The Doctor sat while Rose changed, and showered, and he used the TARDIS to stop those psychic depressors from working. He didn't want to destroy their society, but he also couldn't have them grabbing someone else to sacrifice to their gods.

He was now in the library, waiting, but he couldn't claim it was patiently. He wanted-needed to talk to Rose, but equally important at this moment was to see her, and touch her. He needed the reminder that she was alive, even if he knew it was true.

When she finally made her appearance in the library, her wet hair hung down to her shoulders. Her face was free of makeup and she looked so young, and so beautiful like that. It made him wish that she would never try to cover up herself, she needed no improvement.

"Doctor?"

She moved closer to him, and he could smell her shampoo. He had to take a couple of deep breaths to control his body, and he smiled at her.

"Rose," he stood, scooting over on the couch so she could sit where he had just been.

She took the offered space, and he tried to get the words to come. Any words really, because she was staring at him. If he didn't start talking she would, and he didn't want to miss this chance.

"Rose," he repeated, hating that he didn't seem to be able to get farther than her name. Although it had become one of his favorite words in the universe, and he knew a lot of words, so that said something.

"Doctor," she repeated, with a soft smile.

Did she know when she tilted her head down like that, and looked up he almost kissed her? Every time.

"Rose, I-" Why did this have to be so hard, just to tell her that he loved her, that she was the reason he fought on.

"Are you mad at me?" she blurted out, looking nervous.

What did she think that for? Did she think that was what he was struggling to say?

"No," he reached out to touch her cheek gently. She leaned into his touch, and it gave him courage. "No, Rose. In fact, I'm probably the farthest thing from mad."

She waited, watching him expectantly. There was that damn head tilt again, brown eyes pulling him into their orbit and for the first time he let his mind just fade. He pulled her to him; gently tilting her head up to let her lips find their place on his.

He was afraid that she might resist, but she didn't. She reached around, pulling him closer, and he let her. This might be the stupidest thing he had ever done, but he found that he didn't care. He was tired of being careful, of keeping a watch on all the things that would break his hearst in the end.

As she slipped her tongue in to discover his mouth, he knew that it was time. Time to love her without caution; time to see what could be if he would just let it be.

It was time for the last Lord of Time to realize that just because you know the end, doesn't mean it has to spoil the journey.

They were going to lose each other, but what about every day in between. Whether that was one or thousands, he couldn't say.

Was it going to be better in that moment if he didn't let this happen? No, he didn't think so.

He pulled back, "I love you, Rose Tyler."

She smiled up at him, "I love you too, Doctor."

Yes, he decided, he could be stupid, if it meant that he got to be happy. And he was so happy.

He pulled her to standing, and led her out of the library gently. No more wasted time, he was taking the mask down, and with her help he was going to break as many as he could.

A little human, one tiny little life. One single heart, and one little mind, but she had captured him. She had taken a man who was nothing but broken, and offered him the chance to be whole again.

All he had to give her was all of him in return.

They found a bedroom, neither his nor hers, on purpose. Theirs.

He didn't miss that it was still decorated in a way Rose would like, but he wasn't surprised, and he wasn't bothered. She was light to him, and he had always loved her room because it reflected that.

Now their room did to.

He gave her every chance to stop this, but never once did she try. And hours later, with her head laying over his double heartbeat he felt like a person again.

She had come into his life, and taken the chaos and gave it purpose.

He kissed her sleeping head, and closed his eyes, thinking off a million things he wanted to show her. A million things he wanted to tell her, and none of those things would he hold back now.

She gave him a home; he would give her the universe back.