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Looking between the two women, the Doctor tried to decide how exactly he was going to explain to River that this was his new companion and to Clara that this was his dead wife. Very much alive.
'Ah River, I don't believe you have met my fine young new companion!' he explained with as much enthusiasm as he could muster. He remembered the jealous side of the younger River very well – Good Queen Bess would certainly never forget it – and he really wanted Clara and River to get off on the right foot. Bouncing over to Clara, he grabbed her by the shoulders and guided her over to River. 'Meet Clara Oswald. Just your regular girl who likes to time-travel. Well when I say regular I didn't really mean it. But that's a story that can wait.' Clara said nothing, still trying to get her head around the fact River was standing in front of her. How was this even pos –
'And Clara. This equally fine young woman is River Song. I'm introducing you because you've never met before and that's what people do' standing behind Rivers' back and holding her shoulders to introduce her, the Doctor sent Clara his best wide play-along-and-don't-mention-you've-met-her-but-she-was-dead-at-my-grave eyes. Clara looked between the Doctor and River before forcing a cheery smile onto her face and reaching out her hand.
'Oh the famous River Song. I've heard so much about you. It's nice to meet you at last.' River cautiously took the extended hand and shook it, not breaking the joined hands between them as she spoke.
'His wife.' Clara looked confused.
'Excuse me?'
'Did he mention I was his wife?' Clara could see the Doctor nodding frantically behind Rivers' back even though she of course new that this was the Doctors' wife.
'Oh' Clara smiled, 'of course he did. River Song his wife. Yeah.' The Doctor gave a quiet sigh of relief. The thing about a younger River Song was that she always wanted people to know who she was – a characteristic that really could not seem more ironic when you consider her future antics – and for her to think that he'd forgotten to mention she was his wife really wouldn't have gone down too well. River seemed appeased and shook Claras' hand again, more warmth seeping into the shake this time. Shifting so he stood between the two women, he looked at them both again and clapped his hands once more, a habit that both River and Clara rolled their eyes at.
'So, off we go!' he grinned, turning towards the console and realising it was still directed towards the 20's. 'Ah.' He turned back around and looked to Clara.
'"Ah"? What is "ah"?' she asked, wondering what could have possibly gone wrong in the time it had taken to go and change into an authentic flapper girl dress.
'Well….you know how I don't see River very often?' Clara didn't like where this was going. Her shoulders deflated a little.
'Yes…?'
'Well… River really wants to go to the 80's' he said simply. Clara tried to hide the disappointment on her face, instead masking it with a smile that was fooling neither a very sorry Doctor nor River who was nonchalantly inspecting her nails. Stepping a little closer to him so she could speak to him quieter, Clara looked up at him.
'But Doctor. You promised me the 20's.' The Doctor beamed down at her, trying to use his usually enthusiastic self to help sort the situation out.
'And the 20's you shall have! But…just… not today. Come on, Clara. I never see River. Ever.' He tried to send a million messages with his eyes. Clara sighed. She supposed she was being selfish. They could go to the 20's any time and for the Doctor to have his wife back was an unexpected turn of events – of course he wanted to treat her to whatever she wanted. If River wanted the 80's, then the 80's she would have. Besides, Clara knew how much River meant to the Doctor and from what she'd heard, she was a woman that she would really rather stay on the right side of.
'You're right. Of course. I mean, the 80's were pretty cool too. Maybe we'll run in George Michaels when he was good looking! And not gay.' The Doctor gave her a thankful wink and a smile to both of the women.
'In that case, of we go' and off he went, spinning round the centre console and flicking switches and buttons and pully-things.
'About time. They're not going to be held off forever.' The Doctor stopped in his tracks.
'Held off forever? They? River… what exactly are you talking about?' River looked up at him with innocent eyes.
'The Muglers. They're not going to wait for you to stop them.'
'I thought that you wanted to go to the 80's to' he waved his hands in front of his face vaguely 'party?' River nodded and Clara watched the exchange with interest.
'I do. But stopping a little invasion on the side will be fun too, right? Where's your sense of adventure gone, Doctor?' she grinned at him and Clara tried to hide a smile at the Doctors' surprised face.
'For gods sake, River. Why didn't you mention it before?' River shrugged her shoulder, sly grin still firmly in place on her face.
'I forgot?' The Doctor gave a groan of exasperation and turned back to the centre console, redirecting the TARDIS with a positively childlike manner. Clara let out a short involuntary laugh at the ridiculousness of the timelord, covering her hand with her mouth and trying to turn it into a cough. The Doctor shot her an unimpressed look. He was already sure that having these two in the TARDIS together was going to be the death of him.
River caught Claras eye and gave the younger girl a cheeky wink, a sparkle firmly in her eye. Clara beamed back. Perhaps they were going to get on after all.
TBC…
