#is amy trying to kill her while river is begging for someone to help. i think that stays with her forever. how could it not.

[quietwingsinthesky]

i think river and amy try to do some sort of mother-daughter bonding exercise or trip or something exactly one time, and it goes horribly. it's the most uncomfortable thing they've both ever done, and that's saying a lot. they never try to do it again.

[musicfeedsmysoul12]

Plague Rat Chapter 2

REMINDER- If People WANT to be tagged they need to MESSAGE me. I have a hard time going through notes to find people. 

@kibastray, @virgil-is-a-cutie @anastasian-dreamer  @thesunanditsangel, @magicalfirebird @thefoxandthewofs, @storyecho

Hospitals were sadly a breeding ground for Akuma. People angry at their diagnostics, people angry about waiting so long, doctors furious hat people were being idiots. 

Often Ladybug and Chat would let some Akumas rampage a bit if they felt it was needed. One memorable one was a woman who’d lost her baby and who had needed to rip into the river who had hit their car while on the phone. She had forced everyone to see what had happened to her and her baby when they were hit.

 Car accidents had dropped quickly after that. 

 Due to that often the news would stake out hospitals, and they had custom alarms to alert them to the fact there was trouble. The hospital would send a photo to the news quickly to warn the public.

 So no one was to shocked to see a new Akuma, even if she was a bit odd-looking.

  Adrien knew it was Marinette as soon as he saw it. Hawkmoth had seen her as Multimouse it seemed and was happily using it to taunt them. He felt a spark of guilt in his stomach at seeing her. Everyone knew what had happened- that Alya had exposed her to her sick sisters because of Lila. The entire class was eyeing Lila now, even as she claimed new things, that she hadn’t meant for this to happen.

 Adrien felt a little sick.

 He did believe in the high road, but he had tried to make sure Marinette was okay. He fought for her, told Lila off and managed to prove to Nino and a few of the others that Lila was lying about Marinette. 

 But it was never enough. And it wasn’t like Lila really meant harm right? She wasn’t that far gone. Maybe she had simply thought Marinette was exaggerating the issues she had with her immune system. Maybe…

 Adrien didn’t want to think he could have messed up so badly- that Lila wasn’t a good person or that he was wrong and some people were just bad. He wanted to believe in the good in everyone and maybe that was naive but he did. 

 Still, maybe you know… taking the long route to go save Lila might be a good idea. You know to see if any civilians were hit.

 Not to let Marinette’s get a few hits in of course not!

-0-

 Alya had been the first hit. Plague Rat had used her IV stand like a weapon and had shot her with a dark energy that swarmed her.  She had started coughing, black marks covering her arms. The akuma… Marinette had told her if she told the truth it would be her cure before she’d left, mentioning she wasn’t her target.

 Alya had hesitated before confessing but the coughing was slowly getting worse and so she just started talking. Confessing she had dumped the twins on Marinette and never paid. Confessed she had been sneaking out at night. Confessed she had been jealous of Marinette. Confessed she felt like a bad friend to Marinette and she had been desperate for her to be lying so she could prove to herself she wasn’t. 

 She had even confessed she had been lying to herself and that she had always known that Lila’s stories were far fetched but at the time they made sense until she really started to look and then she started lying to herself because she was scared. Scared about what it meant about her that she went for them, treated her friend badly. What it meant for her blog.

 When she was done her cough and black marks were gone and she felt better. Her parents looked stunned while Marinette’s had left when she started talking. Didn’t want to hear it.

 She didn’t blame them.

-0-

 Tikki flew around the hospital, looking for someone to help. She needed to find someone who would give the earrings back, who would be willing to fight.

 She found her answer in a nurse.

 “Ack!” the nurse jerked back, eyes wide upon seeing her. “What… wait, you’re a Kwami!”

 “... Were you there when Queen Bee revealed herself?” asked Tikki.

 “Yeah, I was… shit, was Ladybug hit? Is she… no.” the nurse shook her head. “I don’t need to know.”

 “Thank you. I need your help, please! We need a ladybug!” Tikki begged. The nurse blinked, before she opened the door she was near to show a doctor standing there, eyes wide. 

 “Uhhh, Dr. Sole-”

 “Go.” the doctor said. The nurse nodded.

 “I’m Amy by the way,” she told Tikki, taking the earrings and removing her studs to put the earrings in.

 “Tikki. Now, normally an adult can use the Miraculous multiple times before needing to untransform, but the Ladybug is different in it uses a lot more magical energy and you need to be in tune with it. You’re a healer, you’re in tun enough you can use me for about six minutes after using Lucky Charm.”

 “...How young are the current Ladybug and Chat?” asked Amy and Tikki had to answer, wincing.

 “Ladybug is fourteen. She has great magical potential and resonates incredibly strongly with me. In the future…”

 “I get it.” Amy sighed. “Long term gains. Still- I’ll give you my address later. They can swing by if needed to chat or for first aid.” She nodded and asked for the transformation phrase. Tikki grinned.

 She liked this girl. Maybe she would work with a Miraculous herself.

-0-

 Plague Rat, most of Paris decided, was more of an annoyance then a threat. She didn’t have destructive powers, she just made you sick until you confessed your lies. Which some of the police were finding helpful as criminals were being forced to confess things and did cause a few people to get slapped when they confessed they were cheating on their partners. 

 Someone for fun began live streaming and following the Akuma. No one thought it was that bad, and a new station quickly managed to pay to have the stream be put on their show.

 No one thought it was bad.

 Until the Mayor got hit and he collapsed, covered in dark spots and vomiting blood.

 “Confess or die.” Plague Rat told him. “Your lies are numerous and you will die if you do not confess.” The mayor screamed she couldn’t do this to him but as his breath became shakier and his body, in front of everyone, began breaking down, began to confess. Every bribe, lie and extortion he had done. Every single thing he had done to become mayor. The fact he had paid off the judge not to put Chloe in jail for her actions as Miracle Queen. The fact he took bribes from Hawkmoth not to have the police go after him. The fact he was cheating on his wife with a dozen women. 

 It kept going, and slowly the plague began slinking off him. Plague Rat simply watched as did everyone else. The Livestream kept going and all of Paris realized that while she wasn’t causing destruction, Plague Rat really was a dangerous Akuma.

 Every person like the mayor felt terrified. None more so than a teenage girl who had been cornered by the first victim of Plague Rat, and through her discovered that like a true plague, the Akuma’s disease was contagious even after being cured.

 Lila vomited blood in front of her mother, who had been with her, in front of her classmates who had also come to confront her, in front of Alya’s camera.

 “So you are nothing more than a fucking liar,” Alya said, voice shaky as she stood there. She had begged her parents to let her confront Lila, begged them to let her Livestream this. She had just wanted the girl to be exposed. She didn’t want this. “Tell the truth, Lila, tell it!”

 “I’m not-” Lila coughed and more blood came out.

 “We all saw it on TV Lila, you keep lying and don’t confess…” Alya closed her eyes and then opened them. “I wouldn’t have come if I knew I would infect you. But I doubt that Marinette wouldn’t have come herself.”

 “You’re right.” a voice said, and the Akuma was behind them. “I would have.” They all turned to stare at her but the Akuma was looking at Lila. “Confess or die.”

 “You wouldn’t kill me,” Lila said, but she screamed as she collapsed and one of her legs looked like it was rotted away. 

 “Why?” The Akuma tilted her head and waited. Lila looked so lost and scared as she lay there. “You’re nothing but a liar. What power do you have over me?”

 “I worked with Hawkmoth!” Lila snapped, and a tiny amount of black marks vanished from her. “He wouldn’t-”

 “You’re nothing to him. You have no protection from him. You’re nothing.” Plague Rat told her and Lila looked so lost while everyone else was in shock. “Confess.”

 Lila didn’t but she ended up vomiting again, this time teeth coming with it. It was enough.

 “I lied about knowing Ladybug, Jagged Stone, Clara Nightingale. I lied to my mother about school being closed and told everyone I was in Achu. I don’t know Prince Ali.” Lila began and it kept going. She talked and talked, telling every truth she’d lied about. About getting Marinette expelled, about lying about Marinette bullying her. She told how she had lied to Gabriel Agreste about the class and how she had been manipulating Adrien to try and force him to date her. Including her attempt to claim he had slept with her but refused to date her. Gabriel hadn’t believed it and it had caused issues with her business partnership she was trying to correct. 

 “... you know I never thought lies hurt people.” Remarked a voice and they looked to see Chat Noir standing there. “Her lies were so stupid I thought they weren’t worth exposing. But…” 

 No one knew he was kicking himself, thinking of the fact it took him hearing he was her next target to make him realize she was dangerous.

 “I can’t…” Mrs. Rossi looked ill while Lila scowled at them all, almost fully cured.

 “I want to know- did you know I could die when you told Alya I had to be lying? Did you purposely try to kill me?” Lila looked at the Akuma, her face screwed up. A long moment passed.

 “I don’t give a single damn if you live or die. I wanted you in the hospital. If you died… I would have been happy.” Lila spat out and Alya dropped her phone, while everyone stepped away from Lila in horror.

 Plague Rat nodded.

 “That’s all I wanted to know.” She turned and looked as an adult in red and black landed. The woman looked like she had black armour on, with the red dots on her chest forming a red cross. “Who are you?”

 “Ladybug was one of your first victims at the hospital. She couldn’t confess as her lies were about being Ladybug, so her kwami looked for someone to help. I’m a nurse there. Call me… Nurse Bug.”

 “...Ok.\, that’s bad.” Chat said. “Healer Bug!”

 “That’s bad too.” Nurse Bug told him while Plague Rat tilted her head and a butterfly appeared around her face. She was silent for a second before she began speaking, but this voice was different.

 “I did not know the extent of Miss Rossi’s actions. I would never condone them.” Hawkmoth’s voice came from Plague Rat. “However, I still demand your Miraculous!” Nurse Bug and Chat Noir got ready to fight. 

 “Any combat training?” Chat asked quietly.

 “Some judo training.” Nurse Bug said before they launched themselves at Plague Rat who used her IV stand to bat them away. Nurse But however dodged under it and grabbed it from her, twisting around and bringing it down to smash on the ground, releasing a butterfly she quickly used the yoyo to grab.

 “...What the fuck?” Chat asked.

 “Do you know how many patients try to hit us with that. That’s normal.” Nurse Bug said, purifying the Akuma. 

 The people watching though were more focused on Lila who still wasn’t fully cured of the plague caused by the Akuma. Meaning she had many, many more lies to say.

When Marinette stood there, shaking in her flimsy robe, Alya said in a very dark voice to Lila.

 “I will gladly give this video to the police. Mrs. Rossi, are you willing to let Lila be charged?” Lila opened her mouth but her mother beat her to it.

 “Yes.”

 Lila’s face went pale.

[saiilorstars]

Falling in Temptation

Previous chapters • Sequel to Stars Dance •  Fairy Tale Memoirs (Companion story)

Ch. 27: Out of Time

Fandom: Doctor Who // Pairing: 11th Doctor x OFC

Chapter summary: Avalon does what she can to conduct her search for the Doctor before he reaches Lake Silencio. In it, she recruits an old friend of hers and the Doctor's. Even River Song comes into play, although she has other intentions when it comes to handling her daughter. One thing's for sure, they're all on a clock and the clock is about to strike.

Taglist: @ocfairygodmother​ @anotherunreadblog​ @maaaaarveeeeel​​ @stareyedplanet​ @perfectlystiles​

[If you’d like to be added to this specific OC’s stories/edits, send me a message!]

Amy came down the stairs on a fine morning, only to sigh when she saw Avalon sitting with her legs up on the couch, a blanket draped over her while she slept all awkwardly and shifty. As Amy moved towards the couch, Rory walked in from the kitchen, having already awoken and was even having a drink of tea.

"Did you do this?" Amy looked at her husband in assumption.

"Yeah," Rory nodded, "I came down last night for water and...she'd fallen asleep this time. I didn't want to risk waking her up by moving her so I just...put a blanket and..." he sighed.

Amy looked down at Avalon and gently pulled the blanket more up, "At least she fell asleep this time," she tried to cautiously move Avalon's head to the couch arm to give her more comfort.

"Yeah, 'at least'," Rory shook his head and turned back for the kitchen.

Amy gave a small sigh as she tried to make her granddaughter as comfortable as possible without disturbing her much needed sleep. But Amy knew that no amount of sleep (however much needed) would make Avalon feel better. It had been a few weeks since the Doctor left them on Earth and it seemed like it would be a long, long time until he decided (if he ever would) to come back.

~ 0 ~

Lena watched her sister make hasty strides in her bedroom, gathering things she would need to take to Amy's and Rory's. Lena couldn't believe the Doctor had left them all back on Earth but after hearing Amy's explanation, she understood why. It made sense. At least her father said it out loud.

Ryland applauded the Doctor for making the sacrifice, something that infuriated Avalon. She swore she wouldn't talk to him in her life if he ever said that again. Nothing justified the Doctor leaving them so he could go die. Lena argued for both sides and since Avalon would never yell at her, she got away with it.

"How long are you going to stay with Amy and Rory now?" Lena crossed the room to help Avalon close the suitcase on the bed.

"Until that idiot Fairy Tale Man comes back. I can't have him sneaking a visit to them and not have me there," Avalon muttered and turned back. "He doesn't want me to find him, ha. It's like he didn't even know me. What I want, I get. And I refuse to let him die."

"But Avalon, what are you going to do?" Lena was genuinely afraid of what Avalon would come up with to get the Doctor back, or to at least catch his attention.

"I don't know but I've made some calls, I'm going to get leads," Avalon stopped by her writing desk, practically swiping a hand over it to dump her writing tools into a small duffel bag.

"From where?" Lena asked.

Avalon didn't answer with words. She just smiled and sealed her duffel bag. "You can come with me if you'd like."

"What, to Amy's and Rory's?"

"No. To meet him."

Lena raised an eyebrow at Avalon. She was scared. Avalon on her own was already chaotic but now that the Doctor had thoroughly pissed her off, Avalon was a force to be reckoned with and there was no stopping her. God help him when he came back.

~ 0 ~

"Who are we meeting?" Lena asked Avalon when they entered her favorite coffee shop.

"A friend," Avalon found an empty table by the glass wall. "Sit." She patted the empty chair beside her and decided to order something while they waited.

"Avalon, I know you're upset-"

Avalon made a noise. "Oh, I am not upset. There is no word to describe what I'm feeling right now."

"My big brother just wanted to protect you…"

"I know that. I understand him, I love him for that...but he should not have to die, alright? I know that if he doesn't figure out a way to stop the Silence he's going to sacrifice himself. I won't be the reason he dies, and I most certainly will not let Kovarian win like that."

"I'm sorry Avalon but what are we supposed to do against the Silence? Truth be told, the Doctor is the only one who can defeat them."

"I want to keep him from doing something stupid," Avalon put her bag on the table. She was deeply terrified of what the Doctor could do on his own when he felt like there were no more options. She wasn't angry that he left her, she was angry that he thought it was the best option. She was so tired of having everyone trying to protect her. If something bad was going to happen to her, it would happen regardless of who was around her. Right now, she just wanted to get back to the Doctor and help him search through all the options he had. She wanted to fight at his side. The Silence had hurt her and her friends and she wanted to hunt them down for it.

"Hello ladies," Lena heard a familiar voice, a flirty voice. She knew who it was even before she looked up.

Captain Jack Harkness stopped in front of the table with his signature smile. Avalon rose up from her chair and hugged him. "Hi Jack."

"Oh my big brother would be having a heart attack right now," Lena mumbled her breath while she watched them hug.

"It is really good to know that you're back," Jack patted Avalon's arms and sighed. "You have no idea how bad the Doctor was when he called me."

"Of course he would find me," Avalon shrugged. "And now I need you to help me find him."

"What?"

Avalon motioned him to grab a seat as she sat back down herself.

"What's happened?" Jack asked, eyes flickering to Lena who seemed more nervous than ever.

"I'm assuming you know all about the Silence now, right?" Avalon asked.

"Yeah, sort of came up when the Doctor called me."

"There's a date that's coming up. April 24, 2011. According to some all mighty future news, that's the day the Doctor dies."

"Come again?" Jack made a face. "He doesn't die."

"He will, because we've seen it happen before," Avalon glanced at Lena. The latter sighed and nodded to confirm the story. "On that day, a future version of the Doctor will invite earlier versions of ourselves to meet him in Utah. We'll have a picnic by Lake Silencio and then a mysterious astronaut will rise from the lake...and she'll shoot him."

"She?" Jack caught on.

"She doesn't know," Lena said before Avalon could open her mouth. As soon as she did, Avalon threw a glare at Lena.

"I do know," Avalon reiterated despite the numerous arguments she had with Lena, Amy, Rory and even Ryland.

"What?" Jack felt like a broken record but until he got more information, that's all he had.

Avalon sighed and looked at him. "I've been going round and round in my head about who that astronaut is and every time I end up thinking it's me. I don't know what version of me it is but I think it's me."

"Avalon, I hardly thinking-"

Avalon knew he was about to side with Lena and, thus, everyone else, so she cut him off. "Jack you have to listen to me. Everyone else thinks I'm crazy but you...you know a thing or two about memory wipes and timelines…"

Lena cleared her throat and mouthed a quick 'She still doesn't know' to Jack before he decided to let it slip who her mother was.

"Kovarian wiped some of my memories when she had me kidnapped. I've thought long and hard about this and I think I finally realized why she would do that. What if…" Avalon paused. It still made her stomach churn thinking about the possibility. She leaned forwards on the table, lowering her voice so that only Jack and Lena would hear her. "What if Kovarian made me do something so terrible that the only way she could send me back without ratting her out was to wipe my memories first?" Jack opened his mouth to respond but Avalon quickly shushed him and begged him to really think about it. "She didn't have to wipe my memories but she did. Why?"

It was the age old question that no one could answer. Even the Doctor had been left blank when they talked about it.

"I...I admit that there is a truth behind those words…" Jack began, "But don't you think you would've been sentenced to jail?"

"Not unless she covered her tracks. How do I confess to a crime I don't remember doing? How do I rat my allies out if I don't remember anything? Who's to say that she didn't kill any loose ends before wiping my memory clean?" Avalon thought she was making some very good points...and Jack might believe that she had.

"Avalon, even if this was true...what about it? What do you plan on doing?"

