It takes longer than he expects it to, hooking up the mainframe. He has to connect all sorts of cords and enter in coordinates (which he does a total of three times- he is admittedly not good with them) and find the correct frequency to get inside the mainframe.

It takes him at least half an hour to figure it out. When he does, he sees the image he saw on that Library computer so long ago- the living room. He doesn't see anyone in there.

"Um, hello? Is there anyone there? I need to speak to Charlotte-" He doesn't even finish his sentence before the young girl is there, rushing to the screen. "Hello? Do you know River Song? Is she okay? Where is she? I really need to talk to her, it's important-" She talking ridiculously fast-even for him, stumbling over her words.

"What? Yes, she's fine! A little sleepy, granted. She's sleeping in our room right now. I forced her to rest. Not without fight, obviously, she insisted she had to talk to you. So I hooked it up instead." He watches her eyes relax, eyes cease to show the frantic worry it had moments before.

"Oh, that's good. I was- well, we were all scared to death. She said it could be- that it could be dangerous." Suddenly her eyebrows furrow, "Wait a second- who are you?"

He chuckles. Some things never get old.

"I'm the Doctor- new face, you see. Had a nasty hit of radiation that made me change."

Surprisingly enough, shock doesn't cross her face as much as recognition does. "Oh, yeah, that's right! River mentioned something about that one time. You changing faces. I didn't really understand it. Still a bit confused, but I think I get the general idea. You're the same man that talked to me in the Library?"

"Yep." He smiles at the young girl, and she giggles.

"Sorry if I came off as demanding, or-or rude, there in the beginning. River was- is- like a mother to me, really. I was so alone before she came. Which really is saying something, considering all the people with me. I had a nice dad then. But even he was just my imagination. When he was gone- I finally understood who I was. I was myself. And that was it. No one else. Just me. I'm only a machine, right?

"But then River came," tears are started to well in those big eyes, emotion pouring into her words, "and she was real. She really was a friend to me, not some fake thing I'd imagined for myself. It was something I could really have. But, it wasn't just that. She was alone too. Her family wasn't there anymore, just like mine. Not that it wasn't different, because it was, but- but it was just that we both felt like there wasn't anyone to go to. She didn't have a way to go to you yet, I knew I'd never see mine again- I don't know. We were- she was so good to me. I miss her already." She sniffles once more, and looks away.

He blinks once, then again, a sudden wave of guilt washing over him so much so that it's almost a tangible thing- bitter, leaving a bad taste in his mouth. Did she really feel that way? Had he really done that to her?

Yes. The answer was almost certainly yes.

There was no other way. He reasons, If I told her it could have ruined everything. It could change history, mess up time. But still- she'd risked history, time, when she thought he would die. She hadn't stood there and done nothing when she knew he would die if she didn't. So why had he? Because you're an arse.

Well, he couldn't argue with that.

It hurt to think about, though, now that he thought about it this way. She would rather herself die, the universe die than let him die. Was it selfish of her? Absolutely. Very much so. But she loved him that much. Had he done the right thing, not telling her?

He thinks he did. Did he, though? All that time, could've been spent-

Time.

Wait.

Time.

He distinctly remembers her saying it- River- as she was fighting to talk to Charlotte- "all the time she's been there for me".

"Charlotte?" He starts, tentatively. He isn't sure he wants his question answers. If he can even bear the answer.

"Yes?"

"How-how long was it? For River? How long passed?"

The little girl-wise beyond her years, forged through loneliness and sadness-sighs and looks away, as if she doesn't quite want to meet his eyes. "Doctor, you do know- it's all a manner of perception. Time is so-it's difficult, it's strange in there. Everyone- time is different. It's almost like it adapts to your perception of it. Some people, it's like no time passes. They're usually the happy ones. And then sometimes-" She bites her lip, "some people are lonely, and sad, and miserable. So it feels like longer for them. It's so much longer. It drags out. It can be like normal time, in a way, but it can mess with your head."

The Doctor could understand it-maybe not completely, but the gist was clear. But still. "Charlotte, what was the mainframe-the virtual, inside, technical recorded time?"

She doesn't want to answer; he doesn't blame her. He isn't the easiest to deal with.

"2 years."

2 years.

2 years? That can't be right..

No, no. There's no way, time isn't that quick- it was only a few hours.

It couldn't have been.

Even as he denies it, he knows it's true. The way River greeted him... that wasn't the way a woman greets her husband after a couple of months away.. That was the desperation of a woman who waited too long to get her family back.

And it was even worse for her.

Like Charlotte had said, it was different for everyone. Some people, it seemed to drag on forever. Those sad, those lonely...

The bond between a mother and a child, he knows, is the strongest there is. The strongest. It can't be denied. Mothers have a natural need, a pull, an obligation to be there for their child. And River.. River was away from Brooke for two years. Which felt like longer.

Add this ridiculously large chunk to the shelf of things he owes River for.

He looks back to Charlotte, sending her a comforting smile. "Thanks. For being there for her."

She shakes her head. "No, Doctor. She was there for me."

--------

As he enters their bedroom, he makes a decision: he will not think of any guilt tonight. He will not brood tonight. He won't feel any sadness.

Tongiht, he is going to enjoy having his wife safe in his arms.

He gently pulls up the duvet and slides in next to her. She murmurs something in her sleep, and he pulls her against him, resting his head above hers. He's happy, for the first time since he can't remember. Happy. It seems like such a foreign emotion, and one that doesn't quite cover all of what he's feeling. What word could possibly fit all of it into a small amount of space?

He feels River shift once, feels her breath ghosting over his chest. "Goodnight." She whispers.

Then he realizes, he finds a word: home.

[A/N.  VOTE BUTTON IS VERY CLOSE. PLEASE PRESS THIS BUTTON. I PROMISE THAT NOTHING BAD WILL COME OF YOU PRESSING THE BUTTON.

Hi, everyone! Long time, no see!

Yeah... been a while.

Sorry?

It's been a ridiculously long time for such a short chapter. Sorry about that, too. But, hey, if you prefer, I can take it down and spend more time making it longer?

In any case, I've got it up. So yay.

Now, long author's note. Even if you don't actually read it, do you mind skimming through? Do I have an excuse? Good question. Answer: does the phrase 'straight-a-student-if-there's-a-b-parents-will-go-ballistic' mean anything to you? I've been working ridiculously hard to keep my grades up, yet I still have an 87 in one of my classes. *facepalm* Ironically enough, it's my English class, and I'm making the 87 because I'm making C's on the essays. There's quite a difference between creative writing and literary critique, I'll tell you now.

But, good news! Not only have I uploaded this chapter, I have an idea for Cell 426, and it should be up soon too!

Also, episode tonight-well. Um. Well. I should probably be embarrassed to say that I cried my eyes out, but I'm really not. I cried my eyes out.

Speaking of which, if you would like to rant, plot on the murder of Steven Moffat, or gush, or need a shoulder to virtually cry on, I'm just a message away! Feel free!  :)

For those of you still waiting on me to review your stuff- I haven't forgotten you! Will happen as soon as I have time.

Now, I'd appreciate any comments, votes, reviews, and constructive criticism! So feel free! :) ]