A/N: Thank you for all of your reviews and birthday messages! You'll be pleased to know that I wasn't sick, unlike the majority of my friends...amateurs ;D

And you'll also be pleased to know that this is the last 'depressing' chapter. Let the love and laughter commence!

Sharon's funeral soon approached, and to the Doctor's relief, Amy finally felt ready to say goodbye to her Aunt.

On the day of the funeral, Amy and the Doctor dressed solemnly in black, and once again the Doctor chose not to wear a bowtie. Instead, he donned a black tie, and Amy smiled at the way he was showing respect to both her and her Aunt.

She took his hand, and the Doctor gave her an encouraging smile as they stepped out of the TARDIS into the village.

The funeral was being held at the Leadworth Church, and Sharon was to be buried in the graveyard next to it.

Since Amy didn't have any family, she didn't think there'd be many people attending, so she was stunned when they walked into the Church to see most of the village seated in the pews.

As they walked down the aisle towards the front, the Doctor became aware of the stares they were attracting. Not many people had believed that he'd existed, and they'd never even thought that Amy would end up in love with him, so there was a lot of whispering about them.

Fortunately Amy didn't hear them, her attention was solely focused on the closed casket just in front of them, which held her Aunt.

When they reached the front, Rory rose and gestured for them to join him at the first pew. As they approached, Amy saw an anxious-looking woman standing beside him, and she knew that she was Rory's new girlfriend, Hannah.

Rory drew Amy into a hug, and she returned it gratefully, needing the support of the people she loved. The Doctor noticed instantly that the whispers had gotten louder, and he looked sharply behind him, effectively silencing the gossiping.

He returned his attention to Rory when he felt him hug him, and they patted each other on the back before pulling away from each other.

"Amy, Doctor, I'd like you both to meet Hannah." Rory told them quietly, also aware of the people staring at them, and he slid his arm around his girlfriend's waist.

The Doctor let Amy greet her first, and she grasped her hand. "It's nice to finally meet you Hannah. I've heard a lot about you."

Hannah laughed softly and returned her handshake. "Only good things, I hope. It's nice to meet you too Amy."

She turned to the Doctor then, and he grasped her outstretched hand. "It's great to meet you Hannah, though I wish we could have met in a different situation."

"I agree." Hannah replied, smiling wryly. "I'm so sorry for your loss. I wish I could have met Sharon, she sounded like a wonderful person."

"She was." Amy murmured softly, her eyes shining with tears, though she was smiling. "Thank you Hannah."

The priest interrupted their introductions then by stepping behind the podium, and the four of them sat down for the service, Amy clutching the Doctor's hand tightly.

~I~

The service was short; something Amy was thankful for, as she knew how much her Aunt had hated long ceremonies. Rory stood at the front to speak about Sharon at one point, and Amy kissed his cheek when he sat back down, grateful that he had spoken when she was too upset to.

After the ceremony, Rory, Jeff and a couple more of their male friends made their way over to the coffin to carry it out of the Church.

Amy gazed at them for a minute, before turning to the Doctor. "Doctor, would you be a pallbearer?" She asked him.

The Doctor looked stunned at her request. "Are you sure? Don't you want me to stay here with you?"

Amy smiled at him. "I'll be fine. I think it's right for you to help carry her coffin. Sharon liked you, you know." She broke off and drew in a shaky breath. "I just wish you'd gotten to know each other better." She whispered, and the Doctor wiped away the lone tear that had begun to slide down her face.

"In that case, it would be an honour to carry her." He replied quietly, kissing her forehead.

Amy watched him stand behind Rory, and felt a couple more tears escaping at seeing the two men she loved carrying her Aunt.

She followed the funeral procession to the burial ground, and when she saw the engraving on her Aunt's tombstone, she smiled through her tears. Rory had done a perfect job.

Sharon Vidler

1968-2010

Beloved Aunt and Friend

Her love will shine on forever.

Having lowered the coffin, the Doctor returned to his place beside Amy. He slid his arm around her shoulders, and Amy wrapped both of her arms around his waist. "Thank you for being here for me today." She murmured, tilting her head to smile at him.

"You don't need to thank me. I promised you that I'd always be there for you." He whispered back, and he kissed the tip of her nose gently.

"Still, I'm surprised you haven't run away screaming yet. I know I haven't been myself recently." She mumbled, lowering her eyes to the ground. "And I'm sorry for that."

"Amy, I love you, and I'll never leave you again." The Doctor told her softly, taking hold of a stray tendril of hair that had fallen out of Amy's bun and hooking it behind her ear.

Amy smiled and rested her head on his shoulder, and they remained in that position for the duration of the burial service. They only separated when Amy stepped up to the tombstone and threw one white rose onto the coffin, though the Doctor stayed closely behind her.

