Thanks to KurtWaterDragon, PhantomWolfScout, MOMO2000, Luna91588, wolfsliver438, Alice F. Tality, xrysatsan, time-twilight, funkyferret, Anime-King20, MatthewGreyGublerLoveXXX for following/faving my story.
AN: I am so sorry for not updating this sooner! I've been struggling with getting motivation for it but now I seemed to have found some! Yay! Hopefully it lasts a while.
The Time Lord Oracle: There will be more compliments, I assure you. Yeah, I'll admit she does suffer quite a bit.
NicoleR85: thanks!
"Now are you sure your feeling up to it?" the Doctor asked Melanie for the 5th time. The brunette levelled a glare at him.
"For the last time Doctor, yes I am feeling up to seeing my best friend and her husband. No fever is going to stop me", she said in a firm tone.
"Ok, ok" the Doctor took her hands "but if that temperature of yours gets any higher or if you feel dizzy, we're coming straight back here". Her health was far more important to him than visiting Amy and Rory. She would always, always come first, not matter what. Melanie nodded in agreement.
The pair walked out of the TARDIS, the Doctor's hand resting on the small of Melanie's back. The Time Lord stepped over the retaining wall first, knocking at stone from it before helping his Bonded down. "Hey Rory!" Melanie greeted seeing Rory come out of the small house.
"Hey Elle, Doctor", Rory said back and then he frowned seeing the state his friend was in "you ok Elle?" he asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Got a bit of a fever", Melanie replied "the Doctor's been great looking after me".
"Well…I am a doctor Elle", the Doctor pointed out "Oh…and I kinda crushed your flowers Rory. Sorry".
"Oh, Amy will kill you", Rory said.
"Where is Ames?" Melanie asked glancing towards the house wondering where the ginger was.
"She'll need a bit longer", Rory told them.
"Whenever you're ready, Amy", the Doctor called. Moments later a heavily pregnant Amy waddles out. "Oh, way-hey! You've swallowed a planet", the Time Lord remarked. Melanie whacked him upside the head. "Ow! What was that for?" he asked rubbing his head, pouting at his Bonded.
"She's not swallowed a planet, she's pregnant dummy", Melanie said "congrats you two".
"Thanks", Amy said resting a hand on her stomach.
"So…is it a boy or girl?" Melanie asked nodding to her bump.
"We don't know. Going to keep it a surprise", Rory answered and Melanie nodded in understanding.
"So…um…what shall we do?" the Doctor asked.
The four of them walk down the lane. "Ah, Leadworth. Vibrant as ever", the Doctor remarked taking in their surroundings as they walked.
"It's Upper Leadworth, actually", Rory corrected "We've gone slightly upmarket".
"Where is everyone?" the Doctor asked.
"This is busy", Amy replied "OK, it's quiet, but it's really restful and healthy. Loads of people here live well into their nineties".
"Well, don't let that get you down", the Doctor said earning him another light whack from Melanie.
"What he means to say is that this the perfect place to raise a baby", Melanie said to Amy after giving the Time Lord a look "nice, quiet and stress free".
"Yeah…that's what I meant", the Doctor agreed. Amy and Melanie exchanged looks, shaking their heads. The group stopped by a bench, settling down on to it. "You know, I don't just abandon people when they leave the TARDIS", the Doctor said after a moment, putting at arm around Melanie when she shivered "This Time Lord's for life. You don't get rid of your old pal the Doctor so easily".
"You made him come here Elle, didn't you?" Amy asked Melanie.
"Yep", Melanie asked popping the p "thought 5 years was long enough. You guys are my best friends after all".
"So…what do you do around here to stave off the, you know…" the Doctor trailed not quite knowing how to finish.
"Boredom?" Amy supplied.
"Self-harm", the Doctor corrected getting another whack from Melanie "will you seriously stop that!" he grumbled.
"I'll stop when you learn not to be rude", Melanie said. She didn't usually whack him that often, just occasionally but her fever was making her a little more irritable towards the Doctor.
"If you must know Doctor, we relax…we live, listen to the birds", Rory said.
"Yeah, see, birds. Those are nice", Amy agreed as birdsong started up.
"We didn't get time to listen to birdsong back in the Tardis days, did we?" Rory asked. The Birdsong grew louder making them all feel a bit drowsy.
"Oh blimey, my head's a bit. Ooh…" the Doctor holds his head in his hand for a moment before he quickly sat up "No, you're right, there wasn't a lot of time for birdsong back in the good…" the Time Lord starts to drift off, so does Amy, Rory and Melanie "old…days". Melanie's head drops onto his shoulder as they all fall asleep.
The Doctor wakes up to find himself on the console floor. He rolled over and saw Melanie starting to stir. "That was weird", she mumbled sitting up. She didn't really have chance to properly wake up as the Doctor gave her a hug. "Uh…what are you doing?" Melanie asked when he got out his sonic and scanned her.
"Healthy", he said looking thoroughly relieved which confused Melanie even more. He hugged her again "I had a terrible nightmare", the Doctor said "but its ok, now. You're safe and that's all that matters".
"Uh huh", Melanie said still confused. What nightmare did he have about her that made him act this way? Before she could ask him, she noticed Amy and Rory over the Doctor's shoulder.
"Is everything ok?" Amy asked gaining the Time Lord's attention. He helped Melanie to her feet before going over to the ginger and hugged her as well.
