As Charlotte neared River's room, muffled bangs filled the air.

And as she got closer, those bangs turned into loud crashes, and she heard River cursing in another language.

So, naturally, when she opened the door it was quite cautiously and with her hands guarding her face. Death may have been impossible in this virtual world, but that didn't mean that they couldn't feel pain.

"River?"

The woman immediately stopped pacing and turned to face the girl. Her face softened when she saw her.

"Charlotte. I'm sorry. I'm just- really frustrated right now." River went back to her pacing. "It's just that- well, I thought it was over. I thought that, finally, I had the information and data and could go back. But no," she kicked at a box of books, hapazardly sitting in the middle of the room, "of course it wasn't that easy! Why would it ever be easy?

"I went to the book Kovarian told me to get," she continued, "read through it. And then, I got to the last chapter," River angrily kicked a coffee mug across the room, not seeming affected when it shattered against the other wall, "and what do I find? 'How to make the Perfect Assasin'. All perfectly explaining exactly how to make sure they could hit their mark. There would be absolutely no way for them to fail, then. The victim will get younger and younger, all the while giving more oppurtunity to get killed off. That's what it's been for this entire time, my whole life, so that there was no way I could not kill him. Change their time stream, and train them to kill.

"Oh, she knows just what to do to me, doesn't she? Of course. Because what else would she have given me? Exactly the information I needed to get out and to go back and live a happy life? No. I still don't have that. Back to square one. I have absolutely no means of finding out how, and no way to get back to my family!"

And with that, River Song, the Doctor's wife, a noble warrior, and Empress to multiple planets, sat down on her bed and cried.

Charlotte, who had been standing sympathetically in the doorway throughout River's tirade, came in and sat down beside her, patting her back gently. "River," She began softly, "I know."

River looked up to her. "What?"

"I read it as soon as I knew the book title."

River nodded, silently, then turned back away to study her hands.

"You know, Charlotte," she said, "this has defined me for so long. I've always been back to front with everyone I love. I know, that I mostly talk about the Doctor, and how it's him that I'm back to front with, but it's not just him.

"It was my parents, too. I never realized how lucky I was for them to know me until that one day.. I looked into my father's eyes, and he barely even knew me. I was another one of the Doctor's friends, nothing more. Just another unimportant person when it came to his life. And then I kept going back...

"But this is the way my life has always been. I've known how it worked. Back to front, always. It's a part of me, really. Even if I could get out... What would I even be anymore?"

Charlotte bit her lip and stroked River's back gently. "River, I- I'm sorry. But the thing is, you'll figure it out. I know that. When you get out, you'll still be you. You'll just "

"And-" Charlotte paused. "I went back to Kovarian. Pulled her back out. I got her to tell me. The information's all back in my room."

River slowly straightened up to look at the girl. "What?"

"The data you wanted? I think it's in my room. I'm fairly positive it's the information you want, because it all looks very professional, and-"

"Wait, what?" River said again, "You got it? How?"

"Kovarian told me." Charlotte shrugged.

"She just told you? No, how'd you get it out of her?"

The small girl simply flashed her a quick smile. "I have my ways."

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

*Tenth Doctor*

He walked, silently, back to where River's diary sat.

It was a beautiful thing, really. TARDIS cover, and well-worn pages that he knew not only contained her life, but a large and important part of his.

He shoved all thoughts of picking it up away, and placed the screwdriver he'd just use to save her gently on top.

Would he, in the future, come back here to get it? When their story was over- would he pick it up to re-live in the past?

Would he do it today?

Probably. It was, of course, the first point in time that he could get it. In a few hours, the shadows would come back and would no doubt stay in this place for a long time before they slowly died off.

Maybe, when he came back, he'd have a plan.

That was a good sliver of hope to hold onto, he thought. An older him having a plan.

He'd have years to think one up. This time, now, while she was in the computer, was just giving an older him the time to think something up.

Yes. That had to be it.

He wasn't sure he could accept anything else.

She was safe, for now. Living happily, he hoped, in a virtual heaven. That wasn't such a bad place to be while waiting on him to think something up, was it?

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

Charlotte entered the human plus' room again, a few hours after she'd brung all of the data in there.

"River?"

The woman looked up. "Oh, hey."

"Hi." She walked over and sat down on the floor beside her. "Listen... I think maybe we should talk."

River nodded, not turning to the girl.

"I just wanted to say... I'm sorry. About yesterday. I know you have a family out there, and a life and everything. I know you've got people who love you. It's just that...." she took a deep breath, "I don't really know what that's like. My family.... it was so long ago. I barely remember them at all, from before they put me here. I don't remember, or know what it's like, so I guess I just didn't understand, is all. But I know. You've got to leave me." She sniffled, and ran a hand across her face.

River turned around to her, and placed a hand under her chin to look her in the eyes. "Sweetie, it's not that I want to leave you. You're a great girl, and I- I'm sorry that I have to go. I'm sorry if I was being mean to you yesterday, too. I'm going to miss you."

Charlotte smiled sadlly. "I know. I was being selfsish yesterday... you've got to go back to your family. Speaking of which," she scooted closer and looked at what River was working on. "What have you found out?"

River's expression turned to a happy one. "A lot, actually! I found out the right formulas and everything I need. I should have it done soon.Better yet," she pointed to a page to the left, "I've found the formula and number code needed to add more artron energy to my physical signature. I should have at least 6 regenerations, maybe more."

"Alright. I'll leave you to it, then."

River smiled gratefully. "Thanks."

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

Five hours later, River was standing in front of the computer and checking everything over once more. If anything went wrong, one number was off, then she could vanish, or die, or her very being could be changed.

So... yes, there were a few risks.

All she could do was hope she got it right.

