"Mummy?"
"Yes, dear?"
"Tell Claire, Muffin's meant to sit next to Annabelle. Spot sits across the table."
Since the table in question was an old blanket spread out upon the garden grass, and the tea guests were a mixed menagerie of dolls and stuffed toys, River chose not to get involved. "Dear, don't you think the two of you might try working it out for yourselves?"
Sarah skipped back across the lawn to where her younger sister was reordering their toys yet again. "She said to put Muffin there," she directed, pointing at the empty space next to a large bonneted doll.
"No. She did not!" Claire protested.
"Yes. She did!"
Her attention was drawn away from the little girls' argument at the sound of footsteps on the walk behind her. Turning, she found a young man approaching from the direction of the house. A young man she didn't recognize, with a vortex manipulator strapped to his wrist.
Every muscle tensed instantly; she stood up and turned to face the man, reaching out her senses...
And recognized him.
"Jack?"
His face broke into a grin, familiar even on a stranger's face. "Hello, Mum."
"What on earth...?"
His smile twisted slightly, and he dug his hands in his pockets. Too casually. "Yes. Well... Daleks. You know how much trouble they can be."
"You regenerated? Didn't we tell you to call us if you got into trouble?"
"There wasn't time. Besides, it came out alright. In the end. You should be proud," he suggested hopefully. She arched an eyebrow at him and he laughed. "Really, Mum."
Because she knew some things were incurable – and inevitable, she pulled him in for a hug rather than scolding further. "So, how have you been otherwise?" she asked as he stepped back out of her embrace.
"Fine. Great, really. I've got a job."
"You?" she asked, unable to believe it.
"For the government." He sounded unable to believe it himself.
"What on earth are you doing?"
"Special agent," he explained proudly. "It's great fun. Figured it was a good way to get some additional specialized training."
"And...?"
"Experience?"
"And...?" she repeated. River wasn't his mother for nothing; she could tell an evasion when she heard one.
"And...yeah...," he finally admitted, blushing slightly. "There is this bloke..."
"Is he hot?"
"Mum!"
River laughed. "Well, is he?" she pressed, despite his embarrassment. Maybe even because of it. She was his mother, after all.
He smiled. "Yeah, Mum. He is."
"Good for you, then." She returned his smile. "Agent Jack. Who'd have thought it?"
"Actually, Mum, I've changed–"
"River?" the Doctor asked, coming up behind them and interrupting his son. "Who's this?"
They both swung 'round to look at him. River laid her hand on their son's arm. "It's Jack, dear. Can't you tell? He's regenerated."
The Doctor stared at his son's new face for a second. "Dad? What's wrong?"
"Nothing." His face broke into a grin. "Nothing at all."
