Slight bit of writers block but mostly that was just me trying to get everybody in order.

Anyway! Here's the (late) chapter! Sorry...

Disclaimer: Starting the Pandorica episodes and such! Yay!

By the way, a question was asked about my reasons for changing River a bit. Well one, I wasn't a huge fan of her in the show. BUT there was also something important behind it. So I kinda start to answer that in this chap but really most of that comes with next season when it actually happens.

Enjoy!

-Chapter 21-

Rose watched as River finished off her little piece of graffiti. "Oldest cliff face in the universe...he's definitely getting mad at that." Rose said grinning wildly.

River laughed. "I know. There. All done."

Rose squinted her eyes at the writing, but soon she could read it as if it were in English. As far as she could figure they were coordinates, and of course hello sweetie. Apparently that was River's thing. "Why there?"

"Because Jack has another lead. That's where we're going to be, so the Doctor's just going to have to join us."

Rose looked back at River. "You're not telling me something." she concluded.

River smiled but it didn't reach her eyes. "I'm probably always not telling you something, Rose." It broke her heart, having to keep something from her closest friend like she was. But then again, this wasn't her best friend. Not yet anyway, but she would be soon. The confused and slightly untrusting look Rose had now...it killed her. But things would get better. Because they always did. They had too.

"Why can I read this? Is that some weird...Galifrayan thing?" Rose asked, still squinting at the cliff.

River laughed. "No, dear, that's just the TARDIS I'd imagine."

Rose smiled. "Yeah...sort of figured that. What about the Doctor? Is that what he does? Just uses the TARDIS to translate everythin' for him?"

River grinned. "Well I'd say he does know a lot of them...but he doesn't have that brilliant a memory."

Rose laughed and she was surprised that it was genuine. She was starting to like River more now. Even though she knew River was still hiding something, she trusted her...not very much mind you, but she was starting to.

"Hey there, you two!" Jack said happily as River and Rose popped back up in the hub.

"Hiya Jack." Rose aid and Jack didn't have to ask if they had good news.

He grinned and waved a paper at them. "Got something for ya. And this one looks good."

Amy sat on the steps of the console room, fiddling with a box. A ring box. Why would the Doctor have something like this? According to him, he wasn't that close to River…and she was the only one Amy could think of that even seemed a bit like she could have that kind of effect on the Doctor.

Holding the little box…she felt something. Something in her chest that seemed funny…but she didn't know what, or why. She squinted at the box and held it closer to her face. She was missing something. Something important, very important…

"Right!" the Doctor said loudly, running into the room. Amy stuffed the box into her pocket before he turned to face her. "Oh hello!" he said grinning at Amy and coming to sit beside her.

She smiled at him but when he looked closer he frowned. "What?"

He smiled softly and wiped under her eyes, holding her face to get a good look at her. "Amelia…you're crying." This was the second time in a few days. Well, as far as he saw. There were probably more. Things were leaking through, but only emotions as far as he could tell. It was his fault. It was all his fault. Rory had even said so himself, he made people a danger to themselves…and look what happened as a result.

Amy blinked hard. "Don't know why…like before. With Vincent. Doctor…why does this keep happening?"

He looked down and stared at his hands. He knew, he knew exactly why it was happening. But he couldn't tell her. Not only would she most likely not remember anyway, but even if she did she would only be in pain. She was supposed to be getting married soon…not this. But he couldn't change the past; god knows he had tried to do it before. So he did what he always did, and put on a happy face.

The Doctor turned to Amy and smiled softly. "I don't know Amy. It could be…the stress. You have almost died nearly every day since you came away with me." He joked, nudging her playfully.

It worked. Amy grinned and rolled her eyes. "Oh whatever. Some help you are." She teased, putting her confusion behind her.

"Off to bed with you then. You're no good tired and cranky." He teased, jumping up and holding out a hand.

"Oi! I'm not cranky." She defended, taking his hand and pulling herself up.

He grinned; taking her face in is hands and kissed the top of her head. "Of course you aren't, brilliant Amelia Pond. Tomorrow we'll go see something spectacular, no running for our lives."

Amy smiled and laughed. "You always say that."

"Yes but this time I promise. And I never break a promise." He said and smiled at her. "Now bed. Doctor's orders."

