Two Worlds, One Family
A/N: This chapter is where the story starts to get a little more exciting!
Chapter 10:
On board the TARDIS, Amy and Rory felt their stomachs lurch into their chests at the thought of outrunning an enemy. Usually, the Doctor could confront their foe and defeat them all in one setting, but this time it was different; it meant being followed through the whole of time and space and would not let up until they relinquished the child they were after.
Despite their fears and anxiety, the married couple continued to work with Alex in hopes of teaching him more that would make it easier for him to comprehend the world around him. Knowing what Helen had accomplished in her lifetime inspired Amy to work every day with Alex. The Doctor had opted to "remain in the shadows" by not landing anywhere conspicuous and remain in deep space.
After lunch one day, the Doctor found Amy and Alex in the library again, Amy sitting cross-legged with the boy on her lap, her chin resting on his head as they 'read' a braille book together. Her gaze went to him as he came in.
"Oh Doctor!" She exclaimed happily, "I think I found the breakthrough word that Anne told me to look for. Check this out!" She turned Alex around and the child pointed to her and signed M-O-T-H-E-R "That's not all, he can sign 'FATHER' too!" She hugged the boy, "That had to be it, it was the memory of his mum and dad that helped him understand."
The Doctor beamed, "That's wonderful, Amy!" He clapped his hands together. "Amy, have you given any thought of being Alex's adoptive parents?"
At this, Amy raised her head and looked sadly at him, "Of course! I would love to, Doctor. But Rory-" she paused, "I don't really know how he feels about it. I think he's starting to see him as his son too. I dunno if he's just pretending to make me happy, or if he really is. I don't want to force Rory into something he doesn't feel he should do because of me. " She finished softly.
"Then-" The Doctor gestured to the library doors, "I suggest you talk to your husband, because I need to take you to the Shadow Proclamation in order to formally request the adoption. Rory is in the kitchen having a snack." He winked, "And don't worry, I'll look after Alex while you're gone."
The red-haired woman strode past him, but not before giving him a kiss on the forehead. "Thanks Doctor."
When Amy entered the TARDIS kitchen, she found her husband sitting at the table eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
"I thought you hated peanut butter and jelly." Amy laughed, sitting next to him and taking a bite of it when he had placed it on his plate.
"I guess getting Alex to like it kinda made me like it too." he shrugged, and bit into it again.
"Um...that's what I kinda wanted to talk to you about, Rory." Amy began, but didn't look at her husband. Her eyes went to his, "Rory, what do you think-about adopting him?"
This question seemed to stop her husband in her tracks. He paused and gaped at her.
"I-I know that he has some challenges-"
"Challenges? Amy, he's dying!" Rory argued.
"Which is exactly why he should have a mum and dad." Amy countered harshly, then softened, "He was left there to die alone, Rory, and no kid should ever have that happen to 'em . Not when there's someone there that will care for him, no matter what his lifespan is. And the Doctor said he'll find a way to cure him, and I believe that. This is our chance to correct some of the cruel things that were done to him."
"But-" Rory sighed, "If he-dies...I can't see you sad like that again Amy. Like I said before, you've had too many heartbreaks already."
"He won't." A feminine voice called out, and both turned to see River.
"Sorry, I know that this was a private conversation, but I really think I should talk to mum." She turned her attention to her much younger looking mother. "Dad, I think mum is right, he shouldn't have to be alone when you two are with him now. Mum, dad, give him the childhood you would have given me."
Rory looked thoughtful for a moment, "Honestly? I've-I've kinda liked being his dad so far. I know it's not going to be a barrel of laughs sometimes, but he's a good kid and-" his cheeks flushed, " I've kinda grown attached to him too."
"Oh Rory!" Amy exclaimed, kissing him on the mouth before pulling him up off out of his chair.
"C'mon, let's go tell the Doctor!" She yelled, dragging him along by his sleeve, his sandwich still in his other hand.
The Doctor and Alex were playing with a soccer ball in the library, when Amy, Rory, and River entered the expansive room. The Doctor was kicking the two toned ball with his boot. Alex kicked it passed him through and end table that had been turned into a makeshift goal.
"Yay!" The Doctor exclaimed, throwing up his hands while the boy jumped up and down at his success
"Oi, Doctor! Teaching him soccer in the library isn't exactly going to lead to good manners!" Rory chided.
