When River stepped out of Stormcage Containment Facility a free woman, she had not expected to find the TARDIS waiting. Not wanting to make a scene, she unhurriedly walked up to the doors and stepped inside.

The Doctor greeted her with a grin and open arms. "River. How does it feel to be free?"

She wanted to make a joke that it wasn't that different. After all, she had escaped numerous times. But she couldn't. "It feels wonderful, Sweetie."

"I have a gift for you," he told her with a grin.

River pulled out her diary. "We need to figure out where we are."

He pulled out his own. "All right."

"Have we done the Byzantium?"

He smiled. "A long time ago."

She peered at him. "You do seem older. It was a month ago for me though."

"I just did Lake Silencio. And Area 52."

River gasped. This was new for her. "Then you know everything? You know who I am?"

He leaned over and kissed her cheek. "I do, Wife. Now, about your gift…"

"Open your eyes," the Doctor exclaimed after guiding River through the TARDIS.

River did and saw that she was in a bedroom. It was decorated in shades of yellow and white. "What's this?"

"Your room. I thought you might like to have a place in the TARDIS that you can stay in if you want."

"You made me a bedroom?"

"Of course! You need more sleep than I do, and now we can go on more adventures." He was practically bouncing with happiness.

River slowly made her way around the room, examining the fluffiness of the bed-did it really have to be on such a high platform that you needed stairs to reach it?-the size of the dressing table, the bookshelf, and the chair. "Thank you, Sweetie. There's just one tiny problem. It's not my room."

"You don't like it? Well, you know that anything can be changed-" He broke off when she approached him and began to tug off his coat. "River, what are you doing?"

She didn't answer. With single-minded determination she removed his jacket, bowtie, and suspenders. He watched her in shock as she laid them around the room.

"It's our room," she clarified.

"If you insist." He cleared his throat. "So, where do you want to go? All of time and space is open to you legally."

Logically, she should think about her future. She needed a job, a home. But she had never been extremely logical. "Take me someplace beautiful."

The nebula was breathtaking. They had opened both doors of the TARDIS and were sitting]in the doorway.

"This is perfect."

There hadn't been much beauty in Stormcage. The planet was locked in a perpetual rainstorm. Maybe she would have then go to a sunny place next.

"I'm glad." He paused. "What do you see?"

"What do you mean?" He gestured out the doors. "Dust, gasses, proto-"

"No, what do you see beyond that?"

She hesitated for a moment. "I see...potential. Someday all of this will be stars and planets and people…births, lives, wars, celebrations, and death. But right now it's just potential. It's beautiful. Thank you, Doctor."

"Thank you." He paused. "They actually become a very violent grouping of planets. I stopped three wars." River felt disappointed but tried not to show it. "Except...for one planet. The furthest from what will be the sun. They will be peaceful. They will worship intelligence. Beauty. Their planet will be so small it will not be worth invading, so they thrive."

"Can we go there?"

"Oh, yes! You'd love their new year's festival."

He droned on about the festivals and how they evolved over time. River leaned against him and listened while watching the nebula. After a while she started yawning.

"I forget how humany you are," he said.

"Yes, well, you've normally returned me to my cell around now."

"Now you have a different room to go to."

"Indeed." She stood and stretched. "I think I'll go try it out now. See you soon?"

He nodded and she headed for their new room.

o.O.o

"By 'see you soon',]you meant a little 'I got outta prison' celebration." Jack grinned.

"Exactly. You get it. A delayed honeymoon, too. After all, I did go to prison the same day I got married."

o.O.o

River took a nice hot shower and dressed in a sophisticated yet sexy nightgown. Her hair she left loose and natural, the way she knew he liked. Humming to herself she climbed into the incredibly soft bed and waited for her husband.

Before this, they had only kissed, mainly because he hadn't known they were married. Now, however, they were finally at the same point in their timelines.

She planned to enjoy it.

So she waited. And waited. And waited.

For a little while she fell asleep only to wake up and find the other half of the bed undisturbed. In that moment she realized that he had never intended to join her in bed.

o.O.o

"No! No way! He had you in bed and looking amazing." She nodded in agreement. "And he does nothing?"

"He didn't do nothing. Apparently he worked on the engines."

Jack got up and paced. "I can't believe it."

"He didn't join me for over twenty years after that."