Hello everyone!

Here is the next chapter - admittedly the end I rushed it a bit as I literally have to go to work in like twenty minutes but oh well.

Still I hoped you enjoyed and please let me know what you think! I love reading your comments.

Also what episode do you want next? - I was planning to do Boom Town but I have changed my mind and will do that later. the only conditions I have are: It must be a 10 or 11 Doctor episode, not a two part-er and maybe a shorter, less emotionally charged one as I have a busy week ahead of me but still want to upload something. Maybe something like School reunion? Your choice, so let me know!

Anyway as always thank you for reading and hope you enjoyed!

Robyn

The group watched as the words 'The Husbands of River Song' appeared on the screen. As soon as the words registered the whole room turned to River, a mix of emotions prominent on their faces. Most of the group just looked confused and curious, while the Doctor, Amy and Rory looked exasperated.

"River? Is there something you want to tell us?" Amy raised an eyebrow at her daughter who was doing her best to not look amused. Next to her, the Doctor was stuck between entertained at her wife's predicament and annoyed at the reminder of her wife's antics in matrimonial affairs.

"Mother dearest, I'm sure the video will explain." River answered, not quite knowing what to say to her parents (she did her best to keep the worse of her adventures away from them) and mentally combing through what they were actually about to be shown.

The Doctor had finally given in and started chuckling, earning an annoyed look from her wife. "Do you think this will be about Hydroflax?" She asked, a mischievous grin lighting up her face. Oh, she absolutely couldn't wait to see Amy and Rory's reactions to that ... on second thoughts maybe not, they'd be angry with her for the River's doubts.

"It said 'husbands', Sweetie. As in plural." River pointed out, raising an eyebrow to make an expression that was entirely Amy.

"Of course. We can't forget Ramone, can we?" The Doctor shot back, unable to keep a touch of jealousy out of her tone.

River's eyes softened ever so slightly at that. "Don't worry, you're still my favourite." The Doctor practically preened at that while the rest of the room watched on mostly confused but highly entertained. (The Master was scowling darkly in the corner, unnoticed by the rest of the room).

"Anything we need to know before we learn more about what River's been up to across space and time?" Rory asked with a resigned sigh. Really, he should be used to the antics of the rest of his family (wife, daughter and daughter (formerly son) in law).

River and the Doctor shared a look, both coming to the realisation the full scope of what was likely about to be shown to the whole group. "If it is what we think it is then it takes place shortly after the last video for me. River, anything they need to know from you?"

"I don't think so." River answered, face crinkled in thought. The pair were given several exasperated looks but no more comments were made and the video began.

On a human colony on Christmas day in 5343, we fly across a snow-covered planet past a crashed red flying saucer crash-landed and to a village

"What's with the flying saucer?" Amy asked unable to hide her grin at seeing the more typical UFO.

"Spoilers." River grinned. The room groaned at the non-answer with Amy and Rory especially annoyed at the resurgence of their least favourite word.

The Tardis is down a little street with a sign hanging from the door - Carol Singers Will Be Criticised

The room laughed at seeing the sign hanging from the Tardis. "Oh, it's definitely the grumpy old one." Clara grinned, happy to see the Doctor in a better situation (hopefully) and humour. She'd been worried about him after Gallifrey, hence the waitress thing, but she hadn't been able to keep up with him afterwards.

Nardole looks at a piece of paper and mutters to himself as he navigates the streets

"Nardole!" Bill visibly perked up upon seeing the familiar face. The whole group turned to the quietest member of the group. He did a little wave upon seeing the group watching him.

"Yes, Bill. This is how I had the unfortunate chance of meeting Nardole." The Doctor announced, but the smile on her face told the group she didn't mean it.

River nudged her anyway. "Be nice, Sweetie." The Doctor just grinned.

A choir sings Hark the Herald Angels

"Of course, it's Christmas. You always find trouble at Christmas." Donna bemoaned, remembering far too well the 'Christmas star.' The Doctor just sighed, nodding their head in agreement. It was rare they had any luck around Christmas, it didn't matter where she was.

Nardole turns around and finds the Tardis, checking the piece of paper before deciding that he's arrived. He knocks on the door and 12 answers with a pair of felt antlers sticking up from his head

The room burst out laughing at the ridiculous sight of Eyebrows with fake antlers. The Doctor just pouted as the room enjoyed the comedic sight.

"Why?" Clara managed to ask between giggles.

The Doctor just waved to the screen seeing no point in explaining when she was about to do so on screen. She couldn't deny she was excited to see River's embarrassment at not recognising her and all the comments she had made, but she wasn't excited for Amy and Rory's reaction to the ending.

12 asks if there is anything on his head, and then asks Nardole to describe it

"You didn't know what was on your head?" Rose asked, grinning.

"It wasn't my choice of head gear but the Tardis was trying to cheer me up." The Doctor gave in and explained. It quietened the chuckles, the reminder of what the Doctor had just gone through. At least they could always rely on the Tardis to be there for the Doctor, even if they weren't.

Nardole tells him he has antlers and 12 is not impressed

The room burst back into laughter unable to hold it in the face of Eyebrow's confusion and annoyance over the antlers. It helped they had all been so tense over the last few videos, it made this small bit of humour so much more entertaining.

12 goes back in the Tardis, leaving the door slightly ajar, he scold the Tardis for trying to cheer him up with holographic antlers, the Tardis makes and engine noise as 12 thanks it

The group smiled, happy to see one thing that never changed. The Tardis would always look after the Doctor; case in point this whole affair.

The Doctor returns sans antlers. Nardole asks if he sis the surgeon and 12 decides that's close enough, yes

The room turned to the Doctor. River looked very close to face palming; she was staring to see how the whole situation had come about. Of course, it was Nardole's fault.

"You are not a surgeon." Martha pointed out with a raised eyebrow. "You are barely capable of basic first aid most of the time despite your name."

The Doctor was struggling with either being offended or amused at that comment. "I never said I was a medical doctor. Besides he came to me, and everything worked out. Mostly."

The whole room just sighed at the Doctor to her confusion.

Nardole thinks 12 knows what is going on, 12 does not

"Because he was the wrong person, Nardole." River sighed exasperated. She had a feeling this was going to be her near constant state for parts of this video. The Doctor just grinned at her wife.

Nardole informs him there is a medical emergency then starts to leave, 12 agrees to come once he hears there will be no singing

"Of course, that is your first worry." Clara shook her head, all too used to Eyebrow's behaviour.

Nardole tells him they weren't sure where his capsule would land, 12 tells him he's never sure - sometimes you're sure and the next minute everyone turns into lizards and a piano falls on you

"No, you are just a terrible pilot." The Master snickered. The room was mixed between hating that it was him speaking and agreeing with his words.

