Chapter 10

Thank you so much for reviewing guys! It means so much. Shout out to littlexkiller and Hog Draconis for your kind words and thoughts.

Anyway, we last left off with John and River getting in a fight… and Amy needs to talk to Rory.

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Amy didn't have to go far to get to Rory's place. She didn't take the car. She tried to convince herself that she wasn't delaying the inevitable. After all, this was her decision. She needed to tell Rory. And today was as good as any day… right?

She sighed and breathed in the cool morning air. None of this felt right. She should have told him last night… but everything had just spun out of control. It was too unexpected.

Amy tried to figure out how she would tell him. What words were there for this sort of thing? It's not every day that people have to explain to their boyfriends, "Oh, by the way, did I mention I'm living with some bloke my mum picked out, and oh, he's also my boss now. So, we're cool right?"

No. That would be a disaster. Amy groaned and ran a hand through her hair. This wasn't going to end well. At all.

Rory's flat was a bit smaller than hers. Not that she minded. It was perfectly comfortable and it was so… him. Amy would always like her place best, but she couldn't deny that she enjoyed relaxing at Rory's every Sunday.

'Sunday Date Day', as Rory liked to call it. Amy didn't care really, but she liked that he looked forward to it so much.

When she arrived all the windows were open to let the morning light in. Amy frowned at it, trying to look through and see if Rory was home. The car out front said he was, but that didn't mean anything. Rory often went out walking in the morning. Maybe that's why she left when she did. John couldn't get mad at her if she checked and found out he wasn't home. Then she would just promise to check again later. This probably wouldn't happen… But John didn't need to know that.

There was no immediate movement inside from what she could tell. But she went up to the door anyway and rang the buzzer. Not a sound came from inside, and Amy looked up and down the block. She pressed the buzzer again. Nothing.

Trying not to grin, Amy turned to walk away. Her mission was complete. At least in her mind it was. She tried after all, and whether she saw him or not wasn't the goal. It was trying. Yes, she told herself. She was only out to try…

But then the door opened. Amy tried not to groan in disappointment.

"Oh, Amy! Nice to see you," He said with a grin as he hugged her. Amy looked him over when they parted. He was wearing a windbreaker and sweats. He was going to run.

"I guess I caught you at a bad time," Amy said, hoping that he would just agree and let her be on her way.

"No, not at all," Rory said and moved down the steps. "You wanted to talk with me right? About your new job or something?"

Amy felt a fake smile plaster itself on her face.

"Yeah," she said, a little too sweetly. "But it can wait. I'll stop by later?"

"Why wait? Walk with me," he said. "You clearly didn't drive her anyway." Damn it.

"Sure," Amy replied and quickly moved to walk beside him.

They walked in silence for several minutes. Rory cast strange looks at Amy while she pretended not to notice. Finally, when it became too unbearable, Amy asked, "So, this is the route you like to take?"

"Yes," Rory said, noticing how she wasn't explaining why she really came. "Normally I run about ten blocks, but today I figured I'd go for five. Just get back into the swing of things."

He looked down at her and frowned.

"But you didn't come to ask me that. What's wrong?"

Amy sighed and frowned.

"It's about my job," Amy said slowly. Here we go, she thought bitterly.

"What about it?" He asked.

"Well, it sort of started with River's boyfriend coming back to Venice…"

"What does this have to do with River's boyfriend?"

"Just listen," Amy snapped, anxious to get this over with. "Well, he came back to Venice and I didn't realize that he was River's boyfriend, so then my mum called and said I had to get a job or else she would cut me off-"

"Amy slow down-"

"But then I didn't believe her so I went to China and when I came back there was this guy-"

"AMY!"

Amy stopped and looked at him. He had stopped walking and was staring at her incredulously.

"Amy," he tried again when he saw her stunned face. He never raised his voice around her. Not usually, anyway. Only when there was an emergency or he needed her attention. "You're talking too fast. You went to China? Your mum called? River's boyfriend? Some guy you met? What are you trying to say?"

Rory walked up to her and stared at her intention, waiting for her to explain again. Amy just stared back.

"Well?" Rory asked when she didn't speak.

"I, uh…" Amy tried again, looking around to figure out where they were now.

It was some market area. On every side of the street for what seemed to go on forever were shops and businesses. Most of them official buildings, some little set up stands with people calling out for attention. The street was packed with people.

Amy's eyes widened. In front of one of the buildings she saw a mess of blond curls, and Amy grinned widely.

"River!" Amy shouted without thinking, quickly rushing over to her immediate savior. Anything to get away from this conversation…!

"Amy!" Rory called after her, jogging to keep up in the crowd.

Only when Amy actually stepped up to River she realized her mistake. Both River and John were staring at each other heatedly, neither of them looking at all sociable or pleasant. River looked stunned and flustered. John just looked angry. Angry and cold. The look was so awful and mean that it scared Amy.

"I'm sorry… I'll talk to you later-"

"No," John snapped so suddenly both River and Amy flinched. John's attention quickly turned to Amy and an obviously fake smile suddenly sprouted from his lips. "We're fine. Did you talk to Rory?"

River glared at him and Amy was quick to notice. But another look at John's determined gaze, she knew there was no use trying to leave them alone now.

"Well, actually…"

"Amy," Rory suddenly appeared beside Amy and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Oh, hello River."

"Rory," River replied coolly, smiling at him but still visibly uncomfortable with the situation.

Did they get in a fight, Amy wondered? It didn't seem possible, the way River talked about John all the time. Amy always imagined them diving through the Amazon or riding rapids, all the while flirting and getting into all kinds of trouble. Not once had Amy ever imagined them being… domestic. But after meeting John, all those images still seemed odd in Amy's head.

But seeing him like this. She could imagine he could be much fiercer than she originally thought.

