[Time skip, this is a yer after the last chapter]
Ch 50
Terra Song had loved decorating things since she'd learned how to walk. No matter the holiday or event, Terra would insist on helping to make and hang up balloons, streamers, and most importantly the drawings she worked very hard on.
Unfortunately, she wasn't the most skilled at them, and her sisters refused to let her help hang up even one balloon saying she would do it wrong. Arthur had also been banned from helping. It was the twins' birthday, and Freya claimed that it gave her unquestionable authority all day long.
This is how Terra ended up running into her parent's room in tears after being scolded yet again by her older sister for hanging up some handmade decorations without approval.
The Doctor and River had been trying to let the girls do their own organizing, knowing they had a specific way of doing it. Rather than getting in the way, they had chosen to relax on the bed and read to each other.
The Doctor put the book down. "[What happened, Terra?]"
"[I made decorations for Mia and Freya's birthday and they took them down.]" She held out the decorations, tears streaming down her face.
He tutted, "[Come here, my dear.]" He patted the bed.
She climbed onto the bed, snuggling with her parents. He wrapped his arms around her. "[I'm sorry they won't let you hang your decorations. I'm sure you worked very hard on them.]"
She nodded, "[Arthur helped me get the glitter.]"
"[Do you want to hang them up in here, my love?]" River asked.
Terra hesitated. "[But they're for Mia and Freya, they won't see them in here.]"
"[I know. But they're so beautiful! I don't want them to not get hung up,]" River smiled encouragingly, "[Do you want us to go ask Freya if you can hang them up?]"
"[She's mean and she's gonna say no!]" She fretted.
"[Well, we'll try to talk to her.]"
"[Can I stay with Daddy?]" she sniffed.
River nodded, going downstairs. Arthur had retreated to the kitchen with Toby, his older sisters standing on chairs to hang up some streamers.
"Freya, can we talk for a moment?" River asked once she was downstairs.
"Yeah, hang on, let me finish this," Freya said. River let her daughter finish hanging the streamers, arms crossed.
"What is it?" Freya asked, getting down from the chair.
"Do you think you could let your sister hang a few decorations she made for your birthday?"
Freya was quick to frown. "No, I don't want her decorations."
"But she worked so hard on them. She's just trying to help."
"So? She can help with something else, not the decorating."
"Freya." River's voice grew a bit sterner, "You know how much she loves to decorate. Just one little decoration and you can decide where it goes."
"But what if my friends see it? They'll laugh at it, can't she help with the cake or something?"
River sighed, "I don't think your friends will laugh at it, but if you really don't want her to help... then it's your decision."
"I'll let her help with the baking, but that's it," she said insistently.
"Alright, fine." River looked a bit disappointed, leaving the room.
Terra had calmed down when River got back, curled up with the Doctor who was reading her a picture book. River smiled softly, sitting back on the bed with them.
"[What'd Freya say?]" Terra asked, worn out from her tantrum.
"[She said you could help bake the cake if you'd like.]"
"[She doesn't want my decorations?]" Terra looked liked she might cry again.
"[Not today. How about we save them for when your aunts and uncles come over tomorrow?]" She suggested, holding her arms out to hug her.
Terra nodded sadly, crawling over to River's embrace. River rubbed her back to comfort her, looking at the Doctor.
"Maybe we should start the cake," he suggested.
"I think we should wait till she calms down." River murmured, stroking Terra's hair.
He nodded. "What time is the thing tomorrow?"
"Everyone was going to come at four."
"And the girls' friends are leaving in the morning, so we can have a brief breather at lunch," he reviewed.
She nodded, "It's a busy weekend."
"Yes, we've got our work cut out for us," he agreed.
River smirked, "I think we can handle it."
"Of course we can," he leaned over, stealing a quick kiss. "We're brilliant."
"Yes, we are. Now, we need to settle this one down."
"Ideas?"
"[Do you want to keep reading with her?]"
He nodded. "[Would you like that, Terra?]"
Terra nodded as well. She curled back up with her father and continued the story they'd been reading wandered in during the story, climbing on the bed and listening in.
Once the story was finished, they went back downstairs to make the cake. Terra cheered up even more at helping with the cake since her parents let her do most of the mixing.
While the cake was baking, the two younger Song children went outside to play while Amelia and Freya picked out games and movies for their friends to play later.
River and the Doctor stayed in the kitchen.
The Doctor decided to make some tea for them. "We've got all the presents wrapped, right?"
River nodded, "They're all in my closet."
"Good," he murmured.
"Kids occupied, party prepared, it looks like we've got some downtime after all." He kissed her with a hum.
"Well… I was actually wondering if you could help me look for something."
"Look for what?"
"Your old cot." She smiled slightly nervously.
He looked a bit confused, not catching on. "Why do you need that?"
She laughed the comment off, "Really? You don't know? I thought after four kids you would have caught on by now."
He frowned, looking at her amused expression before his eyebrows shot up to his hairline. "You're not-are you-?"
Her smile grew wider and she nodded, "I am."
His own smile bloomed so suddenly it threatened to drop his eyebrows right of his head. "How far along?"
"Only a month, so this has to stay a secret for now." She murmured relieved, taking his hands.
He pulled her into a hug and kissed her as the kettle began whistling. They stayed like that for a minute before River finally broke away to pour their tea. He stayed pressed up against her back, his head resting on her shoulder. "We're having a baby." '
She hummed, kissing his cheek, "Yes, another one. We must be crazy."
