The Doctor pushed open the door and ran back to River as Rory rushed upstairs to bring down the mattress.
River was lying against the pillows again but now in the blue night gown. The Doctor was at her side quickly and returned to rubbing her shoulders, back, stomach, legs…pretty much doing whatever River wanted. "We never thought of a name Doctor" River bit out through a harsh breath. Amy had left to sanitize the equipment leaving the two alone. "Don't worry about that now my love" he whispered into her now swept up curls. "On Gallifrey they used the father's name as the middle name of the child, no matter the gender" she added leaning into his body as another, smaller contraction rippled through. "You've been reading the text books again haven't you?" he smiled into her hair. "I had to do something while you worked on the 'project'" she smiled back. There was a long moment of silence between the two before he spoke again. "Iota" The Doctor suddenly said. River looked up at him. "My name…its Iota. My parent's enjoyed Greek culture…enough to name their son after the number 10" he giggled lightly. River stared at him in shock. He had just told her his name. She cupped his face and pulled it down until their lips met. She kissed him with a burning passion, pouring her love into him with each passing second. "I love you Iota" she smiled before another contraction hit forcing her to arch her back and throw her head into his shoulder. "I love you River, more than words can describe, more than time can tell, and I will always love you" he whispered into her curls as she rode out the last contraction. Rory came clumsily in with the mattress at that moment. His arms out stretched painfully awkward as he held the mattress up. The Doctor stood and helped him set it down next to River. Both men helped River onto the mattress carefully. This time the Doctor slid behind his wife, so her back was pressed against his chest. He took both of her hands in his and kissed the nape of her neck gently as she leaned into his body. "Ahhhhh" she wept as another contraction tore through. Rory dropped to his knees and brushed River's arm. "Father…I'm.." deep breath on River's part, "I love you." Tears hadn't stopped pouring from her eyes since the pain hit and they were starting to become contagious as Rory began to cry. He touched her cheek lightly. "I love you too Melody." Amy walked in suddenly with all the tools of labor, stirrups, umbilical cord clips, surgical scissors, birthing blankets, bulb syringe and cleaning sponges.
"Let's check how far along you are River. Your contractions are about 3 minutes apart" Amy said tapping Rory on the shoulder. They set up the stirrups for her feet then placed them in. "I'm going to check now" Rory said looking at both parents before lifting up Rivers gown. "You're about ready River, just a few more minutes I'm guessing. You're 8 cm dilated!" Amy sat down near River's legs so she could assist in helping Rory and comforting her daughter. She arched into the Doctor as another powerful contraction ripped through her. She squeezed his hands and the Doctor fought the urge to scream out from the pain. After it passed he let go of her hands and massaged her back gently before the next contraction hit. Rory and Amy finished setting up all the equipment then turned back to check. "Just like I said…"Rory stated before peeking back up at his daughter, 'River you're fully dilated now. On the next contraction I need you to push ok?" She reached back for her husband's hands and nodded. "Can you believe it River? She's almost here" the Doctor whispered in pure glee. "Shut up" she bit back at his excitement. He was slightly taken aback until the next contraction hit. "Push River! Push!" Rory and Amy yelled. River gritted her teeth and pushed. Her face turned red due to the stress as she pushed through the contraction. Once she did it the Doctor, who had been whispering in Gallifreyan as she pushed kissed her neck again. "Good River, good" he whispered. "You have to do it again on the next contraction" Rory stated from beneath the gown. Just as he finished speaking another contraction hit. "Push my love" the Doctor encouraged. River gritted her teeth again and squeezed her husband's hands as she pushed. "I see the head!" Rory excitedly yelled up. River let out an exasperated sigh of relief. "Is it a beautiful head?" she asked out of breath. The Doctor, giddy to the point of tears, kissed her temple. "Of course it is! She has your head, I'm sure!" he whispered to her. "Big push next time River! Big big push!" Amy said, in tears rubbing River's leg. The contraction hit, harder than before and the pushing felt rougher then the last. "Mother I can't" River cried out falling limp against the Doctor's body. 'No River you must keep going!" The Doctor stated rubbing her arms. "You! You will never touch me again!" she sobbed. Amy crawled up to her daughter's side. "Melody! Melody look at me!" Amy cupped her daughter's cheeks. "You can do this! I know you can! You know how I know?" River shook her head. "Cause you're my daughter! You're the daughter of Amelia Pond. THEE Amelia Pond and the Centurion you never left my side, who fought armies and fires and planets for you and I! I know you can do this because it's in your DNA! You are my daughter, my beautifully strong daughter. And you can do this" Amy and River were both crying at this point, harder than before. As for Rory and the Doctor, both men trying to be strong failed and new tears brimmed their lids. "Now when I tell you to push! You PUSH!" Amy added and River nodded. She braced herself against the Doctor as another contraction started.