It was quiet when Yaz woke up, and the bed was empty. Another sleepless night behind them. She walked down the hall towards the kitchen and then heard a voice from the control room.  

 

"Exterminate!....bam! bam! bam!....Daleks never surrender!. Daleks concur and destroy. Exterminate! Exterminate!" 

 

She giggled and slunk down the hall to the top of the stairs and covered her mouth with her hand to keep from bursting out laughing and enjoying the moment. Anaya was in her baby swing on top of the console and the Doctor bouncing around with a metal colander on her head, a sink plunger in one hand and a whisk in the other. Anaya waived her toy sonic, and the Doctor started turning around.

 

"Explain...Explain...Explain...chuk...chuk" she turned and saw Yaz on the top of the stairs laughing her head off "Morning cupcake. I was gonna wake you." 

 

"Hey you two.... What is this? Dalek invasion?" 

 

"Yap...she stopped it" she grinned haply. 

 

She ran down the stairs and squished Doctor's face between her palms dropping good morning kiss to her lips "Love you, you silly goof." She smiled and turned to Anaya "Morning sunshine. Did she eat?" She kissed Anaya's cheek. 

 

"Not much. She really hates the bottle." 

 

"C'mere chubby cheeks. Looks like we're going back to the old routine" she sat on the stairs settling Anaya on her breast "BINGO." 

 

"Looks like we do." 

 

"It's alright. Told you I don't mind. This is the only time I have with her like this." 

 

"I knoooow. I was just hoping you could get some sleep in the morning" She said sitting on the step next to her and playing with baby's foot. "Also...I love feeding her." 

 

"I know. I'm sorry" she brushed her knuckles over Doctor's cheek "Well, when she's gonna be off my breast you will be able to." 

 

"I suppose so" she pouted. 

 

"Hey, C'mere" Yaz brought her hand to the side of her neck pulling her into a kiss. "Don't be sad. You're doing so much. You are her mum in absolutely everything." She said softly brushing her thumb over her cheek "Hey, I can breast feed her, but you can talk to her. I think that's more cool." 

 

.... 

 

Early evening Doctor finished with some repairs. She picked up dinner from the kitchen and headed to the library. She walked in and smiled from the door watching Yaz playing with Anaya on the floor. 

 

"Hey" Yaz looked up. "Look, she's really holding her head up now. Still wobbles but we're getting there." 

 

"Soon she'll be running around the whole TARDIS" Doctor smiled "Can't wait." 

 

"I was gonna get that" she said looking at trays with food. 

 

"It's ok. It was on my way. I was thinking we could go to this family resort. You would love it. They have water slides and those cute little fruit cocktails and fish singing by the pool. And did I tell you about a thousand ice-cream flavors?" 

 

"Family vacation?" 

 

"Yap." 

 

"Alright, I`d love that she loves swimming." 

 

"It's a deal then. I just have to finish some repairs tomorrow and we can go." 

 

"One condition" 

 

"There's a condition?" 

 

"Yes, no trouble. Promise?" 

 

"Promise, if I see anything I will absolutely pretend it's not there." 

 

"Yeah right" she rolled her eyes laughing "Mmm...that's nice. What's that?" 

 

"Trying new flavors. It's called Hoppy Kaka. Like a cross between a tomato and a plum. Well, tomato is technically fruit.” 

 

.... 

 

Later that evening Doctor enjoyed the hot shower. She was tired but happy. 

Yaz laid Anaya back into her bassinet then took her clothes off and stepped into the bathroom. 

 

"Hey" Doctor smiled reaching for her hand and tugging her in. "Sleeping ?" 

 

"Finally. I thought after two months it would ease off a lot more." 

 

"Nope...more like nine" she chuckled palming her face "You're doing a great job" she smiled kissing her softly. 

 

"So do you."

 

Yaz reached for the soap and squeezed it into her hand. She rubbed her palms together then ran her hands down the Doctor's chest, down the slight dip of her waist and the gentle curve of her hips whiles the other woman made herself busy shampooing Yaz's curls. Then she turned her back and closed her eyes as her wife's soft hands ran down the length of her. Gliding with the water ever so gently, over every inch of her body, long fingers sifting through every strand of her hair and rinsing it. I was a well-rehearsed dance between them that always ended with the Doctor's lips gently pressing against her shoulder as if to let her know she was done. She opened her eyes and got out of the shower, and her eyes caught her reflection in the mirror. Her own body still unsettled her a bit. Deep red stripes down the sides of her no longer flat stomach made her surprisingly self-conscious and unsure of herself. And although the reward she got was more than worth it, she couldn't help the way she felt. 

 

"You're gorgeous" a voice rang in her ear and her eyes met Doctor's in the mirror as her fingertips traced red lines on her belly. "They are beautiful. Like a timeline. " she smiled softly "Each month sealed on you forever." She said pressing her lips to her shoulder and Yaz turned in her arms bringing her hands to the nape of her neck. 

 

"You're gorgeous" she smiled and pulled her into a kiss. 

 

She checked Anaya and slipped underneath the covers. Her hair still little bit damp from shower as she never dried it completely, so it doesn't go frizzy from TARDIS hairdryer. 

 

"Don't" she stopped the Doctor as she was about to put the t-shirt on and held the duvet open for her "C'mere" 

 

She left it on the armchair and lay down next to her, closing her arms around her as the TARDIS dimmed the lights. 

