29) So Young
A/N- An introspection- Part 1 of River from Time of the Angels. All quotes property of Steven Moffat and the BBC. Please Review.
Oh, she’d stumbled upon very young versions of them, River could tell. Literally she tumbled into them, well, him anyway.Her mother’s short skirt- she remembered the style well. The Doctor’s fresh 10- year- old face- he hadn’t even grown into looking like a 12- year- old yet. And oh, that jealous little fit her mummy had just thrown, arms crossed, face in a pout when River had landed in her husband’s arms. Yes, very young indeed. This must be before even her father was travelling with them. Still, no matter- she always enjoyed unsettling a young Doctor. A young Doctor and a young Amy was like winning a prize (at this point, it was either mourn her timey- wimey fate or enjoy their various stages, and River Song was not a great fan of pity parties- well, public ones anyway).
She guessed this was extremely early in his time stream, based on how unsettled he seemed when she landed in his grasp. Still, she was the first to let go. It’s the little victories. But, she didn’t want to give him a heartsattack. She stood up, trying not to chuckle at her mother’s possessiveness, focusing instead on her mission.
She decided not to mind that this seemed to be the first time he’d seen her fly the old girl. Or that he had no idea what the stabilizers were- there was no deliberate ignoring them, he genuinely didn’t know. Instead, she chose to toy with the man who believed he understood everything. Because no matter his age, she was the only woman who could wind him up quite like this. Look at me now, Mum.
She both relished the jealous, aggravated look of the young Doctor and the awed expression of Amy. She decided to go full- out for her very young best friend/ parent, using much more complicated language than strictly necessary as she easily guided them to a stop, pushing the final button with a flourish as her mother looked on, impressed. She couldn’t help it. So rarely had she the opportunity to show off for her parents, especially with her magnificent husband nearby, (well, it may not be rare, but it certainly wasn’t enough for her liking) and though she would have had much more satisfaction if Rory had been around as well, she was plenty excited to lift her chin proudly as she amazed her mother again and again. Even the annoyed expression on her very young future husband’s face couldn’t dampen her smile as she smugly announced to Amy that she had successfully piloted them to their destination.
Oh, that man. How dare he second guess her in her moment of triumph? She condescendingly announced her feat once more, just so Amy would know her daughter was an equal match for the amazing Time Lord both of them so admired- even if she didn’t know her identity quite yet. Then she suppressed an eye roll and a chuckle as her spouse imitated the poor TARDIS’ brake noise that had frustrated her since the day of her birth, telling him something he should’ve known long ago- that his “brilliant noise” was wrong. She had to admit, seeing Amy in agreement with her as they both looked reproachfully at the Doctor was almost worth seeing a him who would now call for his companion before his (future- she reminded herself once more) wife.
River loved playing these games with them. The mysterious woman who made spectacular entrances and exits, in exotic outfits and killer shoes. She had even finally re-accustomed herself to calling her mother by her name and not her title. She knew the rules and the man who’d made them- and had finally learned to keep her physical affections to a minimum, her spoilers as well- guarded as his once were.
He was always so much fun to play with this young, her mother so easy to amaze. She tried to remember what Amy had told her- when she saw her as no more than her best friend- about her early days with the Doctor. It was centuries ago, but she seemed to recall Amy’s tales of the first planet she’d gone to, where she’d met a beautiful archeologist time- traveler who knew how to keep the Doctor in his place like no one else (why, thank you Mummy). That must mean this was her first trip on a different planet. River only hoped it lived up to Amy’s expectations. The one thing that threw her, just for a moment, was how unfamiliar her mother was with her. Surely they’d met before- even as River and Amy?
Before she had time to process this that wonderful idiot turned and called her mother to go out onto an unknown planet in an unknown time for an unknown reason. There was absolutely no way River Song would allow him to endanger one of her parents so recklessly, especially before she herself was born.
“No. Wait. Environment checks,” she demanded firmly. Not something she normally bothered with when she and he were together, but she couldn’t risk the life of the young ginger beside her, and hopefully, with a little prompting and reminding, neither would the Doctor.
She heard the sarcasm in his voice, but continued with her work, ensuring her existence as well as her best friend’s safety. He’d been challenging her since the stabilizers incident. Well, then.
“Nice out,” he said.
