A/N: So I got a few nasty private messages (which have been promptly reported) about how I mentioned the Doctor's wife last chapter, so I figured I would provide some clarification. It is popular fan belief that the Doctor's Gallifreyan wife was a political marriage, but there is no actual information about his Gallifreyan wife. According to the newest episode "Death in Heaven" Clara said that the Doctor has been married four times but all were deceased. The four marriages are widely connected to: Scarlette (Who married the eighth Doctor to ceremonially tie him to Earth), Elizabeth I (Seen in Day of the Doctor), and River Song. The fourth marriage isn't specifically stated, but has been connected to Patience. Patience is stated to be the wife of Omega, The Other, and the Doctor, but it is also theorized that the Doctor is The Other after he was re-loomed into the House of Lungbarrow. That means it's not clear if Patience was actually the Doctor's wife or if she was just considered the Doctor's wife because he's The Other re-loomed. Regardless of if it was Patience or another Time Lady and whether it was a political marriage or not, I think the Doctor came to have genuine feeling for his Gallifreyan wife since when he talks of his family, he has genuine sadness. This is definitely open to personal opinion, and there is no information saying if his Gallifreyan wife was a political marriage or not. I respect either view.


Rose braced herself against the wall next to the door of the infirmary. She tried to process everything that had happened to her in the last thirty-six hours. Well, thirty-six hours, forty two minutes, and twenty-nine seconds to be exact, and when had she gotten so good at keeping track of time? She looked down and realized that she was still wearing the same clothing as last night. Dried blood and dirt was still splattered across her, and she shuttered. She pushed away from the wall walking on auto-pilot back the her and the Doctor's room. She unlocked the door but paused before opening it. She didn't know what to expect on the other side, but she stepped in quickly shutting it behind her. She realized she had been holding her breath, and quickly released it in a heavy sigh as she surveyed the room.

Perhaps she had expected the room to be disorderly. Torn apart with belongs tossed as if a thief had stepped in and had his way. Something other than the pristine untouched orderliness that she saw. Everything was where it had been left, and its sereneness clashed with Rose's turbulent feeling towards all the events that had happened recently. She stripped quickly. She tossed her shirt and jeans without taking notice of where they fell. As per her custom, she turned the shower as hot as it would go before stepping inside. She let the water steam over her skin. It pricked at her a lot more than normal, and she hissed at the feel of it.

She turned down the heat noticing that her skin had already turned pink at the brief contact to the water. She backed up to the corner of the shower bracing her back against the cool rough wall. She slowly sank down pulling her knees towards her and let the water slide over her. The coolness of the wall and hotness of the water clashed in a war of senses as she sat trying to sort out her own feelings. She didn't even realize she was crying until she found herself heaving for breath. She didn't know how long she sat there, but she only moved once the water turned cold. She got out drying herself off slowly. As she walked back into the bedroom to get a fresh pair of clothes, a intense pain shot through her chest. She clutched at her heart feeling dizzy and disoriented. She braced herself against the wall until her vision cleared. She thought for a moment that she should go back to the infirmary, but the thought of having to watch the Doctor in his current state changed her mind.

She threw on her clothes quickly heading out to find the ruins that Dr. Chomsky had mentioned. With the help of some pleasant locals, she quickly located the site. An old town sat in rubble before her eyes. She walked slowly through the long since deserted town. Dotted around the area were archaeologist tools for excavating. In front of her at the back of the town sat a worn temple. It's stone walls and pillars collapsed and faded, but before her eyes she saw an image of it restored. The temple stood before her proud and beaming in the light of the full moon. The white spiraling pillars were decorated with glyph and etches that were illuminated by the dancing flames of burning spires. She shook her head clearing the image from her mind. She passed the image off as dehydration and stress. Blinking she regarding the temple again. Something about it seemed to call to her. Something was familiar. She was about to take a step towards it when a voice called out to her.

"Hello, Sweetie." The voice rang out in a smooth harmonious tone. Rose turned towards the voice to see a tall woman with twisting golden curls the color of honey. Her dark red lips spoke of secrets as old as the stars, and her eyes the same color as her golden curls sparkled with the mysteries of the sun. Rose eyed the curvy woman instantly feeling jealous and intimidated by her.

"Hello, um, I'm here to meet Professor River Song... Do you know her?" Rose asked tentatively suddenly wondering if this was a good idea after all. The woman's smile dropped from her face. She seemed to be distracted by Rose's comment for a moment, but a small smirk slowly captured her lips.

"Currently speaking, and what do I owe the privilege of such a visit?" The woman asked lips pursing slightly.

"River Song. You're River Song?" Rose's jaw dropped. Beautiful and talented, now that was completely unfair!

"Yes. You came to ask me about Time Lords right?"

"How did you know?" Rose asked trying to act as normal as this sudden odd meeting would allow.

"Spoilers," River said giving Rose an absolutely wicked look, "Come lets go sit somewhere more comfortable." She said gesturing for Rose to follow her. She led Rose around the side of the temple to a small tent. Inside were two chairs, and Rose sat down on one thankful to finally be out of the glaring sun. River sauntered in after her taking her place across from her.

