Chapter 20: Epilogue

He'd been right. The arrival of the Parvulus – tiny, tiny beings they'd needed special glasses to see – had been as amazing as he'd promised. River smiled the entire time they were there, her expression delighted as they'd watched the emergence from the trees of Parvula – fluffy little critters with big eyes and even bigger hearts. If not for the unique alignment of planets in their solar system magnifying the sunlight and striking the tree trunks at the right angle and with enough heat to burn through the bark, they'd never have come into being.

It was a thing of pure beauty and he should know. The Doctor had a new appreciation for alignment now that he and River were finally living their lives in the same direction, time wise.

"Ouch," he put a hand to his chest abruptly, wincing.

"What is it dear?" River asked, looking up from the book she'd been reading. He liked to tinker at the central controls and she'd taken to sitting on one of the console chairs when he was there. He wasn't ashamed to admit how much he liked the company … her company.

"Message," he said, pulling out the psychic paper billfold and flipping it open.

"Help! Come home right now!" It wasn't signed but it didn't need to be – he'd know immediately any message originating from Amy Pond.

"Oh, that doesn't sound good," River frowned, leaning against his arm to read along with him.

"No it doesn't," he agreed, pausing for a moment to pat her hand before he dashed away to the console, already programming in their new destination. "Don't worry wife," he announced. "We'll have you home in a jiffy."

"A jiffy?" River smiled, amused. She didn't follow after him, correcting what she called his piloting mistakes and he called making it interesting – they'd agreed when she'd moved in that they'd each fly the TARDIS their own way. Well, he'd insisted that he would fly most of the time and she'd agreed, except for when it was imperative that they arrive somewhere without drawing attention to themselves. He'd reluctantly agreed, only because how often were they likely to need that? After all, he'd only used the cloak twice in over a thousand years.

"Yeah, that was rubbish, wasn't it?" the Doctor agreed. "No place for the word 'jiffy' in anyone's language." He reached for another lever, intend on their landing.

"Best leave the breaks off dear," River suggested gently.

He grimaced but acknowledged that she was probably right. Whatever trouble Amy and Rory had gotten themselves into, he'd have a better chance of resolving if he didn't announce his presence before they'd gotten the lay of the land.

The TARDIS touched down and all pretence at humour dropped away. Grabbing River's hand and making sure she was protected behind him, the Doctor hurried for the door, throwing it open fully expecting to see a full scale invasion of Cybermen in Amy and Rory's back yard. Instead the yard was deserted and too quiet. Wary and suspicious, the Doctor carefully made his way to the back door, easing it open slowly and quietly.

"Surprise!"

The Doctor froze to an abrupt halt, River crashing into his back at the lack of warning, sending him stumbling a few steps forward into Amy and Rory's kitchen before he regained his balance.

"Sweetie?" River shifted to glance around him. There, gathered in a semi-circle surrounding the entrance were not only her parents and assorted family members, but two recognisable faces as well - Donna Noble and her alien boyfriend Lee McAvoy – although how that was even possible without risking Donna's memory returning was a question the Doctor would be asking Amy very pointedly in the very near future.

"Amy, Rory?" For the sake of saving on the unexplainable, River never called her parents Mum and Dad unless they were alone. There was no way to create a cover story for the two twenty something's having a daughter who looked at least a decade older than them.

"You promised me a traditional wedding," Amy announced without a hint of apology for getting them there under false pretences. "You've been honeymooning for months without a sign of stopping by. You left me no choice."

"I tried to stop her," Rory began but then shrugged. "Not very hard," he admitted.

For once the Doctor was completely and utterly speechless. He could see the amused smile River was holding back but even that wasn't enough to spur him into speech.

"So this is a …," River began.

"Your wedding, yeah," Amy confirmed nonchalantly.

"Why am I not surprised?" River murmured close to the Doctor's ear.

"Because you inherited your deviousness from your Mother," he muttered back, finally finding his voice.

River laughed. "You wouldn't have me any other way my love."

