Reassurances - Crying Children

A/N: A-level life is so freaking hectic. I should really know that by now as I'm in my second year...
But that's why this chapter is so late. I wasn't originally planning to write about this episode because it didn't really have anything I was inspired by. Until the day before TGWW I quickly wrote this but never published. Anyway I'm still planning to do an chapter per episode - I'll catch up before the finale.

Disclaimer: I don't Doctor Who or Matt Smith's swag.

"Amy said you hated to see children cry."
"I do."

"You're so... strange."

It's an understatement of which they are both well aware.
"You saved all those children on that weird flying whale thing. And you rushed straight to this flat when a frightened kid sent a message. I just, I don't get you."
The Doctor furrows his brow and checks to see that Amy is still asleep. She exerts herself more than the other two; hungry for adventure, and she pays for it in fatigue. "Mad man with a box... what's not to get."

Rory isn't put off though. "For god's sake, don't be stupid, Doctor. You know what I meant."

The Doctor evidently doesn't.

"Melody, how can you forget about Melody? How do you know she isn't crying somewhere out there in the universe. She means something to you, so why is it so hard for you to find her? Why are you saving strangers and not my daughter, Doctor? Why should she be left to cry alone while you empty... some kids cupboard."

A wave of contemplation rushes over the two and the Doctor is pained. Poor Rory; his heart is forever in it but not his brain.
"Rory, I need you to understand this. Melody is River."

"No," Rory stands and refuses to face his friend. "I understand you, I get you, I really do. I'm not stupid. But she won't be River for at least another twenty years. Right now she's alone, and crying, and Doctor how can I leave her. How can you ask me to ignore that!"

"Listen to me," says the Doctor, anxiety riding his brows. "I'm sorry I never found her. You don't know how sorry. But we can't change how any of it happened. River would cease to exist, our past would be erased."
"I don't care!"

"You don't," he nods. "Rightly so. You're Rory, you're a nurse. You don't get to make these decisions." He leans forward until the bow of his hair flops sorrowfully in Rory's face. "It's my choice. I'm sorry."

Rory deflates, sits again and brings a hand to rest through Amy's hair. He feels guilty about yelling now but thankfully she's still sleeping. She twinges a bit and her hand stiffens. She's probably still uncomfortable about having been a wooden doll. His hand unconsciously closes around hers and warms it. It parallels their hearts and suddenly Rory is calm again.

"Amy, she'll be alright," starts the Doctor but Rory just looks at him silently. "She understands, she's happy."

Rory's thumb brushes against his wife's cheek and he keeps his head bowed, staring at the soft pigment in her cheeks. "She might understand, Doctor, but don't ever say she's happy." His voice breaks a little as he wipes below her eyes. "She's crying in her sleep."

The Doctor sees it and it breaks his heart. He almost wishes Rory weren't here; Rory, who won't let him avoid himself; ever sensible Rory who won't even give him a few hours to pretend like everything's okay. But that's because it isn't.
"I don't what I can say to make it better, Rory." It's the closest his voice has ever come to cracking.

"You can't," says Rory, his face almost stoically calm. "You can't make it better. Just... don't say anything... please."

The Doctor keeps his silence. And in their different ways they grieve.
Nothing precise; just for what is coming, what will pass; and what already has. Just the impending dissolution of a partnership felt so equally.
Just nothing.

A/N: So yeah, this was the shortest one I've done, but I didn't really feel like there was much left to say (for this episode) TGWW is next! God I loved that episode. Cried almost as much as Doomsday... ;_; Darvills faaaaace. Anyway, I'm afraid this chapter won't make much sense if all the speculation about the series 6 episodes being completely out of order (God Complex having come before the opening two-parter - for Amy and Rory) is true. But I'm leaving it anyway. Speaking of the God Complex... my bb's are gone ;_; BUT I WILL NEVER STOP LIVING THIS BROMANCE.