A tiny wail swelled through the room. River burst into tears at the sound, going weak in the Doctor's arms.

"And it's a girl!" The midwife announced softly, wrapping the tiny creature in a towel and rubbing her back until the cries softened. "Here you are," she whispered, gently laying the squirming bundle on River's stomach.

She hadn't practiced for this; she had no idea what to do, how to hold this brand new life that she had created, but in that moment any fear seemed to melt away as she cradled her new-born baby girl close to her and whispered a heartfelt greeting in between overwhelmed sobs.

"Hey, my little girl," she murmured, peppering kisses along her little crinkled forehead. She quietened down, whining quietly and kicking her tiny feet. River felt her heart swell.

She could have stayed like this forever, lost in a bubble of perfect time studying everything about her baby daughter through watery eyes. When she finally glanced up, her eyes met with the Doctor's and a tearful giggle escaped her. "She's our baby!"

She barely noticed in her state that he was crying, too. He gazed at her for a moment with shimmering eyes before he bowed his head to see their baby, utterly transfixed. He cupped her tiny head in his palms, leaning down to kiss the tip of her nose and whispering the name he had chosen.

"Hello, Freya."

Seeing him like this brought fresh tears cascading down her cheeks. "You're so beautiful," she murmured to their daughter. "Oh, our baby Freya, you're so perfect!"

"She's gorgeous," the midwife remarked. "I'm afraid I'll have to take her off your hands when you're ready, though; they'll get her cleaned up while we bring her little brother along!"

Freya was plucked from her arms before she could say goodbye or find the strength to cling to her for dear life, being swept from the room and drowning them in silence with the ceasing of her cries.

River stared at the closed door with tragically shimmering eyes, her bottom lip trembling. "No," she mumbled weakly. "Where's she gone? Bring her back!"

"You'll see her soon, Professor," the midwife assured her.

"But…" River's face crumpled, her arms still in the position they had taken to hold her daughter. She turned to the Doctor helplessly.

"It won't be long until your next contraction, Professor; your son will be along in a minute-"

She shook her head, gripping onto her husband's arms with a heavy sob. "I don't want to. I can't do it, tell her I can't do it!"

"Now, Professor, you're doing so well; we're almost there!"

The midwife's attempts at reassurance were lost on her. "No!" she cried desperately. "Can't I just, keep him in there for a few more weeks? I can do it, I promise, I'll just cross my legs-!"

"I'm afraid it looks like he doesn't feel like waiting."

River pressed her hands to her face with a groan, shoulders shaking with uneven sobs. "No!" she whimpered, sounding so very heartbroken that the Doctor was propelled out of the dreamy haze he had sunk into on seeing his daughter.

"River. Hey. Come on." He unwrapped his wife from the little ball she had curled herself into, finding her hand and holding onto it tightly. She looked up at him with glistening eyes, a red tint along her cheeks and her hair sticking out in wild tendrils.

She looked beautiful. Seeing the adoration shining through the tears in her eyes, this new sensation that had arrived with their daughter- their daughter who looked so astoundingly like River that it shocked him- he felt something so overwhelming that it made his hearts swell.

"I can't do this!" she told him quietly, biting her lip and returning his gaze imploringly.

"Yes, you can."

She attempted to hide away from the world again. "I can't!"

"Look at me, River." He cupped her chin in his hand, brushing the tears from her face. Thinking of what she had given him today, he wanted to give her everything in return. She needed, and deserved, something to help her be as brave as he knew she could be.

So for the first time in all their lives, he gave the mother of his children the words she had never heard. "I know that you can do this." An irrepressible smile found him as his eyes fell into hers. Perhaps it was the euphoria from seeing his child that took away his fear, that pushed the words from his mouth, but he meant them more than anything he had ever said. "I love you, you amazing woman."

For a beautiful moment River seemed to utterly forget about the pain, new tears forming in her eyes as his words hit her. She shook her head slowly, her mouth hanging open in shock.

"I…"

He would never know what she would have replied with; it was all she managed before she stopped with an agonised cry, clutching her stomach.

"Here comes baby number two!" the midwife told them. And River managed a smile as she gripped onto her husband's hand.