fic
Title: Eyes wide open
Pairing: Ten/River Song
Spoilers: Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead, and reference to most of the new series.
Rating: Fluffy U, methinks.
Disclaimer: Not my characters, as I'm sure you know.
Description: A short guess about the Doctor and River Song meeting again and how it pans out.
~~~
The woman turned, curls bouncing, and a broad, knowing smile parted her pretty lips.
"Professor River Song. Pleased to meet you." She stuck out a confident hand. The Doctor stood, stock still, for a moment too long, his eyes suddenly fixed on the face of the woman before him.
"It's not dangerous." She said, in mock conspiratorial tones, nodding down at her hand.
"What? Oh yes, no, right, I was just, well. Hello." He finally smiled, taking her hand with both of his and shaking it with emphasis.
"And you are?" She laughed.
"I'm the Doctor."
"Oh yes? Doctor who?"
~~~
A great sweep of blue spread out before them, picked out in places by the reflection of purple clouds. No breathable atmosphere, of course, but they were perfectly safe stood in the open TARDIS door. Graston 2's chemical composition, and the enormous heat when it was formed, created the glass plains that were it's most famous feature.
"It's like a planet-sized glass paperweight. It's so beautiful." River said, leaning her head against the door frame of the TARDIS.
"Isn't it just?" The Doctor said quietly, his tone slightly awed. River looked up at him, and he was turned fully to face her, taking no notice of the scene outside. He'd seen it before, of course, but there was that look in his eyes now that he seemed to keep for moments like this, when they were alone.
She'd noticed it the very first time they met - a distant look, at the same time bracingly intimate. She caught him looking at her often in that initial adventure, and wondered what to say when he invited her to come with him in his impossible machine.
She couldn't resist in the end, and hadn't really considered not going with him. But still, a small question lingered. Why does he look at me like that?
Here, in the purple glow of the glass plains, wind further dishevelling his hair, she realized she still didn't know that answer.
~~~
"I know, I know - run!" She laughed, breathlessly, grasping his hand. The hordes of carnivorous rabbits behind them kept up with surprising ease, and the Doctor had to kick up the heels of his converse more than once to escape a nasty nibble.
The TARDIS loomed up before them on the plain and there was no time to lose. The Doctor threw up his right hand and clicked his fingers, the door flying open as they reached it and fell headlong inside. He clicked again and the door closed as he and River gasped for breath in between helpless giggles.
"You don't think you were a bit cheeky.. calling that...park ranger 'Tim the Enchanter'?" He laughed. Her eyes danced with mischief.
"No cheekier than you! 'Viscious wee beastie' indeed!"
They were lying prone on the inner gangway floor, their bodies still singing from the exertion of running. After a moment, the giggles subsided and they recovered even breathing.
River lay on her back, curls spraying around her head like a golden brown halo. The Doctor propped himself on his side and watched her - the rise and fall of her chest, the blush of exercise on her face.
There was still so much in flux. He knew the tantalizing spoilers, knew he could make sure that they happened somehow, but he didn't have a clue that he would be capable of such affection.
So many losses over time, so many times to avoid the goodbye. He had wanted to shut his hearts away forever, because that was safety in his permamently unsafe world. The Time Lords, every last one, gone. Reinette, burnt out like a shooting star, and even Astrid, literally stardust now. Rose, dear precious Rose, lost to him forever. And Donna. He couldn't bring himself to dwell on it. He had to witness so much pain and death and he hated it so much, he needed that safety.
But River caught him by surprise - perhaps because she was in plain sight. He saw it coming, end from the beginning, so she slipped under the radar. He didn't have to see her die. Not ever again. The only things left for him were the good times, and it was the most exquisite feeling. He had grieved already and so, without even realizing it and despite being dispassionately aware of the time loops he had to close, he fell in love with her almost like he had tripped over.
He reached over and toyed with one of her curls. She shifted her gaze, her eyes meeting his, blue, teasing, intelligent eyes.
"Are you flirting with me?" She asked him, with a throaty chuckle.
"Maybe." He said, his mouth twisting up in a wry smile.
"It's about time." She replied.
