So, I shouldn't be starting a new fic, but this one is going to be a bit less plot-driven, and more just about the characters, the 'Three' I suppose, and just some fun times with the Doctor on the slow path. This was sort of an idea/request presented to me by Sin respuestas, so thank them. Anyway, hope you guys have fun reading this, and please review!

Dobby's Polka-Dotted Sock

Chapter One

"Can I stay here—with you and Rory?" She was so shocked by the sudden question she didn't immediately speak. "Just for a bit," he hastened to add, seeming to have decided her hesitation was rejection, "Keep an eye on the cubes. However long that takes."

Inside, Amy's heart leapt up and then froze in her chest. Because he was asking to stay, her best friend was asking. But… "I thought it would drive you mad." She didn't blame him. Their ordinary lives, however much she and Rory enjoyed them, must seem unbearably dull to him.

"No, no, no," he was quick to disagree. "I mean, I'll be better at it this time." And then it was the Doctor's turn to hesitate before he added. "I miss you."

Amy's lips could not help but turn up as a warm feeling sprouted in her chest and spread outwards through her entire body. He missed them, he really did. Enough to stay.

Still, when she turned to see his nervous, waiting face, she can't help but drag out the suspense for him. She was Amy Pond, where was the fun in simple. "Let's see what Mr. Pond says," she replies, and motioned for the Doctor to follow her into the house so they could find Rory. Of course, if her husband said no for some inexplicable reason, he was staying anyway. And even the idea of Rory saying no was absurd; the Doctor was his best friend, too.

They found him at the door, ushering the last of the guests out with thank yous and other polite formalities and telling his dad to actually get some sleep. When he finally shut the door and faced them, she could see just a hint of sadness in his expression.

"Oh, guess you'll be going, too then," he said to the Doctor, whose eye's widened, and Amy watched in amusement as he tried to interrupt the other man unsuccessfully. "Right, well, thanks for coming—and the Zygons weren't that bad, really," Rory reassured. "It was just good to see you again and—what exactly am I missing?" He finally broke off, watching as the Doctor had now turned to Amy clearly asking for help and looking rather lost. She, on the other hand, was smirking at the Time Lord and quite enjoying his discomfort. It wasn't really often a side he showed.

"Oh, come on, you can ask. You're twelve-hundred, yeah? Use you words," she chided like one would a child, and the Doctor pouted quite like one before looking back at a confused Rory.

"I'm not leaving Rory," he tentatively explained, the nurse only looking more bewildered. "That is- if you and Amy will have me."

"Oh," Rory said blankly. A second later, he seemed to get it. "Oh."

"It's perfectly alright for you to decline," the Doctor patted Rory on the shoulder in understanding. "Wouldn't be half as useful as an Ood or—"

"Last time you painted our fence, mowed our lawn, vacuumed our entire house, and fixed my car that you got me," Rory listed. "I'd say that's more than enough."

But the Doctor was already backing towards the exit into the garden where he'd parked the TARDIS. If she'd realized how sensitive he felt about this, she wouldn't have teased him. He was chickening out, running away. And she wasn't sure she could wait for their next anniversary for him to show up again. Amy and Rory shared equally panicked looks before rushing out after him.

They found the alien fumbling for his key, clearly too agitated to remember snapping was just as effective, and muttering under his breath. "Stupid, stupid Doctor…they've all got someone else, dear, I knew that and—"

"Doctor!" She called, breaking into his conversation with his box. He whirled about to face them, the key at last in his hand and looking lonely and scared and resigned.

"Oh, yes. Sorry. Goodbyes, quite right, Pond," he said, trying and failing miserably to obtain his usual exuberance.

"You mean, goodnight," Rory corrected, and the two humans could both see the gears of their friend's brain literally stop in complete bafflement.

"Sorry?"

"Well, I don't know about you two, but running from Henry the Eighth's guards, tracking down your phone charger in the English black market, and then finishing hosting a party leaves me pretty tired. Amy, want to show him the guest bedroom?" Rory directed the last question to his wife.

"Sure, you get some sleep," deliberately ignoring the alien who stood still dumbfounded, Amy leaned in to kiss her husband on the cheek, and the nurse headed back inside with a wave over his shoulder.

"Goodnight!"

Amy at last faced the Doctor again, who was alternatively looking back and forth at Rory's retreating form and her smirking face, an incredulous look on his features.

"I can stay?"

She couldn't help rolling her eyes at his amazement. "Of course! So, guest bedroom, yeah? Come along, Doctor," she couldn't help but grin at the huge smile that lit his face, and just for the sake of seeing it grow even bigger, reached out to grasp his hand and led him along.

Despite it not being remotely exciting, a normal human room painted a nondescript color with average furniture and a little window overlooking the garden, the Doctor entered the space behind her with a look of wonder, his eyes darting about to capture everything.

"Look at that," he remarked, sonic screwdriver out and scanning a bedside lamp. He turned it on and off over and over. "Guest bedroom of the Ponds…all the things you've done, Amelia." He smiled warmly up at her, and she wanted to appreciate it, she really did, but Amy's body chose that moment to yawn.

"Sorry," she excused, because she wanted to sleep, but doing so would mean she'd leave him. And it was still so unbelievable that he was staying. If she and Rory slept, what would stop him from jumping back into his TARDIS in the middle of the night and flying away?

Of course, it was like he sensed all of what she was thinking, for the Doctor walked over, tucked the sonic back in his pocket, and placed gentle, but firm hands on her shoulders. "Sleep, Pond. I'm not going anywhere. Trust me." He gave her that same warm smile, and she couldn't help but feel the worry drain from her.

"Ok," she acquiesced before waving an accusing finger at him. "but you better be here when I wake up, Raggedy Man."

"Cross my hearts," he promised.

A few minutes later she was sliding under the covers next to Rory, who rolled over to face her.

"You think this is actually going to work?" He asked quietly, his voice somewhat sluggish with sleep.

"Don't see why not," she shrugged.

"Amy!" They heard the Doctor call.

The married pair shared a somewhat worried glance, and Amy turned toward the door, propping herself up on one elbow.

"Yeah? What is it?"

"Do I have to stay in the room?" Well, it wasn't like he needed much sleep. In fact, the alien probably wasn't even tired at all.

Exchanging a glance with Rory, she decided, "No."

They heard the sound of his boots wander down the hall and into the main part of the house. "Just getting familiarized, nothing to worry about…what are you, you beauty?" The whirr of the sonic then pierced the relative quiet. "Ooh! A toaster! You have a toaster, Ponds!"

Amy looked at Rory with a slightly apologetic expression as the noises of the Doctor rustling about their kitchen continued. "Sorry?" She tried. Rory sighed, but patted the space next to him, so she snuggled back down under the covers.

"Earplugs," Rory stated tiredly, "First thing tomorrow morning, I'm going straight out and buying earplugs."

Amy smiled even though he couldn't see it. "That's my boys."

So, that's just sort of setting up the fic. The first few lines of dialogue came directly from "The Power of Three", so if you recognize them, that's why. Anyway, hope you enjoy it, and if you have any suggestions on what the Doctor and the Ponds should do, feel free to let me know and I'll try to incorporate them. Thanks for reading, and please review!