"Only by human standards." His grin hadn't faded.
"We can do a scan later after we put Terra and Arthur to bed." She murmured, eyes bright.
"I'd love that." He hummed.
"But first we have to make it through this party. And I think I'm going to need some kisses to get me through." She smiled, leaning in for another kiss. He joyfully obliged. River smiled pulling him closer.
Amelia and Freya came in at that moment, groaning at the sight of their parents kissing. The Doctor pulled away to look at them. "You two ought to be used this by now."
"That doesn't make it less gross," Amelia muttered.
He smiled. "Have you two picked the movies?"
They nodded, "We set up the movies and the games. We want to put out the snacks now."
"Why don't we wait until your friends get here?"
"But they'll be here in an hour."
"And if you put the snacks out now your siblings and the dog are going to want to eat them all." He pointed out.
They grumbled but agreed. "We're done with everything now." Freya looked around the room.
"Well, there's still the cakes to decorate. I was going to let your sister do one."
Freya scowled, "Fine, but she can only do the icing."
He nodded, taking his cup of tea, glancing at River with a smile only she saw. River smiled back.
They called the younger children back in when the cake was ready, helping them ice the cake. Terra was delighted with the final product, making her sisters look for approval. The twins agreed that it was fine, running to the door when their friends arrived.
The Doctor and River's main job now was to occupy their younger children, which proved to be pretty easy. They kept Terra and Arthur upstairs, playing with them for a bit.
Later, closer to their bedtime, Terra and Arthur were allowed to watch a movie in their parent's room. They brought their cake slices with them and did their best not to make any mess, though they ended up falling asleep before it ended.
"I'll carry Arthur back to his bed, do you want to take Terra?" River murmured softly.
The Doctor agreed, scooping up his daughter. River got the boy, neither of the children stirred as their parents carried them to their respective rooms.
After tucking in Terra, the Doctor went downstairs to check on the girls. They had invited two friends each, and the six teenagers were all camping out in the living room for the night.
All six girls were busy playing a game. Freya was the only one that noticed her father in the doorway and glared, not wanting him to embarrass her.
He only smiled back, signing so he wouldn't interrupt: "[If you need anything, you can come get me or your Mum. We're going to bed now so keep your volume down.]"
She nodded, signing back hurriedly so she could get back to her game, "[Okay, thanks. Goodnight.]"
He chuckled to himself, going back upstairs to River. River was back in their room, fixing the sheets on the bed. He leaned in the doorway. "I can't believe we really have two 16-year-olds in the house."
She smiled, "Yes, it's certainly hard to believe, it feels like they were babies just yesterday."
"Speaking of," he grinned, "you mentioned an ultrasound?"
"I did. Shall we?"
The TARDIS was parked in their bedroom, so they didn't have to go far to pop inside. They left the door open in case one of the children needed to find them then went to the medbay.
River started the ultrasound machine before getting on the exam table.
"Haven't done this in a while have we," he murmured.
"I did it a couple years ago." She murmured quietly, "While you were away."
"Oh." He recalled the sonogram picture River had torn up upon their return from Gallifrey. She knew he'd saved a copy, though neither of them had the hearts yet to look at it again.
She didn't say anything, looking down. He quietly lifted her shirt, putting on the gel before gliding the probe over her skin. She looked up at the screen, watching as their child came into view.
There wasn't a ton to see yet; It looked a bit like a blob with enough shape to tell which end was the head and which was the feet. "There we are." He murmured softly.
The smile returned to River's face and she reached for his free hand. He squeezed it tightly. "We are going to need that cot, aren't we?" He recalled.
"Yes, but we have a few months to find it." She hummed.
He nodded. "And you don't want to tell anyone until you're through the first stretch?"
She nodded, "Just in case something happens."
"Of course. But you know Vastra's got a nose for these things..."
"Yes, I know. It's fine if she knows, but no one else." She stated firmly.
"I'm sure she won't breathe a word until we do."
She nodded, "I trust her."
He printed a copy of the sonogram for them. "'No one else' includes the kids, yeah?"
She nodded, "Especially the kids."
"I think they'll be happy."
"Me too." She smiled, "Do you want to put this in my box with me?"
"I'd like that very much." He grinned.
She wiped the gel off her abdomen and fixed her shirt. They walked back out of the TARDIS and River got her box off the shelf in her closet.
"I swear the TARDIS makes a bigger version of that box for you every year."
"Well, we keep compiling more and more pictures." She smiled, opening the box up. Regardless of its increasing size, the box still threatened to overflow with pictures. They changed out the picture frames once a month to try to make sure they got looked at, but still, there were many pictures that had yet to have a turn on display.
River smiled. One of the top pictures was of her and Amelia when the girl was around one. The Doctor smiled as well. "'Just yesterday', hm?"
"It feels like it." She murmured, "They're so grown up now."
"I don't think being embarrassed by everything your parents do is quite there yet." He teased.
"Yes, I know, but still." She smiled weakly, going in to look at a few more pictures. Most of them were baby pictures from the girls' early years.
"They were so sweet." She smiled.
"As opposed to now?" he raised an eyebrow.
"You know what I mean." She put the pictures back, placing the new sonogram in the mix.
"They're brilliant." He murmured affectionately.
"Just like you." She smiled, leaning in to kiss him.
"And you." He added, pressing his lips against hers. She hummed against his lips.