It was twenty minutes before the Doctor returned with the orange cream popsicles and some take-out from one of River's favorite restaurants.
"You're back." She smiled tiredly.
"And you're falling asleep." He observed, putting the takeaway on her nightstand.
"I think you wore me out." She teased.
He blushed. "Does that mean I should stick these in the freezer for later?"
"No, I think I can manage to stay awake to eat." She smiled, reaching for one of the popsicles. "You know, I was thinking and maybe Terra and I will end up sharing a birthday."
"Really?" He helped himself to one, too. "Everyone's birthday seems to be around this time of year."
She hummed, "My due date is already very close to my birthday, and by the way things are feeling, it seems like we may be sharing a day."
"And would you mind that? Amelia and Freya pull it off quite well."
"Doctor, you know my birthday doesn't really matter. It's just another day."
"Maybe it doesn't matter to you as much as the girls' birthday matters to them, but it's still enough of an occasion to go out to a dinner or something nice like that. The girls love giving you cards and I'll find any excuse to give you gifts, so no. I disagree. It is important."
She smiled weakly, "I'm touched that you feel that way, but really, it won't matter if I have to share a day with Terra."
He nodded. "Alright. Besides, it's only a possibility."
"Yes, exactly." She murmured.
"So," He said, "are you only awake enough for a popsicle or are you up for the rest of your lunch, too?"
She laughed softly, "I suppose I could stay up for the rest of lunch."
He took the takeaway bag from the nightstand and started unloading the items in it.
"Mmm, this looks delicious." She murmured.
Arthur curiously crawled over, excitedly reaching for some of the food. River got a small bit for him to taste, handing it over to the boy.
"Keep him away from those ones." The Doctor pointed to a container full of reddish-looking balls of cooked dough. "Those are spicy."
She nodded, "I know."
They ate without much disturbance, the Doctor starting a ramble about a time he went to India and accidentally invented a few of their most well-known spice combinations.
Arthur nibbled off his parents' food, delighted when he tried the pastry bars.
River grew more and more tired as they ate, though she followed the Doctor's story with one of her own about when she infiltrated one of the top spy agencies in the galaxy and almost got killed.
Though Arthur didn't understand most of what she was saying, he was attentive to the tale. River left out the inappropriate bits, happy to see her son so interested.
Just then, they heard the phone ringing. "I'll get it." River murmured, getting up and grabbing the phone from the other room, "Hello?"
"River." It was Clara. "You've got to come get the girls right now."
"What's wrong?" Her hearts quickly started to pound, as she ran back to their bedroom with the phone.
"Well there's this new policy the schools have been trying out which basically requires the nurses to do a more extensive check on the students when they get hurt and Freya fell during recess and bumped her head so the nurse had to listen to her hearts and well... she's freaking out because she heard two beats instead of one." Clara tried to talk quickly. "Really, the woman is in complete panic. She's calling doctors and insisting Freya be taken to the hospital."
"We'll be there in a moment." River hung up without another word, "We have to get the girls."
River explained the story to the Doctor as she threw on more presentable clothes. They got on jackets and shoes, the Doctor throwing the papoose back on to carry Arthur.
River hesitated, "Perhaps you should get the girls and I'll stay here with Arthur." She knew everyone at the school liked the Doctor more than they liked her.
"River, you know Freya hates doctors. She'll need you." He urged, starting to set the destination into the controls.
"But they don't trust me. I'm afraid they won't listen to me."
"That's why I'll be there, too." He realized what she was worried about. "River you're her mother. You know her better than any of them so your word will hold the most weight."
She sighed, "Alright, let's go."
The TARDIS took off and quickly landed outside the school grounds. River was still hesitant to go out. He took her hand. "Together, yeah?" She nodded, taking his hand and heading out.
They went quickly inside and were directed to the nurse's office. Freya was there with Clara, hiding behind her legs from the nurse and a doctor she must have called in.
Clara was trying to stall, saying things that included 'parental consent', and 'delicate situation'.
River rushed immediately to hold Freya, wrapping her in her arms protectively. The medical personnel looked desperately at the parents.
"This is ridiculous!" Said the man who was called in as extra help. "This child could have a life-threatening condition and there aren't even any medical records to reference!"
"She's absolutely fine and I'll tell you right now you are not to touch my child." River held Freya tighter. Freya sniffled against River.
"With all respects, Miss, this is not to be taken lightly at all and I must insist I examine her and her sister."
