Ch 31

"What would you girls like to do today?" River asked, sitting down next to Freya.

"Fairy kingdom!" Freya declared at the same time as Amelia said,

"The Caves of Sinatolle."

"What if instead of those things, we had a rest day?" River suggested.

"Aw! But I want to go on an adventure." Freya pouted.

"But we just went on one yesterday." River pointed out.

"We left before we saw any mermaids." She countered.

"Freya I don't think Daddy and I have enough energy to go on an adventure two days in a row."

She sighed. "What about tomorrow?"

"We'll see, but I can't make any promises." Freya nodded.

Amelia didn't seem as phased, pointing at the pancake stack. "Want some?"

"Of course! Did you help make them?" She asked.

"Yes!" Both of them nodded.

"That one has extra chocolate chips." Amelia pointed.

"Oh, well then I'm sure they're delicious." River beamed, glancing up at the Doctor, "Would you like some?"

He nodded, wondering what had changed to make her so much happier than before. Maybe she was just acting that way for the girls. He grabbed plates and forks for them as Toby padded into the room. Toby sat in front of the Doctor, barking at him, hoping to get some food.

"Girls, has Toby gotten breakfast yet?"

They nodded, "And he got a pancake."

He shook his finger at the dog. "Stop begging, you already got some."

He whimpered, putting his front paws up on the man's lap. The Doctor caved, letting him lick the syrup from his fingers.

River finished her food, picked up Arthur to feed him in the other room. Toby tried to follow her, thinking she might be more willing to give him a pancake. "No, Toby I'm not going to-" She stopped, grabbing the doorframe with the hand that wasn't holding Arthur.

Toby pushed his nose against her leg and the Doctor looked up. "River?"

"I'm not going to feed you." She finished and then exited the room as if nothing had happened. The Doctor followed.

Arthur began to grow fussy. "Alright, alright. You'll get fed in a minute." River whispered, taking him to the nursery, not noticing that the Doctor was following her.

The boy continued to complain until River was sitting down and he was receiving his breakfast. She stroked his head, leaning back and closing her eyes as he ate.

"River?" The Doctor finally made himself apparent.

She jumped, "Hmm?"

"Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you." He stepped into the room, peering at their son. "It's just that you never really answered me."

"What was your question?" She asked, grabbing the blanket off the back of the rocking chair, draping it over their feeding son so the Doctor wouldn't be distracted.

"Well, it was a more general sort of..." He shook his head, getting on with it. "You paused back there in the doorway. I know I shouldn't worry so much, but I do and I just wanted to know if you were alright." He said sort of all at once.

"I'm fine." She murmured, closing her eyes.

"Tired?"

Tiber and Mr Thomas stalked into the room.

She nodded, "A bit."

The former of the two cats tried to jump on River's lap, thinking there'd be enough room for him. Arthur started to whimper and wail when he got scratched by the cat's claws.

"Oh, Tiber!" River cried, looking over the claw scratch on the baby's leg. "It's alright, Arthur, I've got you."

Why'd he do that? Arthur cried as the Doctor shooed the cat away. Ow, ow!

It was an accident, my sweet. He didn't mean to do it.

It hurts! Make it go away.

She leaned down, kissing the spot, "It'll stop hurting in a minute. Finish eating now." River sighed, looking back up at the Doctor once Arthur had settled and gone back to feeding.

He tried to offer a smile or at least some sort of assuring look. "I can look after the girls today if you'd like to rest."

She shook her head, "I don't want them thinking that something's wrong."

"Then we'll let them know nothing's wrong." He reasoned.

"And you think they'll believe that?" She sighed, "I'm fine, Doctor."

"Alright." He conceded.

Terra kicked in Arthur's direction. Arthur began to cry again, not liking all the disruption during his meal.

"I'll go check on the girls." The Doctor said.

"Oh… alright." River breathed.

"I'll come back with them." He promised. "But they shouldn't be unsupervised."

"Right. Go ahead."

