Chapter Text
The Doctors and Rose arrived outside Twickenham Film Studios just in time for taping. “Hello boys!” Rose called out to the Beatles, waving furiously. “Rose!” Paul shouted back. “And The Doctors!” John exclaimed. “That’s a good name for a band.” Ringo mused. “What happened to those creatures?” George asked. “We took care of them.” The Doctors answered in unison. “Can we watch the taping?” Rose interjected excitedly, batting her eyes. “Of course!” This time the lads answered in unison.
“Naaa naaa naaa na-na-na-na na-na-na-na Hey Jude!” 10 had his arm around Rose as they swayed back and forth singing along. She looked up at him and smiled lovingly. Suddenly, someone grabbed her hand and spun her around. “I’m cutting in, pretty boy.” 9 said, clapping 10 on the shoulder. “Do you really like him?” He asked, visibly offended. “For god’s sake, he’s YOU!” Rose declared. 9 squirmed. “You know what I think?” she paused, “I think you need a Rose.” She plucked a rose out of a nearby hippie’s headband, opened his jacket, and tucked it into the inner pocket. Then she grabbed the leather lapels and properly snogged him, channeling her inner Cassandra. 10, 11, and 12 whipped around as the kiss flooded their memories. She whispered in his ear “you’ll understand that a bit more later.” She directed her attention to all of them, “When will you lot get it? I love The Doctor past, present, and future.” 11 and 12 looked at each other and excused themselves for a moment. Rose stood in between 9 and 10 and listened to the rest of the song while holding both of their hands.
The song ended, and the Doctors began saying their goodbyes to The Beatles. Rose looked at them sadly, knowing what would happen in just the blink of an eye. After all, it was 1968. She said goodbye and turned to leave, but she looked back. “Let it be,” She directed at John and Paul. She hurried to catch up with the Doctors as they walked toward their Tardies. “Ding, ding, ding! An alien life form has been detected,” said a computerized voice. “That’s odd,” muttered 12. He pulled out his tracking device just as a woman with long black hair wearing an enormous white hat walked past him. He looked at his device, then at her, and finally at his former selves. All their eyes grew wide. “Yikes,” he muttered, “an adventure for another day perhaps.”
Rose said her goodbyes to 11 and 12 first. “It was nice to meet you anyway, even though I’m long gone by the time you’re you,” Rose deduced. “We have a present for you.” 11 piped up. It was a piece of psychic paper. Rose looked at them, befuddled. “It will say what it needs to say when it needs to say it.” 12 explained. Rose just nodded and hugged them both. There were some things about the Doctor that never changed.
She took a very long last look at 9 before she spoke. “I thought I’d never see that face again,” she sighed as she touched his cheek, “Where are you off to now?” “To pick you up of course. I dropped you off for your mum’s birthday party, remember?” Rose nodded and smiled. Even after traveling with The Doctor for so long now, there were always new surprises. She hugged him tight and breathed him in. With one last peck on the cheek, he was off.
Rose and The Doctor started for his Tardis. “You sod! You told me you couldn’t change back,” she nudged him teasingly. He put his arm around her and said with a wink, “Where to Rose Tyler? Past, present or future?”
Epilogue Do You Want to Know a Secret:
Rose Tyler laid in her bed surrounded by snapshots of a very long life. A slim (and a little bit foxy) man stood by her side in almost all of them. Their life together had clearly been full of adventure, happiness, and love. A young man held her hand. He looked almost exactly like the man in the pictures. “Gran, that piece of paper you always carry with you. It’s glowing.” He handed it to her. Her eyes fluttered and focused. “P.S. I love you.” She smiled and took her last breath.