The Doctor pulled a lever as it landed, the crystal stopping. He grinned. "Tony. Are you ready for what you are about to see?" Tony grinned. His eyes shining with wonder and excitement. "Yes! Yes!" The doctor grinned before spinning, getting to the TARDIS doors. "Tony. Welcome to ,Germany." Tony ran out, looking around. The buildings were so different. He smiled then heard people talking as they passed by. He looked to the doctor. "How can I understand them?" The doctor smiled, putting an arm around Tony's small shoulders. "The TARDIS, translates for you so no worries about those awkward misunderstandings from that language barrier. Now lets go have an adventure." The Doctor smiled down to him. His heart melted a little when the young, smart boy smiled back, starting to lead him down the sunny street.
Several hours later the TARDIS returned to it's spot in central park. The doors opened, Tony running out with a smile. "Oh wow...that was...was...was" The doctor chuckled, leaning against the TARDIS as he watched Tony continue. "Amazing! You have a real, really real working time machine! I met Albert Eisenstein! Who else can we meet?" The Doctor smiled, kneeling to be at eye level with this excited boy. "I'm sure you can meet anyone you want but not with me. I know you don't like it but it's time to go home." He saw the frown on Tony's face.
"No. I want to go with you. I want to go on adventures, I want to travel with you." The Doctor looked him over, ruffling his hair gently. "Oh Tony Stark. We'll meet again. I'm sure of it but until then, go home, go to your lab and create something with that wonderful mind of yours. Can you do that?" Tony looked up, feeling his eyes well. The Doctor tried to fight it. "Oh, puppy eyes. Oh! Alright! Tomorrow night. I promise." Curse his bleeding heart. He couldn't stay away. he started walking back to the TARDIS when Tony grinned. "I will! I promise! I'll make something for you!" The Doctor waved with a smile as he closed the door. Tony watched as the blue box faded with at pleasant, strange noise before grinning, running off to home.
In the TARDIS the Doctor leaned against the console, deep in thought. "No. no, what are you doing you mad man? You can't do this but if you don't you'll break his heart. Oh yes I know that." He shook his head, scratching his hair as he spoke this conundrum out loud. "Oh what have I gotten into?" He then ran his hands down his face. He knew this wasn't going to end well but for the moment it made the numbing pain of Amy and Rory's loss less.
So he was there that same time the next night. Leaning against the TARDIS. He kept checking the time. He had almost given up hope tat Tony would make it, until he saw the mop of dark hair running past the fence bordering the park. He smiled watching Tony run to him before stopping, panting,catching his breath. "Sorry...I'm...late. Parents had a...gala. Had to wait until we got home to sneak away." The Doctor raised an eyebrow. "And they won't worry your missing?" Tony shook his head. "Nope. Here. I made this for you. Like you said." Tony smiled, handing him a small, odd package in a paper bag.
The Doctor took it gently, looking inside. "Oh it's..." The Doctor had no idea. Tony smiled, walking into the TARDIS, taking the bag. "It's a music player. I love music when I work and I don't know if your TARDIS has any kind of music system.." The Doctor ruffled his hair with a smile. "Thank you Tony. That was very thoughtful. Now where shall we go today?" Tony smiled,running inside while the Doctor looked at the music player. It looked very much what was called an "iPod", Amy used to have..
He had to swallow the lump that formed in his throat before closing the doors and blocking that thought. He looked to Tony who was walking around the TARDIS, looking at it with such wonder and curiosity. He smiled sadly, remembering that sort of curiosity and wonder. Remembering how it got his friends into so much trouble, remembering how he lost so many to that same curiosity. He rubbed his eyes, walking over to Tony, stopping him from pressing a button. "Ah ah! Not that button!" Tony took his hand away. "Why not that button?" "Because not that button." Tony rolled his eye but smiled. "Ok, ok."
The doctor smiled, ruffling his hair before pressing some buttons and levers. "So where would Tony Stark like to go to today?" Tony smiled. "I don't know. It's so hard to pick from all of time and space." The Doctor grinned. "Oh you are in for a treat." He started the TARDIS up, pulling the lever down, the blue box jerking as it flew thru time. "Hold on! It might get a bit bumpy!" Tony smiled, holding on to the railing tightly. When the TARDIS stopped he nearly fell from the jolt. The doctor smiled, holding his hand to Tony who was hanging from the railing. His back nearly hitting the floor. Tony smiled, holding his hand as he helped him up. The Doctor helped him up with a grin. "Well then. Go look." Tony grinned, running to the door but stopped hismelf as he opened it. He saw nothing but space and stars and his eyes went wide in surprise.
