The other version of himself had thought his mortality was a feature, not a bug, although years and years by Rose's side had made it clear to Thete that she would not have resented any version of him for continuing on after. For a long time, he hadn't agreed with The Other Doctor, had thought him once again a selfish coward leaving what he saw as a shadow to deal with the terror of newfound mortality in an infinite and unfamiliar world.


After more than half a century of time split between Earth and the rest of the universe, though, grey-haired, in a black pinstripe suit, standing between an open blue casket and their own TARDIS behind them, once again standing in a universe where Rose would only ever be in his past, he changed his mind--he was feeling more than a little selfish himself, hogging all the time for the eulogies.