"The ionization of an ultracompact HII region inside a cocoon of dust in the outer spiral of a galaxy." He can feel the pulsing, the birth pains of something new coming forth from what appears to be nothing. It's like a dance, haunting in it's beauty.

"The birth of a cluster of stars," he explains, more simply.

From the corner of his eye he can see the look of awe one her face. She's bathed in the glow of the new stars, reminding him of Christmas trees on Earth but a million times brighter. He rests his hand in hers as they watch the swirl of gases.

"You joked earlier that you were tired of being human. But you are; wonderfully brilliantly human, with all that goes with it. And I wouldn't have it any other way." He speaks slowly, choosing his words with care.

"I'm not. Not human, not even close." Sometimes he thinks he's becoming less human the more time he spends on Earth, amoung the humans. "I said goodbye in Aberdeen and I left. I missed you, but I have to keep moving forward. There are things I have to do and things I can't do and a million things I can't explain even if I wanted to. But maybe I can show you, a little. And that's why I brought you here."

He turns a little, facing her instead of the stars. "New stars, new sights, new beginnings. I'm not who I was when we traveled together. He's in me, but he's only a part of the whole now, just as the dandy in velvet is a part of me and a part of him. You need to know that, all of that , to make a proper decision."

He doesn't ask the question, not yet. After all, if he doesn't ask she can't say no.

He looks at her. For long moments he does nothing but look. He could delve into her mind if he wanted, read her thoughts and sense her emotions. He doesn't. He will only take what she gives to him freely.

The most dreadful day. He is glad that the regeneration, as painful as it was, was a quieter one; glad she didn't have to see his fall or San Francisco or worse. Still, he is glad she understands at least that much. She knows change, even if she hasn't grasped how much has changed, both for him and the universe.

With his free hand he reaches up ad touches the back of his fingers to her cheek. "I'm delighted to be stuck with you, Sarah. Absolutely delighted."

"Sawyer won't mind at all. He's easily won over, by the right kind of person." He smiles to himself. Three days, he bets himself, and he'll find that Sawyer has taken up residence at the end of Sarah's bed. He's more fond of beds and cuddes than a wild animal should be.

"Now we are three," he whispers softly. He looks to the star cluster, the exceleration of being in the vortex meaning tht the nebula is already expanding, each star an individual self now, yet still a part of the whole.

The Doctor moves his hand from her cheek to her shoulder and pulls her into an embrace. "Welcome home, Sarah."

The Doctor doesn't believe in miracles. Everything has an explanation, based in science and fact. But this moment - he thought all his days with Sarah were over yet here he was holding her, already plotting out where to take her on the first of many new adventures. It felt almost like a miracle.

"I think this place has missed you too." She's always had favourites, his TARDIS, along with people she barely tolerated. Fortunataly Sarah was in the former category.

"I'd offer you a jelly baby but I'm all out."

"What?" The Doctor thought of that waxed bag always close at hand in his pocket and the millions of times he had taken it out and offered a treat. Sometimes it had been a distraction, sometimes a way to start conversation. More often then not, though, it had been his way of apologizing. Back then he'd found it so much harder to say the words.

He felt a bit like the thought a small Earth child might when they were told that Santa was not real.

"So I should cancel the plan I had to take you to the Jelly Baby centenial bash in 2025?" he asked with a teasing smile.

"You probably don't want to know that the costumed people held the ropes to giant Jelly Baby balloons then." He laughs at the horrified expression on her face.

"I've always wondered about some of those dancers, though. Giant Jelly babies do look suspiciously like full grown Glarens." He's never bothered to check, because Glarens are a peaceful race and if it was them then they were simply on holiday and taking advantage of the celebration to blend in.

"We'll think of somewhere else," he says, already thinking of possibilities.

"Is that a challenge?" The Doctor raised a single eyebrow. He glanced out the door at the star cluster spreading farther apart, the natural progression viewed at an abnormally fast speed thanks to their position on the edge of the time vortex. It was indeed a magnificent sight, but it wasn't the only thing to see. He could think of a million other things to show Sarah. "It sounded like a challenge to me."

"A challenge," he muses for just a moment. A grin spreads across his face and he slams the door closed, blocking the view of the stars. He races for the console - almost tripping over Sawyer in the process. The wolf would insist on leaping around in front of him like a puppy.

"Should have stuck with robotic dogs," he mutters. Because K9 never gave him any problems. When Sawyer settles he absently scratches his ears.

"History or future?" he asks Sarah.

The Doctor considers closing his eyes and letting fate take a hand, but then he has a better idea. With careful precision he sets the cordinates.

"1621," he says as he looks down at both their hands on Sawyer's head. "You might want to make a visit to the wardrobe."

"No fancy dress, I promise. After all, we won't be visiting any royalty this trip." Not that they can't if they want too - since his regeneration the King won't recognize him, and besides it has been some time since that little incident with Sir Walter.

"Something that will be more suited to being amoung the general population," he says just before she leaves the console room. He looks down at his own simple attire. "You and I, Sawyer, shall go just as we are."

He checks the monitor once to make sure they've arrived in the right time. Cobblestone roads are full of house drawn carts and on the corner a house is being made out of brick. A new fad, brick houses, at this time.

When Sarah reenters the console room he looks at her just long enough to note that the blue dress she's wearing seems to suit this time period and hat, though silly looking, is probably the latest fashion. Her shoes, at least, are practical. "If you're ready London awaits."

He holds out a hand to her. Sawyer is already waiting at the door.