The Weeping Angel

Chapter 19: Ponds

CHAPTER 19: PONDS

"Leaving...?" The Doctor asked brokenheartedly. "W...Why do you want to leave...?" He continued. I stood to the side, arms folded over my chest, listening somberly. 

"Not forever, Doctor. Not long at all... It's just that people are going to notice. Us... aging quicker... and we need to spend some time at home, with family," Amy explained slowly.

"Well... I understand... I do... I can't keep you here I suppose..." He talked more to himself, rubbing the back of his neck, rocking on his feet slightly. I rested my hand on his shoulder in an attempt to comfort him. He looked down at me for a moment and smiled slightly. 

"...Alright, Ponds...Home it is," he smiled sadly. Amy smiled and stood to kiss his cheek.

"For you, you could just pick up the future us in five minutes no problem, right?" She asked with an encouraging grin.

"Right," Rory added, "with all this time travel and things..." He trailed off, glancing around. 

The Doctor gave a curt nod before walking to the console and leaning against it, looking down at the levers and buttons and cords. 

"You have your bags packed then? Everything you need to take home?"

"Yes, we've got it," Amy nodded.

"We'll just go grab them then," Rory added, taking Amy's hand and the pair went off down the hallway. I sighed heavily before putting on a slight smile and turning to the Doctor. I walked over and folded my hands behind my back, standing next to him and leaning down slightly to try and get him to look up. 

"Doctor?" I asked after a moment. He looked up, a few pieces of hair in his eyes.

"Yes?"

"Are you alright?" 

"Of course I am! I'm always okay!" He announced, standing straight and fiddling with his bow-tie, smiling now but his eyes still holding a somberness. I threw my arms around him suddenly. He paused for a moment before tentatively hugging me back. 

"I just wish that were true," I said quietly.

"Look here," the Doctor said, pulling back enough to tilt my chin up so that I could see his face, "just a new chapter, not an ending. We'll all be alright. Hm?" He smiled.

"...Alright," I agreed, smiling back halfheartedly. This made me feel a bit better, since I was having thoughts of my own.

"Alright!" He echoed more happily, kissing my head and then pulling out of the hug.  

Rory and Amy came out of the hall and back down the stairs to the console room, each of them dragging several bags behind them. 

"Hello Ponds," The Doctor smiled crookedly, his eyes glassy. They simply smiled slightly in reply. "Home, then?" 

"Home," Amy repeated, nudging Rory with a more sincere smile now. 

The Doctor nodded and spun around before flipping a lever on the TARDIS console, shifting a screen and then going on to press a few buttons and switches. The TARDIS lurched, creaking almost sadly. Us companions held onto the railing, and it wasn't a moment later that we had landed. 

"Here we are then," The Doctor announced more quietly than usual, "home of the Ponds."

"Thank you," Amy curtsied and Rory nodded in concurrence. 

"Oh none of that!" The Doctor exclaimed, which sounded all too familiar. He rushed over and pulled them both into a hug.

All I could think about was when the last regeneration of the Doctor had said the very same thing to me upon my departure from the TARDIS. I remembered Rose, seeing her for the last time. I felt a deep sadness over that having been the last time I'd seen her, or probably would see her. I couldn't help but wonder what had happened to that blonde London girl. Did she decide to leave like Amy and Rory? Had some alien killed her? Had she gotten lost?

"We're going to miss you," Amy's voice interrupted my train of thought. 

"I'll be back soon!" The Doctor chuckled. Amy turned to me once Rory began to speak to the Doctor. 

"Hello," Amy said with a slight smile, rubbing her arm.

"Hey, Amy," I smiled. 

"Well, bye for now?" She said.

"For now," I said and hugged her. She laughed softly and hugged me back. 

"Should I expect to see you when he drops by again?" She asked, pulling back again.

"Oh I suppose," I smiled. 

"You take care of him, alright?" She said, looking over at the Doctor and Rory. 

"Can do." I looked over to the pair as well. The Doctor was talking animatedly while Rory listened,  hands in pockets, nodding every now and again. She turned and gave me a small salute and walked back to the pair, resting a hand on Rory's shoulder and grabbing the handle of her suitcase with the other. I kept my distance as the Doctor held open the TARDIS door for the pair. 

Then, they were gone. The Doctor looked down and wiped his eyes before sighing heavily and bounding back up to the console and flipping a switch, sending us back through time and space. 

"Where to?" He asked, looking up, a smile plastered across his face. 

"Actually..." I began nervously, "I was thinking... Home." I wrung my hands nervously.

"Oh.."

"Just... To spend a night or so. It would be nice to see my room again. Or my Garden, to check up on my Aunt," I went on to explain.  

"I undertsand," the Doctor smiled, eyes wet, "back to Bath," he chuckled softly to himself and typed something into a keypad before going about his usual dance around the console. The TARDIS lurched and I just held the railing with one hand, more worried about the Doctor at the moment. 

Back to Bath indeed.