He needs you, his other self had told her, words and sand stinging her eyes. If the Doctor had enough air in his lungs, he would shout now at the understatement of those words. He would scream loud enough for a fool to hear him in another universe[…]
When he had two hearts, he could not - no, would not - allow himself to want. Tried as often as possible, in fact, to tamp down that part of him that wants – that needs. The need to take what he loves and burn it down, until there is nothing but ash.
Rose is his phoenix.
How many times has he destroyed them both? At this point, the Doctor has lost count.
Still she rises.
One heart now and this half-human body needs so much.
Rose makes him want. (X)