"Why are we here in boring Montgomery?" Amy did not grow tired of asking even after being in said place for a good hour already. "It's the 1920s for God's sake! We should be in New York!"
Avalon wore a wry smile across her face as the two, along with the Doctor, walked down a street of the small town of Montgomery. "Perhaps the Doctor wanted us to calm down for a while."
"Are you still mad we ruined the Taj Mahal construction?" Amy then questioned the Time Lord who'd been walking on Avalon's other side. "Because we didn't ruin it - we just made them a little late."
"A little?" The Doctor stopped to scoff. "Because of you two the Taj Mahal won't be built for another year!"
"Well, maybe they'll come up with even better ideas," Avalon responded with a light shrug of her shoulders, still not understanding the hullabaloo about it. So they accidentally burned the construction plans, big deal.
"No, you two need a quiet space to remember the rules about time travelling," the Doctor was now wagging a finger at both of them.
"And you thought 1920 Montgomery, was the place?" frowned Amy. "That's just rude."
The Doctor smirked and gestured for them to continue walking. He was sure this was going to be a calm place where the two gingers could really think about how much it would cost them the next time they decided to deliberately mess with established moments in time. He took them round the towns square, twice just to mess with them. He was sure one of them was close to snapping and probably smacking him, but he couldn't decide which one would do it first.
"Okay, I want to go to a store before I hurt you," Avalon stopped after he took a seat at a park bench.
Avalon wins, the Time Lord thought to himself with an inward smirk.
"Take me with you," Amy practically begged as she took another grim look at the townsquare.
"Sorry, he's your responsibility," Avalon gave a wiggling wave of her fingers before rushing away.
"What!? Avalon!" Amy called to no avail, the other ginger had effectively ran off on her own. "Great," Amy huffed and plopped down beside the Doctor, "Now I'm stuck with you."
"I could just bring you home, you know," the Doctor frowned at her.
"You know, that threat's getting old."
The Doctor laughed. "If it's still annoying you then it definitely hasn't gotten old yet."
Amy rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, trying to come up with a way to get back at him for bringing them to such a horribly boring place.
~ 0 ~
Avalon had already visited three shops lining one street, all full of various dresses she wished she could have. Unfortunately, having no money on her, she was stuck to just seeing. In the last shop she stepped inside of, she found it was empty save for one young-looking blonde woman who was further down the store. Avalon couldn't see her face as the blonde had her back to Avalon while she looked at one particular outgoing dress. Avalon stopped to examine one dress of pink frocks not too far away from the blonde.
"Idn't it divine? Would you like to try it on?"
Thinking the saleswoman was talking to her, Avalon looked up to politely refuse. However, at the same time, the blonde customer answered.
"I don't know. I might like this green one," the blonde had moved over to a sparkling green dress that was mildly shorter than the other dresses in the store. With one look, Avalon agreed it was more pretty.
But apparently, the saleswoman disagreed as she gave a great big scoff. "Are you sure your mama would let you wear a dress that short?"
Avalon made a face and looked to the side, holding her tongue. She'd forgotten how judgmental this era could be.
The blonde woman, in turn, answered in a tone that implied she was just trying to be nice. "Bless your heart for your concern, but honestly, I'm looking for something a bit more au courant."
The saleswoman rolled her eyes. "That is exactly what Coco Chanel showed in Paris this spring. You can't get more au courant, dear."
That's it, Avalon sucked in a breath and moved towards the two. "I wouldn't bother with that dress, dear," she said to the blonde. She passed a hand down the green dress with a distasteful look. "You should try New York. They'll have far prettier things that are up to date than these old things," she nodded to the other dresses around them. "I mean these could cough up dust from how old they are."
The saleswoman seemed far offended to speak while the blonde was more surprised yet impressed. Avalon upheld a smug smile that she sent to the saleswoman. "Oh, Lord, look at the time," Avalon gave a mock curtsy and started to leave the shop.
As Avalon ventured to return to the Doctor and Amy, the same blonde customer had rushed out of the shop to find her. "You're not from around here," her voice stopped Avalon in her tracks. When Avalon turned around, she met the blonde studying her from head to toe.
Donning a white blouse tucked underneath an orange, a-lined skirt fit for the era, and a beige-colored hat that hid most of her orange locks, Avalon gave a small nod of agreement. "What gave it away?"
"Your accent - English - but I would have to say it was the way you defended me. Absolutely no one does that in this town."
"And why not?"
"Well everybody knows who I am," the blonde chuckled.
Avalon smiled to herself. Already she identified with the woman and she didn't even know who the woman was. "I don't," she shrugged lightly.
"Of course," the blonde agreed. "I'm Zelda Sayre-" Avalon's eyes widened, "-and everyone wants to avoid me here. Well-" the blonde chuckled as she thought to add," -except the men o' course."
But Avalon was still gaping. It took a mighty amount for her to close her mouth. "Y-y-you're…" for a minute she paused and then once again tried to recompose herself, "...you're, y-you're Z-Zelda…"
"Are you okay, dear-"
"You're Zelda Sayre?" Avalon finally sputtered in one go. "You're actually Zelda Sayre F-" but she stopped herself before she said the woman's future surname.
The blonde, indeed the yet-to-be-famous author, gave a slight bemused chuckle. "Well, who else would I be?" she bobbed her head a bit.
Avalon nervously chuckled as well. "Oh my God…"
And here the Doctor thought he would be punishing me, thought Avalon as she gazed upon Zelda. Zelda Sayer (later Fitzgerald) was an author who never got the recognition she deserved in her own time, not to mention who died tragically. Avalon loved Zelda's works but never imagined that she would one day actually meet Zelda!
"Dear, are you alright?" Zelda inquired after a moment of silence in which Avalon had done nothing but stare at her.
"Y-Yes!" the ginger anxiously nodded her head. "Sorry, I just…" she chuckled, "It's...it's very nice to meet you, Zelda."