 

"Tomorrow I'm gonna put up that new bird feeder" Doctor said "Did you see the deer the other day? They were all over...." she moaned as Yaz cut her off with a surprise kiss, her fingers wrapping around her face. And the Doctor fell into it like into bed made of feathers. She parted her lips and tangled her fingers into damp curls drawing her closer. 

 

Yaz's hand trailed slowly, her fingernails leaving lines down her back and slipping underneath the elastic of her underwear palming her behind rolling her over herself. 

 

"Mmmmm" Doctor whined and pulled back resting on her elbows "What are you doing?" 

 

"What does it look like I'm doing?" She frowned as Doctor wiggled out of her embrace and moved her hand away. 

 

"What are you doing?" Yaz complained confused. 

 

"It's too soon for that." 

 

"No, it's not!" She jumped then lowered her voice as Anaya made some sound "It's been two months." She whispered as the Doctor sat up in bed. 

 

"Noooo...I don't wanna hurt you. There's stuff been going on down there and inside. You need to heal properly." 

 

"I am healed. I'm fine." She palmed her cheek "I miss you." 

 

The Doctor took her hand and kissed her palm gently "And I miss you too. But your body went through so much cupcake. Just give it another week or so at least. Pleaseeee..." she pleaded almost desperately. 

 

"Are you so scared?" She asked quietly brushing her thumb over her cheek as her lips still didn't leave her palm. Kissing it gently and got a deep sigh as response. "You're terrified?" 

 

"I want you. I do...Please don't think otherwise. It's just that.... you’re a human Yaz who just gave birth to another spices. Your body is tortured, tiered and it needs time to recuperate. Pleaseeee darling. I'd never forgive myself if something happened to you." 

 

She exhaled deeply and wrapped her fingers around her face "Alright..." she nodded "Can I at least get a cuddle? I need a cuddle. " She pouted her lips. 

 

"Of course you can." Doctor chuckled "C'mere beautiful" she tugged on her hand 

 

....

 

 

"Hey babe, are you done soon?" Yaz asked standing by the door with Anaya strapped to her chest dressed and ready for a walk. 

 

"Yeah, give me ten minutes." 

 

"I'll be outside, I wanna show Anaya the new bird feeder." 

 

"Alright cupcake. Make sure you zip up. It's cold" 

 

"Don't worry, we're both dressed like bears" she giggled pulling a hood over Anaya's head and stepped outside. 

 

It was a beautiful sunny morning. It had been a month since her family left and she already missed them. But now she had her own family, and they needed some time alone. Life has slowed down since the baby came and they have found their routine. Only a few hours of daylight made for long comfortable nights inside the TARDIS. Reading books, watching movies with a cup of hot cocoa, playing board games. But they enjoy their daughter the most. The universe suddenly became a much smaller place, and its center was Anaya. Every minute of their day was planned around her, and they both fell into it as if it were the most natural order of things.

She walked along the path. A little further from the TARDIS where they have set up several bird feeders and next to them a hayrack for deer. 

 

"Look Bumblebee, birds ate all the food" she said filling the feeder "You're gonna love it in spring. Ammi said she's gonna build you a little swing here for summer. That's gonna be fun, and we're gonna go swimming. Aaaa look, birds just god scared." She looked up as they flew from the trees "Look Anaya birds" she pointed. 

 

Suddenly a loud sonic bang ripped across the forest, TARDIS sounded off and the Doctor lifted her head from the console. 

Yaz looked to sky and saw a white line across. Something was falling, then moments later the ground shook and she saw trees in the distance falling as if cut. She turned around and shielded Anaya with her arms as the wave of energy swept across the forest like a hurricane knocking her to the ground and she dug her hands into the snow stopping herself from falling on her baby. Broken branches and small stones hit her back as she curled into a ball holding her daughter tightly in her arms. 

 

"Yaaaaz!!!!" The Doctor yelled running towards her "Yaaaaaz!!!" 

 

"We're fine, we're fine!" She yelled. 

 

"Stars Yaz!!" She ran up to her and helped her to her feet 

 

"Something fell" 

 

"Get into the TARDIS....quickly" she grabbed her hand pulling her away 

 

"Are you hurt?" The Doctor panicked as they stepped inside frantically zooming sonic around both of them. 

 

"Babe, we're fine" 

 

"Do your ears hurt?" 

 

"No!" She zoomed light in her and Anaya's eyes 

 

"We're fine, it was just like a strong wind" 

 

"That was close Yaz...that was really close" she said pulling them both in closing her arms around them. 

 

"I know...It's ok baby, we're both fine." Yaz said as she kissed them both "Something fell, I saw it falling." 

 

"Something did fall, something really big" she ran to the console and swirled around flipping the screen "That was a sonic boom as it entered the atmosphere, it’s a ship. It crushed not even a kilometer from where you were...too close...waaay too close"  she said running around reading data 

 

"We have to go and see...There might be people on it" 

 

"We are.... Hold on Yaz" Doctor yelled with her hand on the lever 

 

She grabbed the bar of the console with one hand and put another over Anaya as they lifted off. 

 

.... 

