A/N: Hey guys, sorry the the long delay again. I ad a lot of trouble with this last bit and started over several times. Then, a few weeks ago, someone very close to me was died suddenly and I really lost my train of thought. But I've finally got the right ending here i think. So thanks again to everyone to reviewed and marked this as a Favorite or followed it. The encouragement helped a lot. So, here's the epilogue. Hope you enjoy!

Epilogue

"Now, you're sure you can't stay any longer?"

"No I think it's definitely about time we got on our way. Students to get back to, you know," River answered her grandfather.

It was now late evening and the three of them had spent the whole day talking and exchanging stories. The Doctor and River had finished explaining the important details of River's life (explaining per past regeneration as Mels Zucker had certainly thrown the man for a loop) and he recounted stories of Roy and Amy's (and, as it turned out, River's) childhood days for them to hear in return. There was laughter and tears in excess at several points throughout the day, but now it was getting late and goodbyes would have to be said at some point.

They now all stood awkwardly in front of the TARDIS. The Doctor was shifting nervously from one foot to another.

"Right, yes, of course," Brian said quickly. "Wouldn't want to deprive those students of their brilliant professor, now would we?"

River laughed. "Definitely not, although I'm sure they would love an extension on the papers they have due."

"Can't let them start to get lazy, after all," Brian said softly with a smile and a gleam of pride in his eyes. "It was... nice getting to meat you, River. I wish it was under better circumstances but..." he shrugged half-heartedly.

"Yes, I know what you mean," River answered. "It was nice getting to meet you too- again that is, not just as Mels, the girl who got your son into trouble every other week."

"You were a bit of a handful back them, I admit," he chuckled for a moment before sobering. Then, he quietly asked, "Will I - er - will I see you again?"

River didn't answer right away. Instead, she just looked at him for a few moments and then looked at the Doctor and he knew she was thinking back to the conversation they'd had in bed that morning about just this topic. Another moment and she'd made up her mind. "Yes, yes of course you will. I'll stop in and visit from time to time."

The transformation on Brian's face was extraordinary. He went from looking resigned about their impending departure to looking like Christmas had come early, his face lit up in excitement and a broad grin spreading across his face. "Really?" he asked hopefully, as if not quite believing what he'd heard.

"Yes, really," River laughed, sharing a grin with the Doctor as he beamed back at her and her grandfather. "We've only just properly met. I can't just come barging in and then disappear off into space forever, now can I?"

"Certainly not!" The Doctor jumped in enthusiastically, slinging his arms over the shoulders of both River and Brian. "I wouldn't hear of it! We will absolutely be around to visit, Brian, you can count on that!"

"'We'?" River said imploringly. looking up at him with a question on her face and a raised eyebrow as Brian sagged under the weight of the Doctor's arm.

"Well, of course! What? Am I supposed to pass up the opportunity to hear Brian here regale me with stories of your troubled youth alongside your parents? I think not!" He laughed, then lowered his tone to a more serious one. "that is, as long as you want me to come along, dear."

"Oh, you adorable idiot," she breathed before she reached up and pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth, silently letting him know there was more to come later.

Blushing slightly, the Doctor released River and Brian and stepped aside to let them finish their goodbyes. A smiling River turned to Brian and said, "So yes, we'll visit. Although I promise to leave him behind on occasion - less chance of a catastrophe of some sort occurring," she said with a laugh as the Doctor pretended to pout beside her.

"Sounds like a plan, my dear," Brian answered thickly. He then leaned in and pulled her into a warm embrace. Stunned only for a moment, River soon hugged him back. "Now you look after yourself, all right?" he told her gently. "And try to make sure he stays out of too much trouble over there, yeah?"

She laughed, only a bit shakily. "Oh, you underestimate the amount of trouble I drag him into," she laughed as they pulled apart.

"Guess that's fitting enough," he said, looking between the two of them speculatively. "Sounds like a match made in heaven or something."

