#amiworthsaving

[archive--mysteryandmadness]

"Can you feel it kicking?"

"I think it's a little early for that, darling."

[archive--mysteryandmadness]

Early Bird -- amiworthsaving

It was just supposed to be a normal dinner, really. That was all. Just her and Alex and Gene at Luigi's, Luigi smiling in a fatherly way at River's rapidly growing belly. She was about seven months along, and thankfully doing well according to her doctor. Nothing unusual going on. Because of this, she took her vague stomach cramps at dinner as nothing, and tried to go on and eat as normal. Until she felt a popping sensation, and a distinct trickle of liquid between her legs. And another cramp in her stomach followed, one that had her clenching her fists. River moved over across the bench to be right next to Alex, taking her hand and whispering in her ear in a shaking voice. "Alex ... my water just broke."

[archive--mysteryandmadness]

Scars

Scars - a River/Alex drabble - prompt from Bae/amiworthsaving

But then River came back up. Alex squirmed with frustration as River's lips started again, back on Alex's jawline and neck. She shivered when one kiss hit a sensitive spot, and she could feel River smiling against her skin as she carefully nipped at it. Alex breathed in sharply, shivering, and River laughed lightly. "You're so beautiful," River nearly purred, kissing Alex's hipbones, hands holding her hips ... Alex suddenly flinched as though burned, letting out a tiny gasp. River instantly drew up, panic flashing in her eyes. "What? What's the matter?" She touched Alex's face gently. "Sweetheart, tell me." Alex very seldom refused to speak. But now, she flipped around and faced the back of the couch, silent, grabbing a blanket that was thrown across the edge of the couch and covering up her torso and hips. "Sweetheart." River's flirtatiousness was gone. She put a soothing hand on her girlfriend's arm, gently turning her back over. "What happened? Did I hurt you?" Alex, still tense, whispered for her to just look. Gently, River slid the blanket off her and looked at her hips. River had brushed her hand over a scar from what looked like a bullet wound. It had healed long ago, that much was clear, but it had obviously been a serious wound. Alex's eyes were wide, terror laced into every line of her face. River met her girlfriend's eyes. "My love ..." "He didn't mean to do it!" Alex said tearfully, voice barely above a whisper. "I know he didn't mean to, he didn't, he didn't ..." "Ssh ..." River put two and two together easily. Him. Gene? Had Gene shot her? There would be a day to talk about this, to ask questions, to learn the whole story. But today was not that day. "Ssh, my darling, it's alright." At that, Alex relaxed back into River, burying her face in her girlfriend's shoulder, tears rolling down her cheeks. River kept her close. The two women fell asleep on the couch that night, cocooned together under a blanket. Alex's sleep was peaceful and dreamless, River's restless, full of nervous dreams.

*** When Alex woke up, sun barely beginning to rise, she saw that River had her hand splayed protectively over the scar on Alex's hip.

"Ssh, Alex," River murmured when Alex stirred, pulling her closer towards in her sleep. "Nobody's gonna hurt you again, love."

River's speech was slurred together, her curls fanned out over her pillow, face youthful in sleep. But somehow, it made Alex feel safe.

She closed her eyes, nestled in closer, and drifted back into sleep.

[archive--mysteryandmadness]

-- amiworthsaving --

River spun her chair back around towards her desk in the CID, grumbling. She wasn't quite used to her swelling stomach yet - enough to be easily noticeable, but not enough for an outsider to be certain that she was pregnant - and she was definitely not used to the other, marginally less obvious symptoms of pregnancy, nor did she think she'd ever be. She'd spent half the day nauseous (whoever called it morning sickness was an idiot, and had obviously never so much as met a pregnant women let alone been one) and she was finally, finally feeling better.

And what was her stomach doing when it wasn't making her feel ill? Random food cravings.

"Alex ..." she whined dramatically, crumpling up a piece of paper and tossing it at her girlfriend's desk. "Please will you go get me the takeaway?" This was the fourth time in the past hour that she'd asked for Alex to get food from that Thai place, but it was 10:30 at night, the two of them and Gene had stayed late to work, and although River knew she needed to work at least a little while longer she really, really wanted food. Specifically that food. "If you go, I absolutely promise I'll never bug you about one of my cravings again." It was a flat-out lie - River had promised that at least half a dozen times since they found out that she was pregnant, and she had broken the promise every time.

But hey, it was worth trying. If it got her the takeaway ... and maybe a kiss?

[archive--mysteryandmadness]

Dedication - One-shot

This ran away from me a little bit, but I hope you like it.

--------

All River wants is a goodbye.

She goes to billboards in the dead of night and paints it on overtop. Writes it in chalk on sidewalks. Spray paints it on the sides of buildings.

Hello, Sweetie. In Gallifreyan.

It’s quickly noticed and even more quickly debated. Gang symbols. An odd prank. Utter nonsense. Every theory is presented for this odd graffiti in London.

Someone compares it to the Byzantium cube, and the world is suddenly in uproar. Aliens, the headlines scream.

They’re right, really.

-----

River finds it at work, one day.

“Song,” Gene says from his office as she walks in. “Present for you. From some odd woman with red hair.”

She snatches it from him without a word.

Her blue journal. Her sketchbook.

“You didn’t read-”

“The ribbon’s still on it, isn’t it?” Gene says bitterly, slamming his office door closed. Alex is behind her in a heartbeat, a hand on River’s shoulder. She shoots Alex a look and then she knows it’s private, stepping back.

