This is my first time writing for River/12, but I just couldn't resist after seeing the Christmas special. (In other words, this story contains spoilers for The Husbands of River Song.)
Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who.
Twenty-four years.
Theoretically, River Song should have been overjoyed at the notion of having so much time left, even if it was only considered to be "one night." However, as she lay awake in the dark, luxurious room to which she had been led, she couldn't help but feel trapped.
She glanced around again, as she had done at least a hundred times in the last hour. Vaulted ceiling, thick velvet curtains, oversized bed—to anyone else, these would have seemed to be the possessions of kings, or at least the very rich. But as River had spent a fair amount of her life in a cell, she could not shake the idea that all of this was a bit excessive. After all, what was this place but just another prison?
No sooner had she thought this than she felt herself being pulled into the warm arms of the man beside her. "Trouble sleeping?"
"What makes you say that?" She knew that she could never lie to him, yet that wouldn't stop her from trying.
"Well, for one thing, you're not asleep." Damn. He had a point there.
"It's nothing, dear. No need to worry."
However, the Doctor wouldn't let the subject drop that easily. River was one of the strongest people he knew. If something was bothering her, he wasn't just going to ignore it. "River," coaxed, slowly moving a hand to brush away the mane of hair from her neck. He could hear her sharp intake of breath as he placed a gentle kiss to the soft skin he found there.
As soon as she felt his teeth begin to sink in, she cracked. She turned to face him, immediately pulling him in for a long, deep kiss. When he pulled away, she was both surprised and breathless.
"That's better," he smiled. "Now tell me, what exactly is bothering you?"
"Twenty-four years," she stated simply.
The Doctor looked confused. "Yes… twenty-four years. You have twenty-four years of night before daybreak. Twenty-four years to do whatever you'd like."
"Except that's not true, is it?" The more confused he looked, the more upset and anxious she felt herself becoming. If he was truly the genius that everyone knew him to be, then why couldn't he see this? Her voice became more frantic. "You said that I have twenty-four years on this planet, which means that you plan on leaving, don't you? You say that I can do whatever I'd like, but that's simply not true. The most amazing points in my life are those moments when your timeline collides with mine. So why would you assume that what I'd 'like' is for you to leave?"
She could see the wheels turning in his head. Maybe he'd truly never thought about this before, or maybe he had and was just trying to figure out the right words to say. "You always chose to leave. I didn't think…"
Although he didn't finish his thought, River knew exactly what he was going to say. He didn't think that she wanted him to stay.
"I chose to leave because in those days, I had the whole universe at my disposal. Galaxies upon galaxies just waiting to be explored. But now, all I've got is this planet. You know I can't leave, you must know. It seems like I've only just left Stormcage, and now I'm back in yet another prison. Only, this time, I have some consolation." The Doctor raised a quizzical eyebrow. "You're stuck here with me."
Obviously, he hadn't thought this through very well. Confusion became quiet shock as he uttered the only word he could: "What?"
"Oh, dear," River smirked mischievously, her panic now subsiding at the Doctor's dawning comprehension, "didn't you read the legends? No, I suppose not. You've probably already lived them. But if there's one thing I seem to recall reading over and over again, it was that the Doctor spent the entire night on Darillium with his wife. At the time, that didn't seem too significant. After all, what's a few hours to the man who's lived for centuries? But twenty-four years, that must seem like a while, even for you."
The Doctor's expression hadn't changed since she'd been talking. River could practically hear the gears turning in his head as he processed this information. Finally, he answered, "Oh, you should never read stories about your future. Spoilers, remember?"
"Doctor, you're avoiding the topic."
His jaw clenched. She was right, of course. She always was. Somewhere deep down, he knew that he had no choice but to stay; however, looking for a way out was practically second nature to him.
But now he found himself at an impasse. Because he wasn't even sure if he wanted to find a way out. Sure, it was 24 years that the universe would spend without him to defend it. But then again, he'd stayed stationary for much longer, and nothing too terrible had happened. The universe still carried on in its eternal motion, and everything had turned out fine.
And as he looked at River now, as he took in her beautifully crafted features, he realized just how lucky he was to even have this opportunity. River Song would burst into his life at the most unexpected times, leaving just as abruptly as she had arrived. She was always gone in what seemed to him like the blink of an eye. It was never enough. But now he had 24 years. Twenty-four years to admire her, to speak with her, to hold her. Twenty-four years to try to love her like he knew she deserved to be loved.
Maybe this wasn't so bad, after all. In fact, maybe it was fantastic.
"Doctor?" River asked, her tone gentler now. "Doctor, please say something. I didn't… I mean… of course you don't have to stay if you don't want to. It was just a silly story, nothing more. I just thought… maybe this world wouldn't seem so small if you were here."
"Yes," the Doctor answered. It was a short, simple statement, but its delivery came with a hint of finality.
"Yes?" River asked, surprised. "Yes, what? Yes, you agree with me, or yes, you'll stay?"
The Doctor smirked. "Yes."
She was stunned. Whatever she had expected him to say, this was not it. Her eyes filled with tears as she slowly began to grasp the importance of his answer. Relieved laughter rendered her speechless until she finally caught enough breath to gasp out. "Yes?" as if she still couldn't believe it.
The Doctor had found himself laughing right along with her, partly at the nature of her reaction, and partly because he simply couldn't contain it. But as soon as they had both regained their composure, he reached up to cup a gentle hand to her face. "Of course," he whispered, his thumb caressing her cheek. "River, I would spend a hundred years with you, if you'd let me."
"Well," River smiled, "let's start with twenty-four, and then see how we feel."