Stars and Moons and Air Ballons

The TARDIS was silent, with only the quiet hum of the ship to keep Derpy company. She couldn't sleep after today. She had almost lost the Doctor, and it really scared her. Her yellow mane frizzed up as she tossed and turned, trying to find a comfortable spot. Nothing could sway the strange feeling that the Doctor would just disappear if he wasn't in her line of sight at all times. It was silly of course, but she couldn't get to sleep without knowing he was right there. She finally sat up and looked around the dimly lit room. Her gaze eventually landed on the door which was slightly ajar. She sighed and slowly lowered herself out of bed. Maybe she'd go find the Doctor! Then she stopped. It was the middle of the night he must be- sleeping. Does the Doctor sleep? Derpy thought to herself. Oh, no, that's a silly question! Everypony sleeps! Still... I've never seen his bedroom...I guess the question is where does he sleep?

Derpy trotted into the console room. Big wires hung loosely from the ceiling, draping over the room like a blanket. There was a faint green glimmer coming from the console, giving the room a warm glow. It was very quiet, almost like the ship itself was sleeping. She smiled happily, fondly touching the console. She had only been with the Doctor for a little while, but the TARDIS was like her home. And looking at the console was like digging through an old box in the attic where you keep the toys you played with as a filly. It made her happy, but kind of sad at the same time.

Derpy stopped, remembering who she was there for. "Doctor...?" She asked quietly. Her voice echoed around the big room, but she received no answer. "Doctor, are you in here...?" She quietly tapped around the room, but couldn't find the Doctor anywhere.

She was about to give up, and just try to go back to bed, when she heard a little whimper come from underneath the console.

"Doctor?" Derpy asked again, poking her head under the console. She saw a large brown lump on the opposite side of the the console and quickly rushed around to see it.

Derpy climbed under the console, only to find the Doctor fast asleep. His scruffy brown mane was even more of a mop top now that he was sleeping. He was stretched out across the floor with a like he had just fallen asleep while he was working. He was clutching a mallet tightly in his hoof, and pulling it close to his chest like a teddy bear. His mouth was slightly open and Derpy could hear his quiet breathing as he slept.

Derpy put a hoof to her mouth. "Oh!" She whispered, blushing. "He's so cute when he's sleeping!" She dropped down next to him and smiled at his sleeping face. She reached out a hoof and caressed the side of his face. His ears twitched in response, making him all the more adorable. "But why are you sleeping here?" She asked this question more to herself than the Doctor, but in response he whimpered again, furrowing his brow.

"Oh!" Derpy brushed his mane out of his eyes and asked. "What's wrong?" The Doctor curled up in a little ball, like he was hiding from something. Derpy frowned, then pulled the Doctor into her lap. "Oh... Poor Doctor... must be a bad dream..." Derpy gently stroked his mane as he whimpered. "Shh... It-it's okay..." She murmured helplessly. He must be dreaming about his home planet... Derpy thought to herself. The one that burned... Oh, poor Doctor. I don't want him to be like this, but I don't wanna wake him up either! I don't know how much sleep he usually gets, but I shouldn't interrupt the little bit he has..

Derpy sat there for a little while, thinking about what her mother did when she had bad dreams back in cloudsdale when she was a little filly. Nothing much stood out, except the one song she always sang. Derpy shrugged. I suppose it's better than nothing... She thought, looking down at the shivering Doctor in her lap. "Oh... how did it go?" Derpy took a breath and began to sing.

Stars and moons and air balloons
Fluffy clouds to the horizon
I'll wrap you in rainbows
and rock you to sleep again.

Teddy bears of pink,
Ducks and lambs of white,
Don't you cry dear, I'm here now
I'll be your nightlight.

Stars and moons and air balloons
Fluffy clouds to the horizon
I'll wrap you in rainbows
and rock you to sleep again.

Smiles to cure the frowns,
Twirlling and tumbling in laughter
Someday life will always be
happily ever after.

Derpy stopped, the last echo bouncing back. Panicking, she realized that she didn't remember the next part of the song. "U-um..." She stuttered. Scrambling to finish the song and get the Doctor to sleep peacefully, she improvised to better fit the Doctor.

Nevermore will the storms come
to destroy your little world
Nevermore will the waters rise
'till the mountains no longer touch the skies

Smiling as the Doctor snuggled into her lap, Derpy finished the song.

Stars and moons and air balloons
Fluffy clouds to the horizon
I'll wrap you in rainbows
and rock you to sleep again.

I'll wrap you in rainbows and rock you to sleep again...

The last note reverberated off the walls of the console room. Derpy looked down at the Doctor who was now sleeping peacefully in her lap, his breath warming her. He suddenly stirred and asked in a sleepy voice.

"Ditzy...?"

"Shh..." Derpy whispered, stoking his mane with her hoof. "Go back to sleep..." Dazed and confused, the Doctor closed his eyes again and laid his head back down. Within a few seconds, he was asleep again.

Derpy gave a warm smile. She felt tears forming at the corners of her eyes. Confused, she sniffed and wiped them away. Derpy glanced up at the console again and thought. The Doctor's like that console... he makes me so happy... but sometimes so much I wanna cry... like a box in the attic... Derpy blushed happily and looked down at the Doctor. She yawned and thought to herself. Oh, gosh, I didn't really think about this... he's kinda in my lap and now I can't get back to my bedroom without waking him up! Derpy thought for a moment then smiled. As she laid her head down on his back she thought. I guess I can make that work...

"Goodnight, Doctor."

Author's Note:

Omigod, I can't believe I did this... A Time Bubbles ship fic!!!! O-O I never thought this would happen. Usually, I never ship the Doctor with anypony but Roseluck... and then this song happened... and then this story happened... And I am perfectly okay with this ship now!! XD
Also, I used Derpy AND Ditzy for you picky ponies out there.