Update, Martha and Jack finally make an appearance. I appreciate any story suggestions and requests, hope you like it


"Doctor?" Rory questioned calmly, he didn't know if he would ever be the same again, if he would ever recognise himself in the mirror. The prior events changing him, warping him, altering him. He'd forgotten what day it was, what month it was, what year, all of it had just blended together into a huge mess; a tangled web of chaos, fear and danger, his childhood crush and wife ripped from him without his knowledge. Terrified of what had happened to her and what was going to happen. But she was safe, she was alive and she was back in his arms, alongside their newborn, he wasn't letting her out of his sight again. He would never consider risking it, not for a second.

The doctor turned to Rory with one of his usual boyish smiles, deviating his attention away from piloting his ship "Ah Rory, sleep well? I know it can be quite boring trapped in the tardis for so long". Unlike his kind, unlike himself who was born to fly a tardis, a Time Machine, someone who protected time and space. Rory was a human, for him time was a fixed point, history, something in books. Unlike the time and space he'd come to learn about. Though his voice was positive, the concern he felt for Rory radiated within him. He hated knowing he was responsible for the pain he was feeling, Rory looked like he hadn't slept in weeks, when he did it was only when the doctor or River took over for him, he'd been through hell and back.

Rory hesitated, he'd become good at sensing when the doctor was forming a smile as to not show his own concerns. The only one left of his kind, the last survivor after a battle that happened so long ago and he tried to forget. The kind of man who repressed his pain so he wouldn't have to feel. The gnawing emptiness, the sadness, the immortality that came with having to outlive or lose everyone you ever loved. The doctor empathised and he was putting their wellbeing above all."Amy's with Melody, she got hungry so she's feeding her, first time she's done so since..." Rory reflected. Amy was adjusting to the fact this wasn't a dream, it wasn't a delusion, she was safe and Kovarian was gone. She wasn't being fed illusions and daydreams of her life. All of her current experiences were real and she wasn't trapped in a tube. The first time being when she was born, before she was nearly snatched from her. Accepting that she was back with the people who loved her more than anything. Amy was now accepting that this wasn't a dream, Kovarian wasn't lurking in the shadows and this wasn't a deception. This was real, this was her life and she didn't have to worry about anything happening to her. Now she was able to bond with her baby girl, to accept motherhood, to raise their baby and protect her. He saw the doctors smile falter, a knowing look on his face, slowly letting the mask lower.

"Giving her a break to have some peace?" he asked, Rory was running himself ragged, expanding himself to take care of his wife. Amy appreciated how tentative, protective and present he was, but it was also rather claustrophobic for her. She needed to breathe, she needed to clear her mind and relax, but Rory watching her all hours would be putting her on edge. Expecting the worst to happen all over again. Rory nodded, he knew she needed to sleep, he knew she wanted to be alone with Melody, and he respected that.

"How are you Rory? You have your wife back? Your daughter back, your adult daughter as a companion..." he trailed off. Everyone had been worrying about Amy, everyone had been checking on her, everyone had been taking care of her. But Rory had been neglected and ignored since. Nobody considered his trauma, his sadness, the effect all of this had on him. He finally had Amy back in his arms, months and weeks of not knowing what happened to her. Only the knowledge she was a ganger replacement. Accepting she was a mother, only accepting she was pregnant at such short notice, never being able to prepare or even bond with the baby growing inside of her. It was a lot for them both to accept.

Rory's expression filled with conflict, anger, sadness, resentment, happiness, confusion, the anger he felt towards the doctor, the resentment; but also the relief, the gratitude, the happiness. Their lives would never be the same again, would Amy ever be able to have another baby? Would they ever be themselves again. Knowing Amy had been abducted right under their noses and he was none the wiser, he failed to protect her. "She's back, she's back in the Tardis and this time she's real, our baby is real, she's not a ganger. My adult daughter is your wife, but..." he stammers. Amy was travelling with them again, she was protected and he knew this time she wasn't being held hostage by their enemies, his family was back within reach. But the gnawing fear, paranoia and trauma, terrified it could all be ripped from him made it even worse.

"It feels too good to be true, like a dream you're inevitably going to wake up from" The doctor pressed, Rory nodded. He knew that feeling all too well, he'd experienced it again and again, every time he got close to someone. It happened with Rose, it happened to Martha and it happened to Donna and now Amy. Everyone that got close to him inevitably ended up being hurt, their lives altered or ruined in some way. The doctor smiled sympathetically "Rory, that negativity, that sadness, that trauma, it all happened, I wish it hadn't but it did. It's the realest feeling to hold onto. I wish I could make it go away but I can't, all I can do is try and do right by the Ponds" he pressed. He had to live with the fact he was indirectly responsible for all of this, he made enemies and they came for the people he loved. They wanted to hurt him by hurting the people he cared for, the cruelest thing possible, he had to live with the memories until his death. Accepting the negative helped you appreciate the positive, Kovarian had snatched Amy and she tried to take their baby, but she wouldn't be able to. The doctor would never let that happen. He wished more than anything he could erase that timeline, but it did happen and River was proof of that. But he could alter it, he could change it.

Rory smiled wearily, the doctor was as exhausted as them, he could hear the pain in the doctors voice, the sincerity, the hurt behind his eyes. The doctor had made countless mistakes in every regeneration, he'd loved and he's lost more than anyone in the universe. But like River had said before, he was dearly loved by so many he just failed to accept it. But he would forever remain their family, more than anyone else in the world. Both he and Amy inevitably accepted that the doctor was the one who would always protect them, he had to make the hard decisions. He would willingly be the villain if it meant he had to make the hard decisions.

"Have you slept? Eaten at all?" The doctor asked, Rory had been babysitting Melody, comforting her, parenting her while supporting Amy through this ordeal. Making himself expandable but in the worst way, he needed to keep his strength up, humans were surprisingly weak and vulnerable. He refused to allow Rory to hurt himself, Amy was already fragile and if she sensed Rory was neglecting himself it would only worsen her own healing journey. Rory shook his head, whenever he tried to sleep he found himself ripped from them before he could find peace. Food didn't taste the same, it didn't fill the emptiness inside of him. His dreams were filled with nightmares of Amy being snatched, waking up to being alone, her still missing. Scared that the doctor would point his screwdriver at her again and she would melt in front of him. Thinking of their daughter melting in front of them, that Amy would be holding a blanket filled with nothingness. The fear this was too good to be true

The doctor smiled, they deserved to celebrate a little, let their hair down and have some fun "I do believe I have something for that..." he smiled. Thanks to his many time travels and acquaintances he kept a large cellar. His tolerance was a lot stronger than the average human, but now was as good a time as any to enjoy something stronger. "Darling?" he called, trying not to smirk as he did so. He could always rely on River to make him smile, to bring out that boyish playful side of him that loved to show off. She brought out the best in him and somehow the most dangerous. He never got tired of their pet names, the way she made butterflies in his stomach and was addictively passionate. River was sunshine, fire and honey, sweet and dangerous, and she had his heart. Of all the people, all of the women to come into his life, nobody was more dear to him than her.

River's head popped up from underneath the lower levels of the tardis, her usual smile on her face, her curls bouncing like a golden crown. He merely had to call her name and she was summoned, using calling cards to reach out to one another. "Yes sweetie?" she questioned with an expectant smile.

"I do believe daddy dearest is feeling the reality of our escape and recovering baby you. I do think he needs a drink" he pressed. Rory needed to unwind, he needed to detach from reality and just feel some relief, he could only prescribe one method. Sleep wasn't working, he was getting no rest and no other method was helping. They all needed one, they all needed something to help, it would take the edge off.

River smiled, she liked where this was going, she couldn't think of a better time "Are we talking tea? Tea with something special in it or alcohol?" she suggested, she knew the doctor had a secret stash and she sneaked some on occasion into the tardis. Amy above all people needed one the most right now, everything she had survived, everything she had endured. But drinking while nursing was not the best idea. Amy needed as much stress relief as possible but they would need to find alternate methods to assist and comfort her.

"Whiskey tea please" Rory pressed, he knew he sounded like an old man but it would really hit the spot, he didn't want to ask questions, he just needed a relief. Amy was a mess, he was a mess, he wanted to help her but he was reaching his limit. The doctor was trying to help, his adult daughter was trying to help. The doctor was the only confidant he had right now, the only person he could unburden himself to. He knew older men enjoyed a whiskey tea, smooth but with a kick, making it easier to relax. He really was falling into the roll of father.

