He smiled at his friends, excitement filling his eyes as he silently assured them he was finally, truly ready. Well, as ready as any parent can ever be. And they all grinned back at him, each offering comforting nods and gestures.

Finally, at hearing voices approaching from down the corridor, the Doctor and Jack each dove down behind columns, the Doctor's companions ensuring they were both well-hidden from view.

River, the younger Doctor, and Jack all entered the console room, the two men flanking River and... the brand-new baby girl she was holding delicately in her arms. When River was finally able to tear her eyes away from the tiny new love of her life, she glanced around the console room, her eyebrows scrunching ever so slightly before a pleased, somewhat relieved smirk graced her face.

She produced a small sound of shock, before turning to the Time Lord beside her, and with an entirely guileless expression, she begged, "Doctor, would you and Jack mind, I believe I left my journal back there. Small. Blue. Quite important."

After a moment, they both nodded and turned to go get it, the Doctor's eyes still fixed on the miniscule being in River's arms before he reluctantly headed back down the corridor.

She smiled brightly, holding up her diary as she winked at the crowd in the TARDIS. Then she beamed, shaking her head fondly.

"Well, you sentimental idiot. Seeing as you've nearly caused a paradox, would you like to come meet your daughter- again?" She grinned at Jack, who'd come out first. "How long did he try to run from this one, Captain?"

"Only a couple of centuries, obviously. But only a few years since you left. Is he really getting that predictable?" Jack asked, grin on his face matching hers.

"I know my husband- probably terrified of ruining her life or letting her down." She sighed knowingly, then looked down completely in awe and love at her newborn daughter. She stared at her in wonder, lightly touching her face and kissing her gently as she rocked her, coaxing the Doctor out with a wholly enamoured whisper. "My love, come. Come see what we made."

The Doctor came out from his hiding place, looking sheepish. He ignored Jackie and Donna's smirks at River's comment, Rose and Sarah Jane's surprised stares, and Mickie's approving nod. Jack clasped his shoulder as he took a tentative step forward, almost afraid to break such a small, delicate person. He looked into his wife's arms and saw his own eyes reflected back, with River's nose and chin (thank the stars), Rory ears and a tuft of auburn hair capping his new daughter's beautiful face. For a moment, his hearts stopped beating. Then his entire universe shifted, ready to revolve around the tiny creature in his wife's embrace. And, he had never felt more foolish for running from something in his entire life. Nor could he remember ever feeling more terrified.

"Hello, Bella," he whispered to the little girl, automatically reaching out and relieving River's arms of their blessed burden. He kissed her head then stared at her once more, seemingly oblivious to everything around him as he fell head over heels in love at first sight. River adjusted his arms, ensuring they fully supported the indescribably tiny being in them. The Doctor's face nearly split in two from the reverent, wide smile gracing it.

"Yes, that's me. I'm your daddy. Well, so was the first guy, so it's still okay to be fond of him, but that was centuries ago, so you're stuck with this face I'm afraid. How can you prefer him, you only saw him for a little while?!" he proclaimed indignantly. "No, it's cool! You and your mother, you're both the same!"

"What, River has an issue with bowties as well?" asked the Time Lord's double as he bent over the teeny girl in wonder, too fascinated and besotted to stay back with the others.

"Made fun of them- just like she is."

"What are you on about?" asked Rose.

"I speak baby," synced both Doctors, barely sparing her a glance and a smile before they were drawn back to Bella.

"Ahh- I just realized something!" exclaimed the excited Doctor, looking at his once-double, who realized the same thing, rushing over and pulling a stethoscope out of his pocket. They each took turns listening to the two hearts of the first Gallifreyan born off-planet since Jenny, revelling in the sound and suddenly lost in their own foreign conversation- River smiling along with everyone else, who were all happy to see the Time Lord so light-hearted: a rare event in their experience.

"Sweetie, as grateful as I am for the thoughts racing through my mind at realizing there are now three of you on board, you do realize you have to leave before you come back out of that room, don't you? And, Captain, being a fixed point doesn't mean you can't cause a paradox either- you've got to leave too, and no- you can't meet another you."

"Come on River! I only barely managed to get a glimpse of myself when I went back there. Mind you, it was quite a glimpse, but-"

"Oh, cool it Captain Innuendo," sighed Mickey.

"River, I'll have you know I have arranged it so that inside the safety net of the TARDIS, time itself will stand still if I so wish it," the Doctor declared smugly.

"Meaning you set up the anachronizers but forgot how to turn them back off." She laid a hand on her hip while he held up Bella, a new little shield between him and his wife as he smiled guiltily.

She sighed patiently and went over to the console, laying her hand on it and shaking her head slightly. "What has our boy done to you, hmm?" Then she began flicking buttons and pulling levers as the Doctor's friends gathered around him to meet his daughter.