So this is basically my explanation of why the Doctor is so thoroughly convinced that Rory is now Rory Pond in 'The Big Band Two'. Enjoy! Disclaimer- *checks ID* Nope, this doesn't say Steven Moffat on it. I must not own Doctor Who.
It was the morning after the Ponds wedding and the Doctor's internal clock was telling him that it had been exactly nine hours and thirty-seven minutes since the event in question. At the moment, he was lying underneath the floors of the TARDIS console, performing maintenance as he often did to pass the time, waiting for the newly weds to return from what ever it was that they were doing. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, normal time really did pass so slowly, he heard the familiarly weighted footsteps of his friends. The Doctor untangled himself from the mess of wires he had gotten involved in and sprang up to the same level that Rory and Amy were at.
"Ponds!" He greeted enthusiastically, grinning widely. Rory stepped forwards a bit.
"Actually, Doctor, it's not the Ponds. It's the Williams now." He corrected. The Doctor turned to the TARDIS console.
"I could have sworn that Amelia's last name was Pond, Rory." The Time Lord said. Rory nodded.
"Yes," He agreed, vaguely exasperated. "And then we got married."
The Doctor spun around to face Rory.
"Exactly. You got married. So you're the Ponds now." He said in a rather matter-of-fact voice. Rory leaned against the console to the left of the Doctor and Amy joined him on the opposite side.
"Doctor," Amy began, clearly confused. "Why do you keep saying that?" She asked cautiously.
"Saying what?"
"That we're the Ponds now."
The Doctor halfway glanced up at Amy before returning to the ship's controls.
"Because you are." He said again, though it sounded as if a hint of doubt had entered his voice. Any and Rory exchanged a concerned look over the Time Lord's shoulders.
"Okay, seriously, Doctor, you can stop this now." Said Rory.
"Hmm? Stop what?"
"Saying that we're the Ponds." Rory reminded him.
"Now why would I do that?"
"Because we're not! We're the Williams!" Rory exclaimed, and there's an edge of frusturation to his voice, because as intelligent as the Doctor apparently is, there are moments where he is so unbelivably thick, and it really just seems like the Time Lord is playing with them, treating them like they're part of a game.
The Doctor turned around in the dramatic fashion that was specificity his and leaned against the guard rail, facing his companions.
"Rory Pond," He began. "I've been married. And I specificity remember not being terribly pleased about giving up my last name. I remember vividly that I took my wife's last name. And that was that: the male takes the female's surname. Now unless that has changed, I can say with confidence that you two are the Ponds. Not the Williams, but the Ponds. Am I right?" He asked with a mild air of impatience. Rory and Amy exchanged another look, though this one was filled with a lot less concern and a lot more confusion.
"Wait a minute, wait a minute." Rory started. "You've been married before? Like, properly married? To an actual person and everything?" He pointed a disbelieving finger. "You?"
Something, Rory can't quite tell what, although it looks suspiciously like hurt, makes an appearence on the Doctor's features. The expression is gone almost before it happens and the Doctor starts rambling once more.
"Yes. I've been married before. To an actual person and everything. Scary thought, me being domestic. More to the point though-"
"This was back on Gallifrey?" Amy interrupted. The Doctor nodded shortly.
"On Gallifrey, yes. Back when it was still...exsistant." He broke off uncomfortably avoiding eye contact with either of his friends.
"So on Gallifrey the husband took the wife's name?" Amy inquired. Another curt nod.
"Yes, Amelia, that's how it works. So if your last name is indeed Pond, then Rory is now Rory Pond." He replied, each word clipped.
"Doctor," Amy began gently. "On Earth it's the other way around."
The Doctor's head shot up from where it had been, sunken down upon his chest, so that he could properly see Amy and Rory. He opened his mouth as if he were about to say something, but apparently decided against it. Instead he returned to the console, fiddling with controls that, thankfully, didn't actually do anything
"Right." He finally said after a few very long, awkward, seconds. "Of course. Earth, not Gallifrey. The wife takes the husband's name." He smiled tightly. "I'm being thick. Too much stuff in my head, makes it hard to remember the important things when you need to. Bigger head, that's what I need." He rambled on in a voice that was too bright, to enthusiastic, for it to be anything but a lie. He walked over to the other side of the console, opposite of Amy and Rory, muttering to himself quietly. Amelia looked at her husband and he returned the glance. And like something out of a book, they came to a tacit agreement of what needed to be done in this moment. Amy walked over to the other side of the console and joined the Doctor, placing a hand on his shoulder, causing him to stiffen at her touch. He straightened himself out all the way, standing up at his full height, instead of being bent over the controls.
"Doctor," She began. The Doctor looks back up at her, eyes brooding, and quite suddenly Amy is very aware that, as much as she may love the man, there are certain things about him that she will never want to know
"Doctor," She started again, having been a bit more than thrown off by her friend's reaction. "You can call us he Ponds if you want." She offered. The Time Lord's features softened, his eyes becoming kinder. He placed an abnormally cool hand on her shoulder.
"Thank you Amelia. Rory." He said. There are a hundred thousand million things he could be saying to them right now, should be saying, but this is what comes out, and somehow it seems like it's enough.
He flashes a smile. A real smile this time, not one of false ones he so often used to keep up his constant facade of happiness and control. He smiled and laughed and did his strange half dance, half run around the TARDIS controls, flipping switches and pulling levers with no apparent pattern.
Just a boy and a box, with all of time and space at his disposal, no idea where he might end up next
So tell me what you thought! Loved it? Hated it? Reviews are welcome! Very much so! I take suggestions for story's and if you leave me one the chances are very much in the favor of that story being written up and posted here. So go ahead and fire away! Thanks for reading! Have a great day and DFTBA!