The Doctor audibly huffed, arms crossed in an offended manner. She knew there was no point arguing it (and she wasn't actually that offended), she trusted the Tardis despite not always liking it at the time.

"Lizards?" Bill asked incredulous. The Doctor grinned shrugging, but offered no actual answer.

Nardole question that slightly, and 12 informs him its been a long day

"A long life." The Doctor muttered to herself, too quiet for most of the room to hear. Unnoticed to the Doctor, Jack and River had heard and shared a concerned look over her head.

They walk down a street, behind them a man carrying a medical bag arrives - the actual surgeon they'd been expecting

The Doctor grinned while River sighed, rolling her eyes. "Nardole!" Nardole avoided anyone's eyes.

They arrive outside the saucer, a Nardole points it out 12 is confused

"Have you seriously not noticed the flying saucer?" Amy asked in disbelief. The rest of the group was giving the Doctor similar disbelieving looks.

The Doctor shrugged slightly. "it's not like I've been there at that time before, I didn't know if it was normally there." The room just shook their heads at her.

12 did not realise the flying saucer was there, asking if it was new

The group chuckled a little at the typical Doctor behaviour.

A figure exits the saucer, a hood obscuring her face until she speaks - River Song scalds the pair for talking so long.

"River." Rory smiled, recognising his daughter's voice. Amy was also watching her, glad to see that even when they were gone, the Doctor and River were still together.

Nardole introduces 12 as the Surgeon and River comments on how he doesn't look anything like his pictures, a reoccurring issue for the Doctor

River groaned, suddenly remembering showing him the photos later and all the comments he had made. The Doctor was just chuckling at his wife's embarrassment. She'd been so excited to see River, it had been a chance to see someone she loved and the first time she'd laughed properly since losing Clara.

River isn't impressed

The Doctor pouted. "I wasn't that bad, was I?" She knew she (then he) had looked a bit bedraggled but surely, he hadn't been that bad. Older than River was used to but age rarely mattered when it came to time travellers (as long as everyone was past the age of consent).

"Of course, not Sweetie." River said patronisingly, adding a tap to her head to emphasise it. The Doctor pouted even more at River's teasing while the rest of the room chuckled.

12 is offended saying he's in his best suit, River argues its not even a suit

"It is better than most of your normal fashion choices however." River conceded.

"Hey!"

12 asks if he knows her, and River informs him he doesn't before throwing back her hood to reveal herself to the Doctor, making him grin

It pulled at River's heart strings, seeing the Doctor so happy to see her. Especially, knowing now the details of what the Doctor had just gone through (who knows how long it had been for them in their personal timestream, though she had mentioned it hadn't been long) and she hadn't even recognised her husband. Though as he'd mentioned, that was an ongoing problem. Still, she thought she'd always be able to recognise the Doctor anywhere. Then again, she had thought he had used up all his regenerations so it wasn't like she was entirely unwarranted in her lack of recognition. Sensing River's spiralling thoughts, the Doctor squeezed her hand and offered a small smile when River met her eyes.

River doesn't recognise him, she's Doctor Song at the minute and occasionally Professor)

"I'm guessing time travel?" Mickey snorted, referring to the title change. River winked in answer.

"What do you teach professor?" Graham asked curious.

"Archaeology." River answered with a smile at the older man. She then elbowed the Doctor who had let out a derogatory snort.

"You match." Bill announced, head tilted to the side in thought. Upon seeing both River and the Doctor looking at her, she tried to explain. "I mean you're both doctors and professors. The Doctor taught at St Luke's for at least seventy years after all."

River and the Doctor blinked having not made the connection, it seemed even unconsciously they tended to mimic each other.

River wants to know how 12 knows her, 12 is still excited replying tis complicated and people usually need a flowchart

"You're incorrigible." River sighed but couldn't hide her smile. The Doctor had made so many comments and jokes that she had mostly ignored. Watching this again with the knowledge of who he was certainly put a new perspective on everything.

River threatens them both for using her name, 12 keeps trying to make jokes

"You two are disgusting." Amy made a face at the pair. She wasn't entirely surprised by her daughter's more murderous tendencies; she'd seen plenty of examples over the times they'd met. Plus, Melody hadn't exactly followed the rules. The rest of the room was watching confused by the interaction, they were still very confused by the whole daughter-parent thing, unsure how it worked.

River leads him in as they are losing time, she informs the Doctor the problem is with her husband

The room turned their heads to look at the Doctor who was watching the screen with a weird mix of humour and jealousy on her face. River was refusing to look anyone in the eyes, all too aware of how embarrassing things were going to become. Jack was watching the screen with unbridled entertainment. The rest of the group was just confused.

She informs him her husband is dying, he is frozen in shock before declaring he needs a bigger flowchart

The room broke out into chuckles at that. River just sighed exasperated with her wife, "I don't think there is a flow chart big enough to explain our timelines, Sweetie." The Doctor just grinned at her wife.

"How many people have you married?" Rose asked River. She wasn't sure how to feel about the time traveller. She'd mostly gotten over her feelings for the Doctor, being happily married to John but it was still weird to think about River having married the Doctor.

"Not that many."

"Too many."

River and the Doctor answered in sync, turning to face each other as soon as the words left their mouths. River raised an eyebrow. "You can talk. How many times have you gotten married?"

"Less than you! And that's only the people I know about." The Doctor argued. "You're answer to everything in life is to either shoot it or marry it."

"I like that philosophy." Jack grinned. He was enjoying this video so far, happy to see the Doctor in a better mood and also to see the relationship between the pair.

"Of course, you would." The Doctor muttered while River winked at Jack.

They enter the main chamber of the Saucer, cloaked figures draw swords then return to their resting places as River announces herself

"Are those ninjas?" Bill asked, far too excited by the thought.

The Doctor smiled at her enthusiasm. "Not quite."

Hydroflax and River flirt

"It's bad enough hearing you flirt with the Doctor, I don't want to see this." Amy made a face at the screen while the Doctor nodded in agreement (for only semi-related reasons - River shouldn't be flirting with anyone else). Rory and River just sighed at the pair.

Hydroflax is revealed to be a huge red armoured figure with a small male head on top, 12 is still confused about the husband thing

"You married a robot?" Ryan asked, eyebrows raised. "Not that I'm judging." He hurried to add when the room turned to face him.

"He's a cyborg technically. The body is robotic the head is not." River explained. She was getting the feeling that she would be doing a lot of that in this video.

River warns him they are being watched by four billion people - as seen on screens around the room

"Why are they watching?" Martha asked, incredulous.

"Their king was dying." River shrugged, she had been more focussed on the diamond then the screens.

She also explains they are surrounded by warrior monks with laser swords so to stay still and keep his hands by his side

"The Doctor isn't capable of staying still." Clara shook her head. The Doctor was stuck between being offended and pleased.

