To Be Astrid

Chapter 7 - Day of the Moon

The Impossible Astronaut/Day of the Moon -

From afar, Astrid and River watched as the Doctor greeted Amy and Rory. The Oracle, brunette and a couple inches smaller than last time, stood with the trio, a happy smile on her face. River looked to her right to see the frown on Astrid's face. The Time Lord looked down when she saw her happy parents hugging, excited to see each other, not a trace of worry in their actions.

River sighed, "Hey, your dad is looking ridiculous."

Astrid pursed her lips and looked up, "The hat is stupid."

"Bet you five credits I can shoot it off his head", River held one hand out to Astrid and the other over her gun.

Astrid sighed and slapped her hand in agreement, "Does it even matter anymore."

"Yeah, fate's being kind to me, I've got good chances today", River aimed her gun and shot the Stetson off of the Doctor's head. When the group all turned to them, she blew over the top of her gun, put it away and said, "Hello, Sweetie."

Finally, Astrid put on a facade, just how she'd seen her parents do many times over the years and handed River a few coins, "You win. But I'm glad you did actually."

"You had a bet on whether she'd shoot the hat or me?", the Doctor asked his daughter accusingly.

"And you bet that she'd shoot your dad?", the Oracle added in the same tone, frowning at her, "Astrid!"

"Mum!", Astrid gave back in the same tone, intending to keep a light mood. Her parents couldn't help but drop their accusing faces, just happy to see her again and so Astrid giggled and jumped into the Doctor's arms. He pulled her close and kissed the top of her head.

In that moment, Astrid first noticed that the Doctor knew what was going to happen today as well so she held on tighter for just a moment. Thus, the Doctor knew that she knew and smiled sympathetically to himself, holding her tightly. When she had put her facade back on she pulled away and smiled at him. He smiled as well and pushed her over to the Oracle who hugged her too, both women much happier than before.

In the diner, matching up diaries, Astrid genuinely lightened up a bit. Happy to have a good milkshake and talk to her family she held onto River's hand. Yes, the Oracle had no idea who River was to her and disregarding how threatened she had felt by their relationship just a few months ago, right now she just felt sad for River. She had been right and it hurt. Finally, she'd had her family and immediately it had been taken from her.

At the picnic she felt uneasy, seeing where they are, and glancing at her watch every couple seconds with worry. However, getting to stay close to her parents made it easier for her to keep up her facade, especially with the two warning glances she'd received from the Doctor and River each. So, when the astronaut ascended from the water she just held on tightly to the Oracle, just like she used to do as a child and suddenly, she couldn't function anymore.

River, on the other hand, thrived in her investigation to get to the bottom of the Doctor's plan, especially with how the Oracle suddenly acted so much like her sister, like Tabby. Theorising with her and exchanging their thought processes. However, her inner excitement fell when they reentered the diner and the Doctor emerged from the back, nearly two hundred years younger than the one who'd just gotten shot by the lakeside. Pity for her sister and best friend flared in River over what she could only interpret as a cruelty from the man in front of them.

Astrid didn't see it as such, however. She was just happy he was alive, there and ready for a hug. All she wanted in that moment was to spend the rest of the week in the Tardis with her parents and cuddle up. Understand what was going on and have them comfort her over the events. But she couldn't do that now, because the Doctor had his own plans. So the okay-facade was put back on and they went to Washington DC in the sixties.