Chapter Text
Augustus and his wife Tabetha Pond were walking through the park, heading back home after spending a few hours at the playground with their one year old daughter Amelia who was fast asleep in the pram Augustus was pushing.
The couple were chatting amongst each other when Augustus stopped in his tracks, spotting something in the middle of the football field.
“What is it dear?” Tabetha asked her husband, who just pointed at the direction he was looking at.
The couple walked closer to get a better look at what they had spotted. Tabetha gasped. “I-is that a baby?”
Augustus nodded, frowning, anger filling his eyes as they stared at a sleeping baby about the same age as Amelia, who was wearing nothing but a blanket. He gently picked the baby up so that wouldn't wake the little boy up.
Tabetha began to sniffle. “Oh, how can someone be so cruel and leave this poor baby to freeze in the cold?” She carefully picked the boy up in her arms, wrapping him inside her coat so that her body heat would keep him warm.
“My love, I think we should take the boy to the Doctor just in case she's gotten sick from the cold.” Augustus suggested to his wife. “I was thinking that too.” She agreed.
☆☆☆
Tabetha and Augustus were sitting quietly in the waiting room while the baby they had found was getting checked over by the Doctor. Tabetha's sister, Sharon, was watching Amelia back at their house.
“Augustus dear, do you think the baby will be okay?” Tabetha asked her husband who was rubbing comforting circles in his wife's back to ease her tears.
Augustus sighs, pulling his wife into an embrace.“I don't know, I most certainly hope so.” He felt Tabetha bury her head into the crook of his neck.
“I just hope the hospital will find him a new family that'll treat him much kinder than the previous scumbags.” Came her muffled reply.
After a few minutes, Augustus interrupted the silence. “What if-.” He hesitated, unsure what his wife would say.
“We take the baby home and raise him as our own?” Tabetha said, having the exact same thought as her husband.
“Yeah.” Augustus nodded, pulling her away so that he could make eye contact with her. “Tabetha, i-i just can't stand the thought of the possibility of him going into another loveless home.”
She shakes her head. “Me neither, we've been talking about giving Amelia a sibling to play with.” She chuckled a little. “I mean, it's sooner than we expected but at least with us he'd have a loving home and a sister to play with.”
“Yes, I think Amelia would be a wonderful sister to him.” Augustus agreed with his wife.
“All done!” Dr Thompson exclaimed as he walked out with the still sleeping baby in his arms.
“Is he okay?” Augustus asked the Doctor who passed the baby back over to Tabetha who wrapped her back up in her coat.
“Apart from being cold and an inhumanely low heart rate which should come up once he warms up, he's perfectly fine.” Dr Thompson reassured them.
“Thats wonderful news, I'm so glad he's okay.” Augustus sighed relieved.
Tabetha, also relieved, glanced down to see large onyx eyes staring back at her. “Hello there!” She smiled at the baby. “I see you've finally woken up.” The baby just let out a cute little yawn which made Tabetha melt. “Oh Augustus, he's gorgeous!”
Grinning, Augustus took a peek into his wife's coat. “Oh, hello little one!” He greeted, stroking the baby's head. “Oh Tabetha, he's definitely coming home with us.”
Dr Thompson just smiled at the couple before looking out the window to see snow falling heavily outside. “He's very lucky you found him when you did.”
The couple just nodded, realising that the baby's story could've easily been a very different one.
☆☆☆
“There, I bet you're feeling much warmer now, little one.” Tabetha smiled, picking up the baby who was finally wearing some clothes.
“John?”Augustus suggested, sitting on the sofa, reading through a book of baby name ideas to call their newly adopted son.”
Tabetha just shakes her head, taking the spot next to her husband, picking up a bottle of warm milk she had prepared and begins feeding the baby. “No, it makes him sound like a little old man”
Augustus sighed as he flicked through a few more pages of the book. “How about Micheal?” Tabetha immediately shakes her head. “Absolutely not, I know someone called Michael and he is the most awful man I know.”
“Stuart?” He says after flipping a couple more pages. “It's cute, but it's still not calling me.”