"Nice to meet you as well," Zelda smiled widely and now took a moment to study Avalon's appearance. "What exactly is a Brit doing in boring ole Montgomery?"
"U-um...well, a friend thought it'd be a nice quiet place for us to visit," Avalon explained, now wondering where the Doctor was and Amy as well. She would love to introduce them to Zelda.
Zelda had herself a good laugh. "You certainly picked the right place."
"Yes, I'm afraid he did," Avalon could not hide her discontent with the choice of scenary, so much that Zelda laughed again.
"You don't like the quiet place do you?"
"No, not really," Avalon chuckled a little herself. "I'm, uh, what they call adventurous. Although I do like it for some writing muse but-"
"You write?" Zelda's attention had been piqued.
"Well, I like to dabble, but...yes, I suppose I do write."
Zelda unceremoniously snorted, startling Avalon. "Well, it's either you do or you don't," she leaned on one hip and placed a hand over it. "Do you?"
Avalon sighed. "I don't know anymore."
Zela stared at Avalon while the ginger once again got lost in thoughts. She figured there had to be quite some problems running through Avalon's head. Not a lot of woman seemed like the type to be aware their own thoughts. "You want go for a walk?" her question startled Avalon out of her thoughts. "I dunno, a swim?"
The slight widened of eyes Avalon gave off as a response made Zelda laugh again. "I-I don't know, I, uh...I came with friends and-"
"Oh stop," Zelda waved her off with a hand, "Those friends of yours should wonder where you are for a bit, don't you think? Believe me, I can show you how to have fun a lot better than anyone else in this town."
"It's just...I really don't know my way around and-"
"I thought you were a bold one, you know," Zelda once again placed her hands on her hips. "Least that's the vibe you gave off. Are you about to prove me wrong?"
There was something about Zelda's quirk of an eyebrow that made Avalon want to prove herself to the woman. It was also stemming from the fact Avalon knew everything about Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald. "O-okay..."
Zelda's lips thinned into a much more widened smile. "Let's go, then! My friends will love a little Brit." Avalon barely had time to say 'okay' once again before Zelda practically yanked her down a new street. "Wh-when you say friends…" Avalon began but once again was cut off by Zelda who overly cheerfully explained their additional guests.
"Livye and Eleanor are my closest friends here and they will just love to hear what you told the saleswoman back there!" Zelda chuckled at the reminder.
"She was being rude," Avalon scowled. "I hate cocky women. It's why I can barely keep up with them."
"Same here," Zelda gave her a mildly awed look that both of them shared a trait. "Between you and me-" she linked an arm with Avalon, growing a crooked smirk at the same time, "-I get along far better with the men here. They say, I've got the most kissable mouth in town."
Avalon could not help her small laughter. "I think you and I could be good friends, actually."
"There we go," Zelda gave her a light nudge. "You seem like my type too. Say, what's your name again?"
"Avalon," the ginger responded. "Avalon Reynolds."
"Avalon Reynolds," Zelda said the name as if she were testing it out for its status. "Sounds like a rich girl's name - are you loaded? Was coming to this town a punishment or are your friends just that incredibly stupid?"
Avalon laughed again, answering the question with it. "If you were to look at my bag right now you'd find nothing but a journal. I've got no pennies on me, lady. And to answer your second question, one of my friends is an idiot."
"Definitely my type of girl," Zelda said and the two laughed alongside each other again.
~ 0 ~
"Doctor if you don't get me out of here soon I might just kill you," Amy threatened. She was still sitting at the park bench, her head tilted back and eyes screwed shut.
The Time Lord in question was smirking quite proudly beside her. "I take it we learned the lesson?"
"Yes, we learned the bloody lesson!" Amy turned on her seat, clapping her hands to make her plead again. "Please can we just go already? I bet Avalon's already hung herself somewhere."
"If she does I'll take her somewhere even more boring," the Doctor warned and got up. Amy practically jumped from her spot. "But I guess you did learn your lessons. We really need to be careful, alright?" Amy nodded her head quickly, just wanting to get things moving back to the TARDIS. "Alright, let's go find Avalon," the Doctor started walking down the pathway leading the streets where the shops were.
But by the time they had decided this, Avalon was far gone. In fact, she was already in the town's nearest woods that led to the famous lake where people would swim in occasionally.
"You actually said that to old Geller?" one of Zelda's friends, Livye, was awed after hearing Zelda retell them what had occurred in the dress shop.
Avalon gave a nod. "Well, she had it coming."
"Course she did," Zelda agreed in a snap, probably the only one who seemed to agree. Her other friends seemed a lot more timid than this blonde. "Would have said something myself if you hadn't stepped in."
Avalon smiled. "You think so?"
"Honey, I know so."
"And where are you from?" the second friend, Eleanor, inquired.
"U-um…" it took a moment for Avalon to come up with a decent lie. "London. I, uh, I told Zelda here I was just visiting with some friends."
"Nice place you chose, like I said," Zelda smirked.
"And where are your friends?" asked Eleanor again. It was strange to see the woman alone in a place she wasn't supposed to even know.
"They're, uh, somewhere in town…" Avalon answered honestly. "I left them at the town's square actually, wonder if they're still there."
"And do they know you're here-"
"Oh, Eleanor, hush," went Zelda as the three turned to the left in order to enter the lake's area. "She looks grown up enough, I think she can make it on her own."
"I am 21," chuckled Avalon.
"There you have it," Zelda gestured.
The three woman came to a stop once they saw the wooden bridge that overlooked a small part of the lake. As the three native women began rummaging through their bags for their swimswuits, Avalon shuddered a breath and gripped her hand on the strap of her purse.
"You've gone pale," Livye was the first to notice. "Are you alright?"
"Uh, I forgot to mention I can't swim…"
"That's fine," Eleanor smiled softly. "We can teach you. And Zelda said she brought you a swimsuit anyways."
"No, I...I don't want to," Avalon gave a light shake of her head. "I-I can't. I'm sorry."
