Starlight Dreams | 11th Doctor

iv. Scars that Linger

Estrella nodded again and they started to follow after The Doctor, only to be stopped by Amy who grasped their wrist, anchoring Estrella to the spot and causing them to look up and over at Amy

"Hang on Estrella" Amy pulled them away from the doors of the TARDIS and into one of the corners "I'm going to ask you once and I'm going to expect you to answer honestly: do you like The Doctor"

"Of course, I like The Doctor, you like him too," Estrella said, the smile never leaving their face as their words also come out in a rush

"No that's not what I meant and you know it: Do you have a crush on The Doctor?"

"Why would you say that?"

"Because of all the looks and the handholding and the fact he cleared out an entire room and calmed you down when you didn't like the noise all without being asked or knowing what was going on and he managed to get you to calm down and with the star whale -- you were the one that managed to get through to him"

"No, if anything that was you." Estrella tried to argue "I got angry at him and then cried in the corner"

"Ugh you're so oblivious -- The Doctor likes you he's always holding you're hand and looking at you when he thinks nobody's looking and you seem to know all this information about him." Amy looked at them curiously with that I-know-something-you-don't-look that Estrella knew all too well "Which by the way, how did you do that?"

"You know how I came up with all those stories when I was a kid and you would write all those comics and stories about the mad doctor in the box? Well, most of the stories came from the stories that you wrote had a base to them see the stars used to tell me about this man, the last of his kind. As a child, I believed them religiously, as a teen I used to ignore the stars whenever they tried to talk to me"

"But that's impossible how can the stars--"

"We are literally standing in a time machine and you want to talk about what's impossible?" Estrella deadpanned, their lips fighting a smile as they pointed to the TARDIS in which they stood

"I guess but you like The Doctor -- admit it" Amy prodded and Estrella stayed quiet mainly because they didn't know exactly what their feeling towards The Doctor was. Scratch that they knew when they looked at The Doctor a lot of things made sense, they could see the endless stretch of stars and planets reflected in The Doctor's eyes

But wasn't that because The Doctor and all he embodied was something that Estrella James had wanted ever since they were a child. Adventure and mystery were sewn into every fibre of Estrella James being and it was all they have ever wanted since they knew what the word meant. They physically were in Leadsworth all their life but their heart was always a million miles away

And The Doctor had shown them everything that they had dreamt about

It didn't mean they liked The Doctor romantically

"What about Rory and your wedding?" Estrella shot back, trying to change the subject. That seemed to sober Amy up as she became awkward and shifted opening her mouth to speak but Estrella continued "I may have been stuck in my own world for the last year and then swept up by the adventure with The Doctor but do you really think I forgot my best mate's wedding? I am the maid of honour after all, aren't I? Oh please tell me I still am"

"Of course you are," Amy smiled reassuringly and then hastily added "That's if the wedding is still happening"

"Time machine" Estrella piped up again, thinking once again Amy had forgotten that not only could the TARDIS move through time and space itself and so getting back for a wedding wouldn't be an issue