Manhattan seemed like such a long time ago. River had stayed with the Doctor for about a week, and since Amy and Rory's departure, he hadn't said a word.

He'd locked away all the fish fingers and all the custard, along with the apples, yogurt and bacon - anything that reminded him of them. It was as if the Ponds never left - as if the Ponds never existed.

River had stayed behind just to make sure he wouldn't do anything rash, as the Doctor was prone to do. But now, she had to go - time was catching up, and she needed to leave him. He would be fine, she told herself. He would find another companion, and he would find her again soon enough.

Just after she finished packing up and was ready to go, she heard a faint voice.

"River, never leave. Never leave me."

Surprised, she looked back and was greeted by the scraggly Doctor, standing on the deck. Even battered and miserable, he never looked more like a child.

"Oh, my love, you know that I can't stay with you. You know that I can't just stop traveling, just stop time."

"You are my wife! You can't just go off on your own! What if something happens to you? What if I never see you again?"

"Now, sweetie, you know that would never happen. You're just trying to make me fill up the void Amy and Rory left in your heart, but that won't help you. You need time. Time, and love."

Inside, River's heart broke. What she was saying was true, but she couldn't help but wonder: how can time heal a Timelord?

"No, I need you."

"I couldn't bear if you, if you left now. Don't go, River. Stay here, stay with me in the TARDIS, we can travel together - don't go. Not yet."

River's eyes brimmed with tears. Looking towards the Doctor again, she saw a thousand years worth of anguish and pain on a twelve-year old's face.

"Doctor, you know I can't. You know that we weren't meant to be together forever, whatever forever means - after all, there can't be two psychopaths in this tiny box." She smiled ruefully, slowly making her way back to the door of the TARDIS.

"But, River… I need you - I… I love you so much. I want to do what's right, but River - Melody, please, not tonight."

River turned back and, against her better judgement, ran to the Doctor and he caught her in a tight embrace. There they stood, her head against his shoulder, his arms wrapped around her body. He buried his nose into her wild, blonde curls and breathed her in slowly - she buried herself into him snugly and tightly, breathing in the scent of his tweed jacket.

"Sweetie, I just want you to know, I don't blame you. I'd never blame you for… for what happened. Know that I love you, and nothing, not the sun or the stars could keep me from finding you again. "

The tears were flowing heavily now, but the Doctor only noticed when he felt her trembling against his firm arms.

"River…"

"I'm fine, really. I'm fine. I'm just thinking about Amy, I mean, my mother, and Rory… I hope they were happy."

"You're not fine, River, but that's… that's fine. We're broken, River, but we're not beyond repair. Amy had Rory, and Rory had Amy - I have you and you have me and that's… that's all we could've ever hoped for. I love you so much, River, and you know what? I believe our forevers do go together. Believe me, River - Believe me, Melody."

She raised her head and met his lips gently. He slowly led her to an old couch, and they sat down, still intertwined.

"I do, husband. Believe me, I do."

And they fell asleep, breathing as one.