A/N: This is the last chapter of this story. What a delight it has been to write it out! Warning: This chapter has a burst of cussing. This has become a higher rated story because of that choice. Thank you, everyone for enjoying!

River slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow. He smiled, guiding her in the direction of the TARDIS. "Come with me, darling. I want to tell you how much Asgard needs an archaeologist."

"There's always a world somewhere that does." He elbowed her playfully.

Never minding his ribbing, River pulled her love to a balcony where she told him of the quantity of Asgard's treasures she'd seen.

The king had taken her around the treasure stores himself, which had surprised her, but she accepted after a second's thought.

"Hmm. Did Odin reveal more to you about Jotunheim when he was alone and primed for boasting?"

She shook her head 'no.' "But I did learn other things about him—Odin has been successful in maintaining the fortune King Bor had left him. His spoils from wars fought long ago were numerous mementos, even scattered around the palace for his pleasure: A vase here, a statue from Alfheim by the dancing hall... To be honest, there were innumerable proofs of how he had gotten prizes or gifts from most of the surrounding realms."

Oh, but all the countless wonders she had seen could not prepare her for taking in the sight of the Casket. It was Odin's pride and joy. The blue cube sat on a pedestal in the middle of the last row. It subtly lay there, quiet, giving no sign it had supported an entire world's ecosystem before it had been uprooted.

The Time Lord's jaw dropped so low, it appeared to search for a spot to land on the floor.

River raised her eyebrows. "Be careful. It would not be good to have your chin rest on the ground."

He stepped back, shaking his head in disbelief. Long fingers sought out his jaw and ran across it once, twice, a third time.

"River." He sought her face beseechingly. "You can't mean that."

"Well, I do or I don't. I can be quite ambivalent around you. So, why didn't you tell Loki the truth?"

"I did!" He pulled away to see her face more clearly. "I did tell him the truth. What's more, it's a truth about his spirit, which is better than being from here or there. Being at home in a location is superb, but to be at home with yourself is truly a restful place. Anyway, let's be off." As they re-entered the TARDIS, the Doctor couldn't keep a sparkle from his eye. The blue box returned them to London. He darted out and found he had landed near a movie theater. He got River in line and paid for two tickets to see the movie 'Thor' in the brick-faced Clapham Picturehouse.

He beamed when he saw the Warriors, especially Sif again. Up to the point when Thor declared they would strike out for Jotunheim, he snickered into his fist.

The Doctor squeezed his eyes shut when he heard his friend's pained cry:

'You should have told me the truth from the beginning. Why didn't you?'

"Odin, you thrice-damned fool. You should have told him all the truth, not only your reality. You had your chance of being his rightful father before it got this bad. Why hide it from him? He sees everything."

River hushed his susurrations so they would not disrupt the other viewers.

They saw the movie to its completion. The Doctor dejectedly crossed to the TARDIS outside and entered. River walked along, but stopped just inside the door.

The Doctor shook his head, sighing. "I don't like it. Loki deserved better than deceit from his family. That just makes my blood boil. Oh, well. There is hope yet for my young friend."

River met his eyes. "What would that be?"

"I couldn't tell him anything because then people often try to fix things or act on knowledge they got too early. I know now that his fixed point in life was that woman! Not Sif, but the other one. Of course, they thought she would be a fine companion for Thor, but that Jane lady could do wonders if she met Loki as she did Thor. I mean, not in that exact way, but I think their thirsts for knowledge run along the same track. I knew her as soon as I saw her in that firelit rooftop scene. And before that! Remember when we went to the dining hall? I saw a lady's silhouette in the last torch. It fits her profile exactly. I do hope they meet. I think she could keep Loki that young, eager man we knew."

River cocked her head, studying him from an angle. "Whatever you say, Chinny."

"Chinny!?"

"You're looking sort of pointy under your mouth. I hear worrying will do that to you."

"Stop teasing me, please, River."

She laughed. "Fine then. I'll stop when you become an archaeologist yourself."

"I would rather wear a fedora first."

"Easily done, my love. Now, where will you store your pauldrons?"

"In my closet. They are mementos from another world, after all."

He chuckled as he set them just inside the closet. Next, he studied the TARDIS' readings as one would an unfamiliar map. When his eyes glazed over, she cleared her throat.

"What is it?" The Doctor tapped a knob as he looked at her. "Should I begin my farewells to you now?"

"No. Actually, something in that show caught my attention for a second. It happened just before Sif leapt on that Destroyer's back." She brushed a periwinkle stem with her thumb.

"What happened?" He turned and woke up a console. "All right. I can pull it up!"

He tapped commands into the screen as the video replayed Thor's friends attacking the Destroyer on Earth. "There. I see her charge; what was your concern, River?" On screen, Sif plunged her sword into the metallic chest.

River shook her head. "Oh, nothing there, Sweetie. She'd already jumped on. Can you back it up a ways? Yes, there. I saw her try to say something when she moved to land on it."

"Was it 'Cover me'?"

"No, it was not. I know she said more than that, but it was muted. Do you see it?"

He watched, rewinding it a few more times. Finally, the Doctor stood up straight and clapped his hands together.

"Yes. Right before she hops onto the Destroyer, she says… She says- Ha! Marvelous girl! That's the spirit. Exactly!"

"What did you see?"

He rewound until the warriors charged the Destroyer then pointed to the video. "Look! She springs into the fight, saying 'Geronimo!' That's my girl!"