====== Let's state the obvious at the start, if it is something that it seems like I don't own... I don't own it! AN at the bottom ======
Prologue ~ In Another Time and Space
The Doctor stared dully at the control panel of the TARDIS. The whistles and bobs continued to whirl and blink but they didn't seem to be as bright as what they normally were. Ever since Rory was absorbed into the crack in time and space he felt heavy.
Rory.
Had he done everything he could to save him? The Doctor had long since given up on the notion he may have held in a younger form that he could save everyone. So why did his shoulders still feel as if they were bearing the weight of the world?
It didn't help that Amy continued to flutter around the TARDIS, oblivious to her own suffering, unknowing of the Doctor's crimes against her. Could she still care for him in their odd way if she knew? Her forgiveness was another thing the Doctor had to sacrifice. It was better if he didn't tell her, better if she didn't know, for everyone.
So he had made the mental decision to express his sorrow for the girl in working to make her as happy as he knew how. With all of time and space at his fingertips if he did not have the ability to make a human girl smile than he truly had failed.
"Doctor?" He heard a familiar voice echo at the edge of his thoughts. "Doctor!" Amy said louder.
"Oh Amy, Amy Pond, yes, right. Where were we headed again?" He returned to life, turning and pushing the levers and buttons.
"Doctor, you're doing it again."
"Doing what Pond?"
"That, thing! Where you stare off all sulky like."
"I am not doing anything of the sort." He insisted, hoping he sounded more convincing than he felt. Hoping he was able to convince even himself. Amy didn't look like she was buying it. As she opened her mouth to speak he cut her off, "How about Venice?" Rory appeared in his mind again. "No, not Venice. Arthur, King Arthur, Brits like him right?"
"I rather liked the idea of Venice…" Amy began musing, something about it seemed nostalgic to her.
"No no, Venice is awful. Sure the canals seem romantic, beautiful, I mean, but do you know what's in them? No, you don't want to know. But alright I'll tell you. Waste, human waste. Where do you think they put it?"
"Alright alright Doctor, King Arthur sounds like fun." Amy interjected, getting him off the subject of excrement as quickly as possible.
"Lovely! Knights and round tables coming up!" The Doctor pulled hard on a lever and the TARDIS jerked roughly in the opposite direction as it had been headed – wherever that direction had been. Amy placed a hand on her stomach, suddenly feeling uneasy and ill. There was something, something tugging at the back of her mind that she could not place. It made her feel disoriented a moment and she grabbed at the railing. No, she shook her head, it was the TARDIS of course that jostled her stomach. What else could there be?
The Doctor glanced at Amy out of the corner of his eye. Amelia Pond, his dear sweet Amelia. How much forgotten pain sat inside of her? Oh, indeed, how resilient humans are.
================================= Author's Note ====================================
Clearly, this story will take place following Rory being sucked into the crack in the universe. It will follow the story following that episode loosely... we'll see how closely in future chapters. I'm rating this story as M for my intent in future chapters to have the romance develop fully. Yes it is a Doctor/Amy fic, if you're not a fan of that no one is forcing you to be here! Reviews always welcome.