Ch 36
Inside the TARDIS, the children were waiting impatiently with their father. River opened the doors, tense and uneasy. Terra brightened up when she saw Vastra, running over to hug her. The woman bent down to hug the little girl, River watching protectively. Her blaster was still in hand.
The other children waited for their hugs, the Doctor sliding up beside River. "Everything alright?"
"Yes, it's fine." She murmured.
"What was Vastra doing in our house?" He asked.
"I don't know. Looking for us I suspect."
It made sense to him, so he nodded. "She must have been so worried... we ought to have her stay for tea." River looked up at him, looking very hesitant. "Or... not?" He added, though wasn't sure why she looked so uncertain about tea with Vastra.
"How do we know we can trust her?" She asked this quietly, making sure only he could hear.
He opened his mouth and closed it again, processing River's question. "I would think the past many decades would be enough evidence."
"But how do we know she's not just...waiting. Waiting for the right moment to betray our trust." She watched as the children spoke excitedly with their Aunt, obviously excited to see her.
"And what would she do exactly...? Kill us? Kill our children? She's known us long before we had children, River. And before that, she was underground with the rest of her people." He was trying to work it out logically for River, hoping that it would ease her more than bluntly telling her she was being paranoid, which he knew would only make it worse.
"You can never be sure where people's loyalties lie." She murmured.
"I suppose, but if she really wanted our children dead, wouldn't she have done it when they were helpless and infants?" River stared at him, obviously horrified by the thought. He quickly continued at her expression, "She didn't, obviously. She helped with half of their births. She's changed nappies and babysat and gave them cats... she's been there unconditionally, always. Her intentions are pure, my love."
She nodded, finally taking her hand away from her gun though her hands were shaking. Slowly, he weaved his fingers with hers, giving it a squeeze. "I'll give her a lift home." Having Vastra over for tea as it were seemed too big of a step for today.
"Okay." She whispered, nodding slowly.
After a moment, he let go to attempt to give Vastra his own hug, which he was still rather awkward at, but the effort was nonetheless appreciated.
"You must tell me what happened." Vastra pressed lightly.
"Of course. Kids, it's alright to go in the house now." He glanced back at River. The kids rushed out, the dog following. River nodded slowly, letting him know he could share whatever he deemed fit. He gave Vastra a smile. "I'm going to take you home, if that's alright."
"Yes, it is perfectly alright." She nodded.
"Do you want to come?" He asked River.
"I don't want to leave the children alone." River shook her head.
"Alright. I'll be back soon." She nodded.
"Is everything alright?" She Vastra asked once they'd taken flight.
"That depends on what you mean by alright." He murmured, though by that answer it was clear his answer was no.
"What happened?" She asked again.
He pulled some levers on the console and started to explain how the Time Lords had tracked him from when he'd come home and about the Prophecy and how they'd hidden the kids in New York. She listened, shocked by the ordeal that her friends had just gone through.
"Were you hurt? On Gallifrey, either one of you?" She asked once she felt like she wasn't interrupting.
He nodded slowly. "After they took me away they tortured River. They were trying to get her to tell them where the kids were... I had to use regeneration energy to help her."
"That's horrible." She shook her head, She had her suspicions about what had happened. She could tell that there was something very different about her friend, "Is she...alright? Did anything else happen?"
"She... we... lost a..." He swallowed. "River had a miscarriage… Someone in the village betrayed us, and as a result, Rassilon found out and killed the baby. So... no. She's not alright."
Vastra nodded, her suspicions confirmed, "Last time I was with her, I could smell the hormones and this time I could not." She explained, "Is there anything I can do?"
"I'm not sure. I don't even know what I can do." He sighed. "Everything that's happened, it's really set her back with being able to trust anyone. She wants to move and find ways to make all of us be undetectable." He thought about that morning.
"How long has it been? Since it happened?" She asked, hoping that this was just her friend's way of grieving. "
We got off Gallifrey maybe a week or two ago?" They'd been cooped up inside, so it was hard to tell.
"I'm so sorry for your loss. I think, perhaps if you give her time. Try not to give into her isolation too much. I fear that indulging her will only make it worse."
