Christmas Eve had come to the suburbs on Earth, and along with it came two travelers from the far reaches of time and space. They were a husband and wife of sorts, but not even the holiday could prevent them from bickering with one another. Standing on the sidewalk, they had themselves a bit of a row.

"You were the one who told me to meet you," the Doctor protested over towards his curly haired counterpart.

"And you were the one who suggested we go to 21st century Earth in these suburbs," River retaliated, looking around at the rows of houses decorated with strings of lights around her. "We could have met up anywhere, but you chose here."

"Well, I thought it would be convenient. No aliens chasing us or anything, just nice and peaceful."

"Peaceful can be boring," River replied.

"Don't worry, River," the Doctor said. "We'll be heading off somewhere far more interesting in the TARDIS soon."

"What about Clara?" River asked, glancing around to attempt to find her husband's companion. The Doctor put his hands on her shoulders and turned her to the side. Walking up to a door on one of the houses was a large group of small children. They looked almost like a school of multicolored fish in their winter coats. 

Rounding them all up and herding them along was none other than Clara, their teacher. She urged one of the children to go forwards and ring the doorbell, and then stood back. Soon the door opened and Clara prompted them. Their mouths opened in song as their teacher's face broke out into a grin. 

"Deck the hall with bows of holly,

Fa la la la la, la la la la!"

"As you can see, she has plenty to deal with," the Doctor said. "Now, come over to the TARDIS. I have something very important to show you. It's your Christmas gift, actually. One of your Christmas gifts."

"So I have more than one," River replied, raising her brows. "How exciting."

Arm in arm, the Doctor and River made their way to the blue box. As soon as she walked through the doors, she began making her way towards the controls. But soon the Time Lord stopped her, putting an arm out in front of her. He had a few other things that needed to be taken care of before she could start flying away. 

"I need to give you one of your gifts before we head out," the Doctor exclaimed. "I think you'll really appreciate it."

"Well, if it's a gift from you, sweetie..." River began. But then she didn't go any further, just ending her sentence in a laugh. Her eyes followed the Doctor as he ran to the side of the TARDIS and pulled out a box wrapped in good old-fashioned paper. On top was a bow that looked suspiciously similar to the one that the Doctor wore around his neck. 

After glancing up to her husband for a second, River started to tear the wrapping and get to the box. The wrapping was quickly removed, but the white box she had revealed did nothing to tell her what the gift was. Then she opened up the box and pushed aside several pieces of tissue paper and found her present. 

"My red high heels," River exclaimed, letting out a gasp of happiness.

"Indeed," the Doctor replied, excited that his gift had worked out. "I know we thought we had lost them when we were dealing with that wormhole, but it turns out that it ended up back on Earth. I was able to strike a deal and get them back in perfect condition."

Deciding that it was better not to question just how the Doctor had done such a thing, River moved forwards and began to kick off the shoes she had been wearing. But right before she was about to slip the first crimson pump on, she stopped and placed it back in the box. 

"I can't wear these heels with this," River sighed, glancing down at her jeans and casual shirt. "It wouldn't do them justice."

"Then take this," the Doctor said, handing her another gift. He pulled it out from behind his back out of nowhere, as if he were performing some sort of magic trick. He waited patiently for River to unwrap her gift and react to it. This time it was a full length dress, snow white and delicate. 

"Oh, sweetie. It's perfect," River cooed. "I'll go change into it now. It'll only take a few moments."  She pecked a quick kiss on the Doctor's lip and then scurried away into the halls of the TARDIS, the dress slung over her arm and the pumps swinging from her fist.

Not wanting to waste a single moment that she could be spending with the Doctor, River made sure to change quickly. It was only a matter of minutes later when she reappeared in the main control room. The white fabric swished against her legs as she strutted back to the center, listening to the clicking noise of her heels. Her gaze immediately fell upon her husband, who was leaning against the console waiting for her. 

"What the Hell are you wearing?" River exclaimed, her eyes popping. 

