The next few weeks were quiet for the Song family. River and the Doctor decided that they'd keep River's pregnancy a secret until Arthur's birthday, which was quickly approaching. It landed on the weekend before the girls got out of school and the little tot couldn't be more excited for the event. The week leading up, it was all he talked about, even to Toby.
On the morning of his birthday, the family was sleeping in.
River slept cozied up to her husband, her now small, but visible bump resting between them. Arthur had gotten himself out of bed the moment he woke and marched into his parents' room. He clambered up on their bed with the help of the dog began trying to wedge himself between his parents.
River stirred, looking down at the toddler trying to wriggle into the bed, "Good morning, my love." She laughed softly, "Happy birthday. "
"Birfday!" He cheered, managing to settle himself by nearly sitting on his father's face.
"Careful, my sweet." She murmured, "Daddy's sleeping."
"No anymore." The Doctor said groggily.
"Papa!" Arthur cheered, bouncing on the bed.
"Hey there, little man." He yawned and sat up. "What are you doing up?"
"Birfday."
"Oh, that's right." He grinned, pulling the boy into his lap. "Now how old are you turning... 648, right?"
The boy giggled, "No!" He held up three fingers, "Two!"
"What a big boy you are!" The Doctor laughed and pushed one of the boy's fingers down so he was holding up the proper number. River smiled softly, sitting up in the bed as well.
"Mia said cake," Arthur informed them.
"Oh, did she?" River asked, "Does that mean you want cake?"
"Yes!" He nodded eagerly.
She laughed, "We will tonight."
"Cake now." He pouted.
"Not now." She shook her head, "But Mummy and Daddy have a surprise for you."
He was easily distracted, getting excited again. "What?"
River looked up at the Doctor, "Ready to tell him?"
"You know he'll tell his sisters immediately?" The Doctor reminded.
"I know, but I want them all to know before we tell everyone else at the party later."
He looked at Arthur who was wiggling impatiently for the surprise. "Go ahead."
"Arthur, my love, you're going to get to be a big brother."
Arthur stared, wide-eyed. "Big brother?"
She nodded, "Yes, I'm going to have another baby."
He scooted closer to her and pointed at her belly. "Baby?" His sisters had told him as much as they knew about babies, which at the very least was where they grew.
She nodded, smoothing back her shirt so he could see the little bump. He pressed his palms flat against her skin and frowned. "I don't feel it."
"That's because it's still too small to move." She murmured.
"How will it move?" He asked.
"Well, it will get bigger and stronger." She explained, "And then it will move."
"Come out?"
"The baby will come out once they're big enough in a few months."
"Big brother." He repeated, then beamed and waved at her stomach. "Hi!" River gave her son a small smile. He looked up at River and without warning scrambled off the bed. "Mia! Freya!"
"No! Arthur!" River called, running to catch him.
He giggled, trying to make it to his sisters' room before her.
She managed to catch up to him, blocking his path, "Arthur..."
"I wanna tell them!" He insisted.
"No. I have to tell them." River shook her head, "But you can help if you want."
"Why can't I?" He questioned, reaching up to be held.
She scooped him up, "Because it's Mummy's news."
"I help." He insisted.
She nodded, "Yes, you can help."
He grinned. She gently pushed open the door to the girls' room. "Mia! Freya!" Arthur called in an attempt to wake them.
The girls grumbled, burying their faces into their pillows.
"Mia! Mumma has a surprise!"
'Surprise' seemed to perk the two up, "What kind of surprise?"
He put his hand over his mouth in order not to say the news before River could. River laughed, "Well, in a few months we're going to be getting an addition to our family."
"I'm a big brother!" Arthur burst out.
The seven-year-olds stared, uneasy.
"We're going to have another baby in our family in a few months, but I want you to know that everything is perfectly safe. All the tests the TARDIS has to offer have been run and nothing terrible will happen."
"But you said it was fine last time and then it wasn't." Freya fretted. "Something always happens."
"Girls, I can assure you that the last time was an extremely rare thing that won't happen again." She tried to assure.
"Are you sure? Will you tell us if anything happens?"
