Two Worlds, One Family

by Ms. Moonstar

A/N: Yeah, I've got another story series going on, but I couldn't help but to write this, it's been in my head for a while. This is an alternate version of season 7 and the Ponds' departure. There are some minor spoilers, but I won't divulge anything major. The story takes place after "Asylum of the Daleks" and therefore "Angels take Manhattan" never happens. If anyone's interested in BETA-ing please let me know, as this first chapter is not Brit-picked. And please leave a review to let me know what you think. Thanks and enjoy!

Chapter 1

The TARDIS hummed melodiously, the lights dim for the "evening" hours to accommodate the human companions aboard. The Doctor sat in a hammock under the glass console, tools in hand as he was forever adjusting the time machine. It was only in the night that the TARDIS seemed the quietest. Traveling with the Ponds seemed tense, though he could tell that they were only putting on a front to allude that everything was okay between the couple. He knew better, of course. Being a 900 plus Time Lord had its share of problems such as his companions getting older while he seemed to stand still. Worse still, he put his companions in terrible danger because of his vanity and his showing off all the time. His companions knew the risk in coming with him to see the stars, but he still blamed himself when people got hurt, captured or in the case of the Ponds, killed then brought back to life.

Hearing two sets of footfalls, the Doctor paused, holding the wrench in his hand and lifting his head to see his two companions through the glass floor.

"-No I don't blame him at all, Rory!" came the strong cadence of Amelia Pond above his head. Normally, he would not eavesdrop on his companions, but with the TARDIS engines lowered to 63 percent, making him able to hear them better over the usual din.

"But, River is grown up now, you missed out on her entire childhood." Rory seemed to protest.

"Yeah, she did, Rory. You and I know she is going to grow up to love the Doctor and help us. She brought us together! We raised her anyway."

"But Amy, because of Demon's Run..." Rory began and then lowered his voice, "you can't have children anymore. He should have told me sooner that you were gone. Maybe we could have found you sooner, you'd still be able to have kids. That's why you were divorcing me."

The Doctor's mouth fell open and it took all of his self-control to not drop the sonic screwdriver that was in his hand. He knew that they were a married couple, having their shared amount of troubles. He sensed on board the Dalek ship that there was tension between the two companions. The Time Lord remembered when Amy had pulled away from him after the battle for Melody. The battle had cost the lives of his allies and only resulted in the Ponds' baby being taken by Madam Kovarian.

The Doctor dropped his head into his arm sighed, the TARDIS humming gently as to comfort him. He had ruined his companions lives in so many ways, worst of which was loosing their child. He had no idea what Madame Kovarian had done to Amy. As he held his hands to his face, his mind flashed to every person who were affected by traveling with him, all the humans whom he had plucked from their lives and ruined it by leaving them behind or by wiping their memories. Amy and Rory were growing up, growing more distant from him. And it hurt, so much.

Gradually, the footfalls died away, up the stairs and into the corridors. When the console room was empty, the Doctor trudged up the steps to the main control, circling it and brushing the various buttons and levers with his palm.

"What am I going to do?" he asked quietly, more to himself than the machine. He plopped himself into the jump seat nearby, sitting cross-legged and resting his hand on his face. He would never grow older, but his companions always would. The words of the Dream Lord floated back into the front of his mind. "The Doctor always prefers the company of the young, does he not?"

He'd gifted them with a house and a car so that they could begin their normal lives. He wanted Amy and Rory to have a normal life together because they were still alive. He didn't want anything to happen to the couple he'd grown so close to after two years. The couple had shown that life was the correct path for them, they hadn't complained about everyday life like Rose had, or pleaded to not go back to being ordinary like Donna. They were okay with it. It was time; time for the Ponds to begin their real lives. The Doctor could not feel as though part of him were dying.

Hours later, Amy and Rory found the Doctor still siting in the jump seat near the console when they came downstairs, still in pajamas and dressing gowns.

"Mornin' Doctor!" Amy Pond piped cheerfully.

"Good morning," the Doctor replied in a lackluster way.

"Oi, what's wrong Doctor? You're usually the one who's bouncing around like a giddy kid in the mornings. " Amy asked with a smile on her face that soon disappeared when she saw the Time Lord's face.

"Nothing." The Doctor replied, jumping up and tapping a few keys of the old-fashioned typewriter, not catching her eyes as he did so.

"Something's wrong," she affirmed, more serious now and frowning, "What are you not tellin' us, Doctor?"

"I'm alright, Amelia." The Doctor snapped, his face filled with anger before it softened, "Sorry. I'm-I'm just tired. Long night."

"I think you might need a lie down, Doctor." Rory observed. "The rims of your eyes are all red and puffy."

"I SAID I'M FINE!" The Doctor roared, and then winced, instantly regretting his flare of temper, seeing the hurt looks from his two companions. "Sorry, I didn't mean to yell. Please forgive me, Ponds." He half smiled, trying to feign his normal upbeat attitude. "Maybe I should get some kip for a while."

The red-haired woman put a hand on his shoulder. "Doctor, your my-our best friend. If there's something you want to get off your chest, please just tell us."

The Doctor tried to smile as he said gently, "One last adventure." Then, without another word, the Doctor turned, and climbed the steps to where the sleeping quarters were, leaving his two companions with perplexed expressions on their faces.

TBC...