Ch 75

River and Amelia headed downstairs, River going to find her youngest daughter.

Terra sat in front of the telly with Freya and Arthur, one of the cats curled up next to her. River tapped her shoulder to get her attention. She turned around, quickly smiling. "[Mummy!]"

"[Hello, my love.]" River smiled, kissing her forehead.

"[Mia made pizza.]"

"[I know! You're so lucky to have such a nice big sister.]"

"[She let me put extra cheese on half.]"

"[I hope you said thank you to her.]"

Terra nodded a confirmation. "[Can we eat now?]"

"[Not yet, the pizza is still cooking, but Amelia says it will be ready soon.]" She assured, just as the doorbell rang.

Arthur and Freya both looked at their mother. "Are you expecting someone?" Freya asked.

River shook her head, getting up to answer the door. Terra looked confused and the Doctor came downstairs, asking the same question. "Are you expecting someone River?"

There was a package on the stoop addressed to River. The Doctor looked over her shoulder. "River, I really don't like the looks of this."

"It says it's from Jack." She murmured, picking up the box and walking to the living room with it.

"Jack doesn't send us mail unless he's there to see our faces when we open it." He glanced around, closing the front door and joining her. "And if they rung the bell, isn't someone supposed to be waiting here for us to sign something?"

"Do you want to open it?" River asked, holding out the box to him.

He nodded slowly, putting it on the table to open it. He knew he might be being a bit paranoid, but risk or not he'd rather be safe. Inside the box, there was a typed note: Some gifts for Jack Junior from his favorite Uncle. The box was filled with clothes for the baby and at the bottom was a tin of River's favorite tea with another note: For Mum Only.

The Doctor relaxed some but still felt something nagging him in the back of his head. "I'm going to call Jack."

River's eyes were bright at the contents of the box, "Okay."

He handed her the box, went passed the mildly confused children, and dialed Jack with the kitchen phone. No one answered, which wasn't terribly uncommon if Jack was busy. The Doctor frowned and tried his mobile instead of the Hub's phone.

Jack picked up this time, "Can't really talk now, Doc. I'm kinda in the middle of something." It sounded like there was a struggle on his end of the line.

"I'll make it quick." The Doctor insisted. It wasn't unusual for Jack to be dealing with a case. "Did you send River a package lately? One with baby clothes and tea?"

"What? Sorry, you're breaking up." Jack's voice sounded more distant like he was getting further away from the phone.

"A package." He repeated impatiently. "Did you send one to my house or not?"

"Yeah, yeah sure!" Jack answered, still not quite hearing him and misunderstanding the question.

The Doctor was getting frustrated, not accepting this as a solid answer. "Jack, who are you even fighting right now?"

"A Gorwhip is loose in Kensington Park and I'm trying to take care of it before anyone finds out."

He sighed, knowing he wasn't going to get a straight answer until that was dealt with. "Just—please call me back as soon as you're done, alright?"

"Right, got it! See you soon!"

Pinching his nose, the Doctor hung up the phone. He went back into the living room where River was sitting out all the clothes, sitting next to her. "No answer. I'm going to call him back."

"Look at this." River was beaming, showing him a little onesie with turtles all over it. She seemed so much happier than she had been just twenty minutes before, her day brightened by the gift.

He smiled weakly. The other children were also sifting through the new clothes with River, similarly amused by the cute patterns.

"River...?"

"Hmm?" She glanced at him, eyes bright.

"I know this sounds overprotective..." he paused trying to phrase it gently, "But would you mind not drinking the tea until I get back to Jack?"

Her face fell slightly, "Oh...okay."

"I'm sure it's fine, I'd just really like to make sure."

She nodded, her excitement quickly dimming. Terra waved to get her mother's attention. She held up a onesie with foxes on it. "[I like this one!]"

"[Me too.]" River smiled softly, starting to place the things back into the box.

"[Is it really going to be this small?]" Terra asked, looking over the small clothes.

River nodded, "[He is, but he'll get bigger quickly.]"

"[When do babies know how to walk?]"

"[They learn when they're about a year old.]" River explained, closing up the box and holding it out for her husband, "Do you want to put this in confinement until you've determined it's safety." There was a certain edge to her tone, hormones getting the better of her.

