[A/N: Hey, readers, I'm going to be traveling all next week so I'm sorry to say there won't be another update until the 27th (ish? depends on my jetlag.) Enjoy! Stay safe!]
Ch 14
Soon enough there was a full tub of water and two content Time Lords bathing in it. River had her head resting against the Doctor's shoulder, eyes closed. "How's the headache?" She asked.
"Getting better. The water is helping."
"Good, I'm glad. We still have to talk about what we're going to tell all of our friends. We need to break the news that your other self is...gone. And I really do hate hiding that we're married so..." She sighed, taking a very small of champagne, "We're going to have to figure that all out."
"Yes, I suppose we do. We probably don't have to make an announcement, though. Just sort of... act sad and when someone asks we tell them he got into an accident." He suggested. "News will spread."
She nodded, setting her glass on the rim of the tub, tracing circles on his chest, "I wish there was an easier way to do this." She murmured.
"Well you could say he ran off with some young, skinny blonde, but I doubt that will bode over well either." He murmured. The crease between her brow deepened at those words, the suggestion upsetting her slightly. "Sorry." He whispered, for once not being so oblivious to her expression.
"It's okay." She murmured, backing off of him a bit. There seemed to be a pattern with her: She was more than happy to nestle up with the Doctor, but as soon as he mentioned his former self, something inside her would switch and she would be fighting back grief again.
"Maybe this is a conversation for a different time?" He could see that pattern and really didn't want to be apart from her.
"I suppose, but I do want to have some sort of a plan before we pick the kids up." She whispered. "It'll be easier for them if they know what's going to happen."
He nodded silently, realizing that while talking about this would distance her, it was also what had to be done. "Will we be doing a pseudo-funeral?"
"I-" She hesitated, "I'd rather not. I don't want to put the children through that." She moved away from him a little more.
He tried to ignore the sinking feeling in his chest the action gave him. "Alright. Just wondering."
She shot down the rest of her champagne, pouring herself another full flute. He swallowed. "Good champagne?"
"It's okay." She muttered, drinking almost half the flute in one flourish. He wondered if it would be worth mentioning the pattern he observed, of if he should just wait it out and let her grieve.
It didn't take more than a minute before the other half of the alcohol was gone and she was pouring herself yet another glass.
"River... are you alright?"
"I'm fine." She muttered, finally setting the glass down again after drinking a third of it's contents.
"You're on your third fluke in five minutes." He frowned.
She raised an eyebrow, "Are you saying I should slow down?"
"You might end up with a headache if you don't." He pointed out.
"I can take care of myself. I don't need you counting my glasses for me." She muttered.
"Sorry." He looked away. She put her head in her hands, sighing. "River," He started gently. "I know mentioning Bowtie makes you rather on edge, but I'm really trying."
"I'm trying too." She whispered, "But it's hard..."
"I know. But if you need some time to yourself when I say something wrong, please just say so."
She bit her lip, "That wouldn't be fair to you."
"No, it'd be alright. I'll understand." He smiled weakly.
She watched his face, "I can't. The children need an example to follow."
"The children aren't here right now."
"Then this is good practice."
He nodded, wondering briefly if the only reason she'd been so willing to spend time with him was to set an example. He shook the thought away. "Perhaps we need a conversational safe word, then."
"Such as?" She asked.
He shrugged. "Maybe something about dreaming?"
"I think we need something a bit more obscure than that."
"Suggestions?" He looked at her.
"Lotus."
"Lotus." He echoed. "That works."
She nodded, finishing off her glass and going to get out of the tub. He pulled the plug out for the water to drain. She pulled on her robe, taking the bottle of champagne with her.
He didn't follow, drying off and dressing, then heading back to the room with the guitar.
She didn't see him for the next couple hours, mostly because she was avoiding him. The Doctor did move TARDIS once, parking in the flat and making sure the cats were fed. He went to the back garden after that, figuring River would show herself if and when she was ready to.
