Exactly three months and two days after the Doctor left River in Leadworth, the curly haired woman was packing up her things. Amy and Rory had spared no expense to get their daughter a proper wardrobe. Several suitcases were crowded around her and she was almost finished when Amy walked into the living room.
"Melody, what..." She drifted off, watching her daughter zip up the last bag.
River smiled at her mother. Though she did prefer the name River Song now, Amy insisted on calling her Melody. Rory did call her River, though Amy did not approve. "Just packing up, that's all. He's coming tonight."
"How do you know?" Amy asked. River reached into her pocket and pulled out his psychic paper. She showed it to Amy. On it was scribbled the date in the Doctor's handwriting. Amy raised an eyebrow. "How did you get his psychic paper?"
"I took it," she said. "That kiss on the cheek wasn't just for show." Amy laughed.
Rory walked into the room a few minutes later, just as Amy was discussing with River what they should eat for dinner. Vincent was crawling now and his father was following him carefully around the house so that he didn't break anything or injure himself. The boy took a brief look around the room, then made a beeline for River, who laughed and picked him up. He had become very attached to her over the last three months, likely because she could speak baby. She would miss him when she left.
After dinner, River made a point to spend some time with her brother. She was certain that she would be back for visits, but she didn't know when those visits would be. The Doctor was never good with time, as she well knew.
Amy and Rory were sitting on the couch together when they heard the noise. The familiar whirr and wheeze of the TARDIS's engine filled the house and they quickly walked through their home, trying to find its source. Finally, they found her parked in the backyard, sitting directly on top of-
"My roses!" Amy shrieked, as River brought Vincent to the door to see the TARDIS. "He landed on my roses!"
"Oh shut up," the Doctor replied, stepping from the box with a grin and outstretched arms. "Hello, Ponds!"
"Vincent Williams sounds better than Vincent Pond," River pointed out, ballroom dancing around the garden with her brother, who was giggling the entire time. She stopped next to the Doctor and the Time Lord grinned.
"I wore a special bowtie just for you, Vincent!" The Doctor said proudly. The baby gurgled and he frowned. "What's wrong with blue?"
"Can I show him the TARDIS?" River asked excitedly. "I've been telling him all about her."
"Oh... Why not, go ahead," the Doctor stood away from the time machine and let the siblings have at it. River smiled brightly as Vincent took in the sight for the first time, dragging him through as many halls and rooms as he could stand.
Outside, the Doctor stood with Amy and Rory. "She's been good, I hope?"
The couple laughed. "Yes, Doctor. She's been wonderful. Unlike you, Mr. Flower-killer."
The Doctor scratched his head. "I'll bring back futuristic mulch," he promised Amy.
"You have to bring her back to visit sometime, you know," Rory chastised, watching his children finally exit the TARDIS.
"I will," the Time Lord responded. "I don't think she would let me keep her away from you all."
"He likes the library the best. I was surprised," River said, bringing Vincent over to the group. "I think we have a little scholar on our hands."
"That's brilliant!" The Doctor declared. "Once you're old enough, you can come with your sister and I and-"
"No!" Amy and Rory said in unison.
The Doctor and River both frowned. "Why not?"
"You already took one, you aren't taking the other!" Amy said in a huff. She took Vincent back from River, who continued to frown.
"Well..." The Doctor said, looking between parents and child. "We'll see, how about that? Maybe he won't want to come with us, eh?"
Vincent immediately responded with a squeal. River and the Doctor both raised an eyebrow at him. "Well then..."
"What did he say?" Rory asked, looking at his son curiously.
"Oh look, it's getting late! We'd better be off, River!"
"Yes, absolutely definitely," she replied. "Let me get my bags." She started off for the house.
"Doctor, what did he say?" Amy pressed the Time Lord, but he didn't reply. Instead, he put his fingers in his ears and started yelling 'LA LA LA LA LA' at the top of his lungs, running into the house to help River move her things. "Doctor!"
The two quickly gathered River's suitcases and escaped out the front door, just as Amy and Rory stormed through the back. The two escape artists quickly loaded River's many bags, to the Doctor's dismay, into the TARDIS. Amy and Rory came into view once more, the former still carrying Vincent. They watched the Doctor run excitedly into his time machine and waved goodbye to their daughter.
"Goodbye, Melody! We love you!"
"You too, Mum. We'll be back! ...Eventually!"
River shut the TARDIS door and bounded up the steps, eyes sparking with anticipation at the adventures that were bound to come their way.
The Doctor smiled at her enthusiasm. "Where to first, Miss Song?"
"I don't know," she replied thoughtfully. "Surprise me."
He grinned and set the TARDIS off into the time vortex. "One surprise, coming up!"
THE END
Yay, it's all done! I wanted to thank everyone for reading this story, especially those who took the time to review it. It makes me very happy. :)
If you enjoy my writing, stay tuned to this channel. I have plenty more multi-chapter stories in the works, as well as over a dozen one-shots that still need to be written. Thanks again!
