Ch 15
The days began to get warmer and the snow became slush, much to the girls' and Toby's delight. Mud always caked their shoes, yet still the carpet managed to stay clean. Winter boots were replaced with rain boots and sneakers and the sun was out more often than not.
The girls decided to make it a project to help River with the back garden, though half of it was an excuse to go to the flower shop. The only thing that seemed to not be changing with coming Spring was flu season.
Unfortunately, the whole Song family had been hit with a raging case of the flu. While the girls were finally getting better, River and Arthur were still in middle of it. River was trying to balance taking care of her sick daughter's along with the sick baby all while being under the weather herself.
The house had been on lockdown ever since the girls came home with the sickness and the family hadn't left the house in nearly a week. The Doctor and River often switched off who was taking care of who.
Today, the girls were well enough to be left alone for short amounts of time, though it also happened to be one of days River was hardest hit with the illness. The Doctor did his best to tend to her and Arthur, generally keeping them in the same room for efficiency, though he already had to change the sheets once.
"Doctor, really, I'm not that sick." She insisted for about the hundredth time, trying to get out of bed. "You need help."
"Really, River, I've got him." He insisted, as was his regular response. He was rocking Arthur, sitting in a chair near their bed. "And you need to stay resting. You'll never get better if you don't rest."
"Did the girls get lunch yet? I can make them lunch." She offered, feeling useless just laying in bed.
"I've got water on a timer. You're just going to make yourself nauseous again."
"Alright, alright fine." She whispered, settling back down. "How is he?" She asked, nodding to the baby.
"Having a hard time settling." He sighed.
"Let me try." She sat up slowly, holding her arms out.
He stood and deposited a whining Arthur in her arms.
"Shhhh." She murmured, rubbing the baby's back. "It's alright, Mumma's got you." She whispered, holding his fevered body against hers. He still didn't settle, stomach turning. "I know, I know, sweetie." She whispered, continuing to rub his back, holding him still as to not further upset his stomach.
"I'll get a towel." The Doctor volunteered, thinking Arthur was going to retch again.
River nodded, feeling rather nauseous herself. He quickly ran to grab a towel, getting back in time for Arthur to throw up all over himself then burst into a crying fit.
"Okay, okay." River breathed, trying to get as little sick on her as possible, the smell of it making her stomach churn, "I bet you feel much better now." She kissed the top of his head.
Arthur was too busy crying over it to acknowledge her words. The Doctor quickly discarded the towel into the laundry bin. "I think it's time for another bath for him."
"I'll come sit with you." She breathed, starting to get up, the crying baby still in her arms.
"Are you sure you should be getting up?" He asked warily.
"Of course I'm sure. I have a little stomach bug, I'm not dying." She breathed, getting to her feet.
"That doesn't mean you don't need to take care of yourself." He filled the sink up with water, taking the baby from River.
"I am taking care of myself." She insisted, "However, children come before parents, and I want to be here to help you. You know how fussy he gets during his bath time."
"Fine." He gave in, undressing the infant and putting him in the little sink bath.
River tried to entertain the baby and keep him from crying too much while the Doctor cleaned him up. Arthur stayed relatively calm, though it was mostly because he was too exhausted to throw much of a fit.
"We're going to take a nice nap after-" She cut herself off, rushing to the toilet to throw up.
"I tried to warn you." The Doctor murmured. She glared at him. "Do you want some saltines?" He offered.
She shook her head, leaning forward to throw up again.
He rinsed Arthur off a final time then swaddled him in a fluffy, clean towel. Tucking the boy in one arm, the Doctor moved to hold his wife's hair back with his free hand.
"Really, I'm fine." She panted, once she was finally done throwing up.
"You're sick. I know you've had much worse before, but that doesn't mean you're in any condition to be trying to do more than lie in bed and taking something to help settle your stomach. Ginger ale might do the trick if you're willing." He added.
She sighed, "Alright, fine. I'll have the ginger ale." She stood, slowly heading back to bed.
He handed Arthur over to her once she was settled, "Be right back, love." He kissed her forehead then headed down to the kitchen.
"Take your time." She murmured.
The Doctor tended to the cooking, set a timer, and grabbed a ginger ale for River before moving to check on his daughters. The girls were bundled up in blankets, coloring.
"Doing alright, kiddos?" Freya nodded, but Amelia shook her head.
"My tummy hurts again." She sniffed, wiping her runny nose on her blanket.
"When was your last Tylenol?" He asked.
She shrugged, "After we finished the movie." That had been about an hour ago.
"Hm, do you want to try a ginger ale? It can help." He offered her.
She shook her head, "I want to take a nap."
"Tell you what: How about you eat lunch first, then come join Mummy and your brother for a nap?"
She nodded, starting to get up. The Doctor stayed down stairs with them and waited for the food to be ready. He prepared some macaroni and ate with the girls. Amelia began to fall asleep as they ate, her head drooping lower and lower until she was fast asleep, face first in her bowl.
