A/N:This chapter was exceedingly difficult. The Doctor and River have a very awkward conversation, and I'm not really sure that I got their voices right. I apologize if it doesn't sound right. I know where the story is going and this chapter was a must to take it there, but it just wouldn't flow. Stick with me, it gets better. At least, that's what my better half says.

River slowly came to, stiff on the floor of the TARDIS. The bedroom door across from her was still shut. She stood and put an ear to the door, straining to hear any sound. A soft humming from the TARDIS told her that everything was alright with the Doctor.

She wasn't ready to go in yet, to face the Doctor. She turned and headed back towards the console room. Hoping to find answers there. To know what to do.

She stared into the time rotor in the middle of the console, trying to see all the answers to all the questions. Her love for the Doctor could never end. It was forever. She had no doubts about that. It wasn't her feelings for the Doctor on a basic level that worried her. It was more carnal and a more intimate level she worried over.

The TARDIS revealed no answers as she stared down the time rotor. There was only silence. There was something about the Doctor she couldn't put her finger on. Something she was feeling, something...she had no idea what it was. She stared so hard at the time rotor she didn't hear the Doctor enter behind her.

"River."

River whirled around, eyes big, as she took in the Doctor. "What sort of time do you call this?" River joked, hoping to lighten the suddenly heavy mood. The Doctor was having none of it. She was across the room in moments. The Doctor placed both of her hands on River's face and pulled her down into a long deep kiss.

The kiss seemed to go on forever, yet it was over too soon. The Doctor poured every emotion, every thought, every feeling she had for River into that kiss. River returned her kiss, but it was different. River was given to passionate kisses, full of life and feeling. This one fell flat.

The Doctor backed away from River, panting slightly from everything she put in the kiss, and studied her intently. River squirmed under her gaze, knowing the Doctor felt the difference in the kiss. Knowing the Doctor would have questions. Questions she wasn't sure if she could answer.

They stared into each others eyes. Both unsure of what to say, what to do. Where do you start in a situation such as this?

"River, what are you thinking right now?"

River let one tear fall down her cheek as she searched her mind for the right answer. "I don't know, truly. Too much, not enough, all the wrong things." River started getting some speed at this point, her desperation showing, "Do I still love you? Of course I do, but how? I don't know if I can be with you like this. A woman, Doctor? How do I? It's...too much, the change is more than I can handle. I thought I would live out a life created by a computer for eternity. I thought I would never see you again. Then the instant I see your face it changes. It changes into something I don't recognize. How do I adapt?"

River was pacing now, her hands flying, trying to stress her points. The tears flowing freely as her words got harder and harder to understand. "I was finally content, I had finally accepted my fate of living in that computer. Then here you come to save the day, I finally got you back, just what I wanted, and then this? I don't know if I can do this with you Doctor. I mean, sure, I've been with women before. I know what I'm doing, its just, its you. You aren't just some woman, you are the Doctor. You are all man, you are my husband."

River sank to the floor of the room and buried her head in her hands. She knew her point would come across all wrong. She needed the Doctor to understand, but she didn't know how to explain. To be honest the Doctor didn't know what to say to her, she simply walked over and pulled River into a hug and stroked her back softly. A few stray tears leaked out of her eyes without permission. She tried to hold them back, to be strong for River, but those female hormones made it impossible not to cry at least a little.

Eventually River stopped crying and they sat there on the floor, not touching, but facing each other. Each trying to figure out what to say next.

The Doctor decided if they were going to figure this thing out, she would need to take charge. "So you love me my River, but you are unsure of feelings that wold make us more than friends, is that what I am hearing from you."

River gulped, unsure of where this was going and shook her head yes.

"Then we should start again. From the moment we met each other we knew that we would end up together. Not because of some great love at first sight moment, but because the other had unintentionally told us so. You told me when you told me my name, and I told you when you found out you were the River Song that I loved so very much. We never figured out we loved each other, we just did. We never decided we wanted each other we just did. I never got my opportunity to court you, we just flirted with each other until the flirting wasn't enough for us."

The Doctor stood up and held a hand out to help River to her feet. Once River was standing and warily looking at the Doctor, the Doctor smiled shyly at her. "River Song, I have seen you across the room and I have thought to myself, someone so absolutely lovely on the outside, must also be on the inside. It would mean the world to me if you would allow me to take you out on a date."

River stood there, staring at the Doctor for a moment, not sure if the Doctor was serious or not. The blush on the Doctor's face when she said "Please" told her it was a real request for a date.

"I...well...you see." River closed her eyes in an effort to gather herself. One date, one date to see if they could get it back together. One little inconsequential date. "Yes." She said it quickly so she wouldn't back out of it.

The Doctor smiled a crooked grin. "Wonderful, I will pick you up outside of your room in two hours?"

"My room?"

The Doctor placed a hand over her heart, with an excessively shocked look on her face. "My dear lady, I would not presume to sleep in the same bed with the woman I am courting. My things will be moved into another room, until such time as the lady wishes me return." This time, the cocky smirk on the Doctor's face was almost too much to handle.

River smiled that River smile, "I hate you".

"No you don't." The Doctor gave a sweet smile, her hair partially covering her face in shyness. "So, two hours then? Dress comfortably, with shoes made for running."

"Two hours." River turned and went back to their room. She noticed as soon as she walked in that the Doctor's things were missing. Even the 2nd closet that had been full of the Doctor's clothes was completely empty. The TARDIS must have already heard the request and moved all of the Doctor's things.

River quickly got to work opening her closet door and looking at the offerings. "Something comfortable I can run in...this should work." River pulled out her favorite outfit. Something she would feel comfortable and more like herself in. The long sleeveless tan shirt with thick black tights underneath and good boots. A nice thick belt thrown around her waist to bring it all together.

She looked quickly in the mirror to see how it felt and smiled. It had been a long time since she had really seen herself. Let alone seen herself so much like herself. This truly felt like home. She set to hair and make up and the time passed quickly. So quickly she didn't anticipate the knock at the door.