"Probably not," he agreed with a smile. Turning to Amy he gave her an enigmatic look, spoiling it by grinning when she narrowed her eyes back at him. "Come here Pond," he demanded opening up his arms.

With a laugh, Amy launched herself forward, hugging the Doctor tightly.

That seemed to be the cue for the people around them, the low murmur of party conversation resuming as everyone gave the friends a chance to talk without an audience making them the centre of attention.

When Amy let him go, quickly shifting to her daughter, Rory stepped up, offering his hand to the Doctor.

"Rory," the Doctor shook hands and then pulled the other man closer for a manly back slapping exchange. "How have you been?"

"Good," Rory shrugged, glancing at his wife and seeing her fully engaged in chatting with River. "I didn't try very hard to dissuade her from this," he said in a low voice. "She needed something."

"How long have we been gone this time?" the Doctor queried.

"Three months," Rory said without judgement.

"Oh," the Doctor scratched at his cheek. "That's longer than I intended to keep River away," he admitted.

"We get it," Rory replied easily. "It's not an exact science."

"No, it's not," the Doctor acknowledged. With a sigh he gave Rory an embarrassed smile. "Perhaps I've been just a bit enamoured of having River with me as well. I'm sorry for that – it's right selfish of me, isn't it?"

"Just a bit," Rory smiled, "but understandable. I can't imagine how frustrating it would have been to be always moving in the opposite direction."

"It served a purpose," the Doctor admitted.

"You don't think you'd be here now if it hadn't gone down that way?" Rory asked, surprised.

"A thousand years by myself," the Doctor shook his head. "I was very good at protecting my heart Rory. I couldn't conceive of any set of circumstances that would make me take that kind of risk. River … she's one in a – I'd say infinity but that'd be impossible. One in the biggest number you can think of that isn't infinity."

"River is definitely that," Rory looked at his daughter, a hint of sadness showing in his expression.

"And there I go, being selfish again," the Doctor sighed. "Even knowing what I know now I hope you understand that if there had been a way to return her to you and Amy as a baby, I'd have done so."

"We know," Rory said simply. "Without you … without the TARDIS, I'm not sure we'd have had River at all. Don't worry, we'll make the most of it. You should talk to Amy though. She misses you."

"I will," the Doctor promised.

"You'll have to go through the ceremony first," Rory added, his amusement showing when the Doctor's expression fell.

"Ceremony?" he grimaced.

"You have been married here before, right?"

The Doctor looked pained, his eyes darting away as though seeking help.

"Rule number one," River threaded her arm through her husband's, smiling at her father as her mother took up her usual position beside him.

"You mean you lied?" Rory looked incredulously from his daughter back to his friend while Amy hooted with laughter beside him.

"Of course I lied! I'm surprised you'd think otherwise. I could hardly have a gang of Doctor's wives running around the planet, now could I? There were a few times when it was a very close thing but I usually managed to slide out of trouble before actually going through with the ceremony," the Doctor admitted.

"So this will be your first Earth wedding?" Amy was almost crowing with delight at the news.

"As a matter of fact, it will, Miss Smug pants," the Doctor shot back, disgruntled.

"Then there's no time to waste." She ran her eyes over each of them for a second, gave a sigh and muttered "can't be helped," before spinning away. Clapping her hands, Amy got everyone's attention. "Melody and John will have plenty of time to talk with everyone later but for now, its wedding time!"

"Melody and John?" the Doctor repeated under his breath.

"It's expedient," River replied.

There were a few cheers and some spontaneous applause as Rory and Amy corralled everyone into the living room. They'd set up enough chairs for everyone to sit and at the front, beside the fireplace, waited a woman who could only be the celebrant.

"Are you sure we have to do this?" the Doctor muttered to River, the plea in his voice too obvious.

"Don't you want to marry me?" River teased quietly.

"Did you miss the part where I already did?" the Doctor shot back. "If I'm not mistaken I promised I'd never marry anyone else, ever again, until the end of time. Since you know I've been there you should appreciate how significant that is. Strictly speaking, going through with this could be seen as a breach of that promise."

