Ch 54

The Doctor and River got to work preparing dinner, getting a bit distracted by one another in the process. By the time they were putting a timer on the turkey—a dish of River's request—they were laughing and teasing each other.

"I did not say that to him!" River batted her husband's arm.

"You may as well have for all the good it did." He grinned at her. "Did you see the look on his face?"

"Yes, I remember. And I also remember the look on your face." She imitated the scowl she was referring to.

"I did not look like that." He scoffed.

"Oh, you so did." She teased.

Arthur and Terra wandered in. "What're you making?"

"Turkey, for dinner." River answered.

"Is it ready?" They peered into the oven window.

"In a bit."

"There'll be mashed potatoes as well." The Doctor added.

"Can we have bacon too?" Arthur asked.

"Turkey and bacon?" He raised a brow.

Arthur nodded, "Because bacon is the best!."

"That actually sounds rather good." River murmured.

"You two have been spending too much time in America." He shook his head affectionately. "Very well, but you've got to eat your vegetables. And that means you too, River Song."

"Yes, sir." She teased. When the turkey was ready they put all the food on the table and sat down to eat. As told, both Arthur and River ate all their vegetables.

"Dad? What's your Dad's name?" Arthur asked.

"...I only knew his title, which was Skef'Alc." The Doctor murmured.

"Does it mean anything?" He asked.

"Um, It means something like 'warrior'."

"Was he nice?"

"I don't really know. I don't think so."

"Oh… What about your mum?"

The Doctor was quiet for a moment. "She did her best to do what was best for me."

"Can we meet her?"

"I'm afraid not." He shook his head.

"Why not? You and Mummy went to Gallifrey, so there has to be a way for us to meet her."

"She wasn't there." His tone grew a bit more serious.

"Where was she? I want to meet her." Arthur pressed.

"She died, Arthur." He stared at his plate. "A long time ago."

"Oh..." He paused for a moment, "But mummy's parents are dead too and we still see them."

"It's different." He sighed. "Mum's parents were taken by Weeping Anges to live out their lives in peace. My mother... didn't have that luxury."

"What happened?"

"Arthur, let it be."

He stopped asking questions, sensing that if he didn't listen he'd get in trouble.

River put a hand on her husband's arm, trying to comfort him. He tried to change the subject. "I heard you were asking Mummy about baby names."

Arthur nodded, "Why won't you name a baby after Uncle Jack?"

He tried to laugh. "Because he'd let it go right to his head."

"Can the baby's middle name be Jack?" Arthur asked, thinking that would be better than a first name.

"Your mother and I will think about it."

The rest of dinner finished smoothly and the Doctor did the washing up. River went to put the kids to bed, thinking it might be best for them to go to sleep early after their day at the beach.

"Do you know what happened to Dad's mum?" Arthur asked, getting tucked in.

"Yes, but it's not my story to tell. Maybe he'll tell you when you're older, but for now, it's his story." River murmured, "Go to sleep now, darling."

He nodded closing his eyes. Toby was curled up on his bed with him. She kissed him on the forehead, going to her own room to lay down.

The Doctor was sitting there reading with the lamp on.

"Hey." She murmured, "Are you alright?"

He looked up, nodded, and put the book down. She smiled softly, turning to change into pajamas. He watched. "How're you feeling?"

"I'm tired." She answered as she changed, shrugging, "And a bit sore; normal pregnancy feelings."

He nodded, as familiar with her symptoms as she was. "Anything I can help with?"

She shook her head, climbing into bed once she was dressed, "I can manage. What are you reading?"

"An old classic." He lifted the cover of the book on the nightstand to show her it was his diary.

She smiled, "Oh, I quite like that one. Care to read a bit to me?"

He nodded, opening up to the dog-eared page he was on. She closed her eyes, listening to the sound of his voice. He mirrored her soft tone from earlier that day with the same intentions as well. She soon fell asleep, content and peaceful.

—x—

It took Terra and Arthur over a week to adjust to the absence of their older siblings, though their routines hadn't changed much; They went out with friends and to planets with their parents.

Terra made a point of trying to find books about where babies came from but had no luck since the TARDIS kept hiding them at her parents' request. Arthur tried to explain it to her when she asked, but he didn't really know the full answer. It only made Terra more impatient for her sisters to arrive home.

