In Real Time
“Amy! I’m home!” Rory called as his keys jangled into the dish by the door. ”Amy? I really need some help with this food.” One of the many bags in his arms almost tipped over. ”Please?”
There was still no response. ”Amy, are you home?” He burst into the kitchen and dropped everything on the table, letting a few things roll out of the bags.
“Well, where have you gone Amelia Pond?” Rory mused to the silent house as he let his parka slide off. He hung his jacket on a chair and began to put everything away, humming as he went. Somewhere upstairs, there was a bang.
Rory froze and looked to the ceiling. ”Amy?” And on the off-chance that one of them had dropped in, “Doctor? River?”
No response.
“Hello?”
This time he heard a bump in what sounded like his bedroom. ”Amy?” Rory asked quietly. He closed the refrigerator and began to make his way slowly to the stairs.
That’s when he heard, “Oh my - no. Wait! No! Oh my God!”
“AMY!” he shouted and took the stairs two-at-a-time. ”AMY! I’M COMING!” Rory tore around the corner at the top and saw his bedroom door slightly open.
“Rory?” Amy’s voice caught as she said his name.
“AMY!” he shouted again and ran at full speed into the room. When he saw she wasn’t there, though, he stopped short, almost stumbling into the laundry basket.
“Rory! Rory, come here!”
She was in the bathroom. Oh God, why was she screaming for him from the bathroom? He swiped a Mars rock from the dresser-top and threw open the bathroom door.
And there she was. Sitting on the toilet lid in a T-shirt and her underwear, a pair of shorts crumpled around her feet.
“Amy?” Rory let his hand fall.
She looked up at him with wet eyes and said, “Rory. Look at this. Look at it! It’s wonderful!” A white stick with a little + appeared in his face.
“I…” He couldn’t wrap his head around what he was seeing. Just a moment before he thought someone was attacking his wife in his bathroom, but now…
“Rory. Rory Williams. Mr. Williams! I’m pregnant!”
For just a moment, he couldn’t breathe. Then, “Ha!” a laugh burst out of him. ”You’re pregnant? In real time. No Timehead, no Vortex, no gangers? As in, in nine months time, we’ll be holding a tiny replica of ourselves? Pregnant?”
Amy jumped up from the toilet. ”Yes, yes, yes!” She flung her arms around his neck and he pulled her close.
This was unbelievable. Beyond anything he could have ever wanted. He was going to be a father. ”You’re having a baby,” he breathed into her hair.
“Another one. That I’ll remember. And we’ll raise,” she said to his collar bone.
Oh, yes. He was already a dad. Rory almost laughed at the realization. Then, it hit him. What about River? ”How will River feel?” he asked, pulling away from Amy to see her face.
She looked content and wildly happy. ”She’ll be delighted. Oh, Rory. We’re having a baby!” Amy buried herself in his chest again.
Yes. They were having a baby and everything was going to be alright.
“I’ve left the groceries out. And you’re not wearing any pants,” he said.
“Oh, shut it, you,” Amy scolded, “Enjoy the moment. Groceries and pants are for the baby-less.”
