River looked around her, forgetting where and who she was. She looked at her arms, seeing that she was in a white dress. It was gorgeous, but she wondered why she was wearing it. And why she was in the middle of a field. A child's voice greeted her from behind. It was the shock she needed to remember what had happened. The Doctor had saved her one last time. River turned around to see a little girl with a man with glasses behind her.

"Don't worry. This is a good place now," the girl assured smiling. She waved her hand to her side. "And I brought you some friends."

"Oh," River whispered as she saw her expedition companions on the other side of the field, running toward her. River gasped as the girl tilted her head to the side.

"Aren't I a clever girl?" She remarked as River nodded, absolutely speechless. The girl and the man left as River greeted her old friends, telling them that she thought that they were dead. Turns out, they had all been saved by CAL. They walked back inside as River realized something important and grave. She would never see her Doctor again. She stumbled as Other Dave helped her out.

"You okay?" He asked as she nodded.

"I'm fine," she lied, offering a smile. How on earth was she going to live without the Doctor? She had never felt so lost in her entire life, and she had grown up as an orphan. River took a deep breath and decided not to let it get to her. That it was going to be okay in the end.

"Come on. You wanna see you new home?" Angelina asked, dragging River with her. She smiled as she fought back her tears.

CAL had programmed a large, twenty first century apartment for River. She liked it well enough, as it was close to town and within walking distance to her friends' houses. Once her friends left, River opened the door and sighed. The apartment was completely empty, meaning that she had to go shopping or something. She closed the door and locked it. But did she even need to lock it? Living in a virtual reality was going to be difficult. River turned around and walked down the street.

There were a couple of people, some she recognized as book and movie characters. River bit her lip as she walked past them, wondering if she would ever get used to this. As she laughed at the thought of a manual, someone tapped her shoulder. She turned around to see a familiar man in a leather jacket, but she couldn't remember who.

"Yes?" River asked as the man bowed his head.

"Hello. I was wondering if you could tell me where Henricks is? It's the big department store," the man answered, rubbing his hands anxiously. River raised an eyebrow and shrugged.

"Downtown London. Other than that, I have no clue," she answered as he turned to leave. "Who are you? Don't I know you?"

"Just a friend," he replied before disappearing down the road. River put her hands on her hips, confused. She turned around again, thinking that he really reminded her of someone. It was something in his voice.

Still puzzled, River stopped and looked around. She couldn't figure out where she needed to go or do anything. She went to retrace her steps as she noticed that someone had been following her. They stayed in the shadows, but River had a good eye. She knelt down and called out to the child.

"You can come out," she cooed as a little girl came out. She had dark hair with deep green eyes. River smiled as she reached out to her. "What's your name?"

"Cassandra," the little girl whispered as she neared River.

"That's a beautiful name. What are doing here all by yourself?"

"I'm lost and I can't find my way," she answered quietly as she grabbed River's hand. "You're warm."

"I'll help you find your way," River promised, ignoring the comment about her warmth. Cassandra smiled and thanked her, making River grin. "Where do you live?"

"I don't remember. You're the first person I've seen in days," she answered as River began walking back toward her apartment.

"But there are many people around."

"Now, there are. I haven't been over here in a while," Cassandra countered with a sigh. River nodded, not sure what to do.

"You could stay at my place for awhile if you like," River offered, wondering if she was an orphan. Cassandra looked up at her.

"Really? You would let me?" The girl whispered, flabbergasted. River smiled.

"Of course. Then we can find your parents," River replied.

"Yeah, my dad will be worried," Cassandra answered but made a face at the end. "Well, I guess he isn't my dad. But he's a man taking care of me."

"I would say that counts as a dad," River laughed and shrugged.

"Do you have a dad?"

"Yeah, I do, but I don't think I'll ever see him again," she answered, remembering that fateful day, when her parents were taken away from her. She would give anything to see her mum and dad one more time, possibly even more than the Doctor. Cassandra held her hand tighter, feeling sad for River.

"You don't know that," she whispered, snuggling up next to her. River touched her head and started to remember her parents. With her mum's brilliant red hair and her father's rather large nose. They were the perfect couple in her eyes.

