A/N- super short but a segue chapter before the tone changes a bit.

The Doctor and Rory lost track of time as they stayed there, both engrossed in the child of their future, conversing casually and admiring the slumbering baby. So absorbed were they by their new little hearts- thief that they missed the women who had come to the door, smirking lovingly at their big strong husbands cooing and babbling over an infant.

"Who's a pwetty babe?"

"Yes, aren't you just pweshus?"

"Oh! And that hair! You're going to be such a handsome boy, aren't you? Yes you are. Yes you are!"

"Why are Daddy and Granddad Rory talking like that?" asked a confused Bella, making the two men jump guiltily.

"Oh, Bella, darling- it's because nothing can reduce a grown man to absolute gooey mush faster than a baby," said River, picking up the toddler and resting her on her hip. The Doctor smiled at the image, always so delighted to see how easily River had slipped into the role of mother- yet another testament to the impossibly amazing woman he got to call wife. And, there she stood in front of him, looking almost natural with their daughter in her arms. The daughter she had just met, yet had accepted and loved just as much as the woman who'd raised her so far. It was during these random, spontaneous, peaceful moments when he couldn't quite believe she was really his. Or the girl she was holding, either. He smiled ridiculously to himself, before his eyes caught the baby lying in his very first bed.

Yet another second chance he'd never thought he would ever deserve. His fond musings were brought to a halt, however, when the baby began to stir, indicating he would once more be awake and alert enough to miss his mother's arms. And, speaking of mothers...

"Hush you," he teased his wife, bopping her on the nose before repeating the motion on Bella, "there's absolutely nothing wrong with the way we speak baby."

"That's your idea of speaking baby?" Amy asked incredulously, "By the way, Rory- you have spit up on your shirt." He looked down, then made a face and gave the responsible party a teasing glare and a smile, before making his way to his room to change.

"I do speak baby, Pond. Not my fault if you don't know how to do it properly."

"Of course, dear," River said, indulgently, patting him on the cheek as she went to stand with Amy by the cot to once more admire their extra little visitor.

"Well," replied the Doctor with his nose ever so slightly raised as he tugged on his bowtie. "Let's hear you keep the mush out of your voice when you say goodbye to this wittul boi, River," he said, coming to her side as he waved down at him, the baby's eyes now open and aware.

"Do we have to, Daddy?" asked Bella quickly, sad that her new little friend would have to go.

"Yes, my dear, it's time Sir David here gets back to his family," he explained, plucking her from River's arms in hopes it would ease her goodbye.

She looked down at the boy, leaning down to kiss him on the cheek, before pouting at her father.

"When can we see him again?" she asked, determined to get him back once his family saw him.

"Oh, mia Bella, I think his parents will want to keep him with them for awhile yet. But I promise, dear, we'll all see him again. I know his mummy and daddy very well."

She thought about this for a moment, then reached out to go back to River, hugging her tightly to make sure her own mummy would stay where she could hold her anytime she wanted. She buried her face in River's neck, then looked down at the baby, waving frantically.

"Bye baby! I hope we see you again real soon!"

Amy picked up the boy, kissing him on the forehead, babbling nonsensically to him once more, before raising him up for River to nuzzle and whisper a sweet goodbye.

"Well, I guess I'll see you again someday, little one. It was very nice to meet you. And thank you for trusting me," she said lovingly, smiling as the baby gurgled his fond admiration of her.

"Alright, everyone, best be off," said the Doctor, taking the child from Amy's hands and kissing him lightly once more before setting him back in his cot. The two women sighed, Bella squeezing River's neck tighter as she waved all the more fiercely, before they said their goodbyes again and walked out of the TARDIS.

"Right- just you and me, my boy!" said the Doctor with glee as he took them into the vortex. "Ha! My boy! There's a sentence I thought I'd never get to say again. My son. That's boy, my son!" he giggled to himself as he twirled and laughed down at the infant, who was looking up at him with wide eyes, following his movement curiously.

They landed bumpily after a moment, and the Doctor exclaimed triumphantly upon verifying he'd returned just a few hours after he left River's house.

"And that's how it's done!" he said, lifting up the baby and dancing gently with him in his arms. He was walking toward the doors when he was stopped suddenly by-

"Doctor, did we just land some...where?" asked Rory as he walked back into the room. The Doctor turned around guiltily. "You forgot I was here, didn't you?" asked Rory accusingly.

The Doctor licked his lips, rocking the baby unconsciously back and forth before muttering an explanation. "Well, not so much forgot as... it slipped my mind."

Rory glared at him, then walked up to the doors, intending to go along as well.

"Well, since I'm here, may as well see how this River's getting on." And he stepped out into her house, the Doctor following with his son in his arms.