River smiled, she wondered if Amy knew about this side of her husband, during his immortality and time as a centurion soldier, what sort of habits had he picked up? "Ooo look at you, daddy dear is being adventurous" she teased. She knew how hard it was for him, all the trauma, all the responsibility, he truly was a brave man. But she disappeared to find enough for them all, god knows they needed it.


Rory sat reflectively, the Doctor sat beside him and River sat opposite, watching him carefully, all of them sipping in silence, a comfortable calm, the tension eased, but all of them were exhausted and stressed. None of them dared speak, none of them said a word, the tension in the air so thick you could slice through it. The tea kept flowing and a bottle of whiskey sat nearby, glowing in the light of the console room. All of their alerts all turned on, all prepared for the worst to come, the peace and silence unnerving. The doctor wanted to take care of him, nursing him back to the familiar sarcastic voice of reason they all loved. River wanted to protect him, she wanted her father back to the person she admired, the soldier she had heard stories of. Worried he was made of glass, worried he may crumble at any point.

"She's healthy… nothing internally or externally wrong with her, just a normal healthy baby girl" The doctor mumbled. He needed Rory to know his baby was normal, that nothing strange would ever occur, well nothing outside of the human lifecycle that is. Unlike his wife, this melody hadn't been cloned, infused with timelord DNA, she wasn't experimented on against her will, she was entirely human. The river they managed to save, the melody they rescued, Kovarian hadn't managed to get her claws embedded into her. She hadn't been experimented on, Kovarian hadn't turned her into a weapon or a timelord alteration, she had never managed to turn her into a weapon to kill the doctor. She couldn't regenerate, she couldn't form different personalities or identities, she would never change her appearance or take on a new face. She would just grow up a normal human girl raised by her parents, a half Scottish human born to two loving parents. She could be whoever she wanted to as an adult.

Rory shifted, being the daughter of someone like her parents, she would never be an average child. A thrill seeking, impulsive and passionate mother; and a loyal, empathetic and protective father. "She was never going be to normal…" he trailed off, glancing at River who smiled cheekily. She was too much like Amy to ever have a normal life. Their melody would be raised around all kinds of people, with all kinds of influences and life lessons, but she would still be a human. "But you're right, she's healthy, she's safe, they can't hurt her…" his voice cracked, she would never experience the pain her future self had, the trauma that their future self had. She would be raised by her parents, doted on and would become whoever she wanted, she would be protected, she would be brilliant and she would be beautiful. Though her appearance would drastically alter from her regenerated self. His eyes became glassy as he shifted his gaze to River, the beautiful baby girl he was never able to save or raise "They can't hurt her like they hurt you" he pressed. He would never let anyone hurt Melody, he would protect her with his life.

River's smile faded into softness, pain and loneliness formed on her face, seeing her father cry so sincerely, the boundless love he felt for his child radiating from him. She'd closed off her heart long ago to protect herself from the pain inflicted onto her, remembering her past, what would have been Melody's future. The nightmares that would never leave her, the things she tried to escape, remembering the monsters who raised her after kidnapping her. The childhood she lost, the trauma her alternate self would never have.

"The doctor would always protect me, he promised he'd find me and he did. I may not have been rescued but we found each other. But he managed to save your daughter" she soothed. If she called out for him, if she was in danger, if she was hurt, if she was frightened, the doctor would come for her.

Rory softened, wiping his eyes, he never thought his daughter would be the one comforting him, but peculiarities such as these seemed to be the regular in his life. His wife was safe, their baby girl was safe, they were out of reach of those that sought to harm them. But after what was done to her, the experiments, whatever Kovarian had done to Amy's anatomy, any form of hope they had to procure any other children was lost. But hopefully they could fix that, they could alter or reverse any damage done so long as it wasn't permanent.

"I know you want to go home, I know you both do. But Kovarian wanted your baby, she wanted to use her against me. She may not have a use for Amy anymore, but she has one for your daughter. So long as you are all at risk, I'm afraid you're travelling with me" The doctor apologised. He couldn't risk letting Amy out of his sight, out of the protection of the tardis, she had a target on her back. Once Melody was fully grown, once she had her own mind, she would be beyond Kovarian's control and she would be useless to them. He needed to ensure Melody remained out of their grasp.


The doctor tapped his console impatiently, he had no right to ask them for help, it was a cowards move but he had no other options. The anger, the hostility, the sadness, the resentment, any negative feelings they may harbour for him would be valid and expected. He'd made so many mistakes towards those closest to him, those who had trusted and believed in him, seeing him as hero. He'd ruined their lives and yet he needed them now more than ever, begging on his knees for their support. He couldn't face this alone and he knew it, he needed all the support he could get, he needed any alliances that could ensure Kovarian would be threatened. Reaching out an olive branch in hopes they would respond, Amy and Rory deserved that protection, they deserved to live in peace after their involvement of him led to their misery.

River placed her hand on his shoulder supportively, she could sense the pain inside of him, the storm of conflict pouring out of him. The doctor had told her all about his friends, his companions, people he had loved and lost, all the people he became attached to that he had to sever bonds and say goodbye to. Forcing himself to live alone in a self proclaimed exile as it was easier than letting people in and becoming attached. Breaking his heart repeatedly when he attempted to heal.

Rose Tyler his first companion, the girl he loved that got trapped in another universe, his first love and his deepest regret. A teenager from London who worked as a retail assistant that got herself involved with the doctor by chance. A girl who followed him through time and fell in love with him, fell in love with his life, only to be ripped back to reality when she realised she wasn't the only one. When she decided to stay with the doctor forever, abandoning her own life, only to be ripped from him by force. Realising she was severed from the doctor forever and no amount of technology would ever be able to change that she belonged in a parallel universe.

Martha Jones, the girl who loved him who he never appreciated enough, the girl who was amazing, bright and so full of attitude. The girl who learned fast and was capable of holding her own. Whose family he placed in danger and he could never take it back, the master enslaving them and traumatised them all. The girl who fell in love with him, whom he never noticed and decided to walk away for her own wellbeing. Someone who still believed in him and was willing to become the enemy in order to do what was right. Eventually marrying Mickey Smith, Rose Tylers ex boyfriend whom also joined Unit alongside her to protect the earth. Causing her to join Unit, an ensemble the doctor had once worked with. But he didn't always agree with their tactics, knowing that she had changed from the naive trainee doctor he first met. But they were at one point friends.

Torchwood, whose barbaric practices and methods against alien kind was something the doctor abhorrently disagreed with. He didn't agree with their violence, their disrespect for the timelines and fragility of dimensions. Though Jack was a past companion, an immortal and close friend, he didn't agree with the corporation he worked alongside. But he was an ally and he could help them. Jack was a close confidant of the doctor and one of the few companions to have known him through three regenerations. She too on occasion had worked alongside jack, shared a flirtationship with him but her heart belonged to the doctor and he knew it.

Donna Noble whom she had met briefly, before she had her memory erased and was forced to forget the doctor. A woman who had collected several skills and traits from her various forms of employment, who's emotionally abusive and gaslighting mother repressed and crushed any confidence she had. The only person who truly loved and believed in her was her grandfather. The woman who never believed she was special or important and ended up saving the world, someone he cared for greatly, his best friend. She was never threatened or jealous of any of his past companions, due to her purely platonic affection for the doctor. Someone who wasn't afraid to confront him or argue with him, who's heart was as big as his own.

"Sweetie?" She asked, her voice soft and gentle. The doctor placed his hand over hers, squeezing it silently to which she leaned forward and kissed it, resting her head against his shoulder to silently communicate her presence. Silently begging her to stay, lowering his guard to show his vulnerability, opening his wounds to her. She wanted him to know he was loved, that he wasn't alone and he meant the world to her. She would sacrifice the universe for him, she'd already stopped time and ripped the fabric of reality in half so he wouldn't be shot. Though she had many lovers, many courtships and flings, she had never loved anyone like she did the doctor. Someone she would never give up and someone she would always choose over anyone else. She knew how hard this was for him, she knew this was a difficult choice for him. The doctor never looked back, but now he was facing old mistakes. She could see the pain dancing behind his eyes, the unspoken words, his eyes saying so much while his mouth said so little. She knew he was opening old wounds, memories of his past he'd buried for self preservation and to protect his heart.

