A/N: Wowowowow. Reviews galore! Incredible - you're all brilliant!
Okay, so your views on my poll question were fairly unianimous -laughs- it was quite interesting to see your reactions.
BeatnikFreak - hahahahaha :P
Simpa007 - I honestly don't know... :L
MandaPanda89 - ah ma gaad, I loved Torchwood! New ep tomorrow! :D
Violet - wow, 3am! I'm flattered :)
i-is-monstarr-RAWR - hehe xD
padmay97 - yes, he is indeed the Nightmare Child...
Grace Adara Potter - whoa, whoa, breathe, my dear! :)
Mrs 11th - MWAHAHAHAHAHA. I did it! :P
MarieStoneWriter - wow, really? thankies! :D
Jo Brookes - I like him too, tbh. I thought we could do with her viewpoint to balance things out :)
Ourania-Annais - It took me ages to find the right name! I'm so glad I did though :D
Tsukiko13 - oh good, I like living :P
Snowy702 - an update happened, I believe xD your view on their relationship was interesting, cheers for that!
blackcat711 - fair dos :) Babies are adorable, aren't they?
xTheLighttheSunForgotx - aww, thank you! I'm a sucker for Eleven too. He's a darling.
MadHatterLove7 - thank you so much for your review message! It was lovely to read! I'm flattered, I really am :) And a lemony Matt Smith? Big bonus :D
Shall we continue? It's a short chapter but it sets things in motion... hope you enjoy!
River ran.
Through streets, by roads – any place. Anywhere. She needed to get out, and she did what she always did best – running.
She was not a woman easily given to tears, but as she fled through the city, she could feel the emotion trickling down her cheeks.
Because she loved him. Yes. She knew that now.
She was in love with Jack Harkness.
And she couldn't tell him who she was.
It was breaking her – it had been ever since she had become part of Deorsa's games, become tied to the Doctor and Ondine's fate.
"River!"
Jack.
Please turn back, my love, please, please, I don't want to hurt you -
She kept running, desperate to get away from him.
"River! Stop! Please!"
You don't want to know, please, please just stop chasing -
She ignored him and continued to speed along the road, her breathing uneven as she pushed her legs to pick up the pace.
But Jack was faster.
He caught up and grabbed her arm, spinning her round in one swift movement to face him.
"Don't touch me," she cried, straining away from him. He let go on impulse, and she moved backwards, her footsteps unsteady.
"Who is he to you?" he said softly. "A lover?"
"I can't tell you," she murmured. "I wish I could. But I can't."
"That's bullshit," he said sharply. "That's bullshit, and you know it, River. Just tell me. Now."
She shook her head, inwardly hating every word of refusal that would come from her mouth.
"No."
His expression became frustrated, and he fought to keep calm.
"River –"
"Do you think I like this any more than you do?" she said shakily. "I'm so ashamed of it, Jack! And I don't want to lose you! But it'll be inevitable, once you know the truth. And I can't face it. I don't want to. Not if it means letting go of you. I can't."
He was momentarily speechless.
This was so un-River-like it frightened him. The woman who could face anything – and yet here she was, refusing to own her heritage.
"I watched him slaughter species as if they were nothing but trivial to him. Mere trifles. I watched him laugh as he did it. I watched him relish his deeds. And I couldn't stop him. No matter what I tried. He just wouldn't stop."
Her voice was haunted now, and instinctively he pulled her into his arms. He held her so tight it seemed as if he was trying to crush the nightmare from her mind. He kissed the top of her head, and she was silent, shaking.
"I've killed before, Jack. I'm not a saint. But what he did… I could never do that," she whispered. "Even I have morals."
He looked into her eyes, gentle, yet persuasive.
"Please, sweetheart. Tell me. Who is he, River?"
She broke away, and glanced down the street, turning her body from him.
Don't hide. Not anymore. It's too late to hide now.
She inhaled, burying the shame, and then she spoke, her voice steady .
"He's my father."
As Ondine felt Deorsa's lips on hers, a hum of recognisable, soothing warmth touched her mind, gently but firmly.
No, child. No.
Don't let him possess you. Break free. You are not his to claim. He has no right. You are pregnant with the Doctor's child.
You know where your hearts truly belong.
Shock pulsed through her.
No...
Her eyes opened, and she shoved him away, wide-eyed.
No!
The epiphany rocketed through her like a bullet to her brain.
"No," she gasped. "Enough."
He raised an eyebrow. "Enough?"
"Yes. Enough." Her voice evened, and she fixed him with a gaze of steel that took him utterly by surprise.
"I can't forgive you for what you did, Aidan. No matter what you are like – I realise that now. It will never change anything."
A rush of relief surged through her soul as she uttered those words, and she felt almost… free.
His eyes darkened, and she felt his anger roll through their link.
"You do not mean it."
She smiled sadly.
"I do. I will. Oh gods, I love you – yet I will never betray Theta. No matter what you are to me. He is the one I need. He's good for me, Aidan. He doesn't keep me on edge like you do. You're like a poison – an addictive one, yes, but a poison. Whereas he… he is everything good. Everything I could need in a man. No, he's not perfect – but he's what I want. Who I want."
His tongue flicked between his teeth.
"You still desire me. I can feel your lust from here."
Her hand touched her stomach, and she met his eyes with regret.
"I'll not deny that," she said softly. "After all, everyone's tempted by the Devil, in one way or another. And, yes, we have a bond which cannot be broken. I won't stop loving you, Aidan – it's both physically and mentally impossible. Yet I can distance myself from you. I did it once. I'll do it again."
He surprised her by laughing.
"My dear, oh my darling. A ghrá, there is one crucial thing you have forgotten."
She cocked her eyebrow, and she spoke, her tone carefully crafted.
"Do tell."
His eyes blackened, as dark as pitch, obscuring iris, white and pupil, and he walked forwards slowly, every step measured.
"You won't be able to distance yourself at all. You see… my abilities have seeped into you. They did so the moment my own were unleashed – the bond made sure of that. But mine, you must understand… well. They are so much more potent."
Her eyes dilated, and his expression became heartlessly amused.
"See?"
Panic, strong, acute, spiked through her as it hit her.
She couldn't teleport away.
Her hearts pounded, and she stared at him.
He smiled, and his next words brought an all-too familiar terror sweeping back.
"Run."
A/N: The Nightmare Child is back. And he's not too happy... oops. I apologise for this chapter's lamentable length. I promise I'll be back soon!
Lightning xoxo