"Thank god you two are ok as well", he said "terrible…terrible nightmare", he added with a mutter. Amy looked at Melanie over the Doctor's shoulder and the brunette just shrugged. The Time Lord stepped back "Blimey. Never dropped off like that before", he remarked lightly "Well, never, really. I'm getting on a bit, you see. Don't let the cool gear fool you. Now, what's wrong with the console?" he examined the console where red lights were flashing away "Red flashing lights...I bet they mean something".
"Doctor, I also had a kind of dream thing", Rory spoke up.
"Yeah, so did I", Amy added.
"Not a nightmare, though, just…we were married", Rory continued.
"Yeah", Amy nodded "in a little village".
"A sweet little village, and you were pregnant"
"Was I in your dream?" Melanie asked. If she was present and with a fever then it would be the exact same dream as she had.
"Yes, you were", Amy replied "You and the Doctor were visiting though you didn't look well".
"That's the same dream I had", Melanie told her.
"Me too", Rory said and then he frowned "How can we all have the same dream?" he asked "It doesn't make any sense".
Amy turned to the Doctor "And you had a nightmare about us. What happened to us in the nightmare?" she asked.
"It was a bit similar, in some aspects", the Doctor said evasively.
"Which aspects?" Rory questioned.
"Well…all of them", the Time Lord admitted.
"You had the same dream", Amy stated folding her arms.
"Basically", the Doctor said.
"But you said it was a nightmare", Rory reminded him.
"My Bonded was ill. That made it a nightmare", the Doctor said bluntly "Look, it doesn't matter. We all had some kind of psychic episode. We probably jumped a time track" quiet birdsong started up "Forget it. We're back to reality now".
"Uh Doctor? If we're back to reality, how come I can still hear birds?" Melanie asked as it grew louder.
"Yeah, the same birds", Rory agreed "The same ones we heard in the…"
~Leadworth~
"…Dream" Rory quickly pulled his head away from the Doctor's, embarrassed "Oh! Sorry. Nodded off. Stupid. God, I must be overdoing it. I was dreaming we were back on the TARDIS". The Doctor turned to Melanie, noting that she was looking worse. He used his sonic, checking her temperature. It was higher than before.
Right, it was time to get her back to the TARDIS. The Doctor stood up bringing Melanie with him before he gathered her up into his arms. "Doctor, what is going on?" Rory asked hurrying after the Time Lord, who was walking quickly away with his Bonded.
"Is this because of you? Is this some Time Lordy thing because you've shown up again?" Amy questioned, huffing slightly as she tried to keep up. Not easy when she had this extra weight she was carrying.
The Doctor stopped and turned to Amy and Rory. "Listen to me. Trust nothing. From now on, trust nothing you see, hear or feel", he said.
"But we're awake now", Rory argued.
"Yeah. You thought you were awake on the TARDIS, too", the Doctor retorted.
"But we're home", Amy insisted.
"Yeah, you're home", the Doctor agreed "You're also dreaming. Trouble is, which is which? Are we flashing forwards or backwards? Hold on tight. This is going be a tricky one". He tightened his grip on Melanie as the birdsong started up for the third time.
~TARDIS~
When the Doctor woke next he was laying on the stairs, Melanie next to him. He checked her first, extremely relieved to see that she was still perfectly fine. He then jumped up, practically lunging for the console, gripping a lever. "Oh, this is bad. I don't like this", he said when the lever wouldn't budge despite the fact that he was using all of his strength. He stepped back and kicked the console. "Argh! Never use force. You just embarrass yourself", he said crossly "Unless you're cross, in which case, always use force".
"Shall I run and get the manual?" Melanie asked following the Doctor down the set of stairs which led beneath the console.
"I threw it in a supernova", the Doctor replied checking the underside of the console.
"You threw the manual in a supernova? Why?" Amy questioned having followed the pair. Rory had also joined them beneath the console as well.
"Because I disagreed with it", the Doctor said "Stop talking to me when I'm cross" he wagged his finger at the ginger.
"Okay, but whatever's wrong with the TARDIS, is that what caused us to dream about the future?" Rory asked.
"If we were dreaming of the future…" the Doctor muttered heading back up the stairs. He didn't want it to be the future because Melanie was ill. Granted it was only a fever but what if it was a precursor for something worse?
No! He couldn't think like that. Melanie was fine now and she will be fine several years down the line. He'd give anything to make sure of it.
"Well, of course we were. We were in Leadworth", Amy argued.
"Upper Leadworth", Rory corrected.
"Yeah, and we could still be in Upper Leadworth, dreaming of this. Don't you get it?" the Doctor asked her.
"No, OK, no this is real. I'm definitely awake now", Amy insisted.
"And you thought you were definitely awake when you were all elephanty", the Doctor retorted.
"Hey! Pregnant!"
"And you could be giving birth right now", the Doctor shot back "This could be the dream. I told you. Trust nothing we see or hear or feel. Look around you. Examine everything. Look for all the details that don't ring true".
"Ok, we're in a spaceship that's bigger on the inside than the outside", Rory stated.
"With a bow tie-wearing alien", Amy added.
"I'm the Bonded of bow tie wearing alien", Melanie put in holding a hand up.
"So maybe what rings true isn't so simple", Rory remarked.
"Valid point", the Doctor agreed. Suddenly the TARDIS is plunged into darkness save the light coming from the console. The Doctor moved over to Melanie, putting an arm around her, holding her close.
Birdsong started up once more and Rory hugs Amy. "Remember, this is real. But when we wake up in the other place, remember how real this feels", the Doctor told them all, tightening his grip on Melanie. She gripped the front of his jacket as the light on the TARDIS console began to dim.
"It is real. I know it's real", Amy said firmly.
