"And a last time." She let the words fall sorrowfully from her mouth. When she'd first met the Doctor she has never really thought of these days. It was in prison, this prison in Stormcage that she had first realized these days would come.
River Song stood at her cell door. Listing to the whirring of the TARDIS dematerializing. Would her beloved ever not leave the brakes on?
She turned around, glancing down around her cell. It was the same as she left it. Though it could be hours or even days later. She still had her Vortex Manipulator, for now. Soon the guards would confiscate it again. She'd lost 4 of them that way. She wasn't looking forward to that. They were so very difficult to procure and expensive. It would take her out of her way next time she decided to take a little trip. She smiled to herself. At least it would be an adventure. She could use that.
The familiar whirring of the TARDIS stirred her from her thoughts.
A rather giddy smiling Doctor emerged from the TARDIS eagerly rubbing his hands together.
"Hello sweetie." The words came to her lips immediately. She smiled devilishly eager to embarrass this likely even younger version of her beloved.
"Hello." The Doctor bounced on the balls of his feet.
"Where are you coming from this time?" River asked, quickly opening her diary to figure out where he was.
"Demon's Run. Have you done that one yet?"
River paused a moment, "No. I'm not supposed to go there. You told me!" Her tone had gone somewhat frustrated. Here he had told her years ago to stay away from Demon's Run until he told her otherwise and he was telling her that they'd just been there.
"I did?" The Doctor looked surprised for a moment. "You look just like you did when we got back from America." He distracted himself for a moment with the most inane detail he could think of.
"I did just get back from America. So that's where we are? The last time you saw me?"
"One of them. Bring the diary." The Doctor bounded back into the TARDIS clearly excited over something.
With a grin, River bounded after him. What could he have in store for her this time?
When she reached the console she was surprised to see that the Doctor wasn't jumping about and haphazardly flinging levers.
"Where are we going sweetie?" She questioned him moving to step up behind him.
"I'm not sure, Melody Pond." He turned to look at her directly.
Her heart stopped for a moment, "What did you call me?"
"Your name. Well, one of your names. Specifically the one your mother gave you when you were born. Which is Melody Pond. Rather than the translation of the Gamma Forest. Though that's lovely too, River Song."
"How long have you known?" She looked at him and smiled.
"Few minutes. Came right here. First place I knew you'd be. I told your parents that I will keep you safe, and safe you will be kept. Well safe as you can be with me in the TARDIS."
"So where will we go? We can't just stay here. Stormcage does have guards and their visitors' policy is less than welcoming."
"Visitors are practically prohibited. I'm not sure. We could go anywhere. The mountains of Crillentik are lovely in the spring. Or hot springs. We could go to the hot springs on Anloora Seven." He looked at her nervously.
And it hit her. Then she remembered. Where he had taken her so very long ago. It seemed perfect.
"I know a place." And with that River piloted the TARDIS somewhere she hadn't been in a very long time.
DWDWDW
They stepped out the TARDIS slowly.
It looked exactly as she had remembered it. Given that she'd only altered the time coordinates by a few days to avoid running into her past-self and the Doctor's future self that made sense.
River dashed into the wardrobe to grab a blanket, she quickly ran out of the TARDIS again to meet the Doctor who was standing just outside the door.
They had landed in the clearing. The sky was a hazy violet. Six moons shone faintly as this world's sun was just beginning to set setting the sky alight with colour above the purple-leaved trees. It was perfect, it was just how she remembered it.
"Sol-kan." The planet's name fell from his lips, "Or it will be in about another hundred years." The Doctor glanced at his watch.
"Yes. Completely uninhabited now at this point in time. Though there are some lovely ruins on the southwest side of this continent." River grinned salaciously.
"Why are we here? Totally empty! No one to save or talk to. No running around being chased by anything intent on killing us. We're alone. Totally completely alone and-" the Doctor paused looking at River for a moment "-that was your plan."
A slow satisfied smile spread across River's face, "Yes."
"You know what they have on Sol-kan? Bioluminescent fish. Fish that glow in the dark. Brightly coloured fish glowing colours in the dark." The Doctor bounced on his feet. "Their rivers and creeks are full of them."
"I know."
"We could go swimming, in the dark with fish lights! Fish night-lights! Fish night-lights that shine red and green and orange and purple. In the dark!"
"Yes. We could." River grinned larger than he'd ever seen her.
"Great, I'll just run to the wardrobe and get us swimsuits-"
River began to undo her belt, eyes never leaving the Doctor's."Oh that won't be necessary sweetie, there's no one else here to see," She teased happily.
The Doctor straightened his bow tie and glanced around, "Well I guess it is getting darker. Rather quickly too. What time is it?" He glanced at the watch.
River continued to disrobe, seemingly unaffected by her husband's words. Not that he had married her yet from his standpoint. This would be his very first time with her, the thought saddened and thrilled her all at once. Would this be her last? She knew all too soon her beloved would meet a much younger and rather brain-washed her. And the cycle that was them would continue.
