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She was getting tired of hearing the TARDIS’ humming. This was probably why she kept someone around, she thought. Life was very long when you’re lonely. Maybe humans felt the same.
The Doctor couldn’t remember how long it had been since she had a companion. All of her friends had left her. Or she had left them. The problem with making friends with humans is that you tended to outlive them. Jack’s offer of meeting up in a bar was getting more and more tempting.
No. This heartache was something else. Of course it was. It wasn’t solved when she had made some friends. Perhaps she was just remembering those that were now lost to her.
The sucking noise of the TARDIS indicated that they had landed. She certainly didn’t touch the console. Or did she? No... she was certain that she hasn’t.
“Where have you taken me now, I wonder?” She absentmindedly mumbled to herself. That was a habit she’d never kick.
The Doctor grabbed a custard cream and stuffed it into her pocket before opening the TARDIS doors. Her eyes took a second to adjust to the sudden influx of light. She had landed on a street by a calm river. A sniff of the air revealed that this definitely wasn’t Earth. Not enough nitrogen. Wherever she was, it didn’t have a lack of choice for food. An actual meal would fill her up more than a custard cream, as much as she’d hate to admit it.
Her eyes were scanning the various restaurants when she landed on a familiar hairstyle. Crazy, huge, and very fluffy. She felt herself walking towards this person, her chest filling with hope.
As she walked closer, she could sneak a preview at this person’s face. They were sitting on a table by themselves, with only a blue book to read. TARDIS blue. There was no doubt about it.
“River!” She cried out, her face falling into a smile.
River’s eyes snapped up. “What did you just say?”
The Doctor fumbled for words before vaguely gesturing towards the river near them. “Um. Nice river, isn’t it? Hi. Is this seat taken?”
River didn’t respond. Instead, she engrossed herself back into her diary. Of course - River might not have been aware of all of her regenerations. This had happened before.
She took a seat anyway. “Looks interesting. I like books, me,” she chatted, eager to get River talking. “Say, is that a blue box over there? It looks awfully like the colour of your book. What are the chances of that?”
River’s eyes once again looked up and searched for the blue box The Doctor had mentioned. “Perfect,” she smirked upon finding it. She began to stride towards it, ignoring The Doctor entirely. “I can take a quick journey... I’m sure they won’t mind...”
The Doctor trailed River as she beelined for the TARDIS. Good. River was still making a habit of stealing the TARDIS when she wasn’t looking. When River was about to open the TARDIS door, The Doctor awkwardly stuck her hand in front of her.
“Is this your box?” The Doctor asked her.
“Sort of,” said River, “I borrow it from time to time. You might want to step back.” She ducked under The Doctor’s arm and entered the TARDIS, still blanking her.
Not wanting to lose her, The Doctor entered and shut the door behind her. A smirk was on her face.
River examined the new TARDIS console and frowned upon seeing a dispenser. She pressed a button, and a custard cream popped out. “Since when is a TARDIS a biscuit dispenser?” She mumbled to herself.
The Doctor grabbed the custard cream in her pocket and held it out in her hand. “Since The Doctor became me,” she chuckled.
There was a beat. River turned and stared at the Doctor. Taking a second. “Oh,” she held back a grin. “It’s... it’s you, isn’t it? Only you would put such a ridiculous contraption in the TARDIS.”
“I like it!” The Doctor argued, puffing up her cheeks. “It’s family-friendly! What if I have children over? It’ll keep them entertained!”
“It’ll keep you entertained, more like,” River winked at her. “You really should stop letting me borrow your TARDIS so easily. This is only the second time you’ve actually managed to catch me.”
The Doctor strode up to River, her hands behind her back. “I, uh, didn’t bring myself here on purpose, you know. I think the TARDIS was trying to tell me something.”
“When does the TARDIS ever take you where you want to go, sweetie?” River flirted, “You’re not saying there’s some big world-ending event going on outside, are you?”
“No,” she looked down at River’s hand. “I... I’ve been on my own lately. Been letting my thoughts get to me. Thoughts about... you know...”
“You’ve been missing me!” River exclaimed, “Naughty, naughty! You can’t keep crossing your own time streams just because you miss me...”
“Just once. Let’s do something together,” The Doctor insisted, “As... wife and wife. Come on, I saw you sitting alone out there. Since when was the last time we went on a date?”
River leaned over and planted a kiss on The Doctor’s cheek. “Well, you know me... always happy to see you, dear. Although, when you say date, do you mean an actual date, or one where we end up saving the planet?”
“Let’s find some place to eat and see how it goes,” The Doctor blushed, looking away out of embarrassment. She had forgotten what this felt like. “I’m thinking... pizza. No! Fish and chips. No! Chocolate! Something with chocolate in it!”
“You drive a hard bargain, my love,” shrugged River. “But very well. As long as I get to borrow your TARDIS after... oh, I’m kidding! A date isn’t going to stop me from doing that.”
River took her hand, and fireworks exploded in her hearts. She wondered if River felt the same. They stepped out back into the street and walked hand in hand to find something to do with chocolate, as per The Doctor’s request.
“Of course, you’ll be paying,” River teased her.
The Doctor’s cheeks puffed up again. The things one does for love...