Chapter Text
“I thought that a planet with the name of Eden would be more peaceful!” Amy snapped, avoiding the vines snaring at their feet with each swift step.
The Doctor snorted in amusement, “You’re thinking like an Earth-bound human, Amy! One human religion has an Eden and suddenly everything named Eden should be the same.”
Amy gave an indignant scoff at his accusation but her response was drowned out by River’s shout just up ahead. “Less talking, more running!”
“We are running!” The doctor quipped back, eating his words almost immediately as he tripped and rolled into a leafy bush.
He wrestled with the branches for a moment before popping out, twigs and leaves sticking out of his hair. The sonic screwdriver slid out of his hand, tumbling across the mossy ground without a sound.. With a leap he was able to get back onto his feet - just in time to see one of the Mandrels snatching Rory up with a long, curled claw just a few meters in front of him .
River and Amy froze immediately, the area falling silent aside from Rory’s panicked screaming. The Doctor looked around, eyes wide as he scanned the area for any assistance. Right. Mandrels. Ferocious, nasty carnivores. Silly duck bills. Brilliant, glowing eyes. Aha! Sensitive hearing!
Slowly, oh so slowly, he knelt and let his hand travel across the spongy moss until his finger tips traveled over sonic’s sturdy grip. With adept stealth, he stepped from rock to rock without a sound until he was one good hop away.
Amy and River stood frozen to the ground in fear for both boys, River’s eyes narrowed at him with a look that said If you die, I’ll kill you!
He simply smirked, giving them a wink before extending his sonic.
A tone, mildly irritating to the humans, rang deafeningly in the Mandrel’s hidden ears. It shrank back with a screech, dropping Rory with a horrid thud.
However the Doctor didn’t leave him on the ground for more than a moment. He had Rory up and moving, whether the man was aware of that fact or not.
The TARDIS sat waiting just over the hill, River already through the door. The Doctor could hear the engine winding up, music to his ears as he and Rory both gracelessly tumbled down the last of the hill and into the awaiting doors.
As soon as they were in, the doors slammed shut, River cranking levers until they were simply drifting in space with a safe distance from any nearby planet.
Rolling to a stop on his stomach, the Doctor let his head rest against the cool grating of the console room. His lungs burned as his chest heaved, only managing short, rapid breaths. He could hear whimpering, the kind of whimpering he did before being pulled into little space.
His head shot up. The sounds of fear and anxiety weren’t coming from him. Eyes flashing to Rory, his hearts dropped when seeing his friend beside him: wide, tear filled eyes amplified the fear gripping at his friend’s thoughts. The Doctor saw Rory’s lips tremble and he began to reach out in confusion.
River was faster.
She scooped Rory up in her arms a split second before he burst at the seams. Hot tears flooded down his now blazing red cheeks, a loud wail piercing their ears. Amy moved by his side immediately, both women frantically checking over every bit of him for injuries.
The Doctor stiffened, crossing his arms as the hairs on the back of his neck bristled. This wasn’t a cry of pain or illness. He looked back over with narrowed eyes now, watching as they fussed over his tears.
Inching forward with hesitancy, the Doctor was able to see the entire scene in front of him. Rory, sobbing into River’s arms while Amy rubbed his back. Both of them gently consoling him, their worry evident through both their actions and hushed tones. Then, he realized exactly what was going on.
Rory, still inconsolable on the grated floor, curled into River’s arms further, his thumb firmly planted in his mouth.
Jealously licked at the heels of his feet and he took a few tentative steps back as if avoiding hot coals. River was HIS Mummy! His hearts pounded, threatening to burst out of his chest.
They were none the wiser.
All attention was on Rory and he realized this would be his best chance to get away before they noticed.
He sniffed, his own fog slowly drifting into his head. What if River didn’t want to be his Mummy anymore? A sharp pain shot through him, he whimpered and grabbed his chest before backing out into the nearest TARDIS hallway.
Tripping over feet that felt increasingly too big, the Doctor managed to find the playroom. It wasn't his first choice, but anywhere away from the commotion was an improvement.
His stuffed bunny laid across the floor, forgotten many days ago. It'd been a bit since he'd regressed long enough to need the room. Soft fairy lights wove across the ceiling, illuminating the space in a warm, gentle glow. His hearts began to beat more evenly, his breathing slowing.
Across the room, closer to the jungle gym, was his blanket. Hastily discarded after last month's regression during a particularly bad solar storm. He cradled it to his face, hiccuping a few times as he turned and crawled into the jungle gym tunnel, curling his knees to his chest. The fog wasted no time, enveloping him as he laid his head against the cool plastic of the tunnel.
***
He wasn’t sure how much time had passed when the playroom door opened. The Doctor lifted his head as River’s voice filled the room, “Doctor?”
Shame, guilt, and jealousy flooded his veins again. He pulled his knees into his chest with a choking sob, his face buried in the soft fleece of his blanket.
It wasn’t long before River found him, taking a seat beside the plastic tunnel. She didn’t speak right away, simply sitting quietly until his eyes lifted to meet hers. He didn’t speak at first, watching her through the tears that continued to spill down his cheeks. After a few more minutes of pouting, he inched closer until he could rest his head in her lap.
River brushed his hair back, humming to give him a moment to collect himself. “Shhh Hushling, it’s okay to be jealous.”
“I-I’m not-” He started to protest however River silenced him with a finger on his lips.
“Sweetie, it’s okay to be upset. Rory behaving like that wasn’t something anyone expected.” Her voice was like honey, her hand brushing away his anxieties with each gentle stroke through his hair. His eyes fluttered closed, unable to resist relaxing as she wrapped her arms around him. “But we should do our best to make him feel comfortable and safe too, right?”
He nodded with a yawn as she led him out of the tunnel instead, one hand on the small of his back for balance. His thumb slipped into his mouth with ease, his footsteps already faltering as he trailed behind, his protests slipping into babbling.
With skilled and caring hands, she powdered and taped him up in a soft, fluffy diaper. He squirmed against her touch, cheeks flushing as she kissed his stomach as she snapped each button closed. She scooped him up as Amy walked in with a sniffling Rory, bundled in a towel.
Rory looked small and frightened, very different from the man who normally cared for him. He would make sure his friend got through this okay. Through half-lidded eyes, he gave Rory a small wave of encouragement, slumping against River’s body before she could lay him in the crib.