~~~
Pairing: Ten/River Song
Spoilers: Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead, and reference to most of the new series.
Rating: Fluffy U, methinks.
Disclaimer: Not my characters, as I'm sure you know.
Description: A short guess about the Doctor and River Song meeting again and how it pans out.
~~~
The woman turned, curls bouncing, and a broad, knowing smile parted her pretty lips.
"Professor River Song. Pleased to meet you." She stuck out a confident hand. The Doctor stood, stock still, for a moment too long, his eyes suddenly fixed on the face of the woman before him.
"It's not dangerous." She said, in mock conspiratorial tones, nodding down at her hand.
"What? Oh yes, no, right, I was just, well. Hello." He finally smiled, taking her hand with both of his and shaking it with emphasis.
"And you are?" She laughed.
"I'm the Doctor."
"Oh yes? Doctor who?"
~~~
A great sweep of blue spread out before them, picked out in places by the reflection of purple clouds. No breathable atmosphere, of course, but they were perfectly safe stood in the open TARDIS door. Graston 2's chemical composition, and the enormous heat when it was formed, created the glass plains that were it's most famous feature.
"It's like a planet-sized glass paperweight. It's so beautiful." River said, leaning her head against the door frame of the TARDIS.
"Isn't it just?" The Doctor said quietly, his tone slightly awed. River looked up at him, and he was turned fully to face her, taking no notice of the scene outside. He'd seen it before, of course, but there was that look in his eyes now that he seemed to keep for moments like this, when they were alone.
She'd noticed it the very first time they met - a distant look, at the same time bracingly intimate. She caught him looking at her often in that initial adventure, and wondered what to say when he invited her to come with him in his impossible machine.
She couldn't resist in the end, and hadn't really considered not going with him. But still, a small question lingered. Why does he look at me like that?
Here, in the purple glow of the glass plains, wind further dishevelling his hair, she realized she still didn't know that answer.
~~~
"I know, I know - run!" She laughed, breathlessly, grasping his hand. The hordes of carnivorous rabbits behind them kept up with surprising ease, and the Doctor had to kick up the heels of his converse more than once to escape a nasty nibble.
The TARDIS loomed up before them on the plain and there was no time to lose. The Doctor threw up his right hand and clicked his fingers, the door flying open as they reached it and fell headlong inside. He clicked again and the door closed as he and River gasped for breath in between helpless giggles.
"You don't think you were a bit cheeky.. calling that...park ranger 'Tim the Enchanter'?" He laughed. Her eyes danced with mischief.
"No cheekier than you! 'Viscious wee beastie' indeed!"
They were lying prone on the inner gangway floor, their bodies still singing from the exertion of running. After a moment, the giggles subsided and they recovered even breathing.
River lay on her back, curls spraying around her head like a golden brown halo. The Doctor propped himself on his side and watched her - the rise and fall of her chest, the blush of exercise on her face.
There was still so much in flux. He knew the tantalizing spoilers, knew he could make sure that they happened somehow, but he didn't have a clue that he would be capable of such affection.
So many losses over time, so many times to avoid the goodbye. He had wanted to shut his hearts away forever, because that was safety in his permamently unsafe world. The Time Lords, every last one, gone. Reinette, burnt out like a shooting star, and even Astrid, literally stardust now. Rose, dear precious Rose, lost to him forever. And Donna. He couldn't bring himself to dwell on it. He had to witness so much pain and death and he hated it so much, he needed that safety.
But River caught him by surprise - perhaps because she was in plain sight. He saw it coming, end from the beginning, so she slipped under the radar. He didn't have to see her die. Not ever again. The only things left for him were the good times, and it was the most exquisite feeling. He had grieved already and so, without even realizing it and despite being dispassionately aware of the time loops he had to close, he fell in love with her almost like he had tripped over.
He reached over and toyed with one of her curls. She shifted her gaze, her eyes meeting his, blue, teasing, intelligent eyes.
"Are you flirting with me?" She asked him, with a throaty chuckle.
"Maybe." He said, his mouth twisting up in a wry smile.
"It's about time." She replied.
~~~