~Leadworth~
"Okay, this is the real one", Amy said from the bench outside the library where she and Rory were sitting "Definitely this one", she rubs her stomach "It's all solid".
"It felt solid in the TARDIS too", the Doctor pointed out from where he knelt in front of Melanie checking her worriedly as she'd yet to wake up. Though he knew that this was possibly the dream but he couldn't help but feel concerned for the health of his Bonded. "You can't spot a dream while you're having it" the Time Lord waved a hand in front of his face.
"What are you doing?" Melanie mumbled, looking at him blearily.
"Looking for motion blur, pixilation", the Doctor replied "It could be a computer simulation. I don't think so, though. How are you feeling?"
"Utterly rotten", Melanie answered.
"Did you want to go back to the TARDIS?" he asked.
Melanie shook her head "we need to figure out what's going on", she said "besides isn't it better if we stick together? Especially with this flashing between here and the TARDIS". The Doctor could see that she did make a good point but it did make it harder for him to decide what was best. Taking her to the TARDIS may be the best thing for her health, however what if they flashed back to the dream or reality or whatever it was and she wasn't there? "Look, if it gets even worse I'll go to the TARDIS", Melanie continued "with no arguments".
The Doctor sighed but nodded in agreement. As he helped her up, an elderly lady walked past. "Hello, Doctor", she called to Rory.
"Hi", he said and the same time that the Doctor said
"Hello" the Time Lord looked at Rory with some surprise "You're a doctor", he stated.
"Yeah. And unlike you, I've actually passed some exams", Rory said giving the Doctor a smug look.
"A doctor, not a nurse. Just like you've always dreamed. How interesting", the Doctor remarked.
"What is?" Rory asked.
"Your dream wife, your dream job, probably your dream baby. Maybe this is your dream", the Doctor surmised.
"It's Amy's dream too. Isn't it, Amy?" Rory asked glancing at his fiancé.
"Yes. Course it is, yeah", the ginger replied. Melanie frowned. She couldn't be sure but it sounded like Amy was a little hesitant? Maybe that was just the fever talking…or muddling her brain.
"What's that?" the Doctor suddenly asked pointing to an old people's home.
"Old people's home", Amy answered.
"You said everyone here lives to their nineties", the Doctor said "There's something here that doesn't make sense. Let's go and poke it with a stick". He took Melanie's hand and hurried off, Rory following.
"Oh. Can we not do the running thing?" Amy grumbled, hands on her back as she chased after them.
"You're not the only one who doesn't wanna run", Melanie piped up having heard her. Though she didn't want to go back to the TARDIS, the last thing she wanted was to be pulled around all over the place by the Doctor.
"Sorry Elle", the Doctor said slowing down slightly.
"Sure, slow down for your sick Bonded but not the pregnant lady", Amy grumbled under her breath.
~Care home~
The four eventually entered the care home. Where they went into the lounge and Rory was greeted by another old lady. "Hello, Rory love"
"Hello, Mrs Poggit. How's your hip?" he asked.
"A bit stiff", Mrs Poggit replied.
"Oh, easy, D-96 compound, plus…" the Doctor trailed off realising that they didn't have that medicine just yet "No, you don't have that yet. Forget that".
"Who's your friend? A junior doctor?" Mrs Poggit asked Rory.
"Yes", Rory replied.
"Can I borrow you?" Mrs Poggit asked the Doctor "You're the size of my grandson". The Time Lord knelt down in front of the old lady whom pulled an ugly knitted sweater over his head.
"Slightly keen to move on. Freak psychic schism to sort out" he leaned forward, forcing Mrs Poggit to sit back "You're incredibly old, aren't you?" he remarked eyeing the old lady.
"Not again", Melanie groaned hearing the birdsong. The residents of the care home watch as she, Rory, Amy and the Doctor pass out on the carpet.
~TARDIS~
The four of them wake to find that they're all leaning against the console with the exception of Melanie who was laying on the jump seat.
"Okay, I hate this, Doctor", Amy stated standing up "Stop it, because this is definitely real. It's definitely this one. I keep saying that, don't I?"
"Yeah you do Ames", Melanie said sitting up.
"It's bloody cold", Rory remarked rubbing his arms. It didn't feel cold to Melanie, it felt like room temperature. She really hoped that she wasn't getting a fever here too. The last thing she needed was to be sick in both worlds or dreams or whatever the heck they were.
"The heating's off", the Doctor said bluntly as he headed up the stairs to the upper level.
"The heating's off?" Rory repeated.
"Yeah. Put on a jumper. That's what I always do", the Doctor told him.
"Yes. Sorry about Mrs Poggit", Rory said apologetically "She's so lovely though".
"I wouldn't believe her nice old lady act if I were you", the Doctor told him seriously.
"What do you mean, 'act'?" Amy asked.
"Everything's off, sensors, core power", the Doctor said making his way back down to the console "We're drifting. The scanner's down so we can't even see out. We could be anywhere. Someone, something, is overriding my controls".
Suddenly a hologram of a man appeared at the top of the steps. "Well, that took a while", he remarked and walked down the steps "Honestly, I'd heard such good things. Last of the Time Lords, the Oncoming Storm. Him in the bow tie".
"How did you get into my TARDIS?" the Doctor demanded, wary of this newcomer especially since Melanie was present "What are you?"
"What shall we call me? Well, if you're the Time Lord, let's call me the Dream Lord", the man said.
"Nice look", the Doctor said eyeing the Dream Lord's attire. It was very similar to his own.
