Chapter 6: Stay With Me

River was surprised at his reply but it made her happy. He actually, honestly was telling her he wanted her and that made her love him all the more. And yes it was true, she wouldn't be able to hold back and him telling her he didn't want her to, would only make that statement more a fact.

She kissed him overpoweringly compressing her lips onto his and he continued to do the same. She pulled him closer and clutched his hair, his scent driving her for more.

The Doctor took her in, feeling as if she was his special drug; he seemed to be getting more and more addicted and was fed up of fighting what he truly felt. Him hiding his feelings and repressing his emotions was the reason why River had had that meltdown and who knows how many others she had dealt with without him. That was wrong, so very wrong. He felt angry at himself; annoyed and disgusted that he had treated her that way; when all she had done was love him utterly.

He vowed that he would work on fixing this as he was now, showing her his true feelings and telling her not to hold back. He had thought this would be dangerous and wrong, but holding his wife in his arms this instance and loving her with all his hearts seemed quite the contrary. It was pure, it was right, it was honest.

River now tugged at his shirt impatiently and he began to unbutton it; not wanting her to feel any negative emotions, not even wanting her to feel irritated about his shirt between them. In her stops for breath she spoke. "Why...are...you...being...so...nice?" River gasped. The Doctor couldn't help but laugh.

"Gosh I love you" he muttered." "It's time you stopped doubting me" he told her.

"But I don't..." River began.

"You know what kind of doubt I'm talking about" he looked at her directly seeing himself in her pupils. He then brushed her hair away from her eyes.

"I keep thinking you'll disappear" she spoke her eyes slightly painful.

The Doctor was glad she was speaking the truth for once.

"I won't this time River, I won't this time" he answered.

"But how can you say that?" River recoiled, abruptly moving away from him.

The Doctor pulled her back near to him, hating her not being in his arms and kissed her hands tenderly.

"Because you're going to stay with me" The Doctor spoke looking down at Rivers hands.

"Well that's if you want to" he added, suddenly realising that he might have gotten this all wrong, maybe she didn't want to stay with him. But when he finally looked up, Rivers glowed.

"Really?" she asked, completely surprised.

"What's happened to you? I never thought you could be like this." She spoke.

"River, I have always loved you, I didn't marry you because of pity or slight affection; I meant it. It's been all too long, that I've been hiding all this. I'm old River. I'm old. It's because of me that you get hurt and I know you hide it, so don't you lie. You hide it just like I do. River you're my wife and I need you. I don't want to hurt either of us anymore. Do you understand me River? Do you? I don't want to hurt us anymore." The Doctor finished with frustration and fear in his voice as he delivered every word. He kept thinking about River in the library but why should that stop them from feeling what they feel?

River sat transfixed. She cupped The Doctors face in her hands, making him look at her. "Yes" She spoke. "And yes I want to stay." She didn't need to say anything more. The Doctor kissed her unable to reply. He then kissed her repeatedly on her neck while unzipping the light dress material, revealing River's bare skin.

Soon they were both pulling at each other's clothing wanting to feel what they had felt the night before; and they did. Wrapped in the warmth of the blankets they made love once again this time not feeling the pressure of right and wrong, not having to hold back.

The Doctor held River tightly in his grasp, claiming his wife, inside promising he would do everything to protect her. River felt calm, her mind relaxed. She was with the man she most loved and that was all that mattered. She knew now that he wanted her; he wanted her to stay with him. She smiled an honest smile and The Doctor saw. He kissed her upper back, just behind her shoulder.

"Are you actually going to stay?" he asked excited.

River giggled, rolling over to face him. "Take a guess." she teased, tapping his nose.

"Yes?" he replied smiling.

"Yes" She whispered.