[A/N: Later today I will be posting the first chapter to a third story in this series. It's basically a prequel to the whole scheme River did to get the Crown so keep an eye out for that in my works.]

Ch 41

The ship made a thud to indicate the flight was over. River stood, going to the doors to see what the TARDIS wanted this time.

She was in a bedroom, not one she'd been in before, though. She didn't know where or when she was, slowly stepping out of the doorframe.

"Who are you?" The voice came from her left and somewhere lower than her waist. "Are you a fairy godmother?" River froze, looking down to where the voice had come from. There was a little girl looking up at her, features unfamiliar. "You don't look like a fairy godmother."

River looked at her, having no idea who she was. She turned to go back into the TARDIS, not bothering to answer her.

The girl ran forwards grabbing hold of the bottom of River's dress. "Hey! You can't go!"

"I can too go!" River tried to pry her dress out of the girl's hands, 'Let go of me."

She stubbornly clung. "But you look like grandma's picture! You have to be a ghost or a fairy or something because you died."

River stopped, staring at her, "I have to go." She tried harder to get away.

"You're a ghost. If you were busy in heaven then why did you come down? Grandma, please?" The girl pouted.

River managed to pull her dress away, going inside the TARDIS and locking the door. "What the hell are you doing? You know you can't do things like that!" She growled at the machine.

"Grandma!" The girl banged on the door.

The TARDIS made a noise of disagreement.

"Please, grandma? You have to tell me about uncle William! Daddy doesn't have any paintings of him."

River sunk down to the floor, not wanting to fight anymore. She was so emotionally exhausted, she just wanted it all to be over.

"I'm getting him. No leaving, okay?"

"Please, stop," River whispered to the TARDIS.

The TARDIS was silent and soon the knocking resumed, though it was softer.

"River?"

This was Henry's voice, though much older.

River turned in surprise. Up until now, she thought the little girl had been Arthur's, she hadn't realized that it wasn't actually her granddaughter at all. She slowly opened the door, looking out at him.

Henry, now taller than River, looked back at her with a smile and the little girl on his hip.

"See, I told you, Daddy."

River opened the door a bit further, looking up at the man who, in her timeline, had only been a boy a few days before.

"I'm sorry if River alarmed you. I know you haven't met her yet." He said to the woman.

"You named her River?" River whispered, looking back at the little girl.

"River Willa Bartholomew." He confirmed.

"She's lovely." River gave him a small, half-hearted smile.

"I've told her lot about you, I just didn't think you'd ever visit her."

She nodded slowly, "Is...is your father still alive?"

Henry shook his head. "No, he died when I was twenty. But he did get better like you said." He offered a smile, looking her over before pausing at the sight of her middle.

"I'm glad to hear that I was right. I should really get going now." She murmured, starting to shut the door.

"Must you go?" His look saddened, momentarily distracted.

"Yes, sorry." She said quickly, "I'll come back soon."

He smiled. "I'm glad to hear that."

"Bye bye, grandma!" The younger of the Rivers waved.

"Goodbye." The older one whispered, shutting the door and going to the console, "Take. Me. Home." The TARDIS took off once more, for once listening and going to the flat. "No!" She sighed, "To Vastra's."

The ship made a noise that could easily have been hesitance.

"Go!"

It took a long moment before the TARDIS decided to listen and take her there.

River was angry with the ship, storming out when they landed and going to find the Doctor. He was in the kitchen, trying to disassemble a light fixture. "Come on, let's go home." River hissed.

He looked over at her quite confused. "Oh... alright." She turned and walked back to the TARDIS, hitting in the coordinates of their flat.

He sat and twiddled his thumbs awkwardly as they went home, really unsure of what was going on and half expecting to be yelled at or kicked out. River didn't say anything, brushing past him and out the doors once they got home.

Toby was sitting outside the box, having a habit of running to it when he heard the wheezing sound. River ignored him, walking right past him and into her bedroom.

The Doctor slunk out of the TARDIS, going to check on the girls instead of bothering River. He didn't think she wanted to be bothered by him.

The girls were still fast asleep as well as Arthur.

