The comforting sound of the TARDIS filled River's ears. Her eyes fluttered open and she took in her surroundings. Was she dead? Or had the plan worked?

"Awake?" her father asked, coming out from the other side of the console.

"Yeah." she said groggily, sitting up on her elbows. "Did it work?"

A grin climbed her father's cheeks and relief filled her.

"Have you got the neuro-relay all set up?" she checked.

"Ages ago. She's safe and sound. How are you feeling?" Rory asked.

"To be honest? Like a pregnant woman who's been running for my life." she replied cheekily, "So when are you off?"

"As soon as I know you're safe."

She smiled and sat the rest of the way up, wincing as a series of punches and kicks attacked her inside.

"Where's- Where's the Doctor?" she asked, not knowing if she was fully ready to confront him yet.

"Still brooding at the house where we left him, I imagine." Rory laughed.

River took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"I suppose I'd better go get him before he breaks something." she said with a roll of the eyes.

"You're probably right..."

They landed in the yard and Rory took her into his arms in a tight, fatherly embrace.

"Always remember you're a Pond. We'll be with you wherever you end up and wherever we end up. Stay safe."

"My best to mum. I love you both forever."

He smiled and punched a few buttons on the vortex manipulator.

"And dad..."

Rory looked up at her, melting at the tears in her eyes.

"Thank you."

A click of the vortex manipulator and he was gone.

The Doctor was sitting in the rocking chair, River's pillow clasped in his arms. He had decided he would keep it. So he could remember her smell and the way he would wake up to it after a night of adventuring.

A sound reached his ears. He did not want to hear that sound yet.

Grudgingly he stood and stormed down the stairs, ready to give the Ponds a proper telling off for stealing the TARDIS and trying to mess with time.

As he swung open the back door, he saw his beloved box, doors still closed, waiting patiently for him on the lawn.

He stopped and crossed his arms, fixing his face with a stern look, waiting for his best friends to come out and face him.

But when the doors finally opened, his knees went weak the instant his eyes took in the figure stepping out.

She was still wearing that ridiculous white suit with hair pulled back. She was so beautiful.

His eyes met hers and he stumbled forward, sobbing like he'd never done before. Tears were making her eyes sparkle and she began to run towards him, longing to have his arms around her again.

Their lips crashed together as they met in the middle of the lawn. His hands were in her hair in an instant, and her hands found his braces, carefully gaging the distance between her stomach and his. The two clung to each other for an eternity, only their sobs broke them apart.

The Doctor let his hands move to her waist, pulling her in closer, longing to feel her body against his. Just before they touched, she pulled her lips back, breathing heavily, but no longer broken with sobs. Pushing him away, he saw her face change from pure joy to - fear? She broke free of him and ran into the house, not looking back.

His forehead wrinkled in a look of surprise and worry. Something was wrong.

River had gone up to her room and shut the door, pressing her back against it and sinking to the floor, letting fresh tears fall. She wasn't exactly sure why she'd run. She'd just panicked. Thoughts overtook her mind. All her emotions were exploding simultaneously.

How could she be so happy and so sad and so scared all at the same time?

She didn't remember much after the TARDIS switched her and Amy's places until she had woken up in the console room. Her father had, no doubt, rushed right out to upload her mother's memories to CAL's data core before bringing her back here. And now she knew he had likely already been uploaded as well. Ready to be with her mother forever in any world they could ever dream up.

It pained her conscious to think of what they'd given up. They had lives here and now they could never come back, they had to start over, and she'd likely never see them again. Could she really tell the Doctor what they'd done? Or, more importantly, why they'd done it? She came to the conclusion there wasn't really a choice. It all had to come out.

A timid knock sounded on the door.

"River?"

She took in one final breath before standing and turning the knob.

He was standing in the doorway, looking hesitant. Her hand wiped the tears from her face and she put on a smile for him.

"Hello, sweetie." she said, letting the oh so familiar words hang in the air.

A corner of his mouth twitched upward. Oh how he had missed that phrase.

"I-I thought I was never going to see you again, River. You- You died." His words were thick with emotion. "But you're here now. If there's something-"

"Mum and dad are gone." she blurted out suddenly, mentally forcing her feelings to become numb.

The Doctor gaped at her, not sure what to think yet.

"Wh-What?" he stuttered.

"They said the TARDIS helped them come up with a plan or something...I- I don't know. It all happened so fast. She switched our places at the last second before I- when you looked away. Mum's been uploaded to the data core, not me. Dad-he brought me back here before he went back to live in the computer as well..." She trailed off, not sure what else to say. She remained silent, letting her words sink in.

