Ch 2

The girls stayed beside their mother's body, crying and clinging to her for hours. They refused to leave her side, refused to eat and didn't dare give into sleep.

Arthur had eventually fallen into a restless nap. The Doctor had refused to put him down at all, staring as his wife and daughters the entire time. Though Vastra and Jack offered food to everyone, no one took it.

River's picture box appeared beside the chair the Doctor was sitting in, along with the framed picture of her that she and the Doctor had picked out not days before. The Doctor refused to look at it for a while, knowing the sight was sure to break him more, but eventually gave in, frozen to the spot. River's eyes seemed to sparkle in the picture, reflecting nothing but happiness.

Vastra came again to urge him to eat, but he didn't register her words. "I've got to go to the nursery."

"What? Why?" She frowned.

"It's not finished. River wanted it finished." He stood, not exactly thinking clearly. "I've- I've got to go fix it. Missy broke the walls. Well I broke the walls, but I need to finish it."

"Doctor, it can wait." Vastra put a hand on his arm, "You can't leave now."

"No, I have to." He pushed the heel of his hand to his forehead. "The picture. She wanted him to remember her that way. I need to hang it up."

She kneeled down in front of him, "Doctor, he's right here. You don't need to go hang it right now. Why don't you just show it to him instead?"

"I..." He looked between her and the baby in his arms. "He's not safe. None of you are safe and I... I promised to keep you all safe. She wants the ceremony where William's was and we can't go anywhere because we're not safe and I have to keep you safe. There's no- there's no point in having a nursery if he can't sleep in it and play in it and he's not safe. We're not safe."

"We're safe here. For now, we're safe. Please, please stay with your children. They need you right now."

"They need their Mum and I'm not their Mum." He closed his eyes.

"No, they need their Father. You know that. You promised River you would help them through this, now is the time to honor that promise." She whispered.

He look a shaky breath and was silent for a long moment. When he looked up at his friend, his eyes were wet but something in them said that her words had reached him.

After another moment he stood and took the picture box with his free hand before going over to his daughters. "Girls... I have something for you." Both girls looked up at him, their faces wet and blotchy from crying. He sat on the edge of the bed. "Come here. This was Mummy's."

"It's this her picture box?" Amelia asked quietly, inching closer.

"Yes." He nodded, setting it down. "Do... do you want to look through it?" They nodded timidly. "Here..." He rifled through until he found one of River. It was from an anniversary of theirs on Dochremi, the one he'd been talking to River about to distract her during labor.

"Mummy looks pretty." Amelia murmured, staring longingly at the photograph.

"She liked to dress up when we went out together." He told her, tone matching.

Amelia started crying again, burying her face in his arm. He shifted a still sleeping Arthur so he could wrap his arm around her. "It's okay, lovie."

"She's never going to play dress up with me again." She sobbed.

"No... I'm afraid not. Why don't we look at another picture, hmm?"

Freya nodded on his other side, also teary eyed. He gestured for her to come to their side in case she wanted a hug or something of the like. She shook her head, still angry with him for taking her away from River. He quietly took out another picture.

This time, it was a photograph of River laughing as she hugged Freya. It looked recent, probably from Arthur's baby shower. Freya blinked hard and looked away, clinging to River's cold, stiff hand.

Amelia sniffled, "Did Arthur get to take a picture with Mummy?"

"No." He replied sadly. They'd been a bit preoccupied.

"Oh..." She looked down.

"Mummy helped pick out the pictures in his room, so he'll still have nice ones."

"They're my pictures, I don't what him to have any." Freya frowned.

"No, Freya, the pictures in his room are going to stay in his room. We can hang some up in your room if you'd like." He tried to get her off the subject.

"You said they were mine and Amelia's and I don't want him to have any. He never even got to know Mummy. He doesn't even care that she's dead!" It was the first time anyone had referred to River as dead.

"He does, actually." He said quietly. "He's been in Mummy for the past eight months and they've been able to communicate with each other for most of that time. That's why he's been crying, love. He's just as sad as you are, as we all are."

"No he's not." She stuck her tongue out at the baby.

He huffed in frustration and again hoped this was just because of her mourning. He pulled out another picture, this one of River at a dig site. Neither girl said much about the picture, just looking at it with sad eyes.

He went through quite a few, explaining some of them and just staring at others.

