The Adventures of Mercy Song

Where The Tides Come In

Summary: The tween and early teen years are full of mile markers for Young Mercy's life, as unbeknownst to her, the time with her Mum runs slowly out.

WARNING: UNDERAGE DRINKING. 
DISCLAIMER: DON'T FREAKING DRINK IRRESPONSIBLY OR PARTICIPATE IN UNDERAGE CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL. IT'S A REALLY FREAKING STUPID IDEA. JUST DON'T DO IT, OKAY?

[MERCY AND RIVER'S POVS]

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Whether Mercy believed it or not, it really did hurt River to watch her daughter's disappointment the next day when, as River expected, the Doctor never showed up. Mercy's faith didn't waiver, even through the following week, striving on to the last day of school, when at the Graduation, Mercy stared out over the crowd of parents. Easily spotting her Mother's halo of curls, but not her father, Mercy's disappointment finally began to take hold of her. She sulked on the train ride home, her little black hat crooked on her head, pinned in place. The saving grace had been her curls, as the school hadn't provided a cap and gown for a little seven-year-old, leaving Mercy and her Mother working with a bunch of pins and clasps to keep Mercy from tripping on her long black dress.

Mercy ripped the cap from her head, clenching the tassel in her hand, tears filling her eyes, nose sniffling as she mumbled her anger to herself. "Why didn't he come?" Mercy asked softly when her Mum unlocked the door to their apartment, stepping inside.

"Because it's dangerous." River's hand cupped her daughter's cheek, thumb brushing away the disappointed tears.

"Visiting or the Adventures?" Mercy requested elaboration.

"Both," River sighed, "Now, lets try and get life back to normal, okay?"

"I'll try, Mum." Mercy tried to promise. This time, she really tried to forget, and not get excited anymore each time a door was opened or a wind brushed her shoulder.

Life eventually returned to normal, with summer vacation full of the expeditions River led, taking her daughter along to the archaeological digs, and Mercy 'helping' her mother -mostly by handing River tools or reading aloud to the other people working at the digs when the girl wasn't getting into things or talking some poor archaeologist's ear off. River took her to the museums where The Professor's finds were on display, and told her the stories behind them. Each of the perilous feats River had accomplished to acquire each treasure filled Mercy's head with dreams of her own adventures someday.

Summer passed and when school began again, Mercy completed her first freshman semester with a little struggling in History, as she tended to know and answer questions with what really happened, not what she was taught had happened. She was eight now, and learning fast. Advanced programs allowed her to progress at her own pace, and She fell into a much more consistent schedule. River could relax, knowing that finally, her daughter wasn't jumping around the school schedule and skipping through grades. Mercy found that she had a much better time making friends in high school, as most of the kids were mature enough to not be outrageously mean or foux in their treatment of friends and peers.

The day Mercy saw her dad again, it was a, well, memorable event. She had been on one of her school's field trips to the Luna Museum of Science and History, following the crowd of taller kids through the maze of exhibits when she bumped into someone. "Oh hello. Sorry about that," Mercy had mumbled, looking up at the woman, who smiled down at her through thick brown hair. "No problem."

Mercy turned her head sideways. She recognized this lady. "Mrs. Clara?"

"Excuse me?" The woman whirled back around, "Who are you?"