"You must be Rory Williams," John said kindly, if not forced, and extended his hand to shake Rory's. Rory accepted it and smirked.

"And you must be the boyfriend River talks so much about?" They flinched. Amy was again the only one who noticed. But John recovered quickly and grinned.

"Yes. John Smith, it's a pleasure. I've heard great things."

Rory raised an eyebrow at River. River didn't look at him.

"Uh, Rory, this is my new boss. The Doctor, John Smith." Amy said finally. Rory looked at her in surprise, John actually grinned. Properly grinned, making his eyes bright and shiny like he couldn't be happier. Why…? Amy wondered for a moment before it dawned on her. She'd called him the 'Doctor.' Amy would have rolled her eyes if she were anywhere else.

"Oh, I see," Rory said, his eyes lighting with understanding.

"You do?" Both Amy and John asked, earning them both odd stares.

"Yeah. Is that all you were worried about?" Rory asked with a laugh, turning to Amy in amusement.

"If you were worried about my opinion of you working with John like this then I don't mind. At all."

Amy stared, trying to figure out if he was serious or not. He didn't get it. It wasn't just that she was working with John; it's that he was living with her… But he was fine with her working for him. He probably just assumed that's why her house was such a disaster. Because she brought all that work home with her. That it wasn't John's, it was hers. And that all of this was just about working for River's boyfriend.

John stared in surprise as well, and Amy felt her heart drop. He probably thought Amy had told Rory everything, and this was his response… Damn it, damn it, damn it…! This was going to turn into a disaster.

But she didn't say anything. She only smiled and said, "Oh, thank God, brilliant. I thought you might mind."

"Of course not. I trust River, and I trust you. It's fine." Ouch, Amy felt her heart hit her ribcage. Why did Rory have to be so trusting? So accepting?

"Great," John said with a grin, also hitching a ride on the misdirected train.

"Well then, I need to back to my run, if that's all you needed to talk to me about?" Rory asked as he turned to Amy. Amy shook her head, still faking her relief. It felt like her head might explode.

"Nope, all good," She lied through her teeth, accepting the kiss on her cheek and watching as Rory said goodbye to the others and made jogged back down the street.

River had remained oddly silent the entire time, and Amy couldn't take it anymore.

"What happened?" Amy demanded finally, turning on them quickly. "You both look like you can't wait to run the other way."

John raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence.

"Honestly Amy, I have no idea-"

"Don't even try," Amy shook her head firmly and looked at River. "What happened?"

River sighed heavily and glared at John.

"Amy, let it lie for now. It'll be sorted soon enough. One way or the other."

Amy heard the hidden threat in the sentence and didn't have time to say anything before River turned and stalked away. John had gone pale and was looking down at his feet.

"Well?" Amy demanded.

"It's nothing. Just a disagreement." His voice was cold, empty. It didn't sound right coming from him. It bothered her.

"About what?" Amy pressed, not buying his words for a moment. At least not completely.

"It's not your concern, Amy!"

Amy wanted to bite back some kind of retort, but the tone of his voice made her falter. He still wasn't looking at her, but his shoulders were tense and he hadn't moved an inch since Rory walked away.

"How can I help?" Amy asked softly instead. His frown tightened.

"Just… don't ask."

He looked up at her finally, and Amy felt her breath hitch. He looked tired. It looked almost exactly like he did the night before, in his room when he mentioned his mother. But this time it just made him seem older. Like he was ready to sleep for a year… or a thousand.

"Okay," Amy said. John smirked then, his eyes skeptical.

"Seriously? Agreeing just like that? Who are you?" Amy socked him in the shoulder and smirked back.

"Better get over it before I change my mind, Doctor."

His eyes lit up and Amy felt a little bit better. Anything was better than that sad look he had.

"Also, while I'm still in a good mood, thanks for the breakfast. It was fantastic," Amy said with a grin. John laughed.

"Fantastic, such a great word."

"Agreed. Now, because you've also annoyed me all morning, you're going to buy me lunch."

"What happened to your 'good mood?'"

"It'll last longer when I'm fed. Now, where are we going?" Amy asked with a grin.

John raised his eyebrows and smirked.

"I might know a place. And on the way, you're going to explain to me how on earth you found such an incredible boyfriend!"

Amy laughed nervously and tucked her hair behind her ear.

"Well that, is a trade secret," Amy said, trying to brush it off casually. John rolled his eyes.

"I'm sure," he said sarcastically, but not unkindly as he extended an arm to Amy. She quickly took hold of it and allowed him to lead her in the right direction.

"But really, how did you do it?"

"Actually, he sort of pieced it together himself." Amy said, not entirely lying, but definitely not explaining the truth either.

"Remarkable. With that nose I just assumed…"

"Oi! Don't go talking about my boyfriend's nose!"

"But Amy, have you actually looked at it?" He laughed when she hit him again.

"Shut it."

"But where would be the fun in that?"

And Amy certainly couldn't disagree with that.

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Okay, so a little OOC but I have a plan here. At least, some semblance of a plan… hehe. Adds to drama I think.

Anyhow, I hope you guys like this chapter. Also, if you think they're acting all 'cheaty' on their romantic partners with that arm hold, I disagree. 11 and Amy did that quite a lot while Amy and Rory were dating, so I figured why not? Most of this stuff is based off Season 5 anyway. (And some Season 6, thank you *certain* characters…)

Also, please review. I won't ever stop writing this story until it's finished, but in the meantime, PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS GOOD PLEASE REVIEW.

I've only been getting like, two reviews a chapter. I'm going to challenge you guys to send me at least three reviews. The more reviews, the faster I update. Seriously.

I won't stop writing, but please review. It helps so much.

Thank you for reading! Next chapter will be MUCH longer, I promise. :) *hint hint draconis*