sorry for the longer than usual wait :) hope it's worth it, lol.

Big thank you to my beta, Charina. And wow, this is almost the end of this story guys. Only the epilogue to go.

Chapter 11

Melody looked at herself. She could see down the front of her dress and smiled, running her hands over her stomach to the tops of her thighs, "Oh it's all going on down there, isn't it?" She smirked, and her hands reached up to her head.

Soft curls met her fingers and she gasped, letting them explore as she exclaimed, "The hair!" and she ran to the blank scanner, taking in her new reflection, "Oh the hair, it just doesn't stop, does it? Look at that! Everything changes! Oh, but I love it, I love it!" She swung around to face her parents, "I'm all sort of... mature." She eyed the Doctor with a smirk, "Hello Benjamin," she laughed and ran over to the stairs, calling over her shoulder, "Forgive me you lot, but there's something I need to check."

"Wait!" Yelled Amy, "Where are you going?"

"New body, new style," Melody beamed, "I need a new wardrobe." and off she went down the winding corridors until she found herself in the wardrobe and was free to strip herself of Mels' old clothes,

"Oh that's magnificent!" she enthused, watching herself in the mirror, and turning, checking herself out from every angle,

Ten minutes later when the Doctor stepped slowly into the room Melody was decked out in a pair of black jodhpurs, a satin slip and an old military coat, she smiled at herself and spoke idly to the Doctor, "Regeneration. It's a whole new colouring to work with."

He smiled faintly and walked into the room, "Your parents are worried about you,"

"And why should they be, Dear?"

"They're your parents, that's what parents do." He stepped close behind her, "I must say you're right about the hair," He pulled a strand and watched it spring back into place with a giddy smile, "You're amazing, you know River?"

"River?"

"Melody," he corrected, "Sorry."

"No, River, I like that." Melody smiled and turned, stepping so close to the Doctor their chests brushed together, "River Song."

"Lovely name," he smiled,

Melody laughed, "Stupid name, really. But River Song, oh, doesn't it make your blood boil Doctor?"

"More than you know."

She grinned up at him, "Oh Sweetie, tell me more,"

He chuckled, reaching a hand out to cup the back of her neck, his fingertips brushing against her soft curls. "Spoilers."

"Spoilers?" Melody frowned, "What spoilers?"

The Doctor just smiled at her, his thumb running lightly over her cheek, and then he bounded back, turning on the spot, looking wildly around the wardrobe. He beamed at Melody, clapping his hands together excitedly.

"Come on! Get dressed, we have ten minutes,"

Melody smirked, stepping forward again, back into his personal space, "That's so close to the perfect sentence," She murmured in a low voice, "Where are you taking me?"

"Dinner," The Doctor smiled boyishly, "A ball, dress appropriately,"

"Are we celebrating something, Doctor? Or are you finally taking me on that date?"

The Doctor's hand reached out and one of his fingers tapped the tip of her nose with a smile, "Both,"

Melody let her hands run up, along the Doctor's chest, her arms linking lazily around his neck, she lent her head up, their lips barely two centimetres apart, "And what are we celebrating?"

He let out a small chuckle, dipping his head down whispering against her ear, "You thought I wouldn't know?"

"Mmm, know what?"

Melody felt goose bumps rise on her arms and neck as the Doctor smiled against her skin, "Your birthday."

Melody pulled back slightly, "How did you know about that?"

The Doctor laughed, stepping from her arms once more, "I'm a Time Lord." he told her, "I see timelines like a map in my head,"

She beamed suddenly, "So do I," and with a mischievous flash of her eyes she let the military coat fall to the floor and peeled the black slip off over her head.

"River!" The Doctor's eyes bulged brilliantly, noticing immediately Melody's lack of undergarments,

"Yes, Sweetie?" she asked stripping the jodhpurs from her legs so she stood before him completely naked,

"You're undressing."

"You told me to," She smirked, "And from the way you're staring, you don't seem to mind too much."

The Doctor slapped a hand over his eyes and Melody laughed, moving through the large wardrobe, calling out, "What century are you taking me to, Sweetie?"

"Early 18th century, London." He told her, peeking through a crack in his fingers, "And dress to impress."

"I always do."

Melody left to find herself authentic to the era clothing, and when she returned to the Doctor's sights, demanded he help her get into her corset, making him blush as red as the bowtie around his neck. Once Melody was dressed and ready she watched the Doctor as he -still blushing brilliantly- also dressed in time appropriate clothes.

Together they walked arm in arm through the TARDIS corridors to the control room, where Rory and Amy already stood, the two of them dressed to the nines of 1722 fashion. Melody raised her eyebrows at the Doctor, who shrugged somewhat sheepishly. Their first date, and he invited her parents.

Melody rolled her eyes, she couldn't help but find his naivety endearing.

He made up for it. The ball he took them to was completely enrapturing, the gorgeous detail in the building and dress of the other guests, the awing music that played and all around them the upper class danced and danced, stepping and spinning in complete unison. It was breath taking.

He was quick to join step into the dance, Melody with him and without second thought they both fell into place, dancing with everyone else. They danced and ate and laughed and mingled, for hours and hours, having simply the best of times, the best of birthdays.

Eventually, when all four were completely exhausted, they fell back into the TARDIS, Amy immediately pulling off her shoes and collapsing in the closest jump seat. The Doctor bounded up the steps with all the energy of a five year old and Melody followed him slowly.

Once they were sent safely back into the Vortex, Melody grabbed hold of the Doctor's hand, knowing her curious parents were pretending not to watch. She didn't care, and lent in to brush her lips over his cheek, pulling back half a fraction to whisper against his ear, "Thank you,"

He smiled softly, "Happy Birthday,"

"We should have a cake," Rory announced, breaking the sweet moment.

Amy rolled her eyes, "After that bloody feast I don't think I could eat another bit of anything." she complained, "I can barely breathe as it is." Her eyes caught sight of Melody and she smiled, "But, I suppose we could sing."

"Without a cake?" Exclaimed the Doctor as next to him Melody frowned in confusion, Amy just smiled.

"Well it's not every day your baby turns fifty, is it?"

The blonde almost cried. Her baby. Amy's baby. Melody felt full, complete, after being empty for so long. She wanted to laugh and weep and fling herself at Amy and never let go. Instead she just hugged the Scottish woman, tears in her eyes, and felt, with a great flip of happiness, Amy hug her back.

"Happy birthday, Melody,"

Melody smiled. She was so happy, so grateful, to finally, after so many years, have her Mummy back.

tbc...