"Well, there's more to life than reading!" The Time Lord returned playfully, grinning at the lot of them.
"Doctor," Amy stepped forward, "We've decided," she looked at her husband and beamed, "to adopt Alex."
The Doctor's face lit up like a Christmas tree with new bulbs. "Spectacular!" He reached out and tightly hugged both Ponds' "I'm so glad for you. You'll make great parents!" He paused, still smiling, "Does this mean that I'm his uncle, and River is his aunt?"
Rory seemed to think for a moment, "Yeah I guess it does-wait no. Since River will be his sister, that makes you his brother in-law."
The Doctor's face fell a little, "Aw damn, I wanted to be called 'Uncle Doctor.' Always wanted that."
"Oi," Amy punched the Doctor lightly on the arm, "Don't curse in front of our son."
Suddenly the TARDIS seemed to lurch to one side tossing them all to the floor with a yell.
When the ship had righted itself, the Doctor ran out of the library, followed by Amy and Rory, and River, who had Alex in her arms.
"What was that, Doctor?" Amy yelped, somewhat bewildered that anyone could find them out in the middle of the nowhere in space.
"Haang on." The Doctor said, flipping a few of the controls and looking over to the monitor. On the screen was a sleek looking top of the line space ship. Glancing on its hull was the word 'Scythe'.
"They found us," River whispered in almost disbelief, "How in heaven's name did they find us, Doctor?"
The Time Lord dead-panned. "I was working on the controls last night and must have disconnected the security cloaking that kept our real coordinates secret." His three companions looked gobsmacked, and the Doctor deigned to spout out, "It was only for about 3 seconds. I can't believe anyone has the technology to find a ship this far out with so many static planets in such a short amount of time!"
The shipped lurched, this time to the left, sending the Doctor and Amy into the railings, where the Time Lord's head connected with the metal beams of the rail. Groaning, Rory helped each of them up, while the Doctor rubbed his now sore head.
They heard the familiar voice of Captain Samor from the monitor. "Doctor?"
The Time Lord sprang to his feet and went to the computer screen with anger drawn on his face.
"I don't appreciate you firing at my ship, Captain," seethed the Doctor in a tone that would make anyone afraid, "and there is a child on board if you haven't forgotten!"
"Speaking of the child," Captain Samor said smoothly, ignoring the Doctors indignation, "I have enough power here to blow your ship to pieces if he is not surrendered back to me."
"Go ahead," The Time Lord countered solemnly, "But it would be for nothing, because you see my ship is a time and space machine. It blows up, the whole universe goes with it."
The Sky Djinn paused, seeming to consider it, "I still have enough power for you to loose control over your vessel, Doctor." Captain Samor hissed, "What say you to that?"
"You want to keep the child alive, don't you? I wouldn't suggest you do that if I were you." The Doctor said calmly, though it was clear that he was loosing patience.
"You have no authority to tell me what I can and cannot do, Doctor." Sneered the Captain. "We will give you five minutes in which to answer us, and then we will bring you down by force."
"Over my dead body," snarled the Doctor.
"If that is what it takes," Samor returned coldly, and the screen went static.
The Doctor ran around the control panel, pushing every button that would facilitate a quick escape, when the power died, leaving them in complete darkness save for the dim back up lights through the flooring of the console.
"Samor's overridden my control!" The Doctor yelled in anger kicking the console and yelping in pain while holding his now sore foot. "OW! Never kick something when you're angry, it just makes you look foolish!"
The screen flickered on and Samor's face became visible in computer. "Doctor, you have no where to run, we have drained 70 percent of your ship's energy and controls. The planet below you is Dretiff, a planet with a a run away greenhouse effect and volcanic surface. Now, let's try this again, shall we? Give up the child."
"No." hissed The Time Lord.
"Then you leave me no choice, Doctor, you and your companions will suffer for your impudence." He address his crew. "Fire at will."
A huge thundering crack rang through the TARDIS, which shook violently and flew out of control.
Through the din of the explosions throughout the interior, the Doctor managed to yell, "Hang on to something and brace yourselves. This isn't going to be a nice landing!"
Amy and Rory crouched together, both holding on to the rails, both covering Alex between them, while The Doctor and River were close by doing the same. The TARDIS spun end over end like a penny in the air before it crashed onto the planet's surface, and the four inhabitants were literary thrown into unconsciousness.
TBC...