“We’re somewhere in the Garn Belt,” she countered. He interrupted her next sentence, offering up the same information she had pulled up on the screen. She really shouldn’t be impressed, but-oh, she loved that man.
“And…” he stuck his head out the door, “chances of rain later.”
Oh, she hated that man.
She rolled her eyes as she complained to her mum about her other half. Amy was still impressed with River, who was now annoyed that her husband had shown her up in front of her mother. Hundreds of years had gone by since Leadworth, but Amy was still hers. She had learned and had grown from finally sharing her with Rory, a mutually beneficial arrangement since it meant she had a father- daughter relationship and he was allowed to finally get close to the woman who’d become his wife, but now the Doctor was actually competing with her over her own mother. That was completely unacceptable- especially when he seemed so far from her. She couldn’t have her husband as such, but she would be less than a Pond if she didn’t cling onto her mother with everything in her.
The easiest way to do this, of course, was to wipe that smug look off her love’s face, replacing it with one of her own.
“It’s a shame you were busy that day,” she didn’t even spare him a glance as she teased him, satisfied at how Amy had chosen to cling to her side and not the Doctor’s. She picked up her shoes and primly made for the doors, sparing him a flirtatious walk as he glacially began to ease into their banter. Ooh, but there was a reason she loved every him she got. His matter- of- fact knowledge of everything that was happening. His childlike glee at the start of a new adventure even if it came from tragedy. Even that arrogant smile he wore when he knew he’d won their game. She never could decide if she wanted more to slap him or kiss him.
Then he slammed the doors behind her- which hurt, deeper than a physical pain would. But, she didn’t even bother with worrying.
Training, brainwashing, overcoming, and prison, as well as the love and forgiveness of a good man had all had their share in forming her, but there were so many traits River Song knew she’d inherited directly from the woman on the other side of those doors. A woman who always managed to make her way to her side, whenever she had needed her her entire life. Who had come with a Doctor who, like always, had come for her, but who for the first time ever was literally trying to run away from her. Oh yes, she needed her mummy so very much right now.
And since she knew her mother very well, and knew her own curiosity, stubbornness, and ability to sway the Doctor were qualities she shared and received from said redhead, she simply stood and looked at the wreckage of the ship that was once the Byzantium, waiting for her family to join her by her side once more.
Oh, she’d stumbled upon very young versions of them, River could tell. Literally she tumbled into them, well, him anyway.Her mother’s short skirt- she remembered the style well. The Doctor’s fresh 10- year- old face- he hadn’t even grown into looking like a 12- year- old yet. And oh, that jealous little fit her mummy had just thrown, arms crossed, face in a pout when River had landed in her husband’s arms. Yes, very young indeed. This must be before even her father was travelling with them. Still, no matter- she always enjoyed unsettling a young Doctor. A young Doctor and a young Amy was like winning a prize (at this point, it was either mourn her timey- wimey fate or enjoy their various stages, and River Song was not a great fan of pity parties- well, public ones anyway).
She guessed this was extremely early in his time stream, based on how unsettled he seemed when she landed in his grasp. Still, she was the first to let go. It’s the little victories. But, she didn’t want to give him a heartsattack. She stood up, trying not to chuckle at her mother’s possessiveness, focusing instead on her mission.
She decided not to mind that this seemed to be the first time he’d seen her fly the old girl. Or that he had no idea what the stabilizers were- there was no deliberate ignoring them, he genuinely didn’t know. Instead, she chose to toy with the man who believed he understood everything. Because no matter his age, she was the only woman who could wind him up quite like this. Look at me now, Mum.
She both relished the jealous, aggravated look of the young Doctor and the awed expression of Amy. She decided to go full- out for her very young best friend/ parent, using much more complicated language than strictly necessary as she easily guided them to a stop, pushing the final button with a flourish as her mother looked on, impressed. She couldn’t help it. So rarely had she the opportunity to show off for her parents, especially with her magnificent husband nearby, (well, it may not be rare, but it certainly wasn’t enough for her liking) and though she would have had much more satisfaction if Rory had been around as well, she was plenty excited to lift her chin proudly as she amazed her mother again and again. Even the annoyed expression on her very young future husband’s face couldn’t dampen her smile as she smugly announced to Amy that she had successfully piloted them to their destination.