He nodded. "Thank you. And sorry we missed Christmas."
"Don't worry about it. There's always next year." She smiled encouragingly.
"Give Jenny and Strax our love."
"I will." She nodded. His bid her goodbye and piloted the ship back to the flat.
Back in the flat, the children were unpacking their bags in their rooms. River was busy unplugging the television and shutting down all the computers in the house.
The Doctor came up to his wife. "Do you want help?"
She shook her head, "I'm almost finished."
"Alright. I'll start lunch. Any thoughts?"
"Pasta would be nice."
The cats began to wander out of the ship as the Doctor made lunch, the children starting to come downstairs, wondering what River was up to.
"I'm just shutting everything down. Technology free day remember?" She reminded.
"Just today, though, right?" Arthur asked. "You'll bring it back tomorrow?"
"We'll talk about it, alright? Why don't you go play a board game."
He nodded, Terra going to inquire what her father was making. River sat down on the couch, trying to read. The house was calm as the twins played with Arthur in front of the couch and Terra helped the Doctor cook. River tried to take comfort in the calm, though her mind wandered. She was now looking at her wedding ring, not the book in her hand.
The Doctor poked his head into the living room. "Lunch is almost ready if you lot want to sit down."
The children jumped up, going to sit down to eat.
"Sweetie?" River paused in the doorway in front of him.
"Hm?"
"Can we talk later?"
"Course." The Doctor nodded. She smiled softly, giving him a quick peck on the cheek. He smiled back, feeling warmer as they sat down with their children to eat.
The children chattered eagerly about their return to school, excited to finally see all of their friends again. They discussed that they could return to school the day after tomorrow, the Doctor wanting another day to make sure everything was back to normal.
"Can I have some of my friends over this weekend?" Arthur asked.
"Sure, but maybe just one if they're sleeping over." The Doctor nodded.
"[Can we see Uncle Jack today?]" Terra asked.
"[Maybe not today, my love.]" River shook her head, glancing at the Doctor.
"[Why not?]" She pouted.
"[I want us to all stay here today. I want to make sure it's safe.]"
"[We can give him a call later if you like.]" The Doctor added. River shifted uncomfortably, but didn't protest. Terra agreed, though knew that her parents would have to interpret for her since River had unplugged the video-phone.
"[We can do that later tonight." River smiled softly.
When they were done with lunch, Terra roped Arthur into playing football in the backyard as the Doctor did the dishes. The twins retreated to go play a game of chess in the backyard as well. River stayed in the kitchen with the Doctor, watching the children from the window.
"They seem to have gotten right back into the swing of things." He murmured.
River nodded, "I feel bad that things have to be this way for them."
"What way is that?"
"They have to lie all the time. They have to keep secrets from their friends." She sighed, "They shouldn't have to do that."
"We do that. We've always done that." He murmured.
"I know, but that shouldn't mean that they have to." She sighed, shaking her head.
He nodded in silent agreement.
"I was thinking and I think we should stop wearing our wedding rings." She murmured, changing the subject.
The suggestion caught him off guard. "Why?"
"Because in the eyes of everyone in our human life, we're not married. I also think that it may be safer for our children if we don't broadcast our marriage."
"Oh..." He glanced down at his ring. "I... suppose that makes sense."
"I'm sorry." She whispered, "I just want them to be safe."
"No, of course. I do too."
River slid off her ring.
"I still need to get mine cleaned up." He murmured, hesitant to follow River's lead.
"I can get it cleaned for you tomorrow if you'd like." She held out her palm. He nodded, slowly sliding to ring off and placing it in her hands. "Thank you." She murmured, fingers closing tightly around it.
He rested his hand on top of hers for a moment. "...Take good care of that for me."
"I will, I promise." She reached up to touch his cheek. He smiled weakly.
She gently guided his face down to hers. He pressed his lips against hers softly, grateful for the gesture. She moved a bit closer, feeling more relaxed when she was near to him. He wrapped his arms around her, resting his forehead against hers. She visibly relaxed when he did so, closing her eyes.