 

A massive ship laid in the middle of a wasteland it created as it crushed to the ground. Inside, a woman strapped in the chair of the control room, unconscious and buried under the rubble. Sparks flew from the wires hanging from the broken ceiling and lights flicked as the sound of the damaged engine slowly went quiet. She was slowly coming around, moving curls of hair glued to her face and looked around disoriented, unaware of how long she was passed out. A man next to her, dead, his lifeless eyes still fixed at a random spot. 

 

"Arrrrh" she yelped as she tried to move and looked to her left to release the seat belt that was holding her strapped to the chair but couldn't reach the buckle. After few attempts she finally managed to release herself and threw away the debris which fell on her then found the rest of the passengers. Four other members of her crew were all dead. She had to crawl her way out through the rubble until she finally reached the main hall. Apart from flickering lights and fewer panels on the ceiling it was relatively undamaged, so she rushed down the hallway towards the other end of the ship. Further she went more damaged the ship was, she felt the cold and the wind from outside and it didn't take a long to release what happened. The fuselage was almost snapped in half, leaving only the front of the ship relatively intact with the massive hole between the front and the back of the ship. She could see the trees from where she was standing, and broken fragments scattered across the snow through a massive hole on the side of the ship. 

 

"No, oh noo...Please tell me its intact" she took the scanner out of her pocket but couldn't get a reading, like everything else it was damaged. 

 

"Right, well...guess I'm going to have to see for myself" she put it back in her pocket and grabbed a broken piece of metal helping herself to jump across the hole in the floor. 

 

.... 

 

Tardis screeched to halt and Doctor turned on a heel "You two stay here, I'm gonna look around." 

 

"Whaaaat...nooo" 

 

"Yaz...it's not even negotiable this time" she hopped across the control room 

 

"What, you're just leaving us here?" 

 

"Yap...that's exactly what I'm doing...stay put Yaz I won't be long" 

 

"You can't just...." 

 

"Ooooh, Yes I can" she said as she ran to the door "...and I am... You’ll be safe here...Love ya" 

 

"Dooooctoooor!!!!" she whined as the door shut and the Doctor pointed sonic at it as she went out.

 

"Just in case you get any ideas...sorry. I really hate doing this.... And I know I'll pay a price for it...boy will I pay a price for this." 

 

Yaz ran to the door and tried opening it but couldn't "Aaaaarhhhh...oh come ooonnnn...Can you believe she just left us?...I can't believe she locked us in" 

 

Anaya yawned rubbing her face in response and Yaz leaned her back to the door exhaling frustrated. 

 

"Woooow" Doctor stopped not far from the recharge "Helios 299....I didn't think they make those in this century anymore" she frowned "What are you doing here?" she ran up to it and took her sonic out "Total engine shut down...and this.... what...how did you? You're not from here.... You fell through time...well that explains it." 

 

Inside the woman finally found what she was looking for and stood frozen staring at the massive security door broken in pieces. "Oh god" she whispered as her blood ran cold, then saw glittering traces on the floor shining like a sparkle and bent down to have a better look. 

 

"Hello!....Anyone here?..." Doctor shouted walking through the ship "Can you hear me?" She walked around and suddenly saw a woman crouching down, her back to her. 

 

"Oh....Hi there" she shouted "We saw a crash...are you alright? Do you need any help? Is anyone injured?" 

 

The woman got up and turned. "Thank god...Hi...careful..." she said pointing to the broken wires which sparked above Doctor's head. But she didn't even flinch. She just stood frozen to the floor staring at the curly blonde few meters away as she hopped over the hole in the floor. 

 

"I could do with help, my communication equipment got fried and we lost the cargo in a crash" she spoke as she walked towards her "Hi, Professor River Song" she held out her hand 

 

Doctor blinked, still standing like a statue whilst the woman still kept her arm stretched towards her. She blinked again and shook her head "Jane" she uttered finally and grabbed her hand. 

 

"Nice to meet you Jane, as I said I could use your help, we are long way from home." 

 

"You have no idea" Doctor said. 

 

"Excuse me?" 

 

"Oh, sorry" Doctor shook her head "Yeah...I see you got hit? It practically snapped the ship in half." 

 

"Did you say hit? I thought we had an explosion." 

 

"You have...just not from the inside...the hole" she pointed "The way the metal bend, something breached your ship from the outside in" she bent over to have a better look and rubbed her finger over the edge "I'd say someone shot you down.... Anyways...is anyone else with you? Crue?" 

 

"All dead...listen, I haven't got time I have to..." 

 

"You were lucky" Doctor interrupted "What were you doing this far?...You're way off course...Helios 299, it's a cargo ship?" 

 

Suddenly the floor moved underneath them, then shook and started tilting. 

 

"It's gonna snap!" River yelled as ship tilted more throwing them on the ground. 

 

"We need to get out!" Doctor said getting up. The sound of squeaking metal made her look back. The whole back of the ship was bending under pressure pulling the front down the mountain slope.

 

"Ups!....." Doctor said "RUUUN!" she yelled and grabbed the woman's hand pulling her. 

 

"There's no way out!" River yelled "This way" she yanked her hand and led them through the side hallway "There's a side entrance...right there" she said. 

 

"Oh, good...I wouldn't like to find out if I could fly...I'm sure I can't" 

 

"Here..." she pointed and grabbed the massive hinge of the cargo door..." 