"Sentient laser swords?" Yaz however was focussed on another part of River's statement. No one gave her any answers, the only three who had been there were already facing the screen again.

The Doctor pushes on the husband issue, confirming Hydroflax is her husband and no one else

"That makes more sense now." River muttered to herself. It was typical that the time she needed a surgeon for a diamond in her 'husband's' head, she had instead got the Doctor.

"I would hope so." The Doctor huffed next to River. She was undeniably jealous, as she had been through most of the video when it was actually happening. Rver just gave her an amused look and squeezed her hand tightly.

River still does not recognise him and 12 doesn't tell her why she should

"Why didn't you tell her?" Rory asked, glancing between the screen and the pair in the room. He was a bit uncomfortable watching his daughter flirt with Hydroflax, at least he knew the Doctor (not that their flirting was any better) but the pair didn't seem too traumatised so he was more relaxed about where the story was ending. He couldn't deny he was eager to see more about River's life without any of them, he had never got to spend as much time with his daughter as he had always wanted to.

River raised an eyebrow to tell the Doctor she was thinking the same thing. The Doctor just sighed, glancing between the father-daughter duo before answering. "It would have complicated things at that moment. Plus, I'd just rocked up and suddenly my wife is proclaiming her love to someone else, every time I tried to tell you, something else got in the way." She admitted. She'd been so excited to see River and then disappointed when River hadn't recognised her. That was her curse, like she'd once told Clara - she changed her face and suddenly no one would see her. It was made all the worst by it being River, someone who had always seen her, even when she (then he) hadn't seen her. River's expression softened ever so slightly at that explanation.

River goes to Hydroflax as 12 grumbles how he doesn't like Hydroflax to Nardole

Several members of the group snorted at seeing the Doctor clearly jealous and grumpy while his wife ignored him. They couldn't deny t as entertaining and they were reassured it hadn't been too bad by the way the pair were acting with each other in the room, so they felt safe enough to be amused.

Nardole tells him off for crossing his arms as 12 complains about not like lying down people

"You talk utter nonsense, I swear." Martha shook her head. Most of the room was giving the Doctor disbelieving looks or laughing at the obvious jealousy.

River rubs it in by calling Hydroflax her only husband and one true love

The Doctor retreated from River, pulling her hand away to rest it on her lap. Even knowing River had been lying, it still hurt to hear. River met her eyes and whispered softly, so that no one else would hear, "You're the one I love, Sweetie. For better or worse, across all of time and space." River grabbed the Doctor's hand back, gently pressing a kiss to the back of it while the Doctor watched mouth slightly open but utterly speechless at River's declaration. The Doctor's state didn't deter River who smiled softly but sincerely at her wife. She understood the Doctor's pain of being unrecognised all too well. She'd gone from twenty-four years of bliss with her husband straight to meeting a version who didn't know her. She was just thankful for this time here with her wife and family.

More flirting and insinuations about their married life that 12 does not enjoy

The Doctor's face crinkled in annoyance and jealousy at the reminder. Amy and Rory just made disgusted faces, not wanting to know about that aspect of their daughter's life. The rest of the room was split between being uncomfortable and being entertained. River was unrepentant.

12 keeps crossing his arms despite being repeatedly told not to

"You're just cross in general." Clara snorted. The Doctor shrugged but didn't argue, it was true. Eyebrow's had been cross and grumpy with his attack eyebrows.

Hydroflax is dying

"Wait. Why is he dying?" Mickey asked. The room had been so focussed on the drama unfolding between the Doctor and River on screen they had mostly forgotten the Doctor was there (by accident) for Hydroflax.

River and the Doctor shared a glance that said a thousand things before smiling and turning to answer Mickey in sync. "Spoilers."

River informs Hydroflax she acted against his instructions and sent for the best surgeon in the galaxy

"You sent for the finest surgeon and ended up with this idiot." Rose said, gaining a (mock) betrayed look from the Doctor and a grin (of agreement) from River.

"How does that work? I mean the Doctor is in now way a surgeon. Was he even able to help?" Martha asked, forehead crinkled in thought.

"He helped, just not the way I had planned." River grinned at her wife who grinned back.

"So the normal." Martha snorted.

The crowd on the screens cheer as 12 realises the situation he has got himself into. Nardole works out 12 is not the surgeon and is now very panicked

"Don't be mean to Nardole." Bill protested but the effect was ruined by her chuckles. Nardole was rapidly nodding along.

12 wants some hints which Nardole can't provide, too busy panicking

The room was laughing at the interaction between Nardole and the Doctor on screen. Bill was grinning wildly, neither Nardole or the Doctor had fully explained how they had met and she was excited to see everything. River was shaking her head at them both, but the effect was ruined by her smile. She'd missed the exchange the first time.

12 goes to Hydroflax and River tells him to bow as Hydroflax is a king

The room broke out laughing again at the Doctor's offended/confused look. Even River couldn't hide her grin, knowing what she knew now and not actually being in any danger made their whole exchange so much more entertaining.

12 refuses to bow

"There is no way he will bow. She only bows to people when she actually respects them." Clara smiled. The Doctor nodded, absolutely fine with that assessment. Clara was right, she saw no point in bowing to anyone who didn't deserve it. Hydroflax definitely didn't deserve it and that was without the whole being-married-to-River thing.

He uses the excuse of his back before making a dramatic declaration of his back not being able to carry the weight of societal dead weights

The whole room turned to the Doctor who made a purposely innocent look that fooled no one. That seemed to be the last straw for many of them as they burst out laughing at the Doctor's dramatic little spiel.

River tells the Doctor there is something in Hydroflax's brain killing him, 12 continues making jokes

Several people snorted while River just sighed exasperated with her wife (but at least a little part of her was pleased to see the Doctor jealous over her).

The Doctor raise an eyebrow at River. "You can't say I was wrong with my assessment." River didn't dignify that with an actual answer.

12 continues to make things worse as Hydroflax gets angry

"Were you trying to make everything worse?" River asked the Doctor with a pointed look.

The Doctor shrugged, unregretful for her behaviour toward Hydroflax. "It just happens."

River tells Hydroflax to rest while she discusses the procedure with 12, she kisses his forehead

Amy, Rory and the Doctor all made similar disgusted faces at seeing their daughter/wife kiss Hydroflax like that.

River and 12 leave the chamber as the crowds on screen cheer

In the corner, the Master had been suspiciously quiet for the whole video. He'd been making annoyed faces at the screen anytime no was glancing his way. His whole mind was swirling with ugly emotions at seeing the Doctor (his Doctor) so happy with her wife. He also had the strange feeling that he knew the name Hydroflax and was scouring through his mind to figure out how he knew the name.