Oh, that man. How dare he second guess her in her moment of triumph? She condescendingly announced her feat once more, just so Amy would know her daughter was an equal match for the amazing Time Lord both of them so admired- even if she didn’t know her identity quite yet. Then she suppressed an eye roll and a chuckle as her spouse imitated the poor TARDIS’ brake noise that had frustrated her since the day of her birth, telling him something he should’ve known long ago- that his “brilliant noise” was wrong. She had to admit, seeing Amy in agreement with her as they both looked reproachfully at the Doctor was almost worth seeing a him who would now call for his companion before his (future- she reminded herself once more) wife.
River loved playing these games with them. The mysterious woman who made spectacular entrances and exits, in exotic outfits and killer shoes. She had even finally re-accustomed herself to calling her mother by her name and not her title. She knew the rules and the man who’d made them- and had finally learned to keep her physical affections to a minimum, her spoilers as well- guarded as his once were.
He was always so much fun to play with this young, her mother so easy to amaze. She tried to remember what Amy had told her- when she saw her as no more than her best friend- about her early days with the Doctor. It was centuries ago, but she seemed to recall Amy’s tales of the first planet she’d gone to, where she’d met a beautiful archeologist time- traveler who knew how to keep the Doctor in his place like no one else (why, thank you Mummy). That must mean this was her first trip on a different planet. River only hoped it lived up to Amy’s expectations. The one thing that threw her, just for a moment, was how unfamiliar her mother was with her. Surely they’d met before- even as River and Amy?
Before she had time to process this that wonderful idiot turned and called her mother to go out onto an unknown planet in an unknown time for an unknown reason. There was absolutely no way River Song would allow him to endanger one of her parents so recklessly, especially before she herself was born.
“No. Wait. Environment checks,” she demanded firmly. Not something she normally bothered with when she and he were together, but she couldn’t risk the life of the young ginger beside her, and hopefully, with a little prompting and reminding, neither would the Doctor.
She heard the sarcasm in his voice, but continued with her work, ensuring her existence as well as her best friend’s safety. He’d been challenging her since the stabilizers incident. Well, then.
“Nice out,” he said.
“We’re somewhere in the Garn Belt,” she countered. He interrupted her next sentence, offering up the same information she had pulled up on the screen. She really shouldn’t be impressed, but-oh, she loved that man.
“And…” he stuck his head out the door, “chances of rain later.”
Oh, she hated that man.
She rolled her eyes as she complained to her mum about her other half. Amy was still impressed with River, who was now annoyed that her husband had shown her up in front of her mother. Hundreds of years had gone by since Leadworth, but Amy was still hers. She had learned and had grown from finally sharing her with Rory, a mutually beneficial arrangement since it meant she had a father- daughter relationship and he was allowed to finally get close to the woman who’d become his wife, but now the Doctor was actually competing with her over her own mother. That was completely unacceptable- especially when he seemed so far from her. She couldn’t have her husband as such, but she would be less than a Pond if she didn’t cling onto her mother with everything in her.
The easiest way to do this, of course, was to wipe that smug look off her love’s face, replacing it with one of her own.
“It’s a shame you were busy that day,” she didn’t even spare him a glance as she teased him, satisfied at how Amy had chosen to cling to her side and not the Doctor’s. She picked up her shoes and primly made for the doors, sparing him a flirtatious walk as he glacially began to ease into their banter. Ooh, but there was a reason she loved every him she got. His matter- of- fact knowledge of everything that was happening. His childlike glee at the start of a new adventure even if it came from tragedy. Even that arrogant smile he wore when he knew he’d won their game. She never could decide if she wanted more to slap him or kiss him.
Then he slammed the doors behind her- which hurt, deeper than a physical pain would. But, she didn’t even bother with worrying.
Training, brainwashing, overcoming, and prison, as well as the love and forgiveness of a good man had all had their share in forming her, but there were so many traits River Song knew she’d inherited directly from the woman on the other side of those doors. A woman who always managed to make her way to her side, whenever she had needed her her entire life. Who had come with a Doctor who, like always, had come for her, but who for the first time ever was literally trying to run away from her. Oh yes, she needed her mummy so very much right now.
And since she knew her mother very well, and knew her own curiosity, stubbornness, and ability to sway the Doctor were qualities she shared and received from said redhead, she simply stood and looked at the wreckage of the ship that was once the Byzantium, waiting for her family to join her by her side once more.