It was time, he knew. The party was going on but the main trio had long been forgotten in drink and music. The Doctor nodded to his younger self and they escorted their wife outside into the dark night. It was quite cold but both the Doctor and Raggedy had warm coats to keep them warm. River however had no form of covering on her shoulders and the Doctor offered his coat. She smiled warmly and accepted it gratefully. "I guess you two are happy then..." Raggedy, who had also offered his coat, sighed. River turned to him. "It's time, my love, you came when I needed you, that's all I could ask for. But it is time, time to sleep. I really do love you, all of you, and you're missing from him," River turned back to the Doctor. "He knows that as well." she stared him down, her eyes steady, "Let's do this with everyone here." she took both Time Lord's hands and turned to the group who had actually noticed the exit of the bride and grooms.
The Doctor and Raggedy both smiled. "Ready?" the Doctor asked her, "For anything you throw my way, my love." River answered. The Doctor looked to Raggedy who produced a bow tie from his pocket and handed it to the Doctor before pulling off his own from around his neck. They wrapped one end around their wrists before handing the other ends to River who wrapped one end around each wrist. "We have to send him back so he has got to hear your name at the same time as me." The Doctor explained. River nodded as their congregation gathered around them. "Amy, Rory...I have to ask you again...please can I marry your daughter?" they both nodded. Both Doctors leant in close to River and whispered in her ears. River whispered something back to both men. "Beautiful." Raggedy cooed "Amazing." The Doctor agreed. "Really?" River breathed. Both nodded softly. The Doctor let go. Raggedy clutched River close to him. "I've gotta go now." his voice broke. River hummed in agreement then broke apart from him, still holding his hands "How do you want me to say it my love?" she said.
"Like you're going to see me again..." he hung his head. River moved close to him again, lifting his chin to meet his eyes with hers. "Until next time sweetie." she answered. Raggedy straightened his bow tie back around his neck.
"Goodbye honey! Melody I really do love you." Raggedy said and kissed River. The same golden glow that brought him into existence surrounded him, nearly blinding the group. When it disappeared, only River remained. The Doctor came behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist and turned River to face him. "He's happy now, and safely tucked away in here. He loves you, they all do." River put a hand on his cheek. "And you, do you love me?" The uncertainty from the church returned to River's face. The Doctor pulled River so close; her face was inches from his. "All of us, we are one and the same. You of all people should know. Melody Pond, River Song, Child of the TARDIS and..." he whispered her name in her ear again. The Doctor moved his face till his lips were millimetres apart from River's own. "I love you because you love the man behind the face, not the mad man in the blue box, not the healer of planets, not the warrior, not the granddad, the lover or the child. You love me." he rested his forehead against River's "I love you sweetie." she sighed.
"That's why you're my wife, that's why I..." the Doctor stopped talking when he heard a cough.
"Oi lovebirds, kiss already it's cold!" Clara grumbled. River looked at the Doctor and let go of him. "Say goodbye to them. I need to say goodbye to my parents." the Doctor moved away from River's warm embraced and faced his friends. "Rose..." She ran to him and hugged him. "I've got my own Doctor, well his hand but that's one of your most important parts right?" the Doctor laughed. "Yes! Oh I might have a scan if I were you, Rose." he led her back to John who turned a puzzled face at him. "When I first found you all in my TARDIS, I gave you all a medical scan." the couple looked at him worriedly. "Oh, no! It's not bad! In fact congratulations are in order." the Doctor looked smug. "Well?" Rose folded her arms, irritated by his ego. "You're having a baby..." the Doctor answered, as if it were obvious. The pair embraced happily. River walked over and linked arms with the Doctor. "I really wish we could have known each other better." she said to Rose, who agreed. The Doctor led River away and onto Donna. He let go of River's arm and clung to Donna fiercely. "It's alright, I'll be ok." Donna smiled. They parted but the Doctor still looked on sorrowfully. "Trust me Doctor, she will be just fine." River smiled knowingly. The Doctor narrowed his eyes. "What happened is fixed, it cannot be changed! What did you do?" he asked her.
"I didn't change anything, I just gave Donna a present, something she deserves, something she was searching for. Think of it as a wedding gift of sorts, I don't like to see you unhappy but I do, too often. I can give you some happiness," she said to the Doctor. River turned to Donna "and I know what I've done will give you happiness as well." Donna looked uncertain at the Doctor who smiled. "The manipulator! Spoilers right?" he nudged his wife gently. "Right." River answered and left the Doctor and Donna to find her parents in the small crowd. "I wanted to show you so many things. You were my friend, you didn't fancy me...You were my old mate." the Doctor sighed. Donna punches him in the arm "Oi! Watch it with the old, spaceman!" they both laughed.
The Doctor turned and saw River in a tight embrace with her parents. The children had also joined in. He ran and joined the family he had gained and was about to lose two of. "Ponds can I speak to you for a moment." he said. River reluctantly let go and the Doctor whispered something to Amy and Rory. River waited till the trio finished whispering and sneaking glances at her before folding her arms and pouting, "What is it? Why are you all so happy?" she growled. "Hey Rory, mood changes already." Amy sniggered. River's eyes narrowed and the Doctor walked over and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Spoilers..." he whispered mockingly. "We've gotta go now sweetheart." Amy touched River's hand and River practically dived into Amy's arms. "Not again mum...please don't leave without saying anything to me, I don't want you to leave without knowing how much I love you! I miss you both so much..." River hid her face in Amy's neck and Rory held River from the other side, planting a kiss in her curls. "We're always with you Mel; we'll always love you..." Rory spoke softly. "You have my feistiness and your father's loyalty, remember that and we will never leave you," Amy said and held River closer then looked to the Doctor. "And you Raggedy man, you took my accent and Rory's nose..." Amy chuckled and pushed River gently into the Doctor's arms.
"It's time Riv." he whispered into her ear. "Ok." she sighed and turned toward the Doctor. The Doctor looked to the group. " I should have given you these a long time ago," the Doctor placed two rings on River's ring finger, one with a small blue crystal set in the centre and the other, a matching ring to the Doctor's own on his ring finger. He then turned to the group. "Well am I going to have to say it or are you lot going to!" he roared and pulled River closer. "YOU MAY KISS THE BRIDE!" everyone cheered. The Doctor pulled River so close their foreheads touched as before. "I love you Professor River Song, archaeologist." he sighed. "I love you two sweetie." she purred. He kissed her and soon became unaware of certain members of their congregation glowing white and vanishing back to their own times. He only knew that here was his wife, alive and well in his arms, no library ahead, just the future, their future, and he couldn't wait to get started. He just had to tell her what he told the Ponds, that River was...
"Com'on," Jack said, the newlyweds broke apart reluctantly. "You two need a first dance." he slurred, still intoxicated. The Doctor linked arms with River and lead her inside, follows by the remaining crowd, "Well I do love to dance at weddings, don't I wife?" he announced proudly. "Yes dear," River agreed sweetly, the Doctor could feel the it coming, "With all the children..." she laughed "And there's the putdown, I was waiting for, thank you honey!" he replied sarcastically. "You're welcome sweetie!" she answered with equal mockery, but behind it, was the eternal love that the Doctor always knew was there.