"Nice try but since the promise was to me I think we're safe," River chuckled. "Now, I'm no more enthusiastic about this than you are but it's important to Amy so we're doing it."

"Wait, you don't want to marry me?" the Doctor stopped, giving her an incredulous look.

"I wasn't kidding when I said I don't do weddings dear," River reminded him.

"Oh," the Doctor shifted awkwardly, surprised that her words actually bothered him.

"Is there a problem here?" Amy moved towards them, frowning at the delay.

"I just need a moment with my wife," the Doctor grabbed River's hand and dragged her back to the kitchen, ignoring all the looks they were getting.

"I'm confused," he admitted as soon as they were alone. "If you don't do weddings, why did you marry me?"

"You're asking me this now?" River looked at him, incredulous.

"I know," he agreed. "It didn't occur to me to ask before because I assumed, stupidly as it turns out, that you wanted to marry me. Please tell me you didn't do all of that because of some silly legend you read in one of your archaeology books!"

River laughed, the deep, full bodied one that never failed to raise his blood pressure in all sorts of interesting ways. "Oh Doctor," she sighed, shifting closer and running her hands up his chest. "Should we debate which came first – the chicken or the egg? Personally, I can think of something much more entertaining to do, now that we're all alone." Pulling him closer she pressed her lips to his, her intent to get him hot and bothered and therefore not thinking straight all too clear.

"River," he broke away after a few pleasurable moments. "Please, just answer the question."

"You already know the answer Sweetie," she told him softly. "Now, since you're not interested in snogging me here I suggest we get this over with." Grabbing his hand she led him gently but firmly back to the living room.

The Doctor frowned, not sure what had just happened. He already knew the answer. As he stood and listened to a perfect stranger talk about commitment and love and family values – things the Doctor had experienced with the woman beside him in ways no one in the room could possibly understand – the truth came to him in a blinding flash. He did know the answer.

River didn't want to be in a wedding with him but she did want to be married to him. The wedding was just the surface – the wrapping. The real gift was their partnership, for which they were both more than willing participants. He grinned, very pleased with himself for working it out on his own.

"I get it," he shifted closer to whisper in her ear, ignoring the celebrant entirely.

"Very good dear," she whispered back. "Try not to be so dense in the future."

"I'll -, he began, stopping when the celebrant cleared her throat pointedly. "Sorry," he muttered, taking a deep breath and trying to focus on what she was saying. He didn't mind some of it – the words they had to repeat to each other were on the sappy side and clichéd as hell and not how he'd have put it, but the sentiment was kind of nice. The signing had been interesting, the two names feeling disconnected from their true selves. Here, he was John Smith and she was Melody Pond. Since neither of them had been born on Earth, and neither of them had a birth certificate, two things Amy and Rory would have been well aware of when they were organising everything, the Doctor could only conclude that it didn't matter.

When he and River were declared husband and wife and he was given permission to kiss her – as if he ever needed permission to kiss River Song! - he couldn't deny the little thrill he felt.

"Mrs Doctor," he greeted her in a low tone, bending to kiss her again.

"Mr Song," she smiled back.

"That wasn't so bad," he murmured as they turned to face their audience for the requisite applause. "Some of it was even appealing."

"Appealing?" River repeated, eyeing him curiously.

"You're mine River Song, by Gallifreyan custom and now, by Earth law as well," he pointed out smugly. "Call me possessive but I'm suddenly thinking about how many other ways there are for me to claim you. Did I ever tell you about Riven Five? They take life partners at a specific age and then never again. If one partner is killed the other dies as well – no choice, it's a biological thing. Their ceremony lasts for two days but I hear it's rather enjoyable." He turned to his wife with a teasing smile. "What do you say? Want to tie the knot Riven Five style?"

"I hate you," she muttered crossly.

"No you don't," he returned fondly, unable to resist pulling her in for just one more kiss.

"So, this is your wife then?"

The Doctor looked up from the couch he'd dragged River to as soon as they could break away from her family to see Donna Noble, with Lee standing shyly beside her.

