Love Never Forgets

Chapter 7

"Who was that? Wha-What did she mean?" Ella asked. The Doctor was panicking inside, but he knew River counted on him so he tried to calm down. He looked over at his wife. Even though she was sick and pale, she still looked beautiful. She would always be beautiful to him. His mind desperately searched for a calm moment, something to remind him of what he was fighting for, why he needed to concentrate. He flashed back to a moment when he'd been looking for her at a restaurant.

It was a late night and the stars seemed to shine even brighter than they used to. The Doctor had dressed up for the occasion. He wore a brand new black suit with a silky white bow tie that matched just perfectly. He was there to surprise River; it was her birthday. He knew she'd gone out with her friends and had made sure the coordinates were exactly right. This was it. All he had to do now was to find her.
The restaurant was classy and expensive. All of the guests wore fancy dresses or suits like his own. On the right side of the room where most people ate, a band was playing. He stood in the back, his eyes searching for someone even more beautiful than the stars outside. A waiter went pass him and made sure he was alright, but the Doctor waved him off. He wasn't interested in anything else but the woman he loved. At the other end of the room River sat with her friends, talking and laughing. After a while, she caught sight of her beloved husband. She excused herself, and approached him quickly. He knew she hadn't seen him in a while, and he could see the longing on her face, the same feeling he felt so deep down in his hearts every moment they weren't together.
He walked towards couple of wooden doors. They led outside, to a beautiful balcony. Flowers grew around the railing, and they slowly moved back and forth in the breeze. He stood with his back facing her, but he knew she was there. She always was.
"Hello Sweetie." she said a bit sassy, but still very lovingly. She was now standing beside of him.
"It's beautiful out here, you know." he said quietly. She looked up on the sky. Inside, the band had started to play a relaxing song that fit his feelings perfectly. The sound was muffled, but they could still hear it.
"It sure is. The stars are brighter than I've ever seen them before. At least here." River said, still facing the sky and the billion billion stars that was in it.
"I wasn't talking about the stars." the Doctor said softly.
The singer started to sing, and the lyrics was perfect for the moment. It was as if it spoke everything the Doctor felt right then, looking at his beautiful wife.
"May these words be the first to find your ears. The world is brighter than the sun now that you're here. Though your eyes may need some time to adjust. To the overwhelming light surrounding us..." It went on and on, the beautiful music filling the couples ears. The Doctor couldn't resist it any longer then. He leaned in and kissed River to the sweet sound of the song. The moment was pure, and it felt like it lasted forever. They both wanted it to do so too, but after a while they had to break apart, both of them needing air in their lungs.
"Thank you." River said after a while.
"For what?" the Doctor asked.
"For coming. You didn't need to."
"I wouldn't miss it for the world. Happy Birthday." he answered.
"And thank you too." She looked up at him.
"For what?" she said, repeating his answer earlier. "For being amazing. For being... you."
He looked deep into her eyes. They reflected the sky and the stars shone in them like a thousand diamonds. "'Cause you are loved, you are loved more than you know..." the singer sang, which fit the moment perfectly. He knew right there, right then, that she had never looked more beautiful. He also knew he'd never loved her more, and perhaps he never would.

He didn't realize he'd closed his eyes before he opened them again, a soft smile on his face. For once, he was at peace, but then he remembered how high the stakes were.
"It's alright River. I promise, I'll save you." the Doctor said, taking his wife's hand, giving it a small squeeze. He knew if he didn't do this, he would loose the woman he loved most in the whole universe. And that was something worth fighting for.