The room shook slightly as the TARDIS landed. The Doctor swallowed a grape fruit sized lump in his throat and nervously fixed his bowtie as he waited for River. She had wandered off to the bathroom to freshen up before seeing her parents. "Ready Sweetie?" Her voice rang from the entrance of the hallway and he jumped at the sound, unaware that he had been in his own head since she's been gone. "Uh…well about that…you see I've been thinking…maybe we should go to Florence 126B in the year 25631 for a bit…you know? Great hospitals for you and the baby, amazingly realistic Italian-esc scenery, shops…lots of shops...and if we go now…I promise not to buy any hats!" He started making his way towards the console.
She shook her head then braced herself with the rail before walking down the steps. He stopped his advance towards the console and walked to meet her at the end of the stairs. He took her hand and placed a hand on her waist allowing her to make the final step. She reached up and framed his face with her hands, pulling it towards hers. He circled his arms around her waist and watched her mouth as she began to speak. "I promise to not let my father hurt you in any way…shape…or form…" she whispered inches from his face. He leaned his forehead into hers. "Can I trust you River Song?" She pulled back to laugh wickedly earning a large grin from the Doctor. "If you like…" She kissed him gently then grabbed his hand. "Come along Doctor…things to do…places to see" He dropped his mouth slightly. "Isn't that my line?" He whined. "Oh shut up…" She was pushing through the door before he knew it. He closed his eyes like a scared child as she pulled him along.
He blinked them opened to see the Ponds-Williams home less than 15 feet from the TARDIS. Rory's mini was parked in its usual spot causing him to stop on a dime. River was pulled back gently at his sudden loss of movement. She turned; one hand resting on her stomach the other laced with his hand, and stepped towards him. River leaned up and kissed his lips gently. "It's alright love…." She smiled that lip parted, teeth gleaming smile and he felt the corners of his lips betray his fear and curl upward. She turned and tugged him the rest of the way to the front door.
She knocked once. Twice. And before her knuckles met the wood for a third knock the door swung open with such determination both of them jumped slightly. "Mum?..." Indeed it was Amy. Ginger hair, big brown eyes that were slightly red, most likely from crying, pale skin. The only difference in this Amy was that she was older. Late 40's or in the early 50's range. Wrinkles winked from around her mouth, eyes and forehead. Her always vibrant red hair was now joined with several streaks of grey. The Doctor watched as new tears brimmed in her already leaking lids as she examined River. She suddenly threw her arms around River's neck, pulling her daughter into a hug. River rubbed her mother's back soothingly. "Mum it's ok…I'm fine…we're both fine" River whispered as Amy sobbed into her shoulder. She pulled back slightly to eye her daughter with a joyful grin and watery eyes. "Riv…" she coughed to rid the raspy-ness from her voice, "River…we've…we've been worried sick." Amy reached out and gently touched her daughter's protruding stomach. "Mother…I've only been gone for…wait how long have I been gone?" River asked realizing something must have gone wrong. "3 days" Amy answered finally noticing the Doctor who had been hiding behind River slightly, observing the events. "Oi! Spaceman! Get over here!" Her Scottish accent, never changing, made him jump slightly to straighten up.
He smiled nervously and slowly walked from behind River, fiddling with his hands. "Well hello Pond! Lovely day eh?" She smacked him then. Hard and fast. "Mother!" River shouted grabbing the Doctor's face in her hands, cradling it to inspect the damage. "How dare you just leave her here? 2 days top? More like 2 weeks! And then…and then you just show up! And take her...selfish…you're a selfish Raggedy old man!" Amy yelled. The Doctor looked at Amy then back to River. "I said 2 days?...then I left you for 2 weeks?" he asked placing his hands over River's. She didn't look at his eyes instead chose to stare at an invisible spot on his tie. "River…" the tone in his voice had changed to a demand. "I lied Sweetie…" she started softly smiling up at him, "when you arrived to get me…you were late" She brushed her thumb along his cheekbone. His eyes had widened slightly. "I had sent the message to you on the psychic 2 weeks prior." Amy was starting to understand. The years spent on the TARDIS had made her accustomed to her daughter's wimbely-wobbley, timey-whimey relationship with the Doctor. "I was late…" he breathed. "Shh shh sweetie…it's ok...you came and you came in time…that's what matters!" River quickly pulled his face closer to hers, bringing his forehead down until it touched hers. "You came for me…you answered my call…and that is more than I could have asked for…You came…the right you…My Doctor…that's all I wanted…" she whispered. He pulled her close with a gentle tug. His hands slid over her stomach until they came to rest on her lower back.
