"Are these the bedrooms?" The Doctor asked as he looked into the master bedroom. "This is your room, I presume."
"Yep," River answered as she continued down the hallway.
"Where will I sleep?" The Doctor asked, making River freeze. Putting on a playful smile, she turned to face him.
"Wherever you want," she answered as she found another closer. The Doctor nodded and closed the door before continuing his exploration. "Is Cassandra still getting her stuff?"
"I think so. She should be up in a moment," the Doctor informed, coming out of the room as River came back over to him. "Are you sure you're okay with this? I know it was your terms, but are you sure?"
"Positive. It will just take some getting used to," she answered with a grin. "Where are your things?"
"My things?"
"Yes, your things. Don't you have things?"
"Of course I have things. There just in the TARDIS," he explained defensively. River rolled her eyes and folded her arms.
"The go get them. It's not going to feel like home unless you bring in at least some of your things," she replied as the Doctor nodded, agreeing with her.
"Where should I put my things, then?"
"How about our room?" She answered too quickly. She resisted the urge to cover her mouth. She didn't mean to be so forward.
"Alright," he smiled before leaving. River nodded, thinking that this might go well. That they might actually act like a normal married couple. She went downstairs to see Cassandra carrying a box in the living room.
"Need some help?" River implored as she grabbed the large cube. Cassandra thanked her as they went upstairs.
"Do I call you Mum or River?" She asked sheepishly, figuring the answer should be obvious, but it wasn't. River smiled.
"Whatever you're comfortable with, Sweetheart," she answered as she opened the door. Cassandra nodded as River placed the box on the bed. "I'll let you get to work then. I'll be downstairs if you need me."
"Okay," she replied kindly as River closed the door. She went downstairs and sat in the sofa, examining the living room. It vaguely reminded her of her parents' old house. It surprisingly comforted her to have it look like that, which she supposed was good. The Doctor came out of the TARDIS with a few boxes, balancing them on top of one another. River shook her head and went to go help him out.
"No, no, I got this," he informed as he struggled to get to the stairs. River watched him try to walk up, trying not to laugh. After a few minutes without help, the Doctor made it upstairs without one box tipping over. River shook her head and followed him up.
River stood in the doorway as the Doctor set the boxes on the bed. She started to go through them and place the throughout the room. Of course, he only brought some knickknacks and gadgets. Not clothes nor other essentials. River assumed that he would keep most of that stuff in the TARDIS, since it was just in the closet downstairs. The Doctor looked up and noticed she was there as he finished up.
"How do you like it?" He asked as she looked around. She honestly didn't know what most of this stuff did, but they seemed to fit in all right.
"It looks great," she smiled as he rubbed his hands together. "Aren't you going to bring some clothes up? That closet is certainly big enough."
"Maybe a few things later, but not right now. Is Cassandra fitting in?" He implored as she nodded.
"I think so. She likes her room as far as I can tell," River answered as the Doctor turned toward the door.
"I'll go check up on her then," he informed, leaving the room. She sat on the bed beside the boxes. What was she going to do? She didn't want to stay here the rest of her life. She already missed the excitement and danger of traveling with her Doctor. She wanted her adventure back. River decided that this would be temporary and that the Doctor would take her traveling once again. Once everything was settled and normalized. She stood up and went across the hall, where the Doctor and Cassandra were.
"River!" Cassandra smiled as River opened the door.
"Hello. What have you been up to?" She whispered as Cassandra led her into the room.
"I was unpacking, but now Dad's distracting me," she complained, trying to hide a smile.
"Oi! How am I distracting you? I'm just trying to help," he laughed as Cassandra giggled. River smiled and leaned against the wall. "Would you like me to leave so you can get this done by dinner?"
"Yeah," the girl laughed as the Doctor patted her head before leaving, taking River with him. He looked confused as she closed the door.
"I don't know how to cook," she informed as he tilted his head to the side.
"So?"
"What about dinner? What are we supposed to do?" River continued as the Doctor gave her a long look.
"You don't need to know how to cook here. You just do, I guess. Or want something to be already made for you," the Doctor answered, making River close her eyes. Did things really happen like that here? You just want something to happen, and then it did? It was insanity!
"I don't know if I can deal with this," River mumbled, rubbing her forehead. The Doctor gave her a hug and sighed.
"You'll get used to it. I know you will," he whispered, rubbing her back. River nodded and buried her face in his shoulder.
"Maybe," she murmured before walking downstairs. The Doctor pursed his lips, uncertain of what to do.