 

Doctor grabbed the other side, but ship tilted more, noise of the haul scraping at the rocks and metal breaking echoed across. They were left dangling holding at the handle. 

 

"River!!!" Doctor yelled and looked below as the woman was hanging underneath her, her fingers barely gripping the handle. 

 

"I can't hold on!" She yelled. 

 

"Grab my hand" Doctor reached out. 

 

"You can't hold me." 

 

"Yes, I can.... grab my hand" she shook her arm "Grab it!!!!" the ship tilted even more, and the woman lost her grip. Doctor grabbing her wrist just in time before she fell.

 

"WOOOW!!" 

 

"I'm gonna swing me arm around...You grab that bar and hold on tight..." 

 

"Are you nuts?" 

 

"Sometimes....most times it’s just the odd wobble...Ready?" 

 

"Nooooo!!!" 

 

"Aaaaarrrrrh" Doctor yelled and swung her in the air until she grabbed the bar. 

 

"Right...hold on tight" she said, and the ship shook more, sliding down the mountain. Doctor almost lost her grip "Ups....right...time to get out" she grabbed the bar with the other hand, and it finally gave in. The hatch flew open hitting the ground catapulting them both into the snow. 

 

As they were both out, the ship tumbled down the mountain into the valley reveling Tardis on the other side of it. 

 

"That was close" the Doctor said trying to catch her breath. 

 

"Yooou?" She gasped. 

 

"Yeah...all me" she scrunched her nose "And what are you doing here?" 

 

"What are you doing here?" River asked confused. 

 

"I asked you first...Also, what's the cargo you're so worried about?" 

 

"This face...?" 

 

"Like it?" She grinned. 

 

"I don't understand" she asked confused. 

 

"Spoilers" Doctor said shaking snow off her coat. "Also...about that...we need to talk." 

 

"Ok" she nodded "It's just that...waaw.... this is definitely a surprise, nice surprise" she laughed walking towards her. 

 

"River..." 

 

"I like this face" she came closer, and the Doctor stilled as she placed her palm on her cheek. 

 

"Yeah...Aaarrrhh" she quickly grabbed her hand and squirmed. 

 

"What's wrong?" She frowned. 

 

"We really need to...." 

 

"Doctoooor?" Yaz watched confused standing in front of the Tardis with Anaya as her wife held another woman's hand in her own. 

 

"Shooot!!" She shut her eyes. 

 

"What is going on?" Yaz asked looking at River. 

 

"Yaz...How did you get out?" Doctor frowned. 

 

"Seriously....you're gonna ask that?...Who's that?" 

 

"It's not what you think...I can explain." 

 

"It better be really good" 

 

River raised her eyebrows following the conversation "Yes, it better be"  

 

"Alright you two...give me minute."

 

 

.....

 

 

Doctor walked inside and went straight to the console "Yaz, this is River" she pointed "...my wife...River meet Yaz...also my wife." 

 

"WHAT!" they said simultaneously. 

 

"And Anaya...." she paused ".... My daughter...sorry" she splayed her arms across the console looking at both of them "...as I said, we really need to talk." 

 

River stopped in her tracks utterly speechless staring at the Doctor as the tension in the room could be cut with a knife. 

 

After initial shock and darting confused at the Doctor Yaz gathered her thoughts and refocused on the woman "Hi...I'm Yaz..." she reached her hand out as the other woman's face looked as shocked as her own. "It's nice to finally meet you. She told me a lot about you" she said darting the Doctor across the console. 

 

It took a few moments before River reached her hand "Nice to meet you Yaz" she smiled. 

 

"That was quite a fall, are you alright?" 

 

"Oh, yeah" she nodded "I'm fine, thank you.” 

 

"Is anyone hurt?" 

 

"Dead" 

 

"OMG I'm so sorry.” 

 

"Her ship was targeted" Doctor said "Total engine failure, they fell through time" 

 

"God, you're lucky to be alive..." Anaya's cry interrupted the conversation "I'm so sorry, I'm just gonna...." Yaz waived her arm "She needs changing" she pointed to Anaya 

 

"Yaz!" Doctor called out 

 

"It's alright babe...You two catch up. Nice meeting you." she smiled towards River 

 

"Nice to meet you too Yaz" 

 

"I'll see you later, I can smell a disaster in her nappy." 

 

Intense silence spread around the room as Yaz left. The Doctor didn't know what to say or where to start. 

 

River inhaled deeply running her finger across the console "Aren't you gonna ask?" 

 

"Aren't you?" 

 

"That's quite a spoiler. I'm not sure where to start. I'll take a wild guess 13?" 

 

"Yap, and for you?" 

 

"12....Dalirium. How long since you last saw me? And you better not say a month." 

 

Doctor signed "Long." 

 

"How long?" 

 

"Oh...few thousand years...lost a track to be honest" she said nervously and swallowed deeply “I'm sorry...I never wanted..." Doctor frowned shaking her head. 

 

"Spoilers...I get it. This was never meant to happen?" 

 

Doctor paused and shook her head "No" 

 

She lifted her gaze as her fingers brushed between hers on top of the console "It's alright...really...Hey cheer up, you look like you've seen a ghost...We're time travelers...it's all a part of it...Right?" 

 

The Doctor swallowed deeply "Right." 

 

"You never spoke to her about me, did you?" She chuckled. 