He kissed her cheek and went off to the girls.

Terra pushed again. She put her free hand on her belly, putting counter pressure on the spot.

Mummmm.

"Shhhhh." River hushed.

Why?

She swallowed, not saying anything. Terra nudged yet again and Arthur let out an unhappy noise.

"Shhhh." River held Arthur tighter.

He wiggled. Nap.

"Okay. Let's go put you down for a nap." She fixed her top. He seemed to calm at this, nuzzling against her. She stood, gently placing him in his crib. He grabbed the closest stuffed animal which happened to be a bear and hugged it close. She smiled softly, nuzzling his cheek and giving him a soft kiss.

"Muh." He blinked up at her.

"Yes?" She held her finger out for him.

He grabbed it and tried to stick it in his mouth.

"Hey!" She laughed. "What are you doing?"

"Ngah." He replied.

She smiled down at him, "Love you. Can you say love you, Mumma?"

"Wuh-mmmma!"

"Yes! Very good!" She praised.

His eyelids grew heavy. Sing song. She sighed, singing a quick lullaby. Arthur was asleep by the time she finished. She quietly exited the room to find the rest of her family.

They weren't in the kitchen anymore, laughing coming from down the hall. River followed the noise, walking down the hallway. The Doctor, girls, and Toby had all found a room with bouncy floors and walls.

River stood in the doorway, watching her family, "What are you all doing?"

"We found a bouncy room!" Freya called, bounding over to her.

"Yes, I see."

"Come bounce with us." She pulled on her mother's arm.

"No, I think I'll just watch. I don't think Terra would want me bouncing around."

"It's so fun! It's like there's not gravity."

"Well, I'm glad you're having so much fun," River smiled.

"I'm gonna bounce all day!" Freya declared and then jumped off to do so.

The Doctor took her spot next to his wife, a little out of breath. "Arthur asleep?"

River nodded, "Yes, he's asleep."

"He'll probably be up for lunch." He pointed out.

She nodded again, "Yes, he usually is." Leaning over, she pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.

He smiled softly, resting his arm around her waist as they watched their daughters. "We ought to give Vastra a ride home when she wakes.

She hummed, resting her head against his shoulder. "Yes, but let's let her sleep for now."

"We should properly thank her for helping us."

"Of course, we'll thank her."

"I meant with like chocolates or something." He corrected himself.

"We could take her to dinner." She suggested.

"Ah, now there's a good idea." He hummed.

"And speaking of going out to dinner. You haven't taken me out on a date in a while." She murmured.

"We've been a bit busy." He pointed out. "But if it's something you're up for, do you want to go out with me?"

"I would love to go out with you." She murmured, giving him another kiss.

"Lady's choice. Any place in the universe you want." He grinned.

"I'd love to go to that open air market in Sav'tena, but in the wintertime when it's all decorated for Kushcula." She smiled, "They may have some blankets we could get for the baby."

"Now the only problem is getting a babysitter. If we go while the girls are at school, we'll only need someone to take care of Arthur."

"We could drop him with Jack. I know he loves watching his nephew."

"He'll spoil the boy rotten." He laughed, though was in agreement.

"My baby? Rotten? Oh never!" She laughed.

Terra gave a hard thwack towards River's ribs, the movement of her mother's laughing startling her. "Oh!" She winced, laughter immediately stopping.

"River?" He stopped too.

"I'm fine..." She whispered, rubbing the now sore spot.

"Kicking hard?" He tried to guess, watching her hand make small circles.

She nodded, "I guess she didn't like it when I laughed."

"I suppose it would be an odd thing her her to experience." He observed.

She hummed, "Yes, I suppose you're right."

"She probably doesn't understand what caused it."

River nodded slowly.

"So, Sav'tena. Just the market or a meal too?" He changed the subject.

"Oh, meal as well. Don't think you'll get to get around buying me dinner." She cheered up once more, "There's a restaurant that I heard is absolutely wonderful but I'm sure it'll be absolutely crazy during the time I want to go."

