Chapter 18- Dark Times

Ever since leaving the island with the gangers, Rory could tell something was off about his wife. She had been oddly quiet, which was always an alarming sign for him. "All right, what's wrong," he asked while the Doctor was out dropping Jimmy off to see his son.

Amy looked over to Rory, "I'm just upset at myself."

"I can tell that, about what?"

"Everything that just happened. I can't believe I didn't trust the Doctor about his double. After all that we've been through together, I should have known better."

"You can't blame yourself Amy," Rory said as he hugged her. "It's always tough when the Doctor doesn't explain anything."

"But he never explains anything Rory. I should have just trusted him."

"The gangers made everyone uneasy though," Rory said trying to comfort Amy.

"Not you," Amy said as she looked her husband in the eyes. "You saw someone who needed help and didn't hesitate."

"Oh, I most certainly hesitated. It's just that I'm a nurse; I am kind of trained to help people. Besides, it nearly got everyone killed," Rory said a bit sheepishly.

"Either way, you still helped her. That's what I love about you," she said as she leaned in for a quick kiss.

They parted as Amy turned back to her husband, "You know I was a bit jealous right? Bet you loved that."

"Maybe a little," Rory said smiling. "It was such a new experience for me I wasn't sure what to do. It's usually the other way around isn't it. Any tips for me?"

"Well Rory, you should get used to it, you're a very attractive man." Amy stepped closer to Rory grabbing hold of his jacket, "Just don't go getting any ideas."

Rory smiled, "You know you're the only girl for me." Rory said pulling his wife into another hug as she laughed.

"Well of course I am. I just prefer it when you protect me."

"Then next adventure I promise to keep you safe."

"That's more like it."

"Given what we learned, I'll be as humane as I can, but I need to do this and you need to stand away," the Doctor ordered Rory.

All Rory could think of was how afraid he was. The Doctor had said that Amy had been a flesh avatar but that didn't make any sense. He and Amy looked at each other as he didn't know what to do. The woman in his arms had to be Amy, but he also trusted the Doctor. Turning back towards the man in the bow tie, he knew that the Doctor would never harm his wife.

Rory clenched his jaw as he let go of Amy and took a step back.

"No," Amy pleaded as he continued to step away. "No," was all she could say as Rory let go of her hand. The pain in her eyes stabbed him through his heart, but he maintained his distance.

"Doctor, I am frightened," she said as she turned back to her friend. "I'm properly, properly scared."

"Don't be, hold on," the Doctor said as he moved closer to her. "We're coming for you, I swear. Whatever happens, however hard, however far, we will find you," the Doctor continued as he reached up to hold Amy's face.

Amy grabbed a hold of the Doctor's hand, "I'm right here."

"No, you're not, you haven't been here for a long, long time," the Doctor said as he took a step back pulling out his sonic screwdriver.

Rory watched on in horror unsure of what he should be doing. He wanted to protect his wife, but the Doctor seemed so sure.

"No," was all Amy could say as the Doctor activated his sonic. Within seconds, Rory watched his wife melt right in front of him. He just stood there staring at the puddle that had once been Amy. The Doctor quickly put his sonic away and raced to the TARDIS console pulling several levers.

"Doctor?" Rory managed to get out slowly. He forced himself towards the console, "What just happened?"

"I'm sorry Rory," the Doctor said not paying attention to him. "But Amy was a flesh avatar. You saw it yourself."

Rory turned to look at the puddle trying to piece together what had just happened, "You said she hadn't really been here for a while. How long? How long have you known?" Rory demanded.

"I can't right now Rory, I have to concentrate," he said staring at his screen while flicking a few switches.

Rory quickly took the Doctor by the collar and shoved him into the console. "What do you mean you bloody well can't?"

"Rory, you need to let me go. I know you're angry, but I am tracking the signal that they were transmitting to the flesh. I need to do it now before we lose the transmission," the Doctor said calmly.

Rory let go of him ashamed that he had lost control. He turned and leaned on the railing for support feeling like he was going to be sick. He remembered this feeling from before. It was the same one he had when he shot Amy as a Centurion. Now he had failed Amy once again. If he had realized earlier that she was flesh, maybe they could have been looking this whole time. How could he not realize it wasn't her? He saw the puddle again and tightened his grip. This was not the time to fall apart. Amy needed him.

"I'm sorry Doctor, I just lost control."

"I understand Rory. I want her back too. I promise you though. We will find her. Nothing will stop us." Rory watched him as he stared at the screen spinning a few dials.

"I know. Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Not at the moment," he said. The Doctor flipped a few more switches, "AHA! Thought you could hide from me." He quickly moved to a different part of the console pulling several levers starting the TARDIS engines.

"What is it? Do you know where she is?" Rory asked as he felt the rumble of the time machine.

"Almost. I have a time and a quadrant. That's the best I can do," the Doctor told him a little put out. But he kept working on something on his monitor.

"So what do we do now? How do we find Amy," Rory said almost pleading.

"Give me a minute Rory, this quadrant is fairly large. We are going to need some more information."

Rory stood there watching the Doctor work, "You said she was pregnant, didn't you?" The Doctor paused at this turning to Rory. "That means they have my child too. Doesn't it?" Rory asked.

The Doctor took a step towards Rory and placed his hands on his shoulders for support, "Yes it does."

"Let's find them then. Whatever it takes."

"Agreed, the Doctor said as he snapped his fingers and spun back to the center console, "I have a few ideas on where to start too."

Amy watched as the TARDIS disappeared, tears in her eyes. He had just left them. The Doctor had never simply abandoned them before. She began to fill with anger. Amy turned to River, "Where is he going? What did you tell him?"

"Amy, you have to stay calm," River said.