 

"Maybe...Little" 

 

"Lier" She laughed rolling her eyes and walked around the console "Nothing ever changes with you." she lifted her gaze "Wife...baby..." 

 

"I'm sorry...I" Doctor stumbled. 

 

"Are you happy?" She interrupted "She seems nice...and the baby? How did you..." she frowned confused with a little smile 

 

"I'm still working on it." 

 

"Right" she chuckled "I'm happy for you...I really am. She's gorgeous" 

 

"She is" 

 

"Is she...?" 

 

"Yes" 

 

"Waaw...Well, you don't do things half way do you" she laughed turning towards the console "Well, since you're here...or I'm here...whatever....I could really use your help" 

 

"It's to do with a cargo?" 

 

"Yeah" she smiled 

 

"Tell me" 

 

She reached into her pocket and took out a small plate throwing it across the console "It's all there, all the data we gathered" she said "My cargo...It's on a loose and I have to get it back" 

 

"What's on a loose?" She asked as she inserted the plate into the console. 

 

"Rare creature, it was accidentally found by a group of miners. It decimated the colony. We’re assuming it's ancient, hibernating underneath the ground for centuries until the mining work woke it up. You can't see it, hear it, completely invisible." 

 

"Aaaaa...interesting...Shape-shifting? " 

 

"Not sure..." 

 

"Camouflaging with its surroundings?" 

 

"Maybe...it’s nearly impossible to contain, it has ability to pass through anything accept through titanium, for some reason...but it’s dangerous." 

 

"How dangerous? Mildly dangerous? Very dangerous? Seriously dangerous? From one to 10?" 

 

"1000...There's a file there, men who got attacked went completely mad, they are babbling incoherently saying it’s a demon. Locals have a name for it...it translates to SOUL CATCHER" 

 

"How did it end up on your ship?" 

 

"I have extensive knowledge about the local culture and legends. I was called in to contain it and transport it to the facility for further observation so it can possibly be released somewhere." 

 

"But someone took your ship down, either they want this creature for themselves, or they want it dead" 

 

"On the way the ship malfunctioned, and we fell into the storm, losing control over it. I thought we had an explosion." 

 

 

"Well, one thing at the time...We can't let this thing run free around this planet, but we can't do anything now. It's getting dark early here and I don't suggest we go out looking for this thing in the middle of the night. Have some rest and we'll leave first thing in the morning." 

 

"I'll be ready...thank you." 

 

"Your room..." Doctor purest her lips "it's still in its old place." 

 

"Good night, Doctor" she said and turned around. 

 

As she reached the top of the steps Doctor called out "River" 

 

"Yes, my love?" She stopped gripping the banister. 

 

"I'm glad you're here." 

 

She closed her eyes with a smile and walked off. 

 

.... 

 

The Doctor stayed up late before quietly entering the bedroom. Both Yaz and the baby were sleeping. She took off her clothes and went to the bathroom, then crawled under the covers trying not to wake Yaz. She put her arm around her and buried her face in her hair. 

 

"Heeey" Yaz whispered. 

 

"Sorry...didn't mean to wake you." 

 

"It's alright" she turned around "Are you alright?" 

 

"Are you?" She kissed her knuckles. 

 

"Yeah, just confused a bit. You said she died." She frowned wondering. 

 

"She's from my past. Sometime after we said our last goodbye." 

 

"I wondered that." 

 

"We were never meant to see each other again. This was never meant to happen. I'm so sorry, I know this isn't easy..." 

 

"Hey, it's alright" she palmed her cheek "I'm fine, really. But you look petrified." 

 

"I never thought I'd have to deal with this." 

 

"I know. Neither did she by the look on her face. So, this can't be easy on her either." 

 

"No, it's not and I don't wanna hurt her...I'm not good in this...I..." 

 

"You won't, just be yourself" she brushed her thumb over her face "It's gonna be alright" she said and placed a gentle kiss to her lips "I love you." 

 

"Love you too. It's like things have turned the other way around now." 

 

"I don't understand. What do you mean?" 

 

"I used to be in her past. Now she's in mine" she sighed. 

 

"Let's sleep...it's really late and you look exhausted...C'mere" she opened her arms and the Doctor snuggled closer tucking her face into her neck "It's gonna be alright" she said closing her arms around her. 

 

.... 

 

Yaz walked into the kitchen in the morning and found River making breakfast cheerfully singing with her head inside the fridge. 

 

"Morning" Yaz smiled from the door. 

 

"Oh...morning darling." 

 

"Need help?" 

 

"Looking for some juice" 

 

"Up in the cupboard" she pointed "We used the one from the fridge" 

 

"Want some toast?" 

 

"Yes please. She's gonna come in a minute. She's changing a nappy." 

 

River burst out laughing "I'd give anything to see that...I like the renovation. Very cozy. Kitchen is tidy" 

 

"Thanks" Yaz smiled slightly and took a glass from the cupboard. It seemed beyond strange standing next to woman who's calling herself the Doctor's wife. It also felt intimidating seeing her being so comfortable around the TARDIS which Yaz called her home now. 

 

"So, Yaz...I'm dying to hear. How did you two meet?" She said, popping two slices of toast in the toaster then turned around crossing her arms at her chest leaning on the kitchen cupboard. 

 

"She fell from her TARDIS into the train." 

 

"Well, that's a surprise." She laughed. 