"I'll see if I can land on a quieter day." He promised. "What does it serve?"

"Well, they marinate everything in red wine. They have Kalkavash, brazen fargen. "

"Oh, that sounds brilliant." He hummed. "Excellent choice."

"Thank you." She beamed

"I know I just ate pancakes, but all this food talk makes me want something good. Any requests for lunch?"

She hummed, "I don't know. What are you in the mood for?"

"Something with fowl. Defiantly in a bird mood." He decided.

"Fowl?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Chicken, duck, j'knard..." He listed some examples.

"You're making me hungry."

"I could go early and cook something really spectacular for you and the girls." He suggested.

"Mmm that's very tempting."

"Aren't I always?" He teased.

"Oh shut up." She hit his arm playfully.

"Not a chance." He chuckled.

"Oh, really?" She chuckled, leaning over and giving him a kiss. He kissed back happily and Terra kicked against the laughing. River was too wrapped up in the kiss to pay her daughter much mind. Terra calmed as the laughing stopped.

The Doctor cupped his wife's cheek.

She blinked at him, smiling softly, "What?"

"Nothing." He murmured, smiling back.

She grinned, "Oh, okay."

"If you must know," He bopped her nose. "I was just thinking how wonderful you are."

She raised an eyebrow, "Oh, really?"

"Really really." He nodded.

She beamed, pressing her forehead to his, "Love you."

"I love you, too." He kissed her again. The girls saw, this time, creating a background chorus of grossed out noises. River laughed against his lips, slowly pulling away.

Stop it. Terra echoed River's words from before.

She tensed, laughter stopping. No. Terra went quiet, trying to figure out the meaning of the new word.

"River?" The Doctor looked at her with a slight frown.

"What?" She whispered, turning her attention back to him.

"You... look a bit tense." He observed.

"Oh...I didn't realize." She murmured, "I should… check on the baby."

"Alright." He offered a smile and rubbed her arm.

"I'll be right back."

Toby stopped bouncing long enough to follow her from the room. River smiled at the dog's company, leading him to the nursery.

Arthur was still asleep in his cot, legs kicking out in correlation with whatever he was dreaming about. River smiled, watching him for a few minutes, not wanting to disturb his sleep. Toby, on the other hand, didn't have as much courtesy, licking the boy's hand which was sticking through the bars of the crib.

"Hey, Toby, no." River scolded quietly, grabbing his collar and pulling him away. He whimpered and Arthur stirred at the noise. She hushed the dog, hoping he hadn't woken the baby.

Arthur whined as he woke, looking around.

"Shhh. Okay." River sighed, touching Arthur's tummy, "It's just Mummy."

He looked at he a bit startled bit relaxed a bit. "Muh."

"Yes, Mumma." She repeated, smiling down at him.

He blinked up at her, starting to really wake up now. "Wuf!" Doggy.

"Yes, doggy woke you up."

He lifted his hand up, examining the sliminess Toby left behind. Ew.

River grabbed a baby wipe, cleaning the saliva off of his hands. "There, all better."

He reached his hands up to her. Up!

"Okay, up we go." She lifted him out of the crib, nuzzling his cheek. He made a gleeful noise and Toby pushed against River's leg in protest of being ignored. "Well if you wanted my attention so badly, you shouldn't have woken him up." She told the dog, giving him a pat on the head. Toby made something similar to a huff, marching off back to the girls who wouldn't be as reluctant to play as River was.

River bounced Arthur on her hip, "Want to go see Daddy?"

Yes! "Da!" He grinned. She smiled, carrying him out the door and down the hall back the way she had come.

The room had changed into a jungle gym by the time she'd returned, the girls climbing on anything they could get their hands on.

Terra's mind was still buzzing away and the mystery meaning of her few and newly discovered words.

"These two are going to be absolutely worn out later," River commented, coming up beside the Doctor.

