19: Flowers- a plant stem with one or more flowers that has been picked from the plant on which it grew; a small plant grown for the attractiveness of its flowers

The Doctor walked through the door of the little shop and stopped dead in his tracks. How could there be so many? He had been to whole planets of just flowers and he couldn't think of a time he knew that so many kinds of them existed.

"Can I help you?" a woman said from behind the counter by a wall length window.

"Uh, no, just looking," he relied nervously.

Calm down, Doctor, he thought to himself. It's just a flower shop. You can do this.

He had decided to buy River flowers and send them to her at Stormcage, wanting to give her a nice surprise and let her know that he was thinking about her. Because, of course, he was always thinking about her. So he might as well let her know! As he walked further into the flower shop, he began contemplating what kind to get her. He hadn't thought it would be this complicated. He had figured he would waltz right in, pick up a bouquet, and leave. Well, obviously he was wrong. There were way too many kinds to count, none of them made up into bouquets, and there was even a freezer room. Which was full of yet more flowers.

So, upon seeing the scene now before him, the Doctor opted for smelling and observing the prettiest flowers he saw. He would walk up to a particular plant and, upon deeming it good enough to be seen by River, would make up his mind as to whether or not they were the right ones after all.

Each flower had to pass the test. Too pink, he decided as he passed the roses. Too innocent, he thought, walking by the daisies. Too… carnivorous, he said when he saw a Venus flytrap. Finally, he found the perfect flower: lilies. He knew immediately upon seeing them that they were the ones. They were just bold enough, just soft enough, that they fit River's personality entirely. He chose pink lilies, liking them best for her. They were a dark pink that faded to a lighter pink or even white at the edges of each petal, and they were speckled with the dark pink near the lighter bit.

Once the woman behind the counter had made up a perfect bouquet, placed in a clear vase, the Doctor paid and left, excitement at giving the beautiful gift to his wife rushing through him.

Doctor River Song looked up from her diary as a prison guard walked over to her cell, placed a vase inside, and walked silently away. When he was gone, she got up off of her bed and walked to the vase full of flowers. She thought they were beautiful; she'd always had a fondness for lilies, and there was no doubt who had sent them. She picked up the small business card-sized note that was placed within the flowers and read.

..

River,

I'm sending you these flowers because they are almost as gorgeous as you. But not quite. I think they fit you, in a way. Also, they are closely related to the water lily flower, and your name is River. You know, like water. River, water lily? See what I mean? Anyway, please enjoy these flowers, and always know that though they are the most beautiful flowers in the world they will never compare to you.

All my love,

The Doctor

XO

..

River smiled and moved the flowers to her bedside table, propping the note up against the vase perfectly. And while the flowers may die in time, she thought, her smile growing, she will never rid of this memory.