As much as I like River, I can't help but feel the romance is a bit force. She's a total badass, but I feel like the Doctor's with her only because she told him they'd be together. So, as not to alter the timeline, he goes along with it. Sort of a paradox, yeah?
I love Rose/Mickey friendship, and wonder about what they were like as kids. I think they'd be a bit like what's here.
River's hand held his as they wandered about London, acting like a normal couple. River held a picnic basket in her other hand, swinging it gently as they walked.
He couldn't help but gaze out to the streets and think 'we were here, once'. It felt like a lifetime ago. It was a lifetime ago. He could feel her hand on his as the wind rushed through his hair while they ran. Her blonde hair fanned out behind her in the breeze, looking at him with a bright smile. Or her arm linked with his as she skipped towards the Powell Estate, him nearly skipping right along with her. (It must have looked odd, him looking like a forty year old with the young teen. It might've looked less odd when he'd regenerated, and looked to be roughly only a decade older than her. It now pained him to think that they'd look to be around the same age, and no one would've looked at them funny.)
But Rose was gone and never to return, and he had River, child of the TARDIS. He felt quite guilty, with his thoughts becoming consumed with the girl he lost.
"This is all so domestic," River mused as she glanced through the shop windows. In the Doctor's hand was a shopping bag from Henriks, and he stopped to look at her, nearly dropping the bag.
A house with a roof, four walls, a mortgage.
He let his mind wander, wondering what she was doing. Was she happy with his clone? She had to be happy. They could finally have their forever without him watching her age while he watched on, brokenhearted.
They'd age together, have a house of their own, a mortgage, maybe even some kids. He imagined bright-eyed blonde children with crazy hair, wearing chucks and running about. He let himself smile softly.
River looked at him curiously, brow raised.
"What is it?"
"Never thought I'd do domestic," he waved it off, taking her hand and continued walking.
He had thought he'd do domestic. He just thought if with anyone, it would've been with Rose Tyler.
They made it to Hyde Park, where they spread the blanket onto the ground. River fished out the wine glasses, handing one to him. He sipped only a bit—he wasn't a big fan.
They ate their sandwiches, making lighthearted conversation. River told him that Amy wanted to arrange a dinner, all four of them, but wanted to make sure timelines weren't crossing and what have you. The Doctor peeled a banana, chewing slowly. A dinner with the Ponds was just what he needed.
A little boy ran past, holding a ball in his arms, laughing. A little girl followed, near tears.
"Mickey!" she shouted, coming to an abrupt halt. Her face scrunched up into a pout. Her pigtails were a bit disheveled and her cheek was red.
"C'mon, Rose. It's just a game," Mickey frowned upon seeing his friend sad.
Somewhere in the distance, the Doctor could swear he heard Jackie Tyler's yelling for them to come back and behave and how she shouldn't have taken the day off, or Mickey off his grandma's hands.
"You hit me with the ball," she sniffled. They had been playing with a group of children, and she'd jumped in front of a smaller child who was about to be out of their game of dodge ball.
The Doctor wanted to hug the little Rose, but he didn't need to. Little Mickey handed the ball to her, giving her a hug.
"I didn't mean to. Sorry," he apologised glumly, stepping back.
Rose smiled at him and Mickey nearly beamed.
"Do you want to play tag?" she asked.
"Okay!"
"You're it!" she tagged him lightly before running off.
River watched the little children go back to playing, and then watched as a storm of emotions played in the Doctor's eyes, his face blank.
"What time's dinner then?" he asked.
River offered a sad smile, "Seven. Don't be late."
Huh. He always seemed to be too late. He was late in getting back to Amy. He was late in saving River in the library. He was too late from saving the Master. He was late in saving Rose from the parallel planet. Always too late, and always too guilty.
He cast a wayward glance in Rose and Mickey's direction. She spun around as Mickey tagged her arm. She took off after him, the largest grin on her face. Mickey darted past them, Rose following.
Her hair fanned out behind her, and the Doctor could imagine her when she was much older, holding his hand, as they ran together, wind whipping their hair.
I feel like I keep making people sad, because I myself am sad when I write this. But sad is happy for deep people, so we've at least got that.