"It's just the tea that I'm worried about... but sure." He frowned, trying not to take it personally.

The pizza timer went off and River got up without another word. The children followed to the kitchen, sitting down for dinner.

"Mum, what were you and dad talking about?" Freya asked. "What's wrong with your tea?"

"I don't know. He read something about tea being bad for unborn babies." She lied, "He wants to run some tests and make sure this is okay."

"But you had tea with Terra and Arthur..." she recalled. "I guess he's feeling overprotective."

"I agree."

The children dug into the pizza without much more thought about the tea, chatting about the upcoming school year which was to start on Monday.

It wasn't until much later when the kids were going to bed that Jack called back. The Doctor was quick to pick up the phone, still on edge from before. "Jack?"

"Hey, Doc!" Jack sounded much cheerier.

"Finally," he muttered. "Did you send River a package?"

"Of course! I guess you got it then?"

"Yes." He frowned. "What did you put in it? Don't ask me why I'm asking that, just answer: everything you put in the box."

"Ummm, clothes? And tea. That's about it."

"...Right," he sighed. "Er, thanks." He hung up the phone quickly, pinching the bridge of his nose. He was glad the box checked out, but he owed River an apology for overreacting.

The Doctor found River putting the kids to bed, reading Arthur a story in his room. He watched for a minute, listening to River's voice with the same infatuation their son had and letting sound soothe him. Not wanting to interrupt Arthur's bedtime, he slinked away from the doorway, going to prepare his apology.

It wasn't long before River was entering their room, looking quite tired. Tiber was resting on the bed, but the Doctor wasn't in sight. River sat down on the bed, putting her head in her tiredly in her hands.

The Doctor came in a few minutes later. "You look tired."

"I'm fine." She muttered.

He closed the distance between them, walking over to be in front of her. "...Jack called back."

"What did he say?" She finally looked up at him.

"That you were right and I was wrong," he smiled weakly. "Which is good, but... I'm sorry for acting like you couldn't enjoy the gifts. I've put all of Felix's new clothes in the nursery."

"I understand why you were hesitant." She murmured, not admitting that it was sometimes frustrating to always be on guard.

"I know." He carefully sat down next to her. "But that doesn't make it less unfair to you."

"It's fine." She repeated.

He knew that it wasn't—not with Missy still looming over their shoulders and the terrifying possibilities she brought. "Can I do anything?"

"What is there to do?" She sighed. She couldn't think of much that her husband could do that would solve any of their problems. As much as she tried to hide her stress from him, there were moments like this that still made it evident.

He was silent for a moment. "I could return Missy to the Executioners."

River met his eyes. "But you made a promise."

"And that promise had a time limit that's almost up," he reminded. "As much work as we've put into her, what she pulled today is not something I'm going to forgive easily…. I think we need to take her back in the morning," he whispered.

"You're okay with that?"

He didn't say anything for a moment. "She's too dangerous... I can't let anyone else get hurt because I failed with her."

"You didn't fail." She murmured.

"I didn't get her to stopping thinking like a villain." He looked over at her. "What would you call it?"

"The whole point was to teach her how to be good, and that's exactly what you did it. It's not your fault that she can't learn."

He nodded wordlessly and reached for her hand.

"You did your best." She squeezed his hand.

"I suppose… But it doesn't matter at this point. Tomorrow, we'll close that chapter for good."

"Good. That's relieving to hear." She admitted.

"And in the meantime, we have a new one to get ready for." He offered a small smile, wanting to change the subject.

She smiled weakly, "Speaking of which, we need to finish the nursery."

"There's not much missing. We've got the cot, clothes, books..." he listed.

"Yes, but I do want to decorate it a bit more before he comes."

"Pictures?"

She nodded.

"I that'll be a wonderful project to start tomorrow."

"After we bring Missy back?"

"After we bring Missy back," he echoed.

In the morning, Terra clambered onto her parents' bed with two of the cats.

"Mmmm… Sweetie..." River groaned, thinking it was her husband shaking the bed.

Terra scooted right up to her face as Samantha tried to walk over her. River opened her eyes, startled by the sight of her daughter so close to her. "[Hi Mummy!]" Terra grinned.

