CHAPTER FOUR
Back in Leadworth for a day.
Amy and Rory, both excited to see families and friend again, were first out of the TARDIS, walking close, hands dangling next to each other. Amy twined her fingers into Rory's as she turned and smiled at him. He hugged her closer to him for a second, before letting go as they walked faster.
It was sweet.
Very sweet.
And the Doctor couldn't bear to see this happen. How long could they last like this? Yes, there had been years and years for both of them. They could go for a long time like this. But in a time machine, what is time anyway?
He walked on behind them for a while, until they stopped, outside what Amy did suppose was Rory's house. He'd never seen any of Rory's relatives, and certainly never been inside his house. It was large and old, rather posh, but, he supposed, friendly enough.
Amy skipped up the steps, Rory following behind, leaning over her shoulder to knock on the door. The Doctor stepped back a tiny bit, but Amy grabbed onto his sleeve, tugging him forwards.
Suddenly, the door was being wrenched open by a short, round woman, with dark brown hair tied up in a loose bun. She had a face full of wrinkles, kind, small eyes, and was wearing an old-looking floral apron. "Rory, Amelia!" she pulled them both into a tight hug. Releasing them, she turned to the Doctor: "and who might you be, young man!"
"Uh … a friend. I'm a friend."
"Well, Rory, Amy, friend, come inside. It's been so long since I've seen you all!"
"Yes, we've been, um, to Asia. And Europe," Rory mumbled.
"That's where, now! Oh, honey, I thought it was Australia – no, that was last time, wasn't it? I've no idea where this silly desire to travel the world came from. I thought there was a baby on the way."
Rory looked at Amy. Amy looked at the floor. The Doctor looked around the room, studying the teacups and paintings.
"Well. Never mind. Tea?"
"Um, yeah, let's."
The Doctor sat down on a small armchair, next to the couch, where Amy and Rory plonked themselves. "It feels so strange to be back at your house," he heard Amy whisper.
"I know, it feels strange."
Half an hour later, after drinking tea, discussing their "travels" with Rory's father, discussing "families" with Rory's mother, the Doctor was ready to leave. Sadly, he seemed to be the only one who felt that way.
"Let's go upstairs!" Amy exclaimed.
"Um. Right. Let's!"
The Doctor followed them both awkwardly pausing to sonic the photos lining the hallway (he had nothing better to do, at least).
They disappeared, now, into one of the rooms (Rory's room?). The Doctor hesitated for a moment, wondering if staying in the hallway would be the safest idea, before giving up and going in.
"Look, Rory, all your old cub scouts stuff!"
"No, Amy," said Rory, shoving a pile of clothing under the bed.
"And the painting I gave you when we were nine!"
The Doctor turned to see a child-like painting, still tacked to the wall: green line for grass, a tree on the side, wide blue sky. A boy and girl were standing on the grass, a blue box with a head sticking out beside them.
The Doctor had to smile.
"And hey – hey Rory. Is this the watch you mentioned?"
The Doctor stopped dead. No.
He heard footsteps, crossing the room.
Amy's voice: "but why all the circles? What's that supposed to mean?"
He turned, and saw Amy standing in a corner, studying a silver fobwatch … how could it happen?
"Amy. Put it down."
"Aw, Doctor, no. I just wanna look at it!"
Rory crossed the room. "This? Yeah, it is."
"What's in it?"
"Don't open it," the Doctor intoned. Pleading. "I'm warning you – put it back, ok? Put it back!"
"Don't be silly, I just want to see!"
Rory took the fobwatch, now, and flicked it … flicked it open.
The Doctor yelled, an anguished, shocked yelp, but it was too late. Regeneration energy swarmed around Rory, his eyes blazing, his limbs becoming rigid.
"Doctor," Amy whispered, more Scottish sounding than she had been in a long time, "Doctor!" yelling now. "What's happening? Rory, please, Rory! Doctor. Do something."
The Doctor could do nothing, merely watch, as his nemesis returned, locked in the body of a friend, to a background of Amy's screams.