An hour or so after lunch, she stumbled upon him, now fully clothed. He was sitting in one of the lawn chairs, eyes closed.
River cleared her throat, watching from the doorway. He opened his eyes and turned his head. "River."
"Sorry." She murmured. "Again."
"It's alright." He murmured. She nodded, standing rather awkwardly, before turning to head back inside. "River, wait." He called. "You can, em, you can sit with me if you like."
"I don't want to bother you." She hesitated.
"I quite like your company, River. It's not a bother."
She slowly walked over to him, sitting down.
"We should plant some flowers in the spring." He murmured.
She nodded, looking at the yard, "The children always love helping with that."
"Terra had a favorite flower... what was it again?"
"She loves daisies." She murmured.
"Ah. Daisies. I thought it was tulips."
"It was tulips last summer. She changed her mind a couple months ago."
"I see. We should plant some daisies then." At the moment, the yard was fairly bare aside from the fallen leaves and grass patches that still clung on to what they could.
She nodded, not saying anything.
"Do you want to plant peonies? Those are your favorite, aren't they?"
"Yes, they are." She smiled weakly.
"Now there's a useful thing to keep in my memory." He hummed.
She looked at her feet, "Did you eat?"
"Yes, a bit."
"So you're not hungry then?"
"Well, I wouldn't say that. Why?"
"I was going to make myself a sandwich and I was wondering if you wanted one."
"That'd be lovely."
She went to go back inside again, going to make their food. He wandered inside after her, sitting in in the kitchen to keep her company.
She set the sandwich in front of him when she was done, sitting across the table. Tiber brushed up against River's legs, wanting whatever she was eating. She reached down to pet him, eating quietly.
"So..." The Doctor tried. "Do you want to go out somewhere this evening?"
"Did you have a spot in mind?"
"Maybe the Onyx Cliffs of Djereeb. Beautiful stars."
She nodded, "That would be nice."
He smiled weakly. "I could treat you to dinner before hand...?"
"I'd like that." She breathed.
Tiber jumped up on the table, sniffing at River's sandwich. She finished it quickly, not wanting the cat to eat it. Tiber looked disappointed at River's now empty plate, resolving to try and steal the Doctor's food instead.
"Watch out, the cat will get sick if he eats your food."
The Doctor nudged Tiber away. "No, Tiber." The cat jumped into the Doctor's lap. "Tiber..." He warned, pushing the plate out of reach. "Down."
The cat meowed, rubbing his head against the Doctor.
"Alright, alright." He gave him a scritch behind the ears. He purred, settling in his lap.
"Thanks, it's not like I wanted to get up anytime soon or anything." He said sarcastically to the cat, though continued to pet him. "He's lucky he's cute."
River was looking at her phone, a small frown on her face.
"Everything alright?" He asked.
"It's Jack..." She sighed.
"Are the kids alright?"
"They're fine, but Terra wants to come home."
"She's still not so used to sleepovers, is she."
"Not yet." She shook her head. "I'll go get her. The other three will probably want to stay."
He nodded. "Alright."
She stood, "Be right back." She murmured, kissing the top of his head before she left the room.
At the Hub, Terra was waiting impatiently with Toby by her side, not taking any comfort in Jack's attempts to comfort her.
River walked out of the TARDIS doors, eyes falling on her daughter. "Is everything alright?"
The girl ran up to her, hugging her legs.
"Yeah, she's fine, she just misses you two," Jack said.
River scooped her up, hugging her properly. "[Are you sure you want to come home?]" River signed.
"[Yes]." Terra nodded. "[I want to go home and Arthur keeps saying mean things about Daddy so I want to be away from him, too.]"
River sighed, having been hoping to get the Doctor to herself for a few more days, "[Okay...If you really want to.]"
"[You hafta make Arthur stop being mean before we go.]" She insisted.
