River was packing her bags when Sophia gently knocked on the doorframe of her room. River gave her a smile and invited her inside.
Sophia glanced around the room anxiously, her hands clasped behind her back. River looked up at the other woman, questioning. "What do you want to talk about?
She sighed. "When I first heard your name I knew who you were. Your name is in stories spread throughout the Doctor's life. The woman who killed him and the woman who married him, they're one and the same." She bit her lip and produced and old, tattered book from behind her back. "I want you to read this, it concerns you. I'm sure he would be upset with me if he knew it existed but I want you to have it."
River held the book in her hand and gently turned some of the pages. "It's a journal," she said, her voice ponderous.
Sophia nodded. "It was written by a woman named Donna Noble, she was the Doctor's companion for a time. He had to erase her memories of everything that happened during their time together, but she remembered bits of it over time. She wrote down her strange memories and dreams in this journal. Read it while you wait for us to return."
She could tell that the other woman was somewhat desperate for her to read it. "I will. Do something for me if you can."
"Anything," Sophia said with a smile.
"Keep him safe," River said softly, in all seriousness.
Sophia gave her a solemn look. "I swear to you, we will come back, and he will raise that child with you if I have anything to say about it."
The women laughed together. Then River considered the journal for a moment and slipped it next to her own inside one of the bags.
Amy was watching her children playing in the yard when the TARDIS appeared. River stepped out first, carrying two small bags which she quickly set down when her little sister came running toward her.
Amy walked over to her oldest daughter and hugged her. "We weren't expecting you for a few weeks for Tristan's birthday." She looked at River and then the Doctor, eyeing them suspiciously. "What's wrong?"
River smiled weakly. "Nothing's wrong mum I'm just going to be staying with you for awhile."
Amy gave a questioning look to the Doctor who smiled. "Oh it's nothing to worry about really. I'm going on an expedition of sorts, looking for other Timelords and want Melody to be safe. Given her condition I figured the best place for her would be with her parents, don't you?"
Amy nodded. "You better come back before your child is born or else."
He bowed solemnly to her. "You have my word Mrs. Williams." He then looked around a bit. "Where's the Roman?"
Amy laughed. "He's at the hospital, working, some of us need to do that you know."
"Ahh well, give him my regards and I'll be back before you know it." He gave Amy and her children warm hugs and saved his goodbye to River for last. "I'll be back for you, much sooner for you than for me." She smiled sadly, fighting back tears. "I love you River Song, Melody Pond; I will always come back for you."
She nodded and took a deep breath; she hated how much being pregnant increased her emotional responses. "I love you too, be safe."
Then with a kiss, the Doctor returned to the TARDIS and left on his new journey. It would be the longest journey he would ever take, and though he didn't know where it would take him or if they would find any other Timelords; he knew that he would live to see at least one more day with River Song. He didn't know what the fate of their child would be, but Dorillian and the Singing Towers were still in their future, so he knew that some day he would return to her even if it would be their end.