With the doors closed, 12 decides the joke is over but River does not understand

"I'm surprised you lasted this long." Nardole muttered and was promptly ignored. It was weird watching a video he was so involved in.

12 informs her he's the Doctor, River misinterprets it telling him he has an operation to perform

River (and several other people, including Jack and Clara) winced at River's brush past the Doctor trying to confess his identity to her. The Doctor just watched the screen with sad eyes, she'd been so distracted by the better moments that she'd almost managed to forget there were parts of the video she wasn't eager to see again.

River squeezed her hand, distracting her from the spiral her thoughts had taken her in. "I'm sorry Sweetie." She muttered softly.

"It's fine River, you weren't expecting me." The Doctor replied before getting even quieter. "At least you knew me."

"That doesn't mean it's fine." River answered back, eyes soft while her tone was firm. She was mostly ignoring the last comment (and how much it hurt) far too aware of the Doctor's distraction tactics.

River shows a hologram of Hydroflax's head revealing he has a diamond lodged in his head, which should have killed him immediataley but didn't

"A diamond!?" Donna exclaimed. "How'd that get in his head?" The rest of the room was also gaping at the screen. The Master, however, raised an eyebrow - he recognised that diamond. River and the Doctor shared another glance before just waving at the screen in answer (to the room's continued frustration).

It entered at speed, we get no more details

"Illuminating." Jack grinned at River. The pair had had some time to talk over the breaks and immediately connected; sharing several things like being semi-immortal time travellers that had met (and loved) the Doctor. They also had a similar sense of humour, which was why his comment gained a grin from River. The Doctor suddenly had a panicked look on her face as she came to the realisation about how close the pair had gotten.

12 recognises the diamond as The Halassi Androvar

Jack whistled in appreciation and the Master (unseen to everyone but the Doctor who knew him best) gained a sparkle in his eye that usually signified the start of a plan.

The rest of the group just raised their eyebrows. "I'm guessing that means something?" Graham asked. The Doctor, River and Jack all nodded slowly.

River explains Hydroflax was leading a raid on the Halassi vaults and in the ensuing fight it blew up in his face and he ended up with the most valuable diamond in the universe in his head

"So an impressive diamond lodged in his head." Amy summarised, turning a pointed look at her daughter. "What are you up to?"

"Nothing mother." River's replied innocently. Amy snorted, unbelieving.

River wants to know if he can remove it, 12 considers it deciding it will be hard to manoeuvre because of how small it is. River corrects him, she wants the head removed not the diamond

The room swivelled to face River all sharing similar 'what the hell?' expressions. The Doctor was just shaking her head, fondly exasperated at River's antics.

"River." Rory started, rubbing his forehead as if to ward off a headache.

"Yes, dad?" River said, face innocent and unrepentant.

Amy snorted. "Of course, you want the diamond. That's why you married him. The pair of you were arguing about it earlier, you want the diamond." She took a deep breath while Rory just watched her in disbelief. "Is this really what you get up to when we aren't around?"

River offered no answer, just grinning before turning back to the screen.

The Doctor is shocked and stares at River for her declaration

A few people snorted at the Doctor's expression.

12 argues that would kill him, River says probably

"River!" Rory exclaimed with a long sigh. Amy just snorted which wasn't helpful.

Jack just cackled at the interaction between the pair. the rest of the room was stuck between entertained and confused shock, which seemed to be a near constant from the group for this video.

She married the diamond - the Halassi hired her as they want the diamond back

"So you decided the best way to get the diamond was to marry him?!" Clara asked, raising an eyebrow at River. She'd only really had the chance to meet her once but this did seem perfectly on track form what she'd learnt about her over her time with the Doctor.

"It worked." River argued.

River tells him she's an archaeologist, he corrects her to add murdered and thief, she vaguely agrees

"At least you admit it." The Doctor muttered. She didn't understand archaeologists (well she did, it was half the reason she travelled - to understand other worlds and people) but River's choice of archaeology made some sense for her (she'd been looking for her) and she enjoyed it. There were only two archaeologists she had ever really gotten to know and love (one she married, another a dear friend (Benny Summerfield, who she hadn't seen in so long)) and she still couldn't help but find archaeology entertaining.

River just rolled her eyes at her wife, but couldn't contain her smile.

She empties a bag saying the head would fit in there

"I'm sorry. You're planning to kill him and steal his head for a diamond!?" Martha blinked, struggling to compute how the Doctor had ended up with someone like River. They were good together but they seemed so different at times, it didn't help that they were missing most of the story which would help make it make more sense.

"Just you wait, it gets worse." The Doctor snorted, but smiled besotted at her wife.

12 wants to know if this is what she'd like when not around him, but doesn't finish his sentence confusing her

"Not around us." Amy finished, fully aware that it wasn't quite what the Doctor was going to say but it was the same sentiment.

"I have to do something to keep busy." River answered with a shrug.

River is very clam about murdering Hydroflax, encouraging him to get on with it as 12 is in shock

"River!" Rory sounded almost like a strangled cat, eyes closed to calm himself. Times like this made it easier to connect River to their childhood friend Melody. The rest of the room looked equally shocked, gaping between the screen and River. Jack, however, wasn't helping the matter as he sat cackling away next to the Doctor (who was hiding her face), he knew he liked River.

She says she employed him to do this, informing him of Hydroflax's bloody reputation including eating his enemies dead or alive

"You know what, go for it River." Amy declared upon hearing more about Hydroflax.

"Amy!" Rory complained but his face told the room how torn he was. Hydroflax's history had definitely gone a way to assuage the shock of River's murder plans.

She states his thinking face looks weird

That startled a few snorts out of the group.

12 wants more info and River thinks he's over-thinking

Rory just exhaled sharply, rubbing his forehead desperately. He could have gone the rest of his life without learning more about River's dubious morality.

12 again tries to tell her he's the Doctor

River winced at that. She'd not noticed how many times the Doctor had tried to tell her who he was, she'd been busy with her plans and confused by her 'surgeon's' supposed lack of information despite the info pack she had provided when she'd hired him. She'd brushed the Doctor off so many times which surely hurt him (and when he was already down - it had been bad enough that the Tardis had been trying to cheer him up), she knew how much it would hurt to go unseen by someone you loved. The Doctor squeezed her hand, offering a soft smile to reassure her.

River decides 12 reminds her of her second wife

That split the room; half of them boggled over the idea of how many spouses River had and the other half was entertained by the whole matter. The Doctor just turned to River; "But I'm your favourite wife, right?"

"Well my second wife could do this spectacular thing with -." River started, purposely teasing the Doctor who spluttered. "Yes Sweetie. You're my favourite spouse." The Doctor smiled, utterly besotted with her wife, which was a mutual thing.