Augustus placed his specs on the top of his head and closed the book in his hands. “My love, you have rejected every time I have read out so far.”
Tabetha sighed softly. “I'm sorry my dear, but as nice of names they are, none of them seem to suit him, I truly believe that names should suit a face.
Augustus just rolled his eyes at the sentence his wife used back when they were trying to find a name for Amelia.
Sharon walked into the living room, with a tray of tea and a packet of chocolate digestives. “How about Oliver? I think it's a great name.” She suggested, placing the tray down on the coffee table.
“We are not naming our son after Oliver Twist.” Augustus chuckled, picking up a mug, taking a huge sip. “He's right, we can't name her that!” Tabetha agreed.
It was Sharon's turn to roll her eyes. “I thought Oliver was a cute name for a boy.” She took a bite of the biscuit.“We are not calling him Oliver, Sharon.” Tabetha firmly said.
“Well, do you have any name ideas seeing as you won't use the ones we've offered.” Augustus asked curiously. Tabetha smiled shyly. “Well there is one but I'm not sure you two will like it.”
Augustus and Sharon looked at each other before looking back at Tabetha. “Well, are you going to tell us or what?” Sharon asked.
Tabetha chuckles softly. “The name is Freddie, i really really like Freddie, it's a cute name for a baby”
Sharon smiled. “Freddie is an adorable name Tabetha.” She beamed at her sister, you think so?” Sharon nodded.“He does look like a little Freddie darling.” Augustus agreed.“Well then, since we all agreed.” Tabetha smiled as she looked at the baby who had fallen back to sleep in his Mama's arms.
“Welcome to the family Freddie Pond, we all love you very much and we cannot wait to spend the rest of our lives watching you and our Amelia grow up.” Augustus and Sharon smiled affectionately as they all just watched the sleeping baby.
Six Years Later
Freddie Pond was lying in bed, on his side, facing the window, watching the stars dance in the night sky, unable to go to sleep.
No matter how much he tried to ignore it, he still couldn't block out the strange whispers escaping from the crack that lived on their wall.
“Freddie, are you awake?” He heard a voice come from behind him. “Yeah, I'm awake.” He answered as he turned around, coming face to face with his sister who was standing next to his bed.
When Amelia was old enough, their parents told her that her brother was adopted. Instead of getting upset, Amelia just seemed to adore her brother even more.
“I can't sleep, the stupid crack keeps waking me up.” Amelia grumbled, crossing her arms.
“Me too.” Freddie sighed. “All I can hear is creepy whispering.” He kicked off his blanket and switched on the bedside lamp before putting on his glasses so that he could see his sister. “What should we do, Aunt Sharon probably won't be back home for ages.”
Amelia tapped her chin with her finger as she thought up some ideas before smiling. “We could pray to Santa? That always makes us feel better.” Freddie nodded. He got out of bed and kneels next to his sister who had her eyes closed and hands clasped together.
“Dear Santa, thank you for the toys, pencils and the fish.” It's Easter now so I hope we didn't wake you. But honest, it is an emergency.” Amelia started off, nudging her brother to continue.
“There's a crack in our wall.” Freddie opened his eyes to glance at the crack, only to close them quickly again. “Aunt Sharon says it's just an ordinary crack but we know it's not because at night…..there's voices.” He nudged his sister to finish it off.
“So please, please, could you send someone to fix it, or a policeman or….” A loud crash from the back garden interrupted Amelia. “Back in a moment.” She says before joining Freddie who was shining a torch outside the window.
In the spot where their shed used to be was a large blue box. They both looked at each other, big grins on their faces. “Thank you Santa!” They whispered together before rushing outside.
☆☆☆
A soft glow from the top of the box lit up the air as the kids stood in front of the box on it's side, looking at it curiously. They both have never seen anything like it before.
Freddie tilted his head so that he could read the barely visible sign above the doors. “What does Police Public Call Box mean?” He asked his sister.
Amelia just shrugs. “I don't know….maybe there's a police officer in there, but why has he come in a box instead of a car?”
