'Amy, give here the dilitium-magneator!' the Doctor called out under the consol.
'Sorry, I'm not a Time Lord, this means me nothing!'
'Time Lady...'
'Same...' she rolled her eyes. He rolled out under the consol and grimaced.
'You are useless.' he rolled back. 'Call me the Roman!' he shouted. She rolled her eyes and stood up to find Rory. She hated he understood repairing the TARDIS better than her. Well, maybe just understood physics more...
'Hey, stupid face!' she called out walking on the TARDIS-corridors. 'Where are you? He needs you with some dily-thing.'
'Dily what?'
She jumped as he put his head out over a door.
'You. Don't. Do. This. Again.' she pushed all the words.
'Sorry.' he grimaced guiltily. She nodded.
'He needs your help with some TARDIS-repair-thing.'
'Thanks.' he nodded and hurried to the consol room. She sighed and rolled her eyes and followed him more slowly.
'Doc? Amy said you need some help.' he said as he entered the room. He liked it when he was needed. He was nurse after all...
'Yeah, yeah, the dilirium-magneator. It has to be there somewhere with the fittings.
'Sure. I'm coming.' he said and turned back to the storage. After he left, Amy stepped in the consol room.
'So...' she began.
'I'm sorry I'm busy Pond, I can't chat with you about little human-life-things.'
She rolled her eyes.
'Allright moron, I'll be at the pool if you would 'chat about little time-lord-life-things.' ' she said sulkily and turned to left. He muttered something and continued working. Rory was back with the compartment soon after she left. He gave it to the Doctor and looked around worriedly.
'Where's Amy? I thought she came here after me.'
Some gibberish was heard.
'Sorry?' he frowned. He rolled out under the consol.
'I said she left sulking on something complete understandable I said.'
'Great...' he rolled his eyes. He slipped back under the consol.
'She said she'll be at the pool. You could go and check on her while I'm going for some help with this magnetic landing timer.' he shouted.
'Help from who?' he shouted back. He rolled out and grinned.
'Spoilers.'
He sighed deep and rolled his eyes.
'We'll be in the library. Don't get into mess with that woman. We need you bringing us home.'
'Sure.' he saluted and watched him leaving to the library. As when he left he put in the coordinates immidiately and piloted the TARDIS to her home.
River was prepairing to leave by her front door. There was a common Wednesday, she was to work, when she heard that beloved noise of the brakes. She smiled and turned back to see the TARDIS materialize. She put her hand on her hips and smiled as he stepped out from the door.
'Hello Sweetie.' she greeted him. He grinned and walked to her and tipped her nose.
'I hope you have nothing to do 'cause I need you River Song.'
She pulled her eyebrows.
'Now? I think you are a bit young for that. Yet.' she flirted. He blushed immidiately and swallowed hard and fixed his bowtie. She laughed from heart.
'You... You, River Song bring me to my grave.' he said sulkily. She smiled and stepped closer.
'Well, maybe. One time. But you still don't know who I am. However, did we do the moon-landing yet?' she asked. He swallowed and nodded.
'Then you don't mind this.' she said and leaned him into a long kiss. He protested first but then left himself vanish into her. She smiled when they parted.
'Always good to see you feel the same.' she said half-seriously and stepped back playfully.
'So, what do you need me for?'
'Urm... well...' he stammered.
'Don't bother. I have to go to work, so I can't go with you saving good planets and blowing up bad spaceships.'
'It's not about that.' he started. 'I just need someone who understands how to repair the TARDIS' landing-timer.'
'What did you do to her again?' she annoyed.
'Me?! Nothing! It was you who said I should switch on the stabilizers, so I did, and the timer went wrong!' he protested.
'Did you let them on while small jumpings?' she asked knowingly. He grimaced.
'Yyes...' he said frowning.
'Oh Sweetie you shouldn't let them on while small jumpings, they are for dematerializing! They mess all the landing indexes! I wonder how you could even land her by me.'
'She likes you. She always want to come to you. I don't know why.'
She smiled and said
'Spoilers.' she sighed. 'You should renew the dilirium-magneator... Turn the stabilizers off, set the coordinating-panel back to zero and tipe in the current coordinates. Set off the dilirium-mageator, turn it on and dematerialize and rematerialize her. It would be okay.' she said and smiled. He smiled back.
'I always new you know something I don't.' he said.
'Oh I do a lot of.' she flirted.
'Really? You dirty Doctor Song.' he closed the space between them.
'Oh yes. I know you quite well.' she smiled flirting.
'Maybe, maybe not.' he closed his arms around her.
'Well, I know that it annoys you.' she said and slipped off from his arms and stepped over him. He sighed annoyed and murmured something. He turned to face her again.
'So – what are you working exactly, Doctor Song?' he clapped his hand.
'I'm professor at University Luna.'
'Of Archeology. Yes.' He nodded. 'But you have evenings free?'
She smiled. This was the frist time he called her for a date – from his side.
'Well, yes of course. Why do you asking?'
''Cause there will be a movie about asteroid-falling on the Framax II. and I thought maybe it could be interesting to you. Real asteroids, of course.'