Rory joined her then, and with the shovel he was holding, began to scoop up dirt to throw down onto the coffin. The Doctor stepped up to join them, and he took hold of the shovel that the priest offered him.

Hannah walked over to Amy, and tentatively placed her arm around her. Amy was grateful for the comfort, and together, they watched their men lay Sharon to rest.

~I~

After Sharon's coffin was buried, Amy and Rory found themselves surrounded by people who offered them their condolences. The Doctor and Hannah moved aside and watched their partners, and the only time that the Doctor stepped in was when he caught one of the elderly residents complaining that Amy and Rory had moved on too quickly.

The Doctor had stormed over, and he promptly told her to mind her own business. Needless to say, he didn't hear anymore whispering about him or the others for the rest of the day. None of the locals wanted to test his patience on a day like this.

Finally, everyone left, leaving Rory, Hannah, Amy and the Doctor alone in the graveyard.

Allowing Rory and Amy privacy to say goodbye to each other, Hannah offered to show the Doctor more of the church, and he took her up on the offer.

Once they'd disappeared from sight, Amy spoke. "Rory, thank you for doing this for me today. I know Sharon would have loved the sending-off."

Rory smiled and took her hands. "You're welcome. I was happy to do this." He paused, and gazed at her hesitantly. "Amy, there's something you should know."

"What is it?" She asked anxiously, thinking the worst.

Rory gave her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, it's nothing bad. It's just that Sharon left a will. Amy, you've inherited her house, and all of her assets. You've also inherited over £20,000."

Amy looked away. "I don't need the money." She said flatly. "You have it."

"Amy, I can't do that!" Rory exclaimed, shaking his head. "It's yours. Anyway, Sharon left me my own money."

"Have the house then. I have a home already."

Rory looked at her in bewilderment. "I'm not going to take your house from you! Look, I'll look after it for you whilst you're gone, if you like. Who knows, maybe you'll be back one day with a handful of kids? Then you'll need the house."

Amy had to smile at that image, imagining a group of redheaded children running around in the garden with bowties on. "Thanks Rory. For agreeing to look after the house and for sorting out today…actually, thank you for everything."

Rory drew her into a hug, and they held each other until the Doctor and Hannah returned, both of them laughing about a nude Church in America.

The Doctor saw Amy nod at him, and knew she was ready to leave Leadworth behind. As Hannah and Amy said their goodbyes, he turned to Rory.

"You know, there's always an invitation for you and Hannah to travel with us, anytime you like." He told him, grinning.

Rory grinned back. "Thanks Doctor. We may take you up on that offer some day."

The Doctor's eyes began to sparkle with mischief. "Actually, I was offering it to you as more of a wedding present."

Rory began to splutter, and the Doctor slapped his back. "I know the future Rory." He whispered in his ear, aware that Hannah and Amy were watching them curiously.

Rory stared at him incredulously, and the Doctor took that as his cue to leave. He hugged Hannah and after winking at Rory, took Amy's hand and began to lead her away from the Church.

"What did you say to Rory before we left?" Amy asked him, swinging their entwined hands as they walked.

The Doctor was happy that she was in a lighter mood than what she'd been in all week, but he wasn't about to tell her what he'd said. "I can't tell you that Pond. It's a guy thing. You know how it is."

Amy raised her eyebrows at him. "I swear you two are going to start a bromance." She commented, and she laughed at the Doctor's confused face.

"I'd ask you what that meant, but I'm afraid of the answer." The Doctor muttered as he unlocked the TARDIS door.

"You shouldn't be. It only means a close, non-sexual relatonship between two male friends." Amy answered as they walked inside of the ship.

The Doctor released her hand and bounded up the stairs to the console. "I don't like the way you mentioned that it was a non-sexual relationship. It's almost like you were implying that I play for the other side, so to speak."

"You can say the word 'gay' Doctor." Amy giggled, racing up the stairs after him. "You are allowed."

"Amy, the first definition of the word 'gay' meant happy and I still stand by that definition." The Doctor said firmly. "Therefore, the term I used is better-suited."

"This whole conversation is completely unnecessary anyway, because I didn't actually imply that you were gay." Amy told him, and the Doctor spun around to face her.

"You should know if I was, especially seeing as you are most definitely not a man." The Doctor remarked, striding towards her, a predatory expression on his face.

Amy had seen that look before, and she let out a squeal as she ran up the staircase away from him. "How would you know if I wasn't?" She asked him playfully, and the Doctor tore up the stairs after her.

"I would just know." He murmured as he captured her in his arms and pulled her into his bedroom. "Especially because of what's about to happen."

