Ch 22
The first bits of sunrise spilled right into their window come morning. The smell of food came from the kitchen, filling the room the Songs slept in. River was still fast asleep, buried beneath the sheets and nestled in the Doctor's embrace.
He blinked awake when the sun shone in his eyes. He inhaled the dust scented air, looking at his wife, his expression relaxing. He rested a hand lightly on her middle, absently stroking his thumb over her skin. There seemed to be a noticeable swell that hadn't been there before, a result from the medication she had taken, no doubt.
She mumbled something, shifting closer to him in her sleep. He listened closer to what she was saying. "Doctor… please..." She murmured. He frowned slightly, not quite able to tell if her words were full of lust or fear.
She tilted her head slightly, her breathing growing heavier, "Doctor..." His eyebrows rose as he realized it was lust he was hearing, keeping still as to not interrupt her pleasant dream. The Doctor was very much awake now, unable to help his own body's reactions as listened to the sounds she was making.
Her body was a bit flushed, obviously the dream was rather vivid for her. Her back arched slightly, moans escaping her mouth. He closed his eyes, the sounds sending heat rippling through him.
Her eyes suddenly blinked open.
"Morning." He whispered.
"Morning." She said a little breathlessly.
"You sounded like you had a good dream."
Her face flushed slightly, though a smile crept on her face, "It was alright."
He raised an eyebrow. "You sounded a bit more than alright."
"How so?" She mirrored his expression, amusement leaking into her voice.
"I know what it sounds like when you're... enjoying yourself. And you most certainly were making those sounds." He was having trouble hiding his grin.
"And you didn't bother to wake me up? You just sat and listened?"
"I've been taught that interrupting is rude." He tapped her nose.
"Well, it just so happens I didn't get to finish anyway. I woke up before we got to the best part." She pouted.
"Is that so?" She nodded. "There is an old saying about unfinished dreams, you know."
"What would that be?"
"They have a much higher change to coming true."
She hummed, "Well, Mister Song..." she murmured, pulling him closer so their lips almost touched, "Are you going to make my dreams come true?"
His cheeks became a bit pinker. "If you wish them so."
"I promise it'll be much more fun than just listening." She teased.
"I like that promise."
Venic lucky didn't walk in on them, allowing them to bring River's dream to vivid life, though they kept quiet.
River collapsed onto her husband's chest, breathing heavily. He smiled, arms around her. "Better than a dream?"
She nodded, "Much better."
"How are you feeling?" He stroked his hand along her back.
"Better than yesterday." She murmured, shifting so she could put a hand on her belly.
"That's good." He looked down where her hand was. "You're a bit bigger today."
"Yes, I noticed." She smiled weakly, "You're going to be able to see it through the clothes I have." She murmured.
"Only if you're looking for it." He hummed, though everyone would be looking if she was off bedrest and could be out and about.
She nodded, "Of course, but still, it means our baby is stronger."
He smiled. "Yes, it does."
There was a soft knock on the door. River quickly rolled off her husband, pulling the blankets up to cover herself. Venic entered, carrying a tray with breakfast.
River smiled, "That smells wonderful." She commented.
The other woman nodded politely and gave them their plates. River took the plate from her, glancing at the discarded clothes on the floor. They had slept in what they'd come in yesterday, which at this point were soiled, stained, and tattered garments. Venic paid no mind to the clothes. Whether she was doing so out of politeness or that she truly didn't notice was unclear. She left them to their food, exiting the room again.
River dug into the food, finding herself rather hungry. The Doctor was a bit less ravenous but fed gratefully all the same.
They got dressed in the new clothes that had been given, though got right back into bed to continue cuddling.
"Venic's going to want to want to examine you again." He said.
She nodded, kissing his neck, "It can wait a few minutes."
He made a throaty noise in response. "Yes, is suppose it can."
"Don't get too excited, Mister Song." She teased, "I'm not offering up another round, I just want to snog you."
He pretended to pout. "Well, I suppose I can be happy with just snogging."
"I can stop if you're not enjoying it." She teased.
"No, no, continue." He amended. She moved so she could kiss him a bit deeper, cupping his face. He gladly returned the gesture, submitting to her kiss.