"This?" the Dream Lord pointed to himself "No, I'm not convinced" he turned to Melanie "what do you think, my dear?" he asked. Before she could answer however, the Doctor quickly threw a tennis ball at the Dream Lord…and it passed through him.
"Interesting", the Doctor commented as the Dream Lord turned back to him with an amused look on his face.
"I'd love to be impressed, but Dream Lord. It's in the name, isn't it? Spooky. Not quite there…" the Dream Lord vanished and popped up behind Melanie, startling her "…and yet very much here". He gave the brunette an apologetic look "Sorry, my dear", he said sounding like he genuinely hadn't meant to scare her.
The Doctor darted forward pulling Melanie away from the Dream Lord and placing her protectively behind him. "I'll do the talking, thank you", the Doctor said glaring at the 'man'. "Amy, want to take a guess at what that is?"
"Um, Dream Lord. He creates dreams", the ginger answered.
"Dreams, delusions, cheap tricks", the Doctor spat.
"What about the lovely Elle? Does she get a guess?" the Dream Lord asked giving the brunette a warm smile, earning him an angry look from the Doctor "or will the gooseberry get a turn?" the Dream Lord nodded at Rory.
"Listen, mate. If anyone's the gooseberry round here, it's the Doctor", Rory said.
"Well now, there's a delusion I'm not responsible for", the Dream Lord said with a shrug.
"No, he is", Rory insisted "Isn't he, Amy?"
"Oh, Amy, have to sort your men out", the Dream Lord said "Choose, even".
"I have chosen. Of course I've chosen" without taking her eyes off of the Dream Lord, she smacks Rory in the chest "It's you, stupid".
"Oh, good", Rory nodded "Thanks".
The Dream Lord smirked at the ginger "You can't fool me. I've seen your dreams…some of them twice. You really ought to be ashamed of yourself Amy. He would never do any of those things, not when he has a Bonded".
"Where did you pick up this cheap cabaret act?" the Doctor asked.
"Me?" the Dream Lord raised his eyebrows "Oh, you're on shaky ground".
"Am I?" the Doctor scoffed.
"If you had any more tawdry quirks you could open up a Tawdry Quirk Shop. The madcap vehicle, the cockamamie hair, the clothes designed by a first-year fashion student", the Dream Lord glanced at Melanie "I know you're his Bonded but what do you honestly see in him? Personally you'd be better off with his previous self. At least he was fairly handsome". They watched the Dream Lord vanish, reappearing on the upper level "So, here's your challenge. Two worlds. Here, in the time machine, and there, in the village that time forgot. One is real, the other's fake. And just to make it more interesting, you're going to face in both worlds a deadly danger, but only one of the dangers is real. Tweet, tweet. Time to sleep" birdsong started up, Amy and Rory succumbing straight away. Melanie too fell asleep, the Doctor quickly grabbing her before she hit the floor. He held her, trying desperately to stay awake but he failed. The Dream Lord watched the Doctor fall to the floor, Melanie secured in his arms.
~Care home~
The Doctor, Amy and Rory woke in the lounge of the care home and discovered that the residents were gone. Melanie on the other hand was still asleep. The Doctor crawled over to his Bonded and gently touched her face, a worried look appearing when he felt that her skin was still rather hot.
Then the Dream Lord walked in carrying an X-ray in his hand. "Oh, this is bad. This is very, very bad. Look at this X-ray" he held it up to the light "Your brain is completely see-through. But then, I've always been able to see through you, Doctor".
"Always?" Amy asked "What do you mean, always?"
"Now then, the prognosis is this. If you die in the dream, you wake up in reality", the Dream Lord said "Healthy recovery in next to no time. And for Elle, that would be a good thing" he nodded to the sleeping brunette "Ask me what happens if you die in reality?"
"What happens?" Rory asked.
"You die, stupid. That's why it's called reality", the Dream Lord said scornfully.
"Have you met the Doctor before? Do you know him?" Amy glanced at the Doctor "Doctor, does he?"
The Time Lord didn't look at her, his attention was too focused on Melanie. "Now don't get jealous. He's been around, our boy", the Dream Lord told Amy "But never mind that. You've got a world to choose. One reality was always too much for you, Doctor. Take two and call me in the morning". The Dream Lord vanished.
"Ok, I don't like him", Rory stated.
"Who is he?" Amy asked the Doctor, folding her arms.
"I don't know. It's a big universe", the Time Lord answered, his gaze still on Melanie.
"Why is he doing this?" Amy demanded getting a bit annoyed that he was distracted by the brunette.
"Maybe because he has no physical form", the Doctor replied "That gets you down after a while, so he's taking it out on folk like us who can touch and eat and feel". He tugged the knitted jumper over his head, tossing it aside.
"What does he mean, deadly danger, though?", Rory asked.
"I don't know Rory!" the Doctor snapped.
"Anger…is the shortest distance to a mistake", Melanie said quietly. The Doctor glanced down at her and gave her a slightly relieved smile "Sorry for not waking sooner. Feeling a little drowsy and the Dream Lord is not helping".
"That's ok" the Doctor helped her sit up "you're awake now and that's all that matters".
"Now that Elle is awake, can we focus on the deadly danger?" Amy piped up.
"Deadly danger?" Melanie asked confused.
"There isn't a danger, deadly or otherwise", the Doctor quickly said "aside from switching between here and the TARDIS, we're perfectly safe".
"For the moment", Amy muttered causing the Doctor to shoot her a 'you're not helping' look. Melanie didn't seem to notice as she was looking around the now empty room. She frowned.