Suddenly, the doors burst open startling them both as a brown haired man popped his head out.
“Could I have an apple? He asked the siblings who were now looking at each other, confused. “All I can think about, apples. I love apples.“
“Sure, we've got a bowl full of them.” Freddie said before having a thought. “Maybe you're having a craving mister.” He tells the strange man.
“Huh, a craving? That's new, never had cravings before.” He pondered to himself before taking a seat on the edge of his box and looked inside. “Woah, look at that!” He exclaimed.
“Are you alright mister.” Amelia raised a brow at the man, slightly concerned.
“Just had a fall, all the way down there to the library, hell of a climb back up.” He answered her.
“Then why are you soaking wet” Freddie questioned, slightly suspicious of the man. “I was in the swimming pool.” He replied, confusing the boy even more.
Amelia just frowns.“You said you were in the library.” The man just gave her a raised brow. “So was the swimming pool.”
Freddie just scoffed, crossing his arms. Make up your mind mister, was it a library or a swimming pool?” The man just gave the boy a mischievous smile, refusing to answer.
“Are you a policeman?” Amelia asked the man, slightly amused by his quirkiness. “Why? Did one of you two call a policeman?” The man just gave them a look of offence.
“I'm beginning to consider it.” Freddie muttered under his breath. Amelia just ignored her brother. “Did you come about the crack in our wall?”
“What crack-argh!” The man yelped in pain, tumbling off his box, landing on the floor right.
Concerned, Freddie rushed over to his side. “Mister, are you okay, do you need help? A glass of water?….An apple? I can get you an apple, is it an apple you need?” He rambled rapidly.
“N-no, I'm fine.” He interrupted the boy, not wanting another Jackie Tyler situation. “This is all perfectly norm-” He gagged before exhaling, golden mist floating out of his mouth.
“What is that?” Freddie reached out to touch the mist, which disappeared when his fingers made contact with it.
“Who are you?”, “What are you?” Amelia and Freddie asked at the same time, both staring at him with wide eyes.
“I don't know yet, I'm still cooking.” He gave the two a reassuring smile. “Does it scare you?” He asked them both. Amelia just shakes her head. “No, it's just a bit weird.”
“No, no,no, the crack in your wall, does it scare you?” He rephrased the question, watching as they exchanged a look between themselves, noticing fear in their eyes when they faced him again. “Yes.” They said at the same time.
The man hopped back up on his feet.Well then.” He grinned.“No time to lose. I'm the Doctor, do everything I tell you, don't ask stupid questions and don't wander off.”
The moment he finished his sentence, he proceeded to walk into a tree and fall back onto the ground.
Freddie couldn't help but laugh his little head off. “Are you alright?” Amelia tried to fight the smirk on her face.
The man just looked up at them from where he was laid on the ground. “Early days, steering's a bit off.” He sat up and pointed to Freddie. “Oi, stop laughing at me.”
“Then get better steering.” He laughs again, shrugging.
☆☆☆
“If you're a doctor then why does your box say police?” Freddie just looked at him curiously. The Doctor just smiled at the boy, taking an apple from Amelia's hand and bit into it which was quickly spat back out again.
“That's disgusting, what is that?” The Doctor grimaced, handing Freddie the apple. Amelia just stared at him. “An apple?”
It then became this whole palaver, no matter what food they offered the man, he just didn't like any of it. It got so bad that he even threw a plate of bread and butter outside which hit the cat.
Freddie wasn't impressed in the slightest. “Doctor, you better apologise to Mr Whiskers right now!” The Doctor just stared at the glaring boy, who was holding a large ginger cat in his arms.
“I-what?.....fine?” He huffs. “I'm sorry for throwing the plate at you Mr Whiskers.” Mr Whiskers just hissed at the Doctor knowing he wasn't human and leaped out of Freddie's arms, back outside. “Mr Whiskers, come back, i swear he's nice….He's just a bit quirky that’s all!” Freddie called after the cat.
Eventually the Doctor found something he liked, fish fingers and custard. They all sat at the kitchen table, Amelia and Freddie were eating from a tub of ice cream.
