AN: fuzzy bunnies requested a River Song chapter so here it is. I feel that River is such a complex character that I've had trouble choosing a specific moment to capture, so I will probably be doing several of events for her. This is very short, set during the Library.
"The Doctor's death doesn't frighten me, nor does my own. There's a far worse day coming for me." The Impossible Astronaut
This is the day she fears the most.
He doesn't recognize her. It hurts, but she knew it would. She has experience. Tracking her life on starch white paper, marking out all his firsts (her lasts) in trembling black ink.
This is his first meeting. And she's going to die.
She knows him well enough (even if it's not this him, but that central most part of the Doctor—the part that doesn't change between regenerations—she understands that part of him) to know he's going to offer himself in her place.
She also knows how to stop him.
He's important, worth more than her, worth more than entire galaxies, but she doesn't save him because of that.
She does it because she's selfish.