"What's happened to yah?" Zelda noticed the distinct look of fear on Avalon's face. "Moment ago you were all right."
"It's personal, alright? I'd rather just sit there-" she pointed at the bridge, "-and watch you girls swim."
"Well, if that's what you really want," Zelda continued eyeing the ginger for another moment until her two friends pulled her away to get changed somewhere else.
Meanwhile, Avalon carefully tread towards the wooden bridge she planned to sit on. She just couldn't help remembering her mother, Emmalina, and how she promised to help Avalon swim. Suddenly, Avalon wished she could talk to someone about this feeling...but who could she talk to? She had no one. Amy wouldn't understand, and much less the Doctor. There was no one left.
She carefully took a seat at the edge of the bridge and set her bag on her side. It wasn't long before she was rejoined by the three women. Once Livye took her first dunk - from atop a small hill where the town had put a rope to swing off on - she swam to where Avalon was and asked her to join them.
"I really do not swim," Avalon replied in her politest tone.
"You don't know how? Or you don't wanna?"
"Both," Avalon replied and watched as Eleanor took her turn swinging off the hill. She smiled as the woman made a graceful re-emerging from the water and then waited for Zelda to take her turn.
"Careful Zelda," warned Livye as the blonde had struck a pose before her intended jump. "It's mighty high!"
"Ish kabibble!" cried the blonde with a laugh and did the unexpected, of course not for Avalon. She had stripped off her bathing suit, causing an astounding cry from her two friends.
"Zelda!"
"Zelda, please!"
The two friends were completely shocked that their friend would do such a thing. Avalon too looked away out of embarrassment, but she was no stranger to the myth that Zelda Sayre tended to go into the town's lake without clothes. She chuckled to herself, this was one more thing she could cross off her to-do-list of time traveling.
"What if someone sees?" Eleanor called again while Livye profoundly apologized to Avalon her behalf. "Good gracious!"
By this time, Zelda had already dropped into the lake and laughed fiercely. "It's more fun this way, girls!"
"You're going to scare the poor girl off," Livye gestured with a wet arm to Avalon who was still chuckling from embarrassment.
"I'm fine, I'm fine," Avalon raised her hands and struggled to withold her next laugh. "I have a friend, uh, Mels, and she does...things like this too. Crazy things."
"She's used to it then," Zelda bobbed her head victoriously.
"Oh well she's never done this," Avalon clarified but laughed again. "And I hope she never does this too."
The girls laughed and splashed a bit of water Avalon's way.
~ 0 ~
"Doctor, we can't find her. Wouldn't it just be easier to track her down with the TARDIS?" Amy had grown tired of walking in the small town in search of their missing friend.
"She didn't bring a cellphone and I can't exactly pick up her location without a proper connection, can I?" the Doctor tried not to sound as frustrated as he truly was. He hated when Avalon suddenly disappeared to have her own adventures. She didn't understand yet that she wasn't ready to do these sorts of things on her own. Granted part of his tremor now was for something to happen to her like Lena, but he was still very adamant that none of his companions overall pull this sort of thing.
"It's going to get dark soon," Amy gestured to the orange sky above them.
"Which means we better take another look," the Doctor said with a warning look on her. "I'll take the townsquare, you take the residents streets. And don't wander off either."
The wagging finger in her face made Amy feel like a child, and she hated feeling like a child. With narrowed eyes she moved around him and walked down the remainder of the street, cursing Avalon for wasting their time like this.
~ 0 ~
"She eloped?" Livye gawked as Zelda finished telling the latest gossip in town. The three women, and Avalon, walked down a street apparently heading home. Zelda and her friends walked in slightly wet clothes with Zelda holding her shoes, leaving her barefoot on the street.
Zelda snorted ungracefully. "Her mama and daddy think she's at her cousin Effy's. They'll be carrying on at 18 Montgomery Street when they find out."
"Whatever possessed Nelly to do such a thing?" Eleanor put a hand over her mouth, amusing Avalon at their lack of understanding.
"True love," she said and captured their attentions.
"Oh honey," Zelda whipped around, putting a hand on her hip. "It was nowhere near true love. It was lust."
"Zelda!" Livye scolded, horrified at her bluntness.
"Oh, come on, y'all saw them at that officer's dance," Zelda rolled her eyes. "They were all hot and bothered. But you know her daddy is never gonna let her marry a Yankee."
"But that won't stop her," Avalon said confidently. "True love prevails."
"What are you? Five?" Zelda laughed. "That girl went for something else, if you know what I mean."
"Zelda!" a car honked as it passed by, full of similar-aged men. "Woo! Zelda!"
Zelda waved a long wave at them. "Greetings, my jellies." The men responded with a couple of wolf calls, much to her delight. "They're sweet, but Montgomery boys are such three minute eggs. I'm tired of their foolishness."
"Well, They're not so bad," Avalon said, eyeing what she could from the men. "They're pretty handsome…"
"Nah, we can do better," Zelda assured.
"You got a suitor from the Queen's land?" Livye curiously inquired.
"No, I don't," Avalon shook her head. "I had someone, but...he sort of broke it off."
"Don't seem too sad over it, though," observed Zelda who then gave her a nudge. "Someone else catch your eye already?"
Avalon's eyes widened and immediately shook her head again, but Zelda was able to catch a bit of her blush. "No, I don't - no!"
"I think you do," Zelda laughed. The other girls chuckled while Avalon felt a stronger blush taking over. "So anyways, what time are we going to the dance tonight, kiddos?" Zelda's eyebrows quirked upwards, indicating this was most certainly a party she would be attending regardless of the opinions.
"Where is it?" Eleanor inquired.
"Old city hall."
"I can't be there 'til 9:30," Livye replied.
"Oh, my daddy won't let me go to a dance down there," Eleanor said.
Zelda rolled her eyes. "Then don't tell him."
"Zelda, those dances are rough. There's no chaperone, and what if…"
"That's the point, scaredy cat," Zelda made a gesture with her arms. "Avalon, you want to come?"
