Epilogue: An American Pastime

Amy Pond was standing on the roof of the Empire State Building at sunset, but it wasn't any long-missed romantic encounter that she was waiting for. As she basked in the peacefulness of the city's sparkling metallic horizon when it WASN'T being threatened by aliens, she smiled and looked down at the two hefty Saks Fifth Avenue bags at her side—it's amazing what one could afford when you have a sonic screwdriver to magic all necessary currency out of any ATM machine.

She had recovered from the previous night's adventures with a lovely long sleep in at the Ritz-Carlton; the Soho Grand was clearly not an option since months of repairs were now going to be necessary, but the Doctor was still a creature of his word. He shelled out for two luxury suites at an equally nice hotel, complete with hot tubs and those lovely tiny complementary bottles of bubble bath that Rory hoarded every time they managed to stay at a nice bed-and-breakfast on holiday. She made sure to throw as many in her bag for him as possible, and figured that explaining their origin was an issue she'd deal with when she got to it.

Afterwards, they had a lovely sightseeing tour, complete with the Statue of Liberty, Rockefeller Center, and Central Park. Amy had lain on the grass in the park and let the autumn leaves tumble down onto her face, and at that moment felt that she had really had the best New York experience a girl could hope for. The Doctor had then left her to go track down the TARDIS while she got to do her long-awaited shopping…which was fine, as she didn't need any fashion advice from a man who's pants fit that poorly anyways.

Amy was picturing the Doctor trying to communicate with the snobby clerks at the Chanel counter, but was broken out of said amusing reverie as a familiar mechanical wheezing and whirring began to grow louder and louder.

The Doctor stepped out of the TARDIS and joined her. Amy grinned at him. "Have fun in the Bronx?"

"Actually, I stopped off for a Yankees-Red Sox game."

"What? Without me?"

"How could I pass up the opportunity to witness a sports rivalry as infamous as that of Time Lord and Dalek? Besides, I brought you a present."

He whipped out a giant foam finger emblazoned with the Yankees logo. Amy looked at it, then back at him in disbelief, before dissolving into laughter. She smacked him on the head with it playfully.

"I think I've had enough of New York for one sitting, Doctor. Can we go someplace exotic now? Someplace full of those dangerous mind-controlling aliens, perhaps?"

"Hmm, I would have thought you'd have had your fill of dangerous aliens after last night too."

"True. Still, I want to see a planet. Show me a planet! One that's not my own."

The Doctor stepped over to the TARDIS and opened the door with a flourish and a bow.

"One planet, right up. But first, I have a stop to make."

Amy groaned. "It better not be another sports match…"

"Hey, Amelia, I don't know if anyone has told you the truth, but shopping is NOT the Great American Pastime. That would be the great sport of baseball! Don't knock it!"

As they went to board the TARDIS, Amy looked around to take one last mental photograph of the midtown Manhattan skyline—and realized someone was missing,.

"Where's Captain Jack? I never even got to say an official, sober goodbye…or thank you...or anything!"

The Doctor sighed. "Captain Jack has a few things to take care of, in regards to setting up an American branch of Torchwood. Don't worry though, I'm sure we'll see his pretty face again in no time."

"Doctor! How superficial do you think I am?"

Their banter and light-hearted insults continued even as the TARDIS door shut and, with another whirr and a rumble, dissolved into the crisp night air, with only the battered ceiling of the Soho Grand downtown remaining as a sign that they were ever there.