Not Time’s Fool

[preserved_ginger]

Title: Not Time’s Fool
Rating: PG
Character(s): The Doctor, Rose, The Wolf
Pairing: Doctor/Rose
Beta: glory_jean
Spoilers: Mild ones for Journey’s End
Notes: Deals with the central idea of jesidres’ fic One Last Time, so potentially spoilery if you have not read that fic. The title is from Sonnet 116, by William Shakespeare, and all italicised dialogue is from the Season One episode The Parting of the Ways.
Summary: How, and when, and why.

“I can see everything.”

That is why, of course, the tears are falling down her face, unchecked. She’ll never tell him - she’s always been one to take the opportunity to protect him, given the chance, and this is no exception - but she can see their future laid out in front of her.

There they are, on a wild windswept Norwegian beach. He looks nothing like the Doctor she knows, but he’s still exactly the same man. She can hear a conversation where the subtext is more important than what’s said (nothing new there), watches a holographic projection peter out at precisely the wrong moment.

“I want you safe.”

She then sees herself with him again, later, on that cold Norwegian beach, and she sees how he has to leave her a second time. She sees how it’s breaking him.

“My Doctor.”

She knows it has to happen, to avoid greater tragedy further on (she is not oblivious, either, to how this new Doctor is even less keen on good-byes), but she is Time itself and can change things on a whim.

A thought is all it takes her, and there he is – another Doctor. And not just any Doctor, but a throwback to the appearance and mannerisms of the one who has to leave her, to make the parting as painless as possible.

Even she, powerful as she is, cannot resurrect Gallifrey or remake the Matrix without creating something far worse and, without them, this is the kindest thing she can do for the Doctor. Give him a chance to undo at least one of his mistakes.

And still the tears fall.

“All that is ... all that was ... all that ever could be.”

Comments

[wiggiemomsi.livejournal.com]

GREAT prequel!

I always thought Bad Wolf had to have known about JE, & would do something about it. Good, good tie-in with jesidre's 'One Last Time.'

*Hugs*

[bananasandroses.livejournal.com]

GREAT prequel!

Thank you!

I always thought Bad Wolf had to have known about JE, & would do something about it.

I reckon so. Rose as BadWolf!Rose wanted to protect the Doctor, and this would be a good way to do it.

(It also means that I can take Ten II as being Fourteen, because there is nothing in canon that says he isn’t, and so maybe start to accept the ending to Doctor/Rose they gave us.)

[qtrhorserider.livejournal.com]

My daughter and her hubby are both Doctor Fans. They had Sonnet 116 read at their wedding. I thought it was perfect and always wanted to base a fic around it. I'm looking forward to more.

[bananasandroses.livejournal.com]

At the moment this one pretty much stands alone, but it gives me an opening to write Fourteen/Rose in the parallel world should I ever want to.

(Because Fourteen/Rose is canon, or at least it is for me.)

[jesidres.livejournal.com]

Oh wooooooooooow.

Wooooooooooow.

[sherbertglasses.livejournal.com]

I hope RTD and Moffat(*twitch*) read 'One Last Time' and make it canon when Thirteen dies.

[bananasandroses.livejournal.com]

I hope RTD and Moffat(*twitch*) read 'One Last Time' and make it canon when Thirteen dies.

I’d like to think so, but after That Episode I don’t trust either of them as far as I can throw ’em.

[bananasandroses.livejournal.com]

Oh wooooooooooow.

You like it, then?

**is very, very nervous**

[jesidres.livejournal.com]

Liked it?

Liked it?

I LOVED IT.

*puts into her memories*

[bananasandroses.livejournal.com]

**Squees**

(I was so nervous you wouldn’t like this.)

[sherbertglasses.livejournal.com]

I've been thinking this ever since I read One Last Time! The Bad Wolf probably planned it all.

[bananasandroses.livejournal.com]

I've been thinking this ever since I read One Last Time! The Bad Wolf probably planned it all.

Ten II as Fourteen is the only way I’ve found to even halfway stomach that ending. It’s canon as far as I’m concerned, but even so I’m still hurting buckets for Ten.

*cries*

[tempusdominus10.livejournal.com]

WAAH! TENNNNNY POOOO

[bananasandroses.livejournal.com]

Yup, that wasn’t too far from my own reaction.

[helygen.livejournal.com]

Oh hun, this is gorgeous and it's a beautiful prequel to 'One Last Time'



*cries*

[bananasandroses.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

**hugs**

[veritas-found.livejournal.com]

You're killing my inner BW!Fangirl here. =C (In a good sense, though, as I love this to itty bitty bits.)

Absolutely gorgeous, and good Lord. For all the mindfuckery Rusty and Moffat put us through, at least they leave such wide avenues for the ficcers to enjoy playing in. Beautiful fix here. <3

[bananasandroses.livejournal.com]

You're killing my inner BW!Fangirl here. =C (In a good sense, though, as I love this to itty bitty bits.)

Hee!

Figured that the Wolf had to have seen Journey’s End and have done something about it to keep the Doctor with her.

(And a Fourteenth!Doctor is about the only way I can accept the ending that episode gave us ...)

[shinyopals.livejournal.com]

OOOH. I did not see this when it was first posted. I think it must have been during my exam week or something like that! (Based on the dates.)

Anyway, lovely prequel. Writing Rose PoV during those few minutes is not easy, but I think you've nailed it!