So sorry about the lack of posts... I have many excuses, all of them wonderfully thought out and entirely pointless because none of them are good. :D So I can only apologize for the long delay. But here it is Chapter 12! Tell us what you think. ;)
"Gallifrey."
Rose looked up at the burning orange sky, twin suns watching over plains of tall red grass that rose away into white capped mountains. The silver leaves of surrounding trees sparkled like fire and danced under the touch of a light breeze.
"At the beginning of Time Itself."
Rose whirled at the sound of the thick, deep voice behind her. A man stood there, dressed in resplendent scarlet robes, his head framed by a large golden arch. He smiled when he saw her and his eyes sparkled. Young eyes, Rose noted. Strange for a Time Lord...or maybe not. After all she'd only ever met the one. She forced the thought away and appraised her 'visitor'.
"I have waited many years to meet the Bad Wolf. The Creator of Time."
Rose blinked slowly.
"Sorry, what?"
BREAK
"There. See? Well done Rory! Couldn't have done it better." The Doctor stood beside the Centurion, gazing down at the tiny infant sitting on the jump seat in front of them. She was gazing back at him, her fingers working distractedly against the yellow jumper's abrasive yarn weave. Rory wasn't watching Gwyn, his eyes were on the Doctor's tweed jacket, which was dripping onto the floor.
"Doctor...Why are you all wet?"
"We took a bath. Well...Gwyn took a bath, I was just in the general area..." He looked down and watched his jacket drip. "Still. Cuts out the need for laundry." The Doctor turned to the console and began pressing buttons.
"So. Where are we going?" Rory leaned next to him, sure in the Tardis capability to care for the Doctor's daughter.
"Not sure yet. Balahooe? Dendraphoba? Somewhere safe."
"Safe?" The Doctor froze at the coy voice behind him. "Now where's the fun in that?"
The Doctor turned slowly, heart thudding, his body painfully stiff.
"River."
She smirked at him.
"Hello Sweetie."
BREAK
Rose gaped at the man standing in front of her, watching her serenely.
"It is truly a great honor to meet you." He bowed slightly
"Hold up. What are you talking about? Creator of Time? What's that? I- I don't create time! I'm not-" She glanced around herself wildly, at Gallifrey. Gallifrey. The Planet Of The Time Lords. "I'm just a human. Normal. Average. Human. Alright? Not the Bad Wolf. Not anymore."
He grinned.
"Rose Tyler. That has never been true."
BREAK
Never before had such a great mind been empty for so long. But in that moment even the great Doctor found himself unable to think. He stared at River. His wife. Her curly golden hair haloing her face. Her eyes were filled with an easy happiness. Because of him. He made her happy. She made him happy too, of course. But...how would his daughter make her feel? His and Rose's daughter. All at once his mind was whirling. Would she accept it? Yes. She did. Remember? She did.
No. She didn't say. Time is in flux. It can be rewritten. What if this didn't happen before? What if she left him? Even with Gwyn and the Ponds he didn't think he could survive it. Not to lose her twice. Not to lose that promise of forever between them. All those pages...unlived...
"Doctor? Are you alright?" His eyes snapped back to her face, her eye brows arched above eyes filled with concern.
"Right. Yes. No. Of course I am. I'm always...always alright..." his eyes flickered to Gwyn, hidden, momentarily, from her view. He forced a cheery smile. "Hello River." She was dressed in her usual earthy tones, gun strapped at her hip. "You look...nice." Her eyebrows rose another fraction.
"Doctor..."
Amy bounded in then, a damp towel slung around her shoulders, her ginger hair hanging in wet ropes.
"River. Hey." She grinned hugely and went to embrace her daughter.
"Well. At least someone's happy to see me." She quipped returning the embrace. The Doctor didn't reply his eyes locked on a distant point. "Is he alright?"
Amy followed River's worried gaze.
"Yeah. Course he is. Always. You know the Doctor. Always okay." She smiled. "Right Doctor?"
"Hm? Wha- Yes. Right, good idea...Amy." His eyes finally focused on the ginger and he blinked. "Oh. Finally changed your clothes? River's here. I suppose you've noticed." He indicated their nearness. River arms folded ominously across her chest.
"Alright Doctor. What's happened?" She looked between the three of them. "Why did Amy have to change her clothes?"
"Why is that relevant?" The Doctor demanded, scowling. River's smirk returned.
"Nothing is a coincidence Doctor. You least of all."
Everyone in the room frowned. Except Gwyn. She screamed. A childish shriek of frustration. Everyone froze. River was the first to speak.
"Doctor...what was that?"
The Doctor swallowed loudly and forced an anxious smile.
"Spoilers?"