Chapter 19- Meeting For The First Time

"Doctor, River was brainwashed to kill you, right?" Rory asked as he approached his friend. The whole situation was racing through his head and he was simply trying to understand it.

"Well, she did kill me, and then she used her remaining lives to bring me back," the Doctor answered. He knew the Pond's were having a tough time letting go of their daughter. He was trying his best to reassure them that everything would be all right. After all, they had seen her in her future and she was magnificent. "As first dates go, I'd say that was mixed signals."

Rory was still scared for his daughter adding, "But… that stuff that they put in her head, is that gone now? The River that we know in the future, she is in prison for murder."

"Whose murder?" Amy asked unsure if her mind was willing to even connect the events that she was aware of.

The Doctor simply stared at the couple for a few seconds knowing the answer already. Instead of responding, he simply smiled and ran around the console flipping a few switches. They were not ready to hear what he knew, and that would have to be enough.

Amy smiled a little hoping that the Doctor's reticence to answer was a sign of good news, "Will we see her again?"

"Oh, she'll come looking for us," The Doctor answered as he moved to the upper level.

"Yeah, but how? How do people even look for you?" Amy asked as she tried to remember all the ways that River had contacted the Doctor in the past.

"Oh Pond," the Doctor said turning around to face Amy, "Haven't you figured that one out yet?" The Doctor quickly turned and ran down the hallway deeper into the TARDIS on some unknown mission.

"Well, that answers that question," Rory said sarcastically to his wife.

Amy leaned against the railing trying to sort out her feelings regarding the recent events. After everything they had just been through, this was the first time they had to really reflect on what they had learned. She wasn't sure if she should happy that Mels was their daughter or upset; let alone what her husband was going through.

"Well, you were certainly the action hero back there," Amy smiled remembering the lengths he had gone to to protect their daughter.

"You were no slouch either," Rory responded. He reached for Amy's outstretched hand but grimaced just a bit when she took hold of him. The pain was slight, but was still there.

"How's it doing?" Amy said realizing that his hand must be hurt having punched Hitler and the German soldier. She pulled Rory a bit closer inspecting his hand making sure it was fine.

"It's just a bit sore. But I think I have started an unhealthy habit of punching people when they upset me. Conflict resolution," Rory joked causing Amy to laugh.

"Remember when you punched Travis? You couldn't close your fist the rest of the day," Amy reminisced.

"How could I forget?" Rory said as he leaned on the railing next to his wife. "Not sure if it's a good thing that it doesn't bother me anymore."

"Not sure if it's a good thing that it does bother me," Amy said smiling. Rory looked over at his wife a bit concerned until he saw her smile. "Just in a very different way," she said as she leaned over and gave Rory a kiss.

"I guess I can live with that," Rory answered. He put his arm around Amy as she rested her head on his shoulder.

"So how are you doing?" Amy asked simply staring at the center console.

"I told you Amy, my hand is fine. I don't even need ice this time." he responded kissing the side of her head.

"No, I mean about Melody."

Rory paused, unsure of what to tell her, "I honestly don't know."

"This means we don't get our baby back, doesn't it?" Amy asked.

"I think it does," Rory told her. They had spent so long waiting for the Doctor to return with news of their daughter, that now he was at a loss. He and Amy never even entertained the option that they wouldn't get their baby back. He guessed they hadn't really thought it through. Now that they were faced with the truth, Rory felt a bit useless. "Mels was our daughter the whole time. I don't think we can change that. We got to grow up with her, but not raise her. The Zuckers were good parents."

"They were," Amy responded smiling at the memories. "So how does this work? When do you think we will get to see her again?"

"I don't know Amy," Rory answered trying to think of something he could actually do. He quickly remembered River's words to them after Demon's Run. "But maybe sooner then we expected," Rory quickly stood up as the Doctor returned to the console room.

"All right you two, ready to move on?" The Doctor started. "I feel we have been stationary long enough. Ooh idea, how about Claston 6? The planet rotates so quickly, if you jump too high, the gravitational pull can't hold on to you. Makes a game of hopscotch nearly impossible."

"I actually have an idea Doctor."

"Rory with a location," the Doctor exclaimed, "All right where is it this time?"

"I was thinking of Stormcage," Rory said. Amy looked to her husband knowing that River would be there. She had told them they could speak after the Doctor found her again.

"Yeah, Stormcage." Amy added taking hold of Rory's hand.

"All right then, Stormcage it is," the Doctor said smiling. He had a hunch that his friends would need a bit more closure. He remembered what it was like to be a parent all those centuries ago. It was tough to move forward, and they would need to hear it from her. He ran to the main console where he began setting the coordinates. At the throw of a lever the TARDIS sprung into action as they felt the familiar rumble of a traveling time machine.

When the TARDIS had landed, the Doctor gestured to the doors. "Should be a post Demon's Run River waiting for you out there. Remember, spoilers. No information unless she already knows it." Amy and Rory looked at each other before heading out the doors, both wishing they knew what they would say to their daughter.

"Amy, Rory, what a pleasant surprise. A new adventure beginning I suppose?" River said greeting them. They just stood there staring at their daughter. The look on their faces scared her a bit. "What is it? What's wrong, is it the Doctor? Where are we?" she asked grabbing her blue book filled with spoilers.

"The Doctors fine," Amy told her daughter. She took a step towards the cell and placed her hand on River's, "Rory just hit Hitler."