The doctor licked his lips, gripping the console tightly, the metal squeaking under his grip "I… I can't ask this of them, I have to; but I feel….after what I did…" he had nobody else he could turn to, he had no other allies strong enough or trustworthy enough. Vastra and Jenny were allies, they were powerful, but they weren't enough. His past self ruined their lives, he'd broken their hearts and hurt their loved ones. God knows what any of them were doing now.

River softened, she'd made more than enough mistakes, she'd ended up in space prison for her actions. She'd made plenty of enemies and she was infamous in the galaxy and numerous dimensions, she was a criminal and a heroine to many. She understood the doctor better than anyone. "You weren't responsible for what happened, not directly. Your involvement with them was the only crime you ever committed. The master was the one who enslaved Martha's family, he was the one who traumatised her. Bad wolf was the one who made Jack immortal. The tardis knows he's an anomaly and shakes him off every chance it gets. He's a good man but you come into conflict. You need them, my parents need them" she soothed. He could live with the scars and the trauma but she refused to allow him to internalise and blame himself for it. He believed he was best alone and yet he found comfort among humanity. The master had been an enemy of the doctor long before she met him, long before she was born, a rivalry going back generations, centuries of his life. The master was a corrupt, insane and deeply traumatised man who lacked the morals and empathy the doctor still harboured. Though he was as broken as the doctor, he gave into his demons and the wickedness inside of him. He enjoyed in the suffering and torment of lesser and weaker beings, labelling himself a god. She had never crossed paths with the master and hoped she never did, for she wouldn't fear him but the hell she would unleash upon him was something he should instead fear. She wasn't afraid to become a bigger monster to protect the doctor from the only other living timelord.

The doctor softened, turning his head to River, her words always cut deep into his heart, seeing him for the rawest version of himself. She was his closest confident and the only person to truly ever understand him, willing to take on the mantle of villain so he could protect his heart and sanity, to preserve his morality. She made the choices he never could so he didn't have to shoulder that burden. Labelling herself a psychopath jokingly, though they were eerily similar in that sense, embracing the darkness within themselves. She saw his dark side and wasn't afraid of him, she embraced it, joined him and encouraged the wickedness inside of herself, how far she would go for him. She saw his pain and his sadness but she never avoided him, she never denied it and she never let him repress it. She loved him as he was and accepted it, she wouldn't have him any other way, her beloved doctor. They brought out the best in one another and faced the good and the bad, playing a dangerous game of cat and mouse but knowing they would always be there for each other. No matter their bickering, no matter their arguments, they were loyal to the other and always apologised. Seeing each other at their best and their worst, but still loving each other. She fell in love with the doctor first, but he fell even harder for River in return.

"I'll stay with you, I'll help you through it" she promised, no matter if he told her to leave, if it was too dangerous, demanding that she protect herself, she would be the one to stay with him until the end. The doctor reached out to cup her face, stroking her cheek with his thumb, gazing into her eyes silently, feeling his heart swell with love. Before tapping her nose gently in the affectionate manner he always did, to which she smiled back.


Amy, Rory and River all stood by the console silently, the doctor had summoned them and explained it was a high priority. But if Amy wished to sit down or have privacy at any time she could. So long as she stayed in the console room until the discussion was over and done with.

Amy held Melody in her arms, rocking her softly as the hum of the Tardis soothed her, allowing her eyes to roam around the room. After all this time, compared to the person she was when she first stepped into the tardis, versus the person she became. Seeing it through vastly different eyes, all of the knowledge she had conceived since then, it was such a strange feeling. Knowing while she was unaware of her pregnancy, Melody had been aware of the tardis around her, she had always belonged here, even when she was conceived. The tardis was her playground, her classroom and one of her many homes. "Sorry, who are you calling exactly?" Amy asked expectantly, she knew the tone of her voice sounded accusing but she couldn't help it. She was sleep deprived, stressed, anxious and suspicious, but then nobody could blame her for that, she was on edge. She knew the doctor had friends, but with the safety of her daughter she didn't want to take chances. She wasn't willing to lose what was precious to her ever again, she wasn't willing to have her life ripped apart. Anyone who may be a traitor, anyone who may betray them, anyone who could steal her daughter from her.

"Some old friends from earth, they used to travel with me a long time ago. They have experience with fighting alternate lifeforms and could form a defence system" the doctor explained tapping away. He was glad of the powerful connections he'd managed to form, the friends that remained and lives he'd preserved and protected. But it always came with a cost, with a risk, people had been sacrificed along the way. He'd known Jack since his ninth incarnation, someone whom he met on his travels with Rose, despite their confrontations and opposing views, they were close allies. Jack knew the consequences and the responsibilities, he knew the doctor too well and knew how dangerous it could be. But he still cared for, supported and loved the doctor regardless.

"Meaning?" Rory questioned, he could see there was something he was hiding from them, something he didn't want to tell them, the doctor had many friends which worried him.

"Unit can scan for any oncoming attacks, procure safety measures and form a shield. They can find a safe place for you and your family to ensure nobody is attacked or kidnapped again. You may have to live in a secluded place privately, but it would mean nobody could find you" the doctor pressed. They would never be able to go back to their old lives, the blissful naivety, the normality of it all, the peaceful domestics. They would always have to be aware of the dangers they would face, never being able to trust again.

"So uprooting our whole lives and living somewhere else?" Amy asked, she would have to say goodbye to her aunt, she would be forced to say goodbye to her in laws. Any close connections she had would no longer exist. Things could never go back to how they used to be, no matter how much they wanted it to be so. She appreciated change, she had been forced to when the doctor never came back. Forced to change from the naive happy little girl with an imaginary friend to a defensive, sharp tongued adult.

"Precisely" The doctor nodded, not that much different from their current life. He could see the doubt and the fear in her eyes, she loved the doctor very much but there were some risks she wasn't willing to take. "Torchwood combat attacks and scan for any oncoming dangers, handling the alien life smoothly. I had some conflicts with them in the past due to their ignorant experiments and chaos. Much of the catastrophe's on earth were caused by them. But….they are better" he insisted.

"Meaning if they attempted to come back, to kidnap Amy or Melody again…" Rory realised, The doctor was safeguarding, preparing for what was to come. He didn't like what he was having to do, but it was the best course of action they could consider. His respect for the doctor grew, knowing he was making the difficult choices so they never had to. He wasn't coddling them, he wasn't calling them stupid, he was showing care of them in the best way he knew how.

"Torchwood would see it coming" the doctor confirmed, they would be able to prepare and advance for oncoming threats. They would be able to communicate with the doctor about any changes or updates that may happen.

Amy softened, after what happened to her, after her abduction and everything else, knowing her trauma, her nightmares, her pain and her suffering, he never wanted her to experience this again. He was doing all of this for her and melody's sake, so she would never be separated from her loved ones again, so she would never know that kind of fear ever again. The doctor was showing his grief, he was showing his guilt and remorse, he deeply cared for her, he had already hurt too many people before this. Forming webs to ensure their protection and that this wouldn't be repeated, reaching out as much as he could to ensure Amy always had someone watching out for her when he couldn't, protecting not only her but their baby "Thank you".

The doctor smiled warmly, knowing that Amy trusted him more than she had anyone in her life, someone who'd been looking out for her growing up and as an adult. However, he quickly turned to River with a knowing look "No flirting" he warned.

River pouted, but a playful smile formed on her lips "Jack and I can be professional, it's harmless work banter. Flirting, you're the only man for me sweetie" she winked. No matter what charming lover boy came her way, no matter the pretty face or promises, she would only ever truly love the doctor, she married him after all. Nobody could ever compare to the doctor, nobody could take his place, he was on an irreplaceable pedastol. The only person she could never risk losing, the only person she would sacrifice anyone else but her parents for.

The doctor sighed, rolling his eyes before tapping away at the console, focusing on what needed to be done. Making sure the connection was strong and the line was direct, calling Martha Jones directly with Unit; calling Torchwood directly and hoping that Jack would answer. Gripping the console tightly, silently wishing for this to work, closing his eyes as his brown eyes darkened with emotion. Suddenly a familiar face appeared on the screen, making anxiety pool in his stomach seeing her face again after all this time.

