How Long You Gonna Stay with Me?
It was a question he hadn't asked in a long time.
NO SPOILERS
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Doctor Who.
-XXX-
"So…what do you think?"
She is breathless, mouth open and hands gripping his lapels tightly. From the way her eyes are glazes over, he thinks he might already have his answer, however he waits.
"It's amazing."
"I know."
"Shut up."
"On it."
They stare out into the sunsets— two orbs of crimson, a nice blend of golds, pinks and deep purples. She slowly releases her grip on his jacket, sliding her hands down to meet his. The air she had been holding was released carefully. He grins.
"Impressive?"
She gives him a looks of "Oh-please-like-I'll-agree-with-that."
"Yeah, the sunset is, actually."
He ought to pout, however, he is too busy watching his partner. Her face is glowing in the light. Every line of age, every trace of weariness is gone in this clear light. It is quite enchanting, really. The Time Lord smiles softly. He knew taking her to the Freedon Shores would be a perfect welcome to her new life. The very hushed reaction she'd display was a clear testament to her awe. He didn't need shouts of joy, poetic words, declarations. He'd never needed that. And neither had she. That was why they worked, they didn't need any—
"How long are you going to stay?" He abruptly asks.
She looks up. Somehow in the last ten minutes she had shifted in his arms to face the view, rather than his jacket. "What?"
The blue eyes arre half-lidded, lazy. He holds his breath for a few moments before repeating his inquiry. The eyes snap out of their haze quickly. Curiosity replaces contentment. "What brought this on?"
He says hastily, "Nothing."
But she doesn't believe it, and again she turns in his arms to bury her face in his pressed shirt. Arms unwillingly wrap around her. She hums with happiness. He is vaguely reminded of his beloved blue box.
"I'll stay for as long you'll have me, and for as long as I possibly can manage."
"Forever?" He whispers.
For a moment she says nothing, merely stays in his embrace, holding him closer. Then—
"No," She pulls away, eyes sad. "Nothing lasts forever."
He backs away too, though keeping his arms loose around her waist. "I know." It's a bitter tone.
"No, no…" And she's back reaching for him. "I want to stay. I want to be here, but you know why I won't stay."
Sighing, he drops his head. She stands on tip-toe to meet their foreheads. "I've got my life. It's not like this, not at all, but…it is mine. And I worked so hard to make it mine, and to just go away with you forever?"
There is a pause for breath and though. Finally, she finished.
"Then I would be just betraying that entire struggle. I worked for that degree, for my house." She shakes her head helplessly. "One day I've got to go back. Now, please—" Hands rise to either side of his face, cupping the cheeks. "—please, can we just go back to the sunset? To now?"
He nods. For a brief moment, she looks into his eyes, searching for the okay. When she finds the reluctant gaze to be clear, River kisses his brow gently, and turns in his encirclement once more. They watch as the bright pink orbs drift idly toward the horizon, and finally sink into the cliffs as a ship under the waves.
Afterward, on his ship, she aids in steering them off the mountain face. For a moment, while she adjusts the bilibian default speed regulator, he stares through the time rotor. The concentration on her features is endearing. When she glances up, almost instantly focusing on him, he smiles. It's natural, free, and sad.
Today he asked a question he hadn't even conceived since…well, for a long time. The reply was slightly disappointing. Donna had so longed to stay in this life. Rose, Rose had promised everything. He had wanted her forever. He wants River for just as long, if not longer.
But nothing will to last forever. Not him, not them, not anyone or anything.
After they're securely in Vortex, he descends down to the underbelly of the Time Rotator hoping to manage some repairs. Less than thirty minutes in, however, River was tugging him out for dinner, insisting that he eat. He rolled his eyes over domestics, nevertheless, humored her.
-XXX-
I haven't seen a Good Man Goes to War yet, though it's downloading right now. What do you think? Thank you!