"Thank you. You're so kind," River whispered as they walked up to the apartment. She pulled out the key and opened the door as she wondered where she got the key from. Maybe that was how things worked here. If River wanted something, she would get it. That probably excluded people, though, even if that was what she wanted most. As she walked into the apartment, she found it fully furnished. Surprisingly, she loved it. "Make yourself at home. I haven't been past the entryway, so see if there's a spare room. I'll see if I get the kettle on."

"Okay," Cassandra answered as she ran up the stairs. River smiled and went into the kitchen. She found it fully stocked with all of her favorite foods and drinks, exactly where she thought it would be. River sighed as she grabbed the earl grey off the shelf before filling the kettle with water. Cassandra came in the doorway.

"Hello," River greeted with a smile. "Did you find a room?"

"Yes. What's your name?" Cassandra asked, looking up at River. She looked like she could be around nine or ten years old.

"River Song," she whispered as the girl smiled. She stuck out her hand to her as River shook it.

"Thank you, Mrs. Song," Cassandra smiled as River smiled.

"Dr. Song," River winked, making the girl smile. She stood up and poured the hot water into the teapot over the tea. Cassandra watched intently, realizing that she had never had tea before. "Would you like some?"

"Yes please," Cassandra replied excitedly. River smiled and produced a tray from underneath the counter.

"Can you grab the cookies from the cupboard right there? I'm sure there's something like that," River asked as she reached for two cups. Cassandra dashed over and opened it up, finding a box of treats. "Where was the last place you saw your dad?"

"A few hours ago. He told me to stay in one place when he went out, but I followed, but wasn't fast enough. I lost him as he turned down a street. I stayed in an alley for a while before I saw you," she answered, putting the box on the tray. River thanked her as she carried the tray to the dining table with Cassandra at her heels.

"Well, after some tea, and me changing out of this ridiculous dress, we'll go out and find him. He couldn't have gone far," River informed as she poured the girl a cup of tea and gave her a cookie.

"Really? You'll help me?"

"Of course! Why wouldn't I? It's not like I have anything to do, either," she winked as the girl stood up and embraced River before Cassandra started to cry. "Oh, Cassandra! Are you alright?"

"No one other than my papa has ever been so kind to me," the girl sobbed, hanging onto River. She held the child close, pondering what this little girl had gone through.

"Oh, Cassandra, you're safe here. I promise. And you can stay for as you like. Even when we find your father, you can come back whenever you like," River promised, still holding the little girl. Cassandra held her tighter, her sobbing starting to stop. She looked at the little girl and smiled. "Wait here and I'll get changed. Then we can go out looking for your father."

"Okay," Cassandra whispered, wiping her eyes. River kissed her forehead before hurrying upstairs to the master bedroom. River closed the door and went to the walk in closet, where she found all her original clothing with a few extras. Ones she had seen in shop windows or magazines, but never buying for several different reasons. She picked out a blouse, a pair of pants, and some boots.

Once River changed her clothes, she went down the stairs and found Cassandra waiting on the couch in the front room. She stood up when she saw River and smiled, ready to find her father. She put her hands on her hips, a contagious smile on her lips.

"Shall we go find you dad?" River asked as Cassandra grabbed her hand before they left the apartment.

River and Cassandra wandered the streets of the neighborhood, examining each house to see if Cassandra recognized one of them. Cassandra always frowned and shook her head, sad that she couldn't remember where her home was.

"River, none of these houses look like mine. My house is blue," Cassandra complained, feeling a bit useless.

"Let's look for a blue house, then! Can you remember anything else?" River cheered as they kept walking.

"It wasn't like a normal house. I know that, but it's hard to describe after that," Cassandra answered, still looking down the street. River pursed her lips wondered what they could do. Soon, there was a strange whirring sound. An all too familiar sound. River froze, too surprised and shocked to do anything. She could have sworn her heart stopped for a moment or two. Cassandra beamed and jumped up and down.

"It's Dad!" she cried out as she let go of River's hand and ran around the corner to the noise. Speechless, River followed, her eyes tearing up. She stopped at the corner, praying that this wasn't some sick joke. She turned and found a police box down the street. The TARDIS. River was flabbergasted and stood in front of the box as Cassandra ran up to it. She cried for her father as the door opened. The incredible man stepped out and scooped up the child into his arms. River started to cry as she held her hand to her mouth. It was the Doctor.