She was older, wiser, different, her hair styled into braids, wearing a leather jacket, but she looked happier. How may years had passed since? How old was she now? Was she still a doctor? Her eyes widened in surprise, looking at the doctor cautiously, as if she expected it to be a prank. She licked her lips "Doctor?" she questioned. It had been so long, after she chose to leave and make her own life she had missed him deeply, never forgetting him. She had a new family, she was healing and repairing but she had never stopped hoping he would come back someday. Someone she respected and cared for immensely, a time of her life she would always hold dear. She had so many questions to ask him, what had become of him and his life?

The doctor sighed in relief, smiling brightly at her, it felt strange to hear her voice again after all this time. He was glad something happy came out of their friendship. "Martha Jones, about time you answered, it's good to see your face again" he beamed.

A scoff escaped her lips, staring at him in awe, a different face but the same man she once loved and travelled with. Looking back it felt more like a girlish crush over a man who would never notice her. Comparing her to Rose Tyler, a blonde shop assistant from London, someone entirely different. Someone close to her heart that she came to respect immensely, someone who's opinion and intellect she valued. "Doctor" she repeated in relief

"You never told me she was cute?!" River responded, breaking the silence, her tone very flirtatious. She knew the doctor warned her but technically she wasn't breaking any rules. She wasn't supposed to flirt with Jack but what about Martha, the doctor was being fair. She was such a lovely little thing, such a pretty face and she was smart too, all the best qualities. The doctor rolled his eyes, no matter who he introduced River too there was a large chance of her flirting with them anyway. He could never win.

Martha blinked in surprise her eyes roaming around the screen to take in his new companions. She knew many years had passed since her time with the doctor, so many years since their travelling. The younger naive person she used to be, compared to the wisened woman she was now. All the things she had seen and endured, what had happened since then? A redhead which made a nice change, holding a baby in her arms, and a dirty blonde male standing close beside her. It seemed the doctor wasn't just travelling alone with girls anymore, making her feel insignificant, like she could never compare. Next to the doctor was what could only be described as a femme fatale with a head of curls, piercing blue eyes and a very seductive figure. She held herself confidently, she was wearing a flirtatious smile and a knowing look. The doctor had indeed moved on, but it seemed he had a family now, he had more people in his life who loved him. His demeanour had changed too, he wasn't as distant, standoffish or private, he seemed more comfortable and expressive. She was happy for him, he seemed happier, he wasn't alone anymore.

The doctor blinked, realising he hadn't made any introductions or explained himself yet. Martha's knowledge of his friends was up until Donna, before he decided to be alone for a period. Before he decided he needed time to heal and needed to move on from the people he had loved. He raised his arms wide, spreading them to introduce his companions "Oh yes, Martha Jones, meet Amy Pond, her husband Rory Williams-Pond, their daughter Melody and their adult daughter, Melody River Song-Pond" he explained.

Martha stared, he was travelling with a married couple, that made a nice change. Meaning none of them were romantically interested in the doctor from what she could assume. He'd formed a family with people who needed him. Before she clicked as to what he just said, backtracking the conversation "Wait, did you say adult daughter? As in the same person but a future adult version?" she asked. The doctor nodded, he knew that was a lot to take in and it would just get stranger. "How is that possible?" she questioned, there was so much left unsaid for her to process.

Suddenly the second camera lit up, Jack's familiar face beaming through with a flirtatious smile on the camera "Doctor, you sure know how to leave a guy on read. Does it have to take the end of the world for you to call me back?" Jack greeted, his tone flirtatious. The doctor always seemed to evade his calls or be out of reach, like he didn't want to be found. He had a new face, a new ship, new companions and a new life, but somehow he was the same as ever, old habits never changed. River smirked, he really hadn't changed, he was as cocky and confidant as ever, swooping in and attracting attention to himself. Aways looking for a new pretty face to seduce into his bed. The same energetic mischievous personality that she resonated with. "Is that the stunning River Song beside you?" he teased, it had been a long time indeed but she was as stunning as ever.

Amy made a confused and rather uncomfortable face, she was in the same room as her son in law and best friend, as well as her adult daughter. She was still adapting to the future that Melody would have with the doctor, how she gave her away but it was still a lot to process. Now she was watching another brief fling of her daughter's flirting with her in front of them all, knowing they had a casual affair. How many lovers had her daughter had? How many people had she been involved with? How was she supposed to keep up? Would she ever get used to this?

"Ever the same" Martha agreed, she remembered how flirty he had been with her before she had met Mickey and settled down with him. Jack was always flirting with someone, not that she minded, he knew how to make someone feel wanted and desired.

"Is that the lovely Martha Jones?" Jack smirked, how was her marriage with Mickey Smith working out, turning his attention to her. He still couldn't believe the doctors matchmaking led to them getting married.

"Alright enough" The doctor huffed, he was growing tired of this and he was questioning his decisions. He didn't call them to have a flirt-fest, he called them because he needed help. Jack would flirt with everyone in the room before he showed any semblance of being productive. Now was not the time to form hookups. River smiled knowingly, how she loved her doctor, how alive he made her feel and how safe she felt with him. She wasn't just some girl to him, she was so much more than that. Though she harmlessly flirted with Jack and they had chemistry, she would always choose her beloved timelord.

"Sorry, are these guys going to help or just flirt with each other?" Amy asked impatiently, they had been called for a reason, the doctor reached out due to an emergency. This was supposed to be important, while she too enjoyed harmless flirting, now was not the time. Less than a few weeks close to a month ago, she had been held hostage after her daughter was conceived without her knowledge. Forced to carry to term under watch and nearly had her baby stolen. Now was not the time for mingling, flirting or messing around. She was scared, she was angry, she was tired and she was frustrated.

Jack gave Amy a knowing look, it seemed the doctor never lost his old habits, he really had a type. "Well, another redhead? Looks like you made some new friends" Jack teased. He remembered Donna, they briefly met when they saved earth from the dalek's, but Donna's memory was erased shortly after. However, he was bringing new faces into the tardis, ones that weren't bad on the eye. His gaze fell to Rory, a mop of messy dirty blonde hair, an interesting facial appearance but very awkward indeed. He had to say it was doing it for him "I gotta say, the guys not bad looking either". How long had he been hiding him?

Rory's expression changed to befuddled, he had no idea what was happening but he was confused. I mean he was partially flattered to be the centre of attention over Amy for once but that didn't he was enjoying it. Who was this guy and why was he flirting with everyone he came across? This man was an ally of the doctors but why was he the most incompetent so far? "Sorry what's happening?" he questioned.

Amy rolled her eyes impatiently, it wasn't that hard to understand but she was sympathetic to Rory being flustered. But she wasn't going to ignore a charming but very obnoxious rando to be flirting with her husband. River may have inherited her flirting skills but she wasn't a cheat, nor was Amy. "River and this Jack guy had some friends with benefits going on, work colleagues etc. Martha is an old friend of the doctor. They all have some weird unspoken thing and flirtationship. But The doctor is the love of our daughters life" she explained. Many people had loved the doctor, been attracted to him and crushed on him, but the person he gave his heart to, whom he married was their daughter Melody Pond/River Song.

"That's about the gist of it" River agreed, she had met millions of different people along the course of her lifespan, she had had her heart broken, been the heart breaker, loved and lost and had casual affairs. But none had ever meant as much to her as the doctor had and ever would. The difficulties of loving the doctor was something Jack resonated with and was one of their many bonding experiences. Talking of their travels with the doctor and the heartache it brought with it. She had inherited her wit from her mother, seeing her in person showed how alike they were.

"Sorry did she say daughter?" Jack asked, it hadn't been that long had it? Since when had one of his companions had children? He knew River never spoke about her family but she had a lot of trauma, that her past was something she tried to forget. So much had happened to the doctor in his absence. He then noticed the infant that Amy was cradling something protectively in her arms, upon looking closer he realised it was an infant wrapped in a blanket. She couldn't be more than a few weeks old. How long had Amy been pregnant? How long had she been carrying her daughter in the Tardis? The doctor had many companions and families had been involved, the Tylers, The Jones, now the Nobles. So many people had come and gone into his life it was hard to keep track. But for one to become pregnant within the tardis itself.

"Yes sorry about that, River is the alternate adult version of Rory and Amy's adorable but rather mischievous baby. She's their adult daughter, I'm their son in law and River is my wife. I know, it's a lot to take in" The doctor explained. He'd been able to communicate with River since she was small, he understood hundreds of dialects and babies were included. He knew her every thought, he knew inside of her head and she knew his. Though physically she was an adult woman, her mental age reflected her true biological one, it changed from every time they happened to meet. She was the most important person in the world to him, and the sentiment was returned. He had never seen himself as being able to married, he never saw himself giving his life to anyone else. But she fell for him first, but the doctor fell for River even harder, to the extent her ghost haunted him when they were apart.

