"You need the practice."

"Is this how you gained your skills?" As Vastra points to the small pink form on the table.

"Yes. This is the closest you can get to human skin to practice."

"I would think an ape would be more appropriate."

Fiona shakes her head, "Mother Vastra ... please try it again. Remember, to keep all your incisions a similar depth. "

Vastra places the pig foot on the metal table and proceeds to cut strips of skin.

"Watch me suture." With such speed and precision Fiona stitches two strips of skin back to the pig's leg. "Now, watch as I slow down." Fiona sutures another strip. "Your turn," as she hands Mother Vastra the needle and tread.

Mother Jenny watches as the large clumsy Silurian hands attempt to make a few stitches. "May I try?"

Vastra gladly hands over the pig foot to her wife.

Mother Jenny, without pause, repeats Fiona's steps perfectly.

"Show off!" Vastra pulls back the tiny foot and attempts the stitches again. "I need to practice."

Mother Jenny gets closer to her wife to guide the long green scaled fingers and complete a row of stitches worth praising. "I will help you. You have taught me so much in my life, allow me to teach you."

Vastra melts, "I welcome your instruction."

Jenny kisses her wife on her cheek, "After we are done with this pig foot join me in the kitchen for a sandwich. I am craving pork."

Late that evening, when all residents of 15 Savile Row are sleeping the phone rings in Fiona and Alaya's room. Fiona extends her arm out of the blanket, brings in the receiver under the warm blankets. "Yes? Doctor Flint-Saint Clair speaking. Yes? I will be there in less than twenty minutes. Yes. Thank you." Fiona puts the phone back on the side table. "I am sorry dear I must go to the Medical School Hospital," as she gets out of bed to change and freshen up. "After you call the service, inform your Mother she has an appointment."

Alaya sits up, yawns as she dials the taxi service. "Yes, 15 Savile Row. Medical School for Woman. Thank you." Alaya hangs up the phone, gets out of bed and heads downstairs in a stupor. First Alaya knocks on her mothers door softly and listens to the footsteps walking towards the door. She quickly licks the air and knows it it her Mother Vastra. The door cracks open, "You have an appointment with Fiona. She leaves in a few minutes."

Mother Vastra nods and closes the door.

Alaya goes to the kitchen. She bundles two sandwiches, pours cold coffee into a canteen and heads down to the front door to wait. First it is her wife.

"I miss my Silurian wife," Fiona dives into her wife's chest taking in one more moment of intimacy.

Mother Vastra walks into the entrance way, "Alaya, please keep an eye on your mother. She has started to get cold."

Alaya smiles, "I will."

Fiona looks outside, "The cab has arrived." She offers a sympathetic smile as Alaya. "Shall we Mother Vastra? Alaya try to get some sleep dear."

Once the taxi drives off Alaya heads up stairs to her mothers' bedroom. She finds Mother Jenny all bundled up in blankets. She quickly adds more wood to the fire and curls up on the bed and falls asleep in protest. Hours pass as Alaya is woken by curses spewing from her Mother's mouth as she has to use the water closet.

While her mother is busy Alaya adds more wood to the fire for an acceptable Silurian body temperature.

"Is there something I can do for you?"

Mother Jenny shakes her head no as she hobbles back to the bed. "Thank you dear for warming up the room."

"Do you want to stay here or move into the drawing-room?"

"Here for a little while. Your sisters won't stop moving and I need to sleep."

Alaya comes over to her mother's side and lean down to her expanded stomach, "Hey! This is your older sister. If you don't go to sleep and let our mother rest you will have to deal with me. Trust me, you don't want to deal with me or my wife." Only the left side kicks one more time, "You done?" No movement.

Mother Jenny opens her eyes wide, "When you were in my womb did you hear us talking to you?"

"I remember some stuff, not anything specific. I knew my mothers' scents and voices."

"Do you remember being born?"

"I remember feeling lost, I couldn't locate my mothers."

"You knew you had us? I mean, two women? Does it bother you that you have two mothers instead of a father?'

"Oh no, I knew immediately that I had two mothers. I didn't know that there was a difference." Alaya starts to blush, "I never wanted a father. My mothers are the perfect balance of strength and compassion." She moves towards the bed and starts to rub her mother's feet, "I always have seen my mother strong, independent and even invincible."

"I don't feel so strong now," As Jenny smiles at her daughter. "I am tired and hungry."

"Wait here and try to sleep." Alaya tucks her mother into the bed and whispers. "I will return when breakfast is ready." Alaya taps the large stomach, "You two let mother sleep." She puts another log on the fire and goes to the kitchen to make breakfast.

The cold sterile operating room has the usual staff and a tall woman observing in close proximity to Doctor Flint-Saint Clair. "We have the head, everyone prepared?"

The staff responds in the affirmative.

"Here we go!"

Everyone works with speed to extract the newborn, cut the umbilical cord and close the new mother's damaged body.

The tall woman leans over watching each action with particular interest. She has questions; she waits for the appropriate time.

After the successful operation Doctor Flint-Saint Clair accompanies the tall woman out to the taxi stand. "Mother Vastra, I believe next time you should be paying attention to the post birthing process. Note what the nurses do, what they write and steps to make sure the newborn is healthy."

"I will." Mother Vastra opens the cab door and Fiona ducks under her long arms to enter. "Do you think it will be possible to perform any of the operation?"

"I have asked Louisa. Timing is going to be tricky. We are waiting for the perfect time." Fiona looks to her wife's mother, "Do not misunderstand ... I want you to practice this procedure. I desperately need you to be perfect. I am dependent on you to pass the skills down to our generations." Fiona leans against the cold window.

Mother Vastra knows not to ask what is wrong. She has seen that distant look in her own wife's eyes. "My dear little one, your legacy is forever cemented. You Flint-Saint Clair clan shall be the most educated group of women for generations."

"Is it hard?"

"I hold on to each moment and let go for the next."

"Sound exhausting."

"It is exhilarating."

"You do it quite easily."

Fiona turns her head and asks the Silurian, "How do I let go?"

"Look at your education. Do you hold on to each tiny fact in your brain?"

"Of course."

"I am sorry dear, but you do not hold every bit of information in your brain."

"Then what do I do?"

"You know your numbers?"

Fiona gives sarcastic look, "Of course."

"You know your letters?"

"Your point?"

"Do you have to wake up every morning to memorize the order of numbers? Memorize the order of the alphabet? You have outgrown the need for that memory, it grew out of its usefulness. You now are a physician and learning greater things."

"So you toss out memories?"

"No, but I do let them pass and make room for new ones. I do keep a journal and depend for our future generations for hints and reminders."

"How?"

"I see in Alaya's eyes her mother. I see it in her hesitation, her passion and her laughter. I will find my Jenny everywhere. I grab each moment with her as if it is the very last breath she takes."

Fiona thinks about her wife, 'Vastra? Alaya laughs like her mother. I have not noticed. I need to pay attention.' "Will you remember me?"

"Little one you have been carved into my heart for a very long time."

Fiona forms tears in her eyes, "I am pleased. I hope Alaya will remember me but not as an anchor to her long life."

"Your love is what inspired songs, poets and even Silurian like me to see good in the world. My Jenny will not be a weight in my long life nor will you be to my Alaya." Mother Vastra smiles, "As far as Alaya's laugh ... yes, you should pay attention, but wait until after your done with medical school. I wouldn't want your human brain to run out of space."

Fiona laughs off Mother Vastra's last comment as the cab has reached their destination.