River was lying in bed trying desperately not to cry. The pain in her abdomen was increasing at an alarming rate and she didn't know if she could survive losing this baby too.

After what seemed like hours, but was in reality only a few minutes Amy and Rory both appeared in her room along with The Doctor. "River what hurts?" Rory asked, immediately taking charge of the situation.

"It's something with the baby…" River said through gritted teeth while she held The Doctor's hands tightly between hers. She moaned as the pain continued to increase.

"River I have to examine you to see what's going on." Rory said apologetically. "Let me wash my hands." He said quickly before excusing himself to the washroom.

Amy glanced uncomfortably around the room, looking for something she could do to help. Eventually her eyes fell on the large volume A History of The Time Lords that was lying open on the dresser. She walked over to it and began to scan the text curiously.

Rory came back into the room and The Doctor helped him position River so he could examine her more easily.

Amy tried to ignore the painful sounds coming from behind her as she focused in more on the text in front of her.

Month Three:

It is not unlikely for a Time Lady to experience extreme amounts of nausea and fatigue during this time in her pregnancy. It is important for her to remain well hydrated and well rested. The Time Lady is likely to start noticing changes in her body externally as her body prepares for the rest of her pregnancy. It is important to remember…

Amy looked up immediately before doing some mental calculations. Her best guess was that River was about four months along so she quickly turned forward several pages until she found the 'Month Four' heading. She skimmed the pages looking for something helpful until she found an asterisk referring her to a section entitled, 'The Growth and Preparation of a Time Lord'. Amy flipped forward to the page referenced and found the place on the page that it cross-referenced. She began to read again.

A fetal Time Lord will begin to develop its second heart during the fourth or fifth month of gestation. Once the heart has fully developed the fetus will have the ability to regenerate, thusly drastically increasing the stability of the fetus for the remainder of the pregnancy. It is suggested that excepting Time Ladies take the necessary precautions prior to this portion of fetal growth as it is often very uncomfortable, and can be incredibly painful to a mother without a large supply of regeneration energy left in her…

Amy yelped, "Rory, Doctor!" immediately before grabbing the book and taking it to The Doctor. He read the page quickly before closing his eyes and letting out a breath he didn't know he had been holding in. Rory also read the page, taking his time to digest all of the information it contained.

"Thank you Amy." Rory said as he quickly pressed his lips against hers.

"I'll go keep the party guests from questioning anything." She said before quickly leaving to make sure no one came to check on the four of them.

"I don't have the typical medication that would be given to lessen the symptoms." The Doctor informed Rory, sounding relieved.

River groaned again, visibly in pain. "What the hell is wrong with me?" She asked angrily as she grabbed onto the blankets as the pain continued to increase, now giving her no time to recover between waves of pain.

The Doctor immediately moved over and kissed her gently on the forehead. "Everything's fine River. The baby's developing its second heart. This means that the baby is perfectly healthy and developing normally."

River nodded as she tightened her shut eyes trying to block out the pain. "Why does it hurt this much?" She moaned, breathing heavily.

"Because you don't have a storage of regeneration energy." The Doctor admitted quietly. "Usually when a Time Lord is experiencing natural pain regeneration energy is used to block out the sensation."

River nodded again. "How long?" She asked him, her lips turning white from the pressure she was putting on them.

"Based on what I remember from my past children you're almost there." He said quietly. "River… I don't want to without your consent… but… If I gave you some…"

"No!" River hissed immediately. "You are not wasting your regeneration energy on me." She told him firmly.

"River please." The Doctor begged quietly.

River shook her head. "Doctor." She said immediately, her eyes showing how desperate she was. "I can handle pain. As long as our baby's fine."

The Doctor nodded quietly as he took River's hand in his. "I'm sorry." He apologized after several moments.

"I'm not." River said softly. She gripped his hand tightly, but she didn't seem scared anymore.