"Yes," he reached for River's hand, grabbing her attention. "Melody, this is Donna Noble, and?" he waited to be introduced to the man he'd never met but knew very well from all the things Donna had told him. Well, told his tenth incarnation but that was practically the same thing.

"Oh," Donna blushed. "This is Lee McAvoy, my fiancée," she shifted her hand just so on Lee's arm so the diamond she was sporting gleamed.

"Look what going just around the corner brought you," the Doctor teased, smiling, delighted that his and River's efforts had been so successful. Of course it wasn't really down to them. Lee had been more than willing to be reunited with Donna when River went to meet him on his home planet. He'd understood the risks to Donna if he ever revealed that pretend life they'd shared or anything about River or the TARDIS or time travel. Although it meant a life of lying to her, he knew it was to save her life and he clearly loved her enough to sacrifice everything from his old life to be with her.

"I know, crazy isn't it," Donna retorted with a laugh.

"It's nice to meet you," the Doctor offered Lee a hand, shaking it firmly. "Congratulations on your good sense."

"Th-thank you," Lee said, barely stuttering. Donna smiled proudly before turning back to the Doctor.

"There's one thing I don't get," she said. "This is your wedding, yeah, but we met over a year ago."

"And I told you I was looking for something for my wife," he finished.

Donna nodded. "That was a lie, wasn't it, because it's not possible that you were married then but only having a wedding now. I mean, not unless time travel is possible." She laughed uproariously, not noticing that no one really joined in.

"When you meet the right one you just know," the Doctor said simple, knowing that Donna would understand. "She might not have been my wife in actuality back then but she was in spirit. For me that was pretty much the same thing."

"So you didn't do it to you know, let me down easy," Donna asked in a low tone.

"Of course not," the Doctor put a horrified look on. "Any man would be lucky to have you Donna Noble."

"I only need one," she gave Lee a meaningful look. He blushed but returned it – good on him.

"How is it you're here tonight Donna?" River broke in to ask, saving the Doctor from having to find out himself.

"Amy and I worked for the same temp agency for a while," Donna replied. "Of course Amy didn't stay but we hit it off so well we've been friends ever since. When she asked me to come to her friend's wedding I had no idea I'd already met the groom."

"Small world," the Doctor murmured, impressed with Amy's ingenuity. She'd known the story and she'd guessed that he'd want to assure himself everything with Donna really was going to be all right. She was the one companion of his he'd felt the most guilty about, because he'd had to take all her experiences away and even that wasn't enough to remove her from harm completely. It did his conscience wonders to see that Donna really was happier now – content like she hadn't been even when she'd been travelling with him.

"I know, right?" Donna laughed. "Oh my, we've been totally hogging your attention. I'm sure there are lots of other people here you'd rather be talking to."

"Can't think of one," the Doctor replied honestly.

"Get away, you charmer!" Donna shot River a woman to woman look. "Hold on to this one," she advised with a chuckle.

"Oh believe me, I intend to," River promised.

"I can't believe how nice it is to see you again," Donna admitted so openly. "I mean, we only met that one time but I feel like I've known you for ages."

"I get that a lot," the Doctor teased. He was happy Donna was doing well, but if he were being honest, a little sad as well. They'd had such great times together but he could never share those memories, never reminisce with her. Did it make him selfish that he wanted Donna to truly remember him?

Donna laughed, staying for a short while longer before she reluctantly let Lee drag her away.

"That was nice of Amy," the Doctor commented when she was gone.

"Yes," River agreed. "I've already spoken to her but I think it's your turn. You've left too much unsaid my love."

"I know," he sighed. "Do you think they're happy here, living their lives?"

"I think they will be," River replied. "You're a tough act to follow."

"Not just me," he insisted. "All of time and space … sexy fish vampires and blowing stuff up. That'd be hard for anything to beat." He hesitated for a moment. "Was it wrong, to take her with me for all that time?"

"Should we all be wary of that perfect day because no other day after can be its equal?" River asked in return. "Should we never strive to reach the pinnacle because it can only ever be downhill on the other side? Should we save our best day for our last instead of keeping it close to our hearts to enjoy in memories for as many days as we can?"