He nodded in agreement, looking up at her. "And someone else isn't." That was directed towards their son.

"Unfortunately not." She murmured, pressing kisses to Arthur's cheeks, trying to make him giggle. She succeeded, the boy giggling and squirming.

"I don't think you'll mind that too much." The Doctor smiled at her.

"Of course not!" She laughed, tickling Arthur's belly. She was much more affectionate with Arthur than she had when the girls were babies and she gave him much more attention and love than she was giving Terra.

"Looks like we all have some competition." He commented, watching her ogle over their son.

"What's that supposed to mean?" She paused, looking over at him.

He shrugged, adorning a playful tone. "All he's had to do is be in the same room as you to get that look on your face. Some days, it takes me flowers and a meal to get you so gleeful."

She didn't find the comment as playful as his tone, "Well, that's certainly not true."

"Only teasing, dear." He added.

"It doesn't really sound like it." She muttered.

"Sorry." He apologized.

Arthur whined, wanting the attention back. River just shushed him softly. Arthur stopped complaining, going to observe the new room around him. River let him crawl along the floor to explore.

Toby strolled by the baby's side, helping him figure out his crawling. River watched the baby closely, obviously wanting to be near him.

"He's getting pretty good at crawling." The Doctor commented.

She hummed softly, "He'll be walking soon."

"We should get him one of those walker thingamajigs like you said."

"Yes, but I don't want to spoil him." She murmured.

"The girls were around this age when they started using that thing. We probably still have theirs somewhere."

"We could look for it later if you'd like."

"Sounds good." He murmured, watching as Arthur stumbled a bit and Toby nudged him back into balance.

Arthur looked up at the dog, giggling. Toby sniffed the top of his head, pushing him to move back towards his parents. Arthur wasn't very interested in going back towards River and the Doctor. He tried to wiggle in the direction of his sisters instead.

The dog kept sitting in front of him, annoyingly blocking his path. The boy looked up at the big animal, whimpered when he didn't get his way. Toby made a similar noise, pawing at the ground and again trying to get him to go the other way. Arthur started to wail, trying to hit the dog out of his way with his tiny fists. Toby blinked down at the small thing, not affected by the hits.

The Doctor came over and scooped Arthur up. "Now, now. What's the matter, lovie?"

"Siiaaass!" He cried, pointed to Amelia and Freya.

"Oh, that's all?" He smiled softly, carrying over to where the girls were.

"Yaya!" He beamed, pointing to Freya.

The girls climbed down from their perch at the noises of their brother. "That's my name!" Freya said excitedly.

"Ammeee!" He tried Amelia, this time, clapping his hands.

"I think someone wanted to see you." The Doctor informed them.

"Do you want to play spider monkey rescuers with us?" Amelia asked.

Arthur made a noise of approval, but the Doctor shook his head. "He's too little for climbing."

"Well… what if he's the baby spider monkey? Then he doesn't have to climb."

"What does the baby spider monkey get to do?" He asked.

"Well, the baby spider monkey is in danger because he got lost and stuck in a tree so he has to pretend to be stuck and Freya and I will come and save him since we're the spider monkey rescuers." She explained.

"Well..." He considered, glancing back at River.

"If Daddy can stay with him then he can play," River said from her spot.

"Alright, I guess he can play then." The Doctor nodded, turning back to them.

"Yay!" The girls cheered.

Toby padded back over to River, taking the Doctor's spot. River pat the dog's head, sighing softly.

Terra kicked. Mummm.

River swallowed, finally responding to the call, What is it, dear?

Little shimmering pieces of excitement bubbled up to River as it was the first non-hostile answer she'd gotten from her mother.

She cleared her throat, shifting slightly, Do you need something? She kept her tone gentle, despite her discomfort.

There was a moment of thought, though it was unclear weather it was to think of her answer or figure out what River was saying. Words. Terra finally replied.

What about them, my love? She asked

...Need ...More. Terra managed.

Don't worry, you'll get more. River thought, You're getting very good with your words.