Jack stared at them in awe, if he had been speaking to the doctor's earlier incarnations he never would have believed it. His ninth was hardened, broken, distant and threw verbal barbs at everyone, hurting from the loss of his planet and people. Ten was still broken, angry, bitter and fragile, playful and glee filled but still hiding his pain under a smile because he couldn't bear to remember. Eleven had accepted his flaws, accepted his wickedness and dark side, he was a monster and he was a villain, but he was also capable of so much good, he was capable of healing and wisdom. Hesitant to open his heart to others, at times manipulative but also had a sense of mischief but tried to forget to make the pain easier. He had believed the doctor was unobtainable for years, that he could never be paired with anyone, that he would never become attached. The doctor never forgot the faces of the people he travelled with, but he never let himself show the ghosts that haunted him and the mistakes he made. The last of his kind. The doctor got married? He'd settled down with the one person he loved more than anyone else in the universe. He had legally bound himself to another person, he had met the person whom he thought the universe of, his partner in crime. Did he wear a ring? Out of all his companions, of all the people who came and went.

Rose, the girl who got away, the first companion he met after the time war, the first human to help him heal. The teenager who wanted an escape from her life and ended up falling in love with an alien. Who followed him around like a lovesick puppy, abandoning her old life before being trapped in another dimension with her family.

Martha, the girl who was ignored and invisible, the girl who was working towards her future and confused at the reality of her life. A girl who was fed up with the chaotic drama of her life, who wanted a way out because she couldn't cope with her parents divorce and forced to play third party. She couldn't cope with training to be a doctor and forced to adult her parents difficult marriage and using her as bait against the other. The immature father who buried himself in a younger woman post the divorce and became a sugar daddy to said woman. The mother who felt ignored, taken for granted and tried to protect her daughter from the doctor. She fell in love with the magic of the doctor before she pulled herself away from the reality of loving the doctor and the harm it could do.

But he met his person and fell in love with her, he found the person who kept him grounded, could keep up with him, wouldn't age and loved him as he was. The woman who gave her heart to the doctor above all else.

The doctor sighed, his life had only become more complicated, he knew River's past and her future, the woman she would become. How important she was to him and why she knew so much about him. How was he supposed to explain this? This was going to be a lot to process and a lot of heartache. This story didn't have a happy ending, but they needed to protect the pondsHe raised his arm to direct to Amy, bringing the attention to her. For them to understand he needed to be brutally honest, he couldn't deflect and he couldn't keep secrets, he needed to lay it all out. "I've known Amy since she was a little girl, during my regeneration into this face, I crashed in her back garden. I became her imaginary friend of sorts, her childhood friend. I helped her with the crack in her wall, which of course I had to evade and due to time differences I didn't come back until she was an adult" he explained. He had crashed the tardis in her garden during his regeneration, he had met a little girl who was always alone and never showed fear. The little girl who was impressed by his promises of time travel but came back when she was an adult, making her sound delusional to everyone she told about him. He swept her away on her wedding night, took her on adventures and slowly she and Rory became his family.

"Sounds about right for you" Jack agreed, the doctors intertwining of their lives was always off for him, he never knew the exact time skip, lapse or date. He never knew how long it had been for them in comparison to him. How much he missed out on and how much he had to make up for. The doctor never meant to hurt the people closest to him, but being an ancient semi immortal dimensional being of time, it came with its heartache.

"So after I saved her planet again and managed to get the Tardis in working order, I showed up on the night of her wedding and took her on an adventure in the tardis" he explained. He came back shortly after the events of saving their world, showing Amy the wonders of the universe and what to expect. Amy was enchanted by what the doctor showed her, taking all the ups and downs that came with their friendship. He became very precious to her, and she was the only person aside from River who could sass the doctor.

"Which then led to me eventually joining them and becoming involved" Rory cut in, he often wondered what Amy and the doctor got up to in his absence before he joined them.

"So…. Where does her being their daughter fit in?" Martha asked, when had Amy realised she was pregnant? Immaculate conception wasn't even in the ball park here and surely somehow they had sensed it. The changes that occurred during pregnancy were telltale and everyone recognised them, there was only so long you could hide them for. The doctor was bound to find out eventually.

Amy licked her lips, the bonding she and Rory could have had with Melody, accepting her pregnancy, telling her loved ones. Communicating with her unborn daughter, living a normal life. All of those experiences she was robbed of so Kovarian could use her baby as a weapon, hurt and torment her to get back at the doctor. The true motherly bond she could have had with Melody was ripped from her. But now she had her back, she was able to save her and she had a chance to be a mother. "Melody was conceived on our wedding night, but I didn't know I was pregnant at that point. Before I could…before I could celebrate I was…" Amy trailed off. She had no idea she was even pregnant, she got no warning signs of it and never noticed it, Kovarian kidnapped her before she was even aware. Before she could tell Rory or even celebrate. Knowing how happy Rory could have been, how much he doted on Amy and Melody already, her pregnancy could have been so much happier. Rory was born to be a father.

Martha saw the sadness in her expression, the same haunting stare, the same emptiness that came with the dark side of caring about the doctor, she knew it all too well. Those that saw the darkness in the doctor, saw the ugly side of him and the dangers that came with befriending him. They all knew the consequences and the hurt that could never be forgotten, Amy had experienced that herself. She didn't want to ask but she knew she had to if she would ever hear the truth "What happened Doctor?"

The doctor smiled sadly "What always happens, I made enemies, I have people who are scared of me. They knew about my friendship with the ponds. They kidnapped Amy shortly after her wedding night as soon as they found out she was pregnant. They replaced her with a ganger until she came to term" he explained. No matter how many people he cared for, no matter how he tried to protect them or be clever, there was always consequences. He loved the Ponds, they were his in-laws and his family and yet he had gotten them involved. Amy could have had a normal motherhood, normal life, but her involvement with him got her hurt. The people who hated him, despised him, wanted him dead, wanted to destroy him, they attacked Amy and hoped to use her to their advantage. She never got to celebrate being a mother, she never got to experience that joy, that happiness. It was ripped from her, tainted and broken.

Martha covered her mouth in shock, hiding a small gasp as she did so. Of all the horrors in the universe, this was an occurrence with the doctor, she had never thought possible. She dreaded to think if anyone else had experienced such a thing. She knew that there were wicked and evil people in the universe, but somehow Amy had gotten the worst end of the stick than all of them, somehow what happened to Amy was far worse than her fate. Rose was trapped in another universe, but she was safe and she had her family, Donna's memory was forcefully erased but she was happy and safe. Amy could never forget, she could never erase it and she was still able to live on earth, as normally as a person could. They abducted her against her will, took what should have been the happiest life event of her life and warped it. Turning motherhood into something ugly, warping whatever happy memories she could have made. She was taken hostage because she was pregnant, she was taken hostage because she was close to the doctor.

"But why over a pregnancy? Hundreds of people have babies" Jack asked confused, thousands of species procreated, humans, aliens, he didn't understand why Kovarian would be so invested in one humans pregnancy. There was so much left unsaid, something the doctor wasn't telling them. He was keeping secrets, hiding something, whether to protect Amy or himself, he had no idea.

River took a deep breathe, the doctor was very precious to her and their relationship was as complicated as they come. But she wouldn't allow him to become the villain when he had saved her. She was born of the love her parents felt for one another, their devotion. Her circumstances of what led to her conception were indeed strange, but then that seemed to be the hallmark of her life. "I was conceived in the tardis itself" River explained, she was born within the time vortex and knew how to fly the tardis probably better than the doctor. The Tardis told her how to fly her, how to travel the stars. The bond she shared with the tardis was as unique and strange as the doctor shared with his ship itself. Martha's eyes widened, River was conceived in the time vortex? They had procreated a child in the tardis, but also one effected directly by the time vortex which was incredibly dangerous. She had a connection to the doctor, to the timelord's that even she couldn't comprehend.