Rory had been reading more in the book about possible things to help River and he finally spoke up. "I don't think there's anything we can do River." He informed them apologetically.

River nodded as she clutched desperately to her husband's hands, trying to get as much support from him as she could. She was about to speak when she suddenly bit her lip to prevent from screaming, and drew blood.

"River." The Doctor said, sounding very concerned. River had started shaking and looked like she was going to vomit. "River what can I do?"

"You can shut your bloody mouth." River replied angrily as she tried to sit up to relieve some of the pain that was now flaming in her abdomen. The pain seemed to intensify quickly and to the point where River was cursing in every language she knew just to try to keep from screaming. Suddenly there was a huge sense of relief as she fell back onto The Doctor's lap. She was breathing heavily, but the color was returning to her face.

The Doctor couldn't help but smile. "That's a time baby." He said teasingly as he placed his hand on River's abdomen.

"Oh shut up." River replied tiredly. "So that's it?" She asked him tiredly.

"Until you actually give birth." The Doctor replied before gently pressing his lips into her hair.

River rolled her eyes. "Thanks for the head's up." She said before adjusting herself so that she was comfortable enough to try to get some sleep.

"I'm going to go help Amy out." Rory said before kissing River on the forehead. "Get some rest River."

River smiled, but didn't open her eyes to watch her father leave the room.

The Doctor watched River as she began to fall asleep, her breaths evening out and her muscles relaxing into his lap. As soon as he was sure she was asleep he put his hand gently on River's abdomen and began to move his fingertips in soothing circles, smiling each time he felt their child move.

The Doctor felt himself becoming drowsy so he took of his jacket so he could sleep more comfortably. He moved slowly as not to wake River. Once his jacket was on the floor he settled comfortably into the pillows behind him and relaxed. "Goodnight Jessica." He whispered quietly before drifting off to sleep.

The Doctor woke up when he felt River get up off from his lap. He was surprised to see her sorting through a pile of clothes that had appeared overnight on the dresser.

"Good morning." The Doctor yawned as he stretched out his legs.

"Morning Sweetie." River replied as she picked out a pair of grey leggings and a loose blue blouse from the pile. "I'm assuming Amy got these?"

The Doctor shrugged as he got out of the bed. "You feeling alright?" He asked her softly as he gently held her from behind.

River smiled as she turned around so that their faces were right next to each other. "I feel wonderful." She informed him before capturing his lips between hers. He responded immediately and wrapped his arms around her to pull her body against his.

When River finally pulled back she rested her head against his chest. "I love you so much." She whispered.

The Doctor smiled as he ran his fingers through River's hair. "I love you too River." He replied.

River finally pulled away and picked up the clothes she had set down on the bed. "I've got to help out Amy." She said as she headed to the washroom.

"River you are fine." The Doctor tried to slow her down, considering what had happened the night before.

"You're right I am fine." River replied as the two of them walked into the washroom and River started the shower water so it could heat up before she showered. "So I'm taking a shower so that I smell fine as well. Currently I'm covered in sweat and I would really rather not be."

"You do look incredibly sexy covered in sweat." The Doctor teased with a smirk.

River rolled her eyes. "I hate you." She replied with a small smile.

"No you don't."

"River!" Anthony exclaimed excitedly when River and The Doctor made their way into the living room.

"Hey buddy." River greeted her brother, a smile wide on her face. "You look like you've been having a good day."

Anthony nodded as he sat down on River's lap as soon as she sat down on the large armchair in the corner of the room. "We painted pictures, and made bread, and painted the nursery…" He said excitedly.

"Which nursery would that be that you were painting?" The Doctor looked at him with confusion.

Anthony put his hands over his mouth immediately as he shook his head.

River smiled as she held Anthony in her arms. She was feeling amazingly better and she was more than ready to spend some time with her little brother. She felt terrible about how many times lately she had had to stop playing with him to get some rest because she simply didn't have the energy.

Amy came into the room with a plate of the bread they had made and a bottle of jam. "Hungry?" She asked River with a smile.

