[A/N. If you've read part six, this is that adventure he had with her when they went to the beach of Meyana, which is some planet I just made up. I decided to kind of add on to that little  part. Enjoy!]

He was taking her to the beach.

And it was not a date.

Absolutely not. This was just him being bored and picking the woman up while his companions were asleep for a little adventure.

Not a date.

She was his friend. Well, sort-of friend. Well, friend that was a woman that was almost certainly his future lover, possibly wife. But still, not a date.

Maybe if he kept repeating it inside his head it would be true.

He picked her up at Stormcage, swaggering in and sonicing the lock to let her out. She'd grinned, kissed his cheek, and walked around him to the TARDIS. Afterwards, he touched his hand to his still-slightly-tingling face.

Absolutely not a date.

"Where are we?" She asked as soon as he walked in, sitting in the chair and flipping through the blue book he'd grown to hate and love.

"I just did the Pandorica, not too long ago."

Her eyes lit in recognition, and-he barely caught it-slight disappointment.

"Early, then."

"I suppose."

She took a deep breath and put a half-hearted smile on her lips. "Alright then. Where are we going?"

"I was thinking-you know, if you want,-we could go to Meyana. They've got some nice beaches." He stuttered slightly.

"Oh, honey," She stood up and walked over, invading his personal space by several inches, "if you want to see me in a bikini, all you have to do is ask."

"What? I'm-" Realization dawned on his face, and he blushed furiously. "It doesn't have to be a bikini! I mean, one pieces would look pretty good too, or-"

She arched in eyebrow, and he backtracked. "Not what I meant! Wear whatever you want!"

She stepped back, out of his personal bubble, and he sighed in relief. He'd almost been tempted to play with that absolutely delicious looking hair of hers.

"Well then, I'm going to go get dressed."

"Okay. So will I." He nodded his assent and started off in the opposite direction she was going.

"And Doctor?" River's voice made him pause.

"Yes?"

"If you even think about the full bodied wetsuit, I'll shoot it off."

His mouth fell open as she walked away. She wouldn't-would she? He shook his head. No.

Nevertheless, he picked a pair of trunks and a T-shirt instead.

----------

He was ready before she was, of course, and typing coordinates into the scanner when she walked in.

The Doctor had never been particularly attracted to anyone. Sure, there was Queen Elizabeth, but in all honesty that was just a distraction so he wouldn't have to think about Donna. Other than that, there'd been nothing. Kissing wasn't that big of a deal, he did it often, and he always lived with females. They didn't prepare him for River.

She walked in with a see-through cover up on, and, true to her word, a TARDIS blue string bikini underneath. There was so much skin there, and just thinking about the way those shoulders, hell, those legs would feel under his hands had his eyes locked on her and jaw dropped.

She smirked and walked closer than was strictly necessary to look over his shoulder at the scanner. "2089. Lovely year." She remarked lightly, and he drew in a sharp breath at the way her breath went across his neck as she spoke.

Then she strode to the doors and slipped outside. He let out the breath he didn't know he'd been holding and rubbed a hand through his hair.

Not a date.

--------

They didn't get in the water, actually. River had said it was being cleaned, and the chemicals would erode their clothes. Unless he wanted their clothes eroded, in which case-

He'd stopped her there and suggested they walk along the shore line instead.

It was quite lovely, actually. The ocean noise was quite nice, and the water lapped gently at their bare feet.

There wasn't much talking, mainly because the Doctor was frightened he'd screw up or make a comment she could use against him.

"It's beautiful out here." River spoke from beside him, and he almost jumped. He'd gotten lost in his thoughts again.

"Yeah, it is." There was an awkward pause.

"Thank you, for picking me up." She added. "I know it's not easy for you this young. Probably still scared."

"Terrified, actually," He murmured, and she laughed.

"Feel like running as fast as possible?"

"Quite."

"Well, it gets easier. Eventually, you won't want to run away." She said quietly, watching the green foam lick at the pink sand in front of them.

"I know, it just-" He paused, "it takes some getting used to."

"Been there." She replied easily.

"Oh? And what did you do?" He asked curiously, turning his head to look at her.

"I eventually decided that I could let you help me. And you did."

"So that's what I'm supposed to do with you, then." He stated. "Let you help me become the man you-" He didn't say it, stopped himself and instead said, "the man you know."

A soft smile graced her lips and she shrugged. "I guess so."

---------

There had been a long, though comfortable silence then, until they noticed something in the distance.

"What's that?" He wondered out loud, pointing.