Hydroflax interrupts them, monks in tow

"You've been caught." Rose announced worriedly. They'd been so busy watching the exchange and getting caught up in River's murder-y tendencies that they'd forgotten about half the actual problem.

River tries to talk her way out but Hydroflax heard the plan

"You can't lie yourself out of this one River." Jack chuckled, he was a bit worried but knew the Doctor and River combined were a force to be reckoned with. They would get themselves out of trouble, faster if they worked as a team. River shrugged, she'd figured that but it was worth the try.

Hydroflax removes his head, putting it on a table as the body steps back

"You didn't know he was a cyborg?" Bill asked River. She would easily admit she was slightly in awe of the other woman and she was half in love with River and the Doctor's relationship.

"I was mostly focussed on the diamond and wasn't actually interested in him." River admitted, she'd been a bit put out to realise Hydroflax was a cyborg (although it made some sense).

12 informs her she married a cyborg without realising

"No need to sound so smug Sweetie." River nudged her wife, who grinned unashamed.

Hydroflax threatens them

"He's lovely." Rose muttered, earning a few snorts from the group.

Arguing about being married and still trying to kill each other

"Pot calling the kettle black." The Doctor teased her wife. River hushed her.

River introduces herself and declares she is going to take back the stolen artifact in a dramatic speech

"You look so smitten, Doctor." Clara smiled softly. The rest of the group watched the screen, all coming to the same conclusion - they could suddenly see a bit more about why the Doctor and River were married, she was making passionate speeches in the defence of innocence just like the Doctor would.

River reveals her sonic trowel and uses it to zap the monk's swords before attacking hydroflax's body

"That's still embarrassing." The Doctor muttered, River nudged her in the side.

12 picks up the head and tells him to not hurt River or else

"Thank you Sweetie." River whispered softly to her wife, appreciative of the Doctor's defence of her - even while she didn't recognise him.

"Anytime Sweetie." The Doctor whispered back, squeezing her hand.

Hydroflax orders the body to ignore 12 until the Doctor opens the garbage disposal and holds the head above it

"Doctor." Several people shook their heads at her antics and comments. The Doctor just grinned unashamed while River squeezed her hand.

Hydroflax backs down and River returns to 12's side. River puts her sonic trowel to the head and tells nobody to move or the head gets it

"A sonic trowel? You really are married." Martha just laughed.

"I know it's ridiculous." The Doctor nodded, having got the wrong idea from Martha's comment.

"Not any worse than a sonic screwdriver, Martian." Donna snorted, making the Doctor pout while the rest of the group started laughing.

12 is not impressed with the sonic trowel

"More important things than that at the moment." Yaz pointed out, a bit more nervous about the danger the pair were finding themselves in. She was also still in some shock about the Doctor having a wife, she known since they'd introduced themselves but it was different to actually see it on screen, especially as the Doctor never mentioned her.

The body and head ague with each other, the body refusing to ignore the threat as the head wants

That caused a few chuckles from the room despite the tenser atmosphere with the danger increasing. It was a bit surreal to see a headless robotic body ignoring commands from a bodiless head and saying the word 'chill'.

River and 12 discuss the body, falling easily into sync

The room grinned at the duo working together in tandem without a thought. River and the Doctor shared a smile, happy to know they just seamlessly went back to working together.

River calls it sexy while 12 disagrees

"Both of you are sexy."

"Jack!"

River reveals a wrist communicator and talks to Ramone about emergency extraction for two

"So you do have a back up plan, good." Amy announced, smiling proudly at her daughter. She'd been a bit surprised to see River alone with no plan, it wasn't her normal way (unlike the Doctor).

River tells 12 to put the head in the bag, as the head argues against it

"Yes you will." Bill laughed.

12 puts the head in the bag and zips it up to muffle the threats as River tells the head to zip it

"You made that pun on purpose." Nardole muttered. He'd been forgotten both on screen and in the room.

The Doctor, River and bag are teleported away, the body begins to track them

The room relaxed again, happy to see the pair get away, at least for now.

They reappear back in the village, a few feet off the ground before falling into the snow

"The joys of teleports." Jack commiserated.

River and Ramone talk about locating Damsel and the capsule as 12 lies in the snow and laughs

The room couldn't deny the warm feeling they got at seeing the Doctor genuinely laughing. Purely happy for what was likely the first time in a long while. He'd gone through so much in recent videos and the first bit of luck he got was meeting his wife again.

River wants to know what's funny, 12 is finding being threatened by a head in a bag hilarious

The reality of the situation did make most of the room chuckle and laugh along with the Doctor, it was a surreal experience. But most of their adventures with the Doctor were a bit like that, full of surreal things they could never really explain to anyone who hadn't travelled with the Doctor.

12 doesn't approve of what's going on but hasn't laughed in a long while

The more joyful atmosphere in the room dipped again, all too aware of how true that statement was. They were just glad the Doctor was finally able to take a break and be with someone they loved.

River joins in with the laughter

The room started laughing again; both because of the scene and the fact that River and the Doctor were laughing. Amy and Rory were unsure how to feel about the video so far - on one hand they were learning more about their daughter's life but on the other they weren't quite sure they wanted to know about all her dubious decisions (not that they would love her any less, thy just didn't wanted to hear details about their child's sex life).

12 thinks River is just pretending to not recognise him, she still doesn't know asking who he is

River let out a long exhale of breath, the Doctor had been trying so hard and yet she hadn't made any of the connections and realised who he was. She hated the reminder of that, the Doctor had already been through so much he hadn't needed to go through this too. Seemingly aware of her wife's thoughts, the Doctor turned to face River and muttered "Your wife." It took River a moment to understand what she meant - she was answering onscreen River's question.

"Yes you are." River muttered back, pulling her wife closer. It had two purposes - the person she loved was in her arms and safe, and the Doctor wouldn't be able to see River's expression very well and therefore have a difficult spotting the pain.

Ramone arrives apologising about the teleport height, River immediately kisses him and introduces him as her husband. The Doctor really isn't impressed

"How many times have you been married?!" Rory exclaimed, uncomfortable with the thought of how many times his daughter had married complete strangers (to him). Amy wasn't helping as she was too busy cackling away at the Doctor's expression.

"Really dad, it's fine." River sighed, fondness as clear in her tone as the childish annoyance at the repeated question. The rest of the room was watching the screen in a mix of pure bewilderment and amusement, all a bit unsure of how they were supposed to feel about the drama surrounding River and the Doctor - they really didn't know the pair's story enough to understand the weird dynamic they had.

Ramone argues they aren't actually married, River informs him they are she just wiped it from his memory because he was being annoying

"River!" Rory sighed, already getting far too used to his daughter's antics (and hating that). "You can't just wipe people's memories!"

River's word shit far too closed to home after the last video however, and the room tensed up. It seemed both wives in their marriage had a habit of wiping people's memories.