 

"How did she...he meet you or you met them...I mean the Doctor?" She fumbled with pronounce. 

 

"Oh, I tried to kill him.” 

 

"Whaa?" 

 

"It's ok, he survived.... Anyway, give me some more. Did you travel together, how long has this been going on? I have to know now...give me some juice. She won't say anything. " 

 

"Isn't this all weird for you?" 

 

"Honey, we're time travelers, nothing's weird. Look at it this way, this is your Doctor, and all the previous once were mine." She shrugged "Simple. You probably wouldn't want the previous ones anyway. Me on the other hand...I'm jealous. She's....yummy. " 

 

Yaz couldn't help but laugh. "I used to be a police officer." Yaz said and took the toast out then sat at the table. 

 

"Uuuu...interesting. Go on..." 

 

"Why would you wanna kill the Doctor?" 

 

..... 

 

"I'm in trouble munchkin" Doctor said putting Anaya on the changing table "Serious trouble. It's never good to have your ex next to your current. It always ends wrong. What do I do? Stop laughing. It's not funny. It will be like a nightmare scenario from the movies when you're caught out in some lie you can't even remember saying. Stop laughing. You won't find this funny when they gang up on me. You have no idea what River can be like, and your mother is not to be underestimated either. The look she gave me yesterday. I swear she saw right down to my stomach lining. You cheeky cheeks, you just find this amusing" she squished her cheeks between her fingers 

Anaya made few noises, her eyes roaming around the room whiles she was shoving toy sonic in her mouth drooling all over it "What is it with me? Can't things just stay simple?" She sighed and pulled the tiny braces over her shoulders. "Let's go, you're gonna like auntie River. She's very smart. Who knows, maybe one day you will get to see her somewhere when you grow up" 

 

.... 

 

As she carefully approached the kitchen, surprisingly she heard laughter and frowned confused. Then braved to step inside. 

 

"Hiya" she grinned awkwardly. 

 

"Hey sweetie. Look at her. It suits you" she gigled 

 

"Hi babe." Yaz smiled. 

 

"Say hello to auntie River." 

 

"Hey gorgeous, nice to meet you." River smiled and brushed her finger over small hand "Waaaw...her eyes. 

 

"She's hungry" Doctor said. 

 

"Give her here. Hey, you sleepyhead, goodness still yawning." Ya smiled "But you smell nice" she kissed Anaya's forehead then sat down to feed her. 

 

"Thought you said she's like you? Where did those eyes come from?" 

 

"We don't know." Yaz said 

 

"Pretty though." Doctor smiled proudly. 

 

"Stunning. She's definitely gonna turn some heads when she grows up." 

 

"We need to leave soon." The Doctor said quickly grabbing some toast "Tardis picked up an alien life form around 10 km from here. Your cargo moves fast. We'll take the TARDIS. Yaz you two stay inside, no arguing...I need you safe and I need you on a com in case we need help. We will park a bit further out." 

 

"Give me five minutes. Nice chatting..." River smiled at Yaz and zoomed out of the kitchen. 

 

"Same here" she smiled back. 

 

"Please be careful" Yaz said "This is making me nervous." 

 

"Don't worry Yaz. It's like catching a big kitten." 

 

"The one that is invisible and can make you go mad. Piece of cake." 

 

.... 

 

"Say we do find it. How are we gonna contain it?" River asked as they gathered in the control room. 

 

"Aaaa...I worked on it last night." She grabbed the gadget from the table and gave it to River then stood in the middle of the room. "Press that button.” 

 

She pointed at the Doctor and pressed. The silver net popped up around the Doctor and she grinned proud of herself fumbling to get out then walked over to the console "Titanium and equipped with short reach teleport straight to the TARDIS cargo room at the back." She pointed at the screen showing the big box in the middle of the room. 

 

"Perfect" 

 

"Let's go...Ready?" 

 

..... 

 

"It's not much further" Doctor said as they walked through the forest "I think it's dormant. It hasn't moved since dawn. So, it must be active at night." 

 

"Or it's hurt." 

 

"That's a good point." 

 

"Down there" the Doctor pointed down the valley towards the bottom of the mountain. There's an intricate system of caves down there. Perfect hiding place. You know there a whole city...mmm" 

 

River shut her up, putting her hand over her mouth and pointed to their left to the group of soldiers carrying some equipment "We've got company." 

 

"Those have to be the same guys who shot you down. Come on, we can't let them find it first.” 

 

They went down the hill and sneaked up to the soldiers hiding behind the bushes to get a better look. 

 

"Ten of them and two of us. That shouldn’t be a problem. " River said 

 

"Neah...Should be fine..." she scrunched her nose.... Like the old days." 

 

"Go on, get that moving" the man yelled at two shoulders carrying a big military crate. They took a sort of a machine out of it and propped it up on a tripod directing it to the cave. 

 

"What's that?" River asked. 

 

"Not sure, hard to say. There's a side passage into the cave over there. A bit narrow, but we can avoid them and take a short-cut." 

 

"Remember, you only shoot in self-defense. We need this thing alive. Now let's go" the man said. 

 

"Time to go" Doctor tapped River’s shoulder. 

 

... 

 

"Narrow, more like a rabbit hole" River picked a spider web from her hair as they crawled through the tunnel. 

 

"I did say it was narrow. Look there" she pointed to the end. 