“Funny.” Amelia giggled as she watched the Doctor drink from the bowl of custard. He smiled at her. “Am I? Good, funny's good.” Then he realised he didn't know what their names were. “What are your names?”
“Amelia Pond.”, “Freddie Pond.” They said at the same time. The Doctor's smile grew wider. “Oh, brilliant names, Amelia and Freddie Pond, like names in a fairytale.”
“Are we in Scotland, Freddie?” He shakes his head, scowling. “No, we had to move to England, it's rubbish.”
“So, what about your parents, are they upstairs? Would've thought we would've woken them up by now.” The Doctor asked, noticing the sad looks on their faces.
“We don't have a Mum and Dad.” Amelia sighs sadly. Freddie just wrapped his arm around his sister's shoulder. “Just an aunt.”
“I don't even have an aunt.” The Doctor tells them. “You’re lucky.” Amelia said. Freddie picked up the sadness in his eyes. “I know!” The Doctor smiled at them. “So your aunt, where is she?”
Freddie rolled his eyes. “She's out….again.” He muttered the last bit. “And she's left the two of you all alone?” The Doctor just stared at them in shock.
“We're not scared.” Amelia said confidently. Freddie just gave her a ‘are you joking’ look.
“Of course you're not, you're not scared of anything.” The Doctor stood up, having finished his fish fingers and custard. “Box falls out of sky, man falls out of box.” Freddie giggled at this, the Doctor smiled at her. “Man eats fish custard and look at you both, you're just sitting there.”
He leaned down so that he was eye level with both of them. “So you know what I think?” They both look at him, frowning. “What?” They said in unison.
He just smiled. “Must be hell of a scary crack in your wall.”
☆☆☆
Freddie was currently clinging onto the Doctor's leg while Amelia gripped his hand tightly as all three of them stared at the giant eyeball behind the crack in their wall that the Doctor had widened with his strange device.
“W-what is that?” Freddie whimpers, frightened. The Doctor just patted his head still keeping eye contact with the creature. “It's okay, Freddie.” He murmured.
A bright light zaps towards the Doctor, causing him to double over from the impact. “Doctor, are you okay?” Freddie wrapped his arms around the man, worried. “I'm fine Freddie, I promise I'm fine.” He reassured him by ruffling his dark brown hair.
The crack then started closing again before completely disappearing into the wall as if it had never existed in the first place.“There, you see, told you it would close, good as new.” The Doctor smiled at the siblings.
“What was that thing, was that Prisoner Zero?” Amelia asked, confused. The Doctor shakes his head, trying to get Freddie to let go of his legs. “No, I think that was Prisoner Zero's guard.”
He reached into his pocket to pull out a black wallet. “Whatever it was, it sent me a message.” He opened the wallet. “Psychic Paper, takes a lovely little message.” He frowns when he reads it out. “Prisoner Zero has escaped, but why tell us…..unless?”
“Unless what?” Freddie and Amelia asked him at the same time. He just stands up, thinking. “Unless Prisoner Zero has escaped through here, but he couldn't have, we'd know.” He then bolted out through their bedroom door into the hallway.
Freddie and Amelia looked at each other before shrugging, following right behind to where he was standing, deep in thought. “It's difficult, brand new me, nothing works yet but there's something i'm missing.”
He looked at a door in the corner of his eye. “In the corner of my eye.” He turned his head around to look at the door. Suddenly they all heard a bell tolling from outside.
“No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.” The Doctor yelled before running down the stairs to get back outside. Freddie and Amelia followed him back outside.
☆☆☆
Five minutes, the Doctor had promised them both that he would be back in five minutes.
The Ponds were rushing about in their bedroom trying to grab important things such as clothes, toothbrushes, their teddies and other stuff to pack into their little suitcases.
When they were done, the Ponds slammed their suitcases shut and went downstairs to put their coat, hat, scarfs and gloves on before going back outside for the third time. They put their suitcases down and sat on top of them, then they waited.
What they didn't realise, is that they will be waiting for a long time.
A very long time.