The crisp, dark air was a welcome relief from the hot dancefloor, and The Doctor loosened the bowtie that constricted his sweaty neck, leaning against the railing and looking out beyond in the garden. It was the night of Amy and Rory's wedding, and while the party was raging inside, outside the breeze shook the leaves and the moonlight shone down on the time lord's wide shoulders.
He sighed, reaching up to run his fingers through his untidy hair. He knew he should be happy for them, and he was, just.. he wasn't.
Amy was happy, twirling around in her white dress and tiara. Rory was even happier, ever present at her side with his cautious smile and dewy eyes. But something wasn't right, there was something he had missed, and it was important.
He'd been trying to push the nagging thought from his mind for a while now, but on this event it seemed to be louder than ever, making it difficult to pretend he was having a good time. Yes, he danced and laughed and did the usual doctor-ish things he did. But deep down inside there was a bruise on his old two hearts.
Amelia Pond..
As if on some silent cue, the glass doors gave a soft click as she closed them behind her, and before she even reached him he knew it was her.
"Hey there," she said quietly, her accent heavier than usual, probably due to the free champagne and heavy cardio dance routines.
"You doing okay?"
The Doctor so badly wanted to spin around, tell her he was perfectly fine, congratulate her and let her walk away, like she always did. But this time he didn't want to lie, he didn't want the words to turn to ash in his mouth like they always did. Again, maybe it was the alcohol or the exhaustion, but he stayed put.
"Doctor..?" Amy asked, slight concern leaking into her tone. He was quiet, he was never quiet. It was bad when he was quiet.
But all he could sum up was a simple grunt as he traced his fingers on the cool stone of the railing. He heard her walking towards him, and distantly registered the scent of her hair as she sat up and settled herself beside him.
"Hey, what's up?" The ginger gave a small, reassuring smile.
He just couldn't help but smile back. God, her eyes sparkled in the moonlight. Her cheeks were pink and lifted with her upturned lips, her dark eyelashes brushing her skin and her hair curled exquisitely down her back.
"Nothing," The Doctor said with a false smile as a small ache gathered in his gut. "Run along, Pond."
"No, you're lying. That's your lying face." She said with a smirk.
He smirked back, genuinely. "The Doctor never lies."
"Ah but that was a lie too. Now, tell me, what's wrong sourpuss?"
He laughed and turned his eyes up to the sky, his face turned white by the moon.
"You humans don't know when to stop do you." he mumbled. "To the moon and back again, one day you will touch every star in the sky until the universe breathes no more."
Amy sighed. "Quit the long introduction and cut to the chase; I asked you a question."
The Doctor rolled his eyes. "And my answer remains the same, nothing! Now run along, I'm sure The Roman's out there looking for you."
"Oh he can wait five minutes."
"Obviously; but he waited about two thousand years so you might as well go and spend some time with him."
"Well two thousand years waiting for me still doesn't compare to the hours I spent waiting for you in my garden." she chuckled.
The Doctor tried to push the prick of guilt away.
Suddenly he felt determined to make her happy. After all, it was her wedding. Arguably the most important day in her life. And he was ruining it, like he ruined her childhood...
"No more ruining things!" he exclaimed happily, pushing up from the railing and on his feet. "Now Pond, come dance with me!"
Amy laughed and groaned. "Oh god Doctor, more dancing? So much dancing!"
"Ah but this is a dance with the devil in the pale moonlight! No ordinary dance, Amelia. Now, if you would grant me the pleasure.." he bowed deeply to her and heard her giggle as she hopped down onto the ground.
"Oh fine, anything for a devil."
He winked mischeviously and took her by the hand, pulling her into a simple waltz. She was already struggling to keep up as it was, but then he added in the extra twirls and spins and soon she was on the floor laughing.
"You can't seriously expect me to do that! Not in these shoes!" she motioned to her stiletto heels.
"Then take them off!"
"..Do you have any idea how expensive these are?"
"They're safer on the floor than on your feet. Off, off! More dancing!"
Amy shook her head in exasperation and took off her shoes, placing them to the side like a kid lining up for a go on the bouncy castle. Her sore feet were relieved by the cool tiles, and she took his hands again and let him lead her into the dance.
"Just let go, follow me." he advised as she tensed during another quick spin.
"But now it's a barefoot non-consentual dance with the devil in the pale moonlight!"
"Tough, all in the job description?"
"Pfft, where?"
"Fine print, Pond."
The Doctor spun her around, her white dress twirling and glittering and her red hair spraying out like mist behind her. He spun her back in, and almost by accident ended up having her too close to him than expected. He pulled her into a hug and felt her sigh as he rested his chin on her head.
"Oh Amy, what am I going to do with you?"
She shrugged and looked up, not expecting his face to be so close.
His eyes were full of an emotion that was caught somewhere between concern and longing, and a little something else that she couldn't place.. It baffled her.
"What are you thinking?" she mumbled.
There was a brief pause and he opened his mouth a few times, searching for the right words, trying to speak, but he was honestly blank. There were no words in any language that could describe what was running through his mind, and the emotions that had seized his two hearts.
Without meaning to, or honestly knowing why, all of a sudden he kissed her.
