Ch 32

"So," Amy spoke, "Scottish?"

"Apparently." River smiled softly.

"You nostalgic numpty," Amy grinned fondly at the Doctor.

"Don't let it go to your head, Pond." The Doctor said though he shared her expression.

"It's wonderful to see you." River went to hug her mother, having been distracted by her children before.

Amy gladly threw her arms around her daughter. "I've missed you so much!"

"I've missed you too!" She laughed, squeezing her tightly.

"I was so worried when you weren't there when you said you'd be. I thought something had happened to you."

"It was just a navigational issue. The TARDIS couldn't land where we originally thought." River explained, "We're fine." That was a lie, of course, they weren't completely fine. The pain of their loss was still present and strong.

"I'm glad you're okay." Amy murmured, though she could see that there was something River was keeping back.

"And I'm so thankful that you've been taking such wonderful care of my children."

"Well, when four little ones come up to you claiming they're your grandchildren, what else can you do? And here I thought I was too young to be a nana." Amy teased.

River smiled weakly, "They've always wanted to meet you."

Amy looked a little sad at that, not because she disagreed, but because she had missed so much of River life. The Ponds knew they weren't going to go back with the Songs; As far as the Ponds knew, this was their last time seeing River and the Doctor.

River hesitated, seeing all this on their faces, then decided to reveal a little spoiler for her mother, "I promise you'll see us all again soon."

Amy looked surprised. "I thought it was practically impossible so get to us."

"Yes, well...spoilers." She smiled weakly.

Amy grinned the spoiler cheering her up greatly. "Looking forwards to it."

Terra tugged on River's coat. "[Do we have to leave?]"

"[Yes, darling. I'm afraid so.]"

"[It's alright.]" Amy signed slightly inaccurately. "[You'll see me soon.]" Terra ran to hug her tightly. Amy picked her up. "[It was so lovely getting to know you.]"

"[I love you, grandmummy.]"

"[I love you, too, little duckling.]" She replied using the pet name she liked to use for all her grandchildren. Rory chuckled at this soft side of Amy.

The other children went to hug their grandparents, saddened at the thought of having to leave them. "Can we get another candle from Auntie Vastra?" Arthur asked.

River nodded, "Yes, we can certainly try."

He gestured for her to come closer so he could whisper something that the Ponds couldn't hear. She leaned down. "Will we ever get to meet Anthony in person?"

River smiled softly, "Perhaps… when we go back home we can try and meet up with him." She had never actually met her brother, but she wasn't opposed to getting to meet him now.

"But he's an adult when we live. I want to meet him when he's a kid."

"Well, maybe if we use the candle, we can meet him when he's younger."

Arthur looked pleased with this and nodded. River smiled softly, "Why don't you get your things together." He nodded again, getting his siblings to come do the same.

River stood, taking the Doctor's hand.

"Give us a call now and then, alright Melody?" Amy asked.

"Of course." She smiled, squeezing the Doctor's hand. She could already feel that leaving her parents behind would be painful.

"Are you sure you can't stay for dinner?" She asked.

"We'd love to stay." River responded immediately, wanting to spend as much time with her parents as possible.

Amy beamed at that, "Well make yourselves at home already. I'll start dinner."

"Can we help?" The Doctor offered. Rory was already trying to take over from Amy since it was well known that she couldn't cook.

Amy shook her head, "You're our guests, we'll take care of it."

"We should let the kids know we're staying a bit longer." The Doctor murmured.

River nodded, going to find the children. The kids were all packing their bags in the same room, having had shared a room all this time; the Pond's didn't have a very big apartment.

"Why don't you come sit with us in the living room, we're going to stay a bit longer so you can finish packing later." She spoke and signed.

Terra and Arthur looked joyful at this, quickly ignoring their packing. The twins were hesitant. "But... we haven't been home in ages."

"Yes, I know, but once we leave, you won't be able to see your grandparents for a while." She explained, "And your father and I wanted to spend time with them before we left."

They nodded their understanding. "Mum," Freya started. "What really happened when you were gone? You just keep saying it's fine now, but what's fine? Who was after us?"

"We'll talk about it later, my love." River kissed her forehead, "Let's going into the living room, alright?" River and the Doctor still hadn't quite decided what they were going to tell the children.

They followed their mother and other siblings to the living room where the Doctor and Amy were sitting. The Scotts had been politely asked to not be helpful with dinner because they had really just been getting in the way.

