"Alaya!" Fiona starts flapping between her books, notes and folders.
"What is wrong?" Looking up from the floor playing with her girls.
"I can't." Fiona plops her head down on the desk.
"What can't you do?" Alaya gets up off the floor and puts Jennifer on her shoulders while walking April over to Fiona. "How can we help?"
"My brain isn't allowing one more fact inside." Fiona looks to her wife almost in tears, "My mind has just barred me from making any adjustments."
"You have been studying for seven days straight without any break, playing with the family, enjoying your wife or a morning run. What do you think would happen? Your body is protesting this pace."
Fiona adjusts her glasses and wipes her eyes. April puts her hands out to her mother Fiona.
Fiona picks up the little girl and instantly April slinks out her tongue to taste the wet substance streaming from her mother's face. She brings the tongue back into her mouth to offer a sour expression.
"What do you suggest?" Fiona asks her wife.
Alaya shrugs her shoulders, "Obviously. Stop." Jennifer giggles at the quick movement.
Fiona lowers her brow.
"Before you get your Scottish dander up ... hear me out. You have studied before we have met. I have only known you to study. The only time you have not a textbook or notes in your hand was when were on our honeymoon and in York." Alaya cups her wife's face, "What have you not studied? Is there something you have not read? Something you put aside to return later?"
Fiona shakes her head no. April laughs as her mother's hair flies around. Fiona shakes her head no with deliberate action. April laughs louder.
Alaya copies Fiona and Jennifer allows herself to giggle as the scales tickle her stomach.
Fiona smiles as she looks to Jennifer and back at her wife, "She has your giggle."
As the mothers move back and forth they continue with the serious conversation. "Fiona, what can I do?"
"Nothing." Fiona smiles, "I believe I have given my best."
"My dear Fiona, if you believe that there is something to learn, learn. If not, please listen to your body."
She hands back April, "Give me five minutes." Fiona grabs all her stuff and leaves the room.
Alaya returns to playing with her daughters. "What is your mother going to do?"
Fiona opens the door to the office and she is wearing trousers, casual button down shirt and her mane of hair is free flowing. "When I passed the drawing room it sounded jovial."
Alaya jumps up excited, grabs her daughters and follows her wife, "Let us have some fun with Mother Fiona. We have waited patiently."
"I am sorry, have you felt neglected?" Fiona asks her wife as she kisses her on the lips. "This is the end of late night studying, end of isolation behind books and more about living our life."
"How will you manage?" Alaya teases her wife.
"Oh?" Fiona picks up April and puts her on her shoulders. April smiles as she grabs the messy red hair on her mother's head.
Alaya opens the door to the drawing-room, "Can we join the fun?" She ducks to make sure Jennifer doesn't hit her head on the door frame. Alaya jolts up as soon as she passes the lintel, someone has pinched her arse.
Fiona passes her wife with April holding on tight to the red mane, "I will manage just fine, don't you worry Mrs Flint-Saint Clair."
"I remember spending many nights, in this room, listening to music and laughing at a recording." Fiona shares with her family. "Mind you, My mother April has always had a wonderful sense of humor." April de-tangles her hands from Fiona's hair and joins her companions.
"Your mother said you found enjoyment in just about everything in sight." Mother Jenny added, "But you always laughed hardest at playing with a potato."
"Potatoes are funny looking." Fiona replies while squinting her eyes with a smile. "They never roll in a straight line."
The door open, "Will there be anything else Sirs? If not, I shall head to the pub for a few pints."
All the girls starts laughing and clapping their hands at Strax.
Mother Vastra quickly responds, "Commander Strax, Have a good evening."
Strax bows, waves at the children and closes the door.
"I guess everyone finds a potato fun." Mother Jenny rolls her eyes.
The drawing-room floods with mature laughter from four female adults. Not far behind the sound of four children burst into the air. The combination of Silurian and human sounds fills the air with warmth it inspires Mother Vastra to pull her wife close.
Fiona pets her wife's crown in casual affection and leans into her wife's shoulder.
Alaya and Vastra smile at each other secretly knowing that this is a moment they will return to in their dreams.
