A/N: 'Ello there :) Here's an update
Chapter 2
While River and the kids were sleeping one morning after that night, the Doctor was wide awake, plugging in the coordinates for the Pond household. An idea came to him the night after River's breakdown a week ago, but he wanted to run it by Amy and Rory before springing into it. When he landed the TARDIS, he went and checked on everyone one last time. He peeked into his room, River was sound asleep. London and Mason were too. He opened Azalea's door, only to find her sitting in her corner reading.
"Hey Daddy!" She smiled, running over and hugging him.
"Hey Zalea! What are you doing up so early?" The Doctor stepped inside her room and shut the door. Her room was painted a pale pink with a ballet theme. Ballet shoes, Ballerina dolls, even sheets with ballerinas on them. The Doctor guessed it was a stage every girl went through.
"Well I woke up around 5 and couldn't sleep! So instead of bothering you or mum, I read all the books on my shelf I hadn't read. Which was only 3, but still." She smiled and looked at the Doctor with big eyes. Gosh she was so considerate of everyone's feelings. He couldn't get over how much like him she was sometimes.
"Well that's great Azalea, but I have a very important mission for you." The Doctor knelt down and braced himself on her shoulder.
"Sure Daddy what is it?" Azalea pulled on her nightgown a little.
"Can you keep an eye on mum while I go talk to Nana and Papa for a minute? I have a surprise for mummy but I need their approval. If she wakes up, offer to make her breakfast, and tell her I went out to grab some Jammie Dodgers okay?" The Doctor held out his hand to shake on it.
"Absolutely Daddy!" She shook her dad's hand the best she could, considering her hands were sizably smaller. She picked up her book from the floor and went to go sit by the master bedroom door. When she sat down, she gave the Doctor a thumbs up. He returned it and walked back to the console room.
He raced out the doors, carefully and silently shutting them though. He locked the doors and ran off down the streets of Leadworth. All the houses blended together and he passed where he was going. He backed up and ran up the small pathway to the Pond's doorstep. He knocked and knocked until Amy answered the door.
"Sheesh Pond don't you and Rory have jobs?" He stated walking right past Amy, who was still standing at the door.
"A hello would have sufficed." She rolled her eyes, shutting the door. Amy walked over to the Doctor, who was standing in the middle of their living room. Rory was leaning from side to side trying to watch the football game.
"What brings you here Doctor?" Amy sat on the couch and took Rory's hand in hers. The Doctor turned from side to side, playing with his hair nervously.
"Can you shut off the telly Rory. It really is quite distracting." Rory looked at Amy, who shrugged. He clicked the power button on the remote and the screen went black. The Doctor had started pacing now, and rubbing his hands together.
"I have a question. A very important question, to ask you two." The Doctor snapped and pointed both his arms towards where the Ponds were sitting, then continued pacing.
"Well shoot Doctor." Rory stuttered, eyeing the Doctor. He was acting very peculiar, probably due to this question.
"I...er...okay. Given the manners I have, I was compelled to come ask you for your daughter's hand in marriage." The Doctor stopped pacing in front of the TV and smiled at the confused faces of the Ponds.
"Doctor you're already ma-" Amy started.
"Yes, yes, all that is fine and dandy, however! I meant like white dress, cake, dancing wedding. Not the save the universe shotgun wedding we had. River is still feeling awful after we lost Nathaniel and I thought this would remind her how much I love her and how she is always my beautiful wife, no matter what tribulations we may face together. In short, I just want her to feel beautiful again. So I ask once more. May I have your daughter's hand in marriage?" The Doctor clapped his hands together and smiled at his brilliance.
Amy and Rory exchanged glances then nodded at the Doctor. "Yes, you may." Rory said. The Doctor hugged both Amy and Rory, muttered a few words then ran out of the house.
"Thank You!" He shouted over his shoulder running back towards the TARDIS.
"You're Welcome?" Amy shouted after him. She shrugged her shoulders at Rory and shut the door. It was normal for the Doctor to act strange, after all.
The Doctor quietly undid the lock and slipped inside the console room, slowly shutting the door behind him. He whirled around to put coordinates of his next stop into the TARDIS, when his daughter blocked his path.
"I just wanted you to know that mummy is still in her room and hasn't left it since you did." Azalea smirked at her father, curls flopping to one side of her head.
The Doctor looked his little girl in the eyes. She had gotten so tall. "Good girl. Thank you so much Zalea. You can go play now." He booped her nose and she ran off toward her room. He put on the stabilizers again, no use in spoiling his plan now by luring River out of her room. He was doing his usual dance around the console when something caught his eye. A new picture taped to his console, higher than the rest. He peeled it off and saw it was an ultrasound picture. He flipped it over.
