EPISODE ONE

OUT OF ORDER

A binging noise and a warm glow filled the quiet room where the Doctor was sitting. His back straightened at the sound.

"Being summoned," he said to himself. He hustled into the console room. "I haven't been summoned in ages! Who's summoning me?" He looked at the monitor, tapping his fingers on the edge of the control panel. "A surly River Song," he reported to no one but himself, and perhaps the Tardis, though she knew exactly who was on the monitor. The Doctor twiddled his fingers, then pushed the monitor aside. "You know," he said in a near whisper, "We don't really have to answer the summons." The TARDIS lurched, throwing the Doctor off his feet. "Fine, if you insist," he said as he stood and dusted himself. "I just wish I knew what Miss River is so bothered about."

The Doctor moved to his usual post. Yet, just as he was about to yank the lever, he paused. "How is she summoning me in the first place?"

Rory and Amy stood in a softly lit hall, impatiently guarding an inconspicuous wooden door. They were dressing in matching formal attire. Rory's vest and tie and Amy's satin dress were all a shade of TARDIS blue. The TARDIS faded into being at the far end of the hall. The doors of the Tardis swung open and the Doctor stepped out nervously. His face lit up upon seeing his best mates and he rushed towards them. "Amy! Rory! I thought I would never see you again!" the Doctor swept them into a group hug. They pushed away from his embrace and attacked him with questions.

"Where were you?" one asked.

"How dare you be so late?" asked the other.

"Do you realize how long we've been waiting?"

"She's been crying," Rory said.

"You're not wearing that, are you?" Amy demanded.

The Doctor held up his hands. "But, there were Weeping Angels… you could never escape, I …" the Doctor looked at their frowning faces. "What was the last adventure we had together?"

"As our daughter would say, Spoilers," said Rory in a cool tone.

"I'm here because River summoned me," states the Doctor. "I don't know why she summoned me – and don't tell me just yet. First, I want to know how she summoned me. Where is River?"

Rory and Amy both glanced towards the wooden door. The Doctor made a step towards it, but his former travelling companions quickly moved to block his path.

"You can't go in there," insisted Amy.

"River is in there. I want to speak with River," the Doctor responded.

"You can't see her just now," said Rory. "It's bad luck."

"That's something you gotta love about River Song. Seeing her is usually bad luck. Besides, she summoned me. If now is not a good time –"

Amy interrupted, "She's really upset, Doctor. Please don't make it worse. Let Rory go in and tell her you're here. Let me find you something more appropriate to wear…"

The Doctor took ahold of Amy's shoulders, "Oh, Pond… what's all the fuss? Why have Rory announce me…" the Doctor did a quick spin and was at the door, hand on handle. "When I can announce myself!" He opened the door and in a boisterous voice called out, "River, I'm he-"

The sight of River in a long white gown zapped him of all words.

Her back was to him, but he could see in the mirror that here cheeks were still red and blotchy. The delicate lace of the gown, the dozens of little white flowers stuck into her whimsical mane of hair, there was no need to guess the occasion for which he was so ill-dressed.

"I received your summons," the Doctor said quietly. River turned her head slightly. He licked his lips and took a small step forward. "I was just wondering, well, how you did it."

River turned to face him, her eyes were full of confusion. "With the ring, of course."

"What ring?"

"This ring," shouted River, thrusting her hand inches away from his nose. Wrapped around her ring finger was a highly polished metal key.

The Doctor snatched her wrist, turning her hand as he rapidly examined the shiny object. He looked up at River. "It looks like a TARDIS key, warped and welded..." He whipped his sonic screwdriver out from his pocket and prepared to scan the quirky ring. River snatched her hand away. "Where did you get it?" the Doctor demanded.

River's face turned stiff. She looked past the Doctor, through the open door, past her parents, to the blue box. "That stupid blue box," she mumbled.

"Pardon?" said the Doctor.

"I got the ring from you!" she bellowed, fighting back tears. She pushed him aside and raced straight towards the TARDIS.

"You!" she shouted at the humble time machine. "You stupid blue box! This was supposed to be my day! There's a reason I don't do weddings. I should have stuck to my guns, but you let me hope. You made me hope."

"I thought we were already married," said the Doctor trying to step between River and the TARDIS. "There was the scarf and the kiss and I told you to look into my eye… I'm not saying a spoiler, am I?"

"No. That has happened," River growled, still glaring at the time machine.

"So, why this extra stuff?" asked the Doctor, wishing he had chosen different words the moment they left his lips.

River began screaming at the police box. "I thought you would play fair - not for me, but for her. Her final request was so simple. But, no! You had to take things out of order. You had to ruin things. You couldn't let him enjoy a single day without you. We can share the limelight, but never have it all to ourselves. You selfish, horrid thing!" River Song started kicking the box and shouting obscenities in Gallifreyan. Rory calmly put his arms around his screaming daughter and pulled her away. "The wedding is off!" River shouted. "I won't marry someone who hasn't proposed to me!"

The Doctor stood next to his beloved blue time machine watching the beautiful bride get dragged to the other side of the foyer, his arms hanging limply at his side.

Amy approached the Doctor and stood next to him, watching her husband employ his nurse training to calm their adult child. "You said you were popping out to get your corsage. What happened?" Amy asked in a low voice.

"That's something I do in my future, I haven't done it yet." The Doctor turned to Amy, his brow furrowed. "I'm confused, I thought River and I already got married."

"You mean on top of the pyramid in the alternate reality? That doesn't really count."

"River never struck me as one who wanted the formal event."

"Remember? It wasn't her idea to have a formal event."

"Of course it wasn't," the Doctor said. "Apparently I was the one who did the proposing; proposing with a very interesting ring. I'll need another scan to confirm, but if my suspicions are right…" The Doctor got a far-away look on his face.

Rory slowly walked back towards them. River was on the other side of the foyer, sitting on the floor, a subdued white lump glaring at the TARDIS. "Tell River I am so sorry for …" the Doctor tries to think of a way to describe his transgression, "For arriving early."

"It's okay," says Rory. "She doesn't blame you. She blames the TARDIS. She thinks you were brought here deliberately out of order."

"Oh, the TARDIS wouldn't do that," the Doctor said dismissively. He patted the side of the police box proudly. Then he stopped and turned to give the Tardis a hard look. He recoiled,"You did do it on purpose!" He quickly turned to his in-laws. "Oh! Amy, Rory, I assure you; the TARDIS is going to get one very stern lecture from me right after we go get the necessary scan." The Doctor yanked open the police box doors.

"What do you need to scan?" asked Rory.

"I have a suspicion, I need to make sure. The key that River's ring was made from… I don't want to say. I just need to make sure."

The door was shut and the TARDIS left with its usual noises, though Rory could swear he heard a twinge of guilt in the whirring sound.

**{+==]**