"Or something, all right," River chuckled, looking over at her husband fondly.

Turning his attention away from River now, he looked over at the Doctor. "Doctor," he said seriously.

"Brian," the Doctor replied and not knowing what else to say or do, saluted the other man awkwardly.

Brian held out a hand. "You look after my granddaughter out there. She's all I've got left now."

Shaking the other man's hand solemnly, he said, "I know exactly how you feel, Brian. Don't know what I'd do without her." His eyes bettrayed only a hint of sadness behind them.

And with that, they all said their final farewells one last time, River promising that they would be in touch, and she and the Doctor stepped from Amy and Rory's house and back into the TARDIS.

Bounding up ahead, the Doctor reached the console and set about sending the ship into the vortex before River could take over and do it her way, which wasn't right at all. However, she had made no move to try and beat him and was instead leaning up against the railing, arms wrapped around herself as she watched him work with a smile on her lips. Finishing up, he turned to her and grinned. "Enjoying the view, dear?"

"Oh, always, Sweetie," she laughed fondly as h walked towards her and pulled her into his arms, wrapping them securely around her waist. She brought her hands up to rest on his chest and looked up at him.

"You did wonderfully today," she said, running her fingers repeatedly over his hearts. "I know it wasn't easy for you, but you did a great job at helping him... helping me... not running off when things got difficult or quiet. I was pleasantly surprised."

"We could have stayed longer, you know. You of all people know that with the wonders of time travel, you could have stayed as long as you liked and still gotten back to your students with plenty of time before your next class," he told her gently, splaying his fingers around her waist, pulling her closer to his chest. He didn't want to mention that he was hoping she would stay with him longer as well. But if she wanted to get back to work and the university -

"I know, I just didn't know how much longer I could stand being there at once, so soon after." he said to his chest, her breath against it making him shiver. "It was getting to be a bit too much. We'll go back. I want to be there, to get to know him better and spend more time with him, but only so much all at once yeah?"

"Yeah, understood. It is rather difficult being there without them, knowing they aren't coming back to it." He shook his head softly, trying to disburse the dark thoughts from his head.

"I know you said you'd come along and visit, Sweetie, but you really don't have to, if it's that difficult for you. I'd understand," she said gently.

Smiling down at her, he sighed, then leaned down, resting his cheek on the top of her head. "Don't you know by now, River? There's nothing in this universe I wouldn't do for you. Anything at all to make you safe or happy. And if that means having to stick around for a day of tea and conversation with you and Brian every now and again, then I say that's more than worth it."

He could feel her smile stretch across her face through the fabric of his shirt. "You're turning into such a hopeless romantic in your old age, Sweetie."

"Only for you, River" After a moment of silence, just the two of them standing their in each others' arms, he voiced his question from a few moments ago. "Since you're not actually in such a hurry to get back to work, maybe you'd consider sticking around for a while? Keep the old husband company for a while? Make sure i don't go landing the Old Girl here in a black hole or something"

"Well, when you put it like that, I can't exactly say no can I?" she said with a laugh. "We both know I can't stay forever but I can't just leave you on your own yet. Of course, I'll stay a while."

Grinning more broadly than he thought e ever would again, he lifted his hands from her waist, cupped them around her face and pulled her in for a kiss. It was slow and gentle, as he softly moved his lips across hers and tasted her on his tongue, stroking his fingers gingerly across her cheeks. She reached up and slipped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer to her, kissing him back enthusiastically.

As they slipped from the console room in search of their bedroom, the Doctor reflected on the last couple of days. Amy and Rory were gone, and that just tore at his heart. They had been with him so very long, and had become so much more than companions to his - they had been his family, and only partially because of their connection to River. But at least he still had her and he was determined to hold onto her for as long as he possibly could.

And as he pulled her through the doorway of their room and she pushed him down onto the bed with a devious grin, he reminded himself he still had plenty to be grateful for.