"Oh, um, I...I don't know," Avalon said and began to notice it was growing darker. "I really should find my friends. They've no idea where I went."
"We can invite them too, c'mon," Zelda nudged her. "I promise you it'll be fun. There's dancing, and liquor, and-"
"You had me at dancing," Avalon chuckled. She knew she wasn't going to get out of this anytime soon, and besides...she kind of wanted to spend a little more time with the would-be-famous writer.
"Great!" Zelda exclaimed. "We'll see you in the park at 9:30, Livy," she warned then bid goodbye to her and Eleanor. "You want to borrow some of my clothes for the party?" she asked once they started down the next street. "Or do you want to go back to your place?"
"Um…" Avalon considered the repercussions of bringing Zelda near the TARDIS and quickly resolved to leave it alone. "If you would let me borrow something…"
Zelda smirked. "I got just the idea for you."
"I'm a bit afraid, honestly," Avalon chuckled. In her distraction, she nearly tripped on a small rock on the street and accidentally dropped her purse. "Oh no!" she gasped and delved down to retrieve her fallen things.
"Here, let me help," Zelda moved over and grabbed what she could, among those being Avalon's journal. "Is this where you do your writing?"
Avalon's eyes widened and quickly took her journal back. "Y-yeah, sort of, um...not so much anymore…"
"How do you mean?" Zelda dumped the other objects she'd picked up back into Avalon's purse.
"Well…" Avalon bit her lip, considering if Zelda was actually the right person to be talking about this. Then again, when would she ever see Zelda again? Or vice versa?
"Avalon?"
Sighing, Avalon began sharing her secret that she had yet to tell even the Doctor completely. "My memory...I think...isn't working like it should be." The two began walking again, slower, as Avalon explained. "See, I'm good with memory, I know everything about my family, my friends, me, everything I love. But lately, my writing has been...off," she paused, still just as lost as the day she realized this dilemma.
"What do you mean by that?"
"I find myself unable to remember things that...that I should be able to remember straightaway."
"Like what?"
"Well, for starters, who my best friend should be."
"But how could you not remember that?" Zelda frowned. "Everyone knows who their best friend is."
"Exaclty my point. I feel it, Zelda, here," Avalon patted her hand over her chest, "that there is something else going on that I'm not getting. It's affecting my writing, and it's affecting me because I keep feeling like there is something important that I'm supposed to know about...but I just don't know."
"Have you considered talking to a doctor about this?" Zelda asked after a moment of silence. She could tell this was something that was truly bothering Avalon.
Avalon had herself a little chuckle at the irony. "Yeah, yeah I have. Not so sure he'd be able to help…"
"They would know more about that, though," Zelda gave a tilt of her head.
"Maybe," Avalon truly wondered if the Doctor would be able to help. The first time she mentioned this problem he seemed not to know so much about it. Should she really bother him again with this?
"Avalon!?" she suddenly heard her name being called, as did Zelda. Both the ginger and blonde stopped to locate the person, and found a second ginger storming towards them.
"A-Amy," Avalon blinked.
Amy Pond was very crossed at the moment. "Finally I find you! The Doctor and I have gone through the entire town - twice - looking for you! Where've you been?" and then she laid eyes on the bewildered Zelda beside Avalon. "And who's she?" Amy pointed with a thumb.
Avalon cleared her throat and introduced the two to each other. "Zelda, this is one of my friends I'm here in town with: Amy Pond."
"Nice to meet you," Zelda shook hands with Amy.
"And Amy, this is Zelda Sayre," Avalon said, hoping Amy would catch the meaning in the name.
It took a moment but Amy did indeed remember one of Avalon's babbles about a book, something along the line of Save Me a Waltz written by a Zelda Fitzgerald. Of course then that reminded her of Scott Fitzgerald who wrote The Great Gatsby and thus it really sunk in who the blonde was. "Oh my God," Amy's smile was quick tp spread cross her lips.
"Are you from Scotland?" Zelda asked, clueless of the ginger's reaction.
"Yeah, I am, and it's so nice to meet you," Amy laughed. "Avalon you would find her, huh?"
"I didn't plan on it," Avalon coughed awkwardly. "I just mouthed to a saleswoman for being a bitc-a mean person."
Amy knew exactly what that meant. She rolled her eyes. "Of course."
"I was just taking Avalon back to my place to get ready for a party," Zelda began to explain. "Would you like to join us?"
"Party?" Amy asked, still not surprised to hear of the plans.
"Yeah, Zelda's being nice enough to let me borrow some clothes," Avalon said with that look that warned Amy not to ruin for her.
"I would love to join you," Amy responded, crossing her arms. "But, uh, we still got to warn the Doc - John. We have to tell John," she eyed her ginger friend.
"Or-" Avalon raised a finger, "-we could let him figure it out and surprise him there?"
"Oh I like the way you think," Zelda laughed despite not fully understanding.
"Sometimes I do too," Amy admitted.
"If you two didn't have different accents I'd say you were related," Zelda pointed between the two gingers.
"She is nothing like me," Avalon was the first to rebut that statement.
Amy snorted. "Ditto."
~ 0 ~
Meeting the Sayres was overly exciting for Avalon, not so much for Amy, but she kept up her happy facade for her friend. Amy knew this had turned into a much more important trip than the Doctor had planned, and she supposed it served well as a revenge plot against the Time Lord for wanting to punish them.
"I think this would fit well in you," Zelda came out of her closet holding a green frock dress for Amy. The ginger admittedly silently she did not care much for the town's fashion. "Try it on."
"Thanks," Amy said in her best tone and moved for the small divider across the room.
"Avalon, I have something I think you might like. My parents don't know I even bought it," Zelda proudly said while she once again dove into her closet. "But I bet you can wear it better."
Zelda eventually pulled out a tulle, periwinkle blue dress that did seem like it would reach a bit above her ankles. It had three-quarter, see-through sleeves and a layered guaze skirt giving it a flowy look. The crisscrossed lace over the bodice matched the lace pattern over the skirt part as well.
