Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who and I never ever will

Pregnant Preparations

Whilst Romana's world was being turned completely on its head, Melody and River were having the time of their lives in the TARDIS wardrobe. The post regenerative trauma was having a very peculiar effect on Melody, as she kept giggling like a madwoman at the slightest provocation. When she first entered the wardrobe, her brand new green eyes landed on a ridiculous multicoloured coat, sending her into peals of hysterical laughter; it was also very infectious, and River laughed right along with her, without having any real idea why they were laughing in the first place.

Flavia came into the wardrobe to find the two of them lying on a pile of clothes, giggling and clutching their sides. "What's so funny?" she asked, setting a mug of tea down on a nearby chair. The wardrobe was a madcap, cluttered mess – it was no wonder the Doctor seemed to wear the same outfit all the time, if this was what he'd have to dig through to find another one. River managed to stop laughing long enough to gasp out "I…I'm laughing…because she's laughing…ah, ha, ha, hee, hee, ha, ha!"

Melody struggled into a sitting position and choked out between peals of laughter, "I – ha, ha, hee, hee- can't – ha – stop – ha, ha – help me!" Flavia raised an eyebrow. "Hmm...it seems you're experiencing some strange side effects of post regenerative trauma. I suggest you drink this tea, the tannins in the leaves will help your neuron pathways to settle down" she explained. With difficulty, Melody managed to drink a few sips and calmed down considerably. "Oh, that's better. Thanks Au- um, thank you Flavia".

"You're welcome; I'll leave you to get on with things then, if you can manage to navigate this mess" Flavia sighed, walking away. Melody sipped at the tea, feeling her buzzing mind begin revolving more normally. "I can't remember the last time I laughed that much" she admitted, and River smiled in agreement. "Me neither…it was fun though" she grinned. Melody grinned back. "Regeneration really knocks you for a loop, doesn't it?" she noted.

"Oh, tell me about it. I felt like I could take on anything after I regenerated into this body, it was actually a bit scary, but exciting at the same time" River explained, thinking back to that fateful day in Berlin. It was hard to believe how much her life had changed over the years, but she wouldn't have it any other way. "You can live with me" she blurted out suddenly, "in my flat, I mean. I might be able to pull some strings and get you a job at the university as well" she added.

Her sister (it felt good to call Melody that) was rifling through some tops; she held up a turquoise and lime green pinstriped blouse, shook her head and threw it back. "Thanks, that's really generous of you…I don't want to impose though, I can probably buy a flat of my own with the money I've saved up in my bank" Melody assured her. River shook her head and insisted "Really, I don't mind. I have quite a large flat, and it'd be nice to have some company. It can get a bit lonely sometimes".

"Well, I wouldn't want you to be lonely…what do you think?" asked Melody, holding up a short sleeved lilac shirt. River considered it and shook her head. Melody chucked it back on the pile and began rummaging again. "What job did you have before?" asked River, assuming that Melody must have entered into some sort of profession. A reminiscent smile played over Melody's lips. "It took me ages to decide what to do" she recalled, "one day I'd want to be a nurse, like dad, and the next I'd want to write like mum…when I was younger, still ten or eleven years old, I wanted to be a spy".

River grinned. "Like the Corsair?" she guessed. Melody nodded. "All I knew for certain was that I wanted to do something to make my family proud. There were just so many ways to do that, so many opportunities and ideas…it's a shame that its rather the opposite situation nowadays" she commented. River nodded in agreement; even the fifty first century, with all its leaps in technology and inter-species interactions that people from the 21st century couldn't even imagine, still struggled with unemployment issues.

"You did get a job though, didn't you?"

"I got a scholarship for a drama academy…it seemed I had a talent for acting. It was a lot of fun, and I wanted to have a job as an actress, raise millions for charity and stun the world with my flair and grace" Melody struck a flamboyant pose that had River nearly dissolving into giggles again. Fortunately she managed to get herself under control, and asked "Did you become an actress, then?"

