The following morning River awoke in the arms of The Doctor, who was still sleeping soundly, and that didn't happen often. Sure he'd been sleeping more since Mia was born, but that was because she wore him out on a daily basis. He invested so much time and effort into that little girl. River knew he'd make a great dad, but at the same time she could not have pictured it quite this way. Those two were thick as thieves. If there was an argument, and it looked as if River was about to be pulled into it, she would make an excuse and leave the room, unless she had a strong opinion on it one way or the other and didn't mind pissing off either her husband or daughter in the process.

As River thought about the past few years, she couldn't have imagined her life differently - well, no, she could imagine her life differently, what she meant was - but she would never change it for the world. True being a mother took more out of her than she ever thought possible, especially as of late. Having to pretend to care about Sans - who was entirely and completely the bane of her existence - was hard for her to do. She didn't like it one bit. She loved The Doctor utterly and unreservedly and having to "attempt" that kind of thing with someone else for information, well, she would never have gotten used to it. She was beyond thrilled that her husband had punched that good for nothing son of a bitch. She had wanted to do it herself every time she had to see his face, but protecting Amelia, was more important than her own discomfort and there was certainly a lot of it.

In all honesty, Sans could never hold a candle to The Doctor. They were completely different men. Sans was all about power and blindly loving someone, and had an affinity for betraying people, it wasn't a wonder to her that his wife had left him, if she'd had to look at that ugly face all day she'd probably leave him too. No River, that was mean, she thought to herself. The Doctor adjusted briefly, causing River to go rigid so as not to wake him. She wanted to be left alone with her thoughts for the time being. There was so much on her mind, and she hadn't the faintest idea what to do with all of it. Some things were practical, easy, like what food to bring to her parents; and then there were other things, harder things, things she didn't know how to say that she knew she should. She could never find the right time. Oh he deserved to and had every right to know, but for now it was her dirty little secret, for now she could hold it hostage, though at some point she knew she would have to tell him, and she was hoping she could just wait it out a little while longer.

The door to their room creaked open and River shut her eyes quickly, "momma?" It was Mia, but at this moment River didn't want to interact with anyone, so for right now she was pretending to be asleep and just hoped that her daughter would think she was still asleep and leave the room. Her wish was granted, but not until Mia had come all the way over to her mother's side of the bed and poked her arm, upon thinking that she was still asleep Mia shrugged her shoulders and left the room.

As soon as the door shut River's eyes burst open, this time with fresh tears. She hated what she'd just done, but right now she just didn't want to be there for anyone but herself. She was strong and independent, though she was feeling less and less that way because Mia relied on her so much. Being a mother was great, but it had it's pains as well. What's that thing some women get? Oh she couldn't remember, but she was sure she had it, though it was odd, because Mia was six, didn't that usually happen soon after giving birth? Oh she couldn't tell. She barely remembered her pregnancy to begin with, so trying to place facts in there, oh she didn't want to think about it. She really needed to deal with this, she had to deal with this.

The Doctor stirred awake, River knew that he would know she was awake by one quick look at her, so there was no point in faking sleep if he was up so she stretched.

"Ahh..." The Doctor exhaled before raising his hand to her face and placing it on her mess of hair kissed her on the forehead.

"Hello Sweetie," she just barely managed to get it out with the giant frog she found in her throat. No, now was not the time. After his just waking up, no. Definitely no.

"Hello dear," The Doctor moved his hand out from under her head, stood up and dressed himself. "You getting up?" He called back over his shoulder.

"Uh," River had been lost in thought, "yeah, I'll be right out."

"Okay..." he turned to leave the room, then paused and looked back over at her, hand on the doorknob, "um, don't let Jack in here."

"Okay Sweetie," she faked a smile.

"I mean, really River, don't. Let. Jack. In here." His emphasis was clearly defined. No Jack in bedroom.

"Right," she nodded.

As he turned to the door again he pulled the door open and whispered, "I love you."

River shot straight up from the bed as the door shut.

What had he just said? Had he actually said what she thought he said? Could that even be possible? Well he'd never said it before. Never, not once. And well, they'd been married for an awfully long time, but he'd never said it! The closest she'd ever gotten to hearing "I love you" from that man's mouth had happened in Trenzalore all those years ago. She only just now realized that her jaw was hurting and upon further examination realized that her jaw had dropped so far she swore it could reach her lap. He had said it!

"And he walked away?" River flung the covers off of herself and raced over towards the door and wretched it open, noticing Jack standing outside the door.

"Well, I can appreciate that!" He smiled at her.

"What?" River then noticed that she hadn't a thing on. "Oh..." she turned around immediately and hurled herself back into the room and closed the door. "Um...not sure how I'm going to explain that one." She reached for the clothes closest to her, yanked them on and once again opened the door. Jack was still standing outside it.

"Aw, why'd you hide it all?" Jack was disappointed.

"Do these," she gestured to her breasts who were showing cleavage proudly as ever, "look hidden to you?" She shook her head, "I don't think so."

"Okay, well that will have to do I suppose." He flashed a smile and winked, "don't forget about my offer."

"Believe me," River turned towards the console hallway, "I haven't."

River walked faster than she was certain she'd ever walked in that TARDIS before, which was pretty fast. But how could he say that and just walk away like he did? How did he think that was alright? Maybe that was his plan to get her out of bed, although it didn't seem to bother him at all that she was still laying down when he got dressed. Usually she tried to pull him back for another romp in the sheets, but she hadn't the energy for that this morning, she knew why - no. No thinking about that. She scolded herself.

She came huffing and puffing into the console room.

"Momma!" Mia ran over and threw her arms around her mother as soon as she'd hit the landing of the staircase.

"Good morning darling," she bent down slightly to hug her daughter back before Mia hurtled her way back over to her father, almost knocking River over in the process. "Where are we going?" River said crossing her arms over her chest.

"Brian's."

"Oh, of course Brian's."

"Something wrong?" He looked at her surprised.

"Really?" She stared at him, "you're just going to say what you said and that's the end of it? You're just gonna leave the room and make me follow you?" She wasn't pointing her fingers at him, but it sure seemed that way to him.

"Hey, I didn't have a problem with it!" Jack smiled suggestively at The Doctor.

The Doctor in turn looked over at River, and then pointed at Jack, "why did he say it like that?" His hands were flailing almost instantaneously. "I don't like the way that he said that River! Why don't I like the way he said that?" Without realizing it he had walked right over into River's face. Realizing where he had found himself he stepped back and cleared his throat. "Why don't I like the way he said that?"

"Chill out mate," he winked at River and then smiled suggestively at The Doctor, "she just came out like a newborn babe." He chuckled and smiled again, "not a bad view. I can see why you keep this lady around."

"Jack!" The Doctor's arms were crossed over his chest.

"Poppa!" Mia yelled at him.

The Doctor ran around to where Mia stood pointing at the scanner.

"Um, poppa...is that...?" She looked up at him speechless.

"You know what angel," he picked her up, "I think it is."

Jack and River exchanged a glance.

Instantly River knew what it was. Of course, why hadn't she thought about that. Well now was as good a time as any, right?