Arthur didn't understand why his sisters weren't as excited as he was.
"Of course." River nodded, going to hug them both, "You have nothing to worry about." They would worry anyways, but for now, they perked up and hugged their mother, informing her that they hoped for another brother.
River smiled, hoping that her daughters truly were happy.
The Doctor made muffins that morning upon Arthur's request, most of them chocolate chip. The family spent the day playing together, getting ready for Arthur's birthday party later that night.
Among their adult guests, there were a number of school friend additions to the party due to the girls. Even some of their alien friends came, though they were all explained to why they had to wear strong perception filters and translators.
River decided to tell Vastra her news first, pulling the Silurian aside in the middle of the party. Vastra was joyous for her friend and gave River a large hug.
River laughed, "We wanted you to be the first to know."
"I'm honored. It's really just wonderful for all of you. I'm surprised you haven't asked for the tea yet."
She nodded, "My morning sickness actually hasn't been too bad."
"Well, that is fortunate. I'm sure the children are delighted."
"Yes, they were a bit worried at first, but they're happy now."
"I'm glad. How far along are you?"
"Four months." She beamed. "We told the kids this morning."
"Are you happy about this, River?"
River nodded, her smile growing, "Very happy."
Vastra smiled back and gave a few more congratulations before suggesting they got back to the party. River nodded, going back to the party with her.
Arthur marched over to River when he saw her, insisting on being held. River was happy to hold her son, carrying him around as she talked to their friends.
Eventually, he started to ask for cake. A rather large cake had been made to feed all their guests.
Once it was brought out, the whole party sang to a delighted Arthur. The boy blew out his candles with exaggerated puffing before a swarm of the rest of children joined him in voicing their want for the biggest slice of cake.
River helped to dish out the cake, making sure each person got a piece. Arthur managed to get frosting all over his face and Toby was pleased to help clean off a few plates.
River and the Doctor had been planning on announcing their news at the party, though through all the festivities they had forgotten and guests were already starting to head home. Jack and Ianto did, however, manage to find out through the girls and confronted River about it some time after gifts were opened.
River was in the kitchen, back to him when he marched in. "Hello, Jack." River smiled, "Thank you for coming."
"I'm glad to be invited. When's the shower?" He asked.
"Shower?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Baby shower." He put a knowing arm around her shoulder. "For my newest little nephew, Jack Jr."
She laughed softly, "Oh, Jack Jr is it?"
"Or Jacqueline for a niece. So which is it?"
"We don't know yet." River smiled, "It's a surprise for now."
"And you still haven't said when the shower is."
"Well, I wasn't planning on having one, but if you want to throw one for me, be my guest."
He grinned. "Oh, I will. And congratulations River." He hugged her. "You're that much closer to your own football team."
She laughed weakly, hugging him back, "Don't remind me."
"Are you kidding? You'll never hear the end of it." He laughed.
"I'm sure I won't."
He moved to lean against the counter. "You aren't mad about the water guns, are you?"
"Well, I suppose you could do much worse, though I would have preferred something else."
"You're just ticked because you know you'll get soaked come summer."
"Don't you worry, I'll make sure you get soaked too." She smiled.
"Is that a threat or a promise?" He teased.
"A little bit of both." She laughed.
"Well, I look forwards to it. And let me know when you get a name picked out, alright?"
"Of course I will." She smiled, giving him another hug.
"We'll be heading out then. Take care of yourself."
"I will, we'll see you soon." She waved as they left.
Clara and Danny also found out the news from the girls, though they respectfully didn't mention anything when they departed the party. River said goodbye to all of their friends, not yet telling them about the new baby.
Soon enough the house was quiet and the Doctor and River were picking up wrapping paper from the floor. The girls and Arthur went up to change into their pajamas as their parents cleaned up. The cats and Toby batted around at the ribbons left lying around.
"That was lovely." The Doctor murmured.
"Yes, Arthur had lots of fun."
"Shame we didn't get to make our announcement, though."
"Well, it was Arthur's day, we can announce it at a different time." River reasoned, "Though I have a feeling the girls may have told a few people."
He chuckled. "I'm somehow not too surprised. Who'd they tell?"