"River is the future self of their baby, the alternate version of what could have been. As soon as she was born she was ripped from Amy and trained to become an assassin to kill me" The doctor explained. She saw the doctor as dangerous, as an enemy, someone who needed to be destroyed for all he was capable of. So they used an innocent baby against him, warping her into something wicked. Torturing and traumatising an innocent child by making her into an assassin, conditioning her to kill him. River was the woman she became through regeneration and experience, but the girl she would be once she grew up would be very different. The melody raised by her loving parents. Kovarian never expected them to fall in love, never expected River to betray them and become a criminal who protected the doctor.

"That's barbaric" Jack mumbled, they had taken an innocent human from her protected planet, weaponised her and watched her. Once she had reached her pregnancy limit and was about to give birth, they ripped her baby from her arms to turn into a weapon. Traumatising not only Amy but her baby, severing the bond between mother and child permanently. Amy never saw her baby again, never got to see her grow up; Melody wouldn't see her mother again until she was grown up.

"Doctor, what did they do to her?" Martha asked hesitantly, she needed to know the truth, the extent of the pain that Amy endured. She knew the doctor had secrets but they needed all the evidence to make Kovarian pay for what she had done.

A sad expression formed on the doctors face "I searched time and space for Melody but I never found her, wherever they hid her they did it well. They conditioned her from birth to become my killer. They injected her with timelord genes so she could regenerate. But she gave her residual regenerations to me when she broke her conditioning" he confessed. He searched every inch of the galaxy, the universe, dimensions looking for Melody but they hid her well, assuring she wouldn't be found. That the doctor couldn't be involved, couldn't intervene and ruin their schemes. Melody grew up around her kidnappers, alone and frightened, trying to reach out for help. She eventually escaped and tried to find her parents. River was trained to kill him, she had no idea of who she was and who she would be, as soon as she became the person who would fall in love with him. She was able to reconnect with her parents and the man who would become her husband, she was trained to become a killer, but she failed and Kovarian knew this, her plan failed from the beginning. River was so devoted to the doctor, she had no qualms of using her training to hurt the people who hurt the person she loved most, him.

Martha covered her mouth with her hand as she processed this. The horrors that the ponds had faced, that River had faced. She couldn't imagine such a thing.

"They sterilised Amy so she could never have any more children. Whether it was a hysterectomy or they just altered her with a tube. I don't know, what I do know is they stopped her from having more children. But I hope we can fix that, we can reverse it. But what I do know is they are a target" the doctor explained. They made it so Amy could never have a life, she could never be a mother again, at least not biologically. She could never feel the joys of pregnancy, she could never feel the joys of motherhood. That one chance was ripped from her by force. He wanted to help Amy, possibly reverse it and help her get her anatomy back, help her procure her body back. Some form of control after all the heartache she had endured.

Jack's face hardened, silent anger forming behind his eyes, Amy and her family deserved revenge, they all did. Their anger, their pain, their trauma and sadness. Now he knew why the doctor summoned them and he was more than happy to help. "What do you need us to do?" he asked. He would do whatever was in his power to assist the doctor, to protect his friends and ensure no further harm came to them. Amy and her family needed them now more than ever, people they could trust, people who would protect them.

"I'm headed to the shadow proclamation with my family to see what I can do to combat Kovarian and what laws she broke by involving the ponds. However, they can't return home without becoming a target" the doctor explained. The Shadow proclamation were the highest authority in the galaxy and Kovarian wouldn't be able to escape them. They would had laws against what had been done to Amy and River, they knew all the damage that had been done to her. Though he'd altered a fixed point in time, he had done so for a good reason. Protecting the woman he loved from a fate she never deserved to endure.

"And you want us to protect them when you can't" Martha smiled

The doctor beamed "Martha Jones, ever the perceptive one" he beamed, she smiled

"Jack, you've handled more aliens than I can think of, during the Dalek attack on earth and more. You'd be able to intercept if Kovarian or another enemy would attempt to attack Amy or her family again" the doctor explained. Jack had met him during world war two during one of his earlier incarnations, back when he had escaped the time war and was still full of rage. Back when he had lost his home, his planet and his civilisation. But he had formed a strong friendship with the time agent. Jack would be able to handle this situation, he would know what to do and he would handle all the nasty business.

Jack nodded "Devils run, we've heard of it, so long as we do our research we can intercept her and assure she doesn't hurt anyone else. You've made an enemy of her, you evaded her and you stole her prized possession. She won't take kindly to that" he warned. Devils run was a military prison, or what should have been rendered one, perfectly guarded and protected. Kovarian had gone to great lengths to remain undetected to the doctor, so she could enact her plans. Now that the doctor snatched Melody from her, instead of a Ganger as she had hoped, she could no longer use her against him. He had used her same method against him and wouldn't allow him to take her again.

"We handled the Sontaran's, there are drastic measures in place but….. we can handle this" Martha agreed. They would seem intimidating to Amy, regiments, rules, safeguarding and more but it was for her protection. Knowing where the enemy came from and knowing what to expect. So no more people were used as a weapon, no more people were targeted by aliens. "We can find a secluded safe house for them, only giving contact with us and yourself. Nobody would be able to locate them" she assured. Amy, Rory and her daughter could live in peace, they wouldn't be disturbed and they could have all the privacy they needed.

Amy held her baby tighter, kissing her head affectionately and rocking her gently in her arms, hoping Melody wouldn't intercept her anxiety and become anxious herself, hoping she would know she was safe. She was frightened, scared of what was to come and this all felt too good to be true. She was still getting used to the fact this wasn't another illusion fed into her like Kovarian had using a Ganger duplicate. Her life was being ripped apart and turned upside down, she expected this of being friends with the doctor but this was drastically different. She hated the idea of cutting herself off from her friends, her family, but for the safety of her baby, needs be when the devil drives. She wanted to raise her daughter in peace, no enemies, no attacks and no more abductions. Her daughter could grow up on earth, a normal happy little girl who would always be protected. Nobody would snatch her daughter away from her ever again. She would need to visit a Gynaecologist about her current situation to see what alterations could be made, but she could handle that eventually.

"I take it you aren't returning to earth anytime soon" Jack stated, the doctor was a regular visitor to earth, it was where he had formed roots and a second home. His connection to humanity was something he could never deny. But as things were, he wouldn't be dropping by for a chat anytime soon, he had a lot of work to be done.

The doctors' expression formed into silent anger, sadness and conflict, he hated to ask such a big favour of them and then nor be returning to earth. After everything, Kovarian would be searching for Amy and earth would be the first place she would start looking. He needed to hide in the places she didn't expect, the places she would least expect. They would be doing more travelling than he had expected, they would all be cohabitating for an unknown amount of time. They were all frustrated and scared but he was doing his best. "No, we aren't" he admitted

River stepped forward, placing her hand in his and squeezing it tight, sensing his anxiety "We're going to the shadow proclamation" River announced. She knew they had questions, they wanted information but this was all the doctor could give them right now. He was pushing himself to his limits to ensure their safety, he was filled with guilt and conflict overt all of this. He was so loved and yet he hated himself for his choices. He was swallowing his pride and making decisions for the wellbeing of the people he cared for the most, including her. Martha and Jack's eyes widened in shock, panic forming on their faces.

"Like the Judoon, the intergalactic space police?!" Martha panicked, she remembered the Judoon, the first time she met the doctor when the hospital was transported into space. They nearly abandoned them all to their fate as they lost oxygen until they were returned to home.

"You hate those guys, you avoid them at all cost" Jack reminded him

"Kovarian broke several laws as soon as she involved the Ponds in this, they abducted a human under malevolent intent, they experimented on a baby, experimented on a human and weaponised an infant" the doctor explained. The shadow proclamation saw to the protection of all planets, all protected species and preserving life. The least he could do was use their laws in his favour, to protect the people he cared for. To weaponise against Kovarian so she knew he was an even bigger threat. Jack nodded, it so far held a solid case they could use against Kovarian, it was drastic but it needed to be done. She would have people seeking her out for her crimes, cutting off all her connections and making her more anxious. Amy was a prime example of the worst case scenario of what happened when you got close to the doctor, she was taken from her home, kept hostage and experimented on.

"So, if we return home, we'll be protected, I mean we will have to go into the alien equivalent of witness protection. Our families can't know, nobody we love can know" Rory interjected. Their in laws would never be able to meet their granddaughter, their possibly only biological one. They wouldn't get to hear about their honeymoon, their marriage and all their adventures. They would have even more secrets they couldn't tell a soul, but then would anyone believe them if they did. Would anyone be able to understand their experiences and stories.

