Dedicated to all those who have lost a family member, blood or not- I am here and I love you <3

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"Look, of course, I'm excited! He was my dad! And you couldn't understand that 'cos you're just adopted and he's not your real father."

- Rose Tyler

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

London, England
7 November, 1987

THEY WERE JUST IN THE CONSOLE ROOM, DEBATING ON WHERE TO VISIT NEXT, WHEN ROSE BROUGHT UP an idea that took Lily a second to comprehend. She asked after recounting the story to the Doctor that Lily knew like the back of her hand since she was there that day. The day their dad died. "So I was thinking, could we go and see my dad?" Rose fiddled with the leather of the chair as she spoke. "I want to be that person for him." Lily frowned. "So that he doesn't die alone."

Lily asked, carefully choosing her words. "Are you sure about this, Ro?

"I want to see him." She confirmed and then realized who she was talking to. "But if you're not okay with it-"

"No," She lied, choosing Rose's happiness over her own. "I'll be fine." She looked at the Doctor who was just now finishing up the bag of candy Lily bought him that he forgot was in his pocket. "That is if it doesn't break any laws I don't remember?"

He looked between both the sisters. "When's the date."

Lily voiced. "The seventh of November, nineteen eighty-seven." She gave him a small smile. "I was five."

He stood from the chair and moved to the control panel. "Your wish is my command."

✧

They exited the TARDIS which had parked itself between a telephone junction box and a road sign on a street corner beside a row of houses. Rose looked around and took in all her surroundings while Lily closed the TARDIS doors. "It's so weird." Lily joined her side. "I thought it'd be all sort of grim and stormy. It's just an ordinary day."

"Yeah, I remember it being pretty outside," Lily said, casually putting her hands in her pockets so they wouldn't see them shaking. When she looked at Rose she saw the Doctor was staring at her which only made her more nervous. "Are you positive about this?

Rose swallowed. "Yeah,"

"Alright then," Lily took her sister's hand and led them a few feet away to the road the church was on. "Jordan Road," Lily announced when they stopped, Lily in the middle. "He was late because he had to get a wedding present- a vase." Lily chuckled fondly. "Mum always said that stupid vase." She nodded to the church. "I was inside with Mum at the time."

A few seconds had passed when a green car approached them from around the corner. She felt like a ghost when she saw him behind the wheel. "He was a ginger?" The Doctor noted.

Lily nodded. "Yeah, people swore I was blood-related 'cos of that."

It was Rose's turn to start narrating Pete Tyler's moves. "He got out of his car." Pete did so and leaned back through the driver's side for the vase. "I thought he'd be taller." With the vase in hand, he shut his car door and Rose inhaled a gasp of breath. "And crossed the road," Lily laced their fingers together. "Oh god, this is it." A beige car came 'round the corner at full speed. Rose hid her face in Lily's shoulder and the latter shut her own eyes, flinching at the sound of her dad hitting the pavement and the vase shattering.

She opened them and saw the only memories she had of her dad that were seared in her mind. The Doctor was saying something to Rose but Lily couldn't focus on any of his words. Like being on autopilot, Lily followed the Doctor and Rose, who was still holding her hand, behind a nearby brick wall.

She let out a shaky breath when she heard the ambulance approach. "It's too late now," She said, her voice cracking with every syllable. "By the time the ambulance got there he was dead." Lily croaked and closed her eyes again when she felt her other hand being taken by a larger one, knowing without looking that it was the Doctor.

"But he can't die on his own." Lily had the strength to look at Rose as she spoke-  tears were running down her cheeks. "Can I try again?"

✧

They parked the TARDIS in another spot and strode to the corner, a bit behind their former selves. "Right, that's the three of us," he spoke towards Rose. "It's a very bad idea, two sets of us being here at the same time. Just be careful they don't see us. Wait till she runs off and they follow, then go to your dad."

"Oh, God, this is it." The first Rose whispered.

"I can't do this." The current Rose said.

"You don't have to do anything you don't want to, but this is the last time we can be here." The Doctor told her.

Lily watched Rose see the other car swing around the corner, and before she could blink Rose let go of her hand and started racing down the road towards their father. "Rose, no!" Lily shouted and hurried after her, but by the time she got midway she was too late. Their past selves vanished- Rose had pushed Pete out of the way of the car, saving his life, and sending the vase rolling away.

Lily stood where she stopped and watched Rose and their dad stand up from the ground. She was too far away to hear the entirety of their conversation but caught her introducing herself as well as Lily by name. She could see Pete's face twist with confusion as he answered her.

He then gestured down the way to the area behind Lily. She twisted her waist to look where Pete was and saw the Doctor. And the face he was giving Rose wasn't good.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

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- Kayleigh