"Where's all the old people?" she asked. The Doctor glanced around and finally noticed that they were alone. He should've realised sooner but he was a tad occupied by the brunette's slowly dwindling health.
"They've all gone", he breathed "They've all gone". The Doctor got to his feet, helped Melanie up and exited the care home with her. Amy and Rory followed the pair.
"Why would they leave?" Rory asked as the Doctor watched some children enter the ruined castle with their teacher.
"And what did you mean about Mrs Poggit's nice old lady act?" Amy questioned.
"One of my tawdry quirks. Sniffing out things that aren't what they seem", the Doctor said "So, come on, let's think. The mechanics of this reality split we're stuck in… time asleep exactly matches time in our dream world, unlike in conventional dreams".
"And we're all dreaming the same dream at the same time", Rory added.
"Yes", the Time Lord nodded "sort of communal trance. Very rare, very complicated. I'm sure there's a dream giveaway, a tell, but my mind isn't working because this village is so dull! I'm slowing down, like you two have", the Doctor grumbled.
"Doctor…I don't…." Melanie managed to say before she collapsed. Luckily the Doctor was standing next to her so he was able to support her quickly before she hit the floor. The Time Lord carefully sat down on the ground, cradling her in his arms. He really, really hoped that this was the dream…or in his case a nightmare because it was physically killing him to see her in this state. Sickness was the one thing he couldn't protect her from and he hated that with a passion. She was his Bonded. It was his job to protect her. But now she was suffering and he didn't know what to do.
Then he heard that dreaded birdsong.
~TARDIS~
The Doctor stood at the console, Melanie by his side. A moment later Amy and Rory joined them. "It's really cold. Have you got any warm clothing?" Amy asked rubbing her arms.
"What does it matter if we're cold?" the Doctor said irritably. When Melanie shot him a look, he apologised to Amy "Sorry, sorry. There should be some stuff down there", he gestured to the steps "Have a look".
Amy turns and heads down the steps, Rory following after her, zipping up his hoodie at he did so. the Doctor shrugged off his coat and offered it to Melanie.
"I don't need it, I'm not cold", Melanie said.
"Elle, you're sick in that other place", the Doctor reminded her "I don't want you to get sick here too".
"And I appreciate the gesture but I don't feel cold, honestly", Melanie insisted. She winced when the Doctor put the back of his hand against her forehead as his skin was a tiny bit cold. The Time Lord frowned when he felt how warm she was. It felt like normal body temperature to him.
"How warm does this room feel to you?" he asked.
"Um…room temperature?" Melanie guessed "hey, maybe this is the dream giveaway you were looking for!" she added brightly.
"Yeah…maybe", the Doctor agreed half-heartedly.
"You don't seem happy about that", Melanie remarked with a frown.
"I am…it's just…" the Doctor sighed.
"What is it?" Melanie asked.
"The other place, you were very sick…and I don't want that to be the reality", the Doctor admitted "I can't lose you Elle. Not ever". Melanie hugged him.
"You won't. I'm your Bonded, Doctor. I'm with you always and forever" she drew back and pressed her lips against his "that's a promise", she whispered.
"I'm holding you to that", the Doctor told her with a smile before he kissed her.
Melanie watched at the Doctor cobbled together some sort of device out of random odds and ends. "What does it do?" she asked.
"It's a generator", the Doctor replied "a few winds of this should give us enough to power up the monitor so we can see what's going on".
"You want me to…?" Melanie nodded to the device.
"I know you'd be capable but…" Rory then made an appearance followed by Amy "Ah, Rory, wind" the Doctor then gave Amy the attached wire "Amy, could you attach this to the monitor, please".
"I was promised amazing worlds. Instead I get duff central heating and a weird, kitcheny wind-up device", Rory grumbled.
"It's a generator", the Doctor answered "Get winding".
"Why is the Dream Lord picking on you? Why us?" Rory questioned at he wound the hand held generator. The monitor screen beeps to life showing the four of them a starscape.
"Where are we?" Amy asked.
"We're in trouble", the Doctor stated.
"What is that?" Rory questioned eyeing the screen.
"A star. A cold star", the Doctor answered before rushing over to the doors and opens them, letting in a blinding light "That's why we're freezing. It's not a heating malfunction. We're drifting towards a cold sun. There's our deadly danger for this version of reality", the Doctor closed the doors and goes to a large monitor on the wall.
"So this must be the dream", Amy stated "There's no such thing as a cold star. Stars burn".
"That star is burning too", Melanie pointed out "It's just burning cold".
"Is that possible?" Rory asked.
"I can't know everything. Why does everybody expect me to, always?" the Doctor headed to the console area and sits down, dejectedly. Melanie sat down beside him.
"It's ok Doctor", she said gently taking his hand "we'll figure it out together". The Doctor smiled at her knowing she was trying to make him feel better.
"So does that mean this is the dream?" Rory spoke up.
"I don't know", the Doctor sighed "but there it is, and I'd say we've got about fourteen minutes until we crash into it. But that's not a problem".
"What is the problem?" Melanie asked.
"We'll have frozen to death by then", the Doctor answered.
"Then what'll we do?" Amy asked.
The Doctor stood up, bringing Melanie with him "Stay calm", he answered "Don't get sucked in to it, because this just might be the battle that we have to lose".
"Oh, this is so you, isn't it?" Rory remarked, folding his arms, giving the Time Lord an annoyed look.
"What?" the Doctor asked.
"A weird new star, fourteen minutes left to live and only one man to save the day. I just wanted a nice village and a family", Rory said crossly.