He smiled weakly at them as he checked on each, seeing them sleeping making him realize that it was night now and that he hadn't had decent sleep in a long time. He doubted tonight would be different, but regardless, settled onto the couch for that.

There was a shattering sound from their bedroom, followed by Arthur crying. The door to their room opened as River went to get the baby. The Doctor jumped at both noises and rushed to tend to his son, not having realized River had gotten up to get Arthur, too.

River scooped the baby up out of his crib, trying to soothe his crying by rubbing his back and rocking him back and forth.

"Muuuumuaaa!" Arthur wailed, clinging desperately to her.

"Shhhh, shhhh. Okay. I know, I'm here. It's alright, Mumma's here." She soothed, kissing his temple. He hadn't seen her in a long while and he didn't know where she'd gone, not old enough to understand the Doctor's excuse of 'an archaeology thing'.

River nuzzled his cheek, having missed him terribly. "I'm here." She whispered. Arthur very gradually began to calm, reducing to normal sized sobs instead of wails.

The Doctor had stopped in the doorway, realizing River had it covered, instead going to their room to see what had been smashed. River had thrown a picture of her and the Doctor from one of their weddings that had been on her bedside table at the mirror. Both the picture and the mirror had shattered.

The Doctor stared at the bits of broken glass, stomach so tight that he felt sick. River cleared her throat from the doorway, still holding a whimpering Arthur. He turned back to look at her, eyes welled up.

She wasn't looking at him, eyes fixed on the ground, "I'd like to go to bed now, so if you wouldn't mind...going..." She cleared her throat again, "I think we should sleep separately tonight."

He didn't say anything, quickly going past her and back downstairs. River closed the door quietly behind him, crawling into bed with Arthur and trying to fall asleep.

She ended up just staring at the wall, the ache in her chest to painful to let her drift off. Arthur fell asleep on her chest, snoring softly with a bit of River's top still clutched in his tiny hand.

River nuzzled the top of his head, stroking the baby hairs. "I'm sorry." She whispered, "I'm sorry I've made a mess of our family. I'm sorry for pushing your Daddy away from me. I'm sorry for losing your brother. I'm sorry for hurting your sister to the point where she'll never be able to hear. I'm sorry for being afraid. I'm sorry I don't know how to be a good mummy for you."

He gurgled in his sleep, wiggling his nose for a moment before relaxing. She gently stroked the bridge of his nose, kissing the top of his head.

Terra hadn't been very active since she'd gotten yelled at, mentally or physically. River didn't seem too concerned about Terra, holding Arthur close until she fell asleep.

The cats stole her company in the night, all three cuddling up in little buns around her warmth.

In the morning, Arthur accidentally woke himself by rolling off River's chest. "Muumaaa!"

River jumped awake, instantly looking around to see what was wrong. Arthur had landed with his face awkwardly squashed between a cat and River's arm. He cried out in for her help, clearly very upset to wake like this.

"Ohh, sweetie." She smiled weakly, gently lifting him up to rest against her chest once more. He whimpered, curling into her for protection.

Samantha, who he had landed on, perked her head up to look at what had disturbed her, sniffing curiously in the baby's direction.

River stroked Arthur's back comfortingly, "It's alright. You're alright."

Samantha rose, stretched, and tried to resettle on River's legs against her belly.

Terra kicked aggressively towards the cat. Samantha looked down, growling at River's belly. Arthur whimpered again, afraid by the noise.

"Shhh." River murmured, nuzzling his temple. Terra kicked again at Samantha, then at her brother.

"Are you hungry?" River asked Arthur, running her finger down his cheek.

He squirmed at the feeling, giving a confirming "Ngah."

"Do you want big boy food or Mummy food?" She asked.

"Bii!" He told her.

"Alright, come on you." She murmured, getting out of bed.

Samantha was eager to follow, the other cats waking and joining as they all decided it was time for breakfast as well.

River led them all down the stairs, putting Arthur in his high chair, then feeding the cats. Arthur whined impatiently.

"Alright, I'm getting it." She murmured, finishing with the cats, then going to feed Arthur.

He tried to grab the spoon, wanting to try and do it himself. She let him take it, watching him closely. He crammed an overly full spoon of mashed banana in his mouth, making a delighted hum. River smiled, kissing the top of his head.