"Which one is your favorite?" Amelia asked quietly.

"Of Mummy?" He looked over to where he'd left the framed picture. "That one."

"Which one is that?" She asked, peering over to see it.

"Vastra could you...?"

Vastra nodded, bringing the photo over to them.

"Mummy picked this one to be framed. It's... it's how she wanted her kids to remember her." He said clearly to include Arthur in that.

"I like that one too." Amelia whimpered, touching the glass of the frame lightly.

"Maybe we should hang it up somewhere we all can see." It wasn't the original plan, but he thought it might be worth it. Both girls nodded, liking the sound of the idea. "Right in the living room, yeah?" He suggested.

They nodded again. "Or in the console room."

"Yes, well I think we're going to be spending a lot of time in the house... once we have all of this worked out. You guys will be going back to school... when you feel ready for it." He told them.

"Oh..." Amelia sniffled, "Can I have a copy for my room?"

"Of course." He nodded, thinking he could make a few copies and Arthur could still have the original in his room like he and River agreed.

"Can we put it next to our bed?" She asked.

"Yes, but you might have to wait until we can make copies." Not to mention have access back to their room.

Toby wondered into the room, peering up at the bed River was laying on. The Doctor glanced at the dog. "Are you girls hungry?"

They shook their head as Toby nudged River's limp hand.

"Not even a little?" He urged. "You don't have to get up, I can bring you something."

They shook their heads again, looking at Toby when he barked at River, then whimpered.

"Hush now, Toby." He murmured. "She's not going to wake up." The dog tried licking her hand, not understanding.

He patted the bed even though there wasn't much space with the family crowded on it. The dog tried to jump up, momentarily distracted by the baby. He crept over, sniffing the small face.

Arthur shied away in his sleep, gurgling unconsciously about the big kitty.

Toby pressed his nose against the baby's head, licking his face. This time the baby opened his eyes, the small orbs widening in surprise at the large fluffy thing. The dog barked a bit too loudly, unintentionally of course. Arthur jumped and his face scrunched up as he began to cry.

"Good boy, Toby." Freya patted his head.

"No, bad boy." The Doctor frowned, and pointed to the floor as an indication for the dog to leave the bed.

"No, Toby. Good boy. Stay!" Freya held him tighter, not letting him get off the bed. Toby whimpered, confused as to who he should be obeying.

"I don't want him to leave." Amelia whimpered, having stayed quiet until now.

The Doctor hesitated. "He scares Arthur when he barks..."

"He didn't mean to." She looked up at him with her big sad eyes, "It was an accident. Freya's just being mean."

"Well... alright." He gave in, not feel like he had the position to deny them anything right now. He was at least glad to know Amelia didn't share her sister's opinions about their brother. "But he only has one more chance."

"Why are you being so mean?" Amelia glared at her sister.

"Because it's his fault. He took Mummy away." She replied bitterly.

"No, it's not! And Mummy wouldn't want you to be so mean!"

"Well Mummy isn't here and if we didn't have a stupid little brother she would be so it is his fault."

"I don't think he's stupid." Amelia whispered.

"He's a killer." Freya added harshly.

"He's a baby." She snapped back.

"He still killed Mummy." Freya fixed her glare on the floor.

"When our other brother died you didn't say Mummy killed him"

"That's because Mummy wouldn't do that."

"And our brother didn't do that either."

"How do you know?" She hissed.

"Because I do and if you weren't such a big bully you would too!" Freya fell silent, eyes burning with tears. "Go away Freya. Nobody wants you here if you're going to be so mean." Amelia frowned, arms crossed.

"No! I'm not leaving Mummy!"

"Mummy wouldn't want you either if she knew how mean you were being!"

"Well maybe you didn't even love Mummy if you think our brother is good because it's his fault and you don't even care!" Freya blurted out.

"Now you're just being stupid! You're the one who didn't really love Mummy because you don't love our brother and you know that she would want us to!"

"Girls, please stop-" The Doctor tried to but in, but Freya was already sobbing. She jumped to the floor and ran into the other room. Amelia watched her go, glaring. "That wasn't very nice of you, Amelia." The Doctor murmured.

"She started it." Amelia whispered.

"I'm aware that she wasn't being very nice either, but she's hurting right now just like you are."

Amelia pouted, not saying anything more.