Laughing, Amy reached out and slammed the door shut behind them.

~I~

Things soon went back to normal in the TARDIS. The sombre mood that had befallen upon both Amy and the Doctor was quickly erased by their laughter and love, and their lives were happy again.

Until Amy sidled into the Doctor's bedroom a week after the funeral, wringing her hands anxiously.

The Doctor, who was sitting on the loveseat beside his bed, glanced up when he heard the bedroom door open, and immediately put the book he was reading aside. "Are you okay Amy?" He asked her, concerned by her troubled expression.

Amy nodded hastily. "I'm fine. I just wanted to talk to you, that's all."

Nothing good ever came out of hearing those words. The Doctor swallowed and patted the space next to him nervously. "Oh. Right. Well. Sit Down."

Amy sat down beside him, and then smiled at his worried gaze. "Don't worry, I'm not leaving you or anything."

The Doctor relaxed immediately. "That's a relief!" He said cheerfully. "I got worried then."

"I just wanted to talk to you about…well, you." Amy told him, and to her surprise, the Doctor's face hardened.

"There's nothing you need to know about me." He stated flatly, turning away from her.

"I knew you'd be like that." He heard Amy mutter, and he glared at her. "Don't look at me like that! It's true! I have a right to know about you."

"Why?" The Doctor demanded. "You know enough about me. I'm 907 years old, I'm a Time-Lord from Galifrey, my family is dead, and my favourite dish is fish fingers and custard. There."

"But there's so much more that I don't know." Amy said stubbornly. "You know everything about me, even more than I know about myself! I need to know about your life too."

The Doctor remained silent.

Amy took his hand, and she felt him relax slightly from her touch. "Look." She whispered. "I know that your memories are painful. But you're the man that I'm going to spend the rest of my life with. I need to know more about you."

The Doctor looked at her then, and Amy was surprised at the pain in his eyes. "Amy, I've never shared my memories with anyone. I don't know if I can show you everything."

"Just show me enough." She told him gently, squeezing his fingers gently. "When you've had enough, stop."

The Doctor thought about it for another minute, before realising she was right. "Where do you want me to start?" He asked her quietly, smiling wryly. "There's a lot."

"Start from just before you met me. You were wearing ragged clothes. Why?"

"Oh yes, I was your raggedy Doctor." The Doctor recalled, smiling fondly at the memory.

"You're still my raggedy Doctor." Amy corrected him.

The Doctor placed his fingers on her temples, and they both closed their eyes. "Ready?" He whispered.

"Ready."

Amy had been inside the Doctor's head before, when he showed her the timeline of the Heartreeps, but seeing his memories was a different experience entirely. First, she found herself standing in her back garden, watching herself as a little girl talking to the Doctor.

And then time zoomed backwards, and Amy found herself flying from memory to memory, watching the Doctor regenerate and saying goodbye to his friends. She could hear the Doctor begin to cry in reality, pained from reliving his past regeneration's memories, and she reached out blindly to comfort him, managing to rest her hand on his shoulder.

She saw a redhead next, a redhead who clearly meant a lot to the Doctor. She watched his tenth regeneration laugh and argue with her, and found out her name. Donna.

And then she saw Donna as half of a Time Lord, and Amy watched in horror as Donna lost her memories.

Suddenly Amy was pulled from the Doctor's mind, and she opened her eyes to see the Doctor's tear-stained face.

"You had some good times with her." She commented, hoping to cheer him up. "Not everyone gets to meet Agatha Christie or experience the fires of Pompeii."

The Doctor laughed hollowly, wiping away his tears. "Amy, you saw what happened! I was the cause of the eruption of Pompeii! I had to make a choice, and I killed over 30,000 people."

"Yes, but you went back to save a family!" Amy reminded him, cupping his face gently with her hands.

Another tear fell from the Doctor's eyes. "That doesn't mean anything. I'm still a monster."

"Don't you dare say that!" Amy hissed fiercely. "You're not a monster!"

The Doctor shook his head, and before he could argue, Amy continued. "You're a good person Doctor. A great person. And I love you. There are other people that love you too."

"But I have more enemies than friends." He whispered, looking away from her.

"Who needs lots of friends?" Amy demanded, forcing the Doctor to look back at her. "I didn't have any when I was growing up, and I still don't have very many. You only need to love a few people for them to make a difference to your life. And you've made a huge difference to my life Doctor."

"Thank you Amy. That means a lot to me." He murmured, taking her hand and kissing the back of it. "Do you want to see some more memories?"

Amy nodded, and the Doctor pressed his fingers to her temples. He closed his eyes again, and Amy's eyes snapped shut as more of the Doctor's life flashed before her eyes.