"Wow, that's pretty," Avalon honestly meant it.
"You think?" Zelda crossed her arms after handing the dress to Avalon. "Not too different from your fashion over there in the Queen's land?"
"No," Avalon said for the woman's comfort. "Thank you so much."
Zelda smiled and moved for her mirror to continue fixing herself. She had already changed into a pink dress that was up to a high neckline with mid quarters sleeves.
Amy coughed dramatically as she re-emerged from the divider wearing the borrowed dress. "How do I look?"
"Very nice," Avalon smiled at her friend.
"I bet we could pull your hair up into a nice bun," Zelda theorized the more she looked at Amy through the mirror.
"Not much of a bun girl," remarked Amy with a tiny smile. "Can we leave some of it down?"
"Like some nice strands?"
Amy snapped her fingers. "Exactly!"
"Come on down then," Zelda moved to the side and gestured for Amy to take a seat in front of the vanity desk. "And Avalon I won't even tell you about yours."
Avalon smiled while the other two laughed. Her curls were better left alone. While Zelda attended to Amy's hair, Avalon went behind the divider to get changed.
"Oh I was right, you look better in that than I did," Zelda beamed when Avalon rejoined them at the vanity desk. Avalon chuckled and looked down at herself. They'd been right, the dress reached above her ankles - something that this era frowned upon. "You'll have all the men's eyes on you."
"Oh, she is not not goig to be doing any of that," warned Amy. "Not on my watch. Doctor would kill you."
Avalon smirked while Amy wagged a finger up at her. She did wonder where the Time Lord was at the moment, but she knew he was probably going a little out of his mind trying to find them.
~ 0 ~
"I'm going to kill them!" the Doctor angrily walked into the TARDIS and slammed the door, immediately wincing when the TARDIS gave a harsh hum in return.
He marched down the platform and stairs leading to the console, muttering how bigger of a punishment he was going to set on both of those gingers. The console gave another hum, and for a moment the Doctor was stunned to practically see the box was defending the companions instead of him.
"That's betrayal, dear," he frowned at the rotor. "Why do you like them so much, hm? Specifically Avalon. Think I haven't notice the favoritism? What's so special about her?"
Well, that a question he could answer on his own.
He shook his head and began looking up for those gingers. It was a bit of a trick trying to find them without any cellphones to ping for, but in a boring ole town like Montgomery, it shouldn't be too difficult finding two outrageous gingers looking for fun.
"And this time I'm making sure they get a proper punishment," he grumbled and flicked a switch beside him.
~ 0 ~
"Avalon what the hell have we gotten ourselves into?" Amy tugged on Avalon's arm while they followed Zelda into what looked like an old building full of hot and sweaty soldiers waiting to be drafted.
"Fun," Avalon smirked...until something started in her mind
"C'mon, Avalon! We have to go now!" Mel said in an urgent, hushed tone as she led Avalon through the Reynolds' second floor corridor. "Your Dad is asleep already which is the perfect chance to run out to a party."
"I know, I know, hold up-" a younger Avalon was practically hopping with one hand clutched in Mel's while the other tried slipping on a heeled shoe.
But the moment Mel's foot touched the first step, the hallway lights turned on. "Avalon, where are you going?" a soft voice asked.
Avalon was frozen on her tracks, the brief memory already slipping just as fast as it had appeared. What was that!? Who was that!? She couldn't remember! Oh my God, why couldn't she remember?
"Well-" Zelda came running back out when she noticed neither Amy nor Avalon had come in with her and Livye, "-are you girls scared now?" she smirked, missing Avalon's frozen face.
"Kind of, yeah, honestly," Amy scratched her hair and peered one more time into the building. "These people look a little...crazy…"
"Fun," promised Zelda. Her eyes flickered to Avalon and shook her by the arm. "Well, c'mon, Avalon, you coming or not?"
Avalon shook herself out of her daze and gave a small nod. "Course we are." Zelda smiled and nodded for them to come in with her.
As Avalon took a step in, Amy gripped her hold on Avalon's arm to keep her back. "Um, Avalon, I'm all for the fun but this just isn't quite my style," she admitted.
Avalon scoffed. "It's just a party, Amy. I've been to loads."
"Yeah, without me, remember? I don't know, maybe we should find the Doctor or something-"
"Nope," Avalon wiggled her arm out of Amy's and strode right into the building. If she couldn't remember her memories, then she would try to forget them all together.
Nervously glancing back to the darkish streets, Amy followed in.
It didn't take long before Avalon found someone to dance with...as well as where to get some alcohol. Amy had danced once or twice but found the music's jazz period didn't suite her. She went to go have a seat on one of the chairs set against the wall overlooking the dance floor. From there she could see how Avalon took one drink after another - even more so than her usual number - and how she took up dances with anyone who asked. What was worse was that Zelda was following in the same steps.
No wonder the two got on well, Amy thought. Sighing, she crossed her arms and resigned to look over her friend.
"I think I need another drink!" Avalon giddly declared, sharing laughs with Zelda and the two men they were dancing with.
Zelda's friend, Livye, had to disagree there. "Maybe we should call it a night-"
"Nonsense," Zelda waved her off.
Avalon blinked however, as a new brief memory came to mind.
"Look at you, Avalon, you can barely walk," a male voice scolded as they seemingly walked down a dark street.
A younger version of Avalon chuckled, but didn't seem to be paying too much attention. "Thank you for coming to get me...like always…" she sniffed and looked to the side, spotting a garden. "Oh, look at the roses…"
"Oh no you don't," the same male voice grabbed her arm. "You need to get home now before you get yourself into more trouble with your Dad."
Avalon giggled as she was pulled away. "Always looking after me Ro-"
But the memory stopped there.
"Ro? Ro who?" Avalon had stopped dancing all of a sudden to question her memory.