"She and her sister are perfectly healthy and you cannot examine either of them without my permission."
"You probably heard wrong." The Doctor tried to add.
"I don't think you understand how serious this is." The nurse tried to reason.
"I'm aware of the condition." The Doctor countered, trying to look intimidating. "But neither of my daughters have shown any other signs signaling anything wrong. No chest pain, no fatigue, they're running around just like any other healthy child."
"Why did you listen to her heart when all she did was bump her head?" River glared at the woman, standing with Freya still pulled close to her.
"I acknowledge that none of you are comfortable, perhaps because we aren't your normal pediatrician, but if you don't go to a doctor instantly, then I'm afraid I'll have to call social services."
River glanced at the Doctor, looking rather terrified.
"I will not trust my children with people who don't know them. Fine, we'll go to our doctor and we'll even have him write up a report for you if it'll ease your consciousness." The Doctor was trying to put on a show of 'angry parent'.
River's tone was much less of an act. "I am appalled that you would examine my daughter without my consent. A bumped head does not at all constitute a full body examination. And then you had the audacity to call in another doctor without even informing me or my husband. I cannot believe you would put my family and me in such a stressful state." River truly was getting worked up, her face flushing.
The nurse and other doctor shrunk at her tone, "If you would just understand, miss, we're only looking out for her best interests."
River restrained herself from shouting anymore, her looks deadly enough.
"You acted irrationally." The Doctor huffed. "We don't want to hear whatever excuses you have. Will a report from our doctor satisfy your concern?"
"Yes, yes of course." Both the doctor and the nurse nodded, "We apologize for any additional stress this incident may have caused. Please, have a seat while we go fetch your other daughter." The nurse was watching River half scared, half concerned.
The Doctor nodded and went back over to River and Freya. River was trying to calm down and comfort her daughter, though she was shaking.
"River," He crouched next to them. "They aren't going to take them away." She shook her head, the whole incident haven shaken her up.
"I don't wanna go away!" Freya whimpered.
"You're not going away," River assured, holding her tighter.
"I'm not sick. Why do they think I'm sick?"
"I don't want you to worry about it, my sweet. Just put it out of your head." River whispered.
"Am I sick?" She looked up at her."
"No, you're not sick! They're just confused." She shook her head, getting upset all over again.
"I wanna go home." Freya sniffed.
"I know, so do I, but we have to wait for Amelia." She kissed her head.
Arthur wiggled from his spot in the papoose. "Yaya."
"Why don't you go say hello to your brother." River suggested, looking up at the Doctor, clearly still upset.
Freya scooted over to the boy while the Doctor tried to give River an assuring look. "This will all blow over in a few days. We'll get the right papers and sort this all out."
River pinched the bridge of her nose, stress lines forming across her forehead.
The nurse and doctor came back with Amelia, who looked very confused, but happy to see her parents.
"We're going to go home for the day." River explained to Amelia. The other two adults had nothing more to say. Amelia nodded and went to hold her mother's hand.
"I think I'm going to be sick." River murmured to her husband, taking Amelia's hand.
"There are loo's here if you don't think you can make it."
"I don't want to stay here any longer. I want to take my children home."
He nodded. "Let's go."
The family retreated back to the TARDIS, both River and Freya going to lay down and have some rest time.
"Sorry for pulling you out of school early, sweetheart." The Doctor murmured to Amelia.
"It's okay." She shrugged, "But why'd we hafta go?"
"It's... A bit of a long story. The nurse was confused because you and your sister have different hearts than the other children."
"Oh..." She sighed, plopping down on the couch.
"Don't worry." He tried to assure. "Mummy and I will sort it out." Amelia nodded, having faith in her parents. "How about I make you a snack while Mummy and your sister rest, hmm?"
"Why do they need to rest?" She frowned.
"Well... Mummy's just tired and Freya decided to nap with her too."
"Oh. Will you play with me, then?" She asked.
"If you don't mind your brother joining." He nodded.
"He can be the baby puppy and we can be the puppy trainers." She suggested.
"Sound fun." He murmured, letting her drag him off to play.
Amelia and Arthur giggled and played for the next few hours, having quite fun with their game. Freya eventually wandered in, wanting to join.
"Is Mummy still napping?" The Doctor asked Freya.
"I think so." Freya nodded.
"Are you feeling better?"
She nodded, "Kinda."
"Would some hot cocoa help?" He offered.
