River landed at the Demon's Run, how long ago it was, how many mistakes she made since then and how many thing she gained and lost since Kovarian took her away from Amy and Rory. But she remembered the promise she made to the Bad Wolf. She needs to bring him from the darkness back and show no fear, no mercy. She got a grip and:

- Well then, soldier. How goes the day?

The Doctor turned quickly. He was angry, no he was furious, River has never seen him so dark and un-Doctor before, she knew exactly what to say but she wished she didn't.

- Where the hell have you been? Every time you've asked, I have been there. Where the hell were you today? - he came straight towards her, nose to nose.

- I couldn't have prevented this. – River said honestly

- You could have tried!

- And so, my love, could you. – she said calmly, although inside she was burning with fear and regret. - I know you're not all right. – she turned to her parents - But hold tight, Amy, because you're going to be.

- You think I wanted this? I didn't do this. This, this wasn't me! – he was practically yelling

River knew it was the moment, now or never.

-This was exactly you. All this. All of it. You make them so afraid. When you began, all those years ago, sailing off to see the universe, did you ever think you'd become this? The man who can turn an army around at the mention of his name. – River said sarcastically - Doctor. The word for healer and wise man throughout the universe. We get that word from you, you know. But if you carry on the way you are, what might that word come to mean? To the people of the Gamma Forests, the word Doctor means mighty warrior. How far you've come. And now they've taken a child, the child of your best friends, and they're going to turn her into a weapon just to bring you down. And all this, my love, in fear of you.

The Doctor was taken aback, she could see that, something flickered in his eyes and she knew that he was taking the back ride, he was becoming himself again. But then:

- Who are you?

- Oh look, your cot. Haven't seen that in a very long while. – she tried to be playful a bit. Always playing a part, never being herself, even with him, especially him.

- No, no, you tell me. Tell me who you are.

- I am telling you. Can't you read?

River pointed on the Gallifreynian sign. And the Doctor understood. He saw it and his face became light and relived.

- Hello.

- Hello.

- But but that means

- I'm afraid it does.

- Ooo. But you and I, we, we, we, er - he tried to show the kiss, God, he was hopeless!

- Yes. – she said emphatically

- How do I look? – the Doctor asked proudly.

- Amazing.

- I'd better be.

- Yes, you'd better be.

- Vastra and Jenny, till the next time. Rory and Amy, I know where to find your daughter, and on my life, she will be safe. River, get them all home.

-Doctor! – Rory yelled

- No! Where are you going? – Amy was desperate. The Doctor took off in his TARDIS. Now was time to calm my parents down and then to talk to that mad man.

(A few hours later, for both the Doctor and River)

The Doctor was excited, no he was ecstatic! He didn't let the Ponds down, well he did but he knew that someday he'll fix that, at this point it was a miracle, considering that for a horrible minutes he thought that he lost everything. Again. And in the process destroyed lives of both his companions and their child. Good thing River was around and snapped him back to reality a little. He needs to thank her some day, maybe take her somewhere and apologize for doubting her for so long. But you couldn't really blame him she was irritating, arrogant and all-to-know, not that she wasn't all those things now, it's just being the child of Amy made her his responsibility and he had to take of her, no matter what.

Suddenly he saw a flash of light behind the console. He tried to think of places River mentioned before all information he knew, he promised himself that he won't stop until he find her. But then the flash disappeared and present-day River stood in front of him. In the same outfit he saw her on the Demon's Run.

-What are you doing here? - he asked – I thought you were with your parents, catching up and all plus as far as I know, you can't be here now, I have to find baby-you first.

River walked towards him, he saw she was nervous. He didn't understand why, were there something else he needed to know?

-River, what's wrong?

-I came here to apologize for being a bit cruel today- she said suddenly – And yeah, you have to find me first but it's my only chance cause we are both at the same point of time, more or less. – They smiled to each other

- You don't need to apologize for anything! If something, I have to say how sorry I am for everything that happened to you and…

-Don't – River stopped him gently – we'll have this conversation one day on a beautiful picnic, but not today. Right now I need to ask you something.

-OK, go on, ask. I won't bite – he tried to flirt. He was terrible in it, but he liked flirting with her . It was easier then to discuss what really connected them. When she didn't answer in the same manner he knew something was tremendously wrong.

-Doctor… I need to ask you about Rose Tyler. – River decided not to postpone inevitable, she made up her mind the moment Rose left and she needed to know. Now.

To say that the Doctor was surprised is to say nothing at all. He expected anything, any question about their relationship, about his plans, about Amy and Rory and he thought he'll answer truthfully. But that…

River saw the way the Doctor's face changed, he lost all the blood on his cheeks in a second and looked if he were really a few thousand years old, her worst suspect was becoming true. Maybe she really should have listened to Rose.

-Why do you ask about her? – he said with a bit of o northern accent, the one he had when he was in his Ninth body, when he met her. The Doctor knew perfectly well, that he would never discuss that with River and if she asked now then she found about Rose by herself somehow.

River made a deep breath and then said:

-I've met her today.

-WHAT? River! How dared you? You had no right to dig into my past without my permission! Let alone talk to people, especially to…

-Especially to who, Doctor? – she interrupted – And for the record I didn't look for her or travelled to your personal past, she said it was impossible to enter her and yours, apparently, timestreams of that time.