She squinted. "Horses?"

"Yeah, I think so." He put a hand over his eyes, shielding the light from the second sun. "With people on them."

"Looks like they're headed our way." She didn't sound alarmed, so he resolved to stay calm as well. "Probably no danger." He said.

"Yeah."

Turns out they were wrong. The group of men on the horses stopped in a circle around them. "You are trespassing on the King's land." One stated.

"Are we?" The Doctor asked nervously. "In that case, we should leave, don't you think, River?"

"I do." She nodded.

"We'll just be on our way, then! Sorry to be of bother." He said cheerfully, grabbing River's hand and tugging her to a gap in the circle.

"I don't think so. Men, put these two on the horses."

River was tense, obviously ready to put up a fight, but he shot her a look and tried to tell her- there's too many. She seemed to get the message, and though she didn't look too happy about it, she let herself be put onto a horse with one of the men.

---------

They rode to a rather large castle, with a flag with a crown and two dots on it protruding from the top.

The Doctor gulped. That was who, apparently, owned the beach they'd been on.

This king was not a kind one, if historical records were anything to go by. He had underfed slaves and was cruel when it came to helping his kingdom.

They rode in, and River and the Doctor were led inside, their hands shackled behind them and 4 guards surrounding each, with quite a few extra in front and behind them as well.

The King was a large man, and his eye had turned hard onto the two time travelers when he heard what they'd done.

"Throw the man into the dungeon." He announced, eyes going over the Doctor before turning to River. "As for her..." He paused, licking his lips. "Bring her to my chambers."

River's jaw was already set, and he could practically see her mind working through different tactics to get them out of there. However, they were outnumbered by quite a lot, with her having a much larger escort than he. That probably had something to do with the gun that'd fallen from her cover-up. Where she'd even hidden it, he didn't know.

But he had less men than she did, and there was absolutely no way he'd let her be led to-to- he wouldn't finish the thought. What to do, what to do.... They were already being tugged away, though both struggling. But River couldn't take on the 8 trained men holding on to  her, much less the next layer that surrounded them. He only had three.

Usually he wasn't prone to violence. He preferred to use it only after he knew exactly what was going on, and he didn't know. But he had an idea, and if there was even a chance it was right, he couldn't let it happen.

In a swift motion, he knocked out two guards with a sharp twist of his elbow, and the other with a sound punch to the jaw. Then he whipped River's gun out of one of their pockets and pointed it to them. The Warrior may have been a long time ago, but that didn't mean he couldn't remember it.

"Let her go." He demanded calmly, assessing them with a cold glare.

The guards had only spears, and had no idea what he was holding. He hoped it was set on stun.

He aimed at one on the outside layer and pulled the trigger. The man immediately slumped to the floor, and he breathed a sigh of relief when he saw him still breathing.

"I said let her go." He tried again.

The men backed away from her slowly, eyes widened and expressions fearful. They probably thought it was witchcraft.

"Thank you. River, come here." He told her, eyes still focused on the men.

She did so quietly and quickly, stepping beside him.

"We're going to go now." He stated, and began backing away. The king was just staring at them, jaw dropped, in shock.

No one bothered coming after them, and they stole a couple of horses to ride back to the TARDIS.

-----------

Once onboard, River sat down in the jump seat and watched him as he typed coordinates in for Stormcage.

"Thank you." She said, so quietly he almost didn't hear it. His eyes snapped to her. "God knows what would've happened. I didn't have anything on me, which was stupid since I usually carry at least 2 blasters. I couldn't have taken them all on by myself."

"It's nothing. I didn't want you to-to get hurt." He said, not taking his eyes off the scanner.

He felt a warm presence at his back a moment later. "You shot someone for me."

"I stunned him." He corrected.

"You never do that unless you know someone will get hurt. You didn't know that I was for sure. I know- I know that's difficult. For you." She added.

"Well, I was pretty sure anyway, and he's going to be fine."

Warm arms suddenly engulfed him from behind, curls tickling the nape of his neck. "Well, thanks."

He turned around awkwardly and hugged her back.

-------------

He dropped her off later, when he was fairly sure Amy and Rory would wake up soon.

"Bye, sweetie." She gave him a peck on the cheek.

"See you, dear."

Dear? Since when did he call her dear?

She simply smiled and walked out the TARDIS doors, as if it was nothing. Which, it probably wasn't for her. He probably did that all the time.

Hm. Dear.

Maybe one day it could be a date.

 [A/N. I love love love reviews! Comments help me write! ;) ]