They stayed like that for a while, neither one of them talking, or really needing to for that matter.
"Do you want to read with me?" She asked softly after a while.
He nodded. "I'd like that."
She turned, looking out the window at the children, a bit hesitant for them not to be within eyesight. Just then the doorbell rang. River jumped at the sound, body immediately tensing up.
The Doctor squeezed her hand calmly. "I'll get it."
"Okay." She whispered, squeezing back before letting go.
The Doctor opened the door slowly, greeted with the sight of three humans: Cathy, Nigel, and William.
"Basil! Oh my, we were beginning to think you were never going to come back. It's so nice to see you again." Cathy looked somewhat surprised.
He tried to put on a friendly face. "Yes well... you too. What brings you by?"
"We just wanted to see if you had arrived home yet." She explained, "We...um...We heard what happened to John and we wanted to see how everyone was doing."
His false smile fell away as sharp memories of his death surfaced. "We're... managing."
"Are River and the children back as well?" She asked.
William chimed in, though the question was more directed at his mum, "Can I see Arthur?"
"Yes, they're... River?" He called into the house.
"Yes?" She called back, coming to the door.
"Cathy and Nigel are here." He informed her, adding, "The ones you introduced me to at the family sports day... thingy."
"Oh." She mustered up her best sad smile, as she came to the door, "Hello, it's so good to see you."
"Can I play with Arthur?" Will asked again.
"Umm, yes I suppose so. He's in the backyard." River stepped aside so the boy could enter.
Will excitedly ran to the back yard, though Cathy looked unsure. "I'm sorry, he doesn't quite understand what's happened."
"It's alright." River murmured, "The children have been missing their friends, this will be good for them."
"It's been almost four months," Nigel commented. "Has Basil been with you this whole time?"
"Yes, he has and he's been absolutely wonderful to my family." She nodded.
"Come in, why don't you?" The Doctor offered, realizing they'd just been standing in the doorway. They nodded, entering the house.
The Doctor put the kettle on as the other adults sat around the kitchen table. River made awkward conversation with the adults, not finding it terribly difficult to act sad after what happened. The Doctor served everyone a cuppa, making sure there were sugar and cream on the table before sitting with them.
"So, Basil. You were close to John?" Cathy asked once he was sitting.
"Yes." He nodded. "Very."
"It's very kind of you to stay with River and the children while they go through this time." She commented.
"They've always done the same for me, it was the least I could do for them."
"Where did you say you worked again?" Nigel asked.
"Em, well I've been at the same university River's been at."
"Ah, right. What department?"
"Languages." He murmured. "I switched it from history a little while back."
"Ah, very interesting." The man smiled, "Will you be staying with the Songs for long?"
He glanced at River for help. River nodded, "Yes, he said he'd stay to help me until I get adjusted to..." She sniffed, bringing forth tears in an attempt to bring the attention away from the Doctor, "Until I adjust to John not being here anymore."
The Doctor squeezed River's hand as he assumed Basil would do as a gesture of comfort. Cathy tsked sympathetically, both humans seeming to overlook that Basil had supposedly already been with the Songs for four months.
"I could hardly imagine raising Will alone, let alone four children. I'm so sorry."
River gave another sniff and pretended to pull herself together, "I'm lucky I have such wonderful friends that have been helping me out."
"If there's anything at all we can do for you, please don't hesitate to give us a ring."
"Thank you." River murmured, "I appreciate it."
The twins came inside after a while, getting themselves water. Cathy and Nigel spoke with the children for a bit, giving them condolences as well. Amelia and Freya tried to act sadder once they remembered that they had to pretend they didn't have a dad. They didn't hold the conversation for long, retreating upstairs.
Eventually, the humans decided to go, wanting to give the family some more space to grieve. Arthur saw Will to the door, promising to play with him when he returned to school.
Once Will and his family left, River let the children call Jack, though they had to wait for her to secure the phone line. Jack had much of the same reaction Vastra had had when hearing from his friend again: an overwhelming relief that they were safe.
River started dinner while the children spoke with their Uncle. The Doctor helped with the food, slightly comforted by the sound of the children chattering excitedly away.