"Of course." She replied as she adjusted Anthony so he wasn't putting so much pressure on her abdomen and she accepted the piece of bread her mother offered her.

"You look a million times better River." Amy said honestly as she sat down on the sofa next to The Doctor.

"I feel that way too." River replied with a smile. "I haven't felt this well in months."

"River will you take me to the park?" Anthony asked her hopefully.

"Anthony River needs to keep resting to make sure everything's okay with the baby." Amy tried to help River out.

River shook her head. "I'd love to get out of the house." She admitted. "This little one is making me feel like I'm the size of a house and I'd really like to get out of one, get some space."

Amy smiled at her daughter. "How would you and The Doctor like to take Anthony out?" She asked finally.

"We'd love to." River said as Anthony scrambled of from her lap.

"Can we go now?" Anthony asked desperately.

"Of course!" The Doctor replied as he got up and helped Anthony put on the shoes Amy had brought him.

"I'm going to need a minute to get dressed." River said as she stood up, one hand on her back to counter the weight on her front.

"There are a few smock dresses in the cupboard in my room that you could wear." Amy offered.

"Thanks." River nodded before heading down the hallway.

Several minutes later River returned wearing a navy blue smock dress and a pair of flats.

"Ready?" The Doctor asked as he wrapped his arm so his hand was resting on the small of her back.

River nodded with a smile as she took Anthony's small hand in her own. "We'll be back Amy." River called as the trio headed out of the apartment and towards Central Park.

"Doctor can we get some candy floss?" Anthony asked him hopefully as they walked past a sidewalk vendor.

The Doctor eyed River for an answer.

"Why don't we stop somewhere on the other side of the park for lunch? Then we can get some candy floss on the way back." River suggested as she absentmindedly rubbed her abdomen.

Anthony whined for a moment before he met The Doctor's eyes which were clearly telling him not to protest. "Okay." He sighed.

River smiled before leaning down to kiss him gently on the head. "Thanks so much for being a cooperative little boy."

"I am not little." Anthony replied as they continued to walk.

River rolled her eyes. "What do you want for lunch?"

"Pizza!" Anthony replied excitedly.

River laughed. "Alright." She allowed as she tried to rub the pain out of her side from the baby kicking.

"Doctor where's the best pizza place around here?" River asked him.

"It's just down the street." The Doctor replied.

"I'm tired." Anthony began to whine.

"Well you're in luck!" The Doctor informed him as he leaned down so he could scoop him into his arms. "I think I have just the right amount of energy to carry a four year old boy to a pizza parlor."

River smiled as she watched Anthony giggle in delight as The Doctor hoisted him on to his shoulders. She couldn't help but imagine what it would be like to raise their own child. The Doctor had always loved children but she wasn't sure exactly how he would behave around his own.

The Doctor quickly got them seated at a table in a large pizza parlor. Anthony was sitting on one side of the booth with River while The Doctor sat across from them. They made small talk for several minutes before the waiter came over.

"What can I get you all?" The waiter asked as he pulled out a pad of paper.

"A medium cheese pizza and two waters." River replied for her and Anthony.

"A medium pizza with everything on it and a coke." The Doctor said quickly without even looking at the menu beneath him.

"No problem." He replied before going back to the kitchen.

The Doctor smiled at River for several minutes before she got fed up with him. "What?" She asked him angrily.

"You don't like pizza." The Doctor replied, trying not to laugh.

River rolled her eyes. "Yes, but your child seems to want some hot cheese pizza." She accused him immediately.

"Oh so now it's my child?" He asked her as he raised his eyebrow.

River laughed. "You are so domesticated."

"I am not!" He protested immediately.

"What's dem-est-imated?" Anthony asked, clearly confused.

"It means that The Doctor is going to be a wonderful father." River said with a smile.