"So, what is it that you would like to know?" River asked crossing her legs before looking up at Rose from under her dark lashes.

"Don't you already know?"

"Excuse me?"

"You knew why I was here, so shouldn't you already know what questions I'm going to ask? I just figured you were telepathic or something. You seem to be everything else." Rose shrugged her voice conveying bitterness. River simply laughed.

"You are correct that I am many things, and that I know quite a bit Rose Tyler, but I am in no way telepathic."

"How'd you know my name," Rose gasped looking at her with wide eyes, "I never told you my name." River regarded the blonde for awhile, a frown was tugging at the corners of her mouth, but she decided to answer honestly.

"We've met before."

"No we haven't. This is the first time I've met you."

"Yes, this is the first time you have met me, but you are a time traveler Rose, and this is not the first time that I have met you."

"So you've met me in the future. My future I mean."

"Yes and my past."

"And I was still traveling with the Doctor?" Rose didn't mean to ask, but the questions slipped from her mouth. With everything that had happened, the fear that he would decide to leave her was stronger than ever.

"Spoilers. There is danger in knowing your own future." River responded simply, and while Rose understood her wisdom, she couldn't help but feel disappointed.

"But you are with the Doctor right now which is probably why you have so many questions. Questions about the telepathic link of a Time Lord?" Rose perked up and River's question.

"Yeah, what can you tell me about it?" Rose asked eagerly leaning forward in her seat. The Doctor never spoke of himself and this was her chance to learn more about him.

"I suppose quite a bit," River sighed, "But you aren't interested in the mechanics of the whole thing as you are the importance of it. I'm sure you have realized, but Time Lords aren't as free about having a physical connection with someone as other species are. Part of that has to do with the telepathic connection. Time Lords will never feel complete or completely happy unless they are able to share a telepathic connection with another being. Such a connection is one of deep emotion and trust. That is why it is formed when emotion and trust are at their peak at the height of physical intimacy."

"You mean sex?" Rose asked blatantly, and River gave her a wicked smile nodding.

"That is why it is only shared with their spouse forged during the marriage ritual itself. A full fledged connection is unbreakable even if it is silenced at times. This means that a Time Lord marriage is for life, literally, because the only way to break the telepathic link is for one of them to die. Before marriage their yearning for a telepathic link can be quenched by everyday interactions with friends and families, but when that connection isn't there, it can leave an empty hole that eats away at a Time Lords sanity."

"But the Doctor hasn't had a telepathic connection for years!"

"He has a TARDIS though," River said as if it was an obvious conclusion, and Rose decided there was no point in asking how she knew that, "Haven't you ever wondered about it, Rose? Obviously the TARDIS has to have a partial telepathic communication since it can translate languages for you, but I think you have suspected that it is more than that."

"Sometimes I feel like it's singing inside my head. Just subtly every once in awhile I can feel it."

"That's the TARDIS. I would assume it does the same for the Doctor, just a bit more. It is no wonder that the Doctor has such a strong tie to his blue box. It is probably the only thing that has helped him to keep going."

"But this connection. You said that it is done during sex... Every time he- They have sex?" Rose asked suddenly feeling worried thinking back to the other night when her and the Doctor had shagged.

"Not a full fledged connection no, but a brief link would be as natural to a Time Lord as the physical pleasure itself. That, as I mentioned previously, is probably why they are so reserved about having physical relations."

"What do you mean?"

"During physical intimacy a Time Lord would make a small mental connection. Despite if it would be brief, it would still be a time in which they would bare their very soul to the one they are being intimate with. To make such a connection is to give a part of themselves to the one they are with. Suggesting they do it casually would be insulting. If a Time Lord is pursuing a mate, and the one that has captured their attention suggests having casual sex, it is effectively a rejection of their feelings." River's words hit Rose like a brick. The words she had spoken to the Doctor echoed in her ears, 'My question is not why did you kiss me. It's why did you stop? We could die tomorrow!' Her words hadn't announced her love for him, they had asked him for something casual. How could he have ever taken it any other way? He thought she was rejecting his feelings for her.

She lowered her head thinking of the way he had reacted to her words, 'We could die tomorrow. So is this what you want, Rose? One last shag before disaster may strike? Is this what you wanted me to do back in the hallway? To push you up against a wall and take you? How about in the spa or the changing room? Nothing special, nothing meaningful, just a quick shag.' That along with his actions were obviously meant to try and scare her or stop her, anything to make her take back what she had said. He had been testing her to see if she really was rejecting him, and when she hadn't stopped him, he took it as her rejecting his feelings for her. No wonder he had stormed out so quickly afterwards. Rose felt tears prick at her eyes. What a terrible mistake she had made, but with her sadness came anger. If he had only told her, than the mistake would have never happened to begin with. Why did he have to be so tight lipped?

"How well do you know the Doctor?" Rose asked without raising her head.

"You're wondering what sort of relationship I have with him?" River asked leaning back in her chair, and Rose nodded. River pondered this for awhile debating what was safe to divulge and what wasn't.