He sighed. "Vastra? Could you take Arthur? I need to check on Freya." Vastra nodded, gently taking the baby from his arms. "I'll be right back." He kissed Arthur's forehead and then Amelia's before following to where Freya had gone.

Freya was curled in a ball in the corner of the other room, crying quietly.

"Freya? Dearie?" He approached her cautiously. She didn't answer, curling tighter into her ball. "Hey, it's alright. I only want to talk to you." He murmured.

"Why?" She whimpered, peering up at him.

"Because that's what daddies do when their daughters are sad." He said softly. She relaxed just a tad, lifting her head a bit more. He sat down in front of her. "I'm sorry about what's happening. I'm sorry it's making you so sad and hate your little brother."

She looked at her feet, still not saying anything.

"I just wanted you to know that I'm going try to help you through this as much as I can. I can do some of the things that Mummy did, like kiss you goodnight or make you mac and cheese..." He continued. "I know it won't be the same, but I'll still be here for you."

"But she won't be here." Freya choked, "I'll never get to talk to her again. I'll never get to tell her I love her again."

"She knows how much you loved her. Trust me, she knew. And she loved you and Amelia more than anything." He breathed.

"But I won't ever get to hear her say it again." She sniffed, tears welling up in her eyes again.

He scooted closer, wrapping his arms around the girl. "Actually, I might have a little something for you that might help."

"What is it?"

"Your Mummy and I made a video, it was a long time ago when she was pregnant with you and Amelia. She talks to you two in it, she tells you that she loves you."

"Can I see it?" She asked almost immediately.

He managed a weak smile for her. "Yes, of course."

"Now?" She stood up, a small light in her eyes.

He nodded as a small and old fashioned television materialized in the room with a plastic and block-like tape next to it. "Put the tape in and press play."

She carefully slide the tape in, pressing the button.

There was static for a moment before some of the audio kicked in. "Sweetie, that's not suppose to plug into there."

Freya's eyes were fixated on the television, staring at the static, which soon turned to some footage of the Doctor's shoes. "Are you sure? I don't think it's working."

It was the Doctor's voice, then footsteps and soon River's bare feet joined the footage.

"You're holding it wrong."

The camera soon pointed up to the ceiling and they could see that it was the TARDIS library. An exasperated sigh came from River, "Here, you have to hold it like this." The camera moved once more, the picture going from the ceiling to River's face. Freya and the Doctor smiled.

The camera was set down by River on a table, or some other non-moving surface, and the pair settled on a couch in front of it. It was clear that River was pregnant, she appeared about half term. "Why are we doing this again?" She asked

"Because one day you'll want more than all those photos to look back on. Besides, what if our daughter wants to see something like this and all she has are photos? Trust me, you'll thank me."

River had a beautiful, happy glow about her. Her eyes sparkled as she looked into the camera. She looked so much better than she had the past few weeks; healthy and breathing. "Would you like to start?"

"Well, yes. As a matter of fact." The video Doctor cleared his throat and shifted his hand around, eventually settling on draping an arm over River's shoulders. "Hello Baby. I know that's not your name and you're probably not a baby while you're watching this, but we haven't got a name yet so, for now you're 'Baby'." He coughed nervously again. "Uh, you're Mum and I just wanted to let you know how excited we are to be parents. I haven't been a dad in a very long time and your Mum hasn't ever been a mum before... I think."

River leaned into the embrace, laughing nervously, "No, I can't say I have been a mum." Her expression changed to a warm, loving smile, "But like your Father said, we're so excited to meet you. And we want you to know that we love you, and we always will. No matter what becomes of us in this ever changing universe, we will always love you."

"Ah, see now? You don't think this is so bad." He turned to River, teasing.

"Oh, shut up." She laughed weakly, turning to give him a kiss.

He rested his hand on her stomach, pulling away excitedly after a moment. "Did you feel that?"

Her eyes light up and she nodded, "Do you think that kick meant 'I love you two, too?'"

"Quite possibly." He kissed her cheek.

"I think probably." She smiled, resting her head on his shoulder and looking down at her abdomen, "I love you, my sweet baby."

"I love you, too." Freya whispered to the screen, hardly a whisper.

River's eyes flickered back up to the camera one more time, her smiling face the last thing on the screen before it turned to static again.