It was beautiful. He had never seen anything like it in his life. There was pinks and blues and greens all swirling into one, melding so wonderfully. He suddenly saw as it slowly started to form. "Doctor, whats happening? What am I seeing?" The Doctor smiled, walking over. "What you are seeing is your home being made fresh from the dirt and dust of the universe." Tony gaped. "Thats earth? Oh...wow..." The doctor smiled, walking back, getting the music player Tony had made, coming back and sitting on the edge of the doors of the TARDIS, feet danging. Tony looked hesitant. "Won't we fall out?" "Oh no, How do you think were breathing? We have an air shield around us, protecting us. Were safe." Tony nodded, sitting next to him. His head only coming just above his elbow. He was small for his age.
The doctor got the music player out, looking at it. "Ok, Tony how do I work this?" Tony smiled, taking it. "Here. Like this." He pressed the button, turning it on, handing it back. "There. Now press play." The Doctor nodded, pressing a few buttons. Turning the music up. It was soft song, slow. The doctor listened to the lyrics while he watched the stars.
Everybody is a star
Who could rain and chase the dust away
Everybody wants to shine
Who will come out on a cloudy day?
The Doctor looked over at Tony. Tony seemed to distracted to listen to the song. Too distracted by the beauty of the slowly forming earth and universe around him. He still knew nothing about this boy. About this Tony Stark who loves science and and coffee. Well, he knows those two. He wanted to know more. 'Tis the sun that loves you 'round Everybody is a star
When the system tries to bring you down
Every had to shine at night
You don't need darkness to do what you think is right
I can feel it when you shine on me
I love you for who you are
Not the one you feel you need to be
The Doctor nearly jumped, not expecting Tony to speak. "They bully me because I'm different. I'm nine years old and I'm already a sophomore high school. They try to challenge my intellect at school but none of it really does. I just let them think it is. It's easier that way." The Doctor cleared his throat. "Easier? What do you mean easier?" Tony shook his head. "Every time I tell them it's too easy or I finish it all ahead of time then I have to go thru a whole enrollment process again and again to find a school that will work. But none of them do. Except maybe M.I.T. But my parents won't let me go there until I'm a little older." "Tell me about your parents." Tony sighed. "My mom is ok, she sorta stays out of the way. My dad, I don't like him. He dosnt care about me, at all. Anytime I try to spend time with him he always has better, more important things to do." The Doctor brought an arm around Tony, now knowing what that familiar look in Tony's eyes was: Loneliness. "There is nothing more important then spending time with you." Tony let out a bitterly amused sound, shrugging. "Tell that to my dad."
Ever catch a falling star Shine, shine, shine, shine
Ain't no stopping 'til it's on the ground
Everybody is a star
One big circle goin round and round
The Doctor wrapped him close, kissing his head. Tony smiled weakly, looking up with large, dark hopeful eyes. "But I've got you now. I won't be lonely anymore with you here." The Doctor felt his hearts break a little more but he smiled sadly. "Yeah, you sure do. I promise, You won't be lonely again." He hoped he you could keep that. Tony smiled, going back to looking at the universe before him.
It was hours they sat, looking at the stars as the earth formed. Tony had fallen asleep leaning against the Doctor. Now back on earth, The doctor carried Tony in his arms. He was a small boy for nine years old. It was awkward as he got Tony's ID from his wallet, looking for the address. He parked the TARDIS outside the Stark Mansion. The doctor smiled. "Blimey, your a rich one arnt you?" He got to the door step, getting his sonic out, opening the door easily with the green light.
He gently pushed it open with his foot, looking around. Seeing it was dark. He got the sense no one was home. He held Tony, carrying him upstairs to what he assumed was his bedroom. He smiled, seeing it as he turned the light on with the sonic. He saw a few Captain America Posters and bedding. He saw Captain America Pj's on the floor. He smiled. "Oh Tony, A Captain America fan. I know so much yet so little. You should let people in more often. I think they'll like what they see." He gently laid him in the bed, bringing the red,white and blue blanket over him, sitting on the edge of the bed, petting his hair gently as Tony snuggled into the blanket more. "Sleep well Tony." He left quietly, making sure to lock the front door as he left. The doctor felt his pocket. He still had the music player. He smiled sadly, playing the song again, listening as he walked back to the TARDIS in the yard.
Everybody is a star
I can feel it when you shine on me
I love you for who you are
Not the one you feel you need to be
Back inside the TARDIS he started typing in Anthony Stark, looking him up. He smiled when he found him. "Hello Coffee boy. Son of Howard and Maria Stark. The predecessor to Stark Industrious. Weapons manufacturing. Oh Tony,Tony,Tony. " He shook his head. This kid was a genius. He continued his search, finding files on his future. "Oh hello, what is this? The Jericho. Oh Tony, why? Kidnapping? What is this?" The Doctor frowned, reading what they did in that dark, cold cave. He had to turn it off and sit. He couldn't finish. Thinking of that little boy with bright eyes and excitement. No. he would watch over him. He would make sure he didn't get kidnapped and tortured in unimaginable pain. He would make him see humanity and keep that hurt from ever happening. He had no idea how much impact his decision would change the future.