"Ah, River. Who made you so wise?" the Doctor touched a hand to her cheek, captivated by her beauty and her brain and as always by her heart.

"She did," River said simply.

It was only later that the Doctor thought to wonder which she River meant – the TARDIS or her mother, Amelia Pond.

"So, how was your first Earth wedding?" Amy threw herself down in the empty chair River had just vacated. The Doctor's wife twice over now was dancing with her father in the small area the Pond's had created for that purpose. The older guests had already gone home leaving only a small group left to continue celebrating. It was nice and he'd certainly enjoyed the dancing but it was even nicer to just sit down and collect his thoughts for a few moments.

"Better than my expectations," he admitted freely.

"Just how many times have you left a bride at the altar?" Amy asked curiously.

"None that counted," he insisted. "Usually it was all in fun. Just so we're clear, I never asked any of them to marry me. Some of them were actually quite frightening in their pursuit. You really should be feeling sorry for me."

"The Doctor, so unaware of his charms," Amy laughed softly.

"Is that really how you see me?" he asked, saddened.

"I used to," she admitted, "but no, that's not how I see you, not now that I really know you."

"Good, because I'm not the best catch, not by any means – don't tell River I said that because we don't want her coming to her senses, now do we?"

"I think you're safe there," Amy said gently. "And you underestimate yourself. You took Donna's memories away from her and yet she still remembers something – enough that she felt dissatisfied with her life before she met Lee."

"And you, do you feel dissatisfied with your life?" he had to ask.

"Sometimes," Amy sighed. "It's hard to contain yourself to one planet and one timeline when you've had all of space and time as your playground."

"Oh Amy … Amelia Pond. I'm so sorry," the Doctor apologised insistently.

"Don't," Amy put her hand over his. "You've got nothing to apologise for, you hear? Yes, the contrast isn't the best, but only because I know what's out there. I wouldn't give back that knowledge for anything. I wouldn't give back Rory either – I know how much I love his stupid face now but I don't know if I'd have realised, staying here and just living my life. It's more than likely I'd have messed it up and never known just what I'd missed out on."

"And yet you're not happy," the Doctor commented. "I wish there was something I could do to help you adjust."

"I can't have more children," Amy swallowed, her eyes shimmering as she forced back tears. "Rory and I are fine now but it tested us. I just need time to accept it, you know?"

"I know," the Doctor replied. "I can take you anywhere, any when, to see if there's a way to undo what Madam Kovarian did to you. How about the Sisters? They helped River," he added, going on to fill Amy in on the last of the damage they'd discovered had been done.

"The Sisters?" Amy pondered. "I don't want to get my hopes up – or Rory's either – but if they couldn't do anything then I'd know for sure, right?"

"You would," the Doctor agreed. The Sisters were the best there was. If they didn't have the expertise then no one would.

"And then we'd deal with it," Amy concluded. She smiled. "Then yes, I'd like to go and see the Sisters."

"We'll go tomorrow," the Doctor promised, relieved that there was finally something he could do to help.

They sat together in companionable silence, watching Rory and River dancing and laughing together. It was almost like old time, two friends with very few cares, experiencing life as it moved right in front of them.

"She died, didn't she?" Amy asked suddenly.

The Doctor didn't pretend he didn't understand what she meant. "Yes," he admitted, his voice stark.

"Tell me," Amy insisted.

"It was the day I met her – her last day, my first," the Doctor began. "I didn't know her Amy but she knew me. It wasn't even me – not this me," he gestured to himself, "but the way she behaved, I couldn't doubt that in the future she had an important place in my life."

"She knew your name," Amy smiled.

"Yes and she scared the pants off me by proving it. I don't think I've ever been that shocked."

"What happened?"

"The Vashta Nerada, at The Library," the Doctor revealed.

"The Shadows?" Amy gasped.

"They came at us in force. I was able to strike a deal but in order for us to get everybody off that planet one of us needed to hook up to the database. There wasn't enough memory."