"Hitler?" River whispered as she started flipping through pages. Just as suddenly, she stopped as she looked up from her book. "Oh. Okay then, so you know," she said placing the diary down as a smile formed on her face.

"We had to see you," Amy reached through the bars to hold her hand. "Doctor, we need you to open the cell."

"Rightio," said the Doctor coming out of the TARDIS. "Oh ignore that, that was rubbish." The Doctor soniced the door to Rivers cell. "Hello River."

"Hello sweetie."

"Not now Doctor, we need time alone with our daughter."

The Doctor nodded as Amy grabbed hold of River. This was different than the last time. She wasn't getting ready to run away from her again, "Hello Mels."

"Yes Mother, it's me."

Rory watched his wife and daughter hold each other. What should have been a happy moment instead filled Rory with bitterness. He was upset at how he had failed his family. It was because of him that River was turned into a weapon. He didn't save them in time. In his anger, Rory suddenly punched the concrete wall next to River's cell.

Rory," the Doctor cried out. Amy quickly turned around and saw the blood on her husband's hand.

"Oh Rory, what did you do?"

"No, it's fine," Rory said as he held his wrist trying to stabilize his hand. The Doctor began scanning his hand with the sonic, "it's just a bit broken."

"I'll be right back, I have something that will fix that right up," the Doctor said disappearing into the TARDIS.

Father, you are going to scare Mum if you carry on like that."

"Don't call me that," Rory said staring at his bloody fist. "I have done nothing to be called that."

"Rory, don't be stupid. What are you talking about?" Amy asked him.

"What have I done then?" Rory was accusing himself; "I wasn't able to rescue you at Demons Run."

"Father," River said as she sat down on her bed in her cell. She gestured for her parents to take a seat across from her. Rory initially didn't want to move, but Amy was able to get him to sit down. River smiled at the connection they had. She had been witness to it almost her whole life.

"Do you remember that time in year 7 when you saw me punch my locker?" Rory looked up to his daughter remembering the event.

"The Head Teacher was threatening to expel me and I was just going to be done with it all. I was never into the whole school thing anyways and was just going to run away. You stopped me though. The way you took the time to calm me down, I was so upset. Then you just held me."

"How do I not know this?" Amy asked thinking she knew their entire history together.

"I asked Rory not to tell you," River said still feeling a bit ashamed. "I didn't want you to think I was a quitter. That was the moment though, the moment I knew you were my Father."

"What do you mean?" Amy asked

"I was only ever told who my mother was. I knew about you Amy, but I didn't know who my father was. When I decided to find you as a child, I had never given him much thought. So when I finally made it to Leadworth and became your friend, I instantly disliked Rory."

"But River, you two were friends. We hung out together all the time,"

Rory chuckled lightly, "I knew you didn't like me. And I thought it was just my imagination this whole time."

"I can't believe you two had this whole secret thing going on that I had no idea about," Amy said shocked.

River smiled, "Well, he was the boy who spent nearly everyday with my mother. The more you spent time with him, the less you could with me. Of course I didn't like him. That all changed that one day though." River watched as Amy took hold of Rory's other hand. "When you held me, I knew there was no one else who could be my Father. No one else I wanted to be my Father." Amy looked over to Rory, her heart swelling with pride.

Rory stood up and took a step towards his daughter. "Come here River," he said as he and River embraced.

"Here you go Rory," the Doctor said as he returned with what looked like a mechanical glove. "This should relieve some of the pain and help your bones heal faster."

"Thanks Doctor," Rory said as he carefully put it on.

The family sat back down and began sharing stories that suddenly had new meaning to them; how they first met, their first school dance, and many others. Amy was particularly shocked when she realized she was with her daughter when she took the pregnancy test.

"This is just so strange," Amy remarked as they all started laughing.

"All right you two, ready to go?" the Doctor was asking, "The guards will be around any minute."

"All right then," Amy said, "We love you Melody Pond." Rory quickly coughed behind her. "Fine, fine. We love you Melody Williams," Amy said as she glanced at her husband.

"Thank you. It's bad enough the Doctor does it you know."

"River smiled, "I love you two also."

They shared a family hug before the Doctor closed the cell door and headed back to the TARDIS. Amy and Rory took one final look at their daughter before heading into the blue box and closing the door.

"Does it still hurt?" Amy asked lifting Rory's hand to inspect it.

"It feels much better actually," he said opening and closing his hand a couple times. "I think it's almost fixed," he said as Amy gave his hand a kiss.

"Thank you Rory."

Even though they were leaving their daughter once again, they began to feel better. They had seen how involved they actually were in their daughter's life. While it wasn't how they planned to raise their first child, it would have to do. River had become a daughter that they couldn't be prouder of. She had saved both of their lives on several occasions. As the TARDIS began to hum with it moving to a new location, Amy and Rory simply held each other.

A/N: I hope everyone had a great holiday. Thanks for the new readers and reviews. I am glad so many people are enjoying the story.

I always understood why Rory and Amy couldn't be a part of their daughters life, but I still wanted a bit more. Parents wouldn't so easily just leave their children behind. So I enjoyed giving them a moment together where they could just reminisce and realize how large of an impact they actually had on Melody. With this moment, I feel it becomes easier for them to "wait until next time" to see River. At the same time, I needed Rory to react much stronger because really it's here that he begins to just need a break as shown in the series.

I hope you enjoy!