Chapter 1

He put down the TARDIS gently, for once. One last check to make sure his dark hair was in place. His hand absently touched his bowtie, for good measure. Or was it luck? His tweed jacket was now spotless, despite the events of the last two days. Two days, and all he had been able to think about was her skin and her hair that glowed like a rising sun. He walked out the door of the TARDIS and straight into a prison cell. Moonlight was streaming in from the window.

"Hello, sweetie." She looked like the sky did the day the Ponds witnessed his marriage to her. Stormy and golden and beautiful.

"River." The Doctor smiled. He took a couple of steps toward her and stopped, looking at her closely, as if to sear this image of her into his memory forever. She was dressed simply, sans her normal combat boots or hidden weapons. Her plain prison clothes only served to set off the golden ringlets that perfectly framed her face, a face he found more seductive each time he saw her.

"Where do we go from here?"

"Oh, sweetie, do you really want me to believe that a 1000-year-old Time Lord doesn't know what happens between a man and woman the minute they are alone together after their wedding?" She moved forward now, close enough to touch him.

"That's all human stuff. I try not to think about it. And I'm 1153."

"So it's different for Time Lords?"

"Different? What's different?"

"As in, is there anything I need to know about your… you? Does everything work the same way?"

"Well, I do have two hearts…" This time a smirk at his own cleverness. He was more confident now. River moved in to him as he spoke and wrapped her arms around his waist.

"I guess if you're going be coy, Doctor, I will just have to find out first hand." The Doctor wrapped his arms around her and held her tight.

"No, no. I really do have two hearts. I wasn't teasing about that. Strictly speaking, I have a binary coronary system that greatly surpasses…"

She interrupted his babbling with a kiss full on the mouth. His initial shock was short-lived, and soon he met her kiss with a passionate one of his own. He slowed, though, desperately trying to keep control of himself. Not here. He broke off the kiss, gently.

"Come with me." He broke from her embrace and took her hand, leading her into the TARDIS.

"Oooooh. Where are we going, Doctor?" Even the way she said his name was suggestive.

"Spoilers!" He literally ran to the controls, pulling her along with him. As he flipped switches and spun dials, he couldn't help but grin boyishly at her. The TARDIS shook and vibrated, humming happily as the Doctor punched in coordinates. River tried to look over his shoulder, but he moved the screen away from her.

"Ah, ah, ah! NO peeking!" He pushed a button. "Hold on to something…" another lever, and then, "Geronimo!" he grabbed the console as the TARDIS took off. River stood behind him and wrapped her arms around his middle, holding on tight as the TARDIS rocked crazily toward their destination. Because the Doctor had to support both of them, his knuckles were white from his effort to hold onto the console. But he wasn't going to complain.

"You DID tell me to hold onto something!" River yelled over the roar of the TARDIS. The Doctor gripped harder. Teasingly, she let one hand wander down the front of his body. Surprised, the Doctor lost his hold and they were slung across the platform of the TARDIS, landing together in a heap on the floor. Trying to catch her, the Doctor came down hard on his elbow. Laughing and breathless, they stayed there until the TARDIS ground to a halt a few seconds later.

"Surely this isn't the way this thing is meant to fly," said River, with not a little sarcasm.

"SHE'S not a thing! And SHE flies just fine!" he pouted.

"Should I be jealous, Doctor?" Softly.

"Only married two days and you are already questioning my loyalty? Let's go." He tapped her nose affectionately, then rose up halfway and planted a quick kiss on her lips.

"Trying to change the subject, hmmm? But why can't we just stay here, my love? Doesn't the TARDIS have rooms?"

"I had other places in mind…" Sitting up and rubbing his bruised elbow, he took her hand, and they rose together.

"Afraid SHE'LL see?"

"No," he said quickly. "I just planned our first night together in a different place."

"I thought you didn't like to think about it?"

"Rule number one: the Doctor lies." This time he kissed her properly. Eagerly. Leaning against her until she almost fell over, his arms caught her and he pressed his full body against hers, sliding his tongue into her mouth. He wasn't afraid to show her how much he needed her now.