The weeks drifted by, and the twins soon were due to return from their adventures with their aunt.

It was still in the early hours of the morning at the Song house when River was woken by the cats jumping on her, groaning, "Honey..."

The Doctor swung a sleepy arm around her waist in response to her voice.

"Careful… the baby," she murmured. The baby had grown a considerable amount in the past weeks, with River now unable to conceal the fact that she was pregnant without a perception filter.

"Hmm?" He splayed his hand protectively over her bump.

"The cat." She groaned. Tiber had decided to join his owners on the bed, kneading his claws into River as he got himself comfortable.

The Doctor lifted his hand, waving it in the general direction if the cat. "Shoo." The cat swatted at his hand. "Bad kitty." He opened his eyes enough to scowl.

The cat didn't care, going back to getting comfortable, to which River groaned sleepily, "Doctor… the baby."

He tiredly sat himself up, scooped up the cat, and held him on his own chest. "If you must sit on someone you can sit on me, not River."

The cat purred contently, snuggling in the Doctor's arms. "Better?" He asked River.

"Cold..." She murmured. He scooted closer to her, unable to put his arms around her now because of the cat.

She sighed contently, tucking herself up to him. "Baby's sleepy." She could feel the feeling of sleep weighing heavily on her mind, partly from her own grogginess and partly from their child. The telepathic connection had been developing stronger over the past week, though right now the baby could still only communicate feelings.

"Neither of you have to be awake yet." The Doctor reminded though he was too awake now to go back to sleep.

"Keeping you company." She hummed. Tiber squirmed, finding the Doctor's arms less comfortable than anticipated.

"Is that so?" He let the cat go, making sure he settled somewhere that wasn't right on top of River.

"Mmhmm." She hummed.

Now that Tiber wasn't on him, the Doctor adjusted himself to hold his wife once more. "That's alright, you know."

She smiled sleepily, relaxing in his embrace, "Sorry for waking you."

"S'alright."

"Tired..." She mumbled again.

"Sleep, then." He whispered.

"You too." She was already falling back to sleep.

The Doctor stayed awake, fondly watching her sleep. It was only another hour or so before she groaned in pain in her sleep, hands tightening around the fabric of his shirt.

Worriedly, the Doctor shook her shoulder, "River?"

"Stop...please..." She groaned, still sleeping.

He couldn't quite tell if this was a real request or if she was talking to someone in her dream. "River," he said louder.

Her eyes snapped open this time, looking wildly around the room.

"Riv, look at me. You're okay. I'm right here." Her eyes met his, though it still took her a minute to relax. "Are you alright?" He asked softly. He was used to her nightmares and asked every time in case there was something he could do.

She nodded, still trying to shake off the lingering impact of the nightmare, "I'm alright. I just...need you." She murmured, wrapping her arms around him tightly. He unquestioningly held her close. "I'm sorry." She whispered quietly as they held one another.

"No need to be." He soothed.

They stayed like that until she felt better, "Did I wake you?"

"I was awake." He admitted.

She nodded, squeezing his hand, "I think I scared the baby." She whispered.

"Think happy thoughts then."

She nodded, closing her eyes to concentrate on the baby. It was currently communicating a scattered gray and dark, slow yellows; fear and confusion. She focused on emitting warm colors and calm, soothing feelings. The baby started to calm down, the colors growing duller and more relaxed.

"Would you mind putting your hand here." She asked, guiding the Doctor's hand to where the baby was resting, hoping it would help. He followed her lead, his hand warm through the fabric of her nighty.

The baby kicked against his hand, calmed by the warmth. He nearly gasped. "Did you feel that?"

She smiled, laughing softly, "Yes, I certainly did."

He stroked his thumb over her clothed skin. "You're going to have to start getting used to that."

"I don't mind at all." She hummed.

He grinned. "Do you want its sex to be a surprise or do you want to find out?"

She shrugged, "I made you wait with Terra, so if you want to find out with this baby then that's fine with me."

"I'll have to think about that one." He hummed.

"Baby's strong." She smiled when there was another nudge.

He moved his hands to follow the baby's movement. Regardless of how many times he'd done this before, he still felt a surge of pride fill him.