River sat next to her husband, taking his hand. Terra tried to wedge her way in between her parents, wanting to be close to them. They made room for her, the other children finding seats around the room. With seven of them total, it was a squeeze.

Terra wrapped her arms around her mother's waist, snuggling cozily between her parents. Terra was excused from the conversation for the most part since Amy-while having learned a lot of sign since the children arrived-couldn't sign and talk at the same time very well. She'd been chatting with the Doctor about his new face and other such things she had to catch up on. River, Amy, and the other children talked amongst one another.

"[Why does your mouth look funny when you talk?]" Terra asked. Her father She had noticed his accent visually, but she didn't know why.

"[Funny how?]" He clarified.

"[It looks different. You make words different.]"

"[Well... I have a different accent than your mum and siblings.]"

"[You talk like Grand-mummy!]" Her eyes light up.

He nodded. "[Yes, we both have Scottish accents.]"

At that moment, Rory called them all in for dinner. If finding enough seats in the living room was difficult, it was even more of a challenge to squeeze all eight of them around the kitchen table.

The children immediately dug into the meal, chattering away. There were probably about three different conversations happening at once, the family animated at being together again.

The dinner seemed to end far too quickly. Trying to stall for time, Terra asked for dessert. As part of the celebration, she argued, since this reunion was certainly celebratory material in her book.

"There's a bakery down the street that the kids adore, we could go there?" Amy suggested though it was more directed towards River and the Doctor.

"Will it be open on a Sunday? In this kind of weather?" The Doctor asked. The snowstorm outside had gradually been worsening.

Rory nodded, "They're always open."

"Well, that's some determination for you." He murmured. "We'd love to go."

The children cheered, running to get their coats. Smiling, the adults followed, helping to button and zip them all up.

It was only a short walk away but the cold only needed a minute to get under one's coat. Everyone's nose became pink very quickly as they started for the bakery. River was more on edge once they were outside, her newly amped up distrust of others kicking in, making her paranoid and protective.

Terra was delighted by the snow, even if the cold made her nose runny. She liked to try to walk of the snow banks that were building up instead of on the semi-shoveled path of the sidewalk, playing some sort of game with herself similar to The Ground is Lava.

"[Terra, stay close to us, okay?]" River signed, worried that the girl was straying too far from them.

Terra gave a half-hearted, "[Okay, Mummy]," as her brother joined in on the game. This only worried River further and she shot the Doctor a look.

He didn't seem as concerned as she was. There were hardly any people or cars out because of the snow; 1939 cars tended to not be able to handle slushy roads well at all. He knew also that between the four adults they'd be fast enough to pluck the children up from danger if it came.

"How are you not concerned?" She frowned slightly, "After everything that's just happened, you're not worried at all?"

"Worried about what exactly? Skinned knees?" They were murmuring so the conversation was only between the two of them. "No one knows we're here, Riv, there are no people to be worried about. No one knows we're here."

"You don't know that." She hissed, "Someone could have followed us here. They could easily hurt our children if we're not careful." She looked very worried, the events from Gallifrey had obviously scarred her.

The Doctor glanced at her, the tone River was using eliciting a bit more seriousness from him. He still wasn't paranoid, but now realized that River very much was and that was something to be mindful of. "Do you want me to tell them to get down?"

The Ponds and the twins were now vaguely aware that the Time Lords were talking but tried not to listen since they knew they shouldn't.

"Yes." The longer the children were on the snow bank, the more upset River was getting. )Perhaps she and the Doctor should have spent a few more days in big cities before coming the get the children since River obviously wasn't comfortable in this environment.)

"Arthur, Terra." He called.

Arthur tapped his sister's shoulder and they both turned around. "[Come play with us!]" The little girl suggested, not realizing that her Mother was upset.

"[Actually, it's time to get down now.]" He said with a stern face.

"[But why? We always play in the snow.]"

It didn't snow in England very much, let alone enough to create snow banks big enough for them to climb about on. He had to assume she meant they'd picked up this habit since they'd been in America. "[Because I said so. I don't want to you slip and hurt yourself.]"

"[We won't! We're good at climbing!]" She assured him.

"[I'm sure you are, but it would make Mummy and me much happier if you were on flat ground.]" That wasn't the entire truth of their worry, but he was sure River didn't need him telling them about the real reasons.

The children hesitated but climbed down after that. He thanked them, glancing at River again. All four kids were now in the guarded area walking behind the Ponds and in front of their parents.