 

"It's like a maze in here" her eyes grew wide as she lit up the tunnel "This is amazing...It's not a natural formation either. I thought this planet is not inhabited?" 

 

"Yeah, about that..." 

 

"Shhhh...listen." 

 

Doctor zoomed with a sonic "Aaaa your cargo. It's just around the corner." 

 

"Look, she bent down on the floor seeing the same glittering substance as the one she found on the ship. 

 

The Doctor scanned it "Looks like blood. Come on" 

 

They slowly entered the larger cave and found the animal curled up moaning in pain. Its body, similar to a dragon but covered with beautiful feathers in all the colors of the rainbow. Its head, more rounded like a cross between a dragon and a beautiful gecko with massive emerald eyes and light green feathered ears. 

 

"Waaaw...you're a gorgeous thing." Doctor approached cautiously and the animal twitched at the sound of her sonic. 

 

"How come we can see it?"  

 

"It's hurt. This creature needs help, but we need to transport it on the TARDIS." She said slowly coming closer 

 

"Careful!" 

 

"It's alright. Hi, I'm not gonna hurt you. I'm the Doctor, this is River. We're here to help you." 

 

The animal raised its head and hissed, and the Doctor stopped slowly descending to the ground. "See...please let me help you. I need to see what's wrong with you. Then we can maybe get you home." She slowly approached step by step until she was right in front of it and suddenly the animal stood up shaking its feathers towering over the Doctor reveling its true size. The Doctor stood still looking up as the animal lowered its head looking straight into her eyes. Its breath making her hair flutter like in the wind. The animal could see inside her, two hearts beating behind her ribcage and sniffed down her body. She felt dizzy and in some sort of daze. 

 

"It's trying to communicate. Telepathic...are you trying to say something?" she reached her hand slowly "CONTACT" 

 

She felt the animal go through her thoughts, her memories and all her lives. Then suddenly she saw planets and stars as if she was traveling through space and time. Then huge forests and waterfalls, unusual animals and other creatures and a spaceship descending from the sky. Hunters, who catch creatures and take them away. The ship hit a storm and crashed to Earth, the animal fled in terror. The voices interrupted the connection, and the Doctor opened her eyes. The animal got startled and stepped back. 

The situation escalated in seconds. Soldiers shouting with guns pointed. River pulled out a gun and suddenly had another pointed at the back of her head. 

 

"Easy Professor." the man said into her ear taking a gun off her. 

 

"What are you waiting for, get that thing" he shouted. 

 

"Noo! Don't" Doctor yelled and stepped in front of the animal spreading her arms out. 

 

The animal stood up, shook itself and disappeared. The man started shooting and the Doctor ducked. Suddenly one of the men got hit by the invisible creature, his body flew across the room into the wall. One by one the men were thrown around like rag dolls and the others kept shooting. 

 

The Doctor grabbed one man's arm "Stop this. Order your men to stand down. You're all gonna die!" 

 

"Get off me!" He pushed her off and fired. 

 

Doctor and River watched as they suddenly dropped the weapons and covered their ears screaming. 

 

"Idiots, what have you done" the Doctor said helplessly. 

 

"Activate the bomb, activate the bomb!" one person yelled running out of the cave. 

 

A wave of energy swept through the cave. There was silence, absolute silence when the Doctor came around. She opened her eyes, her vision blurred. Her legs were in excruciating pain, and she shook her head moving rocks and spitting dust. All she saw around was a pile of rocks. 

 

"River!!!" She yelled. 

 

"I'm fine" she yelled back from the opposite side and pushed the rock off herself "Hold on" 

 

"Well, I can't move even if I wanted...Aaaaarrrrhhh" she tried and failed moving a large rock from her legs. 

 

"Wait I'm coming" she wiggled out of the rubble and stood up looking for the Doctor 

 

"Over here. I think I lost me sonic. Did I tell you how much I hate the army?" 

 

"No, never" she laughed standing above her watching her trying to move a massive rock "Are you more fragile as a woman?" 

 

"Oi!" 

 

....

 

 

"What are you doing?" 

 

"What does it look like I'm doing? Trying to get us out of here" The Doctor crawled around the massive pile of stones blocking the exit. 

 

"There's 25 meters of solid rock between us and the sunlight and your sonic is fried. So, unless you have some mining equipment, I'd say you're just fidgeting." 

 

"I'm not fidgeting!" 

 

She laughed staring at her bum wiggle as she bent down "All you do is fidget in this regeneration. Your ass can't keep still. Cute though" 

 

"There's absolutely nothing wrong with my behind, thank you very much" she smuged standing up. 

 

"Shame, that was a good view. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're avoiding me" 

 

"Whaaaa? I am not avoiding you!! Unlike you I'm trying to get us out of here. Unless you have a better plan?" 

 

"I do actually" 

 

"Well feel free to share it." 

 

"Sit and wait. Your wife has the TARDIS. At some point she'll realize communication dropped and we're not coming home for dinner. So, she’ll come looking for you."

 

"You’re probably right" she shrugged. 

 

"I am right" she followed her with her eyes as she sat next to her. Still trying to get used to the new face. 

 

"Jelly baby?" Doctor offered from her pocket, and she accepted with a smile. She found her tiny frame cutely adorable and made a point of studying every detail of this new face. Small freckles over her nose, and little birth marks on her cheek. The color of her eyes and what stories they held. "How's your leg?" She looked down at her ankle. 

