[Not entirely happy with this chapter but if I work on it much more I'll go mad.]

Walking by myself I know

This lonely road's becoming my new home

But I don't stop, I just keep moving on, and on

Ain't no need to dry my eyes

I haven't cried in quite some time

Everyday I fight it, You know it's possible

Kelly Clarkson - Impossible

The Pandorica Opens

This hadn't been what the Doctor had expected when he walked into the tent in 102 AD. River Song, dressed as Cleopatra and being waited on by two servants. She lounged on the cushions and grinned at them. He had been expecting a nice little trip to the edges of space but no. He got River and a cold, misty day near Salisbury Plain. River clapped her hands and the servants left as she held out a scrolled canvas.

'What's this?' The Doctor asked.

River smiled secretly. 'It's a painting. Your friend Vincent.'

He snatched the painting and began to unroll it while she stood and continued her explanation. 'One of his final works. He had visions, didn't he? I thought you ought to know about this one.'

Amy frowned and looked over at the Doctor as he examined the painting. 'Doctor? Doctor, what is this?' She peered over his shoulder and gasped. The painting showed none other than the Doctor's TARDIS. And it was exploding.

'Where did you get this?' The Doctor asked and he sat down at the side.

A soldier rushed into the tent and knelt to the ground. River waved him up and he nodded in acknowledgement of the Doctor and Amy.

'Your ladyship, I bring news of a momentous occasion.'

'Oh?' River asked.

Amy and the Doctor sent each other looks of excitement that the soldier seemed to share.

'The goddess is upon us. She rides at this very minute to our encampment. It is said she has travelled the far ocean to hold audience with you and your guests.'

River looked suddenly worried. She had no clue who this goddess was, nor did she think it would go well when she arrived. She was bound to be revealed as a fraud. 'How did she know they were coming?' She asked sweetly, glancing at the Doctor.

'She is a goddess,' the soldier replied, bemused, obviously expecting a better reaction than this.

A suddenly cacophony of trumpets and the galloping of hooves called their attention to the impending arrival of their guest.

'Well!' the Doctor clapped his hands together and smiled, 'Let's not keep her waiting!' Followed by Amy and River he rushed out of the tent.

Through the night the shadow of horse and rider had emerged. The horse, pure white, seemed to shimmer in the dark. The rider, a woman, with a flowing dress of deep purple and topped off with a long black riding cloak. The woman trotted into the centre of the camp and as she moved, the soldier fell to their knees, hands over hearts. Without a word she steadied the horse and swung her leg off the side, descending from the animal. She didn't face them, turned instead to her horse. 'How do you feel Roheryn? Tired?'

The horse breathed out heavily through its nose and she laughed stroking it.

'Well, it's alright now. We're all fine, we're all together.' She span away from the horse and threw the hood of her riding cloak onto her shoulders revealing long flowing hair in tight curls, the top half of which was pulled up and weaved together, with a headdress shaped like a crescent moon. She smiled at the group's shocked faces. Honestly, they looked like rabbits caught on the motorway. Her violet eyes sparkled and she let out a very unladylike snort.

TTT

2 years ago.

Winter's eyes flickered open again and she took in a deep breath. Where was she? She had awoken in a large marble building. A statue stood proudly above her.

'It is a miracle! A miracle!'

The noise was atrocious. She rubbed her head and sat up, pulling herself off the floor. The single screaming man became a hoard of excited people. Why were they all wearing sheets? And bloody hell it was hot!

'By the glory of Jupiter!' seemed to be the fashionable thing to be yelling in this crowd. She rolled her eyes and straightened up.

'Great, if getting attacked by angels wasn't bad enough now I'm stuck in the middle of a toga party. Go on then where's the alcohol?' she joked.

The man who had previously screamed of miracles rushed forward and fell to his knees at her feet. 'Most glorious one. We are unworthy of your presence among us!'

