaping at him, the woman beside him, and the giant blue box. "Hello, everyone! I'm the Doctor, Amy's imaginary friend. And this," he gestured to the woman beside him, "is Rose Tyler. A very, very dear and special..um...friend. Rose, this is Amy and Rory."

"Hello, Amy!" Rose smiled at the bride and Amy found herself smiling back. She liked this Rose. She had never heard of her before, but it was quite clear to her that Rose was much more than a 'friend' as the Doctor had said. "Hello, Rory!" Rose greeted the groom. He nodded.

"Good to see you all." said the Doctor. "Especially you too," he said looking at Rory and Amy, "Mr. & Mrs. Pond."

"Um," said Rory. "That's not how it works."

"Yes, it is." said the Doctor giving him a sly smile, which Rory returned.

"Yeah, it is." he agreed.

"Now then," said the Doctor turning to Rose, "let's move the TARDIS, shall we? We're going to need plenty of room. I only came for the dancing."

Amy laughed as the Doctor attempted to dance with Rose. "Oh, that's embarrassing!" she said, but Rose didn't seem to mind. She was too happy to notice. At one point when there was a lull in the dancing, Amy pulled the Doctor away.

"Who is Rose exactly? And how come you never mentioned her before?"

"It was too painful a topic." he answered honestly.

Amy nodded. "I see, but one day you have to tell me everything. Promise?"

"Promise."

"The make a cute couple." said Rose as she and the Doctor left the reception and headed to the TARDIS. "When you first told me about them, I wasn't sure what they'd be like, but I find that I like them. I would like to get to know them better."

"Did you two have fun?" Rose and the Doctor turned to see a form standing in the shadows. It moved to the light. "Hello, Doctor. Hello, Rose."

"Rose," said the Doctor, "this is River Song." Rose nodded. The Doctor had told her all about River and how he kept meeting her in the wrong order. "Wait a minute!" he said suddenly as he realized something. "How do you know Rose?"

"I'm from your future. Remember?"

"Then how come you never said?" he asked, more than a little put out.

"Spoilers, Doctor. Besides, you made me promise not to."

He groaned and both Rose and River laughed. "Well," said River, "I best be going." she smiled at Rose and then left.

The Doctor and Rose opened the TARDIS doors and were about to step into it when the sound of two people calling there names caught their attention. Rory and Amy were hurrying towards them.

"You headed off?" asked Rory. The Doctor nodded.

"Yeah. Well, I guess this goodbye then."

Amy and Rory looked at each other and smiled. "Yeah, it is." They turned towards the church. "Goodbye!" they shouted. Rose laughed. The Doctor smiled.

"Ladies first." Rose and Amy entered the TARDIS with the Doctor and Rory right behind them.

"Did I mention," said Rose, "that I love how the TARDIS looks now? This new TARDIS is just amazing!"

"New?" said Amy. "It used to be different?"

Rose nodded. "Oh, yes. Quite a bit different, actually."

"Anyways," said the Doctor, "where to now?"

"Anywhere!" said his three companions at once. "Anywhen!"

He laughed and began flicking switches. A huge smile lit his face. Rose was back and together with Amy and Rory, there wasn't anything that they couldn't handle. Because they were together.

A/N: I think that's the longest one yet! I have to say thanks to all of you who reviewed! I'm glad you all enjoyed it. Oh, I'm going to have some polls up on my profile very soon so please, check those out.