Advancing on the woman, Amy picked up one of the soldiers guns and pointed it at River, "Tell me what you told the Doctor."

"Amy, no." Rory said a bit frantic. He was hurt after just losing their baby, but Amy threatening to kill was too far for him. "Stop it!" he called trying to get his wife to back down. He knew she would regret her actions if she followed through with them.

"It's okay Rory. She's fine. She's good." River said just as calmly as ever. As the couple moved closer River continued to explain, "It's the TARDIS translation matrix, it takes a while to kick in with the written word. You have to concentrate."

Amy glanced down at the Doctors crib staring at the circles carved into the side. Nothing was happening which was making her even more frustrated. She pointed the gun at River again unsure of how far she would go. All she knew was that she needed Melody back.

"I still can't read it," Amy said as Rory reached for the gun. His touch snapped her out of her anger as he slowly pulled the gun away.

"It's because it's Gallifreyan, and doesn't translate," River simply continued as if Amy didn't just threaten to shoot her. She reached into the crib picking up a piece of fabric and handing it to Amy, "But this will. It's your daughter's name, in the language of the forest."

"I know my daughter's name," Amy said slightly insulted.

"Except they don't have a word for 'Pond' because the only water in the forest is the river. The Doctor will find your daughter, and he will care for her, whatever it takes. And I know that."

Amy and Rory were unsure of what she was telling them as they looked at the cloth. Slowly the words became readable as the name River Song appeared. They looked up at the woman with the same name, "It's me. I'm Melody. I'm your daughter.

Amy and Rory stood there stunned at the revelation, unsure of what to believe. "Melody? Amy asked slowly reaching out to River. The Doctor must have believed her, that is why he left.

"Yes Amy," River said as she took hold of her mother's hand. As they touched, Amy was unsure of how to react. The woman she had known all this time was her daughter.

Rory began to shake his head in disbelief, "How… how is this possible?" Amy turned to Rory grabbing his hand for support. She needed her husband right now.

"It's a long story Rory," was all River could say. There was so much more she wanted to tell them but knew they weren't far enough yet. Amy suddenly turned to River and gave her a desperate hug.

"You are Melody, aren't you," Amy said as she began to cry. At the sight, Rory slowly moved in to hold his family still unsure of what to think.

River pulled them both into a tighter hug as she reached around and activated her vortex manipulator. Amy and Rory quickly stumbled a bit as the teleport finished. Quickly looking around they saw they were back on Earth. River took a few steps back while her parents realized where they were.

"What's going on?" Amy asked.

"I'm sorry Amy, but I can't explain. Spoilers."

"No, no, you can't just say that and expect us to be okay," Rory said stepping forward.

River took another step backwards in response to Rory's movements, "I know, but you need to trust me a little longer. You're almost there I swear to you. When the Doctor finds me again, then we can talk. I promise."

"So I lose my daughter twice in one day then. That's your solution?" Amy asked. She tried to move towards River but her feet seemed stuck to the ground.

"It's the only one available. You have questions I simply cannot answer yet," River said apologetically.

"River you can't!" Rory yelled.

"Father, take care of Mother. I love you," River said as she hit her vortex manipulator again and disappeared. Rory just stood there staring, having no idea how to process what had just happened.

"Rory," Amy called. He turned around to see his wife reaching for him. He grabbed her and they held each other. "What do we do now?"

Rory didn't have any answers. Just a few hours ago he had everything. They had managed to rescue Amy and save his daughter. Then it had all fallen apart within minutes. Now he didn't know what had happened to his daughter, and the Doctor had abandoned them. There was nothing they could do but be there for each other.

As they stood there, Rory realized that River had taken them to their home in Leadworth, "I think we should go inside now. I'll make some tea, then we can figure out what's next."

"You're probably right. We aren't going to do any good out here just standing around," Amy said trying to make a joke to calm herself down, "Especially with you dressed like that."

Rory laughed as he had forgotten he was still dressed in his Roman outfit, "And with you in that night-dress, we are going to start the area talking."

They smiled at each other for the bit of levity as they headed into their home. Amy collapsed on to their couch as Rory headed directly into the kitchen. As he put the teapot on the stove he began to become impatient for the water to boil. He decided to cook some food as he started rummaging through their cabinets. As he searched for a meal that did not exist, he began to get more upset as he began closing the cabinet doors with increasing force.

Amy heard the commotion that Rory was making in the kitchen and got up to investigate. She saw her husband moving around the kitchen a bit frantically. Amy knew that he was desperately trying to not think of their daughter.

She removed the kettle from the stove and took hold of Rory's shoulder forcing him to stop moving, "It's okay Rory."

"I'm sorry, I just…" Rory began but didn't know what to say.

I know. This can wait though," Amy said as Rory turned to face her. "Right now, I just need you hear with me."

"I want to hold our baby Amy."

"I know, I want her back too," she said as they held each other again.

"I'm not sure there is anything we can do right now. We have to wait for the Doctor to find her," Rory said trying to sound confident that it was their only course of action.

"Why can't we be with him?"

"I don't know. I guess he just needs to search alone," Rory told her hoping what he was saying was the truth. "We do really need to eat something though."

"I know. We can go out a bit later. Can we just hold each other for now?

"Of course."

A/N: Thank you everyone for the follows and reviews. I love reading them and knowing people are enjoying the story.

Another one of the three section stories. Didn't label the episodes because they tied in directly to the scenes, so I felt it was obvious. I was always sad we never saw Rory's reaction to Amy melting. Of course Amy is the more important reaction so the show did what it had to do. I am just glad I got to explore that a bit. The same goes with their reaction to finding out the truth about River. I also enjoyed starting the chapter with the bit regarding the jealousy. Just a bit of fun before getting into the drama.

Hope you enjoy!