River entered the kitchen and leaned against the counter, thinking of the events of today. So far, she had been attacked by shadows, met the Doctor (who didn't know her yet), got trapped in a virtual world, and became a mother. She exhaled, wanting to go back to reality. This was way too much for her to handle. She straightened up and grabbed the freezer handle, craving double fudge chocolate ice cream.
"You'll ruin your appetite," the Doctor informed, leaning against the door frame. River closed the freezer, holding the quart of ice cream, and grabbed a spoon.
"Not if I don't want to," she retorted, tasting the delicious flavor of the treat. She offered some to the Doctor, which he refused. "Did I dream you up?"
"What?"
"In this world, I get whatever I want. I remember wishing that you were here, and then there you were," River explained, unable to look him in the eye. He bit his lip in frustration.
"No, River, you didn't dream me up," he promised as she shook her head.
"How do I know that?" She demanded.
"I don't know. Would it be better if I left?" The Doctor suggested as River grabbed his arm before he could leave. He smiled and touched her hand. "I'm not going anywhere, River. But, if you notice, you were able to stop me. Can you stop a dream?"
"It depends," she whispered, embarrassed that she had grabbed his arm so violently. The Doctor held her hand and smiled.
"I don't think you dreamed me up. The reason is that I know you would dream me so much more heroic. Someone you could fight side by side with. I still hate the idea of a weapon," the Doctor whispered, caressing her hand. River rolled her eye as he smiled wider. "Even if you did dream me up, would you really care? You would still have your Doctor."
"It does matter, though. If I created you, that means that I'm just lonely and weak. If you came to me, I'm less so," she countered, pulling her hand back.
"River, you are a great many things, but you are not weak," the Doctor reassured before kissing her forehead. Cassandra came in the doorway and smiled up at River.
"What's for dinner?" She asked sweetly as River shrugged.
"What do you want?" River answered.
"Swedish meatballs!" Cassandra cheered, making River chuckle. She promised the girl her dinner, but told her to make sure she was done unpacking. The Doctor stared at River for a while.
"What? I want her to think that I made dinner for her. Not just wishing for the dinner to appear. I want to look so reheat respectable and impressive," River stated defensively. The Doctor shook his head and smiled.
"You're always so concerned about your appearance?" He teased as she shrugged.
"I have to live up to my reputation by any means necessary," she winked playfully. He smirked and looked away.
"The woman who killed the Doctor," he whispered fondly as she sighed.
"I never really killed you. I killed that robot thing that you were inside," River reminded softly as he shook his head again.
"Regardless," he laughed as she turned away. A meatball dinner appeared on the table, signaling that she wanted to change the subject. "Anyways, I was thinking that we could go traveling tomorrow."
"Sure," River answered, wanting to get away for awhile. The Doctor narrowed his eyes in confusion.
"You want to go?"
"Why wouldn't I?"
"You were saying that I shouldn't go away," the Doctor reminds before River pecked his cheek.
"I meant run away from me or Cassandra. If you take us with you, that's fine," River clarified as the Doctor blushed and stammered.
"Where to, then?" He whispered with a smile. River thought for a moment before smiling.
"I want to see something that neither of us has ever seen," she answered as he grinned. He knew exactly where to take her. He rubbed his hands together excitedly as he ran into the other room. River watched him exit, wondering where he was going. A moment later, Cassandra came in and beamed at the sight of the meal.
"Did you make this?" Cassandra asked excitedly. River smiled and shrugged.
"Sort of. Let's eat," she whispered as she sat down at the table. Cassandra agreed and was about to sit down.
"Where's Dad?" Cassandra implored as she sat up straight.
"I don't know. He was here a moment ago. He should be back soon I would think. If he's hungry, he'll come and eat," River answered with a smile. The girl nodded, wondering where her father could have gone. River exhaled impatiently. feeling for the child. River always waited for the Doctor, even if she knew that he might not show up. River dished up some food for Cassandra to get their minds off the impossible man.
"He didn't leave, did he?" she murmured, scared of the thought. River grabbed Cassandra's hand and shook her head.
"He would never do such a thing like that. He's probably just in the other room, adjusting to the new house," River assured as Cassandra bobbed her head, uncertain about it. She popped a meatball in her mouth and looked down. River pursed her lips, thinking that she was going to kill the Doctor he didn't get in here fast. As soon as she thought that, the Doctor did indeed come back in with a smile. "Where have you been?"
"Planning our next trip," he answered as he sat across from Cassandra next to River. River rolled her eyes and handed him a plate. The girl beamed as she took another bite, relieved that he didn't leave.
