Disclaimer: Not my intellectual property
AN: So apparently if I don't update, I'm at risk of losing my life... Sometimes the fandom scares me. This is pretty short, sorry, but it's one of the scenes that's been fully formed in my head since I started writing. Enjoy.
Donna'd felt a shiver down her spine as soon as the Doctor announced that they were at the Library. It took her a little while to remember why; well, it took until they met the mysterious River Song. When you see River in the Library, could you pass on a message for me? The equally mysterious blond who saved the Doctor from himself not so long ago, at least to the two of them, somehow knew Donna's future. Maybe she could learn something from River Song.
It took a little while for her to corner the woman away from the Doctor.
"You know him, don't you?" The red headed woman began, causing River to give her a sharp glance, followed by a smile.
"Oh, God, do I know him. We go way back, just not this far back. Sharp as ever, Donna Noble."
Donna evaluated her carefully. "You're from the future."
River laughed. "You're in the fifty-first century, sweetie. I'm in the proper time, more or less."
"No, I meant, you're from his future, and mine."
"Yes, I sent a message to the psychic paper but it went wrong, it arrived too early." River said slowly, her face a mask.
"That's hard for you, isn't it?" Donna said gently, showing the side of her that only a few were privileged enough to see.
"He looks at me, and he looks right through me. And it shouldn't half kill me, but it does." The words were so quiet that Donna strained to hear them. It was heartbreaking to see this woman so close to her limits, for she seemed so resilient.
"I have a message for you." Donna said carefully, "From a woman called Marion Wolfe."
River raised an eyebrow. "Ah, that explains a few things. What is the message?"
"She said, she said to have fun, and that.." Donna paused as she tried to remember the odd words of the dying woman, "That anything that can be remembered is never truly gone." She watched closely as she delivered the message. The first part, it seemed was expected, but the second caused a furrow to develop across the proud forehead. River mouthed the words silently, searching for the meaning behind them.
Hesitantly, Donna spoke again, "She was your friend, yeah? Marion?"
River smiled, a true, brilliant smile. "Yes. Yes, she most certainly is that."
"I'm sorry, but she's dead. She died saving the Doctor from the Sontarans."
Donna wasn't expecting the throaty chuckle from the other woman. "No, she's not."
"She went up, and seconds later, the ship exploded. No teleport down. I'm sorry, but she's gone."
"I think you'll find that she isn't." River said, meeting Donna's eye for a moment before the Doctor called them away.
Later, when the Vashta Nerada were gone and Donna, the Doctor, and Mr. Lux were the only ones left, Donna wondered about the message. Marion knew, obviously, that they were all going to be at the Library, and presumably, how that ended. So why? Why would she tell River, a woman bound to die, to have fun? She shook her head and followed after the Doctor. A nice, relaxing day at the spa was what she needed.