Tears began to form in his eyes as he took in her words.

"But they - - I don't understand." he said finally.

Of course he didn't. He was missing the most important piece of the puzzle. She fought back fresh tears and looked down. Her suit really did hide it well...Too well, damn it.

The Doctor thought his words had somehow brought emotion to the surface. He held out his arms for her and she allowed him to hold her, carefully crossing her arms first to keep a barrier between them.

He could feel how tense she was and he pulled back. "What's wrong?"

"There's something else." she replied, pulling away and pretending to look out the window.

"Something else? Wait-Before this 'something else'...I'd like to know why the hell Amy and Rory would do that. It's completely asinine and I-"

"That's just the point. The something else is exactly why they did it."

"I still don't-"

They did it for us." she interrupted. It was barely a whisper, but it got his attention quickly.

"For -"

"So we could be together." River choked, turning back to him, tears returning to her eyes.

How could she tell him? She knew it needed to be said, and soon. He was coming towards her again. Everything was in slow motion. His love for her was practically pouring out of him as his arms reached around her, willing her to let him hold her close.

She broke.

Her arms wrapped around his waist and she hugged him tight, not even caring when she felt his body go rigid.

"River what..."

"Don't." she whispered, turning her head to press her face into his chest. "Don't you ever let go."

The Doctor went silent, still tense and confused, she was sure, but his arms stayed where they were until she finally relaxed.

River squeezed her eyes shut and took a few steadying breaths.

She looked up at him and nearly started laughing at the look on his face. His eyes were bright and there was the hint of a grin.

"Wait, Doctor, before you-"

"You're pregnant?!" he exploded. "River why didn't you tell me?! I could have helped! I-Oh my God. The Library-I was such an idiot. And you were pregnant! You were pregnant?! Why would you-"

River rolled her eyes and sat down in the rocking chair, gently rocking back and forth as she listened to him with her eyes firmly shut. She quickly grew endlessly annoyed as he went on and on.

"Do you realize you could have been killed? You should be taking things easy and -" he stopped as he saw her shift uncomfortably, accompanied by a wince. Her hand pressed into her right side. He was kneeling next to her in a flash.

"Are you alright?" he asked, worried something bad had happened.

"Do you ever shut up? I mean really, sweetie. Have you ever listened to yourself?" she asked as she moved to a less painful position in the chair, eyes still shut tight.

Peaking at his blank face, she sighed. "I'm fine, darling. Can we just...not talk about things we can't change? Yes, I went to the Library. Yes, it was dangerous. But I didn't know it would be when I left. Now, I'd like to be able to move on, if it's all the same to you."

She shut her eyes again, leaning her head back. The Doctor grabbed her hand and kissed each finger.

"I'm sorry, River. You are the best. You are smart, and beautiful, and i can't imagine having to live without you, which is ironic since that's all I've been-"

"Sweetie..."

"Oh, right."

"That's better. Where were we?"

He grinned.

"Hmmm...That's a good question." he teased, determined to save the scolding for later. He had her back. She was alive. "Oh, what was it...Ah, yes. I remember. You're pregnant!"

His grin was contageous and she let out a laugh that made his hearts race.

"I can't believe it! It's so- It's absolutely brilliant! But how-"

River stood as she began to talk. She was sick of the suit. It was definitely time to change.

"The TARDIS, that's how." she said, setting her boots in the closet and slipping off the neck ring and belt. "Sweetie, would you get the zipper?"

He obliged, asking, "The TARDIS?"

"Yes, darling. That trick she played on us a few months back. Well...I suppose it's been longer for you?" she slipped her arms out of the sleeves and let the top half of the suit and hang on her hips as she pulled the elastic out of her hair and shook it down, running both hands through it, sighing for relief.

As she turned back to him she stopped.

"Sweetie?"

He was staring at her with a ridiculous open mouthed grin.

"River you're-" he stepped forward and knelt in front of her, his fingers running up under the lining of the fabric on her purple tank top in wonder.

She laughed a little and said, "Yes, my love. Of course I am. That's generally what happens when-"

"You're pregnant." they said simultaneously.

Her smile faded a little as he stood again and brushed her cheek with the back of his hand.

"You are beautiful."

River grinned and kissed is cheek before turning again to finish changing.

As she pulled the suit off and folded it, something caught her eye and she froze.

"What's the matter?"

Her breathing became rapid as she turned to face him.

It couldn't be...

River raised her left wrist for him to see.

"It's- Doctor it's still there."

Still wrapping nearly half of her forearm, and darker thank ever, was the Lazimi.