Ch 85

Jack was relieved that Freya was found, promising to keep a close eye on the other three children. The Doctor thanked him and promised he'd call to talk to the kids that night.

By the time he was finished on the phone, Freya and Vastra were in the library together while River had gone back to bed with Felix. The Doctor joined his daughter and friend in the library. "Where's your mother?"

"She said she was tired so she went to your room," Freya explained.

"Did you two talk a little more?" he asked cautiously.

The girl shrugged "A little."

"...You know you're going to be grounded for a little while, then?"

She nodded, "Yeah...she told me."

"We haven't quite agreed on how long," he explained.

"Mum said two months." Freya murmured.

"That's a bit long..." He frowned slightly. "What are you and Vastra up to?"

"I was helping Vastra research her latest case."

The Doctor looked at Vastra appreciatively. "I'm glad to hear it."

"Is there anything you need me to do?" Vastra asked.

"No, just shout if you need anything. I'm going to check on River."

"Okay." Vastra nodded as he left.

The Doctor stopped by the medbay to get some painkillers and new gauze for River's head before going to the bedroom. There was a bouquet of River's favorite flowers waiting for him outside the door for him there. The Doctor was sure this was Vastra and the TARDIS's doing but picked up the flowers up gratefully nonetheless before entering.

River was reading in bed, Felix fast asleep in his cot on the other side of the room.

"What're you reading?" he asked.

"It's a book on Postpartum Depression," she murmured, looking up at him, "I thought I should do some research."

He smiled softly. "River Song and research: an inseparable pair." S

he smiled back, "You called Jack?"

"Yes. He says all is going well on his end. I said we'd call tonight," he summarized before offering the flowers.

River's face brightened, pleasantly surprised by the gesture. "What are these for?"

"You're being very patient with yourself, and I know that's not always easy for you, especially since healing is not the fastest processes."

"Thank you." She smiled weakly, "You're being very patient with me as well."

He leaned down and kissed her cheek. "Can I change your dressings?"

She nodded, "Sure."

He delicately removed the old gauze and replaced it. River let herself be distracted by the flowers while he did.

"Thank you," she murmured once he had finished.

"I brought painkillers," he added. "If you want."

She nodded and took them, gratefully.

"Can we talk about Freya?" he asked after a moment.

"What about her?" River asked slowly.

"I think grounding her for two months is a little much..."

"Why? I thought it was actually quite a light punishment, given the fact that she broke every rule of the Hopper, disobeyed our trust, violated our privacy and nearly got herself killed in the process."

"Yes... but we've never grounded her before." They'd certainly taken her phone for a few nights or denied requests to go to a friend's house, but they'd never officially grounded her. From what the Doctor could gauge from the gossip back when they lived in London full time, a week was the appropriate time for a child to be grounded for—two if it was really bad. "I think we should cut it down. Maybe to six weeks?"

"No." Her frown deepened, "I'm not going to lighten the punishment just because she's never been grounded before."

He took one look at River's expression and knew she wasn't going to be convinced otherwise. "Right."

She crossed her arms, looking away from him, "She was completely out of line."

"I know," he sighed, deciding not to point out her explosive outrage. "I know, you're right."

River fell silent, sighing.

"It's not that I don't agree with you. What she did was wrong and unforgivable..." He couldn't get the image of Freya crying into his arms out of his head. No matter how much trouble she was in, it was still a terrible feeling to see her upset like that. "You're right."

"Am I being too harsh?"

"No," he breathed, "I rather think I'm being too soft."

She stood up, going to hug him tightly. He wrapped his arms around her, taking as much comfort in her touch as he hoped he was giving her. She closed her eyes, the two staying like that for a while.

Vastra came in to offer dinner later. River said she wasn't hungry, wanting to get some sleep. The Doctor kissed her forehead and went to eat with the others.

At dinner, he told Freya that her grounded time wasn't changing. Freya thought it would be best not to argue, simply nodding. Regardless of the tension, they managed to make conversation about this and that, mostly talking about Felix and school.

The rest of the night went very similarly, with Freya making a point to avoid River.

The next day was also pent in the same manner. The Doctor carried Felix around for most of the day as he bounced from spending time with Freya and time with his wife— apparently, those things were mutually exclusive for the time being.

River had had trouble sleeping the night before so both she and Felix were a bit irritable. Vastra brought in tea in the afternoon while the Doctor and the kids were somewhere else. "How are you feeling?"

"Tired," River murmured.

Vastra placed the tea down on the nightstand. "The Doctor mentioned about wanting you to starting taking short walks. Something about making sure your intracranial pressure won't spike from an extended activity?"

"Right." She nodded, starting to get up. Vastra offered a hand. River accepted the help, wincing.

"When was your last dose of pain medication?"

"An hour or two ago." It wasn't enough time that River could have another dose, but it was clear the medicine wasn't doing its full job.

"Let's take it slow then, alright?"

They slowly started down the hall with no particular destination in mind. River stayed close to the wall, leaning on it and Vastra for support. After ten minutes they ended up in a sitting room, at which point Vastra suggested they take a break. River gratefully sat down in one of the chairs.

"Do you mind if I check your vitals?" Vastra asked.

"Sure." River nodded, closing her eyes.

"Your blood pressure is high..." She murmured after a bit of measuring.

"Should we be worried?" River asked.

"I'm not sure. Does your head feel worse?"

"I feel more tired than I expected to be and I have a dull headache, but it doesn't feel that much worse."

"Then, it could just be your body trying to adjust. If it doesn't go down on its own then I'd like to examine you further."

River nodded, "I'd like to rest here for a few minutes if you don't mind."

"Of course," Vastra settled next to her.

She closed her eyes, sighing softly. The TARDIS put on a soft instrumental in the background. River quickly fell asleep, lulled by the TARDIS. Vastra pulled out a book to read, sitting companionably with her friend as she slept.

The Time Lady slept for about an hour and a half, waking up to a bloody nose. Vastra looked up when she heard River stir, going wide-eyed at the sight of the blood. "River?"

"Hmm?" She frowned slightly, touching the blood.

"You're bleeding... we should go to the medbay."

"I'm fine." She shook her head, "It's just a nosebleed."

"Yes, but with what you are healing from, it could be something more."

River sighed, "Alright, fine."

Vastra helped her up and brought her to the medbay, setting the scanner as best she knew how. River gave her a bit of instruction, helping her run the scan. The results look a little longer to come through since the TARDIS was translating and simplifying the results into Silurian.

"Does the Doctor have you on any sort of antifibrinolytic?"

"I..." River frowned, rubbing her temples and trying to remember, "I'm not sure. I can't keep track."

The TARDIS helpfully brought up a list of River's medications on the tablet for Vastra to look over. "He does."

"Should we try and alter my medication?" She asked, looking over the list with her.

Vastra nodded. "I think the dose for that one is too high now that you've started the SSRI. I think it's caused the bleed."

"Okay. So if we lower the dosage, I should be fine."

"Well... yes, but we'll have to watch you. Lowering the dose increases your chances of having the brain bleed return." She explained.

River sighed, "We should talk to the Doctor about this."

"Would you like me to fetch him?"

"I think that would be best."

Vastra left to find him.

Freya had enlisted her father's help with her summer work while Felix was napping. "Hi Aunt Vastra," Freya acknowledged when the woman came in.

"Hello, dear. How are you holding up?" Vastra asked.

"Alright," she shrugged.

"Would you mind if I borrowed your Father for a bit?"

Freya nodded and the Doctor stood to follow Vastra. Vastra began to explain what was going on once they were out of earshot. The Doctor's worry grew as he listened. They soon arrived back in the medbay.

River was falling back to sleep at this point, having trouble staying awake.

"River?" The Doctor called her name as he entered.

"Hmm?" She opened her eyes wearily.

He came over to where she lay, putting a hand on her cheek. "How are you feeling?"

"Tired." She breathed.

He glanced at the monitor for a moment. "Rest then. Vastra and I will take care of everything."

"Okay." She let her eyes close, Vastra watching worriedly over the Doctor's shoulder.

He turned to Vastra. "I agree with your call. Her dose needs to change, but she'll need close monitoring."

"This was the dosage I was thinking." Vastra nodded, pulling the new medication chart up onto the screen.

"It's certainly low enough to avoid clotting," he pondered, "But I'm worried about a rebleed."

"I think this is the best we can do. We're going to have to watch her very closely."

"I know," he sighed.

"Sweetie?" River murmured, opening her eyes again.

"Yes?" His attention was quickly back to her.

"How's the baby?"

"He's sleeping. Took me a little while to get him to settle down," he explained.

She smiled weakly, "Are we going to get the kids soon?"

"Tonight." It was what they'd agreed upon before. She nodded, reaching for his hand. He squeezed it tightly. "You're making strides, my love."

She smiled softly, "I'm glad you think so."

He kissed her forehead then rested his head there for a moment. "Proud of you."

"Thank you." She leaned in to kiss him. He cupped her face gently as he met her lips. "Do you want to walk around the TARDIS with me?" She asked once they parted, "Vastra and I were walking before we came here."

"If you're feeling up for it."

She nodded starting to get up, "Can we go to the nursery?"

"Of course," he agreed.

Vastra went to go help Freya with her homework. The other two adults walked together, heading towards Felix's room.

The little boy was sleeping in his cot undisturbed.

"He looks so sweet." River murmured, watching the baby's chest rise and fall. The Doctor made a noise of agreement, smiling. She reached down and ran her finger lightly along the baby's hand. Felix reflexively wrapped his tiny fist around his mother's finger in his sleep.

River smiled softly, "I think he looks so much like you."

"You think so?" He shared her expression.

She nodded, "Definitely."

Felix yawned and shifted, but didn't open his eyes. The Doctor looked at every detail of the baby. His hair was already much curlier than any of his siblings' had been at his age. Arthur and Terra's hair was only wavey, nothing like the impressive bounciness the twins had, but Felix looked like he might pose a match.

"He's got your nose and your eyes." She murmured, Felix still holding onto her finger. "And I bet he'll have your smile."

"A good thing, a presume?" he teased.

"A wonderful thing." She beamed, "I happen to think you're quite handsome, especially when you smile."

"Glad you think so." He kissed her nose.

"I thought I had made that point quite obvious."

"Quite." He grinned, tugging gently on a loose curl.

She touched her nose to his, slipping her finger out of the baby's loose grip. The Doctor leaned forward enough to close to the distance between them and gave her a proper kiss. She hummed against his lips, smiling.

Felix started to stir, whining slightly. River turned her attention back to the baby, "It's alright...Mummy's here."

Felix reached up towards her voice, waving his tiny fists that didn't yet know how to make a grasping motion. She lifted him up, cradling him in her arms. He settled down easily, blinking up at his mother calmly.

"Hello there, my sweet." She smiled, "You're going to meet all your siblings today."

Felix, in slight confusion, shared an image of River and several Freya's standing over him, the later her deemed not-mummies.

She laughed softly, "You've met Freya already. She's your oldest sister. And then there's Amelia, and Arthur and Terra." River knew the baby didn't understand what she was saying. He cooed, liking the sound of her voice. "We're going to pick them up in a few hours." She continued to speak, "So we need to get you fed and changed."

The Doctor knew Felix would likely be complaining shortly regardless of how calm he was now. River glanced up at her husband, "Do you want to help?"

He nodded, "I'll get a bottle."

"Okay." She nodded, going to sit in the rocking chair. There was no sense in changing the baby until after they were done feeding him since he'd probably make a mess.

The Doctor returned shortly with a warmed up bottle. River took the bottle, trying to coax Felix into eating. Felix looked uncertain, still not keep on the idea of a bottle.

"How did Vastra do this?" She frowned as Felix wiggled.

"She had a couple tricks." Vastra had been helping out with most of the feedings of River wasn't available. "Last time she rubbed his ears."

River held the baby closer to her, "Last time she told me to hold him so he could hear my heart."

"Try both then," he offered.

She started rubbing his ears, hoping that something would work. Between her two methods, the baby was distracted long enough for her to slip the bottle into his mouth without him trying to spit it out. Felix nestled against her, eating quite contently.

"He'll get used to the bottle." The Doctor assured. "Doing alright?"

"My headache is getting a bit worse." She confessed.

"Anything I can do?"

She shook her head, "I can manage."

"Alright. Let me know if you do later."

"I will." She assured, "Would you mind finding him something to wear?" River asked, burping the baby once he had eaten.

The Doctor nodded, moving to the dresser to pick out something simple. Felix was passed off to him after he was burped for changing.

Felix did not like being changed in the slightest and made his discomfort known loudly. The Doctor changed him quickly to make the unpleasantry short. "All done, I promise."

Felix continued to whimper, squirming in his new clothes as he was passed back to River. "It's okay, my love." River hummed. Felix calmed in her arms, her warmth helping him forget the chilly air. "Should we go get the others?" River asked softly.

The Doctor nodded. "Are you ready?"

She hesitated, "I think so."

He squeezed her hand. "You set the pace, then."

"Okay... Maybe I should wait with Felix in the nursery while you get the rest of the kids." She murmured.

"If you'd like," he agreed.

"I don't want to upset Terra."

"She's going to meet him one way or another," his tone matched hers. They both knew it might not be a pretty transition.

She sighed, "I know."

"I'll see if I can warm her up to it." He kissed the side of her head. "Do you still want to wait here?"

"I should watch Felix."

"See you soon, then." He leaned down to kiss her as if he could kiss away her worry.

She smiled weakly once he pulled away, "Call me if you need anything."

The Doctor went to find his daughter, poking his head into Freya's room on his way to the console room. "I'm going to get your siblings."

"Do you want me to come?" Freya asked.

He nodded. "I want you to give Jack a proper apology for running off."

"Okay."

They went to the control room where the Doctor finally piloted them to the Hub. "Freya," he said carefully, "I'm not going to tell everyone exactly what I told you. I'm not going to lie, but the details are personal and right now not important. I don't want you telling Arthur or Terra anything you found out."

"What about Amelia? Why doesn't she get to know?"

"I haven't talked to your mother about it yet. I'd like to do that first, so, for now, she'll hear what I tell your younger siblings."

Freya nodded slowly, "She'll be mad if I don't tell her though."

"I know... I just don't want your little siblings overhearing."

She sighed, "Fine."

They landed in the Hub, the Doctor stepping out. "Jack?"

"Doc?" The man called from upstairs. The sound of multiple pairs of feet could soon be heard running down the stairs.

The Doctor hadn't stepped more than a few feet in the direction of the stairs before the wind was knocked out of him by three pairs of hugging arms. "Well, hello to you lot, too."

He was immediately bombarded with a million questions as to where they had been and what was going on. "Calm down, my loves. I can't understand you all at once," he said, though smiled widely at the children. It may have only been a day or two for the children, but it'd been an unexpected full week for him and River—the kind of week packed with the feeling of really just wanting to sit down and hug one's children.

"What happened?" Arthur asked, looking between the Doctor and Freya.

"The TARDIS went wrong and your mother and I landed... somewhere that wasn't easy to get out of. We lost the TARDIS for a while," the Doctor started, explaining that in finding the ship again they ran into some enemies.

"[Where's Mummy?]" Terra frowned.

"In the TARDIS." He signed and spoke, "with your little brother. Mum got hurt when we were out. She's got a big bandage on her head, but you don't need to worry about that. She's okay now... but her being hurt meant that the baby came early." It was a bit of a lie since River wasn't actually fully better, but she was out of the worst of it.

Terra's frown deepened and she looked like she might cry. He bent down and pulled the girl into his arms. "[I know this isn't what you want, but promise it's going to be alright.]"

As soon as he held her, she started to cry, wrapping her arms around his neck. He hummed and stroked her hair, knowing that he ought to let her cry it out. "Why don't you lot go in ahead of us?" He addressed the other children. "We'll catch up."

They went inside while Freya went up to jack to apologize. Jack was easy on Freya's apology, giving her a hug and a hair ruffle before they too went inside to mee the baby.