"Now my love, are you going to play hard to get?" River teased as she removed her boots.
The Doctor gaped for a moment. his hands beginning to flail slightly in what was either excitement or a total inability to think clearly for a moment.
River grinned as she finished stripping quickly and efficiently. Her knickers swinging from her fingers before she let them fall to the ground. No sense putting on a show with what precious little daylight there was left. He'd have that soon enough anyways, she thought reminiscing about other times that were yet to come for her beloved.
She reached for his bow-tie and began undoing it with strong, slender digits.
His breathing was heavier than usual, she shot him a devilish look as she threw the bow-tie to the ground and began pushing the tweed of his shoulders.
"River?" he asked as his jacket dropped to the ground, landing on their blanket spread on the grass.
"Yes, my love?" River started in on the buttons of his shirt.
"Are you sure this is wise? The right time? Location? Wouldn't you rather-"
"Go back to the TARDIS and have sex on a nice comfy bed? Nope. Trousers off dear, don't make me do all the work." River said discarding his shirt and dropping to her knees in front of him. She leaned in to kiss his abdomen.
"River!" The Doctor cried startled, "What are you doing?"
"Undressing you sweetie." River leaned back and smiled, "Have you never skinny-dipped before?"
The Doctor slipped his braces off but remained motionless as River pulled down his trousers and his pants in one fluid motion.
No sooner than he kicked off his shoes; River started in on his socks, pulling them off. Nearly causing him to tip over before he regained his balance.
She rose to her feet and promptly pushed him into the river. The fish scurried away startled by the loud intrusion and splashing of the Doctor.
River happily leaped in after him.
He emerged from the water, soaking wet. Hair dripping and gasping the warm air. The water was colder than he had expected. He felt the splash River made as she leaped in after him and was stunned momentarily before his eyes adjusted.
It was dark to begin with, the moons and stars casting a dull ethereal glow over the river and the bank. He could barely see River at first, the sun had dipped below the trees as they were undressing. A golden glow emanated from the forest beyond. The light didn't reach the river bank. A glimpse of her marvelous arse and she disappeared under the water once more.
Slowly the fish returned, glowing red and blue and yellow. Casting small spheres of light around themselves as they swam around him.
"River?" He called only somewhat concerned.
Then something grabbed him, not unpleasantly beneath the surface of the water and River sprung up from the water. Her curly hair soaked and unruly, she paused for a minute to toss it back out of her face.
"Hello sweetie," the usual innuendo was missing, the voice was low but sincere.
"Hello." The Doctor replied.
"Are you going to go all shy on me?"
"Absolutely not. Nothing wrong with nudity. Skinnydipping suits me just fine. I'm over 1100 years old. Of course I've skinny-dipped before-"
"Then why, my love, are you swimming away?" River raised an eyebrow quizzically.
"So I can do this!" The Doctor gleefully exclaimed diving underwater and splashing River with a good deal of water in the process.
And so the chase began, bodies slipping through the cool water, emerging to the warm air to draw breath and continuing. Grabbing at each others feet and wriggling away. Dunking each other under the water playing like children. Breathless laughing and fish that swam away from the energetic pair taking with them their light. So it was almost as if they were reaching for each other's slippery flesh in the dark. Until it stopped.
The Doctor was wet and breathing heavy, his wet hair flopping in his eyes and dripping water down his face. He pushed it back absentmindedly and looked around for River. Or in face any sign of motion
The Doctor slipped underwater to look for her there.
Through the clear water if he opened his eyes he saw her floating calmly underwater, eyes closed and a smile on her face as she lets the fish gather and swim around her. The fish were making various parts of her water slick skin shine yellow and orange as they swam around her. Her hair floated up around her face like a halo.
He gently moved closer, admiring this spectacularly mad and clever woman. He gently reached out a hand to touch her hair, landing on her cheek. Her eyes flew open in response and for a moment she just looked at him slowly as if trying to burn this moment into her memory.
Then their lips met, only briefly before having to rise to the surface for air.
They rose together to the surface and clung, lips meeting more confidently now. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her there, standing chest deep in the slow flowing water.
After what seemed like a lifetime of clinging mouths and warm breath, River broke away and clambered up out of the water offering her hand to help him out as well. The sky above their heads was beginning to reveal stars.
The warm air was pleasant. Water droplets sliding down their skin in the warm summer night. He found his way to to their blanket and lay down with River's hands urging him down as she cuddled close to his drying body.
She moved quickly, moving to straddle his body and leaning over him. Her rapidly curling again in the air as it seemingly re-inflated itself. Curling wildly once again, he reached his fingers to it, to catch a stray strand in his fingers and play with it but she caught his hands in hers. Expertly pinning his hands above his head, her eyes watching him squirm with excitement under her before their lips met once again.
