Chapter 14

After another adventure, or two, Rory and Amy went to bed inside the labyrinth that was the TARDIS. The Doctor, too lazy to put the giant lens back, stared at it. The soft humming noise gave the Doctor a chance to think of something he thought about doing. It was risky, of course, but he couldn't shake the idea out of his head. He had the opportunity, the resources, and the idea. No one was stopping him.

"Just this one time, eh?" the Doctor said to himself as he input the coordinates and began to fly the TARDIS. "Darlig Ulv Stranden."

He walked out onto the cliff of the sandy beach. It was the right day, the right moment. He took the lens out and sonic-ed it. No one noticed him or the floating lens – they were too busy with the sad farewell. He looked at his past self and Donna speaking with Rose and the meta-crisis Doctor.

"That's me, when we first met. And you made me better. Now you can do the same for him," the past Doctor told Rose.

"Doctor?" Amy tapped on the Doctor's shoulder which made him jump.

Amy realized that the TARDIS had landed and it woke her up. Finding no Doctor in the console room she opened the doors to see him sitting on the ground with the lens. She spotted the other TARDIS in the lens and got curious. The Doctor was never this sentimental nor nostalgic about his own past.

"Oi! Amy! Don't sneak up on me like that!" the Doctor scolded.

"Sorry," Amy rubbed her tired eyes. "What are you doing? Where are we?"

The Doctor silently looked on. Amy looked through the lens and noticed the two identical men, "Is that you?"

"Yeah. Parallel universe," he responded quietly. "A long time ago, when the world needed two of me. You don't remember this one, actually, with the planets in the sky and the Daleks. And you can thank the cracks in the skin of the universe for that."

"What happened to the other one?" Amy asked as she held onto the lens.

They watched as Rose approached both of the Doctors. One of them whispered in her ear, the other ... well, the other received quite the kiss. The Doctor walked away with Donna before Rose could let go – the Doctor doesn't like endings.

"Alright, come on Pond," the Doctor grabbed onto her arm. "Time to go."

"Wait, hold on a minute," Amy resisted.

The meta-crsis Doctor and Rose looked at each other before walking away hand in hand. Amy could see sadness in Rose's eyes, but there was more. Rose was unconditionally in love with him. And he also returned her affections. Having to choose between two Doctors must have been absolutely heart wrenching, but having to leave her behind was clearly painful, but she was happy, in love, and this was how he wanted to remember her. From this moment, Amy understood why travelling through parallel universes was so dangerous.

Meanwhile, in the other dimension ...

A week had gone by and the wedding was back on though a lot of lying about what really happened on that day was needed when the guests started questioning. Waking up on her wedding day, Amelia found that she was in the right place and sleeping beside the right man. After assuring John that she was in fact herself, John got up, changed, and headed to the church. Amelia walked to her dresser, put on some clothes, and smiled fondly at the picture sitting on top.

"Good morning, Sherly," Amelia excitedly called out as she went to the kitchen to grab a bite to eat. "Wonderful day for a wedding, wouldn't you say?"

Sherlock turned around and smiled just putting the finishing touches on his tuxedo. He hesitated greeting her for a moment and recalled the memory of Amy telling him to tell Amelia how he felt about her, but he let that go. The only thing he did was smile fondly at the memory.

"See you soon, best man!" Amelia grabbed her purse and left.

The wedding itself went off without a hitch. Everything was perfect. Amelia even spoke with Rory, rekindling a friendship that should have never been forgotten about. He himself was engaged to a girl from Leadworth. Nothing much had changed for Rory – he was working as a nurse but studying to become a pediatric doctor. Sherlock wasn't particularly fond of weddings, and his early departure from the reception was an obvious indication.

"Where do you think you're going?" The Doctor asked.

The Doctor was leaning on his TARDIS console and the doors were open. The TARDIS was just parked a few steps behind where Sherlock stood. The lamp from the top of the time machine shone brightly. Sherlock undid his bow tie and put his hands in the pockets of his trousers.

"I have a case. Important stuff," Sherlock lied as he walked into the TARDIS.

"Oh, I doubt that you do," the Doctor walked away from the console and towards Sherlock. "You did fantastic with Prisoner Zero, and helping out Amy Pond. You saved the world, Mr. Holmes, and for that, I ask you..."

"Thank you, Doctor," Sherlock nodded at the compliment.

"Fancy another trip?" the Doctor finished his question.

"You want me to come with you?" Sherlock was taken aback by the suggestion. "Why?"

"Why not? Sometimes a madman in a box needs a bit of help every now and then," the Doctor chuckled. "I'm sure a consulting detective such as you would be quite the company."

"Are you sure you want a high functioning sociopath with you?" Sherlock raised his brow.

The Doctor smiled and left the question in the air.

"Is it always this dangerous?" Sherlock asked.

"Yes," the Doctor responded truthfully. "But I bet you enjoy that sort of thing, don't you?"

"Obviously," Sherlock looked away.

"Well then, Sherlock," the Doctor turned his back at Sherlock and walked to the console. "All of time and space, everything that ever happened or ever will. Where do you want to start?"

"You are so sure that I'm joining you," Sherlock looked at him suspiciously.

"Yeah, yeah I am," the Doctor smugly responded as he looked at Sherlock.

"Why?"

"Because you're the consulting detective amongst the ordinary. And I know how that feels."

"Do you?" Sherlock turned his back on the Doctor and walked to the entrance.

"We're the only ones of our kind, so yes, I do," the Doctor watched Sherlock as he stood still at the entrance of the TARDIS. "The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes. I know the kind of man you are, Sherlock, and it would be my pleasure if you would join me. You do not see, you observe, and that is clear."

Sherlock reached out and closed the doors to the TARDIS, turned around, and gave the Doctor a sly grin, "well, then, Doctor. Shall we begin?"

Well, thank you kind reader for taking the time to read this story! I hoped you enjoyed it :)