The Dream Lord appeared behind the Doctor and Melanie. "Oh dear, Doctor. Dissent in the ranks. There was an old doctor from Gallifrey, who ended up throwing his life away. He let down his friends and…." He trailed off when he heard bird song "Oh, no. We've run out of time. Don't spend too long there, or you'll catch your death here".
~Leadworth~
Melanie stood arms wrapped around herself, trying very hard from swaying on the spot while she watched the Doctor examined the piles of dust that were dotted all over the place.
"You see, this is the real one. I just feel it. Don't you feel it?" Rory said to Amy.
"I feel it both places", Amy answered.
"I feel it here. It's just so tranquil and relaxed. Nothing bad could ever happen here", Rory said.
"D-doctor", Melanie said shakily making the Time Lord look up at her. He immediately jumped to him feet.
"What's wrong?" he asked quickly "do you feel faint? Sick? do you need to sit down?"
"T-TARDIS. Please", Melanie answered. The Doctor nodded and carefully picked her up.
"Where are we going?" Amy asked as the Doctor walked quickly away with Melanie in his arms.
"The TARDIS", the Doctor replied.
"But what about the deadly danger?" Amy questioned.
"I'll deal with it after I get my Bonded back to the TARDIS", the Doctor answered sharply. He hadn't gone very far when he saw several of the elderly line up along the path, facing the park.
Suddenly the Dream Lord appeared between the old people and the Doctor, Rory and Amy. "Hello, peasants", he said greeting the old people cheerfully "What's this, attack of the old people?" he remarked "Oh, that's ridiculous. This has got to be the dream, hasn't it? What do you think, Amy?" the Dream Lord asked "Let's all jump under a bus and wake up in the TARDIS. You first!"
"Leave her alone!" the Doctor ordered.
"Oh, do that again. I love it when he does that. Tall dark hero", the Dream Lord mocked "though it's funny how you're not much of a hero to your Bonded are you Doctor? I mean…if you'd taken her with you, that monster would never have gotten his hands on her. Your previous self would never have left her behind and if he did for any reason…he would've hunted that man down and shown him why he's called the Oncoming Storm". The Dream Lord turned back to Amy "Now…how about that bus?"
"Just leave her alone", Rory spoke up trying to match the Doctor's tone.
"Yes, you're not quite so impressive", the Dream Lord scoffed. He glanced at the ginger "but I know where your heart lies, don't I, Amy Pond?"
"Shut up!", Amy snapped "Just shut up and leave me alone".
"But listen, you're in there", the Dream Lord continued smirking at how uncomfortable Amy looked "Loves a redhead, the Doctor. Though I suppose he favours brunette now given who his Bonded is…"
"Drop it", the Doctor interrupted "Drop all of it. I know who you are".
"Course you don't", the Dream Lord countered.
"Course I do. No idea how you can be here, but there's only one person in the universe who hates me as much as you do", the Doctor said. It took him a while to figure it out but it finally made sense.
"Never mind me!" the Dream Lord said "Maybe you should worry about them". He then vanished. The old people open their mouths to reveal an eye.
"There is an eye in their mouths!" Amy exclaimed. Shifting Melanie slightly in his arms, the Doctor got out his sonic and used it.
"There's a whole creature inside all of them", he stated "They've been there for years, living and waiting".
Rory screwed his face up "That is disgusting. They're not going to be peeping out of anywhere else, are they?" he asked hoping that wasn't the case. Mrs Poggit leans forward and shoots a green mist from her mouth. The Doctor quickly stepped back not wanting Melanie, who was still in his arms, to get hit by it. Rory pulled Amy back to keep her safe too.
"Run!" the Doctor shouted at Amy and Rory as he tightened his arms around Melanie. The trio turned and took off.
The Doctor stumbled down the road, trying to fight off the urge to fall into a slumber as the birdsong echoed around him. His grip tightened on Melanie, desperate not to drop her as she was already unconscious. He really hoped that Amy and Rory were ok as they were forced to separate when a second group of elderly had joined the first.
The Time Lord practically fell into a butchers shop shoving the door shut with his shoulder and somehow managing to lock it even with Melanie in his arms. Behind the counter was the Dream Lord who was smirking at the Doctor.
"Oh, I love a good butcher's, don't you?" the Dream Lord remarked "We've got to use these places or they'll shut down. Oh, but you're probably a vegetarian, aren't you, you big flop-haired wuss".
"Oh, pipe down. I'm busy", the Doctor snapped.
"Maybe you need a little sleep", the Dream Lord commented. The bird song gets louder and the Doctor slips to the floor, fighting to stay awake. "Oh, wait a moment. If you fall asleep here, several dozen angry pensioners will destroy you with their horrible eye things" the Doctor struggled to his feet, jostling Melanie but she didn't stir. The Time Lord stumbled down the hall behind the counter as the elderly managed to get into the shop.
"Yes, we've got lots at 'steak' here this week", the Dream Lord said with a smirk "Lots at steak, get it?" the Doctor clenched his jaw and forced himself to walk faster. He was not going to let his Bonded be harmed by those 'elderly people'. "Are these jokes wasted on you?"
The Doctor ignored him and shouldered open another door. He set Melanie down against the wall and slammed the door shut, locking it with his sonic. Not a brief second later, he fell to the floor, fast asleep.
~TARDIS~
The Doctor woke up on the glass floor with something warm curled up against him. It was Melanie. He didn't move. He wanted to savour the warmth she was giving off. This had been one of the things that had helped him figure out who the Dream Lord was.
"How cold is it?" Melanie mumbled to the Doctor, having woken up to see him practically snuggled up against her.
