(no subject)

[hullo_sweetie]

[For a long moment, a few minutes at most, River's not sure how to do this. It's not the first time her parents have disappeared in her lifetime, but somehow this time it hurts the most. Maybe because she'd spent so much time with them, time she wouldn't have otherwise had]

Amy Pond and Rory Williams have left.

[She's sitting in the hallway, running her fingertips over the hilt of  the blade in her hands. A ghost had dropped it off, it had belonged to Rory. A true Roman sword.

That's not the only thing the castle had dropped off either]

And apparently I'm a mother. A baby girl, I've named her Amelia.

[The sound of an infant cooing happily in the background. She had the baby in a small stroller next to her, swaddled comfortably in blankets]

If anyone is wondering, the Doctor took the TARDIS and left not long after he found out about Amy and Rory leaving. I don't know where he went, but he probably needs some alone time to deal with all of this. I wager he'll be back soon.

[Which was selfish of him.They might have been his companions, but they were her parents too]

My parents leave and I become a parent myself. Perfect timing as usual...

Comments

[atadiscoverer]

...Are you okay, River?

[Carson sounds quite concerned, given that he's opened his journal for the first time in a while.

And, yes, there's the sound of a baby cooing in the background, too. A boy.]

[hullo_sweetie]

I've had better days. It's a lot to take in, but you have to admire the castle's sense of poetic justice. Now I know how Amy felt when I was suddenly dumped on her during that loss when I reverted back to a baby.

[Setting the sword aside - far away from the baby - she rolls the stroller back and forth to keep the sleepy infant content. River's actually pretty good at this parenting stuff]

Sounds like you've got a bundle of joy too.

[atadiscoverer]

[Carson is currently cradling his baby, smiling lightly.]

Aye, I do... I called him Rodney. After my best friend...

[hullo_sweetie]

I named mine after my mother.

[It seemed fitting considering the circumstances]

I'll be alright. Babies aren't some great mystery. I just wish the Doctor was here. He's more fluent in understanding baby language then I am.

[atadiscoverer]

Mine's after my best friend back on Atlantis. [He'd be honoured, Carson's sure.]

The Doctor's missing?

[hullo_sweetie]

He took the TARDIS and ran off. He was...every bit as attached to Amy and Rory as I am....

It's just how he deals with things. He feels like he has to go through it alone.

[She doesn't sound too happy]

[atadiscoverer]

Ah, I see...

[He knows people like that. He's done it himself, sometimes...]

Well, if you want some company, or anything at all, let me know, aye?

[hullo_sweetie]

I'm in the hall right now, I wouldn't mind company and I'm sure Amelia wouldn't mind either. She's waking up from her nap.

[More shuffling, moving the stroller back and forth]

Sometimes, I swear I want to strangle that husband of mine. Leaving me with all this....

[courageous_wit]

Oh, River. I'm sorry.

[hullo_sweetie]

At least they got to see my wedding. That's a small blessing.

[Rolling the stroller back and forth, more happy cooing and gurgling noises]

Did the castle drop off a bundle of joy for you?

[courageous_wit]

It did. [a bit awkward, that]

[hullo_sweetie]

[Hermione had seemed a bit young for parenting. River was curious as to how she was holding up]

You're holding up alright then?

[courageous_wit]

I think so. It's just, the... erm, other person is someone I know from my world.

[hullo_sweetie]

Someone you'd never thought to have a child with, no doubt.

[Louder gurgling followed by a fussy whimper]

Hush, you'll get your bottle soon.

[That was to Amelia]

It's like this castle knows us inside and out, I swear.

[courageous_wit]

Yes, it does. I've read that this has happened on a yearly basis.

[hullo_sweetie]

It happened when I fist arrived over a year ago, so I must say I agree. This is the first time the Castle has deemed to give me a baby.

You must know the child will be taken away, right?

dictated;

[psych0p0mps]

oh wow of all the times for him to wander off
did past him go too?

[sorry River this is just ... the reaction of someone who didn't know the Ponds very well to begin with sdfkl;asjdk]

dictated;

[hullo_sweetie]

I think Five left earlier for another reason entirely. Took his TARDIS to go do something, a trip I suppose.

[psych0p0mps]

awesome
what are you gonna do though i guess
hes the Doctor 9_9

[There's a little gurgle from the bundle of trouble in her arms.]

abuthuthhhhh ba ba ba!

no dont you start

/dictated

[cricketycricket]

[rather curtly]

Actually, I'm here, and have been.

I'd say let me know if you need help, but you clearly seem to have a handle on where everyone is, so.

[forgive him. he's in a snit for several of the same reasons you're upset and your husband scarpered, and for a few of his own]

dictated

[hullo_sweetie]

[She was a bit startled by Five's message]

Sorry, I thought you'd gone off somewhere. Guess I was wrong.

[It's been a terrible, rough, no good week hasn't it?]

I didn't mean to imply anything....

until further notice?

[cricketycricket]

[he sighs, the sound almost a groan. he'd gone to the Insolitus to do a bit of nice exploring, was in such a lovely mood ... and came back to find so many important people gone, and so much chaos.

familiar, annual chaos, but chaos all the same. and it wasn't the sort he preferred. all in all, he's quite tetchy. but he still remembers to pause and dial it back]

Did I at least leave you a note? Usually when I've had my fill of the place, I try to do that. Though I suppose this is a very special case.

[he knows how much it must hurt: he's feeling the urge to run, himself. Amy and Rory may not have been HIS, but ... they were still his ...]

I'm sorry, River.

Agreed!

[hullo_sweetie]

I didn't find a note, but you and I both know how he - how you - feel about losing companions.

[It never gets easier for him and she never wants to see the day when it finally does]

He'll be back once he's had his fill of running.

[And yes, it does hurt to have her parents gone at the same point she apparently became a parent herself]

It's alright, I've been prepared for this....I knew when I saw Amy at the Crash of the Byzantium, so fresh and new by the Doctor's side, when she didn't know who I was, that I might not see her again. Let alone Rory.

[cricketycricket]

You can prepare all you like, but the moment still comes.

[he knows the feeling all too well. Jilly was the worst.]

[hullo_sweetie]

It still hits home. Nothing can ever soften that blow and I can't say they're going back to a happy spot in their time line either.

[Amy pregnant and kidnapped by the Silence. Rory dealing with the aftermath of having his child stolen from him. Not the best of times....]