Amy giggled and rolled her eyes. "Alright, goodnight Doctor." She said and left the room. As she was walking she frowned slightly. He had used her full name and kissed her head. He only did those things when he was worried or after something bad had happened. His way of saying he cared without actually saying it. Something was wrong and the Doctor knew it…she just had no idea what.

"Roman? Like...proper Roman soldiers?"

River grinned. "Straight from the Roman Empire it seems."

Rose grinned too. "You think the Doctor should be close by if somehow real Roman soldiers are in the twenty first century?"

"Well, it should be enough to at least get his attention. If he doesn't see our little note first."

"And the coordinates you left him...they match don't they?" she asked and River just grinned. "Right. But how exactly are we going to go about dealing with them?"

River smirked. "Leave that to me."

Jack, Rose, and River stood outside of the hub, ready to go yet again.

Rose turned to Jack. "Are you really not coming?"

"No, Rosie, I can't. I still have a job to do here...and if those crack things are popping up and sending things like the Romans though, Torchwood is going to be needed here."

She didn't like it and she wished he would come with them, but she knew that he was right. "Fine." she grumbled and Jack laughed and hugged her.

"I'll see you soon. and I'll expect a call as soon as you guys have things under control with the Romans. Can't believe I'm missing a chance to seduce one of those guys...I bet they have great-"

Rose laughed and cut him off. "Whoa there, Jack. I think we get it. Love you, stay safe." she said smiling and he kissed the top of her head.

"You too. I know I'll be seeing you around, Professor River Song." he said and she winked at him.

"Until next time Captain."

"Love it when you use my title." he teased and River laughed. "See you guys later." he said, saving them off as Rose grabbed onto the vortex manipulator and they were gone. Suddenly his phone rang. "Hello? Oh yes Detective Inspector, I've sent the best people I have down there. Just keep people away and we'll handle it."

When they landed Rose almost expected to feel that nausea she always did, but it was gone. She only felt a bit of discomfort. An upside to not being human anymore, then.

When she looked around, she didn't see anything. Just a lot of grass and farm land. "Are you sure we're in the right place?" Rose asked.

River turned the other way and tapped Rose's shoulder. "Oh we're certainly in the right place." River said grinning.

Rose turned around and saw a massive camp of red tents and random soldiers walking around. It looked like an army preparing for war. "Oh. That's a bit more than I expected...do you think it was a crack in the universe that pulled them through?"

"That would be my guess. Looks like we have a bit of a walk ahead of us." River said, smiling. But she noticed the worried look on Rose's face. "Rose, how are you feeling?"

Rose turned to River and put on a fake smile. "I'm alright." She said, but even she knew that that was a poor excuse for a lie. River didn't push her like Rose thought she might, instead River just nodded and started walking.

"It's alright to not be thrilled with the idea of becoming something entirely new, Rose."

Rose focused on the ground beneath her feet. The Doctor had once told her that he could feel the turn of the Earth...and she had been amazed. Now, it terrified her. If she didn't distract herself, she could feel the Earth turn just like he said. She could hear the wind blowing through and rustling leaves that were miles away. So she kept thinking of other things. "I know. I just feel like I should be happy. I won't ever die...not normally anyway. I don't even know what's happening, or what already happened to me I suppose." she admitted quietly.

River turned to her and gave her a small smile. "You're still nervous about what's going to happen when you see him, aren't you?" River said, seeing right through her.

Rose laughed quietly. "You must know me too well, then huh? It's so different...what if it's too different for him? I mean...I can't blame him if it is, I was a bit nervous when he first changed. But if he looks at he like I looked at him way back then...I don't know what I'll do. After all we've been through...that look just might kill me."

River smiled softly. "Rose, you love him don't you?" Rose just gave her a look. "Exactly. And he may be the most oblivious man in the universe, but he loves you too. You two were different species before, that is the only thing that's changed."

"Yeah, that and he doesn't have a clue I'm not still stuck in the parallel universe." Rose joked.

River laughed. "Yes, that may be a slight change as well."

River watched as Rose walked just a bit ahead. Just enough to have a bit of space to think. For once River didn't know much about what was going to happen. But just being with Rose...she almost forgot that she was in the wrong time. She knew from the day she met Rose that that girl was someone important. She just never knew that Rose would be important to her.

