DISCLAIMER: I still don't own it.

The Shadow Proclamation

Shadow had sent River only a note with space-time coordinates in an envelope on her day of release.

She had gotten dinner for them and then planned on telling River afterwards about the whole Shadow Proclamation business.

River arrived right on time and they put River's stuff away and then had their dinner.

After eating and cleaning the dishes, Shadow sat down with River on the sofa in the living area only to almost immediately jump up again. River looked at her in bewilderment.

"River. We need to talk." Skepticism joined the bewilderment.

"What is it?"

"It's about…" Shadow wrung her hands nervously. "It's about what I've been doing. And…well…I don't know, if you remember when I showed you this abode." River nodded and Shadow went on.

"You asked me why we just walked around Stormcage like I owned the place and I haven't given you an answer, yet. But I will do so now."

"Alright." River grew a bit suspicious.

"It was because I do own the place. In a manner of speaking."

"What!?" River was stunned. This was something she didn't expect. "I thought the Shadow Proclamation owned Stormcage."

Shadow just looked sheepishly at her and shrugged. "You really never made the connection?"

River just shook her head negative.

"Well…here's the big news. I'm the head and commander-in-chief of the Shadow Proclamation. Surprise!" Shadow playfully threw her hands to the sides.

River was speechless and opened her mouth a few times but no words would come until finally "You're what?!"

"I founded the Shadow Proclamation. And before that I led a big Black Ops group on Earth called 'The Shadows'. And guess where their base was."

River finally recovered from her initial shock and extended her hand towards Shadow that the other woman would sit back down. Shadow followed the request. "I don't know. London? New York? … Montreal?"

"Nope, nope and nope again." Shadow grinned like the Cheshire Cat. "It was in the location where UNIT now has the main part of their Black Archives."

River playfully rolled her eyes. "And where is that?"

Shadow giggled slightly. "Here. Well…not here here. Beneath us actually. A giant underground base."

"How did you do all this? Without someone figuring it out I mean."

"Meticulous planning. Well…and of course some people knew. The UNIT Commander knows, for example. But other than that I told nobody. And this base was covered up with renovation. And once we could put the machines underground nobody saw what was going on. And let me tell you…the last 150 years have been busy for me."

"150 years?"

"Give or take. I could give you my exact age but what for?" Shadow grinned.

"Because I would like to know?" River disbelievingly said.

"Alright." Shadow surrendered. "198 years."

"Where did the time go? We really have become old." River shook her head a little.

"Old? We!? You can talk…"

"I'm almost as old as you." River cut her off.

"Oh? How old are you then?" Shadow challenged.

"186." And River deadpanned.

Shadow hesitated for a moment until settling on "Ah." and looking sorry.

River pulled Shadow over to her and hugged her. "Don't worry. We're still as good as ever. Just not as in sync when it comes to our age."

"That's not it. I didn't mean that you didn't spent a lot of time in prison, my prison, by the way and didn't age. Of course you did but I never expected it to be that much." Shadow indicated subtly for River to lie back on the couch and then laid herself on top of her, comfortably resting her head in the crook of River's neck.

"Basically what you are saying is that I still look young?" River inquired.

"Of course. You're still drop dead gorgeous." Shadow immediately replied.

"Thank you. You don't look too bad either." Shadow chuckled for a moment before River went on. "But I think there is still more that you have on your mind."

Shadow was silent for a moment. "There is. Now that you are free and cleared of all charges, I thought that you might be in need of a job. And as it is, the Shadow Proclamation has an opening."

"Really? What a coincidence." River's voice a slightly mocking undertone to it.

"Yes. It's a leading position in the history department. Actually you would be the head of the history department. I need someone capable in that position and you fit the bill."

"What would my duties be?"

"You would be responsible for, naturally, history and also because of the nature of the Shadow Proclamation and the occasional time travel that happens, you would be responsible for making sure that the future isn't damaged. Basically you are in charge of preserving the timelines."

"Isn't that your job?" River wondered.

"Not on this scale. So…welcome to the club." Shadow smirked at River. "And also you would coordinate with the executive forces and advise on their missions. I should maybe mention that with that position comes also a veto power over all the doings of the other departments. So, basically you have a lot of responsibility and power. What do you say? Would you feel up to the challenge?"

River looked at Shadow with narrowed eyes. "Where's the catch? And don't even try to tell me there is none, because with a position like this there always is one."

Shadow sighed heavily. "There is. Basically you would be my second in command." Shadow closed her eyes saying her next words. "And that would mean that we can't be involved with each other romantically." She felt River tense up under her and rushed to get her next words out. "But I don't want to end things between us. We would just have to have a secret affair. And my private life is absolutely secret there. Nobody knows where I live and what I do when I am not at work. And that is actually the policy for all department heads." River relaxed again.

"So you want to have an illicit illegal affair with one of your subordinates? And that subordinate would just happen to be me?"

"Basically yes."

"And nobody would know about it except us?"

"No one needs to know. And I think we, of all people, know how to be secretive. Of course, because the history department and the boss are working closely together, there will be rumors. But where would be the fun in having an affair without rumors about it?" Shadow smirked at River again and River smiled back.

"True." They fell silent for a moment.

"So? You take the offer?" Shadow asked, a little unsure.

"I think. I mean, the Proclamation seems to pay well and if you think I'm the perfect person to fill that position…"

"You are. Believe me, my last head of history was an utter moron. I had to step in more often than not to stop a potentially time breaking mission."

"In that case I'll accept your gracious offer. When do I start?"

Shadow leaned up and gave River a deep kiss. "Thank you." She smiled brightly.

"You are absolutely impossible." River whispered.

"Not impossible; just a bit unlikely." Shadow whispered back.

"Shut up and kiss me." River demanded and Shadow gladly complied.

A/N: So this concludes the interludes between Act 1 and Act 2. The next project for me is to write at least half the chapters of Act 2 before I start putting them out. Chapter 1 is already finished and chapter 2 is started. So fear not, my dear reader(s), this Quadrilogy will be finished and if it's the last thing I'll do. ;)