"We're close."

"Close?"

"Spoilers."

"No, I need to know. I'm tired of people not telling me anything!" Rose stood up quickly almost knocking her chair over. She glared at the older woman, but River merely sighed.

"Rose, I know that this is a difficult time for you. You're scared, and considering everything that has happened that is understandable. I know that you are unsure about the Doctor, and I wish I could tell you that things are going to get easier, but I think you know as well as me that nothing is easy when it comes to the Doctor. Things are coming. Great things and terrible things; things that are going to shake your resolve to the very core, and if you always focus on your need to have questions answered, you will eventually find yourself backed to the edge of a dark pit to which no answers can ever be found," Here River stopped to take Rose's hands in hers, "Stop focusing on trying to find the answers. Just trust. The best thing that you can do is to trust yourself and most of all trust the Doctor... Especially when you are hurting..."

"Who are you?" Rose asked breathlessly moved and terrified by River's speech.

"A friend, if you'll let me be." River responded releasing Rose's hands.

"Can I ask you one last thing... As a friend?"

"Of Course." River said her dark red lips curving up in a genuine smile.

"If someone was to go about trying to date a Time Lord, how would they do it?"Rose asked shifting, and River gave an easy going chuckle.

"O dear, I'm afraid that won't help you. The Doctor has said himself that he was a terrible Time Lord. No, you keep doing what you are doing. Like I said trust yourself. Sometimes the only way to have that man see any sense, is for you to tie him down and leave him no other choice. I have some handcuffs if you'd like to borrow them." She replied winking.

"I think I'm good thanks... How do you know so much about Time Lords?"

"A good friend of mine told me." River smiled and without even a name, Rose somehow understood that she meant her, "See you out? The ship will be leaving soon, won't it?" River said standing up and motioning for Rose to follow her. Despite the fact that there were many more questions that she wanted to ask, she decided to heed the older woman and stop looking for answers.

"Won't you come with us? The Doctor and I? I'd love to get to know you more." Rose said genuinely hoping for more time with the older woman.

"I would dear, but this certainly isn't the time for a third party to be getting in between you two. Besides, you will see me again in the future," River replied and Rose nodded looking at her feet. Seeing how downtrodden she looked River decided to fess up, "Okay, truly, I would love to go with you. I love the adventures that you two always seem to get into, but truth be told, I am actually preparing to go on an expedition to the Library. Don't tell anyone I told you," River said nudging Rose and winking, "But who knows, I might even see you there." River walked her out of the old ruins making a few comments about the civilization that Rose didn't really hear. Something about these ruins continued to send shivers up her spine, but as they stopped at the edge of the buildings, something that River said caught her attention.

"Very interesting civilization this. Best I can gather they call themselves the sønner av ulv. Norwegian for, 'Sons of the wolf'. That temple back there used to be where they worshiped their goddess the 'bad wolf'."

"Did you just say bad wolf?" Rose looked at her wide eyed.

"Yes, odd isn't it. If it was their goddess, you would assume they would call her the good wolf or something, but the translation is clear. It is clearly bad wolf. No way around it."

"River, it was a pleasure meeting you, and I look forward to seeing you in the future, but I've got to get back to the Doctor!" Rose said before running back to the ship at a dead sprint.

"Knew that bit would get her." River mumbled to herself smirking before turning around to go back to her work.

Once Rose got back to the ship, she instantly went to the infirmary. Opening up the door and stalking inside, she was surprised to see the Doctor was no where to be found.

"Ah Rose, I tried to get word to you, but no one was available to carry the message. The Doctor woke up, and demanded to be discharged. I, unfortunately, had no way of keeping him, so I had to let him go. He should be resting back in your quarters now." Dr. Chomsky said turning at her sudden intrusion.

"He's better already?"

"Well, no. Physically he is fine, well for the most part, but mentally his memories are still jumbled, but there is nothing further I can do for him. Only time will heal him. I'm afraid that you will need to take care of him from here, Rose, but I should warn you. The Doctor still believes that you are his wife, and until he remembers differently, you must make sure to play along. Suddenly saying that you are not may simply confuse him further and hinder his healing," Rose nodded in understanding, but Chomsky pressed, "This is important. You are his wife which means that the Doctor will long to quench his telepathic need by bonding with you. You must not let him. I am sure Ms. River Song informed you that this type of bond is unbreakable, yes?"

"Yes, she did... She's Ms? So not married?"

"Focus, Rose!"

"Right sorry!"

"The Doctor may press you and beg you, but you will need to do anything to make sure this bond never happens. I don't need to warn you about what could happen emotionally if you fail, but physically, the shock of blending with your mind could make the damage to his memories permanent."

"I understand," Rose said, "Thank you for everything, Chomsky." She added before heading out to find the Doctor.


A/N: So nanowrimo (National Novel Writing Month) is officially over! Thanks everyone for being so patient about me not being able to upload new chapters! Here is a little thirst quencher, and there will be more soon!

Stay awesome and thanks for reading!