"What, you don't like it?" the Doctor laughed, holding out his arms. Featured on his torso was the most hideous Christmas sweater River had ever laid eyes on. There were lights embedded into the design made of garish reindeer and snow, making it look like he was more of a walking Christmas decoration than anything else.

"Let me just say that you're lucky you're wearing it on your torso, otherwise I would have shot it off of your body," River said, scanning over him again.

"Well," the Doctor replied, taken aback. "Maybe your other present will make up for it."

"Oh?" River asked. "I have another?" 

"But of course."

"I just hope you'll let me take the TARDIS controls and allow me to show you your gift," River laughed in response, her heels clicking as she took a few more steps. "Although it would be quite a gift to me if you would take that ghastly sweater off."

"Not going to happen!" the Doctor replied cheerfully. His head bobbed down as he went to work underneath the main control panel, doing whatever he could in order to get River's gift to function. If he could get this to work, then he was going to stun his wife. No pair of high heels or fancy dress could compare to this Christmas gift.

But as he was working, he found himself getting confused. He pushed his sonic screwdriver into place, hoping that this final action would make everything work together. For a moment, the Doctor stared perplexed into the mass of wires he had been working with. He could swear that there was a song playing, like the hum of his sonic. But it was very soft, as if it were bleeding in from another room.

"Doctor, you didn't tell me you had picked up a new companion," River said, her voice tinged with confusion.

"I didn't," the Doctor said. He shared that same confusion at first, until he realized what was going on.

"Oh, I see, I see!" he exclaimed, fiddling around for the final time just to get the last few details right. "You see, River, this is my Christmas gift to you. In front of you is the physical manifestation of the TARDIS. I thought since you are the Child of the TARDIS and all..."

"She is not the TARDIS," River replied. "I would know, and she is certainly not her."

"What are you talking about? Of course she's the TARDIS!" 

The Doctor now stepped away from his work in order to join River's side and see whatever was in front of her. As he walked around the console, a new shape came into view. Sure enough, a new woman had materialized inside of the TARDIS, humming quietly. Her form was not one the Doctor remembered seeing before, but he supposed that could make sense. Perhaps she looked different every time she came around.

Standing there was a woman with short and dark waves, wearing a gown that was rather similar to River's. Instead of being entirely white, it was a golden bronze sort of color with a black belt around the middle and white accents. She was humming along just soft enough that you couldn't make out what melody she was turning out. 

"No, I am not the TARDIS," she said as she turned to the Doctor, taking a break in her humming. "You call me Sonic. That's what I remember."

"Sonic," the Doctor repeated. "As in, sonic screwdriver."

"Precisely. I am Sonic."

"That's your sonic screwdriver," River exclaimed, her voice now filled with amazement. She took a step forwards, tilting her head to attempt a better view of the woman who continued to hum along. 

"How did you manage to do that? I've always known you weren't the best with the TARDIS machinery, but how did you get the sonic screwdriver to materialize when you were trying to get the TARDIS?"

"I don't know," the Doctor admitted. His eyes were now focused on the woman who claimed to be the sonic screwdriver. He scanned her, trying to see if he could glean any information from this. But then he squinted his eyes and stepped back.

"How can you not be the TARDIS? The sonic screwdriver isn't sentient the way the TARDIS is. I was using the visualization circuit, and that should only be compatable with sentient objects."

"Perhaps I am just more sentient than you thought," Sonic replied. "If you so wish, I can prove to you that I am the sonic screwdriver."

"Please do," the Doctor requested. 

Without another second of hesitation, Sonic pushed her eyelids shut and began to hum. Like the Christmas lights that had taken over the world outside of the TARDIS, her hair turned an alarmingly bright shade of green and began to glow. 

"I believe her," River said as soon as Sonic had stopped. 

"You're my sonic screwdriver," the Doctor stated, looking towards Sonic.

"I believe I am," she responded, before going back to her light humming. 

"Well, River," the Doctor said, clapping his hands together and turning around to face his wife. "You did like your other gifts, yes?"