She raised her eyebrows. 'Oh, alright then I'll go.'

He panicked and grasped her trousers before reeling back in shock, covering his head.

'Oh! Oh! Your grace, I did not mean to act so rashly. I will never lay a hand on you again. I beg of you do not turn me to some foul pitiless creature of the night.'

This sudden exclamation finally shocked Winter to her senses. She looked around. Well, at least it wasn't Cardiff. But where was she? When was she? And really, what the hell?

'You!' She strode forward and as she moved everyone fell to their knees. 'Oh, for crying out loud,' she mumbled before tapping one of the robed men on the shoulder. 'Erm? Where is this place?'

The man looked up at her in awe and wonder. 'Why it is Rome, The city of Emperors!'

Winter stared blankly at him and then burst out laughing. The growing crowd watched in fear as her whole body shook and tears began to seep from her eyes. She was supposed to be dead. The Doctor thought she was gone. By now… well in the future, Amy, River and the clerics would all think she was gone. Pip would be devastated. Jack… she had told the Doctor to find Jack! Now she wished she hadn't. All that pain and she was stuck in bloody ancient Rome. Oh, the irony.

She looked up at the little crowd around her and smiled at them. There was also another pressing question on her mind. 'And ah… who am I?'

The frightened faces seemed to soften slightly and many pointed at her, no not at her, behind her. She turned around slowly and looked up at the statue that had towered above her when she woke up. A marble woman in a knee length stola with a dog at her feet, a half-moon-shaped headdress, and a bow in her hand. Winter glanced up at the sky and rolled her eyes before turning around to face the adoring crowd.

TTT

Winter lounged back on River's sofa and smiled at them all. Her ornate bow propped up against the side of the tent and her riding cloak flung into the Doctor's hands.

'Oh, you lot have no idea how nice it feels to be dealing with modern language again.' She smiled contentedly and ran a hand over the back of her neck. 'If I have to give one more prophesy like a gypsy psychic I think I might snap.'

Amy grinned and came to sit next to her. 'I'm loving the toga, but I thought they were normally white?'

Winter grinned. 'Yeah, they are, but you're forgetting,' she raised her hands like she was in a cabaret show and melodramatically proclaimed; 'I…Am Diana! Maiden goddess of hunting, the moon, childbirth and the countryside, praised for my strength, athletic grace, beauty and hunting skills.'

Amy's eyebrows shot up and Winter pulled a face. 'Unfortunately, I'm also supposed to be a virgin who's sworn never to marry or have sex so it's not all fun and games.'

The two women burst into fits of laughter and Amy launched herself forward for another hug. 'Oh, we've missed you! You should have seen him when we got out of the ship, never seen him so quiet.'

Winter smiled up at The Doctor who hadn't said a word. He was watching her with an expression that was difficult to describe. Happy yet… there was something else there.

'Come on Doctor, you've got her back, everyone's happy,' Amy reminded him, getting up and pushing him forward.

'I told Jack you were dead,' The Doctor told her.

She rolled her eyes and got up from the seat. 'Right misery you are. Well, I asked you to and it's not like he can run off and kill himself, is it?'

'He didn't believe me, he was sure you'd been sent back.'

Winter glowed with love. He hadn't given up on her even after The Doctor had told him she was dead.

'But I didn't think he was right, I gave up on you. Tried to forget you.'

She bit her lip and studied him carefully. She reached out and pulled him closer, wrapping her arms around his neck and rubbing his back. She'd missed this. Human contact. Two years of not being touched by anyone but slaves who pulled away as soon as they could and made every effort to have as little contact as possibly. It was enough to send anyone mad. Reluctantly she pulled back and kissed his cheek before putting her hands on her hips and turning to River.

Daylight was now starting to stream through the cracks in the tent fabrics as Winter nodded to River and the rolled-up painting. 'Right, what's going on then?'

The Doctor handed over the scroll and she unrolled it frowning.

