Sorry it's been so long! I've been trying to juggle school and other stressful things in my life, but really it's just been a bunch of procrastination. Of course writers block was a part of that, but then this finally came out right! Anyways, please enjoy! And thanks to everyone who reviews and story alerts/anything else. You guys really are awesome. =]
P.S. here's an obligatory claim that I don't own Doctor Who!
About two weeks later, Rory was sitting outside of Amy's house at the front door. He had been banned from coming inside, not by Mr. or Mrs. Pond, but by their daughter who refused to talk to him ever again. Of course, instead of listening to her, Rory waited outside in case she decided at the last minute that maybe she did need to talk.
He didn't know why he was doing it. He did a lot of things for her without really knowing why. Since she'd first come to Leadworth she had been known as one of those girls who were weird and talked about space aliens like they really exists. Even he had to admit sometimes that he thought her obsession with a time traveling goofball seemed a bit odd. He never went so far as Mels had and told her so, but he had thought it once or twice. His mom, and even her parents, were convinced that it was just a phase. Amelia would grow out of it in no time. Rory didn't really care if it was a phase though, as long as they were still friends he felt he'd be fine. He figured they would always be close, it would always be him and her, best mates for life, even if she didn't want to speak to him. He had a feeling, though, that she would.
He had been so caught up in his own thoughts that it took him a moment to realize his other friend standing in front of him. He looked up to see Mels standing with the sun shining at her back. Her arms were crossed and she grinned, but she looked very tired. "Hey Rory," she stepped next to him and plopped down beside where he sat. There was no doubt she was very curious as to why he wasn't inside the house like he normally would be, but Rory suddenly became more curious with what was wrong with Mels.
When she had stepped out of the sun he had been momentarily blinded by how unexpectedly bright it had been. Mels had always liked being dramatic, but he hadn't thought to look away from the light when she'd moved. When she sat next to him, he caught a glimpse of her face full on for the first time.
"What happened?" he asked. He would still have to figure out how to comfort Amy, but Mels was his friend too. Perhaps not as close, and certainly not as nice, but he could definitely feel a connection between them that could only register as friendship. And Mels had her moments when she wasn't too bad.
"Huh? Nothing. Just been gone a bit." Was all she said as a reply. Rory could tell she was lying. Mels had bruises covering her face, hard to see, but still noticeable if you looked. She looked exhausted and was acting more cheerful than she actually was, he could see it in her eyes. Also, it almost looked like she'd lost some weight, her clothes were loose at her sides.
"What were you doing?" Rory asked me skeptically.
"Hmm, I don't know." I bit my lip and thought hard. I couldn't remember much. Just woke up a few minutes ago down the street in Miss. Conway's house. She'd told me that a nice man had dropped me off and had given her a message to tell me he'd talk to me soon. The man was obviously John, since no one else could be described as "Couldn't keep his mouth shut long enough to take a breath, and had this awful hat on his head!". When I had realized this, I grew very irritated. I'd been gone for months (and I knew it was months, my memory hadn't failed me that badly) and then the time that John decides to visit, I'm either knocked out or really just can't remember. "Just a bit of a holiday." I said. Explaining what really happened to Rory would be pointless.
"Just a holiday? Did you get into a fight with bears and win?"
I laughed, although he did seem kind of serious. Like he thought I'd waste my time fighting a bear? I changed the subject. "What are you doing out here? Is Amelia not home?"
He stared at me longer, still trying to pry at where I'd been and why I was so bruised up. Believe me, I wanted to know too. Here I was, Melody Pond, part Time Lord extraordinaire experiencing the uncomfortable sensation of sore muscles and really just wanting to take a good nap. It was so annoying. Especially since, like all the other times I'd been around Kovarian and the church, I couldn't remember how I'd gotten this way.
Rory gave up on getting an answer from me and sighed. "Amy. She goes by Amy now. She won't let me in. Doesn't want to talk to anyone because we're all 'stupid'."
"Well, I'm not stupid." I stood up and turned towards the door, pulling his shirt to make him stand too. "And why would you ever listen to her tell you something like that? Tell you what. I bet she just needs a good hug."
"You don't know what happened." Rory said quietly. "Her parents took her to a psychologist and she poured the tea onto the therapist lap. I think they're all angry at each other now."
I had to admit that it was hard imagining Agustus Pond really being mad. It must have just been Tabetha who was upset. She never supported her daughters idea of the Doctor anyway.
"Well, come on!" I encouraged. "Angry or not, we've got to help her. Our future depends on it!" My future depends on it.
"What does that mean?" Rory asked as I opened the door, surprisingly not locked, and pulled him inside.
"It means, get your dad's old bow tie, we're gonna play Doctor!"
Although I had never been too fond of Amelia's idol, I had no objections this time to playing the silly game. In fact, after all that I'd been through within the past few weeks, playing a character in some imaginary game, even if the hero in real life was really an evil villain who destroyed his entire race, would be a welcome change from everything else. And I cold get Amy to do it, I was her best mate. She'd always listen to me.