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

Finally, it was all done. Her physical signature was waiting for her, in the teleportation system. The numbers had been configured to her appearance, and (she hoped) there was quite a few years left for her when she got out, thanks to the artron energy.

Changing the time stream had been the most difficult challenge.

The information was so complex, it'd taken her about three hours just to get the correct digits down. It had to be reversed, and had to be linked to the time vortex... so therefore, had to be completely and totally exact. It was one of those formulas that had to be perfect or she could easily die.

But she'd gone over it once, twice, three times, and all seemed to be fine.

All she had to do was touch the button, and she'd be back where she belonged, or dead.

--

What would life be liked when she got back? The Doctor, no doubt, thought she was dead. Would he even be there?

Because she wouldn't be able to go back with his younger self. Then she'd change the timeline, and there was no way in hell she'd take that risk.

No, she'd have to find some other way to get back. If her Doctor wasn't there... then what? She'd go, find some planet, and-heaven forbid-settle-while she waited on a vortex manipulator to pop up for sale? She wasn't sure she'd last very long.

What would she say to the Doctor once she got out?

"Hey, honey! I know you thought I was dead, but... surprise!"

No, probably not. It'd probably involve a lot of kissing, then a slap, then her yelling, then- well, yes. Hopefully he wouldn't think she was a ghost.

What about the others? Would they want to leave? Should she offer?

They'd be putting their lives into her hands. Heck, she wasn't sure she could get herself out, much less four other people.

But she'd ask, anyway. It didn't seem right just to leave them in there when they might hate it as much as she did.

And Charlotte... the girl had been there, the whole time. From the beginning, when she'd come up to her, she'd always felt a strong connection. She wasn't lying. She really didn't want to leave her. She'd become almost another daughter to her in the time she'd been in the Library... and leaving her wasn't going to be easy.

The others would have to look after her. She'd talk to them, make sure that they'd care for her.

She had to go talk to them before she left.

---------

"Anita, Other Dave," River said, pulling the pair into a hug, "I'm going to miss you. You two be happy here, okay?"

"We will, Professor." Anita assured her mentor, tears in her eyes, "That Doctor better treat you right."

River grinned at that, feeling her eyes begin to well up as well. "I'm sure he will." She turned to Proper Dave and Miss Evangelista, hugging them each as well. "You take good care of the children, now." She nodded to the twins, "and you two take care of them, alright?" The little ones nodded, and rushed to her side before throwing arms around her waist.

She pressed a kiss to each of their foreheads before stepping back, so she could see all of them.

"Listen," she hesitated a moment, "If someone wants to leave, they can. I can do it. But... it's dangerous. It'll be you risking your life, and it'll take some time. Does anyone want to leave?"

They all, to River's relief, shook their heads no.

"River," Anita began, "I think we're all happy here. We have each other, and the children to look after, all the while going to any adventure we could possibly imagine. You go, live your life."

She smiled at her, and hugged her once more, before turning to the person that would be the hardest to say goodbye to: Charlotte.

The poor girl was holding back tears, and a small sniffle escaped from her. "Oh, honey," River knelt down beside her. "Charlotte, it's alright, love. You'll be fine. You're going to live with Anita and Other Dave now, remember? They'll watch after you. You know that, right?"

"Yes, I do." She sighed. "I'm just- I'm going to miss you."

"I'm going to miss you too." She pulled her into a tight hug. "But I'll visit, remember? I can connect the TARDIS scanner to the mainframe, and then we can talk all the time on the telly, yeah?"

"Yeah." The child nodded into her shoulder. "But you have to come talk every single day, okay?"

"I will." She promisded. "You'll get to properly meet my daughter now, too. She can be there."

"Okay. River- I just- I love you."

"Oh, sweetie," The older woman said, a tear streaking across her face, "I love you too."

Charlotte pulled out of the embrace and nodded to the computer. "I think it's time."

River nodded, trying to pull herself together. "Yes, I think so."

--------

His legs ached. His back hurt. He was pretty sure his neck was having a fist fight with the base of his skull.

The Doctor stood up and stretche his arms, sighing. He needed to walk around some.

Then he heard the TARDIS- only, that wasn't the TARDIS because he- oh. That was Donna and his younger self leaving, right after he'd laid down- oh. Oh!

There were only about 45 people left, now, and he easily manuvered around the line to go back to the place.

The place where her diary was sitting, like a small blue monument that showed she was there. He picked it up, tenderly, and carried it back to his chair.

The well-worn cover was smooth against his palm, and the yellowed pages a sharp contrast to the blue. He ran his thumb over the corner, tempted to open it, to read the forbidden entries.

But River- she'd be angry. Reading it... that was something she didn't want him to do.

He picked up the screwdriver as well, sliding it into his jacket pocket.

There was so little hope left, now. The number of people in the room was slowly trickling down, and the shadows would be out soon. She'd be lost to him forever, trapped in a virtual prison.

He didn't even realize he was crying until a tear hit his hand.

He stood up. It was time to leave now. She wasn't coming back.

He turned, and started the walk back to the TARDIS.

[A/N. Question: Did I really just pull another cliffhanger?

Answer: You better believe it!

Hehe. Am I mean? Slightly. Are y'all gonna come track me down and chase me with 4 10's?

.....

To be determined.

Anyway, since this tends to the most effective way of communicating with my followers, I figured I'd tell y'all that I wrote a new one-shot called 'I can't even recognize you now'. Just go to my profile to find it.

(And by the way-if this and Hello Sweetie are the only things you've read of mine-I'd appreciate it if you check out my other fanfics too! :)

Also, in case you didn't know, this chapter is in celebration of my one-year anniversary on Wattpad! Time flies, does it not? of course, it's a day late... sorry about that.

As usual-

VOTE COMMENT SHARE! :)

Thanks y'all! ]