'But that's, that's the TARDIS.'

He nodded solemnly.

'Why's it exploding?' Amy asked.

'I assume it's some kind of warning,' River explained as the Doctor sat down, his thoughts heavy.

'Something's going to happen to the TARDIS?' Amy concluded but River shook her head and looked down at the painting again.

'It might not be that literal. Anyway, this is where he wanted you. Date and map reference on the door sign, see?'

'Does it have a title?' The Doctor asked suddenly.

River nodded. 'The Pandorica Opens.'

'The Pandorica? What is it?' Amy looked about as confused as Winter felt and she studied the painting. Very Van Gogh… hang on… was that his signature at the bottom… no! They'd met Van Gogh without her. On the other hand, she had Emperors bowing to her so fairs fair.

'If it is real, it's here and it's opening. And it's got something to do with your TARDIS exploding.' River argued with the Doctor.

He pulled out some local maps and River sighed. 'Hidden, obviously. Buried for centuries. You won't find it on a map.'

'No. But if you buried the most dangerous thing in the universe, you'd want to remember where you put it.'

They studied the map and Winter leant against the table.

'It would have to be somewhere deep underground, somewhere no one would build on so the entrance is never covered. It'll be obvious. So obvious no one would even think to look there. Or just ridiculous, crazy, a totally stupid place to hide anything. That narrows it down to…' he sighed, 'Pretty much everywhere around here.'

Winter turned around and studied the map.

'You know one year. Owen made a vow that he was going to find out where I kept my Christmas presents for everyone. Normally I just hid them in the Pterodactyl cave but that would have been the first place he would look. So, I stuck them somewhere he'd never mess about with or the rest of the team would go mental.'

Everyone looked at her confused. Especially as only one person had the slightest idea was she was talking about.

'The rift machine.'

The Doctor still looked confused.

'Oh, for crying out loud! Jack's first rule of active camouflage?'

Blank stares. She sighed and pointed to the map, 'Park somewhere you'll remember.'

The four friends looked down at the map, her finger placed over a small round circle labelled; Stone Henge.

The Doctor smiled at her and grabbed the map rushing outside. River opened a chest and pulled out some more modern attire, throwing them to Winter. She looked down at the clothes and sighed. To be honest she had quite enjoyed the Roman clothing, it was like being at a fancy dress party every day of your life. 'Thanks River but, I think I'll stay in this. It's deceptively comfortable but ah… you don't happen to have any converses in there. I'm really not a big fan of sandals.'

River shook her head. 'Sorry I've only got my boots.'

Winter shrugged and collected her bow and cloak before leaving River to dress.

Amy tagged along behind her as she headed over to her horse, who was now enjoying a refreshing drink and some food.

'You did it Roheryn.' She smiled as the pure white horse looked up to greet her. 'You got me here in perfect time. And as soon as this is over I'll set you free.'

'Is that its name?' Amy asked, inching closer to the beast, 'Roheryn?'

Winter nodded. 'It means 'horse of a lady', kind of thought it was fitting and a bit ironic.'

'Ironic?'

Winter smirked. 'It's from Lord of the Rings,' she laughed, 'won't be written for thousands of years but there's still a horse named after a character.'

Amy joined in the laugh and turned to the horse. 'Monkey friends, horse friends, did you make any human ones?'

Winter shrugged. 'I've been quite bored lately believe it or not, and I missed Pip. But as a goddess the people are barely allowed to talk to me. When they did it was too awkward to really make friends. I was in this crazy position of power that no one seemed to quite understand and I just needed an out. There was a massive stable at the temple so getting to know horses just used up my free time. They're really good companions, to be honest with you… if I hadn't had them I think I would have given up months ago.'

The horse nudged her side lovingly and she turned to stroke his nose. They were interrupted by The Doctor and River who was now wearing a much more modern get up.