She laughed from heart but full with love. Her beautiful idiot.
'I'd prefer a ball on 19th century Earth if you don't mind.' she smiled.
'Great. Ball. 19th century. You know there was a great ball in 1857 in Swiss. I heard about it. LOt of rain, in 1857, but great wines.' He said flustrated. 'I'll be here for you at 8 pm. Won't be late!'
She smiled and nodded. He nodded too and turned and walked back to the TARDIS. He'd never felt so nervous before. He did not date anyone in centuries. He reached the TARDIS door and turned.
'And thank you for the help with the timer.'
'You're welcome, Sweetie.' She smiled. He nodded and stepped in. She heard the noises of work and an 'aha!' and then de- and short rematerializing of the TARDIS. She shook her head smiling. Her beautiful idiot...
He walked to the library and whistled merrily. He would date that gorgeous woman. His mood was more than happy.
'Amy, Rory, where are you?' he shouted as he reached the room but passed over in silence when realized them swimming in the pool. He stood there smiling and waited till they realized him too.
'Ah, Doctor!' Rory said. 'You'll back.'
'What? Where was he?' asked the ginger climbing out and sitting on the edge of the pool.
'Was for a tiny help from someone precious.' he said smiling and neared her.
'River, again?' she rolled her eyes. 'Anyway, how is she?'
He grimaced at her knowing face and bopped her.
'Well.' was all he said.
'So, did you repair the magnetic thing?' she asked.
'Yep.'
'So we can go anywhere safety?' asked Rory.
'Basically yes.' he said with a grin. The Roman rolled his eyes and climbed out from the pool too.
'So can we go and see something interesting?' asked Amy while drying.
'Interesting? No. It's time to bed, Mrs. Pond. On the Earth it's 11 pm. You should take some rest.'
'What, you became my nanny?!' she put her hand on her hips.
'No, not a nanny!' he protested.
'Well, I'm tired a bit, so what about accepting the Doctor's offer?' Rory said while drying also. She rolled her eyes and sighed.
'You boys are so defatigable! But be it. We'll go to sleep.' she said with gimlet eyes on the Doctor. 'But - I wonder why it got so important to lay down for you, Doctor? I thought Time Lords don't need sleep.'
'Don't be stupid, everybody needs sleep. Even Time Lords. Some rare times.' he said annoyed.
'Oh come on, don't bother him, Amy. Let him keep his secrets.' the Roman said.
'Right. But my eyes on you, raggedy man.' she said and followed her husband to their room.
'Good night, Doctor!' she shouted back from the door.
'Good night, Ponds!' he shouted back.
The short hour which he had to wait till his friends were falling into sleep definitely seemed as a day without any doing. He beated his fingers on the consol, then sat down in a chair, stood up again, walked around the consol, whistled, practiced coupées but after an hour felt so jumpy he had to pilot her to River's home. He carefully pushed the stabilizers; he definitely didn't want to wake those humans on board. He flyed her so cautiously than never before. When the uncommon landing sound signal ringed, he hurriedly went to the warderobe and choose a chic 19th century suit and a fitting hat and a walking stick. He took a deep breath and stepped out from the box. He stepped to her door and rang. She came after a minuit, in a long, willow-green dress, flowers in her bonded hair and gloves on her hands. He eyed her from tip to toe but then looked into her shining green eyes.
'You look beautiful.' he said simply and grinned.
'As you, Sweetie.' she smiled and a little drop fell from her eye.
'What's wrong?' he asked worriedly.
'Oh, nothing, really.' she shook her head. 'It's just...' she laughed small 'It's just you wear the same suit you wore when I met you first. Same ridicule hat too...'
He took her chin in his hand and raised her head.
'That's a spoiler, Doctor Song.' he said playfully and kissed her deep.
'Yeah, I think it is.' she said after they parted.
'Shall we leave, Madmoiselle?' The Doctor offered his arm.
'Certes.' said she and agreed the offer.
They stepped into the TARDIS, and the Doctor piloted them in 1857, Swiss, a royal salon. He showed his physic paper – it said this time their were the English embassador and his wife. They stepped in as naturally.
'You know I never thought about how many times we broke the rules when dating.' she wondered.
'Spoiler again.'
'Oh shut up. Don't you want to date me again?'
'It hangs on how this 'date' ends.' he smiled playfully.
'Oh really? So I have to fight for your attention?' she pulled her eyebrow.
'Maybe. Not everyone is so easy to captivate as the guards at Stormcage.'
'So I have to use the hallucinogenic lipstick?' she flirted.
'Who said I'd kiss you?!' he played the game while offering his hand to dance.
'Don't you think you can resist a girl like me.' she put her hand into his.
'Proof me.' he leaded her.
'Oh I have devices.'
'Nothing you could use on a Time Lord.'
'Don't challenge me, I defeated a Time Lord.'
'Really?' he asked falling out of the game. She laughed heartily.
'Yes, you believe it or not. He had brilliant mind but I encompassed him.' she looked deep into his dark green eyes. She knew her Doctor was there somewhere – somewhere not so deep yet.
'You are making fun of me.'
'I'd never dare.' she smiled flirting.