She nodded, "I think so."
"You two stay and play awhile. I'll make some for you." He left them to watch Arthur and went off the make the drink, coming back ten minutes later.
"Here you are, lovies. I'm going to see if Mummy wants any."
"Okay." The girls nodded, reaching for their drinks.
"Keep an eye on your brother." He instructed, taking the third cup to where River was sleeping.
River was snuggled up in the blankets, the lights off. "Riv?" He knocked softly, seeing if she was awake.
She hummed sleepily in response, only half awake. He entered the room and turned on a table side lamp. "Doctor..." She murmured.
He sat on the side of the bed and kissed her temple. "Hey."
"Hello." She whispered, looking up at him. "I made the girls hot chocolate and thought you'd want some." He offered the cup.
"Thank you, my love." She whispered though she put it to the side.
"How are you feeling?"
She smiled weakly, "I've felt better."
"Still worried?" He took her hand, tracing his thumb over the back.
"I don't know if I want them going back to school," River whispered.
"Not even if we erased that nurse's memories?" He asked.
She hesitated, "What if it happens again?"
"Well, the school year is almost over... We could start getting the girls to wear bio-dampeners." He suggested, knowing it would make them sound like they only had one heart.
"But won't that take away from their studies?"
"No, it won't. And to be fair, they're barely through their first year of school. Studies mostly include learning the names of shapes and plants and things."
River sighed, closing her eyes, not entirely pleased with the idea.
"Look, River. I'm not opposed to switching schools or doing homeschool. I just think that we should let them finish this year first and give ourselves more time to think about it and wind down from all this."
"I know, I understand." She sighed, "It's just...so hard."
"Which part?"
"All of it." She sniffed.
"I suppose it's hard to estimate what something will be like before you do it. Even if we knew sending the girls to school would be risky, we couldn't know it would feel like this."
She sighed quietly, burying her face into the pillows. He gave her hand a squeeze. "I'll call Jack later and get his help setting up false records."
"Okay." She whispered, squeezing back.
"Do you want your hot chocolate?" He asked softly.
"Not right now." She held his hand tightly, not wanting him to go.
"Is there anything you need that I can give you right now?" He wanted to be able to take all her worry away.
"A kiss?" She suggested.
He smiled softly, leaning down to her. She gently pressed her lips against his, smiling. He cupped her face with his free hand, stroking her skin. "A bit better, then?"
"A bit." She nodded, nuzzling his hand.
"The girls are playing pet shop owner with Arthur." He murmured.
"That sounds nice." She smiled, "How's Freya?"
"Still a bit shook."
"They shouldn't have done what they did." She whispered.
He nodded. "They were following policies, but I do agree."
She sighed, changing the subject, "Terra's new position is putting a lot of pressure on my back."
"How's she positioned now?"
"Her head is up near the ribs on my left and her feet are pushing into the right side of my back." She murmured.
"Back rub?" He offered.
"That would be nice, but I would appreciate it more if you could get her to move."
"Didn't work very well last time, but I'll try." He placed his hand over River middle, giving Terra a small nudge.
Terra kicked back but didn't budge. "Come on now, lovie. Move for your mum." He tried again. She ignored him again.
"Have you tried asking?" He asked River.
"Yes, and she won't listen."
He'd started absently tracing circles on her belly. "Try lying on your side. At the very least it'll take some pressure off."
She nodded, turning to be on her side, sighing softly. He reached his hand around, rubbing her lower back.
"Doctor." She breathed.
"Hmm?"
"Thank you...That feels wonderful."
He smiled softly. "My pleasure."
She hummed and sighed happily as he massaged her back, relaxing once he was finished.
At that point, the girls ran in excitedly. "Mummy, Mummy look! Mia's got a loose tooth!"
"A loose tooth?" River sat up slightly.
Amelia crawled up on the bed as the Doctor looked between them. "Where's your brother?"
River went wide-eyed and didn't wait for their answer, jumping up and running to find Arthur. Arthur was still in the same room, crawling around with Toby following him.
River scooped him up, kissing his cheek and holding him close.
"Mummah!" He said excitedly.
"Hello!" She smiled, kissing him again.
"Puppy!" He pointed.
"Yes, was he being a good puppy?" She asked, reaching down to pet Toby.
The boy nodded and Toby barked in affirmation. River smiled, "Shall we go upstairs with the rest of our family?"
"Da!"
She carried him back to her bedroom.