"No, I fell in love instead"

"Really? Do tell"

"I thought you might say that. His name was Marcelo Carbone, but we all called him Marc. He was talented, gracious, drop dead gorgeous…I was just eighteen when I started falling for him, you should have seen dad when I first brought it up" Melody and River grinned. "He sounds like quite the catch, what happened with him?"

"It's a long story, so I'll just give you the abridged version for now. Halfway through our last year at the Academy, Marc and I began dating. After we graduated, he invited me to come with him on a tour of America. It was amazing, we saw so much…we dated for a couple of years and then he proposed. I was just twenty years old, I knew I ought to say no and give myself more time to think it through, but I just couldn't help myself. I feel a bit silly thinking about it now. So we got married, and lived in New York for a decade or so, before we moved back to England.

"We both kept acting, but we never got into any big films…still, we made a good life for ourselves. When we were in our forties, he kept acting and travelling a bit, whilst I stayed in England and taught drama at a local university. Don't ever tell him, but…I came across the Doctor back in the sixties, I never talked to him, I just saw him now and again. I can't believe he looked so old then" Melody said in a tone close to wonderment. River was more curious about her husband. "Did you ever tell Marc the truth, about how you were from the future?" she inquired.

Melody shook her head. "I wanted to; I almost did, sometimes, but then I thought better of it. You see, Marc was a dreamer at heart, but he was certain they were just dreams. If I ever brought up anything to do with aliens or time travel, he'd always just sort of roll his eyes, and say it was all a load of nonsense. He could be really stubborn about things he didn't believe in, or didn't like- he once refused to take a role in a film because his character would be a fascist, and when they tried to point out it wasn't real, he just said 'Maybe not to you' and walked out".

Her eyes had a faraway look in them as she sighed sadly, and explained "We were married for fifty five years, and then when he was seventy six, he started getting…getting Alzheimer's. I missed the Corsair and everyone all the time, but I always just tried to live my life, not cling to the past...when my Marcelo began fading away, right before my eyes, that was when I first thought of bringing them there, in almost forty years. I wanted him to be cured, to stay with me longer…" a tear dropped from Melody's cheek. She hadn't even realised she was crying.

River came over and put an arm around her sister's shoulders, silently giving her support. Melody wiped her teary orbs and managed to continue, "I did still have enough sense to ask him what he wanted. He said…he told me that if he had never met me, he wouldn't have had nearly so good a life as he did…but it was just his time. His time to rest…he didn't believe he could be cured, but he was sure that even if there was a way, he didn't want it...I mean he didn't want to leave me, but he was so sure he couldn't be saved and he said it was better if we both just…just…let…go…"

Head buried in hands, Melody sobbed as River held her and murmured comforting, meaningless words. "Ngh…s-sorry" she sniffled, rubbing her bloodshot eyes, "it's been ten years, you'd think I'd be over it by now".

"I don't think you can ever 'get over' something like that. It hurts to lose the ones you love…but better to have loved and lost, etcetera. I'd rather love and experience that pain than be as unfeeling as a Cyberman or a Dalek" River admitted, and a still tearful Melody nodded in abject agreement. "I guess I'm just more sensitive today because it's the anniversary of when he passed…I don't mind if you ask one more question about me and Marc, but after that, could we change the subject?" she asked. River nodded and wracked her brains for a good question.

"Did you and Marc ever have any children?"

"No. We did try, but I just couldn't conceive…eventually we gave up and concentrated on our careers. But enough about that…I still need to find a good outfit, these clothes are so uncomfortable…".

/

In the end, Melody picked out a long sleeved navy blue blouse with silver embroidery on the lapels and sleeves, a pair of dark blue linen trousers and black high heels, paired with a silvery grey sleeveless waistcoat. "You look great, very Hollywood" River complimented when Melody emerged from the changing rooms and gave her a twirl. "Thanks. I am starving, do you want to go find the kitchen and get something to eat?" she suggested.