"Well, first I want to exhaust all my options before I go with the obvious. I want to find the Doctor and I want to help him fight the Silence. I want to know why they took me, why they targeted him. And above all, I don't want the Doctor to be alone." Avalon's gaze lowered to the table. "Because when he's alone, he starts to let all the guilt come through and there's no one to remind him that he's not at fault for what happened to me, to River, to Amy...and if he lets that happen, he'll do something stupid." When Avalon raised her eyes to Jack, they were glimmering with tears. "I can't let that happen. He's helped all of us so many times. It's our turn to help him."

Jack could get on board with that. He smiled at her. She sounded just like anyone who'd had the fortune of travelling with the Doctor. Of course, seeing her determined face told him it was far beyond what the Doctor's other friends felt for him. "You love him, don't you?"

Avalon sighed. "Yes, but please don't downplay everything I said before. I'm not doing it because I love him, I'm doing it because he deserves someone to fight for him."

"I agree with that," Jack straightened up in his chair, giving her a mock salute. Avalon smiled. "What do you need from me, ma'am?"

Avalon beamed. She glanced at Lena with newfound excitement. Lena could only inwardly sigh. This could either end really well or really bad.

"Alright, I know that Torchwood's closed down but you have ways of getting to the 51st century, right?"

"Yeah, vortex manipulator. Don't tell the Doctor I got it working again. He'd take it from me."

Avalon thought for a moment before saying, "Hm, maybe I should just stick you to the bottom of a fish hook with the manipulator and just wait for the Doctor to come."

Jack laughed at her. "You wouldn't!"

"Try me!" Avalon smirked.

"Oh Avalon, it's good to see you again," Jack said as he sobered from his laugh.

"Yeah," Avalon said quietly, her smile falling short but still a smile nonetheless. It was good to see an old face, even if said face had been on the receiving end of many, many screams. She'd make that up to him later on.

~ 0 ~

Several days passed by and in those days Avalon had heavy contact with Jack about possibly sightings of the Doctor. She even wanted to start looking into Kovarian's sightings...and that's where the Ponds had to draw the line. How they would deal with it had to be an extra type of smart because otherwise Avalon wouldn't listen to them. So they went about in a whole different way.

"River?" Avalon was puzzled with her appearance but then she realized she must have come visit her parents. It was only natural. Avalon let River into the Ponds' home and took a quick peek outside into the street...just in case. "Amy and Rory are at work."

"Ah, Amy found a job?" River asked, though Avalon presumed it was just a formality seeing as this was an older version coming to visit.

"Yeah," Avalon shut the door behind them. "Something about perfumes. Got lucky."

"Hm," River came straight into the living room like she knew there was something there. Avalon's work had been spread around the coffee table and the couch itself was buried under more of it. "Seems to me like you've been pretty busy yourself."

Avalon followed her and folded her arms, susiciously eyeing River. "Where are you from?"

With a smile, River turned to her. "Couple months after I visited you all at Demon's Run."

"So then you know exactly where I am," Avalon said quietly, watching River's smile fade. "And you know what I'm trying to do."

"Yes, I do."

"You didn't come to visit your parents, did you?"

"No, I did not." River picked up a random paper off the couch and gave it a quick skim. "Avalon, you are a wonderful writer but all this needs to stop. You can't go looking for the Doctor and much less Kovarian herself."

"I would think that you of all people would understand why I'm doing this," Avalon came forward and snatched the paper out of River's hand. "He's out there, River, on his own. He knows that he's supposed to die and I just know that he will try to sacrifice himself for us."

"I know very well how the story ends, Avalon, and for that reason I beg you to stop. You don't know how deep this goes-"

"Excuse you, I was kidnapped by Kovarian. I think I know just how deep it goes!"

"You spent a few months with her, I spent my entire life with her!" River snapped, quieting Avalon for the next few minutes. "I know exactly what Kovarian planned and how she did it, because where I stand she's already done it. Trust me when I say that you cannot change these events. They must happen."

"Why!?"

"Because they need to, because if they don't, very important people cease to exist," River swallowed hard as she thought back to those moments. They weren't always good but just looking at her daughter made it all worth it. Avalon had no idea what her future was like and it all depended on the Silence's interference. It was a twisted story but it was sadly the reality.

"What?" frowned Avalon, understanding even less of what was going on. "The hell are you talking about?"

"Spoilers my dear," River sighed. "But please listen to me. I know how hurt you are but I promise you that I know what I'm talking about. If you interfere in any way, you will jeopardize the timelines."

"River, with all due respect, I don't give a damn," Avalon declared and turned away, striding out of the living room.

River shook her head at her. "Oh, you are definitely my daughter," she mumbled. "Avalon!" She called after the woman and stormed after her. "You need to listen to me!"

"I really don't," Avalon was in the kitchen trying to find something to snack on from the fridge. "I don't listen to anyone."

"I admire your bravery - or stupidity - but this is not what the Doctor wanted when he left you here."

"Well, I wouldn't know, would I?" Avalon slammed shut the fridge door, ignoring the quiet thud it gave, and turned to River. "Because he hasn't even tried talking to me in these last months! I've had to make do with what I have here and it's not exactly a picnic! I don't know if he's okay, if he's hurt, if he's...moved on." Avalon let a shuddering breath out.

"Moved on?" River repeated, now looking at her daughter like she was the crazy one. "You think he could do that? Oh sweetie, you have no idea. This is what I mean when I say we can't interfere with the timelines. There are important things that happen - people, Avalon - that will be there because we let things happen the way they're supposed to. I swear to you that the Doctor could never get over you."

Avalon seemed to lose the fighting mode she had on - she'd been needing it against everyone lately - and moved over to the table. "Kovarian said some things when she, um, when she had me watching the Doctor's history. She mentioned that one day the Doctor would leave us - Amy, Rory...me - and that we would just be another bunch in his long list of companions."

River silently grabbed a char next to her. "That's not true."

Avalon used to believe that before the Doctor dropped her off like nothing. "How would we know? We're not with him, are we?"

"I just do. I'm from the future, right?"

"Kovarian said there was a girl after us," Avalon went on, clearly discarding River's last words, "She's the one who brings the Doctor to wherever it is that terrifies the whole Silence. The Doctor moves on from us, forgets us…"

"That's not true," River shook her head. "You know it's not."

"I don't know anything, River," Avalon sighed heavily as she placed her elbows on the table and rested her chin on her hands. "Not anymore. I don't know where my Fairy Tale Man is, I don't know what he's doing. For all I know, he's figured out a way to stop everything and he's just...moved on. The story with Avalon Reynolds finished for him."

"Now stop that!" River actually scolded, letting her mother side slip out. "You know that's not true. Kovarian wanted to mess with your head and I'll be damned if that happens. You have to listen to me, Avalon. The Doctor is just trying to keep you safe from the Silence and it would break his hearts if you got yourself hurt trying to look for him."

Avalon met her look with a pretty serious one. Everyone seemed to think she was doing this blind, like she had no logical reasons for it. Yes, she was afraid that perhaps the Doctor really was done with her, but she really did want to help. It was just the longer it took to find him, the more crazy ideas her mind started coming up with. But in the end, there was one sad reality that she carried with her every day. "He's already hurt me, he broke my heart leaving me here." What was worse is that he had still kept his promise to her. He would be with her until the day he died. She would be there, just not her current self.

River had nothing to say to that and even as Avalon got up to leave, she couldn't think of anything comforting to say.

~ 0 ~

More months passed by and despite Avalon's heavy insistence for River to stay away if she was going to be against her work, River kept stopping by. Amy and Rory were thankful for her visits because they had thoroughly given up trying to stop Avalon's search. She was going to get herself into trouble that they wouldn't be able to pull her out of. She'd already given them scary moments as it was.

They'd been particularly terrified when Avalon disappeared for days. They thought maybe the Silence had found her instead but then she reappeared with River who had brought her back nearly by the ear. Amy and Rory had never seen River act like such a mother at that moment. She had found Avalon lurking through a planet known to have a church filled with Silence. River knew exactly what that church was and while it was one of the benign sects of the Silence she didn't trust that there wasn't one traitorous Silent amongst them. In another moment, she would commend Avalon for even finding out about that place but for the current moment, she was furious that Avalon had gone in there on her own.

"I HATE YOU!" Avalon stalked up the staircase when River let her go. Amy and Rory had long ago set up a room just for her and now she would be using it to lock herself away.

"I'm taking this," River waved a familiar vortex manipulator in her hand. "Avalon knicked it off Jack. He was proud that she'd been able to sneak it off him but I'm not sharing the sentiment."

"She's definitely acting like versions of you," Rory mumbled.

Amy agreed with a nod. "What are we going to do with her? I don't think the Doctor planned on her being this...this determined."

"No, no, he planned for it," River hated to admit it. "He knows exactly who Avalon is and that's why he's been extra careful not to make outstanding appearances."

"Have you talked to him?" Rory eyed River suspiciously. He wouldn't put it behind the two to have secret meetings about all this timeline and Silence stuff.

River looked at her father for a long minute before completely glossing over the answer. "He's keeping an eye on her but...we all have to pitch in."

"Thing is, Avalon's not a child. She's got feelings and she's pretty damn smart," Amy folded her arms and glanced at the staircase. "She's able to trick us with minimal effort."

"We just have to keep trying," River said, shrugging her shoulders. "I've done a lot to keep my daughter safe, this is just another of those moments."

From that point on, everyone agreed to keep a heavier eye on Avalon. As annoying and frustrating as it was, Avalon wouldn't try to hurt them. She knew they were trying to help but she would keep doing her search no matter what.

~ 0 ~

It would be one day that somewhat calmed Avalon for a moment. It was no ordinary day and that's why it managed to ease her.

She sat on the couch with a tattered blanket over her legs - an old childhood blanket - and gazed at a beautiful rose gold rose with bright green leaves in her hand. It shined as if it were metal but each time she touched one of its petals, a soft pink dust sprinkled from it...like fairydust. As hurt as she felt, she couldn't help but smile each time the dust would fill the air.

"Happy birthday Avalon," she heard from behind. Avalon shifted a bit to see River coming in with a tempting gift in her hands. "Big 24!" She leaned down and kissed the top of Avalon's head.

"Has it really been 2 years since America?" Avalon shook her head. That really seemed like a long time ago.

River scooted Avalon's legs so she could sit on the couch. "Oh, do you remember the last time we celebrate your birthday? What was it? You're 21st? Oh, what fun that was!"

"Yeah, I got so drunk that, that night is very blurry," Avalon sighed but with a content smile. It had been a fun night.

"Still, I know there's a small get together Amy's fixing up in the backyard for you!"

"I'm not really up for the celebration but I'll just let it happen for them. They've been so nice letting me stay over even when my house is just a couple blocks down."

River smiled lightly. "That's a good girl. Here, open my present!" She handed the gift to Avalon and motioned her to unwrap it.

Avalon set her rose on her lap then pulled the wrapping paper off the gift. Her eyes widened when she found a porcelain doll. It had bright orange hair like she had, curly too, and dark eyes. It had a green period dress and a small tiara over its head. "Oh my God…"

"Do you like it?" River had to control herself so she didn't look so eager for her reaction.

Avalon looked up with twinkling eyes. "You remembered!"

"That you always wanted one of those dolls but never got them because Lena was scared of them," River laughed. "I figured Lena's old enough to understand not to go into your room."

Avalon had to laugh at that. "Right." She fixed some of the orange strands of the doll's hair and smiled. "Thank you, River. I love it."

"Happy birthday, sweetie," River leaned over to hug her tightly. "I know it's been a rough year but you are so strong. You'll make it through this."

Avalon would love to believe that but the truth was this year was kicking her ass. She set her new porcelain doll to the side and picked up her rose-gold rose again. "I got this in the morning."

River raised an eyebrow at it. "Oh, that's fancy." Avalon brushed her fingers over the petals and allowed for River to see the sprinkles of 'fairydust' fly from it. "Ah," River's eyes widened. "That's from Aurals." Avalon gave her a puzzled look, obviously not in the loop about the place she spoke of. "It's a planet. You'd love it. They're the only planet to grow those types of flowers. They look like they're fake but they're actually very real. Where'd you get that from?"

Avalon said nothing as she reached for a white card on the coffee table. She opened it up and reread the letter she'd practically clung to earlier in the morning. 'Happy birthday my Ava. I'm afraid that by now you either hate me or, well, you're hunting me down to kill me.'

River snorted, nearly laughing. "That man…"

'I know that you're very upset with me but please understand that I did not 'leave' you, I had to give you up. I was trying to save you one last time by letting you live in peace while I search for those bad people who hurt you. But today is your day, Ava. Twenty four years ago, a little princess was born and she took life by storm. I love you Avalon, please remember that. Never doubt that. Happy birthday my love."

Avalon looked up with teary eyes. "Signed by 'Your Fairy Tale Man'." She drew in a deep breath, controlling those tears that wanted to come out. She'd cried earlier and she wasn't interested in doing it again. "He was here, River. He was here at some point and he left me this...but he didn't' even talk to me."

"I suspect he knew if he did, he wouldn't be able to leave anymore," River said. She didn't need to be from the future to know that.

"Well, I wouldn't let him leave," Avalon sniffed. She held her rose close to her chest.

"Oh c'mon, no pouty face," River pointed at her. "That's not what the Doctor wanted from you, especially today. It's your birthday!"

Avalon sighed and looked at her rose. "Yeah, it is…" Maybe she should look at things from a different angle, at least for today, and focus on the part where the Doctor actually came back. Even if it was just for a moment, he had been there for one moment and just for her.

She might still be a little special.

~ 0 ~

"Why are you so happy today?" Amy asked then suddenly received an elbow on her side. Rory passed by with a sharp look on his face. She shouldn't question why their granddaughter was so happy, not unless they were looking for Avalon to do the opposite.

Avalon ignored the little moment as she planted her bag on the kitchen table. "I...sort of got a job," she announced. She expected their similar surprised states but she didn't expect them to look so funny. "It's not the end of the world if I get a job, is it?"

"No, no, but…" Rory said, clearing his throat, "We just didn't expect you to...get one."

"Yeah, you hate Leadworth," Amy leaned against the counter, eyeing Avalon suspiciously.

"I do," Avalon made sure to clarify first. "But I figure it's time to stop being a freeloader. Plus, remember that little girl that loved my public reading I did last year? Aurora?" They both nodded. Avalon hadn't stopped talking about that little girl after the event. It truly warmed Avalon's heart to know that a child loved her story so much. "Well, she's six now and I bumped into her in Mrs. Kepner's bookstore. She recognized me and she started going on about how much she would love for me to read more of my stories. Mrs. Kepner thought it was a good idea and so she offered me a job at the store. I'll be doing the public readings with the kids and if I happen to come up with new stories, I'm more than welcomed to read those too."

"Avalon, that's great!" Rory exclaimed, rushing over to hug her first.

"Yeah," Avalon chuckled. "I figure I might as well do something productive while I search for the Doctor."

Amy would gladly take the compromise. She came next to hug Avalon. "I'm really happy for you. It'll be good for you."

"We'll see," Avalon shrugged. "At the very least it'll keep from going crazy and murdering people." Because, oh yes, she remembered exactly what kind of people lived in the town. It was why she barely left the house. At least in the bookstore there'd be more kids and teenagers, people that weren't aware of her reputation. Though she would inevitably have to deal with adults, she knew it would just be for a small time.

"Well hey, how about we celebrate by going into the city?" Amy asked suddenly. "We can have lunch over there and maybe do a little shopping-"

"Ooooh, I could do some shopping," Avalon nodded fast. Both gingers missed the way Rory scrunched his face. Those two at a mall would take bloody forever. "I really miss the wardrobe the TARDIS had for me."

"C'mon!" Amy exclaimed. "Rory, get the credit cards!"

"Yay," Rory muttered as he followed the two women out.

"We should call River," Avalon said, making him groan.

"God no, I'm staying behind!"

"No, you're not," Amy said and so it was.

~ 0 ~

"Jesus, Avalon, did you leave anything for the store?" Rory struggled to carry the new bags Avalon came out with.

"You're over-exaggerating," she patted his cheek and looked around. "Where's Amy and River?"

"They went into the department store," Rory said, nodding towards the store at the end of them. Both his hands were occupied with her bags, Amy's and even River's.

"Yay! C'mon!" Avalon grabbed one of his arms and pulled him towards the store.

"No, no more! My arms are going to fall off!"

"Oh, you're over-exaggerating!"

"I'm really not! I haven't felt my right arm in over an hour!"

Avalon rolled her eyes and led them into the store. It was pretty crowded but they eventually found Amy and River near the perfume area.

"Oh, is that your perfume!?" Avalon practically shrieked, attracting the attention of several of the customers. She ignored them all as she ran towards the glass counter. She grabbed the purple perfume from River's hands and sprayed herself.

"It's a sample, Avalon," Amy said and snatched the bottle from her before she used up the entire thing.

"But it smells so good!" Avalon exclaimed, trying to take it back from her. "For the girl who's tired of waiting! Killer slogan!"

"Yeah, that's quite a real line for us," River said quietly. Amy looked over Avalon with an agreeing nod.

"Oh! Amy!" They heard Rory's shout. He had dropped half the bags he was carrying and things were rolling.

"God, he's helpless," Amy sighed and handed the perfume back to River to go help Rory.

"You go help too!" Avalon plucked the perfume from River's hands and motioned her to 'run along'.

"I think not!" River forced her to put the perfume down on the counter. "C'mon, maybe we can find a nice present for Lena. Her birthday's coming up, remember?"

"I know," Avalon rubbed the side of her head. "I'm clueless on what to give her."

"So then let's look," River whistled for the saleslady to come help them.

~ 0 ~

Two hundred years later would find the Doctor posing as a department store employee and handling a visit with Craig Owens and his new baby son. In all his time of existence he never thought he could end up in a place like that and he'd gotten around plenty of times. Unfortunately, trouble always seemed to follow him as well, no matter how old he got. There were Cybermen in hiding and he had to discover where they were before things got bad, even if that came at a price of dealing with an irritated Craig. But sometimes he had little lucky moments in which something good happened. Right now, as he gazed upon his former companions, Amy and Rory, he knew it was one of those lucky moments.

They'd been picking up shopping bags that Rory had dropped - he wondered why Rory had that many bags in the first place - and then suddenly, a little girl had come up to Amy asking for an autograph. It took the Doctor a few seconds to realize that somehow that Pond had gotten herself a perfume after her.