The doctor nodded, Rory once again being the voice of reason and logic, he was being as blunt as possible. He couldn't lie to him and he certainly wasn't going to now "Yes, I'm not going to ask you to forgive me, you'll be uprooting your entire lives but... you'll be safe, Amy will be safe, Melody will be safe" he pressed. He knew Rory was angry at him, rightfully so and still frightened, he'd lost his wife and daughter. Any grudge Rory held against him was understandable and he would do whatever he could to ease the wounds he caused.

Now that she could see her parents again, now that she had freedom and she was no longer under Kovarians wrath, she wanted to bond with her parents. Now that they knew who she was she wanted to spend as much time with them as possible. She wanted to know they would always be safe, without altering any of her alternate selfs timeline. She loved them so much and she would do anything to be able to bond with them as family. "I'll visit whenever you like, I don't have the Tardis but I can get my hands on time travel technology" River smiled. Jack had enough time travel equipment, she could fly the tardis herself, she had all manner of means of getting to see her parents.

Amy softened, River had been robbed of her childhood, the loving family she always wanted. But she could now have the family life she had been robbed of. There would always be a spare room for her, their door would always be open. Their daughter, her variant could have her as a childhood friend "I'd like that". She wanted River to be part of their lives, she wanted her to always come and see them whenever she could. She never wanted River to feel like a stranger to them.

"Looks like we have a lot of work to do, I'll have to ask Gwen and Ianto to work late" Jack sighed reflectively

The doctor smiled, the hard work would pay off and it was for a good reason, even if it would be stressful "You'll manage I'm sure" he chuckled. He would provide all the assistance he could, he would try and send all the information he could manage and communicate as much as possible.

Martha averted her gaze to Amy, she remembered Rose Tyler, the first companion she replaced who got trapped in an alternate universe. Then Donna Noble, his best friend whose entire memory was repressed after she was combined with timelord DNA, the pressure crushing her mind, causing her mind to be ripped apart. The doctor was always hurt no matter who he got close to and the scars always remained. He never forgot any of them, they always remained so important to him, so many different stories. Now he'd made a new best friend after regenerating, one whom considered him her best friend. Her family at risk just as hers had been, only it was her baby that was stolen, not her parents or siblings. She took a deep breath shakily, her mind racing and her heart aching with sympathy "Amy?" she questioned. Amy averted her gaze to acknowledge Martha. She wanted to be a friend to Amy, someone she could trust and confide in "If you need anything, if you just want to talk, if you want someone to understand, shared experiences, I'm always here to vent" she smiled.

Amy softened, she'd never had any friends who could understand, any friends who believed her about the doctor, who could even understand. Nobody could understand her experiences with the doctor, all their travels and all they had seen together. Being able to vent, converse and bond with another person who'd travelled with him could be had been so patient, so considerate and so helpful, it was nice to have a friendly face to speak to "I'd like that" she agreed.


River stood quietly by the tardis console, reflectively pressing buttons and assuring her husbands ship flew silently through space. They were all exhausted, they were all on edge and they were all working harder than they ever had before. She had never been prouder of the doctor than she had in that moment, she had never been more excited about anything. All he was risking to not only protect her parents, ensure their safety, but also protect her. Her head was buzzing with thoughts, her mind felt like it could implode, having time to reflect, be alone with her thoughts and slowly process that she had been saved. She felt the doctors presence though he had excused himself to their bedroom to finally sleep, after she reassured him she would be safe. He'd finally crashed and burned, she could sense he was exhausted and commanded him to get some rest. How she loved her doctor and how she wished he would take better care of himself. She promised him nothing would happen, she'd promised him she could handle herself and she would be here when he woke up. The Tardis had a barrier, a shield protecting them all from harm and she could communicate with the ship if she got bored. She knew how tired he was, she knew how stressed he was, he was burning the midnight oil and it was slowly killing him; placing all the accountability onto himself, ripping him apart from the inside. The ancientness in his eyes, the way he pushed himself even at the risk it would do more damage than good. He never wanted to make a mistake like that again, risk losing Amy like that. They had a plan, they had made arrangements, the gears were working and turning. They had formed a protective webbing that would ensure nothing would slip through the cracks, ensuring earth had people ready to attack. But now it was all getting back to normal, the calm after the storm, their ability to breathe and relax. They were still running but the chase had died down, the tension, allowing reality to settle in.

Suddenly, she heard footsteps, her ears pricking as she slowed her breathing and listened closely. She'd learned to listen to her surroundings, the assassin in her always knew to be cautious, to never lower her guard fully. She was always ready for danger, always ready for an attacker and always prepared to protect herself. That kind of conditioning was hard to break, even with her mind back. What Kovarian had done to her, what they made her into, how they warped and changed her, she would never be a normal woman. She sighed heavily, she had a feeling she would be chasing the doctor back to bed, assuring him that she could manage without him. She did love their domestic moments in the tardis, their alone time, their bonding and sweet moments, he was as stubborn as she was. Suddenly a familiar head of red hair appeared, awkwardly appearing on the stairs, as if she didn't want to be seen but didn't know how to remain elusive. She softened, this wasn't what she expected, she had assumed she would be resting and cuddled up with Rory. But it was a welcomed surprise, they hadn't really had time to chat "Hello mother dear" she smiled kindly.

Amy shifted, taking in her adult daughter flying the tardis like it was second nature to her. She was still getting used to the fact that River was her adult daughter, the version she never got to raise, the version she never saw grow up. But the motherly instincts in her wanted to dote on River, take care of her and parent her, show her the love she was denied. "Don't you need rest?" she questioned, River had been through as much stress as all of them. She could tell when she was lying and being clever, she got that from her after all.

River softened, smiling in amusement as she tinkered at the console "Believe me, I have too much energy to even consider taking a nap, I'm the best person to be flying the tardis right now" she soothed. She had too many thoughts and too much anxiety to allow her to settle, her nightmares would merely keep her awake. She would rest when she needed to, when the time was right. Right now she wanted to be alone with the ship, to be alone with her thoughts and just breathe. To allow her weakness to show when nobody could see her mask slip.

Amy hummed, deciding it was best not to press as she may upset her daughter. Her eyes roaming around the ship for her familiar raggedy man "Where?..." she trailed off, the doctor was gone. Usually wherever River was, he was nearby, being clever and tinkering. It was unusual for it to be this quiet, for her to have so much peace. She would have expected him to be having a monologue about how clever he was without realising nobody was listening.

River hummed in amusement, the love she felt for the doctor was shared by her mother. They both worried about him deeply, the man who always did too much. Amy needed to speak to him, have a heart to heart with him about all that had occurred, but now was not the time. "He finally crashed, he's been internalised everything since he saved you from Demons run, he's exhausted, fatigued, stressed. I finally sent him off to bed to take a nap for weeks, he's no use when he's exhausted" River explained. He couldn't keep his eyes open anymore, his brain needed a rest, he'd strained himself too much and he needed a break. As soon as he hit the pillows he would be out like a light until he had recovered. He'd done well but he needed to rest if they were to pull this off, everyone would just worry about him otherwise. Amy softened, seeing how much the doctor meant to her daughter, the love in her eyes when she spoke to him. Knowing their timelines were out of sync, the man her daughter loved kept seeing her less and less. Their complicated bond and knowing he was the love of their life.

"I suppose daddy dear is with Melody?" River asked, she could imagine her infant self, held carefully in his arms as he rocked her, told her stories and protected her. His little princess, the apple of his eye. Rory would fit into fatherhood so naturally and it made her happy to know that.

Amy nodded, she had never seen Rory look so utterly in love with their daughter, he'd always wanted to be a father. He'd protected her mother for so long, waited for her, he would go to hell and back for Melody. "He wanted to take over so I could have a break, he's been rocking her and telling her stories" she smiled softly. River softened, Rory was the doting, loyal, modest, empathetic person she knew, while her temper, courage and ruthlessness came from her mother, her devotion, loyalty and empathy towards the doctor came from her father. Sometimes she forgot how many personality traits came from her parents, seeing herself in them. Knowing the father he would be to her younger self warmed her heart, he would always be there for her, come hell or high water. Amy approached her adult daughter, at least the regenerated form of her, without the timelord infused DNA, Melody would probably resemble them both immensely. But would she end up looking a little like River too? She reflected upon all the hurt River had endured, all the trauma, the fear, the loneliness, repressing her sadness. Never showing her true self and her seriousness. How much she wanted River to know she was loved, how precious she was and how they never would have stopped looking for her. "I'm sorry..." Amy apologised. River blinked in confusion, she had nothing to apologise for. "It's... it's weird for me, she's my daughter but so are you, she's going to end up as someone entirely different, but you'll still be you. Knowing you're both my child but different variants" Amy confessed. Seeing her daughter in two forms, one being an adult regeneration, the other being her infant self. They were both her child but in different forms. The love she felt for them didn't deplete, she loved them both as they were dearly.

