Ordona Nine had definitely lovely beaches. Miles upon miles of coral sand. Coral, as in made of coral, white, not coral in colour. Of course they landed before the planet was colonized, so Amy, who wanted something besides white sand and turquoise water, pouted a little, but afterwards she and River got into their bathing suits and went swimming, and, at least from afar, they both seemed rather happy. Rory was snoring on a beach chair, in the shadow of a huge, rainbow-coloured umbrella they propped against the side of the TARDIS.
The Doctor gave the last sprinkle of water to the battlements of his marvellous sandcastle he built all by himself. He smoothed the wall of the southern tower. A banner would be nice... Sand isn't the best material for cloisters, though, he thought. It doesn't really stay in one place. Maybe if he mixed it with liquid glass...
He wiped his hands and stood up. Amelia's red head was shining like polished copper against the blue waves, but where was River?
"River!" He called. He can always say he wanted to show her the castle. Fit for a queen.
"River!"
Aphrodite emerged from the sea.
Her head surrounded by a nimbus of purest gold. Gold were her shoulders, round and strong, her figure was drawn with lines of light.
"Sweetie!" she called, and the Doctor shook his head, felt his cheeks burning.
"Don't you want to swim?"
He cleared his throat. "No, thanks!"
"You sure?" River brushed her hair from her eyes, the light shimmered on her wet skin. Truth be told, the Doctor thought, I could do with a nice cold shower.
"Aren't you hot? You haven't even taken your jacket off." River walked closer, a slightly worried look on her face. The black bikini, very minimalist, some could say negligible, accentuated the golden hue of her skin.
The Doctor shook his head. Rule one.
"Uhm. I can see you sweating, you know?"
"Really?" Without thinking, he swept his hand across his forehead.
River laughed a melodious, mellifluous laughter that sent shivers down his spine.
"Have you seen my sunscreen?"
He hastened to look around. River's beach bag was lying open beside the feet of her soundly asleep father.
"On wet skin?" the Doctor asked, grabbing the bag. Then he looked at River and bit his tongue.
"Water-proof. Come and give it to me."
He stopped on the edge of the wet sand, outstretching the hand that held the bag towards her, but River nodded at him, just like the lady of the castle.
And suddenly he was up to his knees in cool water, the sun heating up his head, his hands sliding over curves old man Möbius never even dreamed of, and all there ever was was the sun, the water, River and him. And the taste of salt and caramel on his lips.
"When you take me to the beach" he heard a velvety whisper, "you must be prepared to get a little wet, Sweetie."
"River... Hey!"
The Doctor pushed his wet hair back.
"Mother, dear, have I ever poured water on you and dad?" River asked, putting her arm around him.
"I'm just helping you keep your promise" Amy giggled.
The Doctor and River exchanged glances. Then they exchanged smiles. And then, with perfect synchronisation, they attacked the ginger with cool, salty water.
Sun-rays glinted on the waves, merry like their laughter.