Dinner out
Darillium, near the Andromeda Galaxy 5347 Day 5170
"Darling why are we going somewhere else, I rather like the restaurant with the view. I like the view." He says to me in his way, in his stupid Scottish accent with his silly grumpy eyebrows. I don't know why I like this version really, the last one was much younger and leaner, you know? But I suppose I do because of the way he is, it's still him, I can see it sometimes more than others. Like with the ducklings, there they are swimming around the swimming pool, and he's sitting over the edge with his feet in like a little boy. And his old, old hands stroking through each little duck's feathers, naming them all as he went. Barnable I, Barnable II, Barnable the Great, Cleopatra, Peaches, Fluffy and Circles. I'm not a hundred percent sure where all the names came from, only that he can recognise each one by 'their distinctive feather correlation patterns' apparently.
"Sweetie, I told you, we need to try some newer places because last time we were there you insulted the chef, by accident. I'm very fond of the view, but I know the menu inside out, and they never change it." I finish, hearing him mumble something about how it's to do with the 'je-ne-sais-quoi' of the place. I give him a sharp sarcastic look with my lip twinging awkwardly. He smiles but shields his eyes, as his feet get a stern talking to.
"What about that little place we went last time? I recall you liked the shrimp. Not that you ever were this fussy last time." I utter the last part under my breath - he hates it when I do that, but I suppose I am winding him up. I love to wind him up, it's one of the little things I enjoy. Always used to, but he rarely flirts with me anymore, it's this 'new' him, the younger him was more awkward sure. But now, he rarely emerges from the study to notice me. He grumbles at me then, I don't know what bee is in his bonnet but it's really bugging me.
"Oh for heavens' sake, what on Earth is the matter?" I say, gripping his arms tightly around the top. He's taller than me still, and I see his eyes glaring at me - his dark old eyes that now shiver like he is a boy. An angry Scottish boy.
He glances up and softens, his arms going slack under my palms. "I had something planned-" he cuts off and looks behind him as the TARDIS console make a shuttering noise and nudges him into revealing his plans. "At the restaurant, the towers, it's been fifteen years River, I thought we should celebrate." He says to me, and I can't help smiling. It's like the time he surprised me with his new body, my lips creep into a smile and I have to look around the room to stop from breaking down on him. Of course, showing him all this would just make him cocky so I release him from my grasp and lean on his shoulder, sniffling slightly.
"Thank you." I whisper, but I know he hears me. My face rears up and I kiss his wrinkly cheek, leaving my lipstick smeared across his face.