He knew she'd changed. He'd been able to see it since he'd arrived in Lawrence. She'd seen more, done more. She'd been to hell and back. But, he knew that. He could see it in her eyes. He'd seen when she'd struggled. Seen when she felt like she was falling apart.
But, she was still Rose. Underneath it all, he saw the girl who'd taken his hand and ran with him throughout time and space, even if she didn't. They had just kept on running, hand in hand ever since. But, he'd seen a lot too. He understood how she felt. He'd felt it after the Time War. After, he thought he'd destroyed them all.
It had been Rose who had put him back together again. And, how could he say he loved her, if he wasn't willing to stand by her through all of that?
"You say that as if I haven't seen you for the last seven months." He said, as he stroked the blonde hair back from her face. "I see more than you seem to think I do, Rose." And then, his mouth met hers, gently.