"She knocked you out, didn't she?" Amy laughed.

"She really is your daughter," the Doctor smiled before his expression turned serious again. "You would have been so proud Amy. She took my place with so much certainty – never a moment's hesitation, no doubts. She was brilliant … and then she was just gone."

"But you saved her," Amy reminded him.

"You'd think so," he shook his head. "In that version of events my future self sent her there with my sonic screwdriver and the hope the younger version of me would know what to do at the end. It seems the best I could come up with was to save her in a virtual world – she'd survive but only there, never in reality."

"Oh," Amy frowned. "I don't think she'd have liked that."

"Thank you!" the Doctor hugged her quickly before continuing the story. "I didn't think so either, but that wasn't the reason I went so much further this time. It was all for me Amy. She would have been locked away from us forever. I don't think I'd have cared even if I had proof that River was happy in that pretend world. I wasn't going to be happy without her. I just … I couldn't let that happen."

"You might have saved her for your own selfish reasons," Amy smiled when he gave her a pained look, "but you saved her for us in the process. Thank you," she leaned in and kissed his cheek. "Thank you for saving my only child."

"You're welcome."

"So that's why we went to The Library, and then to the other one? So you could practice on those shadow creatures?" Amy asked curiously.

"I needed a way to hold them off. You see, River forbade me rewriting time and taking her place because it would mean she'd never meet me – none of her memories of me would happen. I had to save her without altering any of those events and the only way I could do that was from inside the systems there."

"Was she mad?"

"Yeah, a little .. well, no, it was a lot, at first," the Doctor admitted. "Until I reminded her of all the crazy things she'd done to save me. I think we're about even now."

"You make her happy," Amy smiled as Rory dipped River and then brought her back up, both laughing madly. "She makes you happy."

"She does," the Doctor agreed. "I'll bring her to visit more often," he promised suddenly.

"Yes you will," Amy replied sternly.

"So, do I get to call you Mum now?" he asked a few moments later.

"Not unless you're sick of that look and want a new one," Amy replied sweetly.

"Are you putting the fear into my husband?" River returned, wrapping her arms around him from behind and leaning down to kiss his cheek. "Because if so I'm going to have to do something. I quite like him just the way he is."

"You can't seriously like that bow tie? And the tweed? Nobody likes tweed." Amy teased back.

"I'll have you know this is infinity tweed," the Doctor said. "Insult away – I shall be impervious to all your petty verbal barbs."

"Infinity tweed?" Rory queried.

"It's the same as regular tweed but with the word infinity in front of it," River explained.

"Hey, don't give away all my secrets," the Doctor protested.

"They're our secret now," River reminded him.

"That they are," the Doctor grinned. "Shall we fill your parents in on the plans for our next wedding?"

"Next wedding?" Amy honed in immediately. "What wedding? River, is there something you're not telling me?"

"No, unless you count a rundown on all the ways I'm going to make your son-in-law pay for that," River narrowed her eyes at her husband warningly.

"Right, so maybe we'll hold off on those plans for now," the Doctor said evasively. "Still plenty of time for that. I think it's time we retired for the night Mrs Doctor. We have places to go, people to see, tomorrow."

"The Sisters," Amy said. "I'll tell you about it tomorrow," she added.

River smiled. "I'll look forward to that," she put a hand over Amy's. "Thank you for tonight mother, father."

"Thanks for going along with it," Amy replied. "I know it wasn't your idea or even something you wanted."

"There were parts that were very appealing," River smiled slyly at the Doctor.

"I'm not even going to ask which parts they would be," Amy laughed when the Doctor shifted awkwardly in his chair. "Look at you, getting all embarrassed. Anyone would think you were as young as you look."

The Doctor decided enough was enough – once Amy and River got going they'd skewer him with their earthy wit and total lack of regard for his dignity. Jumping to his feet he grabbed his wife, showing off his Time Lord enhanced strength as he lifted her over his shoulder in a fireman's hold, effortlessly containing her attempts to break free.

