Chapter 17

Author's Note: Thank you to all you faithful readers! I hope you are enjoying this!

"You do know how to treat a girl." River raised her wine glass to him and Owen nodded in return. The high class restaurant was a far cry from the bar she'd been expecting as their first stop. Not that she would have opposed a drink, but this was much quieter and more appealing. It also proved that he was interested in her, he only made lavish attempts to impress women when he was serious about them. So far so good, the last thing she needed to add to the day was another time change. She smiled mysteriously at him.
"I've learned a thing or two over the years." he commented mildly. That grin of hers was completely unnerving; it made him feel jumpy, like she anticipated his every move. She seemed to read him like a book, and while she found it wildly entertaining he was slightly irritated at all of the scrutiny. All the while, he was completely intrigued and he was waiting for her to slip up, accidentally revealing her 'spoilers'.
"And I am to be the next notch on your belt?" she asked with a raised eyebrow. Owen gulped, the weight of her question settling hard on him.
"No," he pretended to look offended. "What, I can't just take you out for a nice dinner?" River chuckled and shook her head.

"Not you, no, I know better than to trust you." she took a sip of her wine, her eyes sparkling from above the rim.

"And yet here you are..." Owen smiled and leaned back in his chair. River set down her glass and watched as several well dressed couples passed by them. "If you know so much about me, why are you still here?"

"Those are spoilers Owen Harper. it's dangerous to know your future." she responded, keeping her voice light. "You should know that." Owen scrunched his nose.

"Alright then. Well you know all about me, so why don't you tell me who you are." he replied, leaning forward again, his face serious.

"It doesn't work like that, there's too much of the future at stake." she replied.

"Of course..." Owen said sarcastically, frowning slightly. "Well what can you say?"

"I'm an archaeologist, I time-travel on occasion," she winked at him. "And I love danger."

"Is that why you time travel?"

"No, I started out looking for the Doctor, but now it's just adventure." she smiled. "If you're so intrigued it's going to take more than dinner to get to know me." Owen smirked.

"I can see to that." he raised his glass and winked at her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~OIA~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"What're you doing?" Donna asked, sitting next to the Doctor. He'd glued himself to the computer again, typing away and ignoring the cup of coffee that Gwen had brought him.
"Keeping busy." he stated simply. She nodded and leaned her arms on the desk, watching him.
"So you got everything sorted?" she asked again, watching him closely. He paused and looked at her, smiling softly.
"Yeah." his eyes flicked back to Rose, and he opened his mouth to speak again, suddenly looking hesitant. "Well, at least the important stuff." So they hadn't sorted everything, but Donna didn't need to know that. She had that look on her face though, he'd seen it before. She knew and she was rolling her eyes at him.
"Oh you didn't...what did you do for all that time?!" she smacked hard in the arm. His procrastination was surely going to drive her, and everyone else on their team insane. "Don't tell you went searching for aliens..." The Doctor frowned.
"No...not intentionally, they found us. It always happens that way doesn't it?" he tried to look innocent. Donna looked clearly exasperated and she slouched in her chair, eyeing him with disappointment.
"At least she knows, right? You were out for hours, you at least snogged her properly didn't you?" she lowered her voice and leaned forward. His eyes widened and he turned back to the computer screen. He definetly didn't have a response for that one, and he pointed to a spot on the screen in an attempt to change the subject. Donna's eyes were wide as well and she looked horrified. "You didn't snog her?! You git..."
"Shh!" he whirled around in his chair and held a finger to his lips. "I'm working on it!" he frowned. "I told you I'm rubbish at this, it's going to take time. I've never...this wasn't how we did it back home. I didn't even acknowledge my feelings for her until we were separated, we weren't supposed to have feelings, especially for humans." he sighed. Donna tilted her head.
"Well the sooner you get this worked out the better, I mean how are we supposed to introduce you two? Partners? Couple? Boyfriend/girlfriend..." she trailed and gave him a meaningful look. He glowered at her.
"I know, I get it." he scrunched his nose. "I don't even know what we are..." he looked at Rose, his features relaxing. "She's so much more than just a girlfriend, we have a word for it in my language but I've only ever used it once." His eyes returned to Donna's, but she guessed his mind was with Rose. "S'funny, I can't imagine using it for anyone other than her."
"Then tell her!" she urged him. He shook his head emphatically.
"Not yet, that wouldn't be fair." he responded turning back to his computer. She scowled.
"Is it part of some weird alien ritual?" she asked, disgusted and still slightly curious. The Doctor chuckled.
"Weird? No. Alien...yes." he smirked. She rolled her eyes at him and left alone, silently cursing his alienness. It was looking like she'd have to knock their heads together, and she knew just who would help her.