If River was completely honest, Rose had changed her. Before, she had been more closed off and put out a bit of a persona that protected her. And she had a good reason too.

Somehow Rose changed that. Rose brought out the very best in her and she made River want to do so much more good with her life. That was just Rose of course. When River first met her...she had so much pain and anger boxed up inside. And of course there was also the fact her brain washed past had thoroughly confused the difference of right and wrong. Rose fixed her. She taught her that not every one left, not everyone disappointed you, not everyone was only out for themselves.

River smiled to herself. Rose had done something along the same lines for the Doctor too. And everyone she met. That was just Rose. Her best friend. The person that was confused and hurting now...and she couldn't do anything. Because Rose didn't trust her.

As they were about to enter the camp, River's phone rang. She cursed under her breath and picked it up. "Hello?"

"Doctor?" came a man's gruff voice.

"Not at the moment, no."

"Where is he? I called him."

"You're phoning the time vortex, it doesn't always work. But the TARDIS is smart, she's rerouted the call." River said and Rose's eyes widened. "Talk quickly, the connection will last less than a minute."

Rose watched as River listened intently. Then she closed the phone. "Who was that?"

"Well, he tried to call the Doctor so I'd say Churchill."

"Like...the Prime Minister?" Rose asked, a bit shocked.

"Yes, he and the Doctor have always been on close terms. But we've run into a bit of a problem..." River said, trailing off and reaching into her pocket. She pulled out a tube of lipstick. "Rose, this is hallucinogenic lip stick. I have to go, but you have to get in there."

Rose raised her eyebrow. "You want me to walk in there and...what, kiss them? And they'll just...what?"

"All you have to do is kiss a few of the higher up officers, like a general or two, and tell them you're...someone important, you can decide who but it should be in their era so they've heard of whoever it is. I'm sorry, but this is very important, I'll explain later." she said and gave the tube to Rose before disappearing with the vortex manipulator.

Rose was left standing with her mouth partially open. She shook her head. "Well...here goes nothing..." she mumbled and put on the lip stick. If the Doctor did remember...he wasn't going to like this.

"Miss, what are you doing here? This is a military camp." said a tall soldier coming up behind Rose.

Oh he really wasn't going to love this. She cleared her throat and grinned at him. "Yes...I must have gotten a bit lost..."

"Your Highness, this woman entered the camp saying you had sent for her..." a soldier, Perseus, asked, stepping into Rose's tent.

"Um, yes I did. Send her in please." Rose said.

River walked in and grinned. "Cleopatra?"

"Yes, men, bring my lovely sister some more suitable clothes." Rose said, trying her best not to laugh. "Leave us for a moment, please." she said and the men left.

River shook her head. "I doubt the great Cleopatra ever said please."

Rose shrugged. "I'm a much nicer one then. What do you think? Too much?" Rose asked, standing up and showing off the gold dress she had been given.

River laughed. "I love the way you think. Although, I did notice an awful lot of lipstick." River teased, raising an eyebrow.

Rose bit her lip. "I didn't know how many you meant. That and most of them look the same, it took me awhile to find a higher ranking one."

"I would have done the same thing." River said laughing and the girls sat down across from each other on the cushions that looked like they cost as much as Rose's old flat.

"What did you do, exactly?"

River's grin faded. "I found this." she said and took off the long tube she had strapped to her back. Inside was old canvas paper. River unrolled it and Rose gasped, her hand covering her mouth.

"No...how?" she asked, breathless.

"I don't know...but it was painted by Van Gough during his later years. One of his last works."

"Do you think...do you think it's going to come true?" Rose said, praying it didn't. It couldn't. No. She couldn't let that happen.

River pursed her lips. "I have a feeling we're going to find out. With the message I left the Doctor...he's on his way."

Rose felt her heart squeeze, but in a good way this time. "He's not going to be happy about the kissing when he remembers..."

River laughed. "No, I don't think he will be. But that's not the biggest problem."

"What is?"

"The title of this painting. The Pandorica Opens."

Rose's eyebrows pulled together. "That sounds familiar...but what is it?"

"A myth. Well, not really a myth but something that most people consider to be one."