"Well, I know they told Jack and Ianto, but I don't know if they told anyone else."
"Oh dear, Jack didn't insist that you name the baby after him, did he?"
"Well, he did call the baby Jack Jr." She laughed.
"Cheeky bloke." He groaned in annoyance. "I swear he says that every time. He ought to just have his own."
"I can't see Jack with his own baby." She smiled, walking over to him and pulling him close, "And the name Jack isn't a terrible suggestion."
"Not Jack." He murmured, placing his arms around her waist.
"Why not? It's starting to grow on me." She teased, nuzzling his collar.
"You know exactly why. Having 'uncle' as an honorific has already given that man an unnecessary ego boost. He really doesn't need any more."
"Well, what names do you have in mind then?"
"For a boy... um, Oliver?"
She hummed, "That's a nice one."
"Your turn." He said, moving them towards the couch.
"Aiden." She suggested.
"I like that." He agreed. "I'm pretty attached to Terra for a girl, after my mum."
Her smile faltered, "That was going to be my suggestion."
"...We've mentioned that before, haven't we?" She nodded. "You look... are you alright?"
"I don't know." She whispered.
"Riv?" He put an arm over her shoulder, very confused as to what he said wrong.
She leaned against him, "I'm sorry," She whispered, "I don't know what's wrong, it feels like I'm… missing something."
He wasn't sure what she meant but did his best to comfort her anyways. "We don't have to use Terra as a name if it makes you feel like that."
"No, I want to." She shook her head, "I love the name, it's probably just baby hormones."
He nodded his understanding and kissed the top of her head. "I love you."
"I love you too."
Arthur plodded down the stairs in his pajamas, Lulu under his arm. "Mummah?"
"Yes, my love?" River looked up, trying to smile.
"Bedtime stowy?" He asked.
"Of course." She got up, "Did you have a nice birthday?"
"Yes!" He nodded.
"Good, I'm glad."
"Again tomorrow?"
"I'm afraid not, my sweet."
"Why?" He pouted.
"Because birthdays only come once a year, that's what makes them special."
"Oh." He looked up at her. "Baby have a birthday?"
"Well, your birthday celebrates the day you were born, so since the baby hasn't been born yet, it won't have a birthday until then." She explained.
"When will it come out?"
"In a few months."
"How many is that?" He frowned.
"About four."
"That's forever!" He protested.
"I promise it's not forever." She laughed softly, kissing his forehead.
He reached his arms over his head. "Up?" She scooped him up, hugging him close. "Big brother." He hummed.
She smiled, "You're going to be a wonderful big brother." He leaned against her, content as a two-year-old could be.
River carried him up the stairs, humming softly. The Doctor followed, giving the boy a kiss and going to check on the girls. River put Arthur down to bed, reading a story and kissing him goodnight.
The Doctor met her in the hall. "I put the girls to bed."
"Arthur's asleep too." She murmured.
"All in a day's work." He chuckled. "What now?"
She shrugged, taking his hands, "What would you like to do, Mister Song?"
"We could resume our conversation." He suggested.
She nodded, "Where did we leave off again?"
"Baby names?"
"Right." She breathed, "Well since we both like Terra, is that our final decision?"
"If we have a girl, yes." He nodded.
"And what about a middle name, if it's a girl?"
"Well... I know what I said about Jack," He paused. "But what about Vastra? Today had me thinking a lot about all we went through when we had Arthur and what she did for us seems irreparable."
She stared at him, "...That's what I was going to suggest."
He blinked. "Am I the only one who thinks that's a bit odd? I mean it makes sense for us to think of the same first name, but middle name too..."
"It's strange, I agree." She murmured.
"Coincidences happen I suppose." He said, unable to think of any causation aside coincidence.
She nodded slowly, "Yes, I guess so."
"Great minds think alike." He offered a smile.
She smiled back, "I guess it's decided then. Terra Vastra Song for a girl, now we just need a name for a boy."
They went to their bedroom and discussed names some more, trailing into other baby related topics like nurseries. They talked long into the night, River eventually starting to fall asleep with her and the Doctor's hands resting on her small bump.