Suddenly it became too much for the Doctor. Just too much in one day! He travelled non-stop for weeks to find Amy, he found the truth about River, he let down his friends, he almost lost himself and now THIS. Whatever it was, stupid lies or a sick game River played with him he had enough of it, so he roared in the inhuman voice:

-That's impossible, everything you say is just impossible! There is no way in the Universe this is the truth! What game are you playing at? And why? What the hell is wrong with you?

River knew what she have signed herself for, but she wasn't prepared for such a passionate reaction. It seems that everything was even worse, he was in love with that woman. Now she was sure of it.

-Doctor- she put her hand on his and he flinched, River was hurt but she was trying not to show it – I am telling you the truth. This woman, she came to me in the cell today, she said that you are losing yourself and that I need to bring you back no matter what – the Doctor finally looked at her, that did sound like Rose, but how? Even if it was her, why didn't she come to see him personally? If Rose were there he wouldn't lose that battle, that's for sure. River continued:

-But she also said that she can't go to you by herself, because she doesn't belong here anymore.

-What?

-She said that she was…I don't know, somekind of a ghost or an echo, that she is not really alive. She also mentioned something about the…the Bad Wolf.

The Doctor flinched again. No, that can't be, no way! But, what if…? No! It's just not fair! How can it be here?! So Rose's been around for God knows how long and he didn't know? What happened to her? Why she was even here and why she wasn't alive? He needed to know! Suddenly he felt River's hand on his shoulder, he grabbed her hands and began manically.

-River, I need you to tell me, what exactly she told you. What is she? How is she here? Is she dead, why did she never contacted me, was she kidnapped? Is the Universe in danger again? How did she came back?

River wanted to cry. He never spoke of her with such a passion or concern. But no, he won't see her tears, God, she felt so, so humiliated and he hated everyone, herself and Rose and the Doctor. She just wanted to crawl back into her bad, she wanted to be weak for once but at the same time she needed to know.

-I told you everything I knew – she said almost breathlessly. – I didn't understand even the half of what she was saying. She said…she said in her real, first life she was human but she didn't look like one. She was a bit unearthly and she was all in the golden light and her eyes were golden too.

Doctor couldn't believe, that what exactly the Bad Wolf. But he thought he fixed that! He took it out of her!..But at the same time at the back of his head he knew that becoming an almighty Goddess even for ten minutes will have it consequences but he thought that all, the written signs and echoes were all of it, but apparently not. And then he looked at the woman in his arms, at this amazing woman who did everything to help him and he felt ashamed of himself. She didn't deserve such a treatment, she just wanted to know about something she didn't understand and now he exposed that there is much more to Rose then she originally thought.

He tried to calm himself and to be as kind as possible

-I am sorry River. I shouldn't have reacted like this, it's just these few weeks were really hard and now this…it's a bit too much.

-It's ok, - again, she was understanding and supportive, how he could ever to repay that debt to her? – You've lived a very long life and it was stupid of me to think that you never had relationships before. – the Doctor looked at her – I am not an idiot, sweetie. I can see your reaction and I saw the way she spoke about you …

-River, I am…

- Let me finish, my love. It's already hard and it would be better if I won't be interrupted. I know that all this situation is beyond our control that we are both are in this madness because of other people's plans. And I know you didn't ask for the relationship with me. But we have what we have and one day you'll understand that it couldn't be other way around. What I am saying – she made a deep breath –That you need to promise me, that in the future you'll try to love me or like me at least, for who I am, not for who my parents are or for what I did for you . I do love you with all my heart but I can't make you to feel the same way. But you need to promise me that you'll give our relationship a try and who knows? Maybe you'll love me too.

The Doctor was silent. This magnificent woman poured her heart out for him but all he could think was that he is not capable of giving her what she needs. Maybe one day, but not now and with Rose being around at least at some form it would be even harder. He gave his hearts once and he didn't want to go through that again, considering that he knows for sure that River won't be around for long. But he could be as open and respectful with River as possible, maybe he won't fall in love with her but he'll care for her until the end.

-I promise you, River. I'll try my best to help you and to be there for you whenever you need me.

-Thank you. – the Doctor could hear tears in her voice, but he didn't know what to do about it, he didn't feel connected to River enough or anything like that in order to be really helpful, stupid old man! They stayed in silence for awhile and then River said in her usual, playful tone–OK, anyway I need to come back to my cell and you have a job to do, remember?

-Of course I remember! I'll find you in the end, you of all people should know that! – the Doctor again was behaving like a child he was in this body.

-Yeah, see you soon, sweetie. – with that, River Song disappeared in the flashlight.

The Doctor stood in the console for a very long time, not even moving. His brain worked even faster than usual. He knew the job he had to do, but he couldn't. Right now he needed to…he didn't know what he wanted, so he decided to go to his room and maybe to sleep for a few hours.

The Doctor walked through the shiny corridors of his beloved ship to his room, he went to the kitchen to grab some tea and jimmy dodgers before sleep. He clumsily opened the door to his room and then he dropped on the floor everything he had in his hands.