"You're not serious," the Doctor said and dropped his hands away from River's face. She immediately missed the feel of his warm skin on hers.

"You didn't really believe that she was dead, did you?"

The Doctor ran his hand over his face and turned away from River.

"For the universes sake, I think I hoped so," he replied quietly.

The Doctor spun back around suddenly. His mind was clearing, as his advanced Time Lord genetics were repairing his wound at an accelerated rate. He waved his fingers in her direction, rolling his wrist for emphasis.

"So, what, are you so angry with me for abandoning you, that you've become her puppet now," he asked rudely.

River's hand swung out so fast, that the Doctor didn't even have a chance to flinch before the flesh of her palm met with his cheek. The force of the blow threw his head to the side and he staggered again, barely staying on his feet. River knew that if he was being blunt, he must be feeling better, so she had no immediate regrets about striking him so soon after his rough handling by the Vaticoracle.

It took the Doctor a full moment to recover. He turned slowly back to River and looked into her eyes. She did not back down from his soul searching gaze.

"Try again, Sweetie," she asked with an eyebrow raised over her piercing glare.

"Why are you here, River?"

"She wants you," River explained in a soft, slightly wounded tone, "and I'm the lure."

"So, a puppet after all?"

For the flash of a second, River looked as though she wanted to smack him again. The tension suddenly melted off of her body and she slumped back against the TARDIS controls. Seeing the fight go out of River Song made the Doctor's hearts clench. This time around, he could certainly be bit on the callous side, but he was not a monster.

He made a show of walking around the console, fiddling with the controls and pretending to study the computer screen. The Doctor spoke without looking at his wife.

"How am I to spring the trap, then," he asked. His gravely voice was husky with an attempt to smother his emotion. Their chins came up at the same time and they looked at one another across the console.

"I am sorry, my love," River whispered sincerely.

"Never mind that now, dear, just answer my question," the Doctor replied.

"Have you still got a bow-tie," she asked with a coy smile spreading across her full red lips. The Doctor raised a questioning eyebrow. River shrugged.

"There's a party going on out there, Doctor, and I need you to dance with me," River explained.

⓬⓬⓬⓬⓬⓬⓬⓬⓬⓬⓬⓬

The Doctor stepped out of his TARDIS with River Song on his arm. At her behest, he had changed into a stylish midnight blue, modern cut tuxedo, with matching trousers. His bow-tie was black, to match the shiny Loake loafers that he refused to take off. The striking couple drew quite a lot of attention.

The Doctor was surprised to find that while he was unconscious, the room he landed in had been transformed. It was, in fact, a ballroom that was now filled to the brim with well dressed guests of all shapes, sizes, colors and affiliations. The universe was fairly well represented, as far as the Doctor could tell. The Time Lord took careful note of the Vaticoracle priests standing on the perimeter of the ballroom.

Guarding against what, exactly, he wondered.

River's laughter filled the ballroom as the Doctor suddenly twirled the Professor onto the dance floor without warning. For a few precious seconds, it was almost like old times. No pretending, just an old married couple, enjoying their treasured time together. Minus the fumbling and ridiculous dance moves, of course. This version of himself was refined, precise in his movements and exuding confidence. Within those fleeting moments, the Doctor was able to forget his aversion to the touchy feely stuff.

After a few more spins, the Doctor let his eyes casually peruse the ballroom. He counted twenty Vaticoracle priests. No one else seemed out of place at the party. He did not spy Missy lurking anywhere. River had only been able to tell him what she was expected to do to lure him into the trap. Missy had not conveyed the entire plan to her puppet. She would want to spin those details to the Doctor in person. His only real concern was finding a way to release River from her "contract" with the Mistress and then stop the madwoman's plans, whatever they were, from coming to fruition. It was always easier said than done, he knew.

"Shall we get on with it," he asked, pulling River closer so that he could speak without others hearing.

"Are you so eager to be rid of me, Doctor," River asked. Her breath tickled the tiny hairs on the Time Lord's cheek.

"No, but I need answer that only Missy can give me," he replied.

"She's going to use us against each other, you know that? Can you still be hurt by me, my love," she asked. Her insecurity was plain as day. The Doctor's answer was simple:

"Yes."

River forced the tears to stay where they belonged. She smiled a shining smile at her husband and took a deep, steadying breath.

"Ready," she asked. The Doctor nodded once.

"I'll make it a good one," River said nostalgically.

"You bloody well better," the Doctor said in a reversal of a their roles so long ago in a different time and place.

They leaned in together and captured each others lips in a long-awaited, passionate kiss. River's left hand clenched his shoulder. Her other hand ran through his silver curls. His tongue pressed against her swollen red lips. River's fingers curled against his scalp, sending a tingling sensation down the length of his lean frame. Warmth spread through the Doctor's body as River parted her lips. The Doctor's own hand clench into a fist, balling the fabric of her slinky dress at the base of her spine. The heat was damn near overwhelming. He was fully aware of how incredibly sexy River Song was, but the roused Time Lord was also fairly certain that it was her hallucinogenic lipstick causing the heat to rise, instead.

It was over far too soon for the Doctor. River's old standby performed its trick neatly, and when he opened his eyes, River was nowhere to be found. The Doctor was alone in the middle of the ballroom. The guests had disappeared and he was surrounded by his worse nightmare.

Twenty Daleks screamed his name. Their maniacal voices grew louder with each chant and exclamation of 'Exterminate!'

The Doctor searched quickly for an escape.

"Doctor!"

He spun on his heels to find Clara near an exit. She was holding her hand out to him. Her big round eyes registered fear and the need for expediency.

"This way, Doctor," she yelled across the space to him. "Run!"

He did not hesitate to close the distance between he and his companion. The Doctor took Clara's hand and they ran for their lives.