Soon another knock came from the door. It was Venic again. "Professor Song, are you ready for an examination?"
River quickly moved off the Doctor, "Yes, I'm ready."
Venic entered, moving to start the exam. River took the Doctor's hand, as she had been doing each time she was examined. He gave hers a reassuring squeeze. She watched Venic's hands as she gently probed her belly. The healer's face gave away no expression of hope nor worry, remaining neutral.
"Is everything alright?" River asked.
She gave a small smile. "You seem to be responding to the medication splendidly. Have you taken your pills this morning?"
"Not yet." She shook her head, "Should I expect the baby to grow anymore?"
"It is a possibility." Venic murmured. "But there are no consequences to an accelerated development."
River nodded, glancing up at the Doctor a bit worriedly anyway. "This isn't the same thing Kovarian used." He explained. "It's similar, but much more fine tuned to your biology than what she used."
"If safety is your concern, I would recommend you stay in bed for today again," said Venic.
"Of course." River nodded again, more than willing to do what was needed to protect her baby.
"I will remain as your guest if it makes you more comfortable to have me near." She offered.
"It would make me feel much better." River smiled weakly, "Thank you." Venic nodded and went to get River some water to take her pill with. River squeezed her eyes shut, letting out a sigh.
"What's wrong?" The Doctor asked.
"I'm worried." She a bit upset about the accelerated growth possibility, mind stuck in the past.
"Is there anything I can do?"
"I don't know." She pinched the bridge of her nose, "I don't want..." She sighed trying to keep calm, "I don't want to lose this baby like we lost William."
"Neither do I." He whispered though he couldn't discount that it was a very real possibility.
She took the medication once Venic returned. The woman left them alone after that.
Rai and Theon returned to the window shortly after, smiling and waving.
"Looks like our wee visitors are back." He smiled weakly.
River looked over at the window, smiling softly, "I think they like you."
"Whatever gave you that idea?" He teased. The two children ran to knock on the door. "Are you up for a bit of company?" He asked.
She hesitated, "I suppose so." "It's alright if you'd rather some space."
"I think it would be nice if I could nap for a bit." She murmured.
"I'll keep them occupied." He kissed her forehead.
She smiled weakly, leaning in to give him a real kiss. "I love you."
"I love you, too," he hummed, returning the kiss and going to answer the door.
The children had flowers again, bouncing eagerly.
"Hello again." The Doctor smiled warmly. "You've brought more flowers, how kind."
"They're for the pretty lady." Rai smiled.
He smiled back. "I'm sure she'll appreciate them, but she's sleeping at the moment."
"Awww, but Theon and I wanted to hear more of her stories." She pouted.
"I know some of her stories." He consoled. "I can tell them to you."
"Okay." They nodded.
"Shall we find a nice place to sit? Where do you two like to go?"
"Can we sit at the table here?" They asked.
He nodded. "Of course."
They ran around his legs into the kitchen, sitting at the table.
"Now, what would you like to hear about?"
"We want to hear about the most exciting adventure ever!" Theon cheered.
"The most exciting." The Doctor echoed. "I'm not sure there's just one. Which one did River tell you about yesterday?"
"She told us about when you had to fight against the weeping angels on the By-...The Byzeem..."
"Byzantium." He said. "That's was a good one. How about I tell you about the time we saved the universe from the Sanakuma's Spore Ships?"
They nodded enthusiastically, settling to listen to the story. Venic came to sit with them as he began. The children were entranced by the Doctor's stories, listening with wide eyes.
By the time he was finished with that one, Venic had made the kids warm, sweet drinks. He smiled as they asked for another storey, achingly thinking of his own children and what stories the Ponds might be telling them now.
He started another one about when River had been mistaken for the goddess of an underwater city. He hadn't been there, but River had told him the story. The children were amazed by the sound of an underwater city, asking all sorts of questions to try and figure out how it worked, much like the Song children would normally do.
He explained to them about the forcefield and the scuba-farming and their odd transportation system that partially used the water creatures. He went on and talked about the huge religious following that had pounced on the chance to pamper River. By the end of the story, Theon had decided he also wanted to be mistaken for a god one day.