"Enjoying yourself?" River beamed.

"Very much."

"I think the baby's enjoying itself too." She murmured.

"Good." He smiled.

They stayed like that for quite a while, tracing the baby's movements and stretches. Their time was interrupted when Terra wandered in, wanting to get her morning snuggle with her parents. They welcomed her onto the bed, making room for her.

"[What are you doing?]" Terra asked. Usually when she came, her parents were still sleeping.

"[Feeling the baby move.]" The Doctor answered.

She frowned slightly in confusion, "[How?]"

"[With our hands.]" He wiggled his own hand for emphasis.

"[Can I feel?]" She asked hesitantly.

He nodded. Terra slowly reached her hand out. River helped her find where the baby was, the three waiting for the next nudge. It came after a few movements. Terra tried to pull her hand away, startled.

River let her pull away, giving her an encouraging smile, "[It's okay, sweetie.]"

"[You're wiggling!]" Terra frowned.

She laughed softly, "[That's the baby.]"

"[Does that mean it's gonna come out now?]"

River shook her head, "[No, the baby still has four months in my belly. Right now it's only stretching and showing off for us.]"

"[Why's it doing that? Will it stop?]"

"[It's just what babies do. It'll stop when it goes back to sleep.]" River explained.

"[Does it hurt?]" Terra wondered.

She shook her head, "[It feels a bit funny, but it doesn't hurt. Can I get my morning hug now?]" She and the Doctor had made it a point to give Terra hugs every morning, wanting to start the little girl's day off with a confirmation that she was loved.

Terra nodded, giving her mum a big hug around her baby bump. River smiled, hugging back tightly.

"[We're getting Mia and Freya today, right?]" Terra asked.

River nodded, "[We're going to get them around lunch time.]"

"[Why not sooner?]"

"[Because we wanted to give them some time to get ready to come home and we wanted to stay as linear as possible with them.]" River explained.

Terra sighed. "[Okay, but we're having a coming home party, right?]"

"[Yes, a small one with just our family. No Aunts and Uncles.]"

"[With cake, right?]" She looked hopeful.

"[If you'd like. Why don't you go get dressed and we can make a cake together.]"

Terra squirmed off the bed excitedly, going to her room to get dressed.

River smiled softly, watching her go. She then leaned forward to kiss the Doctor, "Care to help me out of bed, husband?"

He smiled and rounded the bed to help her up, Tiber slipping out of the room.

"Thank you." She murmured, brushing her lips against his once more.

"You know, I think I do want to find out soon." He decided.

"Any particular reason?"

"I think it'll help Terra connect more if she thinks of the baby as a sibling and not an 'it'." He explained.

She smiled warmly, "That's a very sweet idea."

"Once the baby's big enough." He added. It would still be a couple weeks before that.

"Of course." She smiled, touching their foreheads together.

From the console room, there was a message alert. The Doctor frowned slightly, looking over at the blue box parked in the corner of their room. "Did you hear that?"

"Hmm?" River didn't seem intrigued, "It's probably Vastra confirming that we're going to pick up the girls."

"Vastra doesn't text." he murmured. She frowned, walking over to the TARDIS. He followed.

On the diagnostic monitor above the control panels where space-time coordinates and a bank number for a 50,000 credit incentive.

"What is this? Who sent this?" River frowned.

"I don't know." The Doctor admitted, frowning at the coordinates. "It's... it's to the Executioner's Planet."

"You're not going to go are you?"

"The Executioners are a very austere people. They don't just send messages out of the blue..."

"So you are going to go. I'm coming with you."

"River whatever they want I can almost guarantee it'll be dangerous." He hesitated.

"Which is exactly why I don't want you going alone." She gripped his hand.

"I don't suppose there's any chance of me talking you out of this is there?" He sighed.

"No, there isn't." She stated firmly.

"We can bring Terra and Arthur to Jack's and ask Vastra to keep the girls for a bit longer."

He nodded slowly. "I want to make the kids breakfast first."

"Okay." She whispered, "I'll call Jack to warn him."

He kissed her cheek. "Meet me in the kitchen?"

"Okay." She murmured, going to dial the phone and make the call.