'Right,' The Doctor began., 'we need to go that way, it's a couple of miles but not too bad. I've asked some of our friendly Roman's and there are some unclaimed horse up for grabs so let's get going shall we?'

TTT

Winter looked up from her seat on the rock a few meters from the Pandorica. The horses were above ground resting. River had set off to get help from the Roman legions and the Doctor and Amy were chatting. Every alien that ever hated the Doctor was converging on the earth to steal the giant box in front of her and she felt… she sighed and ran a hand over her face. Her shoulder still felt bare without her little monkey friend sat pulling on her hair. Sometimes she reached up to stroke him only to realise he was no longer with her.

And Jack. She missed Jack more than anything in the entire world. More than proper shower products, cars, mobiles, the sound of Welsh complaining. She laughed quietly. Yes, she definitely had missed that, but Jack. She woken up in the middle of the night and screamed into her pillow because she felt so alone. Becoming a recluse with the horses was the only way she had soldiered through. She missed the way he smiled at her, the way he would cross his arms and look like he wouldn't give her her way, when they both knew he would. The way he wrapped his arms around her and watched her sleep. She knew he did it. At first it had just been a bit unnerving but after a while it made her feel safe, comfortable and certain she was home. She had had the time of her life with The Doctor. She'd seen alien planets, Dalek fleets and the end of the world but she was now realising, without Jack, it just didn't seem as special.

Winter was thrust out of her thoughts when an explosion of red laser shots began careering towards the Doctor and Amy who flew around the Pandorica in opposite directions to convene on the other side. She appeared to be just out of firing range but she couldn't move from her position.

Suddenly the Doctor jumped out from behind the target screaming. 'Look at me, I'm a target!'

The laser fired again and the Doctor ducked behind a pillar.

'What is that?' She heard Amy scream.

'Cyber-arm. Arm of a Cyberman,' he yelled back.

'Not a big fan of Cybermen,' Winter told them.

The Doctor's head popped around the pillar. 'I don't know many people who are.'

'What is a Cyberman?' Amy asked exasperatedly.

'Oh, sort of part man, part robot. The organic part must have died off years ago, now the robot part is looking for fresh meat.'

'What, us?' Amy asked.

'It's just like being an organ donor, except you're alive and sort of screaming.'

Winter pulled a disgusted face as she thought back to Lisa, there was no way she was ending up like that. Amy then ran out from behind the Pandorica and ran, screaming, in the opposite direction. The cyber arm fired at her and the Doctor rounded behind Winter, coming up behind it. He dived down and grabbed it before pulling out his screwdriver and flicking it on. 'Scrambled its circuits, but stay where you are. It could be bluffing.' He warned them.

'Bluffing? It's an arm!'

Winter laughed at Amy's tone as she poked out from behind her cover.

'I said stay where you are!' The Doctor stood up as Amy angrily stepped back and crossed her arms.

Winter looked over to the Doctor who was examining the arm and hopped down off the stone just as Amy fell to the ground. 'Amy!'

The Doctor made to run over to her but the cyber-arm released a large dose of energy causing him to collapse to the ground unconscious.

'Doctor!' Amy and Winter yelled.

Winter rushed over to her friend to find the connections of a Cyberman head using its wires to pull itself closer to Amy, binding her wrists. As she fought it, she lifted it into the air and stared at it. As she did so, a seam opened down the centre to reveal the skull of the former occupant. Amy screamed and Winter took a shocked step back as the skull fell out and the head began snapping open and closed in an attempt to get to Amy. Winter pulled her bow from her back and called to Amy while lining up her shot. One chance. Just one shot.

'Amy, when I say, let go.' Amy looked back at her.

'You have got to be kidding me?'

'Ready…'

'No.'

'Now!'

Amy dropped the Cyber head just as Winter's arrow shot straight into the cavity. The force of the blow sent it flying back away from Amy and Winter hurried over, pulling her to her feet. As soon as she was up Winter rushed over to The Doctor who was still out cold but looked up when the cyber head spoke.