'River Song, you're bigger secret than I've ever met.'
'Maybe I am.' she smiled and leaned him into a loving kiss. When they parted, he looked into her eyes.
'Will I anytime discover you, you beautiful woman?' he asked. She smiled and shook her head.
'Don't ask questions you know I cannot answer. Even there weren't spoilers I couldn't aswer a question like this. You have to discover your way. I discovered mine, you have to find yours. That's how it works, Sweetie.' she smiled sadly and broke the dance.
'Let's drink something.' She said and went to the nearest table.
'What shall I bring to the Lady?'
'You said something about the wines...'
'Ah, yes, the wines. I'll back in a minuit.' he hurried away and she smiled. She knew him: she knew one day he would not ask questions like these, but now they hurt. He did not know her, not yet, and she could not tell him anything – nothing important. She felt little and tired and sad. She knew she shouldn't. She was on a date, with the man she loved, the one she loved in her life. But he did not know. Not yet.
'River, your drink.' he offered her a glass of red wine. 'Not the best, but now's only Oktober, they did not seasoned yet. But quite fine. Well, not for me. I hate wine. But I think you'll price it.'
She smiled and took the glass.
'What are you drinking, Honey?' she asked after a nip.
'Me? Oh, yeah, I fairly forget, the King invited me for a drink and a little chat about political things – don't you want to join? I fear I don't now enough about the British politics in the 19th century.' he added whispering. She laughed lightly and aswered calm.
'I know you'll be brilliant, as ever. I will be on the balcony.' she said and stood up. He grimaced and turned to find the king. She walked through the ballroom out from the cavalcade and leaned against the fence. She thought about the times they had together, all the adventures, all the peaceful moments. It definitely worthed to wait the days she met him – the real him, who knew her. It was good to see this younger self of him too, just a bit sad, knowing she could not tell him everything she wanted to. It hurt, also when she used to it for a time.
He walked to the balcony after an hour. He found her there, looking into the sunset, leaning to the fence.
'Why are you still here?' he asked her frowning.
'What should I do without my husband?' she smiled sadly.
'Husband?' he swallowed shocked.
'Yep, embassador.' she winked.
'Oh... Yes... Of course – wife.' he shook his head. 'Don't know, speak to people, get aquainted, have fun...'
'I don't want to speak anyone else than you.'
'Well, you can stand here waiting for a rainy day, close up your heart and hide your dancing shoes away, but if you're waiting for something to bring you round...'
'I'm only waiting for you, nobody or nothing else. But with you, I'm going anywhere.'
'Good answer. Then, Doctor Song, take a last dance.'
She smiled and give him her hand.
They stepped the last dance and then took their leave. It was late, after 11 pm, and she felt tired.
'Thank you for the nice evening, Doctor.' she said while pacing back to the TARDIS.
'It was my pleasure, Miss Song.' he went quiet suddenly.
'What's wrong?' she asked worriedly. He shook his head.
'Tell me, Sweetie.' she pleased him.
'There's nothing.' he said darkly.
'If there would be nothing then I wouldn't ask it Sweetie. So tell me.' she stated. He sighed and opened the TARDIS door and let them in. They sat down on the stairs and he bowed his head.
'I made so many mistakes, River, so many. You were there sometimes, you left messages to drive me in the right way, but also then... Remember the Pandorica? Or the Byzantium? Anyway, have we done them yet?' he asked frowned.
'Yes, we have.' she smiled.
'I left you there. By the Pandorica. I left you blowing up with the TARDIS. And at the Byzantium. I could not step over it I did not know you. And I'm sorry all for it.'
She sighed.
'And I'm sorry I can't tell you. But you'll get to know it. I promise. And, if you're listening, then everything you need is disguised in double talk. But I can't say it openly. Not yet.'
'I'm not blaming you. I'm blaming myself. I know I hurt you. Not just you, everyone.'
'Please don't say this. You cut yourself with your mistakes and wound yourself and let it ache. Doctor, they need you. I need you. And I forgive you every time, completely. You're more precious than you'll ever think you are. You are precious to me, Doctor. And I'll be calling out your name every time I can. So lift your head up high, you're The Doctor, our Doctor – my Doctor. It's all little pieces till there's nothing left: all just debris of your former and your future selfs. That's what I love. That's what all we love about you. You just caught between the lines: you don't see how much you worth. How much to worth to us. To me.'
'Even when I'm asking stupid qiuestions and don't aswer the phone?' he asked smiling sadly.
'Even then.' she said and kissed him lightly. 'So never dare to tell me you hurt me 'cause it doesn't matter. It matters that you are here – and till you are here it matters nothing else.'
He smiled pale and turned to her.
'Can I propose you, River Song?'
She laughed heartily and turned to him.
'Do you want to?'
'Well...'
'Well, I can offer a kiss, and then we can see.' she said smiling and leaned into a deep, loving kiss with him.
'Take me home. I could not look into Amy's or Rory's eyes that I kept you out all night.'
He laughed merrily and put in the coordinates.
'Till the next time.' he said when she stepped to the doors.
'Till the next time.' She answered and left the magic blue box and her thief for themselves.