Author's Note:

I had a review last chapter suggesting that it was farfetched that River and the Doctor had never consummated their relationship. This was an aspect I thought hard about in writing the story and I based my decision that they hadn't mostly on how they behaved towards each other in The Angels Take Manhattan as well as a comment I saw somewhere or other that Matt Smith, when asked about River and the Doctor, suggested they didn't have that kind of relationship (sorry, can't recall now where that came from). In Angels, the Doctor was still too eager to impress her with his appearance - the hair and breath check is more like first/second date behaviour, the stuff you get over once you're really comfortable with someone. They didn't behave in an intimate fashion during the episode - in my mind they didn't give off a long married couple vibe. This is just my opinion of course and you are more than welcome to have a different one! I did want to clarify it though, just in case anyone else had the same questions/thoughts.

This is just a short, fluffy chapter really, before the story progresses again. Thanks for reading!

Chapter 8: "Don't thank me."

"If we commit ourselves to one person for life, this is not, as many people think, a rejection of freedom; rather, it demands the courage
to move into all the risks of freedom, and the risk of love which is permanent; into that love which is not possession but participation."
Madeleine L'Engle

He gave River a few moments before he fully broke their mental connection, enough time for her to look at the knowledge he'd left for her. When he opened his eyes it was to see her open hers almost simultaneously.

"Hello," he said softly.

"Hello," she replied, smiling.

"Mrs Doctor," he added.

"Mr Song," she teased. Lifting a hand she caressed his cheek, her expression turning intent. "It wasn't what I expected," she admitted.

"What, a ceremony that takes place entirely in your mind?" the Doctor queried. "That's Gallifrey all over, isn't it? We do love our privacy."

"I suppose it is," she agreed. Shifting closer, she signed, wrapping her arms around him. "Thank you," she said."

"I've put you in danger River," he said. "Calling you my wife all these years when I should have protected you. Don't thank me."

"All those things you want to take away, Madam Kovarian and the rest of it, I can't want the same thing," she admitted. Leaning back, her arms still tight around him, she met his eyes. "When will you understand what you mean to me? I'd go through all of that and more to be the one who gets to stand with you now, because I love you more than anything."

"I know," he acknowledged, "and still, a large part of me wishes that wasn't true."

"We are a pair, aren't we?" River chuckled. Reaching up she pulled his lips down to hers, kissing him purposefully.

"River," he broke away, breathless.

"Don't you dare pull away from me this time," she warned.

"I wasn't going to," he nodded to the display. "I need to move the TARDIS first - we're still parked at Coe Hall."

"Oh," for once River was the one to blush. She'd been so involved in the two of them she'd actually forgotten where they were. He had too, for a time, but he didn't tell her that of course.

Unable to resist, the Doctor leaned down to kiss her again. He was somewhat unsteady on his feet, and definitely not fully focussed on what he was doing when he stepped up to the controls. "Take us somewhere safe," he told the TARDIS, pushing the lever up to get them going. The TARDIS hummed – if he didn't know better he'd think she was amused at he and River's antics. Although, perhaps she was. It had certainly taken them a very long time to get to this point.

"Shall we retire, wife?" he asked, holding out his hand.

"Oh, definitely," she agreed, taking his hand, her confidence back.

It was a moment out of time. He knew that things would still end the way they had to end but he could push it aside. River captivated every one of his senses and he revelled in it, knowing that he wouldn't get another chance, not like this.

"My River," he murmured once they were in his room.

"Yes, yours," she agreed, plastering herself against him.

He pulled her up to him, kissing her because he had to. They were two passionate people whose feelings ran deep and that translated in how they loved each other.

There was a frenzied, desperate quality in how he went about it but River didn't seem to mind. In fact she was with him all the way, like somewhere deep inside she too knew this was a unique opportunity for them to be together like this. Only after he had her naked and underneath him, in his bed where he'd always dreamed she'd be, did the Doctor slow to appreciate the miracle of it.

"River," he said again.

"Don't stop. Kiss me," she demanded, surging up to grab at him.

That's when he lost it completely, giving himself totally over to the power of being with River Song. He'd not been with anyone in more years than he'd kept track of, hadn't felt the need before River ... hadn't wanted to take the risk of truly getting that close to another person. After, he couldn't have described the individual moments of their first time together. All he'd be able to say is that it had changed him, inside and out, that he felt complete in a way he hadn't since Gallifrey fell.

As he lay in the darkness, a still naked River held tightly at his side, he had to wonder. Was it better to have had this time with River? Surely it would hurt all the more when she left for the last time, because he knew more than ever just how much he was losing.

They spent weeks in the TARDIS enjoying their own private honeymoon, nothing of the outside world intruding. It was a perk of being a time traveller – they could take as much time as they wanted and still return to the real world the same day they'd left it.

Eventually River remembered her duty and announced that she had an expedition she really had to get on with. "Nothing complicated," she reassured the Doctor as she prepared to leave.

"Then don't go," he pleaded. "Let someone else do it. You can move in with me instead."

"After," she promised. "We'll go and get my things as soon as I get back. I made a promise Sweetie – you know I have to live up to it."

"Maybe I should handcuff you to our bed, make you my love slave," he suggested, not entirely joking.

"I thought we'd already lived out most of your fantasies my love," River teased.

"I'm over a thousand years old. It'll take more than a few weeks to get through all the ways I've imagined having you," he shot back, refusing to feel embarrassed with her anymore. "If you stay I'll show you a few of my favourites."

"Promises, promises," River purred, sidling up to him and giving him a heated kiss.

He had hopes that he could distract her into staying but too soon she broke away, sighing as she reached up to wipe the lipstick from his mouth. "Hold that thought," she said.

"Forever," he murmured under his breath, forced to watch her gather her things together.

"I think that's everything," she announced soon after.

"Got your screwdriver?" he asked.

"Right here," she reached into a side pocket in her bag, holding it up for him to see.

"Don't go breaking into places just for the fun of it," he cautioned.

"Me, break in?" she grinned. "Never." She slung her back over her shoulder and walked to him. "Time for my goodbye kiss," she announced.

He held on longer and tighter than he should have. Surely she was suspicious, what with how obvious he was being about her not going. She didn't comment and he held in the words that wanted to burst forth. He kissed her good bye and he let her go, because he had no other choice. He was a time lord but time was not his friend, not that day.

"I need you to do something for me River," he said, just as she was about to activate the vortex manipulator, leaving him he could only assume for the last time.

"Anything my love," she promised.

"When you see me next, Darillium was the last time we saw each other," the Doctor requested. "Forget New York, forget our marriage and our time here in the TARDIS. In your mind you have to be convincing. We went to Darillium, me in my new suit and haircut, you in your pretty dress. The towers sang and I cried, but I wouldn't tell you why. Can you do that for me?"

"You're actually admitting that you cried?" River seemed astounded.

"I am," he agreed. "Please, don't ask me why."

"Spoilers?" she asked solemnly.

"The worst kind, yes."

She stood, considering him for a few moments before nodding. "Darillium was the last time I saw you," she agreed.

"Thank you," the Doctor took her hands, tugging her forward and hugging her again. "Be careful out there," he urged.

"It's just a simple archaeological survey," she promised him. "I'll be back before you know it." She smiled, stepping back and blowing him a kiss before pressing the button on the manipulator, disappearing in a flash.

"No, you won't," the Doctor whispered in a broken voice. River was gone and this time he feared it was for good.