'You will be assimilated.'

Amy stood tall and argued back. 'Yeah? You and whose body?'

There was a terrifying sound of heavy footsteps.

'Oh, you just had to say it didn't you.' Winter groaned.

Both women looked towards the door to see the body of a Cyberman approaching, missing its head and left arm. It picked up the head and replaced it slowly then continued forward. Sights set on them. Winter picked up the arm and threw it as far away as she could before attempting to pull The Doctor from the room.

Amy was attempting to defend herself with a torch but her movements were slow and wobbly, like a drunks. She stumbled back and fell through a double set of doors that shut behind her trapping Winter with the Cyberman. With all her strength she attempted to pull The Doctor closer to the doors, trying to get him out of the way but the Cyberman was moving fast. She looked around, nothing, nothing to defend herself with. Wait a minute.

With a mumbled apology she fished around in The Doctor's pockets, pulling the sonic screwdriver from his jacket and pointing it at the Cyberman. She pointed, pulled, clicked, pushed, shook, switched but nothing happened. Until, that it, she twisted the top.

The Cyberman didn't stop, or slow, or explode but the sonic did have an effect.

'You will be deleted.'

She pressed it again.

'You will be deleted.'

And again.

'You will be deleted.'

Great! She could make it talk. She glared at The Doctor for having such a ridiculous setting on his screwdriver, narrowly escaping the hand that attempted to grasp her. The Cyberman had her backed up against the door. She closed her eyes and tensed. There was a shrieking sound, of metal scraping against metal and Winter squinted through her eyelashes. The Cyberman had a sword driven through its middle join. The doors swung open and Winter nodded to the Roman soldier who appeared to have saved her life. She then dived back over to The Doctor who was finally waking up. He staggered to his feet, patting her on the head as he rushed off after Amy.

She sighed and sat back down looking at the Cyberman now attached to the door. Yes. This was all very fun, but The Doctor and Amy didn't need her. If he wanted to explain something amazing he would turn to Amy. If Amy wanted to have a chat and a cup of tea she turned to him. The Doctor didn't worry about her when they were in danger but he panicked about Amy. Winter often felt like she was there almost out of the kindness of his heart. Because he just didn't have the heart to not keep her. She was a charity case. But with Jack, he looked out for her constantly. Yes, it was annoying as hell but she liked to know he cared. And he always turned to her when he made silly jokes because he knew they'd make her smile. That was her mind made up then. As soon as this was done with this. She had to get back to Jack.

TTT

Roheryn's heavy breath was almost comforting as Winter and the horse flew across the open fields back towards the TARDIS. The Doctor was busy, not that she hadn't told him she was leaving but she knew where she was better off being and that was inside the TARDIS. Besides a battle of aliens and Romans was no place for three horses. The Doctor's and Amy's horses were running, void of their saddles and bridals, in line behind them as they neared the hill where the pull of the TARDIS was taking her. She pulled up in front of the wonderful blue box and smiled. Oh, how she'd missed it.

Hopping off Roheryn she ran a hand over the wooden panelling and turned back to the horses. Taking the girth in her hands she unstrapped it and pulled the saddle from her faithful stead's back. Before turning her attention to the bridal. Reluctantly she pulled the horse into one last hug, holding his head against her own and muttering to him her thanks and love. With a warm breath of air caressing her chest he turned away from her and lead his companions into the forest.

She smiled and entered the TARDIS just in time for River to take off. River looked up, surprised, but smiled at her when she realised who it was. Materializing in the Doctor's presence, however, didn't quite go according to plan. The TARDIS jolted and threw them around.

Winter frowned and ran a hand soothingly over the console. 'What's the matter with you?' she asked softly.

It stopped with another jolt and River looked over at Winter. 'Okay? You Okay now?' She asked the console.

Winter shrugged and they both headed for the door. They were stood in the back garden of a house. A large house, at night.