The Doctor chuckled and scooped her up, wiping her face clean. "What about you Freya, can you make it all the way up stairs?"
Freya nodded, crawling off her chair and heading up the stairs. The Doctor followed with Amelia in his arms as they went to his bedroom.
"River?" He knocked first. "You've got some napping mates."
Arthur was in his bedside crib, but River wasn't in the bed anymore, back in the bathroom throwing up again. He sighed and placed Amelia in the bed, Freya crawling in after her sister.
The Doctor remembered he'd left the ginger ale downstairs, ran to get it, then returned to go tend to River. By the time he got back, she was sitting on the floor, trying to catch her breath.
"The girls are napping on our bed." He handed over the drink.
"Thanks." She murmured, taking a sip of the drink.
"What about the baby?"
"In his crib" He told her.
She nodded, starting to stand. She wasn't yet on her feet when she started feeling woozy and had to sit again.
"River, you've been like this for a week and you're much worse than the girls..." He fretted. "Maybe we should run some tests."
She shook her head, "No, no. Honestly, I think it's getting better now."
He sat next to her, his expression showing he didn't believe her. "Can you even make it to the door without getting dizzy?"
"Well that's not fair. Just because I'm dizzy now does not mean I'm not getting better." She took his hand, squeezing it lightly.
"No, but it does mean you could have something more serious than the stomach bug. You're quite pale..."
"Doctor, please. I don't want to have an argument." She sighed.
"Alright, alright. I'm just worried." He admitted.
"Yes, I know." She murmured, "I promise, I'm fine. Just trust me." She stood slowly, "I need to make a phone call."
"To whom?" He asked.
"Vastra. I promised her I'd call."
"Oh." He nodded.
She stood, pressing a kiss to the top of his head, "I'll be right back. How about you lay with the kids and I'll join you in a few minutes?"
He nodded again, going back to their room and joining his children.
River went to the other room, dialing the number. Vastra picked up on the other end. "Hello?"
"Vastra, hello." River smiled weakly, happy to hear her friend.
"Ah, River. I was hoping that was you." She smiled through the phone.
"Oh? And why is that? Have you missed me?" She laughed softly.
"Of course I have. That, and concern since you informed me your children were ill."
"Ah, yes, well they're doing much better now. The girls should be back in school soon and Arthur is my little warrior." River cleared her throat, voice dropping to a lower level, "I was actually calling to ask you something."
"A favor?"
"Well, sort of. I was wondering if you had any more of that tea that's supposed to help with...morning sickness?"
"Yes I-... Morning sickness?" Vastra realized in shock.
She laughed softly, "Yes, morning sickness."
"Do you mean to say you're going to have another child?" Vastra asked with growing excitement.
"Yes, I do. But you mustn't tell anyone, you're the only one that knows right now."
"I'm honored, but why tell me first and not your husband?" She asked.
"I don't know if I'm ready for him to know." River whispered, smile fading, "I don't think I'm ready for anyone to know, but I needed to talk to someone and you're the one person I trust as must as him."
"May I ask what it is you fear?" She threaded carefully.
River let out a shaky sigh, sitting down on the floor. "I don't know if we're going to be able to do it. We're already so busy with the three, I can't imagine what it's going to be like with another baby. I think we should have talked about it more, but I didn't think it would happen right away. I thought we'd have more time..." She swallowed, "I don't know if I really want it. I suppose it's too late to decide I don't want another now, but..." She buried her head in her free hand, trying to calm down, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't be unloading everything on you like this. I just need to find a way to be happy about this before I tell the Doctor."
"Unloading is exactly what I'm here for." Vastra replied gently, deciding not to question further. "I believe you are making the right decision to find yourself an anchor before you inform the Doctor, but I would recommend finding it quickly. You are clever, but so is the Doctor and he may discover what you're hiding long before you want him to. Travel could help and my door will always be open to you. Perhaps... focusing more on your child and less on how you'll manage it."
"Yes, I know." She sighed, "Thank you so much for listening. I should go before he comes looking for me."
"You can stop by anytime for the tea. It was lovely talking to you. And for what it's worth, congratulations."
"Thank you." River whispered, "I'll see you soon." She hung up the phone, sighing. Arthur started crying from upstairs. River slowly got up, running upstairs to tend to the baby.
Arthur was squirming in his crib, one of the cat's having jumped in with him.
"No! No! Get out of here." River shooed the cat away, scooping Arthur up to comfort him. "It's alright. Shhh, you're alright." She whispered, carrying him out of the room.
He calmed when in his Mum's arms, whining a little and curling to her chest.
"Shhh, shhhh." She continued to murmur, rubbing his back. "Are you hungry or do you just want to sleep?"
He pushed against her again, indicating he wanted food.
"Okay, let's go sit first." She carried him to the nursery, sitting down in the rocking chair before getting ready to feed him.
The Doctor came in just then. "Finished your phone call?"
She nodded, holding Arthur up to her breast to feed, "She invited me to spend some time with her once I get better."