"For Ellie," Amy smiled and handed the notepad back to the girl, "I like your hairband," she remarked as she stood straight again.

Ellie touched her headband and beamed, "Thank you," she said as she returned to her mother only a couple feet away.

"Can we take a rest...please?" Rory asked Amy and held his arms out with the shopping bags, making Amy laugh. "I can't feel my arms!"

"Yeah, alright," Amy decided to take pity on his misery. "But that's what happens when you get a daughter and a granddaughter. We outnumber you." Rory rolled his eyes but he was mighty better when Amy gave him a kiss. "Avalon! River! Time to go!"

"In a minute!" came the irritated response from Avalon.

The Doctor's hearts nearly stopped when he caught sight of Avalon by the perfume counter. It'd been 200 hundred years since he last saw her. He didn't know how he could've made it this far but he knew it was because he hadn't seen her. It took every last bit of his will not to come get her from Leadworth. He had to remind himself that he needed to keep her safe and search for the Silence, but that search had come to an end a while back. Now he was just drifting through until the moment came. It was why it'd become even more difficult to stay away. He knew his end was coming, there was nothing he could do to change it, so why not spend his last moments with Avalon? He didn't want to hurt her. The Silence had done enough of that. But it seemed like the universe was giving him one last gift before his end.

"God, River, you have terrible taste in perfumes!" Avalon had just sent the saleslady away.

"Excuse you and that mouth of yours!" River huffed. "I do not!"

Avalon raised the bottle she was eyeing and sprayed it to the side. "Dogs wouldn't walk through that."

River's face almost made the Doctor laugh and give himself up. He'd never seen her like that and he was sure that the only reason she was holding back was because it was Avalon on the receiving end.

"You are rude," River finally spoke after a few moments of silence.

"Tell me something I don't know," Avalon shrugged. She tucked some hair behind her ear, allowing the Doctor to see she still wore his watch on her wrist.

He swallowed hard. All he had to do was take a step towards her and she would see him. He was aware that she'd done everything to find him, even going as far as calling in Jack Harkness to help her (that might have made him a bit jealous, just a bit), and while it was tempting to go back to her...he couldn't do it. He was dying, that was the truth. He had to die in order for the world to keep going. If the world kept going, then Avalon would be safe. If he died, the Silence would leave her alone. That's the reason he kept away in these last days.

~ 0 ~

It was late when the Ponds got back to Leadworth. Rory happily let each woman take their bags into the house while he went to grab himself some wine. Yeah, he deserved that.

"You're so mean, Rory!" Avalon shouted from the foyer.

"Yup," he agreed as he searched for the wine glasses in the cabinets.

Amy dumped her bags on the living room floor, not even trying to make it to the stairs. "Okay, I'm so tired."

"I can keep these here, right?" River gestured to her own pile of bags behind the couch. "Stormcage doesn't exactly allow for all this stuff."

"Oh, but they allow you to escape every now and then?" Avalon arched an eyebrow at her.

"Your mouth is on an extra one today," River wagged a finger at her.

Avalon cheekily smiled and moved to gather her stuff from the table. She heard her phone buzz in her bag a moment later. She left the papers in a somewhat neat pile and pulled her phone out of the bag. She read the quick text she'd gotten and gasped so loudly that she worried her grandmother and mother.

"What, what was it!?" River quickly hurried around the couch to meet her.

"I, uh, I got myself in contact with some people on New Earth. They're like your version of detectives and they just got word of a possible sighting of a Silent."

"What? That's stupid," Amy frowned. "How would they even remember them?"

"Because I told them about the chip that Kovarian used on me. They've made their own version - that's not the point! I have to go!" Avalon only made it two steps towards the doorway before River held her back.

"Are you deranged!? You can't go hunt down the Silence!"

"It's just one!"

"It doesn't matter! You can't go there!"

"Yes I can!" Avalon wrestled free from River's arms and turned around to face her. "And you're not stopping me! Nobody is!"

"Avalon, you need to understand this! We've been over this! The timelines-"

"I DON'T CARE!" Avalon screamed. "I don't give a crap about timelines, not when it can stop the Doctor from dying!"

"The people, Avalon. The people that I'm talking about would cease to exist!" River was now fully terrified that this time she might not be able to stop Avalon from going off in search of the Silence. Amy could see that fear from her spot too.

"What people, dammit!? You always say that but you never say who! For all I know you could be lying!" Avalon shook her head. "I'm Gmgoing to New Earth and there is nothing you can do nor say to stop me!"

River watched her turn and leave. Her mind was spinning, everything was spinning actually, and the only thing she heard was 'Don't tell Avalon, don't tell Avalon, don't tell Avalon!'. She couldn't let Avalon near the Silence, it was the biggest task she had and it was the only thing she could do for her daughter in a life that hadn't exactly allowed her to be a Mother. But right now Avalon was going straight into danger and she could not allow it.

"Avalon, stop it! Come back!"

"No!"

River hurried out of the living room with Amy hot on her trail.

"What is going on?" Rory emerged from the kitchen to see Avalon practically sprinting towards the door.

"Avalon, stop! You can't go to New Earth!" River continued to call after her. Amy came rushing after her and now with Rory.

"Why not!?"

"Because I know how everything ends! I know what happens and what must always happen!"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm not listening to anymore of this!" Avalon grabbed the door knob.

"You need to listen to me because I'm your Mother! I know what I'm talking about!" River actually felt like she would combust in that moment. Everything was on fast mode and she didn't register all the words she'd said until after she had.

But Avalon had heard the very moment she said it. Her hand had frozen midway as she turned the door knob. She turned her head towards River, catching sight of Amy behind them. "What?"

River brought a hand to her forehead. This wasn't how she pictured this moment but she had to do it. Anything to keep her safe. "I'm...I'm your Mother, Avalon. I-I know it's hard to understand but it's true. I'm your mother, I know exactly what the Silence is planning because they planned it around me...around us. And I'm so sorry but everything has to happen the way it already has...otherwise you cease to exist."

Avalon didn't say anything. She couldn't. Nothing was making sense right now. River couldn't be telling her the truth. She looked at Amy and Rory for some help, but they had these weird faces. She wanted them to tell her that River was lying, that she was just saying the first thing that popped into her head to stop her from leaving...but they kept quiet. In fact, they were looking at her with sympathy.

"Oh my God," Avalon felt sick to her stomach. "You're not...you're not lying…"

"No, no, I'm not lying. I'm so sorry," River said, taking a step towards her but she saw the exact moment the anger crossed Avalon's face.

"You abandoned me!" She pushed River away. There was a part of her that told her this was all familiar. The sick feeling in her stomach felt like it'd already been there for the exact same reason.

"No, no I didn't!" River reached out for her, wanting so desperately to touch her daughter.

"You left me with my uncle! You have no right to tell me what to do! You've…" Avalon brought her hands to her face as a sour laugh slipped through her lips. "Oh my God, now it makes sense. Now I get why you were always so determined to be around me, to...to make me stop this search." She dropped her hands but pointed a menacing finger towards River. "How dare you come into my life like you didn't abandon me! And how dare you try to tell me what to do! You have no right, none at all, to tell me anything!"

"Ava, how about you calm down and let River explain everything?" Rory thought he could use his special relationship with her to bring her away from the door. He was right. For a second, Avalon faltered. "I'm sure this isn't how she wanted to tell you."

"It wasn't," River agreed quickly.

"Look, I'm not mad at either of you," Avalon said to him and Amy. "I told you not to tell me anything. And would you like to know why?" She flashed a glare at River. "Because I thought it was unfair how my 'mother'-" she did quick air quotations with her hands, "-left it all with you two and the Doctor. None of you deserved to carry that burden." There were tears pooling in her eyes and she fought against them with everything she had not to let them out. "My mother was supposed to tell me that herself but then again she wasn't supposed to abandon me."

"I didn't abandon you, Avalon," River tried to say again without getting interrupted. "I had to give you up."

"Oh my God, if I had a penny for every time I heard that…" Avalon shook her head, quickly wiping off some stray tears.

"I know, I know it's all difficult and you're angry but if you would just come back I can explain everything."

"No, it's too late," Avalon warned River to stay right where she was. "I am 24 years old and how old are you? Far from the age you were when you had me, I'm sure. You never said a word to me! You are not my mother! Emmalina Reynolds is." She quickly pulled the door open and ran out before anyone could stop her.

"What are we going to do? Are we going to let her leave?" Rory hurried towards the door.

"She's not going anywhere," River cleared her own tears off her face. "The manipulator is with Ryland. I'll give him a quick call…"

"River, I'm so sorry," Amy hugged her daughter. She wished she could've done more than just stand there but it felt like it was something River had to do, no matter how painful it was.

"It's fine, I'm…" River wouldn't bother finishing the sentence. She had to act fast. "I have to call Ryland...and maybe someone else too. Scuse me." She sidestepped Amy and went back into the living room.

~ 0 ~

Avalon wandered - stumbled - through the park. She'd barely made it back to her house when all of a sudden she was bombarded between Ryland and Lena. No doubt River had called them in advance to tell them what happened...and to tell them not to let her have the manipulator. She was essentially stuck on earth because of River. She was confused, weren't 'mothers' supposed to want the best for their kids? River failed in all aspects.

She'd began to remember the same moment happening a long time ago with Kovarian. She'd already known this information - Kovarian had told her right in the beginning that River was her mother - but she was made to forget. She had all those pictures of River throughout her life and none of them showed a shred of someone who was a mother. She never came for her daughter.

"You never cared…" Avalon drew in a breath as she came to a stop in front of the duck pond. The ducks were idly swimming by like nothing.

River abandoned her as a newborn. What right did she have playing the 'mum' card now? Here she was trying to make her life better after all the crap she'd been through and River just waltzes in and tries to dismantle it?

Avalon stifled a sob. She shouldn't cry for that woman, but maybe the tears weren't all for her. The past two years had been terrible. So many things had happened. This was the tip of the iceberg and the worst part is that she didn't even have the Doctor around.

She let herself slowly fall to the ground to sit against the rock wall of the pond. She brought her knees up to her chest and sniffled. She just sat there for God knew how long, thinking about everything that had gone wrong in her life. How could one person have this much misfortune? She didn't understand...or maybe she did. Maybe this was her punishment for the way she was when she was younger. Maybe if I'd grown up with my actual parents I would've turned out differently, she bitterly thought. How would her life be if she'd grown up with Oliver Reynolds and River Song?

Her thoughts were cut off when she heard a wheeze in the air. There was even a light breeze to accompany it. She raised her head, staying completely still before her mind thought things that weren't true. She was so angry, so sad, that her mind wasn't completely there. But she'd heard right. Her ears were working perfectly and were her eyes. The TARDIS had materialized across her and slowly, the Doctor emerged from it. The look on his face told her everything.

Somebody had called him. Avalon closed her eyes. That meant River could have always called him.

"She is a goddamn liar," she spat with all the hatred she could muster.

"My Ava…" the Doctor cautiously approached her. He didn't want to get too close to her because this was his last stop and he would have to leave again. She was crying, though, how could he resist?

"When did you first find out?" Avalon asked quietly. She flinched away from him when he sat down beside her. She'd spent a whole year searching for him and now to have him next to her felt odd.

"On Demons Run," he answered just as quietly. "I thought you were Amy's and Rory's child but it turned out the Silence had your files because you were River's daughter."

"I may be her daughter but she is not my mother. Mothers do not abandon their child, they do not lie to them…"

"Avalon, none of us know why River gave you up, but I can imagine it wasn't because she wanted to."

"How would anyone know that?" Avalon finally looked at him. The moment she did she had to take a moment just to remind herself that he was actually there.

He looked at her as well and offered her a small smile. "Because I was once a father and I know the look a parent has when they know their child is hurt. I don't know why River gave you up to Ryland but she didn't do it because she didn't love you. Quite the opposite, actually."

"I don't believe it," Avalon took in a breath. "If I had a child, I would never leave them."

"Even if it meant they would be completely safe?" The Doctor knew the challenge the question posed and he imagined it was the same challenge River had to have faced in her past. "Avalon, you don't know what it's like being a parent. There's this drive in you - an instinct - to keep your child safe no matter what. I had that, Amy had that on Demons Run, Rory had it while we searched for Amy and Melody. I'm guessing River had that the day she gave you up. But you know, all we can do is speculate until you go and talk to her."

"No," Avalon said on the spot. "I saw the pictures Kovarian had of her. She didn't look like she missed me a lot."

"What do you mean?" frowned the Doctor. "Kovarian told you this?"

"She did, and then she wiped it away like the rest of my memories. She had all these pictures of River having the time of her life without me. I don't want her - I don't want her to be my Mother." Tears flowed from Avalon's face. "Please don't make me go back there. I don't want to see her." She practically threw her body over his for what she intended to be a hug.

Still, the Doctor held her in their awkward half-lying positions and held her tight. Two hundred years was a long time to go without touching her. "I am very sorry, Avalon. No one should have to suffer the way you have."

"Just say you won't leave me again." She was holding him like her life depended on it, her eyes screwed shut. "Say you won't, please."

"You know I can't do that, Ava. I love you but...Time says I have to die. If I die, then the Silence leaves you and your family alone. They just want me."

Avalon pulled away to look at him. She studied his eyes - as much as she could with her blurred vision - and saw something new in them. Resignation. "How...how long has it been?"

"Ava…" He preferred not to look at her right now.

"I deserve the truth, dammit. Tell me!"

"I'm 1,103," he answered quietly.

Avalon let out a noise of horror. She slowly picked herself up from the ground, prompting him to do the same. New tears had filled her eyes as she studied him. He looked so tired. "I said I wouldn't let that happen. I wouldn't let you be on your own, especially for that long."

"It wasn't on you to stop anything, Avalon. I had to do it." He couldn't help himself. He had to touch her again. He reached out for her body and was relieved that she'd let him. He was able to wrap an arm around her waist and bring her body to his. He rested his forehead against her, taking a moment to smell her lavender scent again. "Do you know that in a thousand years, I've never really had anyone affect me the way you have?"

"I make everyone sick eventually," Avalon sighed.

"No," he managed to chuckle. She would say something like that. He brought his free hand up to her chin, taking a gentle hold of it. Her skin was still just as smooth and warm as he remembered it. "You're the only one who's ever kept up with me even when I was unbearable. And I've had my moments." Now it was Avalon's turn to smile, even if it was through her tears. "You remember our heist?"

"Yeah," she felt a rush of heat when she remembered their insane snog session in the middle of it.

"You and I...we've had the best adventures together. Make that into a story, will you? Maybe it'll inspire some other person to sweep their loved one off their feet."

"I don't want to write about you as if you were gone," she sniffled. "Please don't go." She curled her hand around his arm that was touching her face. "I don't want to lose you a second time. Watching you die was the most painful moment of my life. Please don't go to that place."

"You have no idea how much I would rather stay here with you, with my Ponds, but I have somewhere to be, somewhere Time needs me to be," he pushed a few strands of her hair out of her wet face. "I just needed to come and say goodbye properly."

"I promised myself that I wouldn't let you go to that place. I tried doing my best to keep you from going there…"

"You did everything you could and you have no idea how much that means to me, but it's time to stop. It's okay to stop. I figured everything out, darling. I know that I have to be there."

Avalon felt her heart breaking all over again and she was getting tired of it. Nothing seemed to work right. He was just giving himself up like that, like he had to...like he had to go face that astronaut. "Do you...do you know who the astronaut is?" She whispered.

The Doctor lowered his head for a moment. He had worked it out after his long search, after his long talks and research, but there was just one thing he still never figured out. The letter. That damn letter that warned Avalon of what was coming, no one had the answer to it.

"Doctor?" Avalon called, pulling him out of his thoughts. "Did you?"

"Yes," he ultimately said. "But I can't tell you, I'm sorry."

Avalon sighed. "That's a shocker. No one can tell me anything, no one can tell me the truth...can anyone tell me anything?"

"I love you," the Doctor said, offering her his best smile, as if they were in the middle of another date. He loved that it still made her smile. He stroked patterns over her cheek. "It's been 200 hundred years and you have no idea how much I've wanted to tell you that in person again. I love you my Ava."

Avalon leaned into his touch. "I love you too."

"I do have to go, though. I just wanted to say that one more time," the Doctor swallowed hard and looked her in her sad, teary eyes.

"...there's nothing I can do to stop you anymore?"

"I have to, I'm sorry."

Avalon was scared out of her mind but it seemed like he had made his choice. She just had no idea how she was supposed to let him walk away again. "There's so many things we could've done together. You said you were taking me to, um, Akhaten?"

"Right," the Doctor nodded. "You would've loved it."

"We could've pulled another heist," she bit her lip and leaned on him.

"And watched Rory have a heart attack?"

Avalon smirked. "We would've won this time." She let her fingers tap over his chest, something she missed doing too. "We would've been on the same team this time, you and I...we would've won the whole thing."

"Yeah we would've," the Doctor grinned at the image of them pulling a second heist with the worst shenanigans they could come up with. He pulled her hands off him and held them tightly in his. He stared at her smirking face and felt the air leave his body. She was insanely beautiful and she had been with him. For a short moment in his life, she had been with him and they'd been happy.

Timetogotimetogotimetogo. He needed to get out of there because he was one second away from whisking her off into the TARDIS to kiss forever.

He let one of her hands go and snapped his fingers. The TARDIS doors opened up but instead of walking straight for them, he needed to do something first. He was going to leave but he had to do it right this time. He couldn't sneak off like the last time. Avalon didn't deserve that.

"Would you dance with me?" He asked her. She blinked at him, naturally expecting him to say anything but that. She took her hands out of his. "Would you dance with me, Ava?"

"Dance?"

He nodded. "I'm going to die, but I have to dance with my princess first. Can't imagine leaving without one."

New tears came to Avalon's eyes. He was really going to do it. Don't waste your last moment, the voice in her head warned. She couldn't waste it. These were her last moments with him that she would remember forever. She took his hand, squeezing it tightly.

"Play us something sweet, will you?" The Doctor called to the TARDIS, or so it seemed. A few seconds later a familiar tune started playing.

Avalon laughed lightly. "Once Upon a Dream."

"Our first dance together," the Doctor reminded her, not that she needed to be reminded. It was their first dance as friends and their first dance on their first date. As if she would ever forget that. He put an arm around her waist again and started to sway to the song.