River leaves, steps into an interview room. Shuts and locks the door.

Her sketchbook is still full of all her old drawings, with room for new ones at the end - though there is one she doesn’t remember doing. She flips through her journal next, running her fingers down the pages as if she can scarcely believe they’re real. Hers, from her old life.

The handwriting at the back isn’t hers.

I’ve been clean for 28 months. No more cuts.

I love you,

Gemma

River gasps out loud, turning the page. Messages. From all over in people’s timelines, but … messages! The last words and goodbyes that she never thought she’d get but somehow did. Amy and Rory say they’re proud of her. Clara says she’s honoured to have met River, and that she’ll miss her. A few old colleagues of hers say goodbye. 

She swears the Doctor can work miracles.

You’re a great-grandmother now. 

We wish you were here, but we’re happy together.

It’s been a while, so I don’t think we’ll get to see you again, but it’s alright. Now I have my goodbye.

I hope it’s nice where you are.

I love you,

Aria (and Danny, Rory, Sarah, and her daughter, baby Melody.)

There’s a photograph inside of a laughing baby. She has Sarah’s eyes.

Dear Mum,

Mama was sad for a while. I painted a lot.

Mama is going to tell you she’s alright, and she is right now. I made sure she didn’t cut. She did kind of murder those rosebushes, the ones you always hated, so we planted lilacs in their place because they were always your favourite flowers. We talked a lot while we worked, and she got much better after that. When we got the “message” from you, Mama was so happy that she cried. We came up with the idea of the journal, because we can’t actually see you, and since then she’s been back more or less to normal.

I’m fine. I always am, aren’t I?  I’m going ot university next fall, as an art history major. My boyfriend will be there too, for music. I’ve been with him a year. Mama loves him, actually, and she thinks you would too, though when he first came over she said that if he hurt me she would bash his head in. He’s a little frightened of her now.

Actually, Mama is - never mind. She’ll tell you.

I drew a picture of the lilac bush in your sketchbook, by the way. I hope you don’t mind.

I love you always, and I’ll see you again someday.

Isis

The last letter brings River to tears.

Hello again, my love.

I really hope you aren’t worried about us. Isis is doing well, now, and I’m a lot better than I was. She probably told you about the rosebush incident, and actually I’m not even remotely sorry for it, although their death was a rather violent, twiggy one. I just wish I’d done it sooner, so you could see the new flowers. Isis is doing such beautiful art now; it reminds me so much of yours.

I’m so sorry I can’t visit you. There’s so much time energy where you are for some reason that seeing you would probably crack open the universe. But this is … so much more than I’d ever hoped for. Truly.

Actually, writing this letter feels strange. I imagined it so many times, what I’d say to you if I could, but now that the pen is in my hand it feels strange. Nothing feels right, especially since you sort of have a new life now. But I just thought you should know that we’re getting on well again. And I know you are too, actually. A while ago, though a long way in your future, I met Alex. She’s wonderful, and I can see why you love her. I’m sure she makes you happy. I met your daughter with her, actually. I made her promise to come visit me again.

River pauses at this, resting a hand on her stomach. Her child - daughter - would meet the Doctor. She smiles.

Her name is beautiful. Like something out of a fairy tale.

Speaking of fairy tales. We had quite a story ourselves, didn’t we? I loved every minute of it. Maybe I’ll see you again someday, later on in our timeline. You won’t know me like you do now, so I almost hope that we don’t meet again. Which reminds me. I’ve decided to start traveling again. I swore to Isis - and I swear to you - I won’t be alone.

In fact, the first person to come have adventures with me is a girl named Amelia Drake. She wants to see the stars, just like her mum. To help defeat evil, like both of her mothers. Actually, she said you knew it would happen, that you told her, so … I figure here is where you found out.

The stars won’t be the same without you.

I love you so, so much, and I hope that you and Alex are very happy.

Funny. I thought when you went to the library, it would be the end. But it wasn’t, was it? That was a chapter. Now we have a whole new beginning.

I’ll see you in the epilogue, my love.

Theta

-------

She shows Alex the journal that night.

They share more stories and laughs and tears that night than River knew she had in her. It’s like a weight off her chest.

And when she falls asleep in Alex’s arms that night, she is happier than she’s been in a very long time.

[archive--mysteryandmadness]

// I love when mobile decides it hates specific threads of mine and won't publish anything from them.

[archive--mysteryandmadness]

//I'm watching the second last episode of Ashes to Ashes.

I'm gonna cry I swear to god and it's barely started.

BAILEY HOW COULD YOU MAKE ME WATCH THIS? *sobs*

[iamxxxxlocked]

patterns. Irene&Alex

Patterns are boring. Life is about creativity, not repetition. It's far more exciting to crawl into someone's short range of trust, find out what they like and exploit them with it. In most cases, the murders either go unsolved, unless she take the time to frame someone in the victim's life who might had motive. Regardless they remain unconnected and none lead back to her.

Though in the most recent case, one might notice an unusual business card in the wallet of a dead man. It reads simply "The Woman," in elegant cursive. It would take some digging, but eventually it would bring the enquirer to 44 Eaton Place, business house of The Woman. Also known as Irene Adler. 

When the doorbell rings, it's of course Kate who gets it. Looking at the screen, the video feed shows her a well put together woman in her potentially late 20's. Maybe early 30's. With a click of the button, Kate's voice echoes out to the stranger outside, "Hello. Can I help you?"