"Isn't it...well I head a story once, when I was trying to find the Doctor. Just whispers but...it's like a cage isn't it?"

"Yes. The story you heard is probably true, as well."

"Where is it?"

"Hidden. It's been gone for centuries. But...I may have a theory."

Rose raised her eyebrow. "Why don't I like the tone of your voice?"

"I haven't ridden a horse in...years." Rose said, even as she was on top of it already.

"Dear, you'll be fine. But...you'll get to see him soon enough. He'll come to the same conclusion as I did, and we'll all join you."

"This is...well I'd say mad, but really, when is this life not." Rose said. She didn't want to go if it meant having to wait even longer for the Doctor. But if the Pandorica was real, and the TARDIS was in danger...she would go. She couldn't help but look back at the camp. "You're sure he'll remember me?" Rose asked, suddenly.

"Yes. Just as I'm sure he'll be upset about me defacing the oldest cliff in the universe."

Rose laughed and nodded. "Ok then. I'll trust you on that."

River smiled, "Go! We're running out of valuable time." she urged and Rose relented.

"Right, let's go boys!" she said and the three soldiers around her got in their horses too and rode off. Thankfully, she had had horse lessons one year while her mum was dating a farmer. It hadn't worked out of course, her mum hated farms.

"Oh my god..." Rose said as she dismounted. "Stonehenge...huh. Don't know what I was expecting..."

"Mum, what do you want us to do?" one of them asked.

"Oh...make sure there isn't anyone around. And if there are people, don't kill them, bring them to me." she said, hoping that would work and they wouldn't have dead civilians on top of everything else. One of the soldiers didn't move, but kept looking at her. As if he was confused. "Um...are you alright?" she asked.

The soldier took off his helmet. Rose felt her breath catch in her throat. "Yes Mum, it's was just...I-I...I think I...know you." Rory said slowly. It was Rory. Most definitely Rory. But...he was a Roman...how could he be a Roman? Why was he a Roman? He definitely hadn't been a Roman before...

"You do?" she asked carefully, hoping that he'd remember. If he did, then the Doctor definitely would.

"Um...I'm...I'm not a...not a...what's happening?" he asked and he dropped his helmet and held his head.

"Rory, are you ok?" she asked, coming closer to him.

His head snapped up. "Rory. You know my name. I'm...I'm Rory. And...oh my god." he said, his eyes getting wider. "I'm a Roman...but I'm not a Roman...and you're definitely not Cleopatra."

Rose beamed at him and threw her arms around him. "Oh my god, you're alive!" she said happily, tears coming up.

Rory hugged her back. "Rose. Wait...you died, didn't you?! I thought...I thought I saw you die too."

Rose pulled back and nodded, wiping her eyes. "Yeah, I did. I'm ok though. And look at you! You're a Roman!" she said beaming at him.

"Yeah, weird that...but why are you pretending to be Cleopatra?"

Rose laughed. "River. She had this hallucinogenic lip stick and I kissed the guards so that we could get inside the camp. I may have taken it a bit far."

Rory could help but laugh a bit too. "Yeah, I'd say so. Wait, where is everybody? Where's Amy?"

Rose bit her lip. "On their way...but Rory...you fell into the crack. You were erased from time completely...she doesn't know who you are anymore."

"How do you know then?"

"I fell into it too, but...well it's complicated. The Doctor...he doesn't remember me coming back either. River said he would eventually...but that's only because of...a few changes."

"Changes?" he asks slowly.

"Yeah...basically...well...I'm not exactly...human. Anymore." she said and his eyes widened.

"How are you not human? You look human..."

"So does the Doctor. But you can talk, your Roman, and from the past!"

He shrugged. "Right, well, guess both of us are different."

"It doesn't freak you out?"

"A bit. But so does everything else about traveling with the Doctor. And so does the whole Roman thing." he said and Rose smiled.

"Ok. So we have a job to do."

"What kind of a job?" he asked.

"Well, the Doctor and Amy are on their way. River said that we should look around and see of anyone else has been lurking over here."

"Why? It's just Stonehenge."

Rose smirked. "I have a feeling we're going to find out soon enough."