Little by little, Avalon let go of his hand and brought her arms around his neck. She rested her head against his chest, wanting to be as close as possible to him. "I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream. I know you! The gleam in your eyes is so familiar a gleam. Yet I know it's true, the visions are seldom all they seem…"

The Doctor laid his cheek over the top of Avalon's head, smiling contently for the first time in a long time. He would always love her beautiful voice.

"...but if I know you, I know what you'll do. You'll love me at once, the way you did once upon a dream," she sniffled. "Do you ever sing?"

The Doctor hummed. "That...would be a no. I don't sing."

"I wish you would," Avalon looked up at him. "We could, um-" she forced herself to smile, "-we could've sang 'A Whole New World'. That would've fit us, huh?"

"I think so, yeah," the Doctor chuckled. They just didn't have the time anymore. Time's up. He brought a finger under her chin then leaned down and kissed her. She quickly kissed him back.

A whole year waiting and searching for him had seemed to lead them to this moment. She wished they could do this forever and ever. Their arms wrapped around each other so tightly there was no chance of moving. Avalon remembered all the sappy movies that had those really long, passionate kisses and she would make fun of them all the time. Who knew that she'd end up having one of her own? It was a terrible moment when they had to end it. They pulled away what was necessary to look into each other's eyes, silently saying goodbye to each other.

"You have been my best story," Avalon whispered, having to bite her lower lip to keep herself from bursting into sobs right there and then. "Is there not another story?"

"The next story will be you living happily. Maybe writing a couple stories here and there...and going back to that sweet family who loves you so much," the Doctor tapped her nose. "Try to talk to River, okay?"

"Try to stay alive?" Avalon played her final card which was just to ask. River did say to her that he was never able to say 'no' to her. Let's see if she lied about that too. She cupped his face and leaned closer to his lips. "For me?"

The Doctor swallowed hard. She was far too close for him not to try and kiss her again. The TARDIS wasn't that far away from them, was it? Out of time! Right. He had to focus...but she was looking at him, pleading with him to listen to her.

Maybe…

Avalon pressed one final kiss to his lips. "Goodbye, Fairy Tale Man."

"Goodbye, my Ava," he smiled softly...with tears in his eyes. He forced himself to step away from her, one of the hardest things he had to do. He looked at her one last time, shuddering a breath that wanted to lead to more tears. He turned away and walked back to the TARDIS.

Avalon hugged herself as she watched the Doctor disappear inside the TARDIS. Seconds later, she heard the wheezing noise as the box started disappearing. Her eyes might as well have been water wells by that point. She would've let herself cry right there and then if she hadn't noticed a figure standing behind the de-materializing TARDIS. It took her a few minutes to realize what it was…who it was.

"Hello Mother," the adult Sapling smiled at her and waved with one hand.

Avalon's eyes widened, immediately figuring he must have hitched a ride with the Doctor. Those two had played such a sneaky surprise on her. She ran up to him, throwing her arms around his much taller figure now that he was an adult. "Oh my Sapling! You've come back!"

"I had to," the Sapling hugged his mother tightly. "Father said you would need me."

Avalon could only nod against his wooden chest.

~ 0 ~

51st century, Luna University.

A very young River Song sat in a study with a table full of books and several official files in front of her. With a hand over her stomach, she dropped one of the files and picked up her opened diary to see a date written in one of the pages. She had looked it over at least a thousand times, along with the research she'd done, and she just couldn't figure it out.

"Tick, tock, goes the clock. And what now shall we play?" She heard a strange voice in the room say, "Tick, tock, goes the clock. Now summer's gone away."

"Hello?" River called. "Oliver? Are you playing a game on me? I don't like them."

Kovarian appeared from the shadows of the room flashing a smug smile at River. "Such a lovely old song. But is it about him?"

"You know about the Doctor?" River raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the strange woman. She thought she seemed familiar but...her mind was a bit fuzzy sometimes.

"So very well," Kovarian nodded and smirked at the long stare River was giving her, "Don't try and remember me. We have been far too thorough with your dear little head. I brought a gift, though" she informed as she reached across the table to take River's diary. "Well...gifts."

"A...what?" River blinked.

Kovarian smirked again as she came forwards and picked up River's diary off the table. "So they made you a doctor today, did they? Doctor River Song. How clever you are. You understand what this is, don't you?" She turned the diary around for River to see.

"According to some accounts it's the day the Doctor dies," River answered quietly. "But that's what they are, just 'accounts'. Rumors."

"By Silencio Lake on the Plain of Sighs an impossible astronaut will rise from the deep and strike the Time Lord dead," Kovarian recited with a great smile, as if it were her favorite story...and perhaps...

"It's a story, that's all," River shrugged, though she seemed nervous.

Kovarian sighed casually and set the diary back on the table, "And this is where it begins," she informed, "My gifts to you," she snapped her fingers and immediately a door opened from behind where two of the Silence entered holding a very familiar woman.

"What the hell is that?" River's eyes widened at the sight of the Silence.

"Your owners and, currently, hers," Kovarian gestured back.

"You let me go! Let me go right now!" Avalon kicked and stomped as she was brought in by the creatures. When she saw River she paused but then a deep fury marked her face. "YOU!" She tried going for her, shocking River until Avalon started to yell, "You're not my Mother! I don't want you!"

River swallowed thickly. "How did…?"

"Oh, shush child," Kovarian waved the ginger off and focused on River. "I'm about to make a deal with Mummy."

"Let her go right this instant," River ordered but dared not stand up at the moment.

"Here is the deal, Melody Pond," Kovarian set her hands on the table and leaned forwards, "Those stories of Lake Silencio are all true. The Doctor will be there and he will be shot. An astronaut is to rise from Silencio Lake and it will. The only thing I haven't decided is which one of you will it be? You...or your daughter?"

"I don't understand, how do you know who I am? And how do you have Avalon? I watched the Doctor take her into the TARDIS. She's safe!"

"Ah, time travel my dear. This is just before Berlin. I have your younger self waiting for orders in Leadworth," Kovarian's lips curled into a devilish smile. "I made you what you are and I also prepared a back up. I have trained your daughter to do the task, brainwashed her, everything I need to get this right."

"I am not her daughter!" Avalon still fiercely yelled. "You left me!"

"I didn't do anything," River weakly argued, much too confused to put up a proper defense. As far as she knew, she hadn't left her daughter all.

"Yet!" Avalon snapped. "You abandoned me!"

"I haven't!" River slammed her hands down on the table as she got up from her chair, letting Avalon see that she really hadn't.

Avalon went into shock and fell silent. River was pregnant, very pregnant. She hadn't done anything yet, none of the things Kovarian had shown her. "Oh my God…"

River settled a hand over her stomach. "I'm almost due," she said with a half smile. "And I will never abandon my child."

Before Avalon could say anything, Kovarian stepped around the table for River. The woman quickly backtracked the same step. "Someone is getting into that astronaut suit and doing the deed. I allow you mercy by giving you the freedom to choose who will do it. You can climb into the astronaut suit and shoot the Doctor dead, sparing your poor daughter the atrocious act of killing her love. However, if you decide to keep your baby daughter - I won't judge - then I will have that one-" She pointed back at Avalon who couldn't be more terrified at the prospect, "-be in the suit. She shoots the Doctor and then she's off to Stormcage. I'm sure you could arrange visitations."

River felt a deep fury fill her insides, something she had to be truly careful about given her state. "You will not touch my daughter!"

"Ah, so is that your choice then? You take her place?"

"N-n-n-n-n-no! No!" Avalon started once she got the idea. "She doesn't accept anything! And neither do I! I would rather die than kill the Doctor! Shoot me right now!"

"I would but I'm not interested in finding out how many regenerations you have right now," Kovarian dismissed her and continued on with River. "Well then? I don't have all day, and neither does the Doctor actually. You or her?"

"I won't do it," River said, nearly making a promise to Avalon there and then. "I'm not killing him..."

This did not settle well with Kovarian. "Perhaps another persuasion tactic is needed - my second gift. Bring him in!"

Two more Silence walked into the room dragging in a young ginger man. Avalon and River immediately recognized him.

"Let me go! What the hell are you anyways!?" The man angrily pulled and pulled against their claw-like hands.

"Uncle Oliver?" Avalon struggled against the Silence holding her. "Why-why are you here? Why is he here!?" She threw a glare at Kovarian.

"Oliver?" River had recognized him perfectly, and now looked even more terrified than before.

"Make the decision, Melody Pond," Kovarian began to warn again.

"R-River they're crazy!" the man, Oliver, was struggling hard. "They're talking about murder and our daughter and I-"

"Daughter?" Avalon repeated just before Kovarian's roaring voice went over hers.

"MAKE THE DECISION!"

"NO!" River exclaimed.

Once again defeated, Kovarian struck with another strategy. With one swift move she had pulled out a gun and shot Oliver on the chest. The man collapsed on the ground.

"NOOO!" River nearly lunged forwards as she saw this happen. The tears were quick to fill her eyes and spill down.

Avalon had gasped with horror. "No, no! You didn't have to do that! Why - why would you do that!?"

River tried reaching Oliver but Kovarian blocked the way. "Please…" River begged her. "He's dying…"

"Yes, what a terrible thing you just did," Kovarian said flatly. "How will she ever forgive you?"

River swallowed hard as she looked over to Avalon. "Please...that's her father. Let her be with him. It's his last moments."

"My father…?" Avalon repeated. Her head was spinning and this time it wasn't because of all the electric shocks she'd gotten recently. "He's my…" She met River's teary gaze and watched her nod. "Oh my God!" She wrestled free from the Silence to run to Oliver. She fell to her knees beside him. "I-I...I don't know what to do, I'm sorry…"

Oliver had very little energy left but he had enough to recognize her. He had seen her already before, once. "My Avalon…"

She swallowed hard and nodded her head. "They say...they say you're my Dad. Is that...is that true?"

Olivia struggled to smile at her, hoping to answer her question. "You have my hair."

Avalon leaned closer to him and nodded again. "I...I guess I do?" Oliver groaned and shuddered a breath. Avalon barely understood what was happening but her eyes were giving out tears. She was so sad; sad over him. "You're my father and you're dying. I've killed you!"

"No, no," Oliver reached out as if to hug her so Avalon cradled his body as much as she could. "My beautiful Avalon. You grow up, you'll be safe...and happy…"

"No, no, no, don't talk like that. If it's all true then-then that means we have a lot of catching up to do. Stay with me please," Avalon pressed a kiss to his cheek, feeling a faint tickle over her skin from his light beard. "You're my Dad, you have to stay with me." Oliver smiled at her one more time before his eyes fell shut. "No! C'mon! No!" Avalon called for him to wake up, pleaded him to, but he was completely still.

River was despondent as she looked over her desk to see Oliver still and eyes shut. "He had...nothing to do with this..." She said to Kovarian in a frail whisper.

"I wouldn't have had to do that if you had just obeyed," Kovarian glowered. "You know the rules. You listen to me or else. Who I shoot next is all up to you."

River's eyes flickered to Avalon beside Oliver. She was crying so terrible it broke her heart. Her daughter had just watched her father die, held him. "What happens to her? If I obey, what will happen to my daughter?"

"I'll wipe her memories of everything that happened to her in these last months then I'll send her to Leadworth where she'll meet your younger self. I hear you guys had a blast in Berlin," Kovarian smirked. She knew that no matter what happened she had already won. Berlin had already happened.

The door flung open again and this time several soldiers stormed in with the famous white astronaut suit. Avalon actually screamed at the sight of it, already terrified from what happened and what she already watched happen.

"Not that! Please, not that!" She held her father's body closer to her, as if somehow he would still be able to protect her. "Not that!"

Two soldiers came to rip her away from her father's corpse and for the suit. River screamed at them to stop while Kovarian laughed. "It's time to choose Dr. Song, we've simply run out of time!"

Author's Note:

It's all going down in the next chapter ladies and gents! So excited to see your reactions! It goes without saying that things will be very different from the show and of course it'll be angsty. Also, just a clarification for the time the passed by. When Avalon says it's been 2 years for her, she means in the TARDIS. Obviously in Leadworth it's still 2011 but for her, it's been 2 years since the beginning of this story!

[biscuitfam]

Past, Present, and Future

Summary: Being married to the Doctor has many perks as well the downfalls and the confusing paradoxical moments. Hurt though, emotional hurt, wasn’t something that came often. However there you all were. All four of you. A past, present, and future.

WC: 1880k

Pairing: 10th doctor x reader, 11th doctor x reader, River

Warnings/Tags: ANGST, mentions of cheating(?) maybe, not really.

A/N:  So I might make this into a multi chapter fic, but I’m not sure. Also! I’ve decided I’m going to make a subpages for my Supernarual fics as this is primarily turning into a DW blog Also! I came up with this fic from a dream I had 😂

Part two possibly?

Also, if you enjoy my content consider buying me a ko-fi to support this broke college student  >  Here!

“ I don’t want to go-“ A brilliant explosion of light filled the room breaking items in its wake. The TARDIS crying in pain as she lost control and begun falling through the sky. Crying in pain alongside the Doctor who clutched his head in agony.

Then, he changed. The Doctor had changed. Every bit of him totally different. New face. New voice. New attitudes. Your future husband, then secret boyfriend, glanced up to you as he sat on his knees and hair flattened to his head. Eyes full of sorrow and longing. Regret. He changed on you, however, you knew it was coming. You didn’t expect it to be so soon.

He changed into the man you had grown to love, although pain stuck within you as you had to grow to trust him again. The man you would marry. However, currently he sat as the man you had fallen for so helplessly yet he knew nothing of this as the relationship had to be secretive.

—

It had been twelve years after crash landing in the back of Amelia Pond’s garden resulting in the demise of the shed. Little Amelia had grown into the feisty redhead who, currently harassing Rory and fondling his hair, begun to travel with you and your now husband. The road to this hadn’t been easy. Being married to the Doctor had many perks as well the downfalls and the confusing paradoxical moments. The icon trio always managed some sort of trouble that would result you, the so called ‘motherly figure’ to swoop in and save their asses.

Amy and Rory had destroyed your concept of a complete linear timeline, well, a somewhat straight timeline that is. Time was never linear. Never occurring in the exact spots and always changing to accommodate changes. Although, when Mel turned into River a wave of hurt blew through you in remembrance of th library and what could come in future’s time.

Another woman would come and shake things up with your own timeline with the Doctor in ways you would never expect. Nothing hurt you more than the night you found out he would marry River in the future, and they indeed loved each other. You may or may not have snooped in her diary some..and hell did it hurt. You found out about all the secrets, all the lies, the future they had together; and the moments that the Doctor hid from you. However, the reality did not strike fully until the notes started coming true in front of your eyes. Curiosity has certainly killed the cat.

One thing that rung clear through all her tear stained letters is that she was perusing him, not the other ways around. While it did put some hope into you, it still hurt knowing he was feeding into it and you, his wife, had to watch the play act itself out as his future would be to marry another. Even if it was ‘beneficial’ and ‘save the integrity of human life as it is’ it was a cheap shot to the self esteem. Her written words burned your eyes and heart. You had written down the bolder dates within her book to keep a record for yourself and today was the Pandorica and also the day the Doctor reboot the universe for a Big Bang Two.

Then it happened. Everything went white as the Doctor’s screams sounded. The pure agony within his screams. The unfiltered, raw screams that tore your heart completely in two and made you forget all about the hurt you were feeling that he knew nothing of. Knowing his own future would make him go out of his way to purposely change it and quite possibly muck things up in the process. Although, he did have such a soft spot for the curly haired, curvy woman already. The white light got brighter and brighter before you felt like you were being completely obliterated.

Your own screams were the last thing you heard before blackness and slumber overtook you.

—

You woke to the feel of cold metal on your skin and puffs of steam hitting the back of your legs, thus resulting in rather uncomfortable wet denim patches rubbing against your skin. A large shadow stood hovering over you quite yet calculating as you raised yourself in to proper elbows trying to focus your eyes. That was until they locked onto a pair of cream converse standing right ahead of you. Those shoes, sand shoes, were the most recognizable clothing item in space and time - well, in your opinion anyway. The Doctor would beg to differ. Part of you wanted to close your eyes and beg for this to be a dream, while another wished to never go back. This was before all the pain and future knowledge.

“ What?” He asked as you stood, eyes blown wide open now at the realization it was you, “ What? What? I don’t quite understand...what?” He pulled away slightly and threaded a hand through his hair, “ You’re not wearing a vortex manipulator, I know for a fact I have implanted that cheap time travel is dangerous. I just dropped you off at home and you managed to pop back in? Was this Jack?” The man rambled on in confusion, meanwhile you sat in the captain’s chair amused yet annoyed at the daft alien.

“ Okay, long story short for you. First, I’m from your future and your future self reset time itself thus some cosmic mistake to cause me to be thrown into my past and disrupt my timeline.” This caused the man to raise a brow before you raised a long finger, however, his eyes caught a glance at the shiny ring placed upon it. You slowly covered your hands with your sleeves and gave him a slight smirk, “ No you can’t know.”

“ Is he at least good to you, your husband?” This question caused pain in your heart, especially at the saddened look in his eyes. You remembered this. He had dropped you off at home after a rather heated argument about what the two of you were -- things were said and feeling were hurt.

--

“ Y/N, please come back!” The Doctor’s words echoed within your ears as you went towards the doors with backpack already in tow. You wanted more than stolen kisses and in secret sweet nothings, you wanted more than him having doge around Rose to protect her feelings that she had towards him.

“ It’s either me or her, Doctor. I don’t want to do this to you - I really, truly don’t. But I can’t sit here and watch this. It just gets hard, always being someone’s second choice. I’ll be back, I just need to..calm down.”

--

“ Yes he is,” You smiled and looked up to the man and waved your head to dismiss his quizzing look, “ No details. You’ve taught me well enough.” You stood and circled around the console nervously with sweaty hands rubbing together. 

“ We do need to get me back to the right timeline though, if I remember right I’ll be back by morning-” You glanced to the computer screen and grimaced,“ Eight hours.”

The Doctor grabbed your had and gave it a soft squeeze his, a very comforting squeeze that caused tears to well in your eyes. He shook his head and made you stop in your wake, “ Whatever you tell me now must have been a part of my future self’s memories, correct? Y/N, tell me..what did your husband do? Why are you crying? And where am I?”