"Hey, what are you doing?" the man in front of her frowned at her sudden stop. "Thought we were dancing here-"
"Shhh," Avalon languidly waved a hand at him. "I'm thinking here…" she turned to the side, slightly wobbling from her level of alcohol intake.
"I didn't come to watch you think," the man, irritated, grasped her by the waist.
"Get your hands off me!" Avalon snapped and tried pushing him away.
Amy quickly saw the quarrel, now with Zelda and Livye trying to help Avalon as well. Amy jumped from her chair and rushed over to give the final help. "Get your hands off her before I punch you!" she threatened and stomped on the man's foot.
The man yelped and, on reflex, let go of Avalon.
"Run," Livye soon ordered and the group of women hurriedly rushed away. However, as they came out of the building, they were all laughing save for Amy.
"You're funny," Avalon told Zelda for some reason, neither woman quite in their five senses. "Amy, isn't she funny?"
"Avalon, we gotta get home already," Amy sighed and reached for Avalon's arm. "The Doctor's probably actually worried now-"
"Who bloody cares what he thinks," Avalon threw her arms in the air, accidentally letting her bag fall to the ground. "I'm trying to forget, can't you see?" she flapped her hands, passing them through her hair.
"Oh, ladies?" they heard a young man call. Zelda turned first and spotted two men also set for the war. "Cigarette?" the two had come up to them, one of them holding a pack of cigarettes.
"We don't smoke," Zelda replied, shaking her head.
Amy scoffed, pretty sure she was lying. She latched a tight hand on Avalon's arm now, refusing to let Avalon go anywhere now that wasn't the TARDIS.
"Come on, Zelda. It's awful late now," Livye said, trying to get Zelda to walk with her. She seemed to be thinking along the same lines as Amy: it was time to go home.
"Why don't you let us walk you ladies home?" one of the men asked them.
"No thanks, we can get on our own," Amy was the first to respond and made sure to leave clear she was talking on behalf of Avalon as well.
"Already?" Avalon frowned at Amy. "I don't want to go yet, I want to party again…"
"No, Avalon, we gotta go, for real," Amy said, bending down to grab Avalon's bag. "The Doctor's-"
"-is so going to get you for this," said the Time Lord himself as he approached the group.
"Damn," muttered Amy as she stood back up.
"Amelia Pond you owe me an explanation for ditching me like that," the Doctor came to stand in front of Amy, eyes momentarily flickering to Avalon. "And you, Avalon Reynolds-"
"Don't bother," Amy raised a hand to stop him. "She's drunk out of her mind. Thanks to Zelda Sayre over there…"
"Excuse me?" the Doctor then peered around the two gingers to see the rest, soon spotting the notorious blonde. "Oooh...of course...Montgomery," he whispered, this time blaming himself.
"Is this your other friend you were talking about Avalon?" Zelda inquired from the ginger who had begun humming to herself. "I'm assuming the idiot, right?"
"Sure is...mind you he'll talk your ears off so I'd suggest covering them up soon as his mouth starts," Avalon put her four fingers over her thumb and proceeded to close and open them to motion of someone talking.
"Oh, okay, so when you're drunk you're even ruder - good to know," the Doctor rolled his eyes and took her other hand, essentially pulling both she and Amy to his side. "Good night, Miss Sayre. I'm taking my friends home now. We have a long trip home."
"Oh, you're leaving already?" Zelda said disappointingly.
"Yes, the trip's tomorrow morning, so we must get going…"
Zelda shrugged. "Oh, alright. Nice to meet you, then," she said to him then gave Avalon and Amy respective hugs. "And anytime you wanna come back, you know where to find me."
"Yes, ma'am," Avalon saluted, making Zelda laugh.
"And maybe next time we'll go lower on the drinks."
"That could work," Avalon nodded and took in a deep breath. "I think I might go to sleep now…"
"That'll be a first," the Doctor shook his head and tugged on her hand to get walking in the other direction. "Honestly, Amy, I sent you to find her and-"
"What? I was just trying to have some fun in the town you sent us to be punished in," Amy snapped. "None of this would've happened if you had just gotten over the Taj Mahal accident."
"The Taj Mahal, Amy! You don't mess with the Taj Mahal!"
"So you say," Amy mumbled.
"I swear both of you give me headaches sometimes…" the Doctor eyed Avalon in-between them, "...some more than others," he added quietly.
They came to the TARDIS that still remained at the townsqaure park. Amy went in first but not before Avalon had demanded her journal bag back. But before Avalon could be led anywhere near the TARDIS she reeled back,
"I'm not going in there," she shook her head.
"Avalon Reynolds if you don't get in that box I will carry you myself," the Doctor threatened.
"But I don't wanna," Avalon pursed her lips together. "Out here is where the memories are…"
"Memories? What memories?" the Doctor forwned, a fraction from declaring this a drunken talk.
"The lost memories," Avalon whispered like it was a huge secret. "I got memories that wanna be locked away forever but I'm not letting them, nope!" she popped the 'p'.
"Avalon, please, this is ridiculous, just get inside already," the Doctor sighed, opening the door for her.
"I SAID NO!" she surprised him by shouting. "Don't you get it!?" she turned around and started on a run.
"Oh, for the love of - AVALON!" the Doctor charged after her, ignoring Amy's call. He caught up easy considering her legs weren't in their regular speed. He held her from behind and warned her not to make another run.
"I want to go back," she snapped, wiggling side to side in an attempt to free herself. "Back to the party!"
"NO!" the Doctor shouted at her. "God, Avalon, look at yourself! You honestly think I'm going to let you get back there so you can get even more drunk and do something stupid!?"
"You don't get it!" she exclaimed and pushed him away from her. She staggered on her own, but pointed a warning finger at him to keep away. "I want to figure it out-" she tapped her head, "-and learn what I've forgotten."
Key words made the Doctor stop in his shouting. She was drunk, but she was still somewhat lusive.