'Why have you brought us here?' River asked, confused.

Winter lead the way across to the house.

'Okay, so something's been here.'

Winter turned to look where River was pointing. Alien symbols burnt onto the ground, the door to the house had been blown off its hinges. Pulling her bow from her back, Winter edged warily into the house and up the stairs. A room in the corner caught her attention and she slipped inside, followed by River. It was a bedroom, pretty, a girl's bedroom and judging by the little doll versions of the Doctor and a red headed child she guessed she knew which girl.

Winter nudged River and pointed to the dolls smiling. The older woman returned the smile. 'Amy... Oh, Doctor, why do I let you out?'

Winter continued to peruse the little mini Doctors but an intake of breath from River turned her attention to the book in front of her. One on Roman Britain and another, the story of Pandora's Box.

They left quickly and rushed back towards the TARDIS. River ran straight for the communicator while Winter closed the doors.

'They're not real, they can't be,' River told The Doctor when she finally got through, 'They're all right here in the story book, those actual Romans, the ones I sent you, the ones you're with right now. They're all in a book in Amy's house, a children's picture book.'

The Doctor's voice echoed through the TARDIS as he replied to her. 'What are you even doing there?'

'It doesn't matter. The TARDIS went wrong,' River snapped.

Winter frowned. 'No it didn't, it must mean something, she wanted us to be here.'

River ignored her and carried on talking to the Doctor. 'Doctor, how is this possible?'

'Something's using her memories, Amy's memories,' he replied.

'But how?'

'You said something had been there.'

'Yes, there's burn marks on the grass outside, landing patterns.'

'If they've been to her house, they could have used her psychic residue. Structures can hold memories, that's why houses have ghosts. They could've taken a snapshot of Amy's memories. But why?'

The conversation across time continued until the TARDIS suddenly sparked and shuddered. The Doctor called them but River was too busy trying to control the violent shudders.

'Doctor, there's something wrong with the TARDIS. It's like, like something else is controlling it,' Winter yelled.

'She's flying it wrong!' The Doctor snapped.

A flustered River glared at the communicator. 'I'm flying it perfectly. You taught me.'

'Where are you? What's the date reading?' Winter leant over and checked the monitor.

'Twenty-Sixth of June, 2010.'

'You need to get out of there now! Any other time zone, just go,' The Doctor called.

River strained against the console, frantically pressing buttons. 'I can't break it free.'

'Well, then, shut down the TARDIS. Shut down everything!'

'I can't! Someone else is flying it. An external force. I've lost control.'

'But how? Why?' There was a pause on the Doctor's side of the line and Winter watched the communicator carefully, unsure of what was going on, suddenly it crackled back to life and his voice bled through once more, 'Listen to me, just land her anywhere. Emergency landing, now. There are cracks in time, I've seen them everywhere, and they're getting wider. The TARDIS exploding is what causes them, but we can stop the cracks ever happening if you just land her!'

'It's not safe,' River cried.

'Just do it!' Winter yelled.

There was a jolt and River breathed a sigh of relief. 'We're down. We've landed.'

'Okay, just walk out of the doors. If there's no-one inside, the TARDIS engines shut down. Just get out of there.'

Winter smiled at River and the pair headed as fast as they could for the doors. But they refused to open. River rushed back over to the communicator for help but the Doctor didn't reply. She gave up and grabbed two cables from the console, pulling them out and running them over to the doors connecting them as the TARDIS continued to spark and explode.

Winter jumped out of the way as sparks flew and River wrenched the doors open only to be met by a stone wall. She put and hand to her chest and looked at it.

'Oh my god'

'The Small But Powerful One': Oh dear, I hope you haven't been staring too long. If you have hopefully this nice long chapter will make up for it

'Rachy Babes': Surprise surprise she's not dead also, there is actually a large chunk of Winter's journey missing from here. The Angel didn't send her back to Rome… someone else did.