Chapter 9
The Doctor and River finally left the hospital and came back to the TARDIS with their daughter. River placed Athena into the cot that both she and the Doctor had used a babies. Although she didn't use it for very long and even then, she wasn't really there. Now the wooden cot was sitting next to the couple's bed and it's intended occupant seemed to be quite impressed. Soon the new parents were lying under the soft bed covers. The Doctor spooned around River, snuggling into her golden curls. He could already tell his daughter's hair would be exactly the same. He glanced at the cot and Athena sleeping inside it. He saw the wooden stars and planets hanging above her head. She'd see them all for real one day. Then he saw her chubby starfish hands wave in the air and sighed slightly as she began to cry. River stirred next to him and she firmly told her husband that she could look after Athena when he told her to lie back down and sleep again. River took her tiny daughter in her arms and took her into the console room. Her crying stopped instantly.
"Oh." River said. "You just wanted a hug."
She stood next to the humming console and bent down so Athena could have a closer look.
"Look at this." River said. "You'll like her, the TARDIS. I'll get daddy to let you fly her when you're old enough. He probably won't have to teach you. You'll be like me, I can fly her. You're like me already, I can see that you've inherited my hair. I wonder if you'll be shot at by sontarans. Probably. You were nearly born while I was being shot at. If your father hadn't have been there we would have both been killed. You're going to love your daddy. He loves you so much already and he wasn't lying when he said that he would protect you. He made too many mistakes with me to make them again with you. I love your father so much. I don't think I tell him enough but then if I did it would end up hurting him too much. All the hurt is worth it though, you just have to hide it. Hide the damage, don't let anyone see. You have to do that around the Doctor or he'd end up being a sentimental idiot. He worries too much. Even so, I treasure the days we spend together and I hope that we will spend many more happy days with you. We're going to give you a proper family because I never want to let your father go again." Athena reached up a chubby hand and made a small squeaking noise as one of River's tears splashed onto her blanket. River reached down and kissed her daughter on the forehead. "I'm ok sweetie." she assured her.
"Oh River." said a quiet voice from behind them.
River saw her husband walk into the light in the doorway. He walked over to them and smiled, but it was a sad smile all the same. he had tears in his eyes too.
"How long have you been listening." River whispered.
"Long enough." He replied. He leaned forward and kissed her gently. "I love you River Song."
River cried more at this. She had always known it but the Doctor had never properly told her that he loved her. He wiped away her tears and kissed her again. The he kissed Athena on the forehead and took them both back to the bedroom, where all three of them promptly fell asleep.
A/N: And here we are, you and me, on the last page. This will be the end of this fic but keep checking back on my page because I have started writing the second fic in what I hope will be a trilogy. The next one will be called 'A Toddler In The TARDIS' and I really hope you'll read it. Thanks for reading this fic and if you can, please favourite or review because it really helps me out. Thanks! - Freya