Doctor, I've been holding onto this for a long time. I think it's time you had it for your little collection you've got here. XXX- River
Nathaniel Dean Song
The Doctor stared a minute at the writing on the back, then carefully placed it back where it was. He stared at the grainy photo for a while longer then went back to piloting the TARDIS. He flung one last switch then leaned against the console, head facing the floor. The loss of their second son had impacted him greatly, he just bottled it up to be brave for River. Some nights when she was already asleep, he'd cry into his pillow, thinking of what could have been. He didn't know why he was crying now, maybe just the picture triggered it. He lifted his head and sniffled a little, looking at the ceiling.
"You know I'm doing this because of you Nathaniel. Your mum loves you so much...she thinks she caused your death, even though I've told her many times that it was just one of those things. It's not you...I promise though. Don't ever think you caused this. I wish she could get some closure though.." The Doctor wiped his eyes as soon as the TARDIS landed and straightened his bowtie. After this stop, he'd be ready to propose to his wife. What he was lacking was a ring. He walked to Azalea's room and knocked. She opened the door, London standing behind her.
"Dad? What is it?" Azalea tilted her head and London came from behind her sister's back.
"I am enlisting your opinions. You are two of the most important women in my life!" London ran out of the door and hugged her dad's waist. She was in a red checkered dress and matching shoes. Her hair was its usual pin-straight, bright red. Azalea stepped out of the room and shut the door.
"Well what do you need?" Azalea crossed her arms over her sky blue shirt. She was in jeans and blue converse sneakers, with a pretty blue headband in her hair. The Doctor looked up and down the TARDIS corridor, then leaned over to whisper to his daughters.
"You two will be the first to know this, but I'm going to propose to your mum." Azalea squealed and he covered their mouths quickly. He opened the door to Azalea's room and ushered them inside. The floor was littered in barbie dolls that weren't there before, so the Doctor precariously made his way over to the rocking chair in the corner.
"YOU'RE DOING WHAT?!" Azalea softly shouted, mouth hanging open. London sat back down on the floor and continued playing with the dolls. She was only 3, and didn't exactly know what proposing was.
"I'm going to ask your mum to marry me. Technically, we are already married but she never got that wedding every girl dreams of." He realized he was rambling and stopped. Azalea was jumping up and down clapping excitedly.
"So what do you need us for Dad?" Azalea put her hands behind her back and twirled around on one foot. She had the energy of a full time lord and could never stand still for long.
"Well I need you and London to come help me pick out a ring for mummy. I can't propose without a ring, and I thought you two would like to help me pick out a pretty one." The Doctor picked up London and put her on his back. Azalea ran over to her closet and grabbed her little over-the-shoulder purse.
"I'm happy to help Daddy!" She took his hand and lead him out of her room, shutting the door behind them.
"Okay, but we will have to tell mum a wee white lie so she wont get suspicious. Don't say anything Zalea okay? You too London." He offered his pinky to Azalea and she pinky-promised she wouldn't say a thing. London did the same. The 3 walked down to the master bedroom to see River. The Doctor slowly opened the door and saw River sitting in a chair in the corner, reading.
"Mummy!" London said quietly and slid off the Doctor's back. She ran full speed to the chair and hopped up on River's legs. River put down her book and hugged her daughter.
"Hey London! What brings you here?" She smiled, sitting the ginger haired girl on her lap and bouncing her knees.
"I was going to take them shopping Riv. Is that okay? How are you feeling today?" The Doctor walked over to the chair and gave River a kiss. She returned the kiss a little more than she did yesterday. One day at a time, The Doctor thought to himself.
"That's fantastic! I'm feeling better Doctor. I'm getting there, slowly." She smiled and set London back on the floor as Azalea came and gave her a big hug.
"I know darling. We can talk some more tonight if you think that's what helped you." The Doctor smiled, grabbing London's hand and helping her off the floor.
"I'd love that sweetie." River smiled and the Doctor's heart rate increased at the sound of that word. Even though he knew it was probably because of the kids' presence, it still gave him butterflies.
"Alright darlings! Have fun!" River kissed Azalea's cheek and patted her back. Azalea ran over and grabbed the Doctor's hand.
"Bye!" They all spoke in unison, leaving River to her book. The Doctor winked at his girls and started running with them towards the doors. He opened the door for his girls to step out, then locked it behind him. He felt two little hands grab on to his.
"Dad, where are we?" Azalea said staring at the giant building in front of them. It was wide, and at least 3 stories tall. A white washed concrete building, and it looked kind of like a shopping plaza.
"We are at the intergalactic mall! Better jewelry than any silly earth store." He laughed, walking with them into the mall. So many stores lined the corridor, and separate corridors split off of this main one. There must have been 1,000 different stores in the mall. The Doctor took his girls to the store locator nearby the entrance. He squinted at the small list of stores and found where the jewelry stores were located.
"Aha! Let's go ladies!" The Doctor pointed down the corridor and began to walk with his girls in tow to the first jewelry store.