The Doctor sat with his head buried in his hands after the somewhat in depth explanation utterly baffled. How could he be so..dumb? Act so human? He went through the information once more through his head attempting to find somewhere to fix this. He still with you in his future, but he has another woman he’s destined to marry; You left out the bit that you had stolen from her journal. You knew future events before they even had, they being himself.

“ Right! Here’s what we’re going to do-” The man jumped to his feet and begun to fiddle with the switches and type in the year you were supposedly supposed to be in your time. 

-

Present time: 1:40pm, Location, The Tarids. After the reboot things quickly got back on track and to the best field of normalcy as it could for the Ponds, however, the Doctor had hauled himself underneath the TARDIS floors in his swing. She never really needed a fixing, however, the old gal took the tinkering with the occasional groan in means to let the Doctor self sooth. 

After the reboot everything had fallen back into it’s place once again with the Doctor traveling with Amy and Rory. River also being on board currently..but you were missing. It had been a few months since the reboot occurred, and he hardly slept or ate. He had become withdrawn in an attempt of searching for you that he had become blind sided about River’s intentions. She kept pushing herself in between the two of you.

“ She’s kot here anymore, sweetie. We’ve tried. Let me help you-“ Her words swirled in his head and caused him to grit his teeth. How could she be so cunning? So cruel? He never thought she could act in such a way. Surely she was flirty, but that was her nature and attitudes. The man dropped this tools to the grated floor, groaned, and placed a greasy hand over his eyes.

How could he have been so blind to you? He had noticed the signs, noticed your uncomfortable nature around the woman before the reboot occurred. He had passed it off as stress. A loud siren started blaring throughout the console room and the lights flashed red as the console was becoming compromised.

“ No, No, No! What now? What could be so bloody important to need me?” The man slipped from the swing and marched up the stairway, sliding past a River who bound down from her bedroom to see what had occurred.

“ What’s going on, Doctor? I tried to stop the signals from whatever is pulling us-“ He cut her short as he attempted to wriggle past her and get to the screens, not saying a word.

Even the emergency systems set in place were compromised. Whatever or whoever had full control over the TARDIS he couldn’t figure out.

“ There is nothing we can do, River. If I attempt to reroute is we would get thrown off course and quite possibly cause a rift-“ He gestured with his hands by holding them closed then slowly opening them, “ A rift would either swallow us all into a pocket universe or cause more timeline issues..however, it’s hard to tell. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen either way.”

The man stopped in his tracks and looked towards her with a pale face, “ The only way this may be possible is if I crossed my own timeline. I would never—“ He stopped point blank and let out a small laugh that soon escalated into a rather sad, hysterical one.

“ I remember this. This is the day I get Y/N back.”

[riversofmars]

The Doctor finds an ally in the Monk. Perhaps he can help her escape but where could she possibly run to?

Chapter 5: The Flipside

“When we turn right in a minute, behind the alcove, there is a tunnel to the outside, do you know it?“ The Monk hissed to the Doctor as he urged her along. He looked around to see if anyone had heard him, there were a couple of guards walking their way so the Doctor focused on moving forward without looking around.

“I- I think I know what you mean, how do you…“ She didn’t know what to say. Was he actually trying to help her?

“You follow that path, into the city. Way down below, where not a flash of sunlight reaches, someone will be waiting to pick you up.“ The Monk mumbled and fell silent as the guards came within earshot. The Doctor carried on walking, holding her breath, hoping the guards didn’t suspect anything.

They walked past without a word and the Doctor took a breath again, relieved.

“Someone? Who’s someone?“ She asked looking around when the guards were gone but he manoeuvred her to the right, ignoring her question, they didn’t have the time.

“It’s now or never, Doctor.“ He looked around quickly. “Please make it look believable, if they guess I was in on it, they will have my head so please.“

“Does Clara know about this?“ The Doctor couldn’t help but ask. She was still reeling from her encounter with Clara and trying to figure out how much - if anything - she told her was true.

“No. Of course not. She might be torn but… not enough to risk what she has on a whim. And not without considering her own advantage.“ The Monk explained quickly as they came to a halt by the alcove he had referred to.

“What about you.“ The Doctor asked trying to wrap her head around what was going on. In the same way as it was difficult to regard her friends as the very opposite, she also couldn’t quite bring herself to trust someone she considered a foe.

“You are the first glimmer of hope we have seen in years.“ The Monk answered with the faintest smile, an expression of hope and encouragement she had never seen cross his features before. It shook her, almost more than the startling encounter with Clara moments ago. “Do it now, Doctor, or we will miss our chance.“ The Monk looked around again. “There are guards coming our way and they will hunt you down. You know the way?“

“Yes.“ The Doctor nodded.

“Then go.“ He insisted and taking a deep breath, the Doctor punched the Monk in the face. Hard. She had to make it look believable, she didn’t want him to have to pay for his kindness with his life. She wondered for a moment what he was involved in, who and how she might find help in this place but it made sense. While all the people she loved and trusted stood against her, someone she had always considered untrustworthy and a criminal, stood up for her, facilitated her escape. This truly was a mirror of her life.

“Stop right there!“ A voice called from way down the corridor.

The Doctor bolted. She knew exactly where she was going. She had used the escape route many times when she was at the Academy and her and the Master had snuck off skipping class.

“Send word right now!“ She heard the guards shouting behind her. “Stop!“ The Doctor threw herself against a panel that she knew would give way and it did. She found herself on the top ledge of a steep staircase. Quickly she slammed the door shut behind herself and used her sonic to seal it. Taking two steps at a time, she sprinted down the stairs, if she knew of this passage, likelihood was, so did the Emperor. She had to hurry.  

——

“What the hell is happening here?!“ The Emperor yelled and Amy, Rory and Clara looked around in surprise. The heavy door she had pushed open smashed into the wall with a crash making them jump. River entered the room right behind her, her expression concerned, particularly when she realised the sort of showdown they had just walked in on.

“Clara!“ The Emperor thundered and instantly, the tattoo on Clara’s chest snapped back into shape. “What do you think you’re doing?!“

“Just a little disagreement over being interrupted while having a chat with the Doctor.“ Clara answered quickly taking a step away from the Ponds to appear less threatening. She gave the Emperor an apologetic - yet sweet - smile which made River’s expression harden. She stepped up to her parents to ensure they were okay.

“Can’t really call it a chat, it was more of a close physical examination.“ Rory pointed out as he put his sword away.

“Couldn’t really speak with her tongue down her throat.“ Amy added and looked to her daughter.

“Clara?“ The Emperor growled exasperated.

“I was gaining her trust and it was working too until these two interrupted!“ Clara exclaimed jabbing her finger at the Ponds. She didn’t take kindly to her methods being questioned. She shot them a deadly glare knowing full well she could kill them in a heartbeat. “You know I always get results, if they’d just let me…“ She looked back to the Emperor hoping she would redirect her anger accordingly.

“Why are you even here?!“ The Emperor snapped at her in-laws growing more and more impatient.

“Well, we…“ Amy looked to River for help who promptly intervened.

“I don’t really think this is important right now.“ River stepped up and put her hand in her wife’s shoulder.

“Do not tell me this is because you were fighting again!“ The Doctor looked to River, then to Clara and back again. “River, please, my love, we have talked about this at length!“ She groaned thoroughly annoyed by the whole situation.

“I’m not the problem here.“ Clara pointed out crossing her arms in front of her chest, she couldn’t keep herself from smirking a little for seeing River in hot water for once.

“I beg to differ.“ River shot back, giving her a withering glare.

“You need to stop, both of you.“ The Emperor interrupted. “River, for the one thousandth time, I trust Clara.“ She turned to her wife and took her hands in hers, reassuring her.

“Fuck knows why.“ River huffed, annoyed, though she silently delighted in the display of affection in front of Clara.

“And Clara, you better not have fucked this up for me, please tell me I am not wrong about trusting you with this.“ The Emperor turned back to Clara regarding her with a stern warning. “Where is she? Have you gotten anywhere?“

“Your Honour!“ A guard appeared at the door, clearly looking for Clara, freezing upon seeing the Emperor herself. “Your Eminence, I’m sorry, I…“

“This better be good.“ The Emperor growled, annoyed to be interrupted.

“It’s the prisoner… they’ve escaped.“ The guard didn’t know how to best phrase it so he just blurted out with it.

“WHAT?“ They all exclaimed in disbelief.

“The Monk, he… was attacked, she fled down one of the emergency passage ways.“ The guard elaborated going very pale at the expression on the Emperor’s face.

“YOU BETTER BE MISTAKEN.“ The Emperor was upon him in a flash going straight for his throat. She knocked him against the wall on the other side of the corridor baring her teeth at him.  

“I’m not, I’m so sorry.“ He croaked barely able to speak. “I was just trying to get help.“

“How did this happen?!“ She barked as River, Clara, Amy and Rory joined her on the corridor exchanging worried glances. None of them dared interrupt. More guards were flooding the corridors now, frantically looking for the prisoner. Yaz, Ryan and Graham hurried towards them expecting instructions.

“W-We found the M-Monk unconscious… I don’t … I don't know what h-happened…“ The guard stuttered bringing his hands to her wrists trying to pull her off. The Emperor let go of him unceremoniously and he slumped to his knees catching his breath. She turned, as if she had already forgotten about him.

“What happened?“ She focused on Clara who tried her best to hide her anxiety.

“The Monk was taking her back to her cell while we sorted this out.“ She explained trying to stay calm despite all eyes on her. “He must be in on it.“ Her mind was reeling at what could have happened, how this incredible fuck up could have happened on her watch. Her immediately instinct was to place blame on someone else. Particularly as parts of her conversation with the Doctor - if anyone else had heard it - would surely make her look suspicious, no matter how obvious her lies were to everyone else.

“The Monk was knocked out cold, she broke his nose and cheekbone.“ Yaz interjected having gathered the information already.

“I underestimated her.“ The Emperor growled virtually shaking with rage.

“We will find her.“ Amy spoke up.

“You better.“ The Emperor snapped addressing everyone around her. She couldn’t believe the level of incompetence. She couldn’t believe the Doctor had managed this by herself, Clara had been right. Someone had to be in on it. River could see the suspicion on her face, watching her eyes dart around, assessing them all.

“Darling…“ She said softly reaching out for her shoulder but the Emperor pulled away.

“If I find out any of you are to blame for this, all the gods in the universe can't save you.“ She growled, her eyes lingering on Clara, Amy and Rory. Their fight had allowed for this to happen, whether it had been intentional or not. She didn’t want to entertain the possibility that one of her closest friends might be willing to betray her, but she couldn’t discount the possibility either.

“Find her. Bring her to me. Whatever it takes, Captain.“ She raised her voice, for the guards to hear and looked to Yaz who was quick to nod.

“Yes Emperor.“ She gestured to Ryan and Graham and they all saluted before departing.

“And you.“ The Emperor looked around to the guard who had been the bearer of the bad news. He tensed up under her gaze. “Bring me the Monk.“ He was the most likely culprit and she already had a very clear idea on what to do about it.

——

The Doctor didn’t stop running until she reached the outskirts of the Citadel, well below where the well-to-dos of the timelords dwelled. The Doctor remembered coming down here during her academy days, running from the teachers and even during the Time War, when the council sought after her, she would sometimes seek refuge down here, away from everything.

What she found was in no way better than what she had seen in the Time War. The streets were dirty and dim, even with two suns in the sky, the light didn’t reach this far down. The old fashioned lamps meant to light the walkways were weak and flickering, as if something was draining them.

There were more people than she had expected to see, hanging around in doorways or surrounding some simple stalls on a sort of make shift market square. A lot of people just sat on the ground, around small campfires and as she looked further along, tents had sprung up among the dirty streets. A whole city within a city. The Doctor felt a lump forming in her throat, she had been all over the universe but she had rarely seen such poverty and sorrow.

She started walking slowly, remembering the Monk’s words, someone would be waiting for her but how would she recognise them? It wasn’t exactly like they had the opportunity to chat before her escape. She felt a lot of eyes on her.

“There it is.“ A loud voice cut through the oppressive atmosphere. “That’s the exit of the tunnel.“ The words were enough to make her dive into a doorway, clearly someone had followed her.

“Hey, what are you doing?“ A man huffed, giving her a little shove as she bumped into him.

“Sorry, I just…“ She didn’t have to carry on, the atmosphere was changing, growing more agitated, there were unsettled murmurs and curses being thrown around at the arrival of a set of guards.

“Alright folks, no need to panic, has anyone seen someone coming out of there.“ One of the guards called out, addressing the crowd around.

“They after you?“ The man guessed leaning in the doorway, glancing out as the Doctor pressed herself against the wall. There was something familiar about him but she couldn’t quite place him.

“I’ll be out of your hair in no time, just please…“ She whispered and he gave her an amused smirk.

“Don’t worry, we don't snitch to that lot.“ He took a few steps out of the doorway, walking past her as if she wasn’t even there.

“To what do we owe the pleasure of this delightful visit.“ He called out, drawing their attention.

“You can fuck right off.“ Another man called and there was laughter.

“A reward for anyone who can tell us where they are. And anyone who tries to hide them will be killed so make your choice quickly.“ One of the guards announced displaying his rifle for emphasis.

“For God’s sake…“ The Doctor mumbled, she just couldn’t catch a break could she.

“You’re not welcome down here.“ The man close to her called. “You have no power here.“

“Everything to the dirt you crawl in belongs to the Empire!“ The guard spat. “We are here on orders of the Emperor herself, you will show some respect.“

“Fuck the Emperor.“ A woman to the other side of the road called and there was more laughter.

“You really don’t want to do this.“ The other guard shot back threateningly.

“Maybe we do.“ The man next to the Doctor replied and she froze up when she heard the sound of safeties being taken off guns.

“Don’t…“ She breathed to the man but he either didn’t hear her or ignored her as he stepped further into the road.

“Last warning.“ One of the guards called and the Doctor took a deep breath, she couldn’t be responsible for anyone getting hurt on her account. These people had done nothing and they had been dealt a terrible hand already, she couldn’t be responsible for causing them more trouble. She had been so close to escaping…

“Wait!“ She called out and stepped out of the doorway but before anyone could so much as lay eyes on her, everything went dark around them. All the lights were drowned out, it was almost as if the darkness was alive, a protective cloud around them, engulfing her first and flooding the street. “What the…“ The Doctor couldn’t see anything, it was pitch-black around her and yet she could tell there was something in that darkness. It was abuzz with life and held her close like in a tight embrace, not cold and frightening but warm and reassuring.  

“I can’t see anything.“ It was impossible to make out where the guard’s voice was coming from now.

“Ouch, what the…“ The Doctor couldn’t be sure whether it was the darkness itself or the people around - in cover of darkness - going for the guards but something was happening.

“You’ll regret this!“ One of them shouted and the other called:

“We will be back!“

“What is going on here?“ The Doctor breathed. She knew she should be frightened for her complete lack of bearings but somehow she wasn’t. “What are you?“ She spoke to the darkness as if it was a breathing living thing and somehow she knew it was. She reached out, feeling soft vibrations against her fingertips.

“That was a close call.“ The voice of the man from the doorway spoke close to her. All of a sudden, that voice seemed a lot more familiar as it was all she had to focus on.

“Do I know you?“ She asked softly.

“In another life perhaps.“ He answered. “You must be the Doctor?“

“Colonel Manton?“ The penny dropped. It had been several lifetimes since Demons Run.

“I’m no Colonel.“ He chuckled. “Not here, anyway.“

“Right…“ The Doctor said softly as the darkness lifted at last. It was almost as if it was retreating, returning to the shadows as the lights around flickered back on. It’s what’s in the dark, what’s always in the dark… “Vashta Nerada… but how is that possible…“ She mumbled, her eyes widening as she marvelled: “Polar opposites… This is remarkable.“ There seemed to be good in this world after all.

“Are you okay, Doctor?“ He asked with genuinely concern in his voice and she looked back to him, giving him soft smile.

“Yeah, fine, sorry… it’s just… this place is so different.“ She couldn’t very well tell him that in her universe, they would have all been picked clean off the bone now, so she settled for a shrug and an awkward grin.

“I’m sure it must be.“ He gave her a smile in return. “Let’s get you away from here. If those guards come back, you’ll stand out like a Christmas tree in those clothes.“ He chuckled.

“Yeah, right, okay…“ The Doctor looked down herself and around them, she really looked rather out of place as they started walking. Some of the people gave them a little wave and a nod of appreciation. The Doctor felt her stomach tighten as a sense of uneasiness and guilt overcame her. How could she possibly ignore the suffering of these people? She couldn’t just leave. She had to do something. “Did the Monk sent you?“ She asked. “Who else is in on this? Maybe I can help.“

“We were really hoping you would say that, this way…“ Manton smiled, leading her into the tent city.

——

“What’s taking so bloody long.“ The Emperor growled pacing the room, she eyed the spread of food on the coffee table with displeasure.

“I was trying the carrot seeing as the stick didn’t work for you.“ Clara was quick to explain before she could question it.

“And how did that turn out for you?“ The Emperor shot back angrily and with a swipe of her hand, half the plates and bowls smashed onto the floor. Clara and the Ponds jumped a little while River stepped closer to her wife.

“They will find her in no time.“ She tried to reassure her. She ran her fingers through her hair which always seemed to calm her.

“They better.“ She huffed. She shot the others angry glances, as if blaming them personally. Clara was just about to speak up when the guard finally returned with the Monk.

“Apologies for the delay your Eminence.“ The guard remained by the door and shoved the Monk inside. He stumbled forward coming to a halt at a respectable distance, for his own safety more than anything else.

“Your Excellence, I’m so sorry…“ He started mumbling, pressing an icepack to his swollen face.

“What happened?!“ The Emperor barked, her anger resurfacing as she stepped towards him.

“She just… I was taking her back to her cell when she attacked me, she must have known her way around the palace to know where she could escape to.“ He tried to sound convincing, reciting the story he had rehearsed many times in his head. He knew his life depended on this.

“And you expect me to believe that?“ The Emperor chuckled. “You expect me to believe she overpowered you?“ She actually started laughing.

“You’d be able to overpower him…“ River reminded her.

“SHE’S NOTHING LIKE ME!“ The Emperor burst out. She had had enough of constantly being reminded of their similarities. She didn’t dwell on it long, instead she turned back to the Monk, her voice low but clear in the tense silence. “You want to know what I think really happened? I think you told her how to escape and tried to make it look like you were the victim.“

“I’d never…“ He started but she interrupted him sharply, she didn’t want to hear any more.