"Thank you." River murmured, squeezing his hand tightly. Of course, she didn't fully relax, but she didn't voice any more concerns.

They got to the bakery safely, if not colder than when they'd left, and piled inside the warm building. The children ran up to the counter, greeting the baker who knew each child's name and favorite sweet by now. They hardly had to ask before they were each being handed their go-to order.

The baker smiled at the Ponds and looked curiously and invitingly over the two new Songs. River glanced around the shop, evaluating its safety. "Do you want anything?" She asked her husband softly.

He nodded. "A lemon hamentashen."

She ordered for him for him and got nothing for herself. The Amy got a small sweet as well, but Rory didn't get anything. They paid and pushed some tables together to sit down once more.

As the children and other adults ate, River glanced around the shop, checking to make sure nothing was going to happen. It was a small place with yellow painted walls. There were pictures of bread and biscuits hung up. Opposite the door was a display case of treats ending in a counter and cash register. Adjacent the door, the huge glass windows were frosted over.

River nearly jumped out of her seat every time someone walked in the door, though nothing out of the ordinary occurred. Under the table, the Doctor squeezed her hand in an attempt to be comforting. She squeezed back, looking over at him. He offered a smile, knowing the trip home would be tense for her.

Like dinner, it was over too quickly and they all found themselves going back to the apartment. River watched her children closely once again, holding the Doctor's hand tightly.

Terra, who was getting tired, held onto River's other hand as they walked. River kept her daughter close, lifting her up so the little girl could rest. Gratefully, Terra put her head down on River's shoulder, slipping her thumb into her mouth.

"I want you lot to finish packing up, alright?" The Doctor instructed once they arrived back at the apartment.

It didn't take very long since they'd done most of the packing earlier. River and the Doctor helped them check and then double check to make sure they had absolutely everything.

All too soon they were standing by the door and facing a goodbye with the teary-eyed Ponds.

The children each gave their grandparents long, tight hugs. Leaving the Ponds behind again brought back painful memories of Manhattan the Doctor tried not to wince at.

It was one thing for Amy to choose this, but it was another to have to opportunity to bring them back and not do so. They couldn't come back, everyone in the room knew it. The Ponds lived in New York for the rest of their lives and that was just how it was. They would never be lost, the Doctor had made sure long ago to set them up with identities and money. They were living in history and knew what to expect; They knew about the War and the Crash and who would win the elections for the next 60 years. Still, they were missing things. Everyone was missing things. The Ponds were missing their daughter's whole life. They would miss their grandkids growing up and getting married, possibly. They would miss every Christmas with their daughter and every birthday. They had missed her making a family of her own and they'd continue going on missing it. And in turn, the Song children would miss the two humans who loved them so unconditionally at first sight.

River said goodbye to her parents after the children had, promising that they would see her and the kids again in the future. She wished that they could stay, but they couldn't. She tried to hide how painful it was, wanting to set an example for her children. She knew they would be upset and would need their parents to be strong.

Amy didn't bother trying to keep it together, sniffling openly by the time she was hugging River.

"It'll be alright." River murmured.

"I know," Amy replied in a wobbling voice. "I just hate missing so much. I didn't even get to throw a baby shower or hold your hand when these wee ones were born. You may be older than me, Melody, but there are things a mother should be there for, and the birth of her gran'babies is one of them."

"I know." She nodded, stroking the woman's hair, "I know and I promise that you'll get to be a part of my life and the kids' lives more than you think. You just have to be patient."

Amy gave a sad, watery sort of smile that said she didn't quite believe the candle could make up for what she'd missed, but she was looking forwards to it. "You keep that daft husband of yours in line, yeah?" She sniffed, pulling away from the hug to look River in the face, cupping her cheeks. "Don't let him go off and do any more dying. I know he could probably kill himself trying to cook supper, so make him use that stupid brain of his, you hear?"

"I will." She laughed softly, turning away before her eyes could get teary.

Amy went to give the Doctor his hug which he accepted a bit awkwardly. She held onto him tightly, whispering to him, "You take care of my baby, Doctor. I know she thinks she can take care of herself, but she hurts just like everyone else."

He nodded knowingly. "Of course."

The train would be arriving soon, and River hoped that the faster the goodbye the less painful it would be. She scooted the children out of the flat, all of them shouting last I love you's and goodbye's.

Soon the Songs were walking in the cold again, all of them quiet. The Doctor held River's hand, the pair keeping hawk eyes on their children.