The Doctor and Amy walked into the tent, only to see River all dressed up and looking a bit like Cleopatra, wig and all.

"Hello sweetie." she said grinning.

"River! Hi." Amy said smiling.

"You graffitied the oldest cliff face in the universe." the Doctor deadpanned.

"You wouldn't answer your phone." she argued. She clapped her hands and the servants left.

"River, why are you Cleopatra?" Amy asked.

River grinned. "The other one had to step out for a bit."

"Hallucinogenic lip stick?" he asked.

"Good eye. But not completely my work." she said her eyes shining a bit. She picked up the scrolled canvas and handed it to the Doctor.

"What's this?"

"A painting. From your friend Vincent. One of his final works, he had visions didn't he? I thought you ought to know about this one." she said and Amy moved to look at it too. It was a painting of the TARDIS...exploding.

As they were riding out to Stonehenge, River came up next to the Doctor. "Doctor...I should warn you. There are a few surprises waiting."

"What surprises?"

River grinned. "Sorry, sweetie, you'll have to see for yourself."

"Then why warn me?" The Doctor asked but she had already taken off ahead of him. One day he would get her back for all this teasing.

When Rose heard the sound of horses about three quarters of a mile away, she bit her lip. "Ok, Rory. You're not going to love me for this, but you need to go and help the other soldiers back at the camp."

Rory was about to ask why, when he realized. "You want me to wait and not see her yet."

Rose looked at him apologetically. "I'm sorry, but yeah. I...I don't know what going to happen when he gets here. Or what happens when he finds the Pandorica. But River said it was better to wait. Don't ask me why, I have no idea."

"So he can stay focused for a bit, I get it...dying is really complicated." he said and Rose smiled.

"Let's go see if the boys found anyone. The last thing we need is some random person calling the police about Romans at Stonehenge."

River scanned the area while the Doctor ran around, trying to figure things out in his head.

Amy walked up to her. "Last time we saw you, you warned us about this. After we climbed out of the Byzantium."

"Spoilers!" she said and put a finger to her own lips.

"No, but you told the Doctor you'd be seeing us again when the Pandorica opens."

"Maybe I did. But I haven't yet. But I will have. Doctor, I'm picking up fry particles everywhere, energy weapons discharged on this site." River said but the Doctor was already lost in thought. "Doctor!" She called.

"What? If the Pandorica is down there, it contains the mightiest warrior in history. Now half the galaxy would want a piece of that. Maybe even fight for it." he said, putting his ear to a rock in the center. "We have to get down there."

"I agree. We just have to get the device off of one of my people."

"You left something from the future with a Roman soldier?" Amy asked, confused.

River grinned. "I trust her. And she's not a Roman."

The Doctor frowned. "Will you never just say what you're talking about? The riddles and half truths are slightly infuriating."

"Why do you think I give them, sweetie?"

"So where is the device?" the Doctor said, giving up arguing with her.

"Right behind you." River said grinning.

"Yeah, um here you go." Rose said, holding out the device. She had to focus everything she had to fight the instinct to just run up and wrap her arms around him.

The Doctor didn't even look back as he held out his hand and took the device. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." she said, starting to worry River was wrong.

Suddenly the Doctor froze. That voice. That voice sounded so... "Say that again?" he asked, still not turning around.

"I said, you're welcome." Rose repeated, a bit annoyed so she talked slowly and crossed her arms. She prayed River was right. She had to be right.

He didn't want to turn around. Because as soon as he did he would see someone else that wasn't who his damned ears thought. Whoever it was...but it was impossible for it to be who it sounded like. Who he hoped it was. Who his hearts had started pounding in his chest for, so much they might burst. It was impossible. Completely. Still...he couldn't help but turn around.

When Rose saw him turn, she thought her hearts might stop. She held her breath and watched as his eyes widened. She was afraid to move, she had no idea what to say, but she could feel her hearts pounding in her chest like they were trying to break out just to be closer to him. Somehow the double beat didn't bother her, not when the Doctor was standing in front of her.

"Rose?" he breathed out, barely a whisper.

"It's me."

Thank you so much for all the reviews and favorites and follows...seriously I am amazed. I can't believe how well this story is doing and I just want you to know that you guys always make me smile, and are the reason I keep posting!

I love you all :)