"Oh. For how long?" He frowned slightly, thinking the offer was was strangely spontaneous.
She shrugged, "She, Jenny and Strax have been working on a case for a while now. It involves some ancient artifacts and they thought I might like to help." She kept her tone casual.
"Nothing like an archaeologist's touch." He teased, moving to peer over her shoulder at their son. "But you won't be gone for too long, will you?"
"No, I promise I won't be gone too long." She smiled up at him, feeling Arthur shift so he was resting comfortably against her warm skin as he ate.
"Who's going to keep me warm at night, then?" He chuckled, kissing her cheek.
"You have three children that I'm sure will be happy to snuggle with you while I'm gone." She laughed softly.
"I get the kids all to myself." He grinned. "Lucky me."
"Ah, so now you're happy to see me go?" She teased.
"No, but there's a good and a bad side to everything, isn't there?" He pointed out.
Her smile faded just slightly, "Yes, I suppose so..."
Arthur wiggled one of his arms and reached up with grabbing hands.
"What is it my love?" River asked, letting him grab onto her finger. He let his arm back down, refusing to let go of her finger as he nursed. She smiled down at him, "Will you miss me if I go to Auntie Vastra's?"
He tried to make a noise, but milk spilled out of his mouth.
"Oh, dear!" River laughed softly, reaching for a cloth to clean up the mess.
"I think that's a yes." The Doctor decided.
She nodded, letting Arthur finish eating. "I was thinking, perhaps now that it's finally getting warm again, we can take the girls on the camping trip they've wanted to try."
"I didn't think you liked camping." He pointed out.
"Oh, I don't, but the girls have been asking and I think I can manage to suck up my detest for camping for a weekend." She shrugged.
"Well first you'll need to get better. And you have that thing with Vastra. How about the next three day weekend the girls have?" He suggested.
She nodded, "Yes, that sounds good. When is it?"
"End of the month? I'll have to check a calendar." He shrugged.
"Right, we can plan it more later." She shifted Arthur so he could be burped.
"I can do that if you want." He offered.
"No, it's alright. I've got it." River smiled weakly.
"You look a bit less pale." He observed.
"I feel better actually." She nodded.
"Oh you won't be leaving so soon, will you?" He put on a pout.
"The sooner I leave, the sooner I'll be back." She pointed out.
"Hmm." He considered. "It's just awfully short notice."
"I'm excited, that's all." She shrugged.
"Well you haven't been doing archaeology for a while." He recalled.
"And that's exactly why I'm so excited to go."
"I'm quite glad for you, though I'd like you not to leave until at least tomorrow. I just want to make sure your fever is down."
"Doctor, I'm fine." She whispered, "I don't need any more monitoring."
He sighed. "You were turning up your guts less than an hour ago... but it's your call."
"If I'm too sick, I'll come home." She stood, "But I really want to go, and I should pack."
The Doctor took Arthur, who immediately started complaining. "Alright, but you should expect calls. If not from me than from the girl's saying hello."
"Of course." She leaned over to kiss his cheek, "I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you too." He caught her around her waist, pulling her into a hug.
She hugged him tightly, burying her face in his neck.
Arthur whined and the Doctor chuckled. "He's going to miss you too."
River smiled, cupping the baby's cheek, "I'll miss you terribly, my sweet. Don't worry, there's plenty of milk in the fridge for you."
Arthur grabbed for her again, whining becoming more sad.
"It's alright." She pressed a kiss to his forehead, "Mummy will be back soon."
"The girls are still sleeping." The Doctor said. "Do you need help packing?"
She nodded, "Yes, that would be nice."
He offered a smile and followed her to their room. She grabbed her suitcase out of the closet, gathering some normal clothes before heading into the TARDIS to get some Victorian style dresses.
The Doctor found her archaeology tools, her scanner, and her dairy and packed them for her. He also woke the girls to come say bye to her.
The girls were confused, wondering why River was leaving so suddenly. "Why can't we come?" They asked, meeting her in the console room.
"Because you have school." She kissed each of their heads, "And you know we must try to be as linear as possible with school. I shan't be gone long and you can phone me every morning when you wake up and every night before bed."
"But how long are you going?" Freya frowned, wanting an exact number.
"Well, I don't know yet. That all depends on how much work Auntie Vastra has for me."
"Will it be more than a few days? A whole week?" She fretted, not letting the subject go.
"It won't be more than a week." River took the girl into a big hug, "I'm just a phone call away if you need me."
Freya buried her face against River with a sad sort of sigh. Amelia joined in the hugging. They hugged for a good few minutes before finally pulling apart.
River gathered her things, insisting that the TARDIS could drop her off by herself and that she didn't want to risk them returning on the wrong day and messing up the time streams.
The Doctor and the girls moved to just outside the door. "Last kiss for the road?" He asked.
She leaned in, giving him a deep, long kiss, "I'll see you soon."
"Looking forwards to it." She waved before closing the door and piloting off to Vastra's.