“Yeah, yeah, I know, you’re just going to deny it and we will walk around in circles. You’ll end up with more broken bones and I’ll get even more irritated than I already am. Unfortunately, we haven’t got time for that right now, so I’m going to cut to the chase and we make this really easy. Clara?“ She looked around and Clara was quick to respond.

“Yes?“ She took a little step forward.

“Put a chronolock on him, 24 hours should do it.“ The Emperor ordered with a sense of excitement. The Monk went incredibly pale and looked to Clara, knowing full well that pleading and bargaining would do no good. Clara just nodded and obeyed quickly without second guessing her.

“No, please, Emperor…“ The Monk’s eyes widened in shock and fear but it was too late, the tattoo materialised on the back of his neck. He gave a strangled sob, knowing his fate was sealed. Had his actions been worth it? He could only hope so.

“Shush and listen or I will rip your tongue out for good measure.“ The Emperor growled and stepped closer to him. “You have 24 hours to bring her back to me. If you do, I will spare your life and you will have proven your loyalty.“ She gave him an encouraging pat on the shoulder with a patronising smile. He flinched back and she smirked, delighting in his fear: “If you don’t, the Raven will find you, and I will assume you died screaming amongst your traitor friends. When you see the Doctor, you tell her from me: I will turn this city upside down, kill every man, woman and child with my very own hands until I find her. And I will make a spectacle for all the universe to see of everyone trying to hide her. Is that understood?“

“I will bring her back…“ He said weakly, trying his best to keep up the pretence for a moment longer, touching the tattoo on the back of his neck.

“You better.“ River gave him a little wave. “Off you go.“

“Do you really think the Monk is in on it though?“ Amy asked watching him leave.

“Probably just as well we make an example of someone so no-one gets the wrong idea.“ River shrugged.

“It doesn’t matter if he was or not. Death makes for a fantastic incentive.“ The Emperor mused.

[singledarkshade]

The Doctor And The Nurse

Summary: On his way to work, Rory Williams meets a strange man on the strangest morning of his life. So far. Author’s Note: I saw this Tumblr Gif set with Rory as the Tenth Doctor's companion and this appeared. All Eleventh Doctor canon is gone, as is River (at the moment). I intend to write more in this as I have quite a few ideas but until then, enjoy.                                ********************************************* “Hi, Rory,” Amy’s grinning face appeared on the screen, “I’m in India, not that you would know since I’m in my gorgeous hotel room,” the camera moved and panned around the room before moving to the window, “I can’t even show you the sights through the window cause I’m over the pool.”

The camera returned to her smiling face, “We’re here for a few more days, maybe a week depending on how things go then we’re heading to Peru. Can you believe it?” She paused and tilted her head, “I miss you and I wish you were here to see all this, but I know you’re too busy keeping everyone healthy.” She blew him a kiss, “I will be home for your birthday so I will see you then. Bye.”

Rory sighed as he watched Amy’s message for about the hundredth time since he’d received it six days ago. She had surprised everyone when she suddenly announced she’d gotten a job working with Clayton Gove, a well-known writer, and his wife, Julia Gove as their new assistant. He was writing a new novel, while his wife was researching a travel book, so it meant going to far-flung and exotic locations for the next year.

But that was Amy, adventurous and capricious, a whirlwind in his life since childhood but his best friend he couldn’t imagine life without.

With a sigh, Rory finished his coffee before getting his things together to go to work.

Looking around his tiny flat, Rory sometime wished he’d stayed in Leadworth but that would have meant still living at home and he had been trying to assert his independence.

The thing was he was supposed to be moving to London with Amy and sharing a flat with her, except she got her fantastic job, so he’d basically fallen on his face.

Realising the time, Rory grabbed his jacket and headed out the door.

The TARDIS landed.

Wondering where he’d ended up since he’d used the random setting, the Doctor slid his coat on and opened the door.

“Really?” he asked, looking out the door to see a sunny morning in a park in what he was sure was London, “I thought we’d be somewhere much more fun.”

Musing for a moment, he knew that when the TARDIS stopped somewhere there was usually a reason for it so, closing the door, the Doctor stepped out into the warm morning.

He would admit he was a little bored since Martha had left, and he was on his own which meant he ended up talking to himself far too much these days.

Sticking his hands in his coat pocket he strolled along the path, smiling at people as he passed them. It was a quiet day but there was something…something he couldn’t quite put his finger on but something.

“Sorry,” a young man said when the Doctor bumped into him.

“My fault,” the Doctor told him before heading away.

Continuing he frowned hearing a strange scuttering from nearby. Stopping he strained to hear the noise, getting onto the ground and pressing his ear to the grass.

“Are you hurt young man?” a woman asked from above him.

He grinned up at her, seeing the perfectly set grey hair and pink jogging suit, “Just checking that the worms are able to move around freely.”

She gave him a confused looked before power walking on.

And then all hell broke loose.

  Rory heard screaming and turned to see people running as what looked like bats rose up from a hole in the ground. The man in the long brown coat who had bumped into him was ushering people away as he pointed a strange pen at the sky.

He saw several people stumble, an older woman wearing a pink jogging suit fell to the ground with a cry. Pushing through those running in the opposite direction Rory reached the woman just as the strange man did.

“Here,” Rory said as they both crouched to help her, “Slowly.”

Helping her to a bench, Rory dug into his bag for his first aid kit as the strange man finally cleared the strange creatures.

“You’re prepared,” the strange man said as he sat on the back of the bench with his feet on the seat.

Rory glanced at him as he began to clean the cut on the woman’s arm, “I’m a nurse.”

“Good,” the man said, nodding, “Excellent. That was good luck you being here. But then I suppose this is on your way to work.”

Frowning slightly confused Rory nodded. He checked the wound and started to put some antibiotic cream on it.

“So, you’ve never seen anything odd?” the strange man asked, “No one weird hanging around?”

Rory turned to him, “Other than you?”

“Good point,” he chuckled, before continuing, “I mean it’s strange for the Chrilckingkiki to attack like that.”

Looking at the woman he was helping who shrugged back at him, Rory knew he was going to regret this but asked, “The what?”

“The things that attacked,” he explained, “But they never would come to Earth…”

“Earth?”

“You would expect to see them on Mars,” the man continued not even acknowledging Rory’s question, “Which begs the question, why are they here?”

Finishing bandaging the woman’s arm, Rory looked up at the strange man, “My question is what are you talking about?”

The man laughed, “Never mind. You should get to safety.”

With that said he bounced away leaving Rory and the woman staring after him.

“That was odd,” Rory said.

She nodded, “Yes, it was.”

“Oh,” the man reappeared again making them both jump, “You wouldn’t happen to have any chewing gum?”

Distracted as a policewoman appeared to check on them, Rory nodded, “In my bag.”

“Thank you,” the man said as he ran away again calling back, “Get to safety.”

Rory sighed.

“What’s wrong, dear?” the woman asked as the policewoman started her moving.

“He took my bag,” Rory looked in the direction the strange man had run, he glanced at the policewoman, “Please ensure she’s checked for a concussion.”

With that said he ran after the man who had stolen his bag.

  The Doctor checked the sonic and fixed the frequency, if he could find their nest then he might be able to work out how they got there. He opened the bag to find the chewing gum and frowned that he couldn’t find what he was looking for.

The bag was snatched from his hands making him jump to see the nurse standing there.

“I told you to get to safety,” the Doctor reminded him.

“You stole my bag,” Rory told him.

The Doctor stared at him for a moment before realising, “Aww, sorry. Where’s the chewing gum?”

Rory opened the front pocket and pulled out the packet he had, “Here.”

“Excellent,” the Doctor said before realising he had no idea who he was talking to, “What’s your name?”

“Rory, look I…”

“I’m the Doctor,” he cut the younger man off, shoving a few strips of chewing gum in his mouth, “Chew this.”

Rory looked confused with two strips of gum sitting in his mouth, so the Doctor motioned what he wanted him to do. The bemused expression didn’t move as he began to chew.

Checking the signal on the sonic he began to move again, Rory following on. Reaching a large tree in the centre of a grass circle the Doctor frowned.

“The signal stops here,” he grimaced, shaking the screwdriver, “That’s rubbish. A tree.”

“That’s new,” Rory spoke up from his side.

The Doctor spun, “What?”

“I walk through this park every day,” Rory told him, “I have never seen a tree here before, especially one that looks older than I am.”

“Really?” the Doctor stared at it, “Give me your gum.”

Rory stared at him, “You want my chewed gum?”

“Why do you think I gave you it?” the Doctor rolled his eyes, “Gum, now.”

With a disgusted look, Rory took the gum out his mouth and handed it across. Nodding at the young man, the Doctor rummaged in his pockets and pulled out the atmosphere sensor he had. With the gum and the sonic he altered it so he could check for portals instead.

“What are you doing?” Rory demanded watching intently.

“The Chrilckingkiki aren’t from here,” the Doctor explained as he worked, “So they must have come through my portal. Now, if there is a portal there is someone who has created it and considering there is a tree bang smack in the middle of the park that wasn’t there yesterday then we know that there is someone orchestrating this.”

“So…”

“So, I am going to do a feedback loop and close the portal,” the Doctor told him.

Rory stared at him for a few seconds before shrugging, “Okay.”

With a nod the Doctor activated the scanner, finding the frequency he glanced at Rory who was watching thoughtfully.

A high pitched squeal began to sound from the tree.

“What is that?” Rory demanded.

The Doctor winced and grabbed Rory’s arm, “Run.”

  Rory was a little surprised as the Doctor grabbed his arm and yanked him away from the tree. The Doctor skidded to a stop and snatched Rory’s bag off him again, opening it he dumped the contents onto the grass.

“Hey!!” Rory cried, picking up his stuff from the ground.

“Sorry, Rory,” he said, “I need this, the portal isn’t closing and unless I close it then it will rip a permanent hole between the worlds and…”

“And?” Rory demanded automatically taking the bag when the Doctor handed it to him.

“I need to be able to detonate a large enough explosion and need a way to deliver it without getting either of us killed.”

Staring at the other man, Rory nodded and didn’t resist when the Doctor took the bag back. Using the handle, he began to swing it in a circle around his head before letting it go.

“Allonsy,” the Doctor cried as he released the bag.

It flew through the air in a smooth arc, and Rory gripped the Doctor’s arm as he watched it hit the tree. The explosion threw them both backwards and they slammed into the ground.

  The Doctor sighed in relief that his plan had worked, he knew it had been a long shot but sometimes they worked the best.

Pulling himself to a stand, the Doctor offered Rory his hand to help him off the ground.

“You okay?”

“Ahh, yeah,” Rory sounded winded, looking around. He stared at the empty space where the tree had been, “What happened?”

“We closed the rift and made sure that it can’t open again,” the Doctor smiled, patting Rory on the shoulder, “Well, that’s us fixed everything so you should go and get to work.”

Looking a little shell-shocked, Rory nodded and holding all his things in his arms wandered away. With a smile the Doctor headed back to the TARDIS.

                                 *********************************************

 Rory finished his shift, his supervisor had heard of the chaos in the park so he hadn’t received any reprimands for being late. He’d managed to get it out of his mind while he worked but now, as he wandered home Rory kept thinking about the insane morning.

As he walked along the side of the park, it was still cordoned off after this morning’s insanity so he couldn’t follow his usual route home. Rounding the corner to his street, Rory stalled as the Doctor stood in front of a police box sitting on the street.

“I thought I would check up and see how you were after this morning,” the strange man said, pushing himself off the box.

Rory stared at him for a second before asking, “Who are you?”

“I told you,” he grinned, “I’m the Doctor.”

“I know a lot of Doctors and none of them are like you,” Rory replied.

The Doctor continued to grin, “I like you.”

“Thank you?”

“So,” the Doctor said, “Where are you from? Because you don’t seem at ease here.”

Looking bemused at the questioning Rory took a moment before he shrugged, “I’m from Leadworth.”

“Never heard of it,” the Doctor mused.

“It’s in Gloucester,” Rory replied before shaking his head, “Why am I telling you this?”

The Doctor smiled, “I’m listening?”

Rory stared at him, still bemused.

"So, you've never been anywhere other than here or some tiny village in the middle of nowhere?" the Doctor asked.

Rory shrugged, "Never really had the inclination to travel much."

"Then you've never thought of another sky above your head, or different grass beneath your feet?"

"My friend Amy was always the adventurous one," Rory told him, "She’s currently in India, I think. It might be Peru by now."

The Doctor chuckled, "Since I destroyed your bag, how about I make it up to you by giving you one trip."

"How?"

Pointing to the TARDIS, the Doctor waited for the young man's reply.

"In your wooden box?" Rory asked, the scepticism clear in his voice.

With a grin the Doctor opened the door, "Have a look."

Confused Rory moved closer and stopped as he saw the room through the door, turning he walked around the box, his hand trailing along the outside to ensure there was nothing there to create an illusion.

Returning to the door he stepped inside and looked around.

“Well?” the Doctor said, waiting for the normal response.

Rory turned to him, “After today, this doesn’t surprise me.”

Laughing the Doctor threw his coat over the railing, closing the door before he jogged over to the console.

“I should probably ask,” Rory joined him at the console, “Trip where?”

With a grin the Doctor pulled the lever.

[thelittlesttimelord]

The Littlest Timelord: The Death of the Doctor Chapter 9

TITLE: The Littlest Timelord: The Death of the Doctor Chapter 9 PAIRING: No Pairing RATING: T CHAPTER: 9/? SUMMARY: The Doctor’s death is looming on the horizon and Elise is growing every day. What the Doctor doesn’t know is that he has 200 years to teach Elise all he knows. Amy, Rory, and River let Elise in on their secret, because River knows she will keep it. What will Elise do when he’s gone?

They stepped out of the TARDIS on to what appeared to be a ship.

“Doctor, are you sure we’re in the right place?” Rory asked.

“This is where the distress signal lead.”

They found a hatch and the Doctor knocked. He pushed it open and a group of pirates stood there. “Yo ho ho!” he said, excitedly, “Or does nobody actually say that?”

The Captain and a couple of his crew members took them to the Captain’s quarters and the Doctor explained why they were there.

“We made no signal,” the Captain said.

“Our sensors picked you up. Ship in distress.”

“Sensors?”

“Yes. Okay, problem word. Seventeenth century. My ship automatically, er, noticed-ish that your ship was having some bother.”

“That big blue crate?”

Elise glared at the Captain. The TARDIS was not a crate.

Rory hit her on the shoulder and she stopped.

“That is more magic, Captain Avery. They're spirits. How else would they have found their way below decks?” his first mate asked.

“Well, er, I want to say multidimensional engineering, but since you had a problem with sensors, I won't go there. Look, I'm the Doctor. This is Amy, Rory, and Elise. We're sailors, same as you.” He stepped forward and punched Avery’s shoulder. “Ooo arrr.” When he turned around, Avery was pointing a gun at him. “Except for the gun thing. And the beardiness.”

“You're stowaways! Only explanation. Eight days, we've been stranded here, becalmed. You must have stowed away before we sailed,” Avery said.

“Now what do we do with 'em?” the first mate asked.

“Oh, I think they deserve our hospitality.”

They took them all up on deck.

The Doctor was standing on the plank as the pirates laughed.

Elise was struggling against the pirate that held her.

“I suppose that laughing like that is in the job description. Can you do the laugh? Check. Grab yourself a parrot. Welcome aboard,” the Doctor ranted.

“Stocks are low. Only one barrel of water remains. We don't need three more empty bellies to fill. Take the doxies below to the galley. Set them to work. They won't need much feeding,” Avery ordered.

“Rory? A little help?” Amy asked as she and Elise backed away from the pirate in front of them. Elise wished River had given her a blaster or something.

“Yeah. Hey, listen, right? She's not a doxy and neither is Elise,” Rory asked.

“I didn't mean just tell him off. Thanks anyway.”

The pirate shoved Elise and Amy below deck.

“Now what?” Elise whispered.

Amy looked around and found a crate full of swords. She grabbed one and handed a smaller one to Elise.

It was more of a dagger than sword.

Next, Amy grabbed a coat and a hat and they made their way back up on deck.

“I suppose the rest of them are hiding some place, and they're going to jump out and shout boo,” the Doctor said.

“Boo!” Amy yelled.

The pirates spun around.

“Throw the gun down,” she said.

Avery did and she kicked it away from him.

“The rest of you, on your knees,” she ordered. “

Amy, what are you doing?” the Doctor asked. The Doctor noticed Elise was holding a small dagger as well.

“Saving your life. Okay with that, are you?” Amy asked.

“Put down the sword. A sword could kill us all, girl,” Avery said.

“Yeah, thanks. That is actually why I'm pointing it at you.”

The pirates rushed forward, trying to knock the sword from Amy’s hands. Any time she got close to them with the sword, they backed away from her.

Amy ran up some steps and swung across on a rope. She slashed at the pirate who was holding Rory earlier.

“You have killed me,” he said.

“No way. It's just a cut. What kind of rubbish pirates are you?” Amy asked.

“One drop, that's all it takes. One drop of blood and she'll rise out of the ocean,” Avery explained.

“Come on, I barely even scratched him. What are you all in such a huff about?”

A pirate came towards Amy and she tried to swing past him, but he grabbed her. She dropped the sword.

Rory tried to grab it, but cut his hand in the process. “Ow!” A black spot appeared on his hand. “Er, Doctor, what's happening to me?” he asked.

“She can smell the blood on your skin. She's marked you for death,” Avery said.

“She?”

“A demon, out there in the ocean.”

“Okay. Groovy. So not just pirates today. We've managed to bagsy a ship where there's a demon popping in,” the Doctor said. He looked at Rory’s hand. “Very efficient. I mean, if something's going to kill you, it's nice that it drops you a note to remind you.”

Suddenly, there was singing.

“Quickly now, block out the sound,” the first mate said.

“What?” Rory asked.

“The creature. She charms all her victims with that song,” Avery explained.

“Oh, great. So put my fingers in my ears, that's your plan? Doctor, come on. Let's go. Let's get back to the…back to the…” Rory and the other pirate started giggling.

“The music. It's working on him. Look,” the first mate said.

Rory turned to Amy, swaying a bit. “You are so beautiful.”

“What?” Amy asked him.

“I love your get up. That's great. You should dress as a pirate more often. Hey, hey, cuddle me, shipmate.”

“Rory, stop.”