"Amy, Rory, as usual, an excellent visit," he announced unhurriedly as though he didn't have a struggling woman in his arms. "We'll see you soon – much sooner this time, I promise."

Rory nodded, his expression pained as he tried not to think about what the Doctor and his daughter were in all likelihood about to do.

"Don't enjoy your wedding night too much!" Amy shouted after them, not a single bone of restraint in her body.

"Oh God, don't put that image in my head," Rory protested, putting his hands over his eyes as if that would help.

"Oh, pipe down," she smacked his shoulder lightly. "There's no point in pretending we don't know what they get up to out there together. Especially since we got up to the very same thing when we lived in the TARDIS."

"When is everybody leaving," Rory was suddenly filled with the intent of showing his wife that you didn't need a magic box that was bigger on the inside than on the outside to get up to mischief.

Amy read him like the open book he was with her. "Oi you lot," she called out. "You're all welcome to stay as long as you like. I need to take my husband away and remind him of why he married me." She grabbed Rory's hand and tugged insistently, ignoring his blushes and the laughter around them.

It wasn't adventures in all of time and space but it was hers and it was special. With any luck the Sisters would be able to help them add to what was theirs, and make it even more special.

"Put me down you clumsy oaf," River demanded, smacking at him wherever she could reached which seemed mostly to be his arse. She packed quite the punch so it was lucky he could withstand a great deal of punishment without outward damage.

"Clumsy oaf?" he repeated incredulously as he clicked his fingers at the TARDIS door, walking swiftly inside. "I was going to let you go but for that," he added, keeping hold of her as he made his way around the console, setting the time machine in motion. Once they were on their way again he slowly lowered River until her feet touched the ground in front of him, crowding her into the railing with his arms so she couldn't escape. They were very close – he could see the angry humour in her eyes and hoped she'd see the serious intent in his.

"My, aren't we all macho and serious all of a sudden," River almost purred. "I like it."

"That's good," he eyed her for a moment, plotting his next course of action and how best to achieve what he wanted. "It occurs to me, wife, that alignment is something not to be scoffed at."

"Alignment," River shifted until she had then 'lined up' in the physical sense very well indeed. He gulped and she smiled, well pleased with herself as she pushed up against him. "Is that what we're calling it now?"

"Say yes," he commanded abruptly.

"Yes?" she frowned, confused.

"Good enough," the Doctor put his hands on her shoulders and pressed his forehead firmly to hers. His mind invaded hers, meeting no resistance as he drew her along with him. They remained as they were physically but that was background to the world around them that seemed just as real.

"Are we …?" she looked around the room they were in curiously.

"This was my home, on Gallifrey," he offered, glancing around himself. He'd taken her to his memories of where he'd lived, specifically his bedroom as he'd been growing up. It was a time full of possibilities and frustrations as he'd joined the Prydonian chapter and become increasing disenchanted with Rassilon's rule. The clutter reflected the narrowness of his concerns back then. If he'd had someone like River here when he'd been that age he'd have probably hidden in the closet because hell, he'd have had no idea what to do with her. "We're not here for a tour," he admitted, returning his attention to her.

"Oh," River smiled slyly, as she looked behind him to where his bed dominated the middle of the room. "Are you going to ravish me then?"

"I was thinking about alignment and I realised something. Our first wedding was traditional to Gallifrey but our wedding night, when we eventually got around to it, was very much not," he pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her as he bent his head to rest against her neck.

"And now you want to do the reverse?" River shivered as he pressed kisses to her neck.

"It would be fitting," he shifted to look down at her, "that is, if you're willing."

"Oh sweetie, I'm always willing when it comes to you," River laughed throatily.

"You are, for which I think you dearly," the Doctor ran his hands up and down her back, pulling her as close to him as they could get.

"So tell me, my love, how a Gallifreyan wedding night differs from our last one," she invited.

"Well, they don't, as such, differ all that much," he admitted, "aside from all of this taking place telepathically of course."

"Will I get the same rush I did when you proposed?" River was suddenly keenly interested in the proceedings.

The Doctor laughed. "Yes, although it should be quite a bit more powerful."