Ramone is struggling to locate Damsel, 12 wants to know who this Damsel is

The room was watching the exchange with slowly growing grins, most of them had a suspicion about who Ramone and River were referring too and the name was very entertaining.

"Is damsel -?" Martha grinned, not finishing her words instead waving vaguely in the Doctor's direction.

The Doctor's pout was all the answer the room needed but River confirmed with a wide grin anyway.

River asks if he's been thorough as Damsel has 12 faces, she shows a row of photos of the Doctor in a wallet as 12 looks at his old faces which end at 11

"You have picture's of the Doctor in your wallet?" Mickey asked River.

"No, that's my spotters guide to the Doctor. Makes him easier to find." River answered with a grin as the rest of the room started snickering. River turned pointedly to the Doctor. "Or it did before she gained the ability to have more faces I don't know." River's teasing was met with an impressive pout from the Doctor which only entertained the room more.

Ramone couldn't find him but River is sure he'll be here, hence why she crashed Hydroflax's ship there

"You purposely crashed the ship there because the Doctor would be there?" Rose asked, from what she had seen of River so far it didn't seem like the other woman needed the Doctor's help to get out of trouble really so the statement was a tad confusing.

"What better escape plan then time travel?" River answered with a knowing smile.

That made Rose and the rest of the group grin. "Ah, you needed the Tardis." Clara said.

River shrugged, fake nonchalance clear. "Well seeing the Doctor wouldn't be too bad if needed."

"Hey!"

The Doctor is Damsel, short for Damsel in distress as he needs a lot of rescuing

That entertained the room greatly, they all burst out into snickers and laughs which only increased as the Doctor tried to protest that assessment of her character. Her protests fell on death ears as she was ignored by most of the room. River taking pity on the Doctor, pressed a gentle kiss on her forehead which made her go cross eyes to try and look where she'd been kissed. Which had the unfortunate effect of making the room laugh harder.

12 asks about another unknown face but River tells him he has his limits, then they go to find him

That dampened the mood in the room - the realisation that no one knew if the Doctor actually did have limits, and if so what they were. The Doctor, keen to ignore the more depressing thoughts trying to claim a spot at the forefront of her mind instead decided to tease River. "I'm glad you're so impressed by my abilities."

"Sweetie, I've seen you try to fit as many Jamie Dodgers in your mouth as you could and then almost choke on them when you tried to speak. It takes a lot for you to impress me." River smiled back, as thankful for her wife's distraction as she was annoyed at the Doctor's inability to deal with her traumas.

"I'm sure I can think of some ways to impress you." The Doctor tried to flirt. It was an impressive try, if not lessened by the deep blush on her cheeks and slightly awkward wording.

"Please no flirting when we can hear you!" Amy shouted from across the room, bringing the rest of the room's watching eyes to the married couple's attention. Some how the Doctor managed to turn even reader while River only waggled her eyebrows suggestively.

"Of course mother. We'll be quieter next time." River's comment earned a strangled sound from her father who looked like he would rather be anywhere else but hearing this.

Back at the Saucer, the body is interrogating Nardole

"You forgot Nardole." Bill announced, turning to the Doctor. "Again."

"Actually this was technically the first time." The Doctor argued back, as was the joys of time travel.

"Not the point."

Nardole is terrified and very easily agrees to help the body track down River

"Nardole!" River protested half-heartedly. She couldn't really blame him and they had left him, but a bit more protests would have been appreciated.

The body decides to take the info by uploading Nardole which involves cutting Nardole's head off

The room turned to look at Nardole, confused on how he was with them whole after what they had just seen on screen. Bill, however, looked like a lightbulb had just lit up in her brain, she was the only one (outside the Master, River and the Doctor) who knew he was a cyborg himself. Things were suddenly making more sense.

Nardole's head is now on top of the body as they leave the Saucer, he does not like it

On one hand the group was glad that Nardole seemed mostly alright (despite being beheaded and mounted on the robotic body of Hydroflax), and on the other the sight of Nardole like that was entertaining.

Nardole argues he did not agree to this

"I mean technically you did agree." Ryan pointed out.

The body deploys stumpy metal wings and takes off to chase after River as Nardole informs it he's scared of heights

"Oh great, the angry robot body is chasing after you now." Rory muttered mostly to himself.

Back at the village Ramone is worried about finding Damsel, 12 is lagging behind criticising him

"Ooh, you're jealous." Jack sang, enjoying the drama far too much.

"I was not." The Doctor protested (despite knowing she absolutely had been and still was).

"Yes you were Sweetie." River shot down any of her protests before they even began.

River decides they can't wait around, 12 agrees that he could be busy saving civilisation or battling giant robot fish

"Giant robot fish?" Donna gave him a 'really?' look that declared exactly how stupid she thought he/she sounded.

"Weirder has happened." The Doctor argued, thinking back mostly to the fog fish she'd met during her eleventh face. Amy and Rory seemed to have the same thought, though they had mostly been stuck on the crashing ship. No one could argue against the Doctor's words, it was very true - weirder had and did regularly happen.

The arrive at the Tardis and River declares they'll steal it to 12's shock

The room burst out laughing at the Doctor's befuddlement at River's declaration. The dynamic between the pair seemed to swing between highly entertaining and depressing. They were just glad they were mostly seeing the entertaining side.

Ramone argues they could use the hopper which is close by but River declares she needs time travel

"You have a plan." Clara declared, sure of her words. River's smug grin was confirmation.

12 is still stuck on the stealing part, River hushes him telling him he won't understand

That set the room (which had just calmed down) off again, laughing at River brushing off the Doctor and the Doctor's face.

Martha who was one of the first to calm down, was giving the Doctor, River and the screen assessing looks. "You don't know that he knows what it is." She directed her words at River and despite it being a statement, River nodded anyway. "You're going to treat him like a confused an awestruck human. You're going to treat him like he does us when we first meet him." Martha declared. Her words had several other perk up, eager to see that. River and the Doctor shared a look but didn't offer an answer.

12 argues they can't just steal the Tardis

"Why not?" Rose asked. "You did." The Doctor's protests were halted before they started while River just laughed.

River argues she has a key and uses it to open the door

"You can't argue with that Doctor." Jack announced teasingly, sharing a wide grin with River while the Doctor looked between the two suspiciously.

12 keeps trying, saying that Damsel sounds dangerous ish

The room just turned to look at the Doctor with 'really?' expressions (not at the words, more for the weak defence - the Doctor was dangerous, but someone who didn't know would not figure someone with the name 'damsel' was dangerous).