River softened, reaching out to clasp her mothers hands, squeezing them softly, she dearly loved both of her parents, they meant everything to her. If only she'd been raised a normal girl, a normal child. Some nights she woke in a cold sweat, tears spilling down her cheeks as if she was reliving it, shapes in the darkness and voices in the shadows. Trembling with fear as her voice died in her throat. The doctor holding her in his arms, soothing her as she calmed herself, stroking her hair. "For the longest part of my childhood, Kovarian was my nightmare, the woman who stole me from your arms. Some part of me, some part of my memory, it remembered you. The story you told me about Rory, the last centurion. I remember promising you would come and rescue me. Even when Kovarian raised me to be an assassin. The gnawing part of my brain remembered you both. So I used my regenerations to be close to you. I just... I still wish that I could have been raised by you" she mumbled. Kovarian had been her retainer, the one responsible for her pain and misery, a woman she hated more than any being in the universe. She made her what she was and she would never forgive her for what she did to her. But she had led her to the doctor, for only that she was grateful. But the memory, the scent and warmth of her mother was a feeling she never forgot, no matter how brief it was. Due to her augmented genes, her lifespan and the timelord genes she was 548 years old, but still resembled a woman in her thirties. She was far younger than the doctor but she was still ancient in years compared to the average human. But her human self, she wouldn't live that long, she would age and live normally as her parents did, she would get to live alongside them.

Amy slowly approached River, wrapping her arms around her, tentatively holding her, sensing her hesitation and instinctive fear. She doubted Kovarian's sick idea of affection for Melody had ever been anything like this. The love that Melody held in her heart, the boundless love she was capable of expressing. She still smelled the same, the same as the day she was born, a smell that Amy had never forgotten, imprinted into her brain. She was older, broken, lonelier but she was still her baby, she would always be her daughter no matter what. The last time she hugged her, kissed her, told her she loved her, she was a newborn. The same newborn currently being told stories by her father in another room of the tardis. But this Melody, renamed River Song, she had never known safety, she had never known protection, she had never known any of those things. She was stolen from her arms as a newborn, she was abducted by Kovarian, she was raised and conditioned to be an assassin with an augmented lifespan. She was trained to be a killer, to hunt the doctor down and kill him, which she failed in. She was her daughter but the version that never got a childhood, the version that never got to know her parents until she was older.

River flinched, she wasn't used to affection, only on her terms, she wasn't used to being touched. The gentle caress of her mother, the arms that held her and made her feel safe. Her life had always been chaos, always complicated and always tragic. Connected to the doctor in a way nobody else in the universe could ever understand. She was used to seeing the doctor out of order, in different stages of her life, different periods, different settings, different eras. Always out of order and never at the right time, never the same story, never the same date, never the same meeting. Never one they could experience together, never one which was the first time for either of them at the same moment, always expecting the other. Always variants, always a different version, a different timeline she could never fit herself into. Her mother was younger, her mother was younger than she was, a new mother. She was settling into her role, accepting her new life and she hadn't had the experiences River knew about yet. She'd been a mother barely a few weeks, she was still raising and nurturing a new life, the mother she never had.

"I was scared, I know a variant of me never got her baby back and never stopped thinking about you. But I did. I'm frightened, terrified she'll steal her from me, steal you from me. I can't imagine how much she hurt you and yet I can because she hurt me. But I promise to tell her stories about the doctor and I'll ensure you will be friends" Amy soothed. She had never felt such a fear before and she never wanted to ever again, it was a feeling she could happily do without. She was lucky the doctor managed to snatch Melody back, managed to return her baby to her, but she couldn't stop the gnawing lingering fear that something would happen to her baby. She knew out there was a version of herself that never got to be a mother, that never saw her baby again. That someone would come for her, someone would try and rip her from her arms again. That her monsters would come back and she would be faced with the same fear she felt on demons run.

River felt her eyes sting, the doctor would be present in her alternate versions life, her childhood, he would be closer to her, he would have a different life with her. While all she had were the fond memories of their brief time together, and their adventures in her final regeneration. The doctor would be able to see her younger self more often, hold her as an infant, watch her grow up and nurtured by her parents. She couldn't help but feel jealous of her younger self for that. While she reunited with the doctor in a different regeneration due to her augmented lifespan, her alternate younger self would live on earth with her parents, with a normal lifespan, who remained in one timeline without time travel. But her alternate self would be loved, that much she knew. She would be protected, guarded, loved, safe.

Amy stepped forward, her gaze hardened and yet filled with so much love, her maternal instincts showing profusely. The need to comfort her daughter, her older but very much traumatised daughter. "Please, don't be a stranger River, you may be an alternate version, you might be older. But you are still my baby, my daughter" Amy pressed. She would never stop loving River, she would never stop watching over her, protecting her and nurturing her. River would always need her, no matter how resourceful she was. She was older, she was braver and she was stronger, but she was still the child she gave birth to. Knowing glimpses of what her daughter faced, of when they went into the past, seeing where the silence held her daughter captive. Knowing that had been Rivers reality and she pretended to be naive of it. It broke Amy's heart, knowing what her daughter endured alone. River's lip wobbled, a soft sob escaping her lips as she rested her head on her mothers shoulder, allowing her walls to lower, allowing herself to be weak and vulnerable. She still smelled the same, remembering the warmth of her chest, the sound of her voice. Tears spilling down her cheeks as she let herself cry, the way she hadn't cried in years, the way she cried for help when she was a little girl. Being held by her mother, the way she always wanted to be as a baby, as a child, she hated that it took so long. Amy had so much love for her, she never stopped looking for her, hoping she would come home.

"I've always said the doctor is very precious to me, and you know the feeling all too well. But you are the most important thing that ever happened to me. And I will always protect you" Amy soothed. She had carried River inside of her, an unborn miracle born of the love she felt for Rory. She was a life that had grown inside of her, telling her stories of her father as a Centurion. She had held her tightly and comforted her before she was ripped from her arms by Kovarian. She never got to raise River Song, but she could raise the melody they had rescued.

River licked her lips, she had missed her mother, all the things she wished she could tell her, reassuring her that she grew up strong. The nightmares that haunted her, the trauma she could never erase, she had freed herself and was able to have a normal life. She married the doctor and he would always be her beloved. She never forgot her mother and the bond they shared was unlike any other. She missed her love, she missed her affection, she missed her warmth and smell. So many memories glimpsed in her mind, so many dreams and so much pain, being held by her reminded her of the wounded inner child within, the broken little girl who was traumatised. The little girl who Kovarian tormented, a terrifying abuser who spoke like she was a loving guardian. The little girl who wanted nothing more than to be held by her mother with hair like fire, who just wanted to be loved. She slowly forced the words out, at first feeling awkward and embarrassed "Mum..." she mumbled.

"Yes sweetie?" Amy hummed, hearing her say those words, hearing her say them aloud made her eyes sting with tears. River had known all this time who she was, what she was to them. She had watched them all this time from afar, but now she could actually tell them the truth. Saying these words to her daughter, comforting her, it was a soothing and healing feeling.

River laughed softly, her voice wobbling from tears, it felt good to say it. How much she tried to reach out, how her conditioning made her forget who she was. Seeing the woman her mother was before she was born, she admired her. But seeing the woman she became once she became a mother was even more impressive. She would never stop saying it, she would never stop calling Amy this, though she was used to calling her by her first name to hide her identity, she had longed to say these words aloud. "Mum..." she repeated. Amy laughed softly, the softness in her voice, no matter how old she got, no matter how big she got, she would always be Melody's mother, River's mother. She would always protect her and when she couldn't, the doctor would keep her safe. Her baby, but now she was all grown up. "...I love you... I love both of you, Dad...I'm... the doctor brought me back to you" she smiled. She loved her parents with all her heart, she would do anything to keep them safe and she would kill anyone who hurt them. She couldn't form into words the love she felt for her parents, nor the doctor. But she was forever grateful that the doctor had rescued Melody.