Chapter Text
River was awakened by the sound of hushed voices and little feet. "We'll just sneak in the bed. They'll never know," she heard a voice say.
"How are we to sneak in the bed if we can barely climb in it?" asked another voice.
"Um... um..."
"You ask your mother," River interjected.
She hoisted Robert and Audrey on the bed in between her and the Doctor.
"What's going on?" mumbled the Doctor.
"I don't know. What happened?" asked River.
"There's Toclafane in my room," whispered Robert.
"There isn't," replied River.
"There is," he insisted.
"Doctor," said River.
"Hm?" replied the Doctor.
"You're son is afraid of the Toclafane."
"He should be... if he's a bad little Timelord," said the Doctor turning to face his son.
"Understandable, but why are you here?" asked River turning on Audrey.
"Robert told me that the Toclafane would come after me as a substitute if they realized he wasn't in his room so I had to come with him," explained Audrey.
"Well, you can go back to your own room," said River smiling at her daughter.
"I would, but since I'm here, I might as well stay," said Audrey, and with that she flopped over to bury herself under the covers.
"If Audrey's staying, I'm staying," declared Robert as he buried himself under the blankets as well.
River let out an exasperated sigh. They were only four-years-old. At least they were having nightmares about imaginary monsters and not... No, not her children. Never her children. River turned off the light and lied down to go back to sleep. "It's okay, Audrey. We're safe here," she heard Robert say to his sister.
She hoped they were. She really hoped they were.