 

"As good as new" she said fiddling with the sonic 

 

"You didn't tell her, did you?" 

 

"Tell her what?" 

 

"Why you brought her here?" 

 

"Don't know what you're talking about?" She frowned shaking a sonic and pressing it. 

 

"Right...So you're just here for the scenery? 

 

"It's beautiful scenery. It's calm...we need it...after everything." 

 

"Orina 45 the constellation of Demetrius or better known as Gelida Tempore...frozen in time. Influenced by an unknown cosmic event 6 billion years ago, the consequences of which caused time to pass differently here. In fact, so different that it can extend human life up to 3000 years. You froze her in time." 

 

"Well, someone did their homework.” 

 

"I bet you took a lot of trips while she was pregnant, or she would've carried that baby for 10 years. What are you doing?" 

 

The Doctor didn't reply, just looked down to the floor then pursed her lips and looked up at her, some words dying on her lips as she fumbled to explain her actions as she's been cornered by the question, she really didn't have an answer to. Not the one that would make perfect sense anyway. 

 

"I can't lose everyone all the time." 

 

"But you can't freeze your family in time either. At least not without their consent. How did you find this place anyway?" 

 

"By accident, years ago. There's a place here, if I find it it can change her." 

 

"It's a legend. " 

 

"Legends can be real." 

 

"You should tell her. She loves you and trusts you. You owe her that. It should be her decision. You can't keep your child here forever either." 

 

"I know." 

 

"What else are you not telling me?" 

 

"What do you mean?" She hides her eyes away looking towards the floor. 

 

"Oh, give up. You were always a bad liar and now you're even worse. What happened to you? What are you running away from? Apart from the usual and your wife's inevitable demise?" 

 

"My time is up.... I guess I'm just refusing to accept it. Maybe, if I'm clever, I can cheat it this time around." 

 

"And are you?" 

 

"Not sure" she looks at her again, then the sound of TARDIS came as a school bell saving her from answering more questions, she has no answers to.  

 

"Hiya" Yaz smiled from the door. 

 

"Where's Anaya?" Doctor frowned confused. 

 

"Listening to whale song in her crib." 

 

Suddenly an explosion blew the rocks and the sun shined through. Doctor turned to see the soldiers coming inside the cave. 

 

"Get into the TARDIS!!" She yelled and when she was about to run, one of the soldiers shot in her direction and she fell to the ground. He laid his hand on the Doctor and they both disappeared. 

 

"Doctoooor!" Yaz yelled but River stopped her at the door. 

 

"Noo! Get off me!" 

 

"They teleported. Get inside" River pushed her in "Move, move, move" she yelled running to the console. 

 

"What are you doing?" Yaz screamed and tried stopping her, but River pulled the lever. 

 

"We can't leave her!" 

 

"And we're not. She's just tranquilized. We can't risk them getting the TARDIS. But we need a plan." She ran to her bag and took a few things out filling her pockets then pulled a gun out, reloaded it and tucked it into her belt. 

 

.... 

 

On the ship the man injected the Doctor's neck, and she slowly woke up. 

 

"Morning" 

 

She sat up shaking her head. Her vision still a bit blurred. 

 

"Now how do I contact that blue box?" 

 

.... 

 

Suddenly there was a call on a TARDIS console and River ran to pick it up. 

 

"Professor Song." 

 

"Curnel Hughes. I should've known." 

 

"Here's a deal. You get me the beast and you get your little friend back." 

 

"Did you just call me little?" Doctor complained from the back, trapped behind the force field 

 

"And what makes you think I can get it?" 

 

"You managed once. You can do it again. You have 24 hours" the man said and hang up. 

 

"Who are they?" 

 

"Army from SiPix 38, 34th century. They want the animal to weaponize it." 

 

"You're not really gonna give it to them? Right?" 

 

"Not in million years."

 

"I'm going with you" Yaz said. 

 

"What about your kid?" 

 

.... 

 

Sonya almost poked her eye out with mascara when the TARDIS started materializing in her room and papers from her desk flew away. The door squealed and Yaz came out with Anaya.  

 

"Yaz?" 

 

"You know when you asked to babysit. Well now is the best time as ever." She passes her the baby as Sonya noticed River over her shoulder 

 

"Who's she?" 

 

"Doctor's other wife from past. No time to explain." 

 

"What??" 

 

"Hi" she waives from the door smiling. 

 

"River my sister Sonya? Nappies are here, she just ate." She said as she hung the nappy bag over her shoulder "Milk is inside just put it into fridge then heat it up in about an hour like I thought you" 

 

"Where's the Doctor?" 

 

"Oh, imprisoned by the army from the future. No time to explain." 

 

"What?" 

 

"Ok, gotta go. Thanks for this, I really appreciate it. Now you be a good girl and don't fuss about the food. Right, let's get your Ammi back." She kissed the baby and went back to the TARDIS "See you soon." 

 

"Be safe!" Sonya yelled as TARDIS door shut. 

 

.... 

 

"What's the plan" Yaz asked as they landed. 

 

River took another gun out her bag and passed it to Yaz "To get our wife back and blow them out of the sky." 

 

Yaz's eyes lit up with a massive smile. 

 

....