"Can we have lunch?" Rai asked.
"Of course, but I'm not sure what food we have."
The children ran to the cabinets to see what was inside, finding them empty.
"I don't suppose you know where the market is." He asked the children.
"I can take them." Venic offered, "I suspect your wife will only be anxious if she wakes and finds you gone."
"Is that alright with you?" He asked the kids.
They nodded, "We can bring you back surprise snacks!"
"That'd be wonderful." He smiled.
Rai and Theon took Venic's hands once she had gathered her small bag and dragged her out to the market. The Doctor went to check on River.
River was in a restless sleep, tossing and turning, the dream she was having obviously much less pleasant than the one she had had earlier. He moved to wake her up, touching her shoulder. "River?"
She jumped, eyes snapping open.
"It's alright, River. You're okay."
She was shaking, her breaths ragged, "...Sorry..." She breathed, after a moment.
"It's alright, darling. It's okay." He whispered, cupping her face. She turned her face into his hand, pressing her nose to his palm. "You're safe." He repeated.
"I know..." She murmured. Both of them knew it wasn't entirely true, but for the moment it had to pass as a small comfort.
"Are you alright?"
She nodded, "I think so..."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"...We were back in the capital." She began. He nodded to show he was listening "The High Council had the kids." She squeezed her eyes shut. "And they made us watch as they..." She stopped. He squeezed her hand, knowing what she meant without her having to say it. "It was awful." She breathed.
"I can only image. Is there anything I can do?"
She shook her head, holding his hand a bit tighter. He moved to wrap his arms around her, hoping to provide some comfort at the least. "It wasn't real. We can keep it that way."
She nodded, leaning into his embrace, "We did the right thing, right? We made the right choice?"
"We made the choice we had to." He whispered. "Rightness had nothing to do with it. But I promise you they won't be harmed and they certainly won't be orphaned."
She nodded again, taking a deep breath, "And they're in good hands." She repeated his earlier words.
He made a noise of agreement. "Are you going to try to sleep some more?"
"I don't think I can sleep now." She whispered.
"You're welcome to join the children and me for lunch. They've gone to the market."
"Okay, that would be nice." She murmured, snuggling closer to him.
"They'll be back soon. I can't guarantee you'll like what they get. I wouldn't be surprised if it was quite sugary." He was rambling a bit, trying to take her mind off her dream.
"It sounds like Ter-" She stopped, remembering that they had agreed not to talk about their children if they didn't have to. "It's alright, I'm craving sweets anyway."
"Gallifreyan sweets are much different from what you might've had anywhere else, you know."
She hummed, "Well then perhaps you'll have to take me out for ice cream once we're out of here." She tried to be optimistic.
"Ice cream makes everything better. That's what Arth- that's what I've heard."
"I'm craving chocolate chip." She smiled weakly.
"I promise we'll get some when we get home." He smiled weakly. She sniffed, holding onto him tightly.
He tried to think of anything else that might help. "River... you said you saw this face on Dundenbar...?"
"Yes..." She murmured.
"Did you see anyone else?"
"I...I don't remember...It's hard to remember what happened."
"That's alright." He murmured. "I only meant to say that if you saw me and I haven't done that yet..." It meant that he had a future past all this. It meant he would make it out and he could make sure the kids were safe which was what he was trying to assure River of. As for River's own survival, there was no safety net of a fixed point to assure anything.
"I don't remember seeing the kids...I might have seen Terra, but I don't remember." She was a bit panicked now.
"On my lives, River, I'm going to make sure they're okay."
"...Okay." She breathed, trying to relax again. He smiled weakly in assurance as he spotted the others returning from the market.
"Stay with me." She breathed.
"Of course. We can bring lunch in here if you'd like."
She nodded, "I'd like that."
The front door opened. The children and Venic could be heard going to the kitchen. "Hey, mister!" Theon called. "Where'd you go?"
River tensed, gripping his hand tighter. "I'm not leaving." He reminded gently before calling back to the boy. "I'm in here."
She nodded, sitting up and putting a protective hand on her belly as the children ran in. The Doctor offered them a smile. "Do you mind terribly if we eat our lunch in here?"
The kids shook their heads, clambering onto the bed.