She shook her head, "[I'm not going to do that. He has to get his feelings out now.]"
"[But he's saying that he's a fake and he's trying to trick us.]" Terra was more concerned that her brother's words might be true than that he was saying them.
"[He's not a fake.]" River murmured, "[Come on, let's get home.]" Toby followed them into the TARDIS.
River put the TARDIS back in flight, bringing Terra to the kitchen. The Doctor was still trapped down by Tiber, though the cat and he looked up at the others. "Hello, loves."
Terra moved closer into River's side.
"[How was Uncle's Jacks?]" He asked his daughter.
"[Okay. I missed you.]" She signed.
"[I missed you too, dearie.]" He gave a small smile.
She wiggled out of her mother's grasp, "[Can I have a sandwich too?]"
"[Of course. I'd be happy to make you one.]" He signed, then looked at the cat. "Time to move, Tiber."
Tiber jumped up on the table, off the Doctor. "Thank you." He stood and moved to make the sandwich.
Terra hopped into the Doctor's chair, River sitting across from her. He brought the sandwich over when he was finished, a PB and J, which was about the only kind of sandwich Terra liked next PB and banana, and PB and fluff.
She bit into it, immediately getting peanut butter all over her face.
He looked over at River. "So I suppose no Onyx Cliffs tonight?"
"I guess not." She was watching the floor.
"You alright?" He asked.
She nodded, "Yeah, I was just hoping we'd have a bit more alone time together..."
He looked at Terra, trying to think of something they could all do together. "[Terra, would you like to go about with Mummy and I this evening? We could see the 2040 World Cup.]"
Terra smiled, "[That sounds fun!]"
He smiled back. "What do you think River?"
She nodded, "[It'll be nice.]"
Tiber, like he did with the others, tried to steal Terra's sandwich. Terra scolded the cat, eating quickly.
"[Can we read a story?]" She asked when she had finished her food.
"[Of course, dear. Which would you like?]"
She didn't answer, running upstairs quickly to get a picture book, bringing it back to him.
"[Cinderella.]" He looked at the cover. "[Why don't we sit on the couch?]"
She nodded, running to the couch, River following behind. The Doctor settled with them, opening the book to the first page.
Terra looked at the pictures, pointing out her favorite character (obviously Cinderella) as she always did. He smiled as he and River switched off reading to her. Terra's eyes were fixed on the illustrations, watching on in amazement despite having read the book a dozen times.
Toby had curled up by their feet by the time the book was done. Terra had wiggled down off the couch to cuddle with Toby.
"She certainly likes her fairy tales." He observed.
River smiled weakly, "I think she loves the dog a bit more."
He nodded slowly, deciding not to comment on the dog's old age. "Quite a pair, those two."
"They certainly are."
"Do you think the twins and Arthur are doing alright?"
"Yes, they're fine. They didn't even realize I was there." She replied.
"I hope Jack's not too cocky about that."
"I'm sure he's not." She murmured.
"How are you feeling?" He asked.
"I'm fine." She breathed, "Why?"
"You weren't really all that fine earlier."
She sighed, "Don't worry about me."
"The thing about caring for someone is that you tend to also worry about them when they're unhappy." He murmured. "But if you wish me to, I'll try not to think about it."
She watched her feet, "I told you, I need time. Nothing is going to fix all of this immediately so it's not worth worrying about."
He nodded slowly. "Right."
"I'm sorry." She murmured.
"No need to be, dear." He moved his eyes from their daughter to her. She was avoiding his eyes.
Terra tapped at River's leg. "[Can we go to the World Cup now?]"
She nodded, getting up slowly.
"[What's wrong?]" Terra asked, sensing her upset.
"[Nothing. Don't worry about it.]" She tried to smile.
"[Can we get treats at the game?]"
"[Of course.]" River nodded.
"[Let's go!]" She excitedly took her mother's hand. River let her daughter pull her around, heading into the TARDIS.