Water droplets dripped onto his face and chest, the cool liquid a stark contrast to the warm air and their rapidly warming bodies. She was pressing against his stomach, gently rocking her hips as she kissed him. Then suddenly his hands were free and he could wrap them around her, tangle his fingers in her hair and begin to lose himself in her.
He look up and saw stars in the rapidly darkening sky. The clearing had a perfect view of the stars, and he had a perfect view of the stars and River's face grinning madly at him when his eyes met hers again in the dim moonlight.
"Thinking about running away?" She teased, rubbing herself against him, obviously keenly aware of his arousal.
"River." He moaned, unsure of what else he could say, he flailed slightly for a moment then he grabbed at her hair and her waist desperately.
"Do you want something sweetie?" She tried to tease him, but her voice was low and breathy, and she remained bent over his body.
His hands weren't flailing now. He grabbed her pulling her to him, gripping her hips and pulling her in.
River gasped in response and rose her hips to take him in.
His eyes shut tight as his head lulled back, "Melody... River..." He moaned unsure of what name she wanted him to say. His hand flailed close to her face, then he grabbed her face firmly. She felt a rush of energy that nearly carried her away.
"Oh sweetie." She breathed heavy and began to move, but only for a moment.
Then she realized what that rush of feeling was. A horrible suspicion that he was trying to enter her mind, she slapped his hand away roughly just as quickly. That was definitely not allowed. She pinned his hands down momentarily, looking at the wounded look on his face. He had simply been following centuries old instinct. It wasn't really his fault, she softened again. She didn't want him to remember his first time with her as some sort of scolding.
"Sorry." She apologized as she brushed his floppy hair back from his face, "You know you shouldn't try to touch my mind. Never. But you can touch me anywhere else you want." She added with a wicked grin and a quick twist of her hips as she resumed their rhythm.
She saw his eyes squeezed shut, that was odd, all the younger versions of the Doctor usually can't stop staring at her. Had the scolding been that bad? She tried moving her hips a little differently. Then looked down at him to gauge his reaction. Why wasn't he watching her?
"Open your eyes, sweetie." River said gently, still moving over him.
Their bodies continued their steady rhythm but the Doctor's eyes remained shut as he moaned somewhat uselessly and dug his fingers into the sweaty flesh of her hips. This would never do, River realized. But she continued her movements regardless. She leaned over to kiss him, hoping this would cause the desired reaction.
"Doctor, open your eyes." She demanded, somewhat breathlessly. He really was so young here. Practically flailing and losing himself in her arms all too soon. And she was teetering too close to the edge and he still wouldn't watch her.
The only response from her future-husband was a long low moan that sounded something like, "Can't... River..."
"Sweetie, neither you nor I are going to last much longer, open your eyes." River pleaded with him, pressing her hand to his face to cup his cheek.
His eyes blinked open slowly, just in time to watch her come undone. Her cries burning deep into his memories as he followed her.
He didn't disentangle himself from her, just wrapped his slightly wobbly arms around her and stared at her until they fell asleep.
They lay on the blanket a long time, breathing heavily before sleep finally took them.
He couldn't stop staring now. Looking into those damn eyes of hers, fingers skimming her sweat-slick skin. Her breath warm against his face, and then she moved and shifted before resettling herself back on to him, pressing the side of her face near his collarbone.
"River." He breathed slowly. He could feel the thrum of her mind just beyond his reach, hear the beat of her heart. She was so very alive. When the image of her dying drifted into his mind, he squeezed his eyes shut against it before. But now he reveled in the fact despite how wonderfully strange and out-of-order they were that they were both alive and tangled up with each other. His fears about handcuffs had been unfounded it seemed, at least this time.
The sun was up the next time River's eyes fluttered open. The Doctor hovered over her in the morning light.
"Good morning my love," A slow smile spread across her face. She felt completely blissful looking up at him now.
"You have such beautiful skin River," The Doctor kissed her shoulder and rose to look at her more closely, "You're freckled and soft."
"Mmm." She sighed leaning in to her lover. This was more the husband she remembered, attentive, unafraid of her body.
"River?"
"Yes?" She answered leisurely.
The Doctor continued, "I want you to go to Demon's Run."
"What? Now?" River shot up at the strange request. The romance of the moment clearly ruined.
"Well, you can get dressed first."
"My parents are there, sweetie." River tried to reason with him.
"Exactly, and someone must go take them home. You told me that I told you never to go there. I'm changing my mind. Go there, tell me what I need to know and take your parents home. I think they'd love to see you." The Doctor rambled on.
Then he added, seeing her distress, "Then, we can meet somewhere. Without your parents."
River sighed, "I've heard worse ideas." That man would be the death of her. With her luck he'd wind up a few years earlier into her prison sentence and they'd be chased halfway across a space station several centuries from now. Lucky for her they had all of time and space to keep themselves occupied.