Fairytale Endings
Title: Fairytale Endings
Summary: A reason as to why River didn't stick around for Amy's wedding.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Doctor Who...though I do pay for a TV license to fund the BBC, so really I should be entitled to something? No?
Rating: PG
A/N: So this is an alternative to the scene in which River and the Doctor discuss marriage. Pairings Amy/Rory & River/Amy.
"Don't you want to congratulate the bride?" The Doctor stood leaning against the TARDIS with his arms crossed. The vortex manipulator dangled from his left hand.
"Weddings aren't really my thing." She took hold of the manipulator and strapped it to her wrist. "You always did love a good wedding though Doctor." Her voice was light and teasing, but her eyes betrayed her burdens.
"The universe changed. And so did your timeline. And Amy's." The Doctor chose his words carefully as River's fingers hovered over the buttons on the vortex manipulator. "Rory was dead. The nestine brought him back-"
"Doctor." River's tone was no longer playful. Her gaze was dark and brooding. A warning for him to back off. Let sleeping dog's lie.
"Originally he should have stayed dead. He should never have existed in the first place. And you remember. The timeline that should have been, the Pandorica restored your memories perfectly..." He fell silent as he watched tears begin to fall down River's cheeks. "Oh River-""Don't." She took a step back as he reached out for her. "Just don't. Amy thinks we're going to get married in the future. Me and you." Her laughter was bitter and sounded hollow to his ears.
"The truth is Doctor I was married. Once. Or I would have been." She couldn't look him in the eye as she spoke, her fingers still traced the buttons that would activate the manipulator. "The universe ended today. You died. The TARDIS exploded and to top it all off I've just watched my wife marry someone else. So the last thing I need. Doctor, is your pity!" She slammed her hand down on the vortex manipulator and with a crackle of energy she disappeared.
The Doctor sighed as he lay his head against the TARDIS, comforted by the familiar hum of his ship. He had seen River's death. Listened to her beg him not to re-write history. Not to change 'one line'. He had a feeling Amy marrying Rory had changed more than a few things in River's life.
She wouldn't even get the luxury of forgetting. River Song would forever be haunted by the life that she could have lived.
She landed in the fifty-first century and headed straight for the nearest bar. She would have to return to Stormcage eventually. She knew she would have to remain there until she was absolved of her crimes, but until the time came to go back she fully intended to drink herself in to oblivion. She needed to stop the memories some how and, short of paying for them to be removed, inebriation was her only option.
***
"So, are you taking my last name then?" Amy giggled as she pulled River down on to the enormous bed of the honeymoon suite in the ridiculously expensive hotel they were staying in. Courtesy of the Doctor of course.
"I am not taking your last name!" River protested, though she knew her objection would not last for long as Amy's lips began caressing her body. "I refuse to be known as Professor River Pond!" That got another giggle from Amy.
"Well I'm not going to be Amy Song... that's far too fairytale." The younger woman protested, though put up no fight as River began to remove her wedding dress from her.
"What's wrong with fairytale? Sometimes you do get happy endings. If anyone should know that it's me."
"Oh? And what fairytale ending did you get?" Amy teased as she pulled River in close to her, molding their bodies together. "You."