"Abaah!" He tried to say something around his mouthful.

"You can't speak until you finish eating." River laughed.

"B-burh." He grumbled and made an effort to swallow. "Bapa."

She stroked his hair, "Hmm?"

"Babb sah!" He frowned at her lack of understanding, pointing to her middle.

"What about her?"

He made a grabbing motion and pouted. She stood, moving closer so he could feel her belly. He put his hands against her, eagerly expecting to feel his sister.

"I think she's sleeping, my love."

"Noo!" He said in demand to feel a kick.

"Arthur, please." River sighed, "She's not moving right now."

He was about to make another noise of protest when he burped and distracted himself by doing so. He reached back for the spoon and continued digging in his jar. She sat back down, massaging her temples.

Mr Thomas and Samantha slunk out of the room and Tiber jumped on the table, looking for River's attention. Footsteps started from the stairs.

River wasn't paying attention to any of it, sitting with her eyes closed.

Tiber made a soft mule as little feet made their way into the kitchen and hands tugged on River's nightie.

River opened her eyes, looking down at the girls, "Good morning."

They looked up at her with wide eyes. "When did you come home?"

"Last night while you two were sleeping." She smiled weakly.

"You didn't wake us up." Freya frowned.

"It was very late, I didn't want to disturb you." She murmured.

"You missed Mummy's day," Amelia said quietly.

She closed her eyes again, not wanting her daughters to be against her too, 'I'm so sorry, girls."

"There was a thing at school that all the mummies went to... Did you read the cards?"

"No, I didn't get a chance." She felt like she had left them down, growing more and more upset with herself.

"...Are you going to go away again?" Amelia asked timidly.

River sighed, "I don't know..."

Freya immediately clung to her leg. "But you can't go again! You didn't even say bye and Daddy said it was work but you always say bye and that was a really long time and you can't go again!"

River wrapped her arms around Freya, "I promise, if I have to go again I'll say goodbye this time."

She clung to River, trying very hard not to cry. "Mummy, where did you go?"

She debated on telling her girls the truth, pressing her cheek against the top of Freya's head. Amelia tugged on River's dress quietly, wanting a hug, too. River pulled her into their hug, trying not to cry herself as she imagined their reaction to her telling them about her and the Doctor.

Terra shifted uncomfortably between their weight. River ignored the movement, as usual, holding the girls tighter.

"Will you be here for Arthur's birthday?" Amelia sniffled.

"Of course, I'll be here for that." She murmured.

"Are you taking us to school today?" The other girl asked.

"Of course, I will." River nodded.

"Are we going to be late?" Freya looked at the clock, noting that they usually got up earlier.

"I'll take you in the TARDIS." River murmured, "You should have breakfast."

She rubbed her eye. "Will you make us your special pancakes?"

"If that's what you want." She nodded, getting up and starting to get the ingredients together. The girls found seats at the table, petting Tiber.

River made the pancakes, setting them on the table and dishing them out to the girls. They ate somewhat hesitantly, still unsettled by River being gone. River sighed, helping them get ready for school and then flew them off in the TARDIS so they would be on time.

She returned to the flat, going to clean up breakfast. Toby was sprawled across the couch where the Doctor would have been. Tiber was under foot again.

River nearly tripped over the cat several times as she washed the dishes and placed them in their rightful spots. Tiber mewed up at her, trying to jump onto the counter. She sighed, petting his head. Arthur whined, not wanting to share River's attention.

River carried Arthur back to her room, wanting to lay down and take another nap with him. The picture and mirror had been cleaned up, most of the other framed photos moved somewhere other than that room.

River glanced around, surprised to see all of the pictures gone. Arthur grabbed one of her curls, pulling excitedly. "Alright, alright." River sat on the bed with him, letting him crawl around.

He and Tiber explored the bed, investigating pillows and creases in the blankets. River smiled as she watched them, eventually pulling the baby into her arms and under the blankets for a nap.

Arthur squirmed, wanting to move more.

"No, we're napping now." River tried to get him to fall asleep.

"Rah." He insisted, kicking his legs.

She sighed, "Alright, fine, no nap." She stood, carrying him out of the room, going to find the Doctor.