"Very much so," she replied, glancing down at her gorgeous dress and heels. "But this is far more interesting to watch! It's a gift that keeps on giving."

The Doctor shook his head and then moved his attention back to the other woman standing in the TARDIS, saying, "Sonic. What are you doing?" 

Sonic made no reply and just continued to hum along. At the moment, she didn't feel like answering to anyone. Now that she had control over her own actions, she was going to do more as she pleased. The Doctor and River shared a quick glance at one another, the latter shrugging as she wasn't really all that bothered by it.

"We can still fly the TARDIS even if she's here, right?" River asked. "I mean, I still have my Christmas gift to give you."

"I believe so," the Doctor said. "I'm not sure how much power is being diverted to maintaining the image that we have here."

"I'll try it anyways," River replied. After flipping her curls over her shoulder, she walked over to the controls and began to pilot the TARDIS as if she were born to. Her Christmas gift to the Doctor was not going to be forgotten just because Sonic had appeared, she would be sure of that. 

"You aren't very Christmas-y," the Doctor complained, deciding to bide his time by speaking to Sonic.

"What do you mean?" Sonic replied, creasing her brows and tilting her head. "I can be very Christmas-y if I so choose."

"Oh, I need to see this," River laughed, taking a break from her TARDIS piloting to be a spectator for this event. 

"You've been working on my software," Sonic said to the Doctor. "I know you haven't forgotten! I have a red setting now. That means I can be red and green. Those are colors typically associated with Christmas." 

She then moved to demonstrate this. As the sound from her lips turned into a light hum, her hair began to turn a steady shade of green. Then she moved the pitch of her humming and the color changed along with it. Sonic's hair was now a bright red, the color gleaming around the TARDIS.

"Oh, yes!" the Doctor exclaimed. "Very Christmas-y. Almost as much as the sweater I'm wearing, yeah?" 

He was beginning to get flustered by what had just happened, knowing that his wife would soon be questioning him on it. Unfortunately, he wouldn't have the answers he needed.

"A red setting," River echoed. "I can't help but wonder why you've been working on Sonic's software for a red setting..."

"No reason," the Doctor squeaked. "Absolutely no reason." 

Before he could allow River to say another word, he turned back to Sonic and said, "Is there anything else Christmas-y you can do to pass the time?"

"Didn't you hear me before?" Sonic asked. "I was humming Christmas songs." 

She started humming again, but this time louder than before. It was now clear what melody was passing from her lips. 

"She's humming Jingle Bells," River stated. "Well, I'd never thought I'd be saying that about your sonic screwdriver, Doctor."

"I can feel the Christmas spirit," Sonic explained. "It radiates through the air like any other sort of energy, but it's different. I can pick it up, and I can respond to it in whatever way I see fit. I chose to hum carols and other songs."

"That's marvelous," the Doctor replied. "Simply marvelous. I don't know why I didn't think of that before." 

As the Time Lord was admiring Sonic, the TARDIS began to shake. There seemed to be turbulence in the time vortex as the time machine moved through space. The lights began to fade and grow in brightness, flashing slowly as if power was slowly running out. 

"We're going to crash," River said, her voice eerily calm. "If we don't land immediately, we're going to crash."

Both River and the Doctor turned to Sonic, knowing that her existence was likely what was a part of the problem at the moment. He didn't want to get rid of this visualization, but at the same time he didn't want the TARDIS to crash. The Time Lord jumped down to start working with the wires, but it seemed that nothing could work. Sonic continued to hum on absentmindedly, as if nothing else in the universe mattered. 

"Doctor!" River finally cried out, running to the other side of the TARDIS with her heels clicking all the way. "Listen, we're starting to land! I'm making the landing now."

Soon all other sounds of the TARDIS were overpowered by the groaning and scraping noises that always came along with landing. The shaking began to intensify, everyone except for Sonic grappling around for something to hang on. Sonic, being a projection, was perfectly stable as she hummed along. But it wasn't long until this was all over.

"We've landed," Sonic announced. "We're in a remote planet in the Espides solar system."