“Everything is totally brilliant, isn't it? Look at these brilliant pirates. Look at their brilliant beards. I'd like a beard. I'm going to grow a beard.”

“You're not.”

“The music turns them into fools,” Avery said.

Amy froze. “Oh, my God.”

They all turned to see a bright light rising up out of the water.

A woman flew out of the sea and landed on deck.

The pirate walked towards her while Amy tried to hold Rory back. When the pirate touched her, he exploded.

Elise gasped.

“I have to touch her. Let me touch her,” Rory begged.

“Sorry, but he is spoken for,” Amy told her.

The woman turned red and blasted Amy back.

Elise and the Doctor ran to her.

“Amy! Everybody into the hold. Rory! Come on!”

The Doctor grabbed Rory and pulled him down below deck.

“Hey! Wait! Get off!” Rory yelled.

They now stood in ankle deep water. Of course it was higher on Elise.

The Doctor grabbed the dagger out of Elise’s hand. “Give me that.” He chucked in across the room.

“What is that thing?” Amy asked, wrapping her arms around Rory.

“The legend. The siren. Many a merchant ship laden with treasure has fallen prey to her. She's been hunting us ever since we were becalmed, picking off the injured,” Avery explained.

“Like a shark. A shark can smell blood,” the first mate said.

“Okay. Just like a shark, in a dress. And singing. And green? A green singing shark in an evening gown,” the Doctor ranted.

“The ship is cursed!” Avery insisted.

“Yeah, right. Cursed is big with humans. It means bad things are happening but you can't be bothered to find an explanation.”

“She's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen,” Rory said.

The Doctor clapped him on the shoulder a few times.

“Actually, I think you'll find she isn't,” Amy told him.

“She is.”

“We have to leave right now.”

“That thing of yours really is a ship?” Avery asked.

“Well, it's not propelled by the wind,” the Doctor said.

Avery pulled out his gun and pointed it at the Doctor. “Show me. Weigh anchor. Make it sail.”

“And the gun's back. You're big on the gun thing, aren't you? Freud would say you're compensating. Ever met Freud? No? Comfy sofa.”

Elise patted his hand. She could go for a comfy sofa right now too.

“Leave the cursed one, Captain. The creature can have him,” one of the pirates said.

“Yes, please,” Rory agreed.

“We don't want the siren coming after us,” Avery told him.

One of the pirates started screaming and he pulled his leg out of the water.

“It's a leech!” Amy exclaimed.

“Everyone out of the water!” the Doctor yelled.

The Doctor picked Elise up and set her on top of a crate.

“It's bitten me. I'm bleeding,” the pirate said.

“She wants blood. Why does she want blood?” the Doctor asked.

“What were you saying about leaving the cursed ones behind?” Amy quipped.

“It's okay, we're safe down here. No curse is getting through three solid inches of timber.”

The Siren appeared behind the Doctor.

“Oh! Ah. Hello again,” he said.

The pirate started to go towards her, despite everyone yelling at him not to. He touched her and exploded, leaving only his hat behind.

The Doctor grabbed the hat and ushered everyone into the bunk room.

“Safe?” Amy asked.

“I have my good days and my bad days,” he told her.

“How did she get in?” Avery asked.

The Doctor soniced the pirate’s hat. “Bilge water. She's using water like a portal, a door. She can materialize through a single drop. We need to go somewhere with no water.”

“Well, thank God we're not in the middle of the ocean,” Amy snapped.

“Did you see her eyes?” Rory asked, “Like crystal pools.”

“You are in enough trouble.”

“The magazine,” Avery said.

“What?” Amy asked.

“He means the armory where the powder's stored,” the Doctor explained.

“It's dry as a bone,” Avery said.

“Good. Let's go there.”

Avery aimed his gun at the Doctor again. “I give the orders.”

“Ah. Worried because I'm wearing a hat now? Nobody touch anything sharp!”

Everyone followed the Doctor and Avery.

The first mate was looking through his keys.

“Quickly, man,” Avery told him.

“I can't find the key. Tis gone, Captain.”

“How can it have gone?”

The Doctor pushed open the door. “Someone else had the same idea.”

They went inside.

“Barricade the door. Careful of that lantern. Every barrel is full of powder,” Avery said.

“Who's been sleeping in my gun room?” the Doctor asked.

There was a coughing noise coming from a barrel.

Avery opened it and pulled out a young boy around Elise’s age. “You fool!” Avery yelled, “You fool, boy. What are you doing here?”

“Who is he?” the first mate asked.

“What, he's not one of the crew?” the Doctor asked.

“No. He's my son.” Avery put him down. “What in God's name possessed you, boy? Your mother will be searching for you.”

The boy looked away.

“When?” Avery asked.

“Last winter. Fever. She told me all about you. How you were a Captain in the Navy. An honorable man, she said. How I'd be proud to know you.” He coughed. “I've come to join your crew.”

“I don't want you here,” Avery told him.

Elise glared at Avery. How could he not want his own son with him? The Doctor put a hand on her shoulder, making circles with his thumb to calm her.

“You can't send me back. It's too late. We're a hundred miles from home,” Avery’s son said.

“It's dangerous here. There is a monster aboard. She leaves a mark on men's skin.”

“The black spot?” He showed them the palm of his hand and then coughed.

The Doctor nudged Elise. She knew what that meant. Elise walked over to him nervously playing the braids in her hair.

The adults had stepped away to talk.

“Hello,” she said.

“Hello.”

“What’s your name?”

“Toby.” He coughed again.

“I’m Elise.”

“It’s nice to meet you.” Toby coughed and started wheezing.

“Sounds like you need a drink of water,” Elise said. She pulled out her sonic screwdriver, searching for a barrel with fresh water.

They found one and Toby pulled the top off.

Elise screamed as the Siren’s hand shot out.

The Doctor grabbed the lid and forced it back down.

“The water's dangerous. That's how she gets through. One touch of her hand and you're a dead man,” Avery said.

“We're all cursed if we stay aboard,” the first mate told them.

“It's not a curse. Curse means game over. Curse means we're helpless. We are not helpless. Captain, what's our next move?” the Doctor asked.

Avery looked at the Doctor and then at his son. He pulled out a medallion attached to a string and put it around Toby’s neck. “Wait with the boy.”

“Captain, we're all in danger here,” the first mate said.

“I said wait. And barricade the door after we've gone.”

“Sure you want to go?” Amy asked the Doctor.

“We have to get Rory and Toby away. She's out there now, licking her lips, boiling a saucepan, grating cheese.”

Food sounded really good right about now.

“Okay… Well, remember, if you get an itch, don't scratch too hard.”

“We've all got to go some time. There are worse ways than having your face snogged off by a dodgy mermaid.”

The Doctor looked down at Elise. He petted her hair before leaning down to kiss her head.

Amy put a hand on her shoulder as the Doctor and Avery left.

[working-write-now]

Comparing the Eras of NuWho: Moffat and Davies

I wrote this a year ago, before Jodie Whittaker’s series came out. I’m not going to add Series 11 to the comparison, because Chibnall’s run on Doctor Who isn’t done yet, and I don’t want to evaluate it before it’s done. In the original google doc, I had some footnotes, which unfortunately can’t be used in this format, so I adapted them as [NOTE: <more here>].

Now that Steven Moffat’s time as head writer on Doctor Who is done, it’s a good time to take a step back and examine the differences between how he and his predecessor,  Russel T. Davies, wrote for the show. Needless to say, there are spoilers ahead for the entire revived series of Doctor Who.

One good place to look at how the writers differ is how The Doctor’s companions are introduced. Davies introduces companions to the audience prior to their meeting The Doctor. As “Smith and Jones” begins, Martha walks down the street, trying to mediate her family drama. She then attends her class at the hospital, where she meets The Doctor. Rose’s introduction was similar: in the middle of an ordinary day, Rose is suddenly attacked by mannequins, and The Doctor appears. Donna’s introduction disrupts this pattern. She appears in the TARDIS at the end of “Doomsday.” However, in “The Runaway Bride,” her first full episode, she is walking down the aisle at her wedding when suddenly she’s transported to the TARDIS. When she’s reintroduced in “Partners in Crime,” the episode begins with The Doctor and Donna performing similar actions even though they don’t actually meet up until later. Davies even introduces one-off companions this way, such as Christina de Souza in “Planet of the Dead,” which begins with her robbing a museum, and eventually getting on the same bus as The Doctor to escape the police. By introducing the companions before The Doctor, Davies develops them, establishing them as characters before they travel time and space.

Conversely, Moffat’s episodes which introduce companions are centered on The Doctor. The pre-title sequence of “The Eleventh Hour” shows The Doctor and the TARDIS crashing through London, and “The Bells of Saint John,” which introduced Clara, begins with The Doctor in a monastery. Although “The Time of Angels,” which reintroduced River Song, begins with her on a spaceship, she doesn’t stumble into The Doctor like other companions, instead summoning him for assistance. “The Pilot” begins with Nardole bringing Bill to The Doctor, and the audience doesn’t get a glimpse into her life until later. By not taking the time to introduce the companions before The Doctor, Moffat implies that it doesn’t matter who the companions were before The Doctor shows up in their lives, and that the focus of the show should be on him.

Moffat continues to put the emphasis on the Doctor by making him an independent hero, while Davies emphasizes the importance of the companions. In most episodes Davies wrote, it’s not The Doctor, but his companions who save the day. Take “The Parting of the Ways,” for example. The Doctor can’t defeat the Daleks without also killing all humans, and decides to put himself at the mercy of the Daleks instead, until Rose shows up as the Bad Wolf and destroys them. Martha also saves the world; in the year between “The Sound of Drums” and “Last of the Time Lords,” she travels Earth, telling people about The Doctor and to think about him during The Master’s Countdown. [NOTE: There are probably some of you who are arguing that the plan to defeat The Master was made by The Doctor, but it was Martha who implemented it, and the only thing he told her was to “use the countdown.” Martha had to figure out about the Archangel Network and everything else on her own. Thus, I attribute this win to Martha.] Donna too saves the day in “Journey’s End” when there’s not just one, but two Doctors running around, both of whom are powerless to stop Davros. Donna, who has become just as smart as The Doctor, is able to deactivate the reality bomb and save all of creation. In fact, in the “The Stolen Earth” and “Journey’s End,” the episodes that function as the magnum opus to Davies’s time as showrunner, The Doctor is mostly helpless, and it’s his companions who work together to save the day. In “The Stolen Earth”, the Earth has disappeared and The Doctor has no clue where it’s gone or how to find it until Jack, Sarah Jane, Martha, and Harriet Jones all work together to let The Doctor know where they are. In “Journey’s End,” The Doctor spends most of the episode trapped in a holding cell, and it’s his companions who try to foil The Dalek’s plan, Martha by threatening to destroy the Earth, and Jack, Sarah Jane, Mickey, and Jackie by threatening to blow up the Dalek’s ship.

In contrast, Moffat’s episodes generally feature The Doctor saving the day. In “The Eleventh Hour”  The Doctor alerts the Atraxi to Prisoner Zero’s presence, so it can be imprisoned once again. In “The Big Bang,” it’s The Doctor who flies The Pandorica into the exploding TARDIS, rebooting reality. [NOTE: Though Amy remembers The Doctor and brings him back, that happens after the main problem of the episode is resolved.] In “The Wedding of River Song,” it’s The Doctor who comes up with the plan of hiding in the Teselecta to escape his death. The Doctor is also the one who saves the day in “Flesh and Stone,” “The Day of the Moon,” and “The Time of The Doctor.” [NOTE: Though Clara convinces the Time Lords to grand The Doctor more regenerations, it’s The Doctor who destroys them with regeneration energy.] This trend continues into Peter Capaldi’s time playing The Doctor, notably occurring in “Death in Heaven,” where although it’s Danny Pink who destroys the Cybermen when given control of them, it’s The Doctor who grants him that control. The trend is also present in “Hell Bent” where it’s The Doctor who makes the heroic sacrifice to forget Clara so that she and Arya Stark Lady Me can travel time and space together.

Also interesting are the ways in which the two writers present the companions before they meet The Doctor and why he asks them to travel with him. Before traveling with The Doctor, Rose, Martha and Donna are all very ordinary people: a shop worker, medical student, and temp. The companions during Moffat’s run, however, are mostly chosen because of who they are: Amy grew up with a crack in reality in her bedroom wall, River Song and The Doctor keep meeting out of order, and Clara seems to be fractured through time and space [NOTE: Bill Potts is a bit of an outlier here, though she is picked out by The Doctor because she smiles when she doesn’t understand something, where other people frown. ]. For Moffat there needs to be something special about a companion, whereas for Davies, ordinary people have something to offer to The Doctor. In fact, when Davies’s Doctor travels without someone for too long, he becomes callous and cold. Just look at the “timelord victorious” mentality he exhibits in “The Waters of Mars,” or the way he ignores the suffering happening around him in the destruction of Pompeii until Donna begs him to help (“The Fires of Pompeii”). Davies’s Doctor needs someone to travel with him to help him have a sense of humanity.

To sum up, while Moffat was the main writer for Doctor Who, it was very clearly a show about The Doctor, who invited companions aboard his ship if there was something special about them. While Davies was running the show, Doctor Who was a story about the lives of the companions, in which The Doctor happened to show up. Davies’s mentality, I think, was part of the reason Doctor Who succeeded when it came back onto the air: everyone could imagine themself as a companion. There wasn’t anything special about the people The Doctor picked--they just happened to be in the right place at the right time. Anyone could go on adventures through time and space, even people sitting on their couches in front of the TV. With these in mind, it will be interesting to see which of these mindsets Chris Chibnall, the new head writer, will take when it comes to the new companions being introduced alongside Jodie Whittaker Doctor this autumn.

[xhellnhighheelsx]

List the angsty times she’s extra! Do it! Do it! Also, would you take meta prompts? I guess that’s just questions...but your metas are my fave, and I would read them all day everyday. P.S. still any plans to provide receipts for the Doctor’s and River’s irrevocable love? (Yes, that was my ask too ;)

Okay so here’s my emo companion to this post. 

I only picked a handful of moments cuz I wanted to get this to you quick so you don’t think I’m ignoring you lol and I will gladly accept all the meta prompts. Always. 

Let’s start at River’s beginning for this one, shall we?   

Kid Melody calls Nixon for night terrors. He ends up being entirely useless, but that’s government for you. I mean, technically the suit defaulted to the highest authority, so not exactly her fault, but lbr, River would. This gets glossed over a lot, and maybe that’s because it’s so sad.I don’t even have to dig for the angst here. Orphan girl, terrified, alone, cared for by a man whose sanity is unraveling before her very eyes. She watched him graffiti walls and his own skin, warning himself to get out, to get away. How much guilt does that put on a little girl? Unwanted. No friends. Nothing but isolation and a dusty room with paint chipping off the walls. Owned rather than loved. Swaddled by a suit meant only for murder. Other kids want a puppy, but little Melody begs the President of the United States, please, don’t let it eat me. She learns early on that going big is the only way to not be overlooked. 

Now I’m just wondering if the Silence fixed that little issue? If little Melody can call for help, did River? When she was trapped in that suit at the bottom of the lake, did she try to call the Tardis to warn the Doctor? Did he not answer his phone AGAIN? Did she leave a voicemail begging him not to come? Does 12 or 13 find it but can’t do a damn thing about it cuz these faces have to be a secret? Sorry, I spiraled.

Anyway, after she escaped, kid Melody also found an audience to regenerate in front of. She scared the daylights out of some poor homeless man because she was sick and, for once in her life, she didn’t want to die be alone. Think on that.

I won’t get into it too much cuz we’re all well aware, but friendly reminder that home girl actually broke time just to prove a point. She did it for love, yes, but she also did it for herself. She was done being a puppet. This is River saying the decisions she makes will happen on her terms and the universe learns it the hard way. While we’re at it, River has another go at changing time by that lake side by physically shooting at herself. And you know she tries because she is blinking back tears as she says, “of course not.” If the shooting is just for show, why does she say that? This scene is the cause of a lot of diverging headcanons because it either means, River doesn’t remember the events that took place in the aborted timeline and is still trying to change time and create another paradox. Or she does remember and she’s just that self loathing. Or secret option C, she’s faking it for the Ponds, which is it’s own brand of ansty extraness. Basically, pick your poison. They’re all bitter and hard to swallow. 

There’s a lot of controversy around The Big Bang and what River remembers and what not, but let’s consider this for a second: assuming she does genuinely think the universe will close with the Doctor on the other side, she’s agreeing to let her whole life be rewritten. Mind, this is the same woman that later DIES to protect her life and memories with the Doctor. Amy, Rory, and 11 don’t realize it at the time, but when River lets the Doctor climb into the Pandorica and fly it into the heart of the TARDIS, she’s taking the risk of never existing herself. She says, he hardly knows her and now he never will, but what she means is River Song will disappear and Melody Williams will take her place. She is literally self sacrificing at every opportunity. 

Another casual reminder: Remember that time she broke her wrist and tried to hide it because heaven forbid she be mortal for five seconds? And then slapped her husband because he has the audacity to love her? Yup, extra. The entire episode of THORS. If you want a crash course on how to make a scene, this is the ep for you. She makes her entrance by wearing a bright red Mrs. Claus cloak and threatens to remove peoples vital organs. Iconic. And then she follows it up with an overdramatic display of how her “love” will rise again. Meanwhile her medusa hair is just tingling with excitement over how close she is to murdering this sucker of a king. 

Anyway, back to the angst. Her speech is the obvious choice here and we’ve all cried over it a thousand times. She could have ranted about anything to kill time before the meteor strike. She could have laughed about how you can’t trust that slippery fellow, Jim, the fish. She could have listed the inaccuracies of the Byzantium movie, gone on for ten minutes of how it really went down and oh by the way, I’m one of only three survivors and I hunt weeping angels for fun. Forget the Doctor, I’m far more dangerous than he is. She could have bragged about her significant history of escaping. That would have made the most sense, considering that’s literally what she’s about to do. hahaha here’s my master plan and you can’t do a damn thing to stop it. Toodaloo suckers. Enjoy being deep fried.  