River tells him she can steal it and return it without the Doctor ever knowing it has been gone (the benefits of time travel), 12 declares he'd know, but River states he hasn't before

That caused the room to start laughing again. the Doctor's expressions were comedy gold. River especially was appreciating them more this tie around, with the full context of who the Doctor was. At the time she'd been mostly annoyed by his arguing delaying them, but now it was just mostly funny (and a bit annoying that she had actually admitted several things to him).

River says goodbye to Ramone, who tells her to be careful

"When are either of you careful? I can't even tell which one is worse than the other!" Amy snorted. She was far too used to their antics of finding/making trouble.

"She is." The pair answered in sync, pointing at the other.

Ramone goes to leave as River warns 12 the box isn't as it appears on the outside. The Doctor is excited as it is finally his turn

The room turned to face the Doctor who was now grinning wildly, a sparkle in her eyes that hadn't made an appearance for a while. River just snorted, remembering his little display.

"You enjoy people's reactions to the Tardis far too much." Clara rolled her eyes at the Doctor who's grin didn't waver at all.

The Doctor goes over the top dramatics and does a whole spiel about it being bigger on the inside to River's annoyance as she tries to work

The room was laughing at the Doctor's false astonishment and River's clear annoyance at the scene he was making. River rolled her eyes at her wife, she'd enjoyed that far too much.

"I hate you." She muttered but her tone was too fond for even a stranger to think she meant the words.

"No you don't."

River gets a drink as 12 finishes, they're interrupted by beeping

"That's probably not good." Mickey declared. Noises like that when you think everything was finished were usually never good.

They check the bag where the head has powered down to conserve energy, then work out the beeping is a homing beacon

"That's how the body is going to find you." Yaz nodded. "You need to leave quickly."

They decide it is past time to leave but as River activate the time engines it just judders and makes sick noises

"Wait, you know how to fly the Tardis?" Rose asked, unable to keep a bit of jealousy out of her voice. She wasn't the only one, many of them looked a bit envious (even those that had helped 'fly' the Tardis during the whole planets in the sky mess).

"Yes, I was taught by the best." River answered with a sift smile of understanding.

"The Doctor?" Donna asked with disbelief clear on her face.

"The Tardis." That startled a few chuckles and snorts out of the group while the Doctor protested.

12 tells her she's doing it wrong, River argues she isn't. The Doctor points to a button suggesting she should press it

The Master snorted. "You really have no clue how to actually fly a Tardis."

The Doctor just glared back, arms crossed with a humph. The rest of the group watched a bit confused while River just snorted.

She informs him that button evacuates the waste tank on deck seven and 12 quickly decides to avoid deck seven

That drew a few chuckles from the group.

Something is interfering with the engines - with a life form registering as both inside and outside at the same time a safeguard triggers

"Oh, the body is outside." Bill realised. "Good safe guard for normal situations."

With the body out and head in the door won't engage properly and won't take off. 12 tries again to tell her who he is but she won't catch on

"I'm sorry Sweetie." River mumbled to her wife. She really should have realised at that point - he'd known far too much and wasn't nearly as shocked a she should have been.

"Don't worry about it River. You were a bit busy." The Doctor mumbled back. They'd been in a high intensity situation with oncoming danger, it hadn't really been the time for an explanation to her identity.

Back in the village Ramone is walking down a street but stops as he hears Nardole call to him

"Oh no." Someone muttered, everyone' eyes were focused on the screen, all knowing what was about to occur.

Nardole asks for help and Ramone enters the alleyway to find the body holding a gun to Nadole's head on its shoulders

The room glanced between Nardole in the room and the scene on the screen, things were definitely heating up again.

Nardole apologises and tells Ramone to do as it tells him

Back on the Tardis, River and 12 discuss what to do with the head with 12 making more bad jokes

Several people shook their heads at the Doctor's typical attempts for humour in dangerous situations.

River wants to know if all the sarcasm helps, 12 thinks the universe would be better if it did

That got a few snorts and nods of agreement from around the room.

River decides with the body coming and them being unable to take off the only thing to do is kill the head

"River!" Rory made a strangled sound with his head in his hands.

12 argues against this plan, the head suddenly wakes up and 12 drops him face down

"Ooh, that's got to hurt." Jack winced.

Hydroflax tells them if they kill him the body will burn the world

"Good incentive to not kill the head." Rose sighed, that was just typical.

In the village, the body wants Ramone to take a message to River

"I don't think anyone is going to like his message." Mickey muttered.

In the Tardis River want to know how, Hydroflax explains and 12 catches on that he's powered by a stabilised black hole. River is confused about what medical school the Doctor went to

"None." Martha shook her head.

With that power source, the body could take out the solar system

"Yeah that's bad. Don't kill the head."

"Thanks for that Bill."

They asks why Hydroflax didn't threaten that earlier, he answers he didn't want to endanger his people but he's cross now

"That is not a good reason." Clara raised an eyebrow at the screen.

Ramone bangs on the Tardis door declaring he has a message, River shouts him in but the body kicks the doors open

"Oh no." Rory muttered as the danger increased by the second. He was glancing worriedly between the screen and his daughter, only calmed by the fact she was here safe.

Ramone's head is now on the body and the message is death

"Definitely not a good message." Mickey mumbled.

The body grabs River and the head orders it to kill her as Ramone apologises, 12 darts past the body and shuts the doors allowing the time engines to start and the Tardis to take off with a lot of shaking - making the body drop River

The room let out a collective breath they didn't know they'd been holding. Glad to see Rive rout of immediate danger but still on edge with the mess taht was occuring on screen.

The body tries to kill them on Hydroflax's orders but they keep escaping as 12 asks where River set the coordinates to

"Stop arguing Doctor, just do as she says." Amy declared, worried for the pair of them.

River grabs the bag as 12 grabs the head and throws it to her, both avoiding the body trying to kill them

The group watched the (almost) seamless teamwork (minus the arguing) in some awe. They kept getting glances of the depth of the pair's relationship an understanding and it said a lot about how well they could work together and trust each other.

They run out of the Tardis as they land. They come out in a baggage hold, River leading the way and dragging 12 along by the hand which he is confused by as people don't do that to him

"No you do that to people. Aww, you're her companion." Rose grinned, she remembered clearly (even without having watched that video recently) how the Doctor had grabbed her hand and ran during their first meeting. The mix of Rose's words and the screen caused a few snickers to break out in the group.

River hushes him and he argues he is not a hushing person

"No, normally you just tell people to shut up and call them stupid." Clara raised an eyebrow while the Doctor made a 'who me?' expression that fooled absolutely no one.

They enter reception and a computer reveals they are on a star-ship cruise called Harmony & Redemption. Flemming walks up to them

"Fancy. You're on an inter-galaxy cruise?" Jack asked, nodding his head in appreciation of the ship.

"Of a sort." River answered with a cryptic smile. Those that knew her well, narrowed their eyes at her aware she likely had a plan but they just couldn't work out quite what it was.

