A/N: This is a spin-off of my main series, "Once Upon Another Time", but you don't necessarily have to read that to understand this story. Everything will be explained in the second chapter since this first chapter is the prologue. Anyone reading this who is also reading "Once Upon Another Time" should be aware of major spoilers in the future.
River entered the Library for the last time. She descended into the core of planet and approached the computer terminal. She could feel the Vashta Nerada waiting in the shadows, waiting to feed on her flesh, but they would have to wait a little while longer.
She stuck what was equivalent to a flash drive into an opening in the wall, the same opening that the Doctor had used to store Susan's consciousness in the Library computer. Her flash drive was programmed to transfer her consciousness from her body to the computer the moment she died. She wouldn't have been able to do that without Susan's sonic screwdriver, which she still kept in her pocket.
Letting out a heavy sigh, River sat down in the same chair Susan had died in. She reached into her jacket pocket, bigger on the inside of course, and pulled out her lover's journal. She flipped aimlessly through the pages and watched as the handwriting changed over the years. Some of the writing was faded because River had read it so many times.
"Almost time," she whispered, partially to herself and partially to Susan. "Almost time, my darling."
A tear slipped down her wrinkled cheek as River turned to the first page of the journal and began reading.
April 17, 1999
Today's my tenth birthday. I saw Mum and Dad for the first time in three years. I really miss them, especially Mum. She used to sing me to sleep.
Dad crashed the TARDIS in Amy's backyard and destroyed the shed. Amy was in the middle of praying to Santa when he crashed. She's been praying about the crack in her wall for a week now. I knew there was something wrong about the crack but I didn't tell Amy because I didn't want to make her worried. But I knew something was definitely wrong when Mum and Dad showed up.
Dad just regenerated before he crashed here. Mum was trying to help him because he was still recovering, but Dad never listens to her after regenerating. They left a few hours ago and promised to come back but I know Dad will get the timing wrong. He usually does. Amy's still waiting outside. I think she's asleep. I should probably wake her up soon. It's really cold tonight.
Maybe Dad will come back in a few days. He's never been more than a week off. I hope he comes back soon. I like Leadworth a lot. There's no dinosaurs or killer robots or anything. And I like living with Amy (even though her aunt is rubbish) but I still miss Mum and Dad a lot too. I miss Mum's singing. Amy's aunt can't sing at all.
River sniffled and turned the page with a smile. The Vashta Nerada hissed in the shadows, but River paid them no mind. She was saying goodbye.