But she doesn’t. She talks about the Doctor, as if convincing a room full of strangers he doesn’t love her will save him from danger. Maybe she even convinces herself because she feels responsible for her parents. Maybe she steals diamonds and acts like a thief because she is one. Maybe she feels like she stole something from the Doctor and she tells herself he doesn’t give a damn because he’s better off without her. Moral of the story, he’s always her first thought in a crisis. How can I protect him, how can I save him? Even when he’s not around to see it. She’s so damaged affected by their love affair that it’s second nature for River to scream into the void that the people she loves most don’t give a damn about her. It doesn’t matter (that they’re her parents). You don’t expect a sunset to admire you back. is it a defense mechanism because everyone she loves leaves her? Probably. But only someone who’s extra shouts about their insecurities to a room full of criminals. 

And on a slightly less obvious note, when River and 12 first land on Starship Super Villains R Us, was it really necessary for her to blatantly incriminate herself? She tells what she thinks is some random guy about how this ship is full of despicable people, planet burners and murders and criminals. And then she gives him an icy stare and says, do try the fish. A neon sign of I come here often. In no way was it necessary to inform this guy that she has no qualms with murder. But she does because if she wants to believe her own lie, that she’s heartless and cold, she has to convince others first.    

And last but not least, she straight up haunted her husband’s ass. Ex👏tra👏. Now whether you believe the haunting was full time or just in TNOTD, you can’t deny that the look on her face when she says he left her like a book on a shelf. She didn’t have to follow Eleven and Clara through the tomb explaining things to Clara, but she does. She doesn’t have to flirt with the Doctor and give him the come hither eyes even though she thinks he can’t see/hear her. But she does. Cuz she’s extra.

[kmbtob-monthly]

June 2018 ;; Story # 2 : Through the Apocalypse

Title: Through the Apocalypse

Author: Heymello

Twitter username: heymellowrites

Chapter 1 of 13: Survivor

You can find the rest of the chapters here.

---

Moon stumbled in the woods while running away from the people who just popped out of nowhere and started chasing her. It's almost dark. Hell, she doesn't even know what time it was anymore. Usually, at this time, she would have settled somewhere and keep herself safe and warm. She was having a cold meal of sandwich she grabbed from what used to be a convenience store when she heard footsteps and the next thing she knew, she was cornered by strangers who were asking for her few supplies. Of course, she wouldn't just give in and she's pretty sure they know what she had to go through to get those supplies.

She immediately hid behind a tree when she saw a big one. She was holding her breath, wishing they would lose their way, wishing that sandwich won't be her last meal—or well, she could also accept that.

She bit her bottom lip when she heard footsteps coming.

"What are you doing? Find her!” The voice of the stranger was deep and scary by the way he yelled.

"Do we really have to? She doesn't seem loaded anyway.” said the guy with a lazy way of speaking.

"We have to get something, or we're going to be dinner for those Walkers.” The first stranger replied.

"Why don't we just leave the group—”

"Shut your mouth, Ilhoon! Youngsoo could be around and you're dead if he hears you!"

"That parrot-mouthed piece of shit.”

"Enough now!”

Moon heard their footsteps come closer and closer. She closed her eyes and hugged her backpack as she tried to remember the past few months that she survived since the apocalypse.

⁂

She had always dreamed of visiting her favorite place in the world—Seoul, South Korea. She heard a lot of nice and bad things about it but the beauty of the city is undeniable. It started when she got hooked of watching Korean TV shows.

Her best friend, Amy, is another big fan of Korea and Japan. They both started saving money from college just to go there once they graduate with flying colors. Amy went to buy the plane tickets as soon as possible while Moon organized everything, like their hotel room and places to visit right after they left college.

It felt like she has accomplished one of her biggest dreams when she got there. She just saw the place from her laptop screen back then but there she was—in front of the Han River, smiling from ear to ear with her best friend. It was fun and good while it lasted.

During the night when they decided to eat in one of the restaurants in Korea, there was a sudden chaos outside. They peeked through the glass window of the restaurant and saw people horrified and running from something—something that would kill them.

Her heart started beating louder as she looked in her best friend's eyes full with confusion and fear.

People inside started panicking as well but they both couldn't understand a thing of what they were saying. Amy grabbed the arm of a stranger passing by and asked in English, “What is happening? Why is everyone running away?”

The boy removed her hand from his arm and was going to leave their question unanswered when Amy grabbed it again and said, “Please... answer us.”

Moon realized that was the only time she had ever seen Amy that desperate for an answer. Even if they both didn’t know what was happening, they both understood that their lives were in danger.

“No... no safe!” The boy said and ran.

Then Amy and Moon looked in each other's eyes as they made a silent agreement to run for their lives even though they didn't exactly know what they were running from.

Moon was lost in the sea of people running, screaming for something. She lost Amy and she tried her best not to cry once she got into a quieter place and yelled her friend's name.

Not far from her, she saw a woman—probably the only one not panicking in the situation as she walked just calmly. Moon was facing her back and decided to call her and ask about what's happening.

“Excuse me... do you—”

Moon was horrified when the woman—no, the creature turned to her. She looked like human but something else—scary, dead but walking. She felt her heart begin thumping in her chest as she ran but she couldn't scream for help because her throat dried on its own.

She was desperate to find Amy so she ran and ran and tried to ignore what's happening around her. She was pushed by people who were trying to save themselves from those creatures and when she finally felt like she had nowhere to go, she saw a familiar back of a girl. A smile of relief formed her lips as she ran to her.

“Amy! Amy!” She shouted her name again and again... and she turned to her slowly, leaving her in shock and fear. “No...” she muttered, tears falling down her cheeks. She couldn't move her two feet as Amy, who had turned into something like those creatures, walked towards her.

“Amy... no...” She muttered again, stepping forward to her.

“What do you think you are doing? She's one of them!” A stranger told me.

Moon turned to him and saw a boy, seemed to be just around her age. He also seemed to be horrified by everything that was happening but he kept himself together.

“She's my friend... my best friend...” She said helplessly.

“What?! Come on, keep yourself safe!” He grabbed her wrist like they've known each other before. He took her with him but later she realized he didn't know where to go as well.

Moon stayed for a few days with him. She learned that his name was Minhyuk. He told her everything that had happened—from a virus of something that spread faster than when grains of sugar fall to the pavement.

But they didn't stay together for a long time. He told her that he would get them both something to eat and to stay where they have been keeping themselves safe but he never came back. She didn't know if he left her for good and decided to survive on his own or he was eaten by those scary creatures.

She started to survive own her since then. Hiding from other people once she learned it wasn't safe facing them and those monsters. She would go and storm abandoned grocery stores or convenient stores or empty houses. She would bring a gun she didn't know how to use with her, something she took from a dead man and a kitchen knife she got while storming a random abandoned house.

She thought a lot of times of just ending her life, but it just wasn’t necessary. She went through months and months alone, sometimes hungry and without water. She thought she would just prefer getting eaten or killed by someone rather than killing herself. She thought she would not survive for long anyway. A girl wandering around, protecting and hiding herself in a bunch of monsters—sounds like a joke to her.

But here she is now, unsure if she's ever going to see the sun shine tomorrow.

⁂

Moon felt a cold metal touched her forehead. Her eyes were still closed, although tears have escaped from them. They found her and she knew she was scared although she had been wishing to die and abandon this world a lot of times.

She slowly opened her eyes and said, “Just kill me.”

“Have a little faith. We just want your supplies and if you agree to give it to us, you could still fight hella walkers by tonight.” The stranger with the deep voice said.

Moon looked in his eyes. They looked so tired and he looked like he just wanted to get over it quickly. He waited impatiently for her to give her backpack voluntarily to them. “I didn't chase you to have an eye contact with.” He said.

He's wearing a black cap, his eyes were small and his face is somehow scary now that she observes it—like a quiet person that would snap in a second at her and pull the trigger on her head.

She was trembling when she slid her backpack over to the ground across them.

“Ilhoon-ah, see what she got.” He said and pushed the gun a bit harder on her head.

The guy named Ilhoon sighed and unzipped Moon's dark red backpack she had from her very first day in Korea. He took all the goods including the sandwich she had in her hands just today and the bottle of water that was almost empty. “Take that wallet.” The other said.

“Are you serious? It's not like we're gonna need money—”

“The big boss wants money even if he can't buy shit with it. He'll be happy if we bring him some. Just take her wallet and all those shit and let's take off before Youngsoo comes and sees this girl."

Moon's eyes widened when Ilhoon started putting her wallet inside his own black backpack.

“No! Please... just take the money. Don't take my wallet. It's... it's important to me... please.” She begged.

He looked at Hyunsik before opening the wallet. He stopped for a while just looking inside my wallet—probably at the pictures in it; pictures of my family and Amy.

“Ilhoon, what the fuck are you doing? Quick!”

“Oh yeah... sorry, I just...” Ilhoon said and took all the money before throwing the wallet back at me.

“Take her weapons.” The other said.

“Are you kidding me? You're going to leave her without any weapons—”

“That shouldn't be concerning you.”

“Hyung! This is not like you!”

They started arguing, both looking so upset and that could be her chance to run away if the other guy didn't have the gun pushed on her head. She was suddenly scared that he might pull the trigger out of anger.

“Fine.” He said, giving up. “Leave the weapons and let's fucking leave before fucking Youngsoo comes or he'll be fucking the shit out of this girl. That old perverted man.”

Ilhoon looked at her. His eyes were fierce but relief was on them. “Come on.” He told him, and then he turned to her. "Stay here and keep yourself safe." He said.

Moon doesn't know if she should be glaring at him or looking at him with gratefulness. How could he ask her to stay safe after taking all her supplies and his friend pushing a gun on her head?

[one-of-us-blog]

The Time of the Doctor (Doctor Who Christmas Special)

Today Drew is forced to watch and recap “The Time of the Doctor”, the next Doctor Who Christmas Special. The Doctor has finally arrived at Trenzalore, and it’s time for him to face his destiny. Can he change his future, or has he finally accepted his fate?

Keep reading to find out…

Eli, your latest recap was great! I have a real soft spot for this episode, and I agree that Dick Van Dyke was fantastic in it. I always get a chuckle out of Blanche’s Water Lily reveal, and the Phoenix Wright-esque courtroom drama. I’m sorry about the issues you’re having with the blog; I noticed those issues, too… I need to recharge my dog right after I post this, but as soon as that’s done I’ll try to get it working correctly!

For now, though, buttocks tight!

Special directed by Jamie Payne and written by Steven Moffat

A voiceover lets us know that an unknown planet is sending out a signal across all of time and space. No one knows what the signal is saying, but everyone who hears it is afraid. They’re also curious, so everyone’s coming to investigate. This includes the Doctor, who is carrying a grisly, Lord of the Flies-esque Cyberman head for some reason. Clara calls and says she needs him to pretend to be her boyfriend for Christmas dinner, because this is a sitcom about Clara’s wacky home life now.

After the credits, Clara’s family has gathered for dinner and the Doctor arrives. Some nonsense goes on but I’m just gonna skip that and jump to the part where we’re back in the TARDIS. The gruesome Cyberhead announces that the mysterious planet is Gallifrey. The Doctor says it can’t be Gallifrey. Clara points out that the Doctors saved Gallifrey, but the Doctor says even if it was saved it wouldn’t be in this universe. The planet is shielded so the TARDIS can’t reach it, but a Papal Mainframe, a sort of space church, arrives. They’re the ones who shielded the planet, and they invite Clara and the Doctor over. Tasha Lem, head of the church, has a private chat with the Doctor, and while Clara is alone she comes face to face with a Silent.

Lem says a farm on the planet is sending out the signal, but if anyone gets to them there will be bloodshed so the church shielded the planet. Clara runs in to tell the Doctor about the swarm of Silence now outside, but she forgets about them before she can. Lem sends Clara and the Doctor down to the planet, and Clara immediately spots a dead body in the snow. Oh, phew, it’s not a body, it’s just a statue. Oh, shoot, it’s not a statue, it’s a Weeping Angel. Angels pop up all over the place and the Doctor figures they followed the signal and got to the planet before the church put up the shield. The Doctor has a TARDIS key hidden in the wig he’s covering his now-bald head with, so he’s able to bring the TARDIS past the shield and save them from the Angels.

Clara and the Doctor head toward the town where the signal is coming from. They run into a couple of locals and discover they can’t lie here. The town is called Christmas, and it’s covered by a truth field that prevents anyone from lying. Inside the tower the signal is coming from, the Doctor finds a crack in the wall. It’s been a while since we’ve visited this old chestnut! This is a scar from that time reality fractured, and someone is trying to come through it from another universe. Someone like… the Time Lords, maybe? The Cyberhead figures out that the signal being sent through the crack is a question: Doctor who? All the ships in the area, from the Daleks to the church to the delicious, proper Cybermen are able to hear this translation.

The Time Lords are asking a question only the Doctor can answer, and this place a truth field so they can be sure he’s not lying when he answers. If he tells them his name, they’ll know it’s safe for them to come back into this universe. The Doctor says all hell will break loose if the Time Lords come back now with half the hostile races in the universe orbiting this planet. He has Clara take a device back to the TARDIS while Tasha Lem projects herself overhead to speak with him. He asks her what this planet is called, and she identifies it as Trenzalore. Lem says even if the Time Lords return to this universe in peace they’ll be met with hostility and the Time War will start all over again. The device Clara plugged into the TARDIS takes her back to Earth and tries to leave her there. Lem tells the Doctor she won’t let war break out, and if the Doctor says his name she will destroy Trenzalore. Lem dedicates her church to Silence, and says Silence will fall. Years pass on Trenzalore, and the Doctor’s enemies keep managing to get through and reach the planet. The Doctor serves as protector of the planet, stopping all the baddies and protecting the Trenzalorians.

The Doctor becomes a folk hero for the people of Christmas, and after 300 years he forgets that he was anything other than the protector of Trenzalore. The TARDIS finally returns, with Clara still clinging to its outside. Her being outside weighed the TARDIS down as it moved through the time vortex, which is why it took so long to get back to Trenzalore. Clara takes in the Doctor’s new life in Christmas. Handles, the Cyberhead, has become sort of the Doctor’s Wilson, is breaking down, and finally dies. The Doctor says he left Clara behind because if she’d stayed she would have died of old age by now, and says he’s going to die eventually, too. Clara says he’ll just regenerate, but he says he can’t do that anymore. Time Lords are allowed to regenerate twelve times; there have been ten Doctors already, plus the War Doctor and that time the Tenth Doctor sort of kind of regenerated. When you count them all, he’s used all twelve of his regenerations.

Clara wants him to change the future, but he doesn’t see how he can. Lem, now head of the Church of the Silence, asks for a parlay with the Doctor. He agrees to head up in the TARDIS with Clara. The Silence are now priests here, and the Doctor says they’re genetically engineered to make you forget everything you’ve told them after confessing. Turns out the Daleks have infused, like, everyone on the ship with Dalek DNA (which is a trick we haven’t seen in a while), including the Silence, somehow, and this is all a trap for the Doctor. Lem admits that a rogue sect of her church were the ones who blew up the TARDIS, like, forever ago, and ended up creating the cracks in the universe through which the Time Lords are now calling. The Doctor says this is a Destiny Trap; he can’t change any of this because he was involved in it. They were also the ones who engineered River Song to kill him, and we all know how that worked out. Lem says the Daleks called for reinforcements and are preparing for war. They attacked the Mainframe, and Lem was killed. She sprouts a Dalek unicorn horn, and the Daleks storm their way in. Because Lem knew about the Doctor, the Daleks can all remember him now, so that weird idea has finally been corrected.

The Doctor says he’ll say his name before the Daleks can kill him, which will bring the Time Lords back and cause some trouble. The Doctor manages to wake the fire in Lem long enough for her to destroy the Daleks and give Clara and the Doctor a chance to escape. In the TARDIS Clara makes the Doctor promise not to send her away again, and he lies and proceeds to do just that. This time the TARDIS gets away without Clara clinging to it and comes back to Christmas. Trenzalore is besieged by enemy after enemy, but the Silence help the Doctor fight against them. We get some more filler stuff with Clara’s family, but then the TARDIS appears outside again. The Doctor isn’t flying it, though, it’s an aged Tasha Lem. She takes Clara to Trenzalore, which has been ravaged by war.

Clara goes to find the Doctor, surrounded by drawings of him made by the children of Christmas. A Dalek ship hovers over Christmas, and they demand to see the Doctor. He agrees to go see them, but says this will be his last show down before he dies. He makes Clara promise to stay behind and goes to face the Daleks while Clara begs the Time Lords through the crack to help him. She says the question they’ve been asking doesn’t matter, and that the only name that matters is the Doctor because that’s everything he is. The Doctor is ready to meet his fate at the hands of the Daleks, but just then a giant crack appears in the sky and a bit of regenerative energy soaks into the Doctor. The old man gets a bit of pep in his step as he begins to regenerate. He uses bolts of regenerative energy to blast the Daleks out of the sky.

The people of Christmas begin to scramble around and Clara heads into the TARDIS, where she finds the Doctor with his youth restored. He’s still regenerating, though, and this is the start of a new regeneration cycle so it’s taking a bit longer. He gives a monologue about how the times they are a changing, and suddenly has a vision of the TARDIS covered in the drawings done by the children of Trenzalore. He sees a young Amelia Pond run by, and says he won’t forget when the Doctor was him. He has a final vision of Amy Pond coming to embrace him and telling him goodnight. He strips off his bowtie and abruptly regenerates into the Twelfth Doctor (Peter Capaldi). Clara is startled, and the Doctor informs her that he doesn’t know how to fly the TARDIS.

The End

~~~~~

Someone get me a handkerchief, stat! That final moment with Amy was so unexpected and emotional, and it actually had me tearing up a little! It kind of sucks that all of the really good Matt Smith episodes are coming right at the end of his run on the show, but I am glad to have seen them. I feel like this show did a good job of finally wrapping up a lot of loose ends, like the Trenzalore thing and the whole who blew up the TARDIS mystery (which I had honestly forgotten about). I liked Tasha Lem and I bought the Doctor’s investment in the people of Christmas, but the best part of the episode for me were those final moments in the TARDIS. I’m really excited to start Capaldi’s run, and I can’t believe how quickly these last few series have flown by!

I give “The Time of the Doctor” QQQQQ on the Five Q Scale!

We’ll see you again Tuesday when Eli will get a little frisky in the ballroom with the next episode of The Golden Girls, “Dancing in the Dark”, and on Wednesday I’ll post my recap of the first episode of Doctor Who with Peter Capaldi as the Doctor, “Deep Breath”.

Until then, thanks for reading, thanks for changing and thanks for being One of Us!