River Song: Hello Sweetie

They Walked The Sky

They Walked The Sky

It's a beautiful day on the planet Azureth, the sun is washing it's pale light on the blue forests and the air sings of rain. The Doctor grins as he struts out of the Tardis, the adventures to be had on a blue planet are limitless. Plus, the Ponds were in Leadworth, so no one could complain about the Doctor wearing a fez. He meanders about the blue trees, searching for the indigenous, humanoid species of the planet. They find him first.

A shot rings out from the foliage, knocking the Doctor's fez right off of his head. A figure emerges from the shadows and the Doctor relaxes, the person is well known to him. "Hi honey, I'm home! I wasn't expecting to see you here, Song." River doesn't say a word, she stomps up to him and smacks him smartly across the face. "Ow! What was that for?" He cries, holding his stinging cheek. "You're late." River growls, her eyes aflame with aggravation. "I have been sending messages to you for weeks!" "Why? I thought you had your vortex manipulator on your person at all times." "It broke, just as your psychic paper must have broken, otherwise you better have a bloody good reason for ignoring me." "River, I didn't get your message." River's tirade dies on her lips and she stares into his eyes. "I'm sorry." He says sincerely, upset that he's unknowingly let her down. She nods with a sharp jerk, her mouth opens to speak but she is interrupted by a small group of the native children. Their skin is completely blue and their eyes gleam with curiosity. "Lady River, is it safe?" One of the elder children asks. "Yes." She says, her voice gentle and her tone quite different than the tone she had used with the Doctor. The children inch closer to River and some of the braver ones approach the Doctor. A little girl picks up the Doctor's fallen fez and gazes at it with a mixture of awe and disgust. "Lady River, what is this ugly thing?" "Oi!" The Doctor says indignantly, he crouches down to the child's level and speaks softly to her. "That is called a fez, and fezzes are very, very cool." The girl's eyes widen and she puts the hat on top of her head, she crinkles her nose. "The thing doesn't feel cold to me." River laughs and picks up the girl, plopping the child onto her hip. "No, silly one. He means the hat is good, even if it looks a little goofy." The fez falls over the child's eyes and she pushes it back up with a giggle. River, completely ignoring the Doctor, takes the hand of a little boy and calls to the other children, they make their way into the thick of the jungle. "Hurry up, Doctor." River finally calls over her shoulder. "It's going to rain soon, and I'm not above leaving you behind."

It does rain, and not even the Doctor's returned fez can save his tweed. River is still giving him the semi-cold shoulder, so he chats with one of the older boys. "How did River come to this planet?" The Doctor asks. "She appeared out of thin air, there was a bright flash and there she was, cursing at the magic bracelet around her wrist, a fire-stick hanging from her hips. The Lady River had been sent to us from the gods, to save our village from destruction." "What destruction?" The Doctor asks, intrigued. "There are neighboring villages who wish to own our lands and have attacked us many times, but ever since Lady River has come to us, we have won." "Oh. Fighting." The Doctor says, immediately uninterested. "She is a mighty warrior. You must be as well, did you meet her on a battle field?" "Well-" "Don't answer that." River interrupts. "Spoilers." The Doctor beams at her, happy that she's finally paying attention to him. "You're talking to me again!" "Maybe." They consult timelines, they aren't completely linear but close enough. "So, why did you choose this planet?" River leans nearer to him and talks quietly, the Doctor's body sings in response to her closeness. "It was an accident, I hit the wrong button in my escape." "What were you escaping from?" River smirks mischievously. "Ask me no questions and I'll tell you no lies." The Doctor rolls his eyes but his lips smile against his will. "You naughty girl." She winks at him and he can no longer resist the urge to kiss her. He leans forward but she puts her fingers to his lips and pushes his face away. "Down boy." "But, River." he whines. "Kissing in the rain is romantic." She makes a face. "Exactly." "Is it because you're still mad at me?" The Doctor asks worriedly. River sighs and shakes her head. "No, Sweetie. It's not your fault." He knows this, he can't help but still feel guilty. River senses this and tries to lighten the mood. She leans into him and speaks quietly into his ear, her breath tickling his hair. "This just means I get to meet a different you here and have another adventure, and since you haven't met me here yet, I'll be getting an older Doctor." The Doctor's neck heats and he tries not to be jealous of himself. "You can have an adventure with the me you have right now." He grumbles. She smiles, gives him a little peck on the cheek, and starts to walk away from him. "Oi, what was that?" "You wanted a kiss." "That wasn't a kiss, that was pathetic. You must be slipping, Song." River turns back to him, a dangerous glint in her eyes. "What?" She asks, he gulps. "You heard me." She stalks back to him, he waits for another slap. She kisses him instead, he dips her and kisses her back. He ignores the catcalls of the boys and the giggles of the girls and loses himself to the sensation of River. His hands tangle into her rain-soaked hair and their lips linger, she laughs as she pulls away. "That was horribly cliche." "You loved it." She doesn't deign to reply and turns on her heels. "We're almost to the village. Come on, Doctor." She smiles devilishly. "It's time you met my boyfriend." "Your what?!?"