River was just relaxing in the library of the TARDIS when she heard music faintly playing. She got up from her chair and followed the sound. She detected voices of a piano, violins, perhaps a flute and other instruments. They were all in the high register and the music was sweet, but had a sad tinge to it. River listened to the chords of the piano and how perfectly the violin fit in. River thought it was beautiful.
Her ears led the way to corridor in the TARDIS she hadn't been through before. It was a bit dustier than the hallways she usually walked through. Through the dust, River could still detect a sweet scent wafting in the corridor.
Finally she came to an open door and as expected, she found the Doctor, his tweed jacket off as he was conducting with his sonic screwdriver to a number of instruments around him, which were playing by themselves.
"Hello, sweetie," River said softly.
The Doctor turned around surprised, wiping his eyes in the process. River noted that tears were still falling nonetheless. The Doctor used the cuff of his shirt sleeve to attempt to dry his face once more before quickly putting on a grin.
"It's beautiful," River continued in the same soft tone.
The Doctor nodded. "Oh, it's just something I threw together many years ago," he said, his face lighting up though his eyes still remained dark.
But they were always like that, River thought to herself. The Doctor might look young, but his eyes were full of the sorrow he picked up in age.
"What inspired you?" River asked, listening to the music that still played on despite the lack of a conductor.
The Doctor shrugged. "Oh you know, just feeling a bit down after the time war." He paused and took a deep breath before continuing. "I needed something that would make me better."
River stepped closer to the Doctor. "Well, it must have been perfect for you, the perfect balance of sweet and strength. Sort of like a rose you know. Beautiful and nice but still with a strong mind of its own."
The Doctor looked out into the empty space. They both listened together as the last violin died out.
"It was perfect."