Ch 3

Back rubs became a routine in their everyday lives. Generally they happened before bed, but if she really need he'd do it thought out the day. Her belly kept growing from the small bump it was to looking like she'd swallowed a soccer ball. 'A planet' as the Doctor liked to say. He was happy that the due date was moving closer, but also anxious. Mostly because there so many people out there who'd love to their hands on his family. He never let her leave without a perception filter on and always stayed close by her. River scowled when he gave her the perception filter to put on, "If you're going to make me wear this, then I'd rather just not go out." She huffed, in a bit of a sour mood tonight.

"River, you know that we can't have anyone finding out about our baby. That means you've got to wear it if you want to go out." He eyed her large midsection, feeling very protective at the moment.

"Well then I don't want to go out. I'm tired of having to wear it." She waddled over to the bed, sitting down with another huff.

He placed the filter back on the dresser. "Sorry, you feel that way. You know its only for your own protection" He didn't mind staying in. It meant that the risk of her being taken was gone, but he hated seeing her upset. She sighed, looking down at the nice dress she had barely managed to fit into.

"Well, how would you feel if you had to wear a perception filter every time you wanted to leave the TARDIS?"

"Well... to be honest, I'd question if what I was hiding was worth it." He placed a hand on her bump. "And it definitely is"

She smiled weakly, "I suppose you're right." She murmured, placing her hand over his.

"Still want to stay in? Because it took me awhile to get the dinner reservations. The people of Odio are so.. so.. suborn"

"Let's go out then." She tried to push herself up, struggling to get to her feet on her own. He offered a hand out to help her. She took his hand, managing to get to her feet with his help.

"There we are. Come along Song" He lead her by the arm, grabbing the perception filter of the dresser and placing it on her neck as they left. She smiled, following after him. They strolled out the TARDIS doors on to a stone path. It seemed to be a garden of some sort that lead to a glowing building. People of all races walked in and out of the doors.

"Where are we again?" She asked, looking at the garden around them.

"This is the planet Kodeni and this city is called Odio. That restaurant is known for a splendid roast shepuni" He said excitedly.

She smiled, "It sounds lovely." He beamed, continuing on the path. He started to ramble a bit about the place, the origins of the people and when he had been here before, things like that. She nodded and smiled as they made their way down to the restaurant. River stopped walking, her hand moving to her stomach and she held tightly onto his arm.

"...River" He paused too. It always made him nervous when she did that.

"She's kicking." She smiled up at him, her hand still resting on her belly. He smiled in relief.

"You've got to stop scaring me like that." He placed a hand where hers was. He jumped a little in excitement, pulling his hand away with a small giggle before putting it back "That's brilliant"

"I'm sorry, it surprised me, that's all." She smiled up at him, giggling as she felt another kick, "Did you feel that one?"

"Strong kicker." He commented. "Come on." They resumed their walking, still mesmerized by their child's movements. She was glowing as she walked along side him, smiling radiantly.

"Reservation for two" He told the waiter who lead them to a private table on a balcony.

"Would you like a wine?" The Doctor always found it a little amusing that no one else could see the large bump of River's belly. He politely declined.

"It's beautiful up here." She mused, happy to be somewhere private. "Doctor, there's nobody around, can I please take this off?" She asked, her toying with the perception filter around her neck. He thought a long moment. He didn't want to deny her the right to take it off, but he was also very cautious.

"...Okay" He said slowly. "But you have to be ready to put it back on if you even hear someone coming"

"Thank you." She murmured, pressing a kiss to his hand before taking off the filter. He beamed at the sight of her. The candle on the table illuminated her curls.

"If there weren't so many people out to get us, I'd take you all over the universe to show you off" He said out loud. She laughed, her cheeks tingeing pink.

"That's very sweet."

He blushed. "I said that out loud?"

"Yes you did." She laughed, "Are you blushing?"

"No" He lied, his face turning even redder. He tried to hide behind the menu. "I'm absolutely not blushing."

"I think you absolutely are." She giggled, reaching across the table and trying to move the menu away from his face. "And I also think that it's absolutely adorable." He obliged, pulling the menu down.

"Maybe a little" He was embarrassed, but he enjoyed this as much as she did. Her belly got in the way of her leaning over any further, so she stood moving so she could place a kiss to his cheek, then his lips.

He chuckled at the touch of her lips, kissing her back. The waiter soon returned to take their orders. She sat back down in her chair, forgetting that she had taken off the perception filter.

"River!" He whispers loudly , wide eyed. "The filter!" Her eyes grew wide and she quickly found the filter, putting it back on. He turned to the waiter, his face falling when he saw the waiters shocked expression. "Um.." He didn't know what to say. The first thing that popped into his mind was that he could be working for Kovarian. In a flash, he jumped up and pinned the man against the wall, holding his collar tightly. "Who do you work for?!"

"Doctor!" River stood, moving as quickly as her body would allow, trying to pull him off the other man. "Doctor, stop it!"

"But what if he works for the Silence?" He hissed. "We can't take that risk, River. I need to keep you safe"

"He could be perfectly innocent." She tugged on his arm again, "Please, let's just go back to the TARDIS."

"And if he's not? What then? Then he reports back to Kovarian and we're dead. I'm not going to let that happen. I'm not going to let her take you away again." She swallowed, not having any response for that. She had ruined their evening with her selfishness. He pushed the man again. "I say again" His tone was cold. "Who do you work for?" After getting out of him that he had never even heard about a Kovarian the Doctor said "If you let slip what you've seen here, I will find you. You saw nothing, we were never here" And with that he and River left. It was obvious that River was upset as they walked back to the TARDIS and as soon as they were back inside she took off the perception filter and threw it across the room. "River... It's not your fault. Nothing that happened tonight was your fault."

"Don't be ridiculous, all of it was my fault. I was the one who wanted to take off the stupid filter, and then I forgot to put it back on. You warned me and I messed it all up. I put myself and the baby in danger." She hid her face in her hands. He came over to her, wrapping his arms around her.

"But we're safe now, River. He wasn't working for anyone. It's okay now"

She pushed him away from her, "But our night is ruined. We practically terrorized that poor man, and after that who says he won't go and tell someone." He looked a little taken back. He stared at his feet.

"You're right. we should be more careful." He looked up at her. "I'm sorry that our evening got ruined, but that doesn't matter to me. What matters is that you're safe for now. You and our daughter are safe"

"We don't know that now, and it's all my fault." Her whole body was aching, and her head was spinning.

"No one can get into the TARDIS, so we do know that. You're safe in here." His face grew fearful as he saw her sway dizzily. "River?" He reached an arm out to steady her. His voice sounded far away from her and her legs gave out from beneath her, her eyes fluttering shut as she collapsed.