"Then have at me Doctor," she invited eagerly.

"Oh River, my bad, bad girl," he praised. Done with words for the time being he kissed her deeply even as he danced them slowly across the room. When his legs hit the bed he let himself fall, taking her with him to land gently on top of him.

"This brings back memories," she teased, smiling down at him.

"Ah, the day of the Byzantium," he reminisced. "I think I'd fooled myself into believing The Library was some kind of aberration, that I'd never see you again."

"Until you opened your door just in time to catch me," River replied.

"Even then I liked it all a little too much," he admitted. "Everything about you was a scary prospect River but there was always a part of me that wanted what you represented."

"I know," River agreed. "It was a shock for me, to see you so soon after your regeneration. So young and so suspicious."

"We're Gallifreyan my dear," he reminded her. "Suspicion … no, paranoia, is our religion."

She laughed. "Not any more, my love," she reminded him that they were all that remained of Gallifrey and partners in every sense of the word now. "Now, much as I love to talk, I think you promised me a ravishing. It's time to pay up."

"I am a man of my word," he murmured, rolling suddenly until she was under him. It was true that everything inside the telepathic link of two Gallifreyans felt as real as the real world but inside that construct there was a freedom and openness that couldn't be achieved so easily in reality. He could get rid of the barriers between them with mental ease instead of clumsy fumbling, until they were bared to each other. They were literally sharing their minds and it didn't get any more intimate than that. It meant that he knew what she wanted and he understood how to give it to her. Of course that freedom and openness also meant that she saw too easily how to drive him crazy and seemed to take great delight in doing so.

When they came together it was more powerful than he'd expected – what could only be described as a mental orgasm of epic proportions ripped through them both with such force that he lost himself completely, unable to hold on to their telepathic link.

When he came back to himself he had River pressed up against the wall beside the console, his hands still on her shoulders, his weight pressing into her, both of them panting like they'd just run a marathon. Without the wall for support he had no doubt they'd have both ended up on the floor.

River was so quiet at first he thought maybe it had been too much for her. Then she looked up at him and her face was such a picture of contentment and love, sexy as hell, and he wished he had the talent of Vincent so he could capture the moment for all time.

"Well, I hope that's not something we'll be saving just for the special occasions," she announced, her voice all rough and deep. "Sweetie, I'd marry you every day if that's the way it would end."

"Plenty of other planets out there," he reminded her, laughing weakly. "Just give me a moment to catch my breath."

She laughed too, reaching up and wrapping her arms around his neck. "All that and neither of us with a stitch of clothing out of place. Aren't we clever?" she rested her head against his chest for a moment and then looked up at him again. "Perhaps you should kiss me now … before the effects wear off."

He knew what she meant. The link was broken but the echo was still there – he was feeling his own returning interest along with hers. He hadn't been joking though – he might be a Time Lord with increased stamina and strength and all the rest of it, but still he needed some recovery time.

"Bedroom," he insisted, making himself move away from her long enough to gather her under his arm and steer them towards the corridor. When they got there he gratefully collapsed onto its soft surface, tugging River down beside him and sighing with contentment.

They remained like that for a few moments before he decided rest was overrated, rolling so that he could loom over his wife.

"So," he murmured intently.

"So," she returned teasingly.

"These wedding nights are a lot more beneficial than I would have guessed. If I'd known what I was missing …," he trailed off teasingly, alluding to his previous escapes in that area.

"Don't even think about it Sweetie," River warned. "I still have my gun and I know how to use it."

"Oh I know," he returned, "and I have to say you look very fetching when doing so."

She laughed, reaching up to tug at his bow tie. He let her claim it and his tweed too, enjoying her attentions until she had his shirt off and her hands were running up his chest. His hearts were pumping and he was all for evening up their state of undress when the truth dawned on him. He really did want to marry her over and over again. Wedding nights were seriously cool. How could he only be discovering that fact now?

"I wasn't joking about Riven Five," he muttered, resting his forehead against hers.

"Oh shut up and kiss me you fool," River replied, laughing.

The End