"Hello, sweetie."

He'd gotten used to those words. Forever locked in his mind, he had gotten used to the way one heart went all fast and wonky, while the other heart drummed steadily in pleasure over hearing those words uttered. He'd gotten used (pretty much,anyway) to the way his mind went on overdrive. Now it was time to protect her, fight alongside her, keep her with him. He'd gotten used to her. This was bad.

Oh no, he could never get used to her. At one point she would be gone. He knew that, embraced that, anticipated that, but he could never get used to her. Once he would… it was over. He WOULD be shocked when she'd leave, when she'd...

"Spoilers!"

Oh, dear River, spoilers indeed. He might have the biggest spoiler of them all. He could never bear to tell her. But when it happened, as soon as it did, she would know. She was a smart girl, she would figure out what terrible secret he kept from her. But would she be angry by it? Would she even do it? Yes, she would… he saw her do it before. Years before, he witnessed it. And that sort of time could never change. His sweet River Song, the girl who risked it all for him, even though the man wasn't even him. She would do it, in time.

"And what sort of time do you call this?"

A terrible time, that's exactly what it was. And he couldn't escape it, he couldn't just go into the TARDIS, flip a switch, and escape a terrible time. She was with him, she was always with him. She'll always remind him that like all the rest, she'll probably be gone. Yeah, she's saved onto the computer in the library, but can he save her like that? Will she have a better life in there, even though it isn't much a life at all?

"River, I want you to have this…" he decided to do it, he thrust he gift into her hands. It was the only way, tonight was the night he gave her the sonic. River seemed touched.

"Doctor, I can never take your sonic screwdriver. That's your baby." She breathed, looking at it in her hands.

"I got plenty more somewhere." He said dismissively. "If you're going to be a regular in the TARDIS, it's best you carry one to be safe."

"I'm always safe with you," she smiled at the timelord. "Plus, I can handle myself pretty damn well."

He laughed, it was a drawn out one though. It felt dry and unnatural. He really didn't feel like laughing. The end was coming soon, he could feel it. Soon, she would leave again, she'll send out a letter, sure to be delivered to a past regeneration. She'll meet the Noble Donna Noble; she'll help fight against the Vashta Nervada. She'll sacrifice herself to save the saved. He would just be without companion once again.

"Next date at the Singing Towers, Doctor?" she asked. "You've been promising for the longest time."

He smiled. "Yeah, Singing Towers, next time." He said. "River…" he whispered something in her ear and pulled back. She looked at him in shock.

"I—I," was all she could muster.

"Singing Towers!" He said. "Now I think you're needed, geologist. I still laugh at you."

She smiled softly, getting over the shock of the words he muttered in her ear. "We're not that useless, sweetie."

River Song, she definitely was one of the greatest women in the galaxy. Boy was he unlucky to lose her. Once again, he had lost her…