An image of a young, blonde woman appeared in her head next, and Amy watched her share some intense and romantic moments with his previous regeneration. Amy knew immediately that this was the love of his tenth regeneration. Rose.

Amy could hear that the Doctor's sobbing was getting louder, and she watched him say goodbye to Rose on a beach, a beach that was called 'Bad Wolf Bay.'

All of a sudden, Amy was watching the Doctor's childhood, and she saw a young boy running down a mountain under an orange sky. The Doctor's voice echoed in her mind as they watched the memory together.

"Galifrey. The Shining World of the Seven Systems. My home. When I was a little boy, we lived in a house that was perched halfway up this mountain. I was running down here to collect rocks. They weren't grey on my planet. They were red, and purple, and gold. My home was beautiful. The snow shone in the sunlight, and the silver-leaved trees looked like a forest on fire…"

When the Doctor's voice trailed off, Amy saw the planet burning. Dead bodies and blood filled her mind, and over the sound of screaming, she heard the faint noise of a TARDIS as it flew away.

And then Amy realised it was the Doctor's TARDIS.

The Doctor had run away.

She lost the connection then, and she opened her eyes to see tears streaming down the Doctor's face.

"I'm sorry that you lost your home." Amy whispered, drawing him into her embrace. "I'm so sorry."

The Doctor buried his face in her neck, loud sobs wracking through his body. He clung to Amy, needing to hold onto her, unable to show her more of his past without her comfort.

Amy simply held him, and rocked him back and forth, like she was holding a child. She stroked his hair and murmured reassuringly to him, and the Doctor's tears gradually slowed.

"You don't need to show me anymore." She whispered to him, her own voice hoarse with unshed tears. "I've seen enough."

The Doctor wanted to argue, knowing that there was still so much to show her, but he was too upset by his own memories. He'd never shown anyone the extent of what he'd been through, and after revealing his experiences to Amy; he was more hurt than he'd thought he would be.

Eventually, Amy led him over to his bed, and they lay down together, arms wrapped tightly around each other. Amy stroked his face, his hair, his back, anything that would show him that she was there for him.

The Doctor drew her closer to him, needing to feel her more of her. He kept his head buried against her neck, afraid to meet her gaze, knowing that she'd be even more concerned if she saw the raw pain in his eyes.

They lay quietly for a few moments, before Amy pulled back to meet the Doctor's eyes. He closed his eyes quickly, unwilling to reveal anymore of his emotions to her, but he couldn't stop the tears from leaking out from under his eyelids.

Amy studied his face carefully, noticing the dark circles under his eyes and the small crease between his eyebrows. She touched his forehead gently, and the Doctor's slight frown eased away.

Amy then ran her finger over the Doctor's cheekbones, wiping anyway his tears, and the Doctor sighed as he felt the tension begin to leave his body.

Reaching up, he grabbed Amy's hand and pressed it to his lips. He opened his eyes, and Amy could feel herself tearing up at the grief in them.

The Doctor glanced down at their entwined hands, and began to trace the lines on her hand with his finger. Amy watched him carefully, looking for any more signs of distress, only to be relieved when she watched the Doctor's tears stop completely.

The Doctor pressed the back of her hand to his lips again, and Amy smiled softly at him. "I love you." She whispered, placing her other hand against his cheek.

Amy's smile widened when the Doctor managed to smile back at her, and she leaned forward to kiss him gently.

The Doctor's eyes fluttered closed, and he sighed again, this time in contentment. "Amy Pond." He murmured. "What would I do without you?"

Amy rested her head on his chest, still gripping his hand tightly. "I don't know. But I do know that I'd be lost without you." She replied quietly, tilting her head to press her lips to his jaw.

That wasn't enough for the Doctor and he sat up, pulling her up with him. Amy glanced at him in confusion, and the Doctor pressed his lips to hers fiercely, overcome with emotion and need. He could feel Amy's surprise, but it didn't take her long to respond, and she kissed him back with as much passion.

His lips were warm and soft as they moved against hers, and Amy could feel the tears on his cheeks when she reached up and traced the planes of his face with her fingertips.

The Doctor's hands roamed over her soft curves, and Amy shivered. She slid her hands into his hair and massaged his scalp gently, and now it was the Doctor's turn to shudder.

They both broke apart to breathe, but the Doctor's lips remained attached to his skin, and he trailed kisses across her jaw line until he reached her ear. "I love you Amy." He whispered to her, his hands reaching up to cradle her face. "I love you so much."

The last part of the chapter may seem a bit random: it is. It just sort of...came out as I was writing, but I liked it, so I kept it in, haha.

Chapter 38 is Amy's 22nd birthday...who wants to guess what the Doctor has bought her? ;D

Hayley x