"[Good morning, my love.]" She smiled back.

"[I want pancakes,]" she signed.

"[Okay, we'll make pancakes in a bit. Why don't you stay and cuddle with us for now.]"

She nodded, curling up to River. River wrapped her arms around her, kissing her head. "[Can I bring my brother for show and tell when he comes out?]"

"[I don't know. We'll think about it.]"

"[Lucy told me she was going to bring her new dog when we got back.]"

"[Are you sure? Most schools don't let dogs come in for show and tell.]"

"[She said that her dad would come in so he could take her dog home after she was done.]"

"[I see. Well we can talk about it more once the baby actually comes.]"

"[When is he coming?]"

"[In a month and a half.]"

"[Is that before Halloween? You'll still let us go trick-or-treating with Uncle Jack, right?]"

"[It is before halloween but you can go with Uncle Jack.]"

"[Will the baby come too? Does he get a costume?]"

"[He can come too, but he might be too small for a costume.]"

"[I think he should wear a costume,]" Terra yawned.

"[Oh, do you have any costume ideas?]"

"[We should dress him up like a little Dalek.]"

River smiled softly, "[That's a good idea.]"

"[I don't have to share my candy, do I?]"

"[No, Felix will be too little for candy.]"

Terra relaxed as the Doctor stirred. River kissed Terra's forehead, shifting to look at the Doctor.

He smiled sleepily. "Look who's joined us."

"[She was telling me that she thinks we should dress Felix up as a Dalek for Halloween.]" River signed.

He laughed softly. "[Cute and scary, hm?]" River hummed and Terra giggled. "[What do you want to be, Terra?]" He asked.

"[I want to be a Tyrannosaurus Rex!]"

He grinned. "[Does my little T-Rex want a big breakfast?]"

Terra nodded vigorously, "[I wanna have pancakes!]"

"[I think we can do that.]"

Terra beamed, wiggling out of her mother's arms. The Doctor looked at River as Terra raced downstairs. "I'm forgetting something."

River raised an eyebrow, "Forgetting what?"

He leaned over and kissed her for a long moment. "My good morning kiss."

She smiled softly, "Oh, right. How could you forget such a thing."

"I'm getting old." He hummed.

"Oh, stop it." She murmured, "I think you need another kiss."

He smiled and took the offer willingly, pressing his forehead against hers when they pulled away. "Love you."

"Love you too." She smiled.

When they finally headed downstairs, Terra had pulled out ingredients from the shelves and was searching for the measuring cups. River smiled, "I guess she knows what she's doing."

Terra looked up, spotting her parents. "[I can't reach the cups.]"

"[I'll get them.]" River went over to help her.

Arthur came downstairs while they were cooking, followed by Tiber. By that time, the food was nearly finished. Terra directed her brother to the table.

"[It's the last real day of summer and you're being nice to me?]" Arthur looked skeptically at his sister.

"[Yes, because today has to be the best day ever.]"

"[It's not like you're never gonna get another summer.]" He pointed out.

"[So? We won't get summer for a whole year!]"

"[Nine months,]" he corrected. "[And we get winter holiday.]"

"[But nine months is so long! And winter holiday is not the same as summer holiday.]"

He nodded in agreement. "[But it's got sledding and ice skating.]"

River walked in with a plate of finished pancakes before Terra could respond. She sat down at the table with her brother.

"Should we wake the twins?" The Doctor asked.

"No, no. Let them sleep in while they still can." River dismissed.

After breakfast, Terra and Arthur ran off before they could be asked to stay and help wash up.

"What time did you want to go do that...thing?" River asked.

"Soon," he replied quietly. "I want to get it done with. I don't want the kids to know we've left. We should only be gone a minute for them."

She hesitated, "But what if something happens and we're gone for longer? I don't want to scare them."

"Right..." He frowned. "What do you suggest?"

"We can tell them that we're going to run to that store that they hate on Yago. I want to call Vastra and tell her what's going on."

The Doctor nodded at both of these ideas, not sure if he was ready for the mental energy this process would take. "I'm going to see if the twins are up. Would you mind calling her?"

"Sure." River nodded, going to the phone and dialing the number.