The Master was watching the screen itself with a thoughtful look, he'd thought he'd heard of that ship. His eyes widened slightly as he remembered why he had heard of the ship - oh, the Doctor wasn't going to like that.

Flemming recognises River by name, saying her table is open. River asks about his family and Flemming tells her his twins are still digesting their mother so good

"Wait what!?" Bill exclaimed sitting up a bit straighter, she glanced at River and the Doctor as if asking them to confirm she had misheard.

The rest of the group looked just as startled (bar Jack who had run into aliens like that before and weirder). River and the Doctor simple shared a glance before waving at the screen in answer - they weren't going to spoil the upcoming events.

Flemming assures River it was a lovely ceremony with tears and a little screaming, they both laugh

The room shifted uncomfortable at hearing that, all giving River some dubious looks. She definitely balance don the edge of morality sometimes and it was startling for them to see it so blatantly like that.

River asks Flemming to deadlock seal the baggage hold, he hesitates until she reminds him of a previous incident involving dragon eggs

"Do I want to know?" The Doctor asked, raising an eyebrow at her wife's mention of dragon eggs. The humans in the group (aka most of the group) were blinking at the casual mention of dragons - it wouldn't be the weirdest thing they'd seen or heard of but still - dragons.

"No."

The baggage hold is deadlocked, and Flemming asks if 12 is for dinner, 12 answers he is but quickly changes his answer as Flemming says he'll get the chefs to prepare him

That startled a few laughs out of the group, the Doctor's completely calm attitude. They were all still a bit unsettled by the casual mention of eating people though - what kind of ship were the pair on?

River tells Flemming 12 will be joining her, Flemming then asks about the bag offering to take it. Muffled sounds from the bag are covered up with 12 claiming an irritable bowl

"Really that's the excuse you come up with?" Martha asked, shaking her head in (fond) disbelief and exasperation.

"What was I supposed to say? 'Sorry excuse the talking head in the bag'?" The Doctor protested, she would never admit she had panicked slightly and came up with the first thing she could think of.

"I'm not sure he would have been perturbed by that with the way he's mentioning eating people." Martha argued back.

"Touché."

River chucks the bag of threats to 12 as she freshens up, squirting a spray at her head and golden energy transforms her clothes and hair to more appropriate attire

The group watched on slightly envious of the perfume and ease that River just changed. "Where did you get that?" Amy asked her daughter curiously.

"That would be telling mother." River smirked. Amy just rolled her eyes at the typical River answer.

RIVER: Not bad for two hundred, eh?

"You're two hundred?" Yaz blinked shocked, her expression was shared by several people across the group.

"Half Time Lord. Very long story, which we may actually see parts of." River shrugged nonchalant, it wasn't like she was the oldest in the room (that honour went to the Doctor and the Master, followed by Jack). Plus, she was a bit self-conscious about it all, or rather her history with the Doctor - it would be interesting to see some things again but there were so many things she didn't want to see or let anyone else see.

Several people looked like they wanted to ask more questions (they knew so little about River) but the Doctor, River, Amy and Rory's matching pained expressions halted their words. River was right, if it was important they would likely see it anyway.

River tells him she has an augmented lifespan (long story) when he repeats her words

"That's an understatement." River muttered to herself. The Doctor squeezed her hand in comfort which earned her a small smile from her wife.

In the dining room, 12 asks what they're doing. Now that she has the diamond River plans to sell it

"Sell it? I thought you said you were hired to return it?" Rose said accusingly. River just sighed and waved to the screen, there was no point trying to explain herself.

The Doctor asks bout the Halassi and River asks if he was born boring or had to work at it

"Both." The Master drawled from his corner, and was promptly ignored by the room bar a sharp look from the Doctor.

She explains the cruise is for the rich murders and psychopaths of the galaxy, it was easy to find a buyer

"What's your plan?" Amy asked with a raised eyebrow at her daughter.

"You'll see mother." River smiled smugly while the Doctor rolled her eyes.

She takes a drink from a waiter, continuing that even staff have to have a history of killing, she's very relaxed for a cruise full of horredous criminals

The room shifted uncomfortable with how relaxed and familiar River seemed on such a ship.

At reception, the concierge tells Flemming there's an issue with the baggage room

"That's not going to be good is it?" Graham sighed. River and the Doctor shook their heads in confirmation.

In the dining room, River is reading something but comments on the Doctor's audible frown

"She's right." Clara grinned. Bill and Nardole nodded along as they were the only ones that really interacted with Eyebrows. The Doctor just pouted as her friends teamed up against her.

The Doctor is worried about the deadlock seal, River reassures him they can only be broken by geniuses which Hydroflax is not

The group watched the screen a bit more nervous, they had a sneaking suspicion about the Concierge and Flemming and the baggage hold.

River tells 12 about how she posed as a nurse and only took a week for him to marry her

"A week?" Martha shook her head, reluctantly a bit impressed. River shrugged with a smile, it hadn't exactly been hard.

River is holding her diary as she tells 12 that falling in love is the easiest lie you can tell a man, they will believe any story they're the hero of

The men in the room shifted uncomfortable while the woman smirked. Although the group was a bit uncomfortable with River's attitude.

12 tries to tell River but a waiter interrupts saying River's guest has arrived and should be there soon. The Doctor ask bout the diary and why it is so sad, River tells him its nearly full and the person who gave it to her was the kid to know how long a diary you'd need

"Doctor ..." Amy started but trailed off unsure how to articulate her worry. She and Rory exchanged a concerned look, they'd never known the fate of their daughter and this was starting to worry them. The Doctor just gave her a sad look full of understanding but no actual answers - they'd see.

Amy's words seemed to cause a realisation for a few others. "You gave her the diary?" Yaz puzzled out, looking at the Doctor who nodded, expression carefully blank.

12 says he sounds awful and River vaguely agrees as she puts the diary away.

DOCTOR: Not somebody special then?
RIVER: No. But terribly useful every now and then.

The room shifted uncomfortable with the exchange but knowing how personal it seemed - said nothing. The Doctor shifted a bit out of River's hold, more to get a better look at her face then to create some space.

"Doctor." River started softly, expression earnest. "I was lying. Please tell me you know that."

"You weren't completely wrong." The Doctor started but River's stare made her halt and sigh before continuing. "I know you were lying. You were scared and I was a virtual stranger. We've discussed this during our time on Darillium, please can we just watch for now."

"For now Sweetie." River reluctantly agreed.

At the security office, on a screen Ramone asks to be let out of the baggage hold. They comment on how nervous he is but Ramone says he'd the only one there

"He's not technically lying, clever." Jack mused but he was more nervous now then he had been at the start of the video. Things had taken a turn to be more tense and emotional.

Flemming goes to let him out, