Ch 98
River went back downstairs once the Doctor left, going to sit with her other children. Arthur was starting to doze off by the time the Doctor returned. He quietly joined the rest of the family on the couch, sitting next to River.
"What did they say?" She asked softly.
"Not much, but they gave me what they thought would help." He patted his pocket where he'd put the new medicine.
"Would you mind if we ran a few tests on it before we give it to her?" He nodded, knowing it would put her mind at ease "Thank you." She breathed quietly.
They waited until Arthur had been put to bed and the twins had gone to their respective rooms before testing the new medicine. Everything checked out with the new medication, though River was still hesitant.
"We should give it to her first thing in the morning," he said.
River nodded slowly. "Okay..."
"The sooner she gets on the medicine, the sooner she can get off it again," he reminded, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"Right." She sighed, "If that's what you think is best, then we can start her tomorrow."
"We should get some rest," he murmured.
She nodded slowly, "You're right."
"The Sisters know what they're doing," he tried to assure as they left the medbay.
"I know...I just worry."
"I know you do. Thank you for having a little faith in me today." He knew how hard it was for her to trust an outside help since Gallifrey. Even Vastra and Jack had to reestablish their reliability in the beginning.
-x-
"I told you that didn't want to send the kids to Vastra's!" River was panicking, retyping in the coordinates as quickly as she could.
"That's not what I thought you meant," the Doctor followed her as she moved around the TARDIS console. "They were asking to see her anyway—It's been months for them. I don't see the problem with that."
"We could have set up a SUPERVISED visit. I thought when you suggested we go out you meant the whole family." She ran up to the cabinet, rummaging through and throwing things about the room, searching for something.
"She's watched the kids before, it's not like she doesn't know what she's doing." He dodged a book that came flying past. "It just seemed like everyone needed a breather. We've hardly let the kids see even their school friends since we got back."
She finally found what she was looking for, pulling her blaster out of the cabinet. The Doctor's eyes widened. "River, what are you doing with that?"
"I'm going to get our children." She stated firmly.
"They're at Vastra's. You don't need a gun to get them from Vastra's."
She was shaking, though she was starting to rationalize everything, "What if she's hurting them?"
He carefully put his hands on her shoulders. "When, in all the time you've known Vastra, have you ever known her to do something like that, River?"
She shook her head slowly, "...But what if that's been her plan? Earn our trust and then betray it."
"For twenty years, my love? She's been through hell and high water for us. She's delivered our children, she's risked her life, she's been generous long beyond the point of us deserving her kindness... " His tone was quieter than before, realizing that this was more than just a protective outburst. "We can get the kids if you want, but please put the gun down."
She put her blaster down, still trembling.
"Vastra is our friend," he breathed, pulling her slowly into his arms. "There's no incentive in the universe that could change that. She would put down her life for us and the kids."
She buried her face into his shoulder, "I'm sorry..."
"I know. And I know how difficult it is to be back." He stroked his hand along her back. "This... this is a big step, letting the kids out of our sight for a few hours. If there's anyone we can trust to do that with, it's Vastra." He pulled back enough so he could look at her face. "It's okay if you're not ready for this yet. We can go get them."
She hesitated, quite uncomfortable, "The kids can stay...but I don't want to go out. I can't..."
He nodded. "Come here," he said softly, taking her hand and leading her back over to the console platform. He typed something in the controls and pulled the monitor around to face them. On the screen was a view of Vastra's parlor room. All the kids were sitting around the table, Terra in Vastra's lap. They seemed to be playing a card game, laughing and chatting.
River gripped onto his hand, watching the screen with intensity. "We can keep this on." He offered.
She hummed an affirmative, not taking her eyes off the screen.
He watched her for a moment. "I'll make us a cuppa. Why don't you sit and keep an eye on them, hm?"
She nodded, scanning the scene playing out before her. He kissed her cheek and went to the kitchen.
The children laughed on the screen after something Vastra had said. There wasn't any sound but Terra's signing was clear enough to get an idea of the conversation. The girl picked up a card she turned excitedly towards Vastra and showed it to her. "[This is a good one, right? Am I gonna win?]"
"[Yes, it is quite probable that you will.]" Vastra smiled.
Terra looked pleased as she tucked the card back into her hand. "[I missed you, Auntie Vastra.]"
"[I missed you too, my dear, very much.]"
"[Mummy says we'll probably not get to see grandmum and grandad in person again.]" she sighed, slightly distracted from the game now.
River closed her eyes, turning off the screen. The Doctor returned with the tea, not commenting about it as he handed her a cup.
"I'm sorry." She offered quietly, sitting on the jumpseat.
"I know, it's okay." He sat next to her. "But there's no need to be."
"I'm paranoid...and it makes things harder for you."
"You're recovering," he corrected softly and extended a hand to her. "We both are."
She squeezed his hand, nodding slowly.
He pulled her closer to him, putting his tea down and wrapping his arms around her waist. "It takes time, my love," he hummed.
She pressed her face against his shoulder, "I know..."
"Anything I can do for you right now?" he asked.
She shook her head, "Just… be here."
-x-
In the morning, the Doctor had insisted that they inform Terra about the side effects of the new medicine. Unfortunately, this made the girl more reluctant to take it.
"[It's going to make you feel better.]" River insisted.
"[You just said it would make me feel worse,]' she protested. "[I don't wanna feel worse.]"
"[But in the long run you'll be better. The medicine you have now isn't doing enough for you.]"
"[Well...]" she hesitated for a moment, trying to come up with a better rebuttal. "[Why not?]"
"[Sometimes the germs in your body can build up a resistance to certain medications.]" River started to explain.
"[My old medicine isn't working anymore?]" Terra frowned.
"[No, it's not. That's why we want to give you new medicine.]"
The girl sighed. "[So I'll feel worse either way.]"
"[Yes.]" She nodded sympathetically.
Terra slowly held out her hand for the new medicine, her face remaining quiet despondent. River kissed the top of her head, giving her the new medication.
"[Why don't we make some pancakes?]" The Doctor suggested after she took the medicine, hoping to cheer her up. "[Are you hungry?]"
Terra shrugged.
"[...Or we could stay here a little longer,]" he added at her expression.
Terra nodded, holding her arms out for her parents. The Doctor scooped her up and brought her to his and River's room since it was closest to the medbay at the moment. River followed them, the three settling on the bed.
It was still early in the morning, which meant the other children, aside from Felix, probably wouldn't be up for another couple hours. It was only a few minutes before Felix's crying could be heard through the baby monitor.
"I'll get him." River murmured, starting to get up.
Terra clung to her. "[Where are you going?]"
"[To get the baby. I'll be right back.]" River assured her.
Terra sighed and let go of her mother. River came back a few minutes later with a wailing Felix.
"He's hungry," River sighed.
"Do you want to do it or do you want me to give him a bottle?" The Doctor asked.
"I can feed him, he probably won't take the bottle."
"Alright," he nodded, relaying to Terra that River had to feed the baby before she could come back and cuddle.
"[Why can't she feed him here?]"
"[She needs privacy when she feeds him because she's not feeding him with a bottle anymore, remember?]"
"[I won't look.]" Terra promised, "[I want her to stay.]" Terra and the Doctor both looked to River for an answer to this.
"Alright." River sighed, only because Terra looked like she might cry. The girl looked a little brighter. The three of them shifted around so the Doctor was between Terra and River as a visual barrier. River draped a blanket over herself just for extra measure.
The baby was still whining but calmed the instant he was nursing. "There we go." River smiled weakly, settling closer to her husband.
Terra shifted, trying to peer over at the nursing baby, curious as to why it was so personal.
"[Terra,]" the Doctor warned gently. "[Remember, we're giving Mummy her privacy, alright?]"
"[But what is she doing?]"
"[She's feeding Felix his breakfast,]" he reminded.
"[But why is it private?]"
He paused, realizing only now that she didn't know the answer to that question. He recalled a few conversations that he and River had had with Terra about puberty, and he was almost certain that the twins had given Terra more information than she really needed to know on the subject, but apparently, they'd all missed the topic of breast milk.
"[Well, you know how mummies make special milk for their babies to drink? Mummy's body only makes the milk for Felix in her breasts, so unless we put it in a bottle beforehand, Felix has to... get it himself.]" He stopped again, not sure if he'd phrased that as delicately as he'd hoped.
"[Oh...]" Terra understood now, cheeks turning a bit red.
"[It's perfectly natural. Cats do it, dogs do it, and humans too,]" the Doctor added, hoping to ease Terra's realization, or at the very least teach her that the need for privacy was just River's preference and not caused by any embarrassment. "[It's how most mammals feed their babies, at least until they're old enough to eat solid food.]"
Terra nodded, not attempting to peak again.
"I hope he didn't wake the kids," the Doctor murmured.
"I doubt it." River shook her head, "His lungs are so small he's not that loud."
"He will be soon," he teased, remembering how Amelia and Freya used to wake each other as babies.
-x-
"Doctor...it's your turn." River grumbled, nudging her sleepy husband.
"I haven't even gotten back to sleep from my last go," he mumbled, pushing his face into his pillow.
"And I went the last two times. You'd better go before they both wake up..."
He muttered something irritatedly about keeping score as he lifted himself from the bed. When he stood, a second cry joined the first and both increased their volume. "Too late." He sighed.
River groaned, getting up as well.
"You don't have to—I can take care of them," he protested groggily. It didn't sound very convincing as both of them knew it was a near impossible task to get both babies back to sleep alone.
"Oh, hush." She sighed, already heading towards the nursery. The Doctor followed, failing to understand how he was so sleep deprived for someone who didn't sleep all that much in the first place.
The twins were in their respective cribs, wailing as loud as was possible for 8 week-olds. Amelia had been the one to wake Freya, as was evident from her wet nappy.
"Okay, Amelia. I've got you." River murmured, lifting up the baby and bringing her to the changing table. The Doctor moved on auto pilot to Freya and got to work calming her. Amelia sobbed through her changing and continued to do so even after she was cleaned up.
"What's wrong, my love?" River asked, rocking her back and forth. Amelia continued to cry, squirming slightly.
It was a good few minutes before the Doctor spoke over the two infants, gesturing with his head, "Isn't that hers?"
"Hmm?" River turned, looking to where the Doctor was gesturing. A small stuffed dog lay on the floor next to Amelia's cot, probably having fallen out before the Doctor and River got there. Amelia hadn't been able to fall asleep for the last two weeks without her stuffed companion.
River groaned, leaning down and scooping up the dog "How did she get so attached to this thing?"
"You'd have to ask her," he teased.
Amelia flailed for the dog when it was in sight with a series of impatient noises.
"Alright, alright." River sighed, giving her daughter the dog. Amelia's cries died down to whimpers with the dog in her arms. "There, that's better." River murmured.
Freya started to quiet down once her twin did.
"I hope she doesn't start asking for a dog when she's older."
"I can tell you right now that we won't be getting a dog." River murmured.
He chuckled. "It won't be me who's complaining."