Chapter 1.

"Where are we now, Sweetie?" River asked as she stepped out of the TARDIS.

"I'm not exactly sure," the Doctor said slowly. He looked around him, trying to find some clue as to where they were. He found a worn sign half covered by weeds a few seconds later. "Silverton, Colorado. Population: 700." He turned to face her. "America again!"

"Sounds… exciting," River replied. She put a hand over her eyes and took in her surroundings. The place was really quite beautiful. The town, which seemed to be a mining town, had a rustic air to it, and the mountains provided a perfect backdrop to the scene. The sky was clear and the perfect shade of blue.

The Doctor took her hand and started leading her down the hill. "…Rather hungry," he was saying. "We haven't eaten in ages. Let's find us some grub, shall we?"

River smiled sadly to herself as she looked at him in front of her. He'd taken her all sorts of places lately. Well, ever since her mother and father had left. He'd been keeping himself busy so he wouldn't think about them. But she knew, no matter how hard he tried to put them out of his mind, he thought about them constantly. He was constantly mourning their departure.

So was she. She'd lost her parents, for goodness sake. Unlike him, though, she'd come to terms with things, and she was worried he wouldn't. In a way, River was glad he took her places, wanted to spend time with her, but she knew he was doing it for the wrong reasons. And it made her hurt to know that. If he only knew—

"River! Look at this place!" Her thoughts were cut short. She glanced up at the sign he was pointing to. "The Bent Elbow!" he exclaimed.

"You really want to eat here," she asked him. She scanned the area and saw a more… refined restaurant was located just across the street. But, of course, this would be the place he'd want to dine at. The Bent Elbow.

The two walked in and sat at a booth near a window. As River glanced at the menu, the Doctor was gawking at everything in the room. Just like a child, he was. "Where is my Stetson when I need it?"

"I believe you lost it last time you were in America," River replied. As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized the folly she'd made. She looked through her lashes at him. He'd tensed visibly and his eyes had glazed over, as if he were remembering something.

"The last time…," he whispered to himself. Flashes of memories crossed his mind, and he closed his eyes, willing them to go away. He saw Rory, the angels, Amy's face when she said goodbye…

"Hey, folks, how's everything going today?" A waitress was standing next to their table, pad and pen in hand.

River, his beautiful River Song, smiled sweetly at the server and said, "We're doing quite well today, thank you. I'll have salad, if you don't mind. And he," she glanced his way briefly, "will have a cheeseburger."

The waitress took their menus, said the wait wouldn't be very long, and walked away. She met his gaze. "Thank you," he said.

River smiled. His quietly spoken words sent a shiver down her spine. "You're welcome, Sweetie."

Their food came a few minutes later, and the pair ate in silence. The Doctor knew River was studying him, but he didn't acknowledge her. He was lost in his own thoughts. All of a sudden, he didn't have much of an appetite anymore. He pushed his plate away and stared out the window. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw River frown in his direction. Again, he didn't acknowledge her.

She knew he was ignoring her. It hurt, but she took a deep breath and pushed those feelings away. She had to be strong, for the both of them.

By now she had finished her food. Standing, she threw some money on the table and walked out the door. Within seconds, he was by her side. "River, where are you going?"

"Somewhere away from you and your infernal pouting."

The Doctor stopped in his tracks. "I am not pouting."

She kept walking. "Yes, you are, darling. It's rather embarrassing, if you ask me."

He caught back up to her, grabbed her arm, and spun her to face him. "You don't mean that."

She smiled and cupped his face with her hand. "Of course I don't. But you are pouting, and it doesn't become you. So stop it."

"River…"

She put a finger to his lips. "Yes, Sweetie, I know. I know. We'll talk of this later, though." Her hand slipped into his. "For now, let's just enjoy being here."

The corners of his mouth turned up the slightest bit and she felt him squeeze her hand gently. "You got it."

So the two of them spent the rest of the afternoon together, doing things they probably wouldn't do anywhere else. They visited the Silverton Museum, took a tour of the town, witnessed a few staged gunfights, and went to see a play.

They were walking back to the TARDIS when the Doctor asked, "Did you have fun today?"

Surprised, River said, "Y-yes, I did. I had more fun today than I did when we went to Paris."

He smiled down at her. "I'm glad you did."

She was blushing like a school girl on a first date. Only this man could make her do that with a smile and a few words. Oh, how she loved him.

A cold wind blew, wisping through her frizzy hair. She shivered. He immediately took his jacket off and put it around her shoulders, then he tucked her under his arm as they walked.

It was dusk. The sun was setting in a fiery streak on the horizon. Stars began twinkling overhead; the mountains were turning a deep purple color in the waning light. It was all so beautiful. And he got to witness it with the most beautiful woman he knew. The Doctor thought he could stay here like this for the longest time, if possible. Silverton, Colorado was a perfect place.

They turned a corner and collided with someone. The person, a young woman, fell to the ground, but jumped right back up. She looked frightened, in a hurry. Without a word, she grabbed both their hands and set off running down the street. "What the—" the Doctor exclaimed.

"No time to explain," she said in a rush.

River looked behind her shoulder and saw a flash of metal, then a face with two black holes for eyes and a straight line for a mouth. "Was that a—" she almost yelled.

"I said there's no time for that!"

They didn't stop running until they reached an old, dilapidated building near the edge of town. The girl opened the door, pushed them inside, closed the door as quickly as she could and fell against it with a sigh. Her eyes were closed, but when she opened them, they fixated on the Doctor. He met her gaze curiously.

They stared at each other for the longest time, until River interrupted. "What are you doing here?" she asked. She sounded quite angry.

The girl broke eye contact, but he kept looking at her, studying her. She seemed vaguely familiar, somehow, though he knew he'd never met her before.

"I could ask you the same question," she shot back at River. She sounded American, though there was a certain lilt in her voice that suggested she wasn't born here.

"Answer me." River's look was like daggers. What was going on here?

The girl ran a hand through her long, curly, dark brown hair. "It's complicated."

"Well, uncomplicated it."

"I can't. Not here, not now." She glanced back at the Doctor. "Is this him?"

River's gaze softened. "Yes," she said hesitantly. "Yes, it is."

The girl's big blue eyes looked up at him. She smiled. There was something about that smile… He'd seen it before, but he couldn't place where. "I can see why you like him so much," she was saying to River. "Yowza."

The Doctor grinned. He was beginning to like her, whoever she was. "I'm—" he started to introduce himself.

"The Doctor, yes, I know. Ma— River, that is, has told me everything about you."

"Well, I've yet to hear about you."

"Oh!" she exclaimed. She smacked her palm against her forehead, then extended her hand to him. "My name is Amelia. Pleasure to meet you."