"Lately nothing makes sense-" Avalon staggered even more when she tried to pace, "-in my head. There are holes. Holes where I don't know what happened. People…" she stopped, looking terrified as she thought more, "...in my head...that I can't picture. There's a girl, and there's a boy...and they know me but I don't them…" she blinked, her frustration getting the best of her. Small tears welled in her eyes. "And it's scary. It's scary having holes in your mind. And they're in my journal too. There's holes everywhere, Doctor." She rubbed her hands up her hair, leaving it messy. "They're everywhere…and I don't know what to do with them." She shut her eyes and scrunched her face, whether it was for frustration or to withhold her cries, neither knew. "I don't know...I don't..." she started to rub her hair more aggressively, her frustration clearly winning.
The Doctor looked at her sympathetically. It was, of course, Lena and Rory she was trying to remember. He couldn't quite figure it out but somehow Avalon had managed to retain more against the cracks than Amy. He assumed it was due to her evolved human genes from new Earth. But he never stopped to consider how it would affect her. Having various blank holes in one's mind could make a person lose it. Poor Avalon was going through that.
Her subconscious was trying to remind her of the people she lost, but her brain just couldn't process it. She was torn in two.
"Avalon," he softly called to the woman, walking towards her while she continued mumbling about the blank holes. "Hey, Ava, look at me," he tilted her head to his side, immediately catching the whiff of alcohol. "It's okay, alright?"
"The blank holes, Doctor…" she wearily said, like she was still trying to prove it was real. "They're...they're-"
"You are right, maybe there is stuff you can't remember, but that happens to everyone. Don't torment yourself on what you can't see."
"But they keep trying to come back, I feel it," Avalon promised him, thinking perhaps he wasn't taking her as serious as she was despite her alcoholic condition.
"Then you let them, you let them come back in pieces if they must. Maybe soon, they'll come back in one whole piece."
"You think they could?"
"It's possible, nothing is ever truly forgotten." The Doctor smiled, firmly believing that maybe one day Avalon would be able to remember everything. He didn't know how she might react if that were to happen, but at least she would be able to remember that once upon a time a wonderful woman named Lena and a brave man named Rory had existed and that they both had truly loved her.
"How do you know?" Avalon was more calm so that the Doctor could bring her into the TARDIS.
"Because I'm the fairytale man, don't you know? I know everything," the Doctor smiled at her, making her chuckle.
"Right, your my fairy tale man," she leaned her head on his arm and proceeded to disregard whatever he and Amy started to talk about when they were all in the TARDIS once more.
~ 0 ~
The last thing that Zelda would have imagined was once again seeing Avalon Reynolds in the boring old town of Montgomery. Avalon was with that man who had picked her and Amy up after their dance. That had been over a month ago. Avalon was laughing at whatever the man had just said, the two were moving down the street with cokes in their hands.
"You're an idiot, Doctor. I told you that's now how it ended," Avalon was in the middle of scolding. She took a sip from her coke through her straw and rolled her eyes when the Doctor continued to argue with her. As if she didn't know how FRIENDS had ended. "Monica and Chandler adopted the twins and-"
"I'd recognize that accent anywhere," Zelda made her appearance with a wide smile. She stopped in front of them and looked between the two with a degree of curiosity. "Now what would the little orange Brit be doing back in a place like this?"
Avalon absolutely beamed upon seeing one of her favorite authors. "Zelda! We found you!"
"You were looking for me?" Zelda raised an eyebrow and put one hand on her hip. "I didn't guess that when you're strolling by the park with this gorgeous man - hello," she flashed a smile at the Doctor.
"Don't feed his ego," Avalon mumbled but it was too late.
The Doctor took the compliment with a smirk and promptly adjusted his bow-tie like it would make an even better difference for him. "It's nice to see you again, Miss Sayre."
"I have to be honest, Avalon. I didn't think I'd ever see you again," Zelda looked back at the ginger. "Last month you sort of disappeared in a drunken state. Kinda felt bad it was partly my fault."
"Last month?" Avalon repeated and gawked at the big time jump. She immediately shot the Doctor a look for his mistake. "Hear that, Doctor? A month. We're back a month later."
The Doctor apologetically smiled at her. "I got distracted when you asked me to pick shoes. I don't pick shoes, Avalon."
She rolled her eyes again, waving him with a hand, then turned her attention to Zelda who was watching them with a growing smirk. "We meant to be back a lot sooner," Avalon explained with what she could.
"As I have said before, why would you come back to this place?" Zelda gestured to the relatively quiet street around them. "This place could put anyone to sleep."
"I wanted to talk to you again," Avalon said so bluntly that Zelda stopped to consider the honesty behind those words. Avalon chuckled, assuming how odd it must sound for Zelda. "I really liked you, Zelda. And I definitely did not want my last time seeing you to be during a drunken moment."
"Why don't we go take a seat over there?" the Doctor nodded to the park bench. Zelda nodded and proceeded to lead, though she glanced back when she saw the Doctor leaning to Avalon to whisper something.
Amy had warned them that she was not going to waste another day in boring Montgomery so they best be back in an hour. The Doctor wouldn't put it behind Amy to lock them out of the TARDIS. And he wouldn't put it behind the TARDIS to actually aid Amy in that.
"I won't be long," Avalon promised him and handed him her unfinished coke bottle. "Thanks for buying that," she smiled and patted his cheek before joining Zelda at the bench.
The Doctor smiled at her and hoped this would be the proper ending she could use to move on from her breakdown the previous night. He also wanted her to have a moment with one of history's most trouble woman and see if perhaps the two could help each other. Avalon Reynolds and Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald were alike in a couple aspects: both wanted more of their lives but didn't really go about it the right way. Both felt unappreciated when really their work had potential. Granted, the Doctor hadn't seen any pieces of Avalon's work, but he had no doubt she was a spectacular writer.
Plus, maybe Zelda could even inspire Avalon to fully commit to that writing career she clearly wanted.
With those thoughts in mind, the Doctor wandered from the bench to give the two women some time alone.