"Very", the Doctor replied. Melanie got to her feet earning a pout from the Doctor which the brunette didn't see. She went over to Amy who was clutching the blanket tightly around herself. Melanie put an arm around her making the ginger jump at how warm she was.
"How are you warm?" Amy asked. It wasn't like she was complaining. She was very grateful for it as the blanket wasn't doing too much to keep the cold at bay.
"I have no idea", Melanie replied rubbing Amy's arm.
"That's it!" Rory blurted out "This has to be the dream because out Elle isn't cold and…burning ice? Come on".
"I think he could be right", Amy agreed.
"No, no, no. Ice can burn", the Doctor said "Sofas can read. It's a big universe. We have to agree which battle to lose. All of us, now".
"Okay, which world do you think is real?" Amy asked.
"This one", the Doctor answered quickly.
"No, the other one", Rory argued "Elle isn't cold so unless she's running a temperature…she should be feeling the cold just like the rest of us".
"Elle is perfectly healthy here", the Doctor told him.
"So this has to be dream", Rory insisted.
"No, the other one has to be the dream", the Doctor argued.
"Why?" Rory asked.
"Because Elle is sick!" the Doctor said loudly "and any reality where my Bonded is sick has to be the dream or in my case, a nightmare!"
Melanie moved over to the Doctor and hugged him. "Whichever is the real one, we'll figure it out together. Arguing isn't helping the situation", she said.
"You're right Elle", the Doctor agreed. He then checked his watch "if we're going to figure it out, we better do it quick because we're running out of time", he added.
"If only we could split up or something", Melanie mused aloud "two of us in one reality, two in the other".
"That's not a bad idea Elle", the Doctor remarked "it would give us an active presence in both worlds, but the Dream Lord keeps switching us between them. Why? Why? what's the logic?"
"Good idea, veggie", the Dream Lord said popping up right by the Doctor and Melanie. Immediately the Time Lord put his Bonded protectively behind him. "Let's divide you four up, so I can have a little chat with the ladies. Maybe I'll keep your Bonded but I'll give you Amy. So you can have both her and Pointy Nose to yourself for all eternity, should you manage to clamber aboard some sort of reality".
Bird song starts up. "Can you hear that?" Rory asked Amy.
"What? No", Amy answered worried about being stuck with the Dream Lord.
"Elle, it's going to be ok", the Doctor assured her trying to fight off the song for as long as he could "I'll be back for you, I promise". He then collapsed onto the floor.
The Dream Lord smiled at the women. "We're going to have fun, aren't we?"
Melanie glanced at Amy and seeing her worried expression, resolved to stay strong, no matter what happened. She watched as the Dream Lord approached Amy "Poor Amy. He always leaves you, doesn't he, alone in the dark. Never apologises", he mocked.
"He doesn't have to", Amy said.
"That's good, because he never will", the Dream Lord glanced at Melanie "and some Bonded he is. He's left you with me".
"Not through his own choice", Melanie replied calmly "and he'll be back. He promised".
"You know, he made similar promise to Amy", the Dream Lord said "He promised her he'd be 5 minutes. He well and truly broke that one didn't he? But I suppose since you're his Bonded, he'll somehow manage to keep that promise".
"Who are you, and what do you want?" Amy suddenly demanded, starting to get annoyed with the Dream Lord "The Doctor knows you, but he's not telling me who you are. And he always does. Takes him a while sometimes, but he tells me. So you're something different".
"Oh, is that who you think you are? The one he trusts?" the Dream Lord asked raising his eyebrows.
"Actually, yes", Amy replied. Melanie looked at the ginger wondering if she realised that she was still present in the room.
"The only girl in the universe to whom the Doctor tells everything?" the Dream Lord questioned casting a glance at Melanie.
"Yes", Amy answered.
"Well that's a big lie right there", the Dream Lord said "She is the Doctor's Bonded", he stated pointing to Melanie "which you seemed to conveniently have forgotten was even here" Amy looked at the brunette with an apologetic look on her face "Elle is the one girl in the universe he'd tell everything to. She is the one he trusts the most, not you Amy Pond".
"Ok, you've made your point", Melanie spoke up seeing how the words were affecting Amy.
"Have I made my point Amy?" the Dream Lord asked "because if I have then all you've got left to do is pick a world. Choose a reality and this nightmare will be over".
Bird song started up and Amy fell to the glass floor, fast asleep leaving Melanie alone with the Dream Lord. "Why didn't you send me to the other reality with her?" she asked.
"Because in this one you're healthy, the other you're not", the Dream Lord answered.
"Yeah, well if the other reality is the dream then it's your fault I'm sick", Melanie shot back folding her arms. A flicker of regret passed over the Dream Lord's face. But as it passed so quickly Melanie couldn't be sure if that's what she actually saw or if she just imagined it. "Ok, answer me this: why don't I feel cold here?"
"Maybe you're running a temperature", the Dream Lord answered.
Melanie shook her head "the Doctor checked. I'm fine", she said "so maybe this is the dream". The Dream Lord didn't answer. He didn't even react. "If this is the dream, that raises another point. I'm the only one who is warm. You're the Dream Lord. You create dreams. So why make me the only one who doesn't fee l the cold? And…you're nice to me. Why?"
"Believe it or not Elle, I like you", the Dream Lord answered "and because I do, I have a little something just for you".
The bird song started up for the umpteenth time, Melanie quickly succumbing to it.
"Mummy! Mummy wake up!" a little boy shouted. Melanie opened her eyes to see a young boy with ginger hair was sitting there with his small hands on her shoulder. "Finally!" he huffed "I thought you were going to sleep all day".