She kissed his lips and he eagerly kissed back. He broke their kiss to place a tender peck to her forehead. "I'm sorry" he whispered against it. River turned suddenly. "Mum…apologize" She truly was Amy's daughter. Brave, strong, in charge and protective. Amy stepped forward at that. The Doctor quickly crouched behind River, protecting his face from another slap. "I'm not going to slap you stupid" he stood up slowly and stepped from behind his fiancé. "Doctor…" Amy breathed. "Oh Amelia…" she flung her arms around his waist, burying her face in his chest. He stroked her hair lightly. "I've missed you too Amy." She pulled away after a moment, a smile on her lips and new tears in her eyes. "Where's Dad?" River asked realizing her father hadn't made an appearance yet. Amy wiped her eyes swiftly. "He took a walk …he should be back soon" Amy answered before taking their hands and pulling them through the door. "Sit...I'll make some tea and grab some biscuits…I'm sure my granddaughter is hungry!" The Doctor nodded then helped River into a sitting position onto Amy's couch. He sat down next to her before taking in the surroundings.
The walls were a light yellow, almost the same color as a dandelion. The furniture, which included a small sofa, love seat and rocking chair, were all TARDIS blue. The walls held various pieces of art and a few family pictures. The majority only had Amy and Rory in them but a couple had River and the Doctor even made a few appearances. There were vases of fresh sun flowers scattered on dark brown wooden side tables that were centered in several places around the room. It was fresh and clean and relaxing. The complete opposite of the TARDIS. He looked to River suddenly. The sound of a quick intake of air through gritted teeth caught his attention. Her face was contorted into a wince and her hands were both securely over her stomach. "River? What's wrong?" He asked quickly turning his body so he could check her over completely. She was breathing in short pants and arching her back.
"Just…ahhh….some….oh my…early…contrac…aaaa…tions…dear" she managed to gasp out as another contraction ripped through her. The Doctor's hands frantically hovered over her stomach unsure of what to do. "What….what? It's too early!" He exclaimed watching as she gritted her teeth as staggered breaths escaped through them. "That's…why…they're called…EARLY CONTRACTIONS" she yelled hormones rushing to the surface causing the up roar. Amy scurried in. "What's happening? I heard yelling…" she froze at the door way, noticing River's condition. "I'm fine…I'm fine" River breathed grabbing the Doctor's hand. The action cause a domino to fall in his head as he finally started to gather himself back together. He moved closer to her, bringing the hand in his hand up to his mouth to place gentle kisses on each knuckle. With his other hand he rubbed her stomach softly, as he moved his head towards it. "Shhh sweetheart…you're hurting your mother" he whispered against the thin fabric of River's shirt. He leaned back and placed his forehead against River's temple. "Tell me what you need River…tell me" he whispered rubbing her stomach again. Her eyes were closed tight, tears leaking from the corners. "I...I…I just need…a couple minutes…they will stop…they always stop" she panted leaning into his forehead. Amy, still frozen at the doorway, just watched. The Doctor placed chaste kisses against River's temple and cheek as they waited for the pain to cease. She squeezed his hand as each wave rippled through her until, finally, they stopped. Just as River said, after a few minutes the pain was gone. She took in a deep breath then let it out, opening her watery eyes with the exhale. Amy walked over slowly watching as the Doctor checked River over. "Well then…all better" River smiled, giving the Doctor's hand a comforting squeeze. He swallowed a lump then smiled too.
"She'll be coming soon by the looks of it" Amy squeaked from her new position about 4 feet away. "River…" the Doctor whispered brushing a curl away from her face, "are you sure you're alright?" She smiled up at him and placed a hand on his cheek. "Yes sweetie…she's just practicing I guess" the Doctor smiled fondly at her then at her stomach. "We're going to have our hands full aren't we?" River laughed then nodded. He leaned down and kissed her then, pouring his love for her into it. The sound of the front door opening made them break apart.