This sounded to River like a most excellent idea, so they went in search of the kitchen. It wasn't a particularly long quest as the TARDIS moved the room they desired right down the corridor from the wardrobe, not that the two of them were complaining. Flavia and the Corsair were there, eating pizza. "Ah, they emerge at last! You two were in there for so long I nearly sent in a search party" the Corsair teased them with a grin. Melody walked right over to him and enveloped him in a tight hug. "I missed you" she said simply.

He was taken off guard by the unexpected hug, but the Corsair quickly recovered and hugged her right back. "I missed you too, Mel. I'm just glad you were happy…you were happy, weren't you?" he asked, and she nodded. "Very happy, and I'm even happier now. I can have a whole new life with River, go on adventures, see the universe… I think I might pick up my old acting career. Melody Pond, fifty first century starlet by day, alien butt kicking superhero by night" she grinned, making the others chuckle.

When there were only three slices of ham and pineapple pizza left, the Doctor walked into the kitchen, took a bite out of one piece, and promptly spat it in the bin. "Ugh, pineapple's rubbish. I don't like pineapple" he complained, pulling a face and putting some bread in the toaster. "Well, then why did you…never mind. Is Romana feeling better?" Flavia inquired. The Doctor had told her and the Corsair, whilst River and Melody were clothes searching, that Romana was feeling quite unwell.

"Oh, yes. I'm just bringing her some toast…she asked me to tell you guys to go to the parlour. We've got something to tell you" the Doctor smiled, and he refused to say another word on the matter. The toast popped up, he buttered it lightly, cut each piece into a heart and left the kitchen. "What do you think they want to tell us?" wondered River. No-one could guess. Once the pizza had been entirely devoured, they went to the parlour and there awaited the arrival of the Doctor and Romana.

Romana had one hand laid against her stomach and the other firmly clasped in the Doctor's hand. "Um…hi guys. You look nice, Melody" she smiled uncertainly, looking very nervous. "Whatever's the matter? You're as white as a sheet" Flavia said in concern. Romana bit her lip and explained "I err…I found out something that's sort of a big deal, um…I'm…Th-the Doctor and I are…well, we're…h-having a…a baby" she admitted.

There followed a silence so intense you could have heard a pin drop, and then Melody and River both squealed in delight. Flavia might have done so as well, but she would never admit to it later on. "Oh my gosh, that's wonderful!" Melody gushed, getting out of her chair and hurrying to embrace Romana. River quickly followed suit, but it didn't take them long to realise that Romana seemed rather reluctant to hug them back. "Um, are you alright?" asked River.

"No, I'm terrified. I have no idea what I'm doing" she moaned. The Doctor gave her a one armed hug and said "I told you, Romana, you'll be absolutely fine. Barry, tell her she'll be fine"; he held up a small brown teddy bear and waggled it in front of Romana, saying in a squeaky voice, "Yes, you will be fine! Listen to the Doctor!" Romana chuckled in spite of herself. "Where did that come from?" ask Flavia.

"It was in that box Melody gave me, from her parents. The baby's first teddy" Romana smiled softly, stroking the little bear's tummy. "Oh! That reminds me, I've got something for you two" the Corsair told River and Melody, before hurrying off. He came back with two long, thin boxes, and handed one each to his two 'honorary nieces'. Inside they found shiny new sonic screwdrivers…the Doctor recognised, with a pang in his hearts, the sonic that River had taken to the Library. "Wow…thanks, Corsair. This is brilliant" Melody grinned.

"Yes, thank you. Today certainly has been eventful, hasn't it?" River commented, thought that was a bit of an understatement. They settled down to talk and enjoy each other's company; then later on, River and Melody would return home to write the book and send it to Amy to be published. They promised to put in a note from the Time Quartet, thanking them and saying goodbye. Romana, however…she was actually looking forward, to saying hello.

/

Hi guys! When you review, you can suggest things that I can put in other chapters. Hope you enjoyed this chapter, and as always, vworp on!