Chapter six

They made their way back to the party room, the Vespiform had already been taken away and the fire put out. The Doctor had scavaged the ashes of her studies as she saw to the Vespiform's cryotank and told Nox off. Now, they were back in the empty room. Well, empty save one thing.

"The DJ table is still here." the Doctor observed.

"They're coming to get it tomorrow." she told him. "Though I'm not sure how much good it will be since it's soaked. . ."

River sighed. This just wasn't her night. Well, it was technically her night, but nothing had gone as planned. Her Doctor was supposed to be back for the party, but he wasn't. When the TARDIS key glowed she'd impulsively followed it's signal. She had to have him there. Even though it wasn't him. Not really. She supposed it served her right for being selfish, though. This wasn't HER Doctor. It was someone elses. Oh well. A dance still would have been nice.

"Fine then." the Doctor said, walking off to the door they had first come to the party through. He opened it for her. "The TARDIS has a better music selection anyway."

"Huh?" she asked, puzzled.

"Just follow me, River song." he said. "I've got explaining to do."

River nodded. She had forgotten. She followed the Doctor to the TARDIS, as she had done so many times. He opened the door with the snap of his fingers and they walked in. He closed the door behind them and went straight to the console.

"I'm taking you home. No need for you to walk in the wet dress." he said, trying in coordinates and pulling a lever. "It will only be ten seconds after this moment, but I have time."

"The Doctor always has time." she said. "Thats the whole advantage of being a Time Lord."

The Doctor laughed, flipping a switch on the TARDIS and another window coming up on it's computer. "She will play any song in the world. In the universe. In all of time and space." he said. "What do you feel like dancing to, River Song? What's your song?"

River smiled at him. He wasn't her Doctor, but he was a good man. "What's yours Doctor?" she asked.

"Don't have one. Besides, this is your night." he said with a smile. "Any song, River. All you have to do is say the word."

River thought for a moment. This song had to be perfect. Or close to it. . . "I Hope You Dance." she said finally, "by Lee Ann Womack."

The Doctor nodded, hit a few buttons, and the song played, the lighs on the TARDIS glowing with the rythm.

"I hope you never lose your sence of wonder...
Get your fill to eat, but always keep that hunger..."

"You'll find your feet at the end of your legs." the Doctor said, and River smiled as he extended a hand. "River Song, will you let me have the honor of having your last dance?" he asked. The last dance he'd have with her. This night and this regeneration.

She took his hand. "Of course, my Doctor."

He wrapped an arm around her and danced beside the console as he had so long ago with another. But, this time was better, and he refused to allow River to be more than a milimeter apart from him.

"I'm sorry for being so stubborn about dancing, River." he said as they danced. "You see. . .I haven't danced with anyone. Not when it actually meant something. Not since. . ."

His voice trailed off. "Not since what?" River asked, giving him a conserned look.

The Doctor had to fight to get the words out. "Not since Rose. . ."

River immediately dropped her hands and took a step back. The Doctor felt a pang of regret as he saw her pained, but sorrowful face.

What would she do now? Cry again? He couldn't take that. Not again. Maybe she would just leave. That would be easier.

"I'm sorry." she said, and for a moment the Doctor was confused. "I'm so sorry! If I had known you were her's. If I had known you were that Doctor. Her Doctor. . .I-I would have left. I wouldn't have pushed it. . ."

"So. . .I've told you of Rose?" The Doctor Sked, fighting to keep his voice level. This woman was sorry. Nevermind that, at that moment, he was still in love with another as he fought to identify his feelings for her. She was sorry to have brought up the memories. Sorry to have caused her pain when she had already gone through so much tonight.

River nodded. She rather admired Rose. "Yes. . ." she said, not knowing what else to say. "Yes. . .She sounded. . .She was fantastic."

The Doctor broke. He couldn't take the acheing in his heart. He covered his face with his hands, breathing out "She was. . . She was. . ."

River stepped forward to the Doctor. The Doctor that was someone elses. She didn't hold this ones hearts. Another woman did. Still, she removed his hands, looking into his reddening eyes and planting a soft kiss on his lips. "So were you." she whispered.