"The universe is big. It's vast and complicated and ridiculous. And sometimes, very rarely, impossible things just happen and we call them miracles." - Doctor Who

Amy and Rory are painting the walls of the extra room in their new home (the one so obviously meant for a child) when they see a familiar flash of light. And there in doorway of the would-be nursery is their daughter.

Amy freezes in disbelief. It's been nearly 10 years since she saw River. Ten years and one war that felt like it changed the world. Amy is snapped out of her trance by the sight of Rory running forward to pull River into his arms. She's real, Amy realizes as she listens to Rory begin to cry into their daughter's shoulder.

Amy walks over to them slowly, unable to shake the thought that the moment she touches River, she will simply melt like the baby Amy once held at Demon's run. River and Rory reach out immediately, pulling Amy into a hug so long overdue. Amy revels in the way her daughter is holding her tightly – always so very strong and brave, Amy's little girl. Brave, just like Amy had told her to be as a baby.

It isn't until Amy pulls back so that she can look at River properly that she notices the tear tracks down her daughter's face. River cries so quietly, so stoically. She cries exactly the same way now that she had when she'd been Mels. Amy wipes the tears away.

"You look so young," Amy whispers, her palm cupping River's cheek.

"I'm really not," River says with a smile that makes Amy wonder just how old her daughter is now.

"I don't understand," Amy says, though really it matters little what her daughter looks like. Amy has seen her with three faces, what's a few lines compared to that.

"I'll explain, I promise," River says. "Tea first though?"

"Oh, of course," Amy tells River, grabbing her hand and leading her towards the kitchen. "We're not done unpacking, so you'll have to ignore the boxes."

River just smiles, still hardly able to believe that she has finally found her way back to her parents.

"How did you get here?" Rory asks incredulously once he's taken a seat next to River at the kitchen table.

"Vortex manipulator. I would have come sooner, but this was the first year I was able to get through without threatening to destroy New York."

Rory laughs and cries simultaneously, and he feels so much like he did when he first held River as a baby, completely unable to contain his emotions in the wake of his daughter's presence. "I learned to wait thanks to your mother," Rory replies, earning himself a smack on the arm from his wife. "I'm just so pleased you made it here."

"So am I Dad."

Dad. Rory loves the sound of that word.

Amy joins them at the table as soon as she's set the teakettle on the stove. She reaches out for River's hand. "Melody," she whispers, glad that River indulges Amy's desire to call her by her childhood name.

"I'm so sorry I couldn't find a way to come sooner Mother."

Amy shakes her head. "It doesn't matter." She notices the sadness etched on River's face. "How long has it been for you?"

"A long time."

"You're here now," Amy says, squeezing River's hand tighter.

"I am."

"Now tell us how you've been," Amy says.

"Well, I was dead for a while," River begins, earning her gasps of horror from both of her parents. "Don't worry. I'm not anymore. Obviously."

"Taking after your old Dad," Rory says.

River laughs until her stomach aches. She's missed him so much. Missed them both so much.

"What happened?" Amy asks, still looking horrified and clearly not seeing the humor in the situation.

"I was stuck in a computer for a while until the Doctor showed up."

"He saved you," Amy says with a smile. She's never loved the Doctor more.

River shakes her head. "No. He tried, and then he damn near got himself stuck in there too. I had to save us both."

"That's my girl," Rory says proudly.

"I ended up a bit younger looking and a lot more time lord, but no worse for the wear really."

"And the Doctor…" Amy begins. She imagines that he and River are still together and happy since the mere mention of his name makes River smile. But Amy can't quite figure out why her old friend isn't here now.

"Oh he's exactly the same," River says with so much fondness. "I promise to bring him with me next time I visit. I just wanted a little time for the three of us first."

"Is he taking care of you properly?" Rory asks, the perfect picture of a concerned father.

"He's been driving me crazier than usual recently," River says, as anxiety begins to stir in her chest.

"Is he wearing a fez again?" Amy jokes, but River looks suddenly rather serious.

"Something's happened. When I came back, the changes to my biology, well they made it so that the Doctor and I are more…compatible."

"Are you…" Amy whispers.

"Pregnant," River replies with a nod, apprehension written across her face.

The kettle chooses the perfect dramatic moment to whistle loudly, and Amy springs from her seat to fetch it.

"Congratulations River!" Rory says, looking her over for any obvious signs of her pregnancy. He wonders exactly how long it takes to gestate a time lord baby. He decides to ignore the fact for now that his daughter is pregnant with an alien.

Amy fixes River's tea exactly as she likes it, studying her little girl while making the tea. "Are you upset?" Amy asks cautiously when she places the cup in front of River.

River shrugs, and oh, she just looks so young and afraid.

"Do you not want to be a mother?" Amy asks, the question making her ache. She wants to have a child so badly, has wanted to give her husband a baby since before they ended up in this time. But she can't think of that now. Her daughter needs her.

"What do I know about being a mother?" River asks.

"Are you joking?" Rory asks. River looks at him quizzically. "You were always taking care of me when we were little. Remember when you beat up Andrew McMillan because he teased me?"

River smiles. "Only Amy and I were allowed to tease you."

"She's still quite good at it by the way." Amy smacks his arm again. "Ow!" Rory shakes his head and turns back to his daughter. "I'll never forget that you were the one who helped me when my mum died. You were always there for me River. You came to my house every day with these terrible cookies that you baked yourself and just stayed with me. To the rest of the world you were this rebellious troublemaker, but I got to see a whole other side of you. I have no doubt that you will be an amazing mother."

"He's right you know," Amy chimes in before River has a chance to argue. "You always took care of me too. As River and as Mels. You've been more of a mother to me than I've been to you really."

"That isn't true," River says, taking Amy's hand again.

"How far along are you?" Amy asks.

"Two months."

"And is it like a human pregnancy?" Rory asks timidly.

River laughs lightly. "Yes Dad."

"You can come visit now, yea?" Amy asks. "We'll get to be proper grandparents?"

River feels herself tearing up at her parents' enthusiasm and their faith in her. She nods at them, not fully sure she can speak yet without her voice shaking.

"We are going to spoil this baby rotten," Amy declares happily.