Listening to 'Dana Glover - It Is You'

River Song raced through the dimly lit corridor. Breathing heavily, sweating, and holding her precious cargo close to her heaving chest. Her legs weakened and she slumped against the rough, stone wall. Silent tears slid down her flushed cheeks. River couldn't run much longer, she was spent; it wasn't good for her to be exercising like this in her condition, but some things were much more important.

She held her soft package even closer, curling herself around it as best she could, protecting him. She could hear them closing in on her once again. She groaned as she clambered up, clawing the wall with one hand to aid her, her stomach ached and burned in protest and she let out a shallow gasp. She hoped the Tardis was close now, he had promised after all. He wouldn't let her down now, not when it concerned the important little parcel in her hands. She looked at him in wonder, rocking him. Wondering what would happen to it when she reached her destination.

She clutched him close once more, hiding him as best she could under The Doctor's purple tweed jacket; he had put it on her and told her to run. She heard the scratchy noise of fabric against fabric as they drew ever closer, and the echo of their boots on the floor. There must have been a dozen, if not more chasing her. They weren't far away now. It was only a matter of how far she could keeping running, and not unlike her husband, she had been running her whole life. Running to The Doctor.

River sprinted, her bare feet slapping the cold, hard floor of the deserted hospital corridor. 'I can't do it' River gasped, as her stomach twisted, she fell. Checking to warm bundle in her arms, she felt a searing pain shoot up her leg from her ankle. Suppressing a gasp, she clambered back up, holding the parcel tighter.

'If you won't run for your life, run for his' The Doctor's desperate voice rang through thoughts. River growled in determination, pushing off the wall, stumbling further across the floor. Her ankle making her eyes water.

'His life' River thought, it spurred her on. She ran, ignoring the cries of her body, half hoping, half running, till she saw the very same blue box she had been promised. She was bent over in extreme pain as she stumbled into the Tardis.

"Don't let them get away!" The evil voice ordered. It was the ugly tone that had haunted all of River's nightmares since childhood, it seared through the air behind her like fingernails on a blackboard. It made her convulse to think of her darling boy in the hands of that woman.

The Tardis door slammed behind River, locking itself firmly. Fists and guns attacked ferociously. River cradled her little package with great care, involuntary tears sliding fast down her face, as she muttered breathily with the little strength she had left, "You know where to go." to the Tardis. River placed a hand on the console, begging the Tardis to do as she was told. What they were about to do was extremely dangerous, but it was worth ripping a few lone Star's apart for. However, if it went wrong … River didn't want to think about that. She had to try and stay positive.

River limped along using the railing and placed the tiny bundle in the present she had received from The Doctor a week ago, a cot he had made, with much difficulty, just like his own, deep blue, with the child's name engraved onto the wood and painted gold, a mobile of stars and planets to hang above his head at night. They had been so happy then, so much had changed. They had hoped his existence would never be discovered. The Tardis rumbled as River lay on the chair next to the present, watching its contents intently. Her eyes began to droop.

The Tardis began its silent, almost solemn flight through the Vortex. River did not need to fly her. The Tardis had known this day was coming for a long time, and she took great care, knowing what had to be done as she knew all of time and space; she knew what she had to do and where she had to go now.

River lay very still, getting her breath back, breathing in and out in a controlled fashion. The pain in her abdomen lessened slightly with the rest and the help of the Tardis. She leant over constantly to check inside the cot.

The Tardis landed with a large grumble. All the lights died, the Tardis was gone.

River winced as she swung her feet over the edge of the sofa, grimacing. She scooped up her cargo once again, tucking it safely into the crook of her arm, covering it with his tweed jacket. River knew she needed to sleep, she had tried so hard to keep him safe, and now he nearly was. She had served her purpose now. She just needed to walk outside and it would all be fine. River walked tensely through the doors of the Tardis.

River emerged into a little English back garden.

"Doctor?" A young woman ran from house in front of River, blonde, pretty and petite. She had a trustworthy, mothering look in her dark eyes. Perfect. Just as he had said she would be.

"Who are you?" The woman looked terrified. River knew she must look like an escaped mental patient. She was dressed in a hospital gown and a borrowed tweed jacket, with no shoes, untamed curls and dark bags under her fearful blue eyes.

"Hello Rose, I'm … River." River mumbled. She moved the tweed so that the woman could see the tiny, perfect being in her arms. Sleeping in complete peace, comforted by the sound of his mother's melodic hearts beating.

"Oh …" Rose gasped. She felt compassion and confusion wash over her.

"Take him," River begged "Please." she placed the little boy soundly into Rose's arms.

Rose admired his tiny features. So perfect and soft, a snub, nose and plump, little lips. Dark lashes lay on his rosy cheeks. A tuft of dark curls peeked out from under the shift of Tardis blue cloth he was wrapped in. He couldn't have been more than a week or two old.

He squirmed, sensing that he was no longer in the arms of his Mother, he began to whimper. His eyes opened to reveal pale and yet bright golden irises. He reminded Rose of someone, there was something behind his eyes that was unnervingly familiar.

"Shush Sweetie, Mummy's here. Okay? You're safe now." River stroked the baby's head contentedly. He stopped whimpering and hiccupped.

River stumbled, not able to hold herself up much longer. Then her eyes rolled back into her skull and she collapsed on the green. The baby began to cry.

Rose, quivering, covered the baby's ears and screamed "Ben!"