The bedroom door opened and the Doctor walked in carrying a girl of about 4 years old with wavy brown hair. "Orion, I thought I told you to wait while I got your sister before you woke up mummy", the Doctor said in a mock stern tone.
"Sorry daddy", Orion said apologetically "I just want to give mummy her present".
"That's alright sweetheart", Melanie said, sitting up properly "mummy is awake now and daddy is here with your sister. You can give me the present, if you like".
Orion glanced at his father who nodded. The boy turned back to Melanie and held out a badly wrapped present. The brunette took it from him and unwrapped it. She smiled at the handmade pot that was inside the box. "Did you make this Orion?" Melanie asked the boy.
Orion nodded "yep! Daddy helped me paint it", he said.
"It's amazing. I love it", Melanie said and lightly ruffled his hair. Orion quickly smoothed it down but he had a pleased smile on his little face.
"Amy has something for you as well", the Doctor spoke up "isn't that right?" he asked, addressing the girl in his arms. She nodded. The Doctor walked forward and carefully deposited Amy into Melanie's open arms.
"Is this for me honey?" Melanie asked her daughter, noticing the envelope clutched in her hands. The girl nodded again. Melanie took it from her, opened the envelope and took out a sheet of paper. On it were four stick figures. Two females and two males. It was very clear to Melanie that it was a family picture that Amy had drawn. There were also names under the figures in wobbly handwriting which was a pretty big clue. "I love it Amy, thank you", Melanie said dropping a kiss on top of her head.
"I think we may have a little artist in the family", the Doctor remarked looking lovingly at his wife holding his daughter.
"Yeah, I think we have", Melanie agreed smiling as Amy snuggled closer.
"And I've got a little something for you later", the Doctor said giving her a look, making a faint blush appear on Melanie's face. It was rather strange for him to give her such a suggestive look, as the Doctor had never looked at her like that before. Melanie had to admit…she kinda liked it. "Right! Who wants to help me make mummy some breakfast?" the Doctor asked, his tone back to its normal childlike nature.
"Me!" both Amy and Orion cheered. Melanie watched as they both scrambled off the bed, charging after the Doctor who was running out of the room like the mad man he was. A smile worked its way onto her lips. Even though she knew this was a dream, she couldn't help but feel happy. She had a house, a husband and two wonderful children…to bad it wasn't real.
"So do you like it then?" the Dream Lord asked as he popped up in the room.
"I shouldn't because I know it's not real but yeah, I do like it. I like it a lot", Melanie answered honestly. She slipped out of bed.
"This is the life you deserve. A home…a family", the Dream Lord said "a life full of fun, laughter and happiness".
"You never know, I might get that one day", Melanie said "only time will tell".
"Yes, only time will tell" the Dream Lord looked around the room "it's too bad I can't give you more time here. Amy has made her choice. So I will bid you farewell" he smiled at her. Melanie heard the bird song start up once more "it was nice to meet you Elle. The Doctor has no idea how lucky he is. Do me a favour and remind him every once in a while?" Melanie nodded slowly, her eyes drifting shut. The Dream Lord watched as she fell to the carpeted floor before he vanished completely.
Melanie sat up on her bed, coming face to face with a relieved Doctor. "Thank god you're awake. I was starting to get worried", he said.
"I'm in my room", she stated "Does that mean it's over?"
The Doctor nodded "Yes, it is. Neither of those worlds were real. The Dream Lord was giving us a choice between two dreams", he said.
Melanie shook her head "of course they were", she muttered "So what exactly was the Dream Lord?"
"He was me", the Doctor answered.
"How? He wasn't exactly nice to you", Melanie reminded him.
"That's because it was the darkest parts of me", the Doctor replied "but of course you being my Bonded, even that side of me still cared about you".
"And how did that dark part of you become the Dream Lord?" Melanie questioned.
"Psychic pollen from the candle meadows of Karass don Slava. It fell in the time rotor, heated up and induced a dream state for all of us", the Doctor explained.
"But why did it only target you? why didn't it go after me or Amy or Rory?" Melanie asked.
"Elle there isn't a shred of darkness in you, so it would've starved to death instantly. Same for Amy and Rory", the Doctor told her.
"So are they ok? Amy and Rory, I mean"
"They're fine", the Doctor replied.
"What about you? Are you ok?" Melanie asked watching his carefully for his response.
"I'm fine, just glad it's over", the Doctor said honestly.
"The Dream Lord said something to me before I fell asleep", Melanie said after a moment of sitting there in silence.
"What did he say?" the Doctor asked. Melanie leant forward and kissed him softly.
"He told me to remind you how lucky you are that you have me", she said when she pulled back.
"If that's the way you're going to remind me then I wouldn't mind you reminding me often", the Doctor said gently touching her face. Melanie smiled at him.
"Would you like another reminder?" she asked.
"Yes please", the Doctor breathed. Melanie pressed her lips against his again. She let out a muffled noise of surprise when the Doctor tugged her onto his lap. As the kiss continued, the Doctor decided to be a little bolder by lightly nudging his tongue against her lips. Melanie parted them slightly, allowing his tongue entrance to her mouth. His Bonded let out a soft moan as his tongue lightly caressed hers. The Doctor closed his eyes, feeling the warmth flood over him as he kissed her. He loved this feeling. He loved HER. His Melanie. His Bonded.
Eventually they parted, resting their foreheads together. "I love you Elle", he murmured. His twin hearts soared when Melanie said in the softest tone imaginable
"I love you too"