The Doctor sighed, he didn't want to argue with her, they didn't need to have another row about this. To be honest he was terrified to become a father again, and he had so much baggage that River couldn't even begin to understand, even when he told her about it. Sometimes they just couldn't agree on things.

"That's a good thing right?" Anthony asked him.

The Doctor smiled. "Yes, but River's just trying to tease me."

"Teasing is mean." Anthony frowned at River.

River rolled her eyes. "The Doctor started it." She replied.

The Doctor was about to retort when the pizza arrived at their table. "Thank you." River said as she handed Anthony one of the plates the waiter had handed them and pulled a small slice of the cheese pizza and placed it on his plate.

Anthony took one bite of the pizza and all of the cheese came off from the slice and fell down onto his shirt. His lip began to quiver before River quickly helped him replace the cheese on his pizza and wipe off his face.

"Everything's fine sweetie." She said soothingly. "Everything's fine. It happens to everyone."

The Doctor watched her, a smile on his face and in his eyes. She would never really understand just how wonderful of a mother figure she was would she? She would always see herself as the woman born to kill The Doctor.

"See it's all better." River said as soon as he was taking a bite out of his pizza again.

River looked up and saw the expression on her husband's face. "What?" She asked as she took a slice of the cheese pizza for herself.

"Nothing." He replied before taking a ridiculously large bite out of his pizza.

"Doctor." River chastised him with disgust. "Manners." She reminded him as Anthony tried to take just as large of a bite. "See! How are you supposed to raise a child when you're constantly behaving like one?"

"I'm sorry." The Doctor apologized honestly.

River sighed. "I don't want to have a row over this. Just… eat your lunch." She said before returning her attention to her plate.

The three of them endured an incredibly silent lunch. After The Doctor paid the bill the Three of them began to walk back to the apartment, River seemed irritated and was unusually quiet while The Doctor talked with Anthony.

They finally came across the candy floss stand that River had promised they could stop at on the way home.

"River candy floss!" Anthony exclaimed excitedly.

River nodded as she pulled two crisp bills from her dress pocket. "Go ahead and get one for you and one for The Doctor." She told him gently

Anthony skipped ahead of the two of them and River watched him carefully as he walked up to the vendor to communicate what he wanted.

"I'm sorry River." The Doctor said quietly as they continued to walk, slowly to accommodate for River's adjustment in pace. "I've been childish about everything River. I've been trying to avoid admitting the past and how scared I am."

River shook her head. "Doctor… Don't…" She said quietly as they watched Anthony run back both hands carrying a bag of Candy Floss.

"I love you River." The Doctor said quietly as he gently grabbed onto her free hand.

She looked over at him, her eyes filled with tears. She stared directly into his eyes and saw all of the love and compassion he was feeling in them. "I know." She replied quietly. He gently kissed her on the cheek as Anthony arrived.

"Ewwww!" He exclaimed as he stuck out his tongue. River laughed as she took back the change Anthony had in his small fist. "Do you want some of my Candy Floss?" He asked her hopefully.

River smiled but shook her head. "Thanks but no thanks."

"But it's delicious!" Anthony exclaimed.

The Doctor smiled. "River doesn't like sugar that much." He explained for his wife. "She prefers things that have lots of flavor."

River smirked. He knew her like the back of his own hand. "He's right." River affirmed when she noticed Anthony's questioning glance. "Why don't you share your Candy Floss with Mum?" She suggested with a smile.

"Okay!" Anthony said excitedly before skipping ahead once again.

The Doctor smiled as he took River's hand in his. "You're going to be a wonderful mum." He said quietly as they walked after Anthony.

"I'm glad you think so." River said quietly.

The Doctor stopped and moved so he was in front of her. "No River… I know you're going to be perfect."

River smiled before gently kissing him. "I love you."

"Come on, let's go home." He replied quietly.

Author's Note: I've been totally slacking on packing for college… Which is horrible for me… But excellent for you because I've been writing non-stop. Hope you enjoyed the chapter! Please Review!