"How are you doing?" Avalon asked the blonde author-to-be after sitting down together.
"Oh, you know," Zelda carelessly shrugged. "I live the boring life...though I have met this man who..." her dreamy sigh was an indicator that life was finally picking up for her, "He is all right for me."
"Is he from around here?" Avalon had already assumed Zelda was talking about Scott Fitzgerald.
"Nah, well...he's coming back soon," Zelda nodded. "And we're going to have dinner with my family next week. I wish you could meet Scott. He wants to be a writer like you."
"...and like you," Avalon cautiously added.
Zelda paused for a moment, her eyes flickering to the ground. "No, honey. That's not for me."
"I think it is," Avalon nodded and leaned back against the bench. "And you should definitely come up with your own drafts even when everyone says no. Don't listen to them."
Zelda side-glanced Avalon with an odd look in her eyes. "Funny, do you take your own advice? I seem to recall you conflicted over your own thoughts."
"What can I say?" Avalon chuckled and tucked a curl behind her ear. "I rarely listen to people and that includes myself."
"Yeah, but I bet that doesn't apply to that one over there, huh?" Zelda nodded in the direction of the Doctor.
Avalon looked over and saw him talking to a group of kids - God knew where he had spotted them from - while making wild hand gestures. "My God that idiot just won't stop."
"But he's your idiot so it's fine," Zelda didn't miss the double-take Avalon did. "Oh c'mon, honey, you don't need to lie to me. It's quite obvious."
"Whatever you're thinking, it's a big no," Avalon turned almost as red as her hair. It didn't help when she remembered several of her dreams that, as of late, had been less nightmares and more...knights in shining armor.
Zelda had herself a good laugh when she saw Avalon's mortified face. "What's the matter? I haven't said anything untrue, have I? I know what I see and what I see-"
"-please stop," Avalon shut her eyes for a moment. "He's my friend, someone whose work I really admire." Admiring the Doctor's accomplishments wasn't a bit of an understatement and everyone knew it. She practically idolized him as a kid, and now as an adult - being around him and being a part of his recent accomplishments - made her feel a different way that she couldn't explain.
"He has some lookers," Zelda purposely continued, crossing one leg over another. "I can definitely see some good times there-"
"-oh my God, please stop," Avalon resorted to beg which only made it funnier for Zelda. "And I'll have you know that appearances isn't everything I would look for in a man. And maybe that's something you need to remember too."
Zelda tilted her head, curious of Avalon's words. "How do you mean?"
Avalon sighed and turned on the bench to face Zelda. "Look, I know you have never said this to anyone but I know that you want to write. I know that because...because it's the same thing with me. Actually, the Doctor is the only one who knows and...to my surprise, he actually supports me in that. And I just...I just want you to know that whenever you decide to write, even if it's years from now, and you think no one believes in you, remember me and remember that I support you. I believe that your work is good and you better believe that I'd read it."
Zelda had gone to utter shock at Avalon's words. But even then, she felt touched. She had never been spoken by someone who seemed honest and supportive. Yes, she had a couple works here and there in her bedroom but if she were to show that to anyone they would just belittle it and laugh at her altogether.
Avalon seemed determined to leave her marking in the future author to be. "Whatever defeats and losses you may come across, remember that Avalon Reynolds thinks you are a brave and talented woman." She knew the media remembered Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald particularly for the scandals and her mental illness, yet her work was so pronounced in the 21st century that Avalon believed Zelda should have some of that same support in her own time.
It was like visiting Van Gogh again, only this time Avalon knew exactly who she was talking to.
"Why are you telling me all this?" Zelda's voice had dropped to a whisper.
"Because..." Avalon smiled sadly, unable to stop thinking of Zelda's tragic ending. "Life is unfair. And because of that, you should give it hell until your last breath. Give it everything you got."
A smile started forming across Zelda's face. "Thank you."
Avalon couldn't help herself and hugged Zelda. "And don't think you've seen the last of me. I'll pop in when you least expect it."
Zelda didn't know what to make of that but she wasn't opposed to seeing this ginger sometime again. "Avalon Reynolds, you are...definitely not boring."
Avalon laughed as she pulled away. "Yeah, I get that a lot." She started getting up from the bench, something the Doctor caught which led them to come back to them. "I have to go. My friend's a bit impatient."
"He seems to be patient for you," Zelda knowingly smiled. "It wouldn't hurt to take some of that advice and use it on yourself, though. Maybe he can remind you of that."
"Ready to go?" the Doctor stopped beside Avalon, picking up on the cheerful atmosphere between the two women.
"You take care of her," Zelda gently tapped the Doctor on the chest. "And if she forgets, I'd like you to remind her that Zelda Sayre thinks she is an amazing, inspirational woman."
Avalon's eyes widened, her heart even skipping a beat. Zelda Sayre thought she was inspirational? The whole reason Avalon loved Zelda's story was because Zelda lived surrounded by people who didn't see her work as something good and yet Zelda kept writing. Even when Zelda was kept in mental institutions, she wrote. Zelda was inspirational and...badly loved. Avalon completely identified herself with Zelda.
It was why she knew that this would not be the last time she saw Zelda ever again.
Author's Note:
Yes, this was an original chapter I wrote quite a long time ago. A good chunk of the dialogue in the beginning of the chapter was part of an actual episode of the cancelled show Z: The Beginning of Everything that looked at Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald's life. I was so in love with the show (and heartbroken when it got cancelled) that I ended up doing some research on Zelda and thought she actually resembled Avalon in some ways.
But anyways, what did we think? Avalon is now fully self aware that there are some holes in her memory. That should not be happening, right? Tsk, tsk.
For the Reviews:
CrystalVixen93: Thanks! I hope you liked this chapter too! :)
Isabelnecessaryonabicycle: Ah yes, Mels continues to be brought in. She is Avalon's friend after all! And yesss, I like the slow burn torture so expect that for a while more ;)
softthanos: Even moooooooore here right? .