Title: "Birthday"
Summary: The Doctor takes River on an outing for her birthday, and as nearly always happens on trips like this, they get themselves into some kind of trouble.
Characters/Pairings: The Doctor/River
Spoilers: None really.
Rating: T
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: Doctor Who is currently in the care of Steven Moffat
River hurriedly throws on a dress and shoes upon hearing the doorbell, then quickly makes her way out of her bedroom and down the hall to the stairway positioned across from the front door.
As she comes down the stairs, River calls, "I'll be right there!"
After reaching the front door, she takes a few moments to make herself a bit more presentable. When she has finished, she unlocks and opens the door.
Standing expectantly on the front porch is the Doctor, looking unusually under-dressed, at least for this form of him. Instead of his customary ensemble, he is wearing a dark blue, long-sleeved shirt with the top button of the collar undone, a pair of dark brown slacks, and his black Loake boots.
As the Doctor walks into the house, River remarks, "You're early. That's new for you."
"It seems I was a bit too early." The Doctor replies apologetically. "Sorry about that, dear." He adds, putting an arm around her and giving her a kiss.
"It's alright, Sweetie. I'm sure it was only because you were so eager to see me you couldn't wait any longer." River says with a slightly mischievous smile.
"You might say that, yes." The Doctor replies, the same hint of mischievousness in his smile.
"That's what I thought." River tells him. Following that, she gives him a kiss. After concluding it, she remarks, "You're dressed more casually than usual. Any particular reason?"
"Yes, actually. What I normally wear isn't exactly suited for where we're going and what we'll be doing." The Doctor answers. "Why? Do you not like it?" he asks.
"No, just the opposite— I like it very much. You don't look nearly as stiff and uptight."
"I'm sorry, stiff and uptight? How is my usual attire 'stiff and uptight?'" the Doctor asks indignantly.
"Not the clothes themselves, dear— you always look very dashing in them. I mean the way you wear them."
"What in particular?"
"Your insistence on wearing your shirts buttoned all the way to the top." River answers. "And you can't tell me it's comfortable to wear them like that."
"Oh, is that all?" the Doctor replies, smirking amusedly.
River nods.
"I'll consider it."
"I'm glad to hear it, because you do need to relax a bit, dear." River teases.
A mischievous smile crosses the Doctor's face again, and he replies, "Oh, I'm quite capable of doing that, darling, believe me."
"Are you now?" River asks, smiling back.
"Yes, most certainly." The Doctor answers.
"Then I'm very much looking forward to seeing what a relaxed you is like." His wife says, draping her arms around his neck and kissing him a second time.
After concluding the kiss, River asks, "Should I change clothes, or will these do?"
The Doctor takes his hands out of the pockets of his slacks, puts them around River's waist, looks down at her, and answers, "You look lovely, but yes, you probably should."
"Alright, Sweetie, I'll be back shortly." River replies, removing her arms from around the Doctor's neck.
"Alright dear. I'll be right here." He says with a smile, letting go of her, then leaning nonchalantly against the banister of the stairway and putting his hands back in his pockets.
River smiles at him once more, then makes her way back up the stairs, briefly caressing his shoulder as she passes him.
When she returns a few minutes later, she is wearing a white, waist-length, button-up jacket over a white, long-sleeved, collared shirt, a pair of black trousers, and brown, ankle-length suede boots.
As she walks down the final few stairs, River, smiling, looks over at the Doctor and asks, "How is this?"
After straightening up from a slightly slouched posture, the Doctor looks over his shoulder at her and says with a smile, "Perfect."
He walks toward her as she steps off the final stair and onto the floor. Upon meeting his wife at the foot of the staircase, he puts his arms around her and adds, "And you still look lovely."
"Thank you, Sweetie." She replies, giving him a brief kiss. "Would you care to give me any hints as to where we're going?" She asks mischievously.
"Most certainly not!"
"Why ever not?"
"Because, dear, it's supposed to be a surprise!" The Doctor scolds playfully.
"Oh, alright, you wicked man." River replies, smiling.
"The wait is going to be worth it, trust me."
"It had better be."
The Doctor laughs briefly, then says, "Oh it will, dear, it will."
With one arm still around River, the Doctor walks her to the door and opens it, then the couple strolls outside.
After the Doctor lets her go, River takes a moment to lock the door. Once she has finished, the couple walks the rest of the way to the TARDIS, then steps inside it.
...
The TARDIS re-materializes moments later on top of a five-foot tall rocky outcrop in the midst of a flat, treeless plain surrounded by thick rainforest.
"Where are we?" River asks, stepping out of the TARDIS and looking around with interest.
"Mexico, during the height of the Mayan empire." The Doctor explains as he follows her out.
"It's beautiful! And those structures are enormous! What are they?"
"They're called steppe pyramids, and are used mainly for religious ceremonies and rituals. Magnificent, aren't they?"
"Yes." River agrees, nodding. "How exactly are they built?"
"There are a number of theories, but no one knows for sure. That, in addition to the true meaning of the final date on their calendar, is the greatest mystery about the Mayan civilization." The Doctor tells her.
"Oh, is that why we're here?" River asks.
"No, it isn't." The Doctor answers, smiling. "As much as I would enjoy trying to figure out either of those, we unfortunately have to leave them for others to solve."
"That's a shame." River remarks. "But I suppose we can't have all the fun." She adds with a smile.
The Doctor chuckles briefly, and after putting an arm around her and giving her a kiss, he says, "No, we shouldn't."
He glances up at the sky momentarily, then looks back down at River and tells her, "We should go, otherwise we'll miss it."
"Go where? And miss what?" she inquires curiously.
For a few moments, the Doctor says not a word, and then he answers, "Those pyramids below us? They're neither the largest nor the most sacred that exist in this period of Mayan history. There's a hint for you."
"Oh, I'm intrigued." River replies, smiling. "How might we get to the ones that are?"
"Are you willing to do a bit of walking?"
"With you, and around a place like this? You don't even need to ask, Sweetie."
Smiling, the Doctor replies, "Then we'd best get going. Would you like a hand, dear?"
"Yes, I would." River answers, holding out a hand. The Doctor grabs it, then briefly looks around for a path with secure footing.
After he sees one, he leads his wife down onto the ground below them, where they then set off for their destination.