The next emotion was mild frustration as Terra didn't feel like she had many at all, let alone good use with them. More.

In time, Terra.

Terra? She echoed back questioningly.

Yes, darling. That's your name. She watched the Doctor as she spoke with the little girl.

Name. She repeated, distracted by the thought of possessing one.

River let the girl think, falling silent. Arthur squealed in excitement from his place in the Doctor's arms as the girls 'rescued' him. River smiled, her heart warming at the sight.

"Maah!" He squirmed. She waved to the boy, blowing him a kiss.

The Doctor brought him back over to River. "I think he wants you to hold him for a bit."

"Oh, gladly." She smiled, nuzzling the baby's cheek.

"Guboo! Saiiissss, uhn!" Arthur babbled, trying to tell her about the game he'd got to play.

River laughed, "Yes! Yes, I know! I saw."

He giggled and settled into her arms. Big brother.

She kissed his forehead, "I don't think you've gotten to feel your sister move yet today." She murmured.

His eyes widened at the idea. Move?

"Yes, here, let's see if she'll move for us." She stretched out her legs, sitting Arthur down on them so he was facing her belly. She moved his hands so they were rested just where Terra's feet were.

Terra pushed back in surprise at the touch. Who?

That's your big brother, Arthur.

Brother. She repeated, not really knowing what it meant. Her mother seemed fine with the person, though, so it helped relax her.

River smiled at Arthur, "Can you feel her?" The boy made a gleeful noise in confirmation. She smiled, "You two will have so much fun together."

He looked up at his mum. When?

"Soon." She pressed a kiss to his forehead.

But how soon? He insisted.

"A couple of months."

He pouted, pushing a little on her middle. No, sooner.

"No, sweetie, you have to wait."

Why? He complained. Play.

"Because she's not big enough yet." She didn't like him pushing on her belly.

Make her bigger.

"I can't. She has to get bigger on her own."

He made some sort of snort which was meant to be a huff. How do we play?

"You'll only get to play with her after she's born." She clarified.

Oh. He wasn't too happy about that. River sighed, hoping he wouldn't get terribly upset, though she could tell he was already cranky from not getting enough sleep during his nap.

Terra nudged back against her brother, starting to figure out who he was. Arthur whimpered, looking back at the Doctor.

"What the matter, little man?" He looked down at Arthur.

"Baabaa siia!" He whined, pushing against his sister again, trying to express his discontent with the situation.

"Careful there." He sat down in front of the two, pulling Arthur a bit further away to he couldn't push that hard. "I know it's not fun to be patient, but your sister's got to grow big and strong before she can come out."

Arthur whimpered, trying to crawl back into the spot he had been in, not liking getting pulled away.

"Is he being gentle enough?" The Doctor asked.

"Of course, Doctor, he's only a baby." This was a lie, of course, but she would never deny her son.

"The girls were very destructive babies. Do you remember how many lamps they knocked over?" He teased, though didn't stop Arthur.

"What, are you afraid he's going to break me?" She teased back.

"You're not very breakable, love." He chuckled.

"That's for sure" She smiled, pulling him in for a kiss. Arthur squirmed between his parents as they tried to share a kiss over him. River pulled her husband closer.

"Nuh!" Arthur complained though the Doctor was very far from any complaint. River smiled against his lips, not paying their son's complaints much mind.

The Doctor finally pulled away when the boy's tiny hands found and yanked on his bow tie.

She smiled at him, "Well that was enjoyable while it lasted."

He raised an eyebrow at her, trying to extract his bow tie back from Arthur. "How about that fowl then? If I start now, it'll be ready by lunch."

"Alright, I'll be here with our children."

He gave her another quick kiss then stood and went to the kitchen.

"Shall we go play with your sisters?" River asked, standing with Arthur in her arms.

"Saais." He grinned his approval. She smiled, carding him back over to play with the girls. The girls dragged them into their game and they played with vigor until the Doctor called them for the meal.