"Thank you, Sonic," the Doctor replied. He made his way to the TARDIS doors, River following right behind him. She was fairly sure she had reached her destination, even if it had been quite a bumpy ride. She had been aiming for the Espides system, anyways.

"This is where I meant to land," River said as she surveyed the planet, following the Doctor out of the TARDIS. 

"You're sure about that?" the Doctor asked.

"Two suns, otherwise like deserted Earth. This is exactly where I meant to land."

"Good," the Doctor replied, starting to turn away to go back in the TARDIS. "That means I can go and figure out how to get us back to Earth safely."

"Doctor, please, let me give you your Christmas gift first," River pleaded. But her calls went out to deaf ears. The Doctor was in a far away place when he retreated into his own thoughts. He circled the TARDIS exterior, prodding at various points with a concerned look on his face. He then swung the doors open and peeked in to see that Sonic was still standing there, arms crossed. 

"How much power do you think that's using? I don't know how to get rid of it," he said, beginning to ramble. "If I can't get Sonic to go away, then we might not be able to leave. I know this is where we were supposed to go..."

"Doctor!" River cried out. But again, she got no response. She was starting to get desperate. "Don't worry about Sonic. We can worry about Sonic later. Can we worry about now? I brought you here for a reason. I want to give your Christmas gift."

At this, Sonic raised her head and looked out the door. She realized she had been causing this problem with a start. It wasn't very typical for a piece of machinery to feel guilty over such a thing, but Sonic was certainly getting close to feeling such a thing. Being connected to the TARDIS, she knew she could do something. 

The Doctor soon became occupied with the new buzzing noise Sonic had started to make. Her hair was glowing that vibrant green again, and her eyes had closed in concentration. As he began to walk through the TARDIS doors, River caught his arm and stopped him.

"Sweetie," she murmured, realizing that Sonic had been providing a distraction as the TARDIS did a little handiwork of her own. "Look above you."

At first, the Doctor seemed not to notice River's words. But then he raised his eyes up and saw. There was mistletoe hanging in the doorway of the TARDIS. He gave a small gulp as his gaze was lowered back down to River's. She had her signature victorious smile on. 

"This is where I should kiss you, yes?" he said, feeling himself being awkwardly close to her.

"Yes," she laughed. 

"Mistletoe. Strange tradition," the Doctor replied, starting to attempt to divert the subject. But before he could go any further, River had pushed forwards and taken the initiative to begin the kiss. His arms were in an awkward position, but somehow he was able to wrap them around her regardless. 

"Do I have your attention now?" River asked as she broke away.

The Doctor felt the itch of other topics needing his attention, but he knew that even a glance out of line could end up with him getting a slap across the face. He nodded towards his wife, letting a smile grow on his face.

"Doctor...I'm pregnant," River said. Her eyes almost immediately began to well up with tears, but the Doctor was too stunned to do anything at first.

"You're..." the Doctor began. 

"I am," River replied, a grin coming across her face. "Although I can't say I pictured this moment with you wearing that sweater."

"I won't be taking it off," the Doctor responded, finally finding his voice again. "Why did you bring me here to tell me?"

"I thought this is where the baby could live," River explained. "There's plenty of room for a home. It's safe, all hostile planets are galaxies away. We can both get here. I think it's perfect."

"I agree," the Doctor said, giving a nod. He put an arm around his wife's waist, trying to avoid the negative thoughts that the announcement of a child was giving him. At this moment, he just wanted to enjoy the Christmas holiday. Everything else could wait, even Sonic. 

"Merry Christmas, River," the Doctor said, his voice soft.

"Merry Christmas, sweetie."

A/N Very strange for me to be posting a Christmas story after Christmas. Well, this was a bit of a joy to come up with. I don't really know what to think of it, to be honest. But, if nothing else, I believe I made something unique. I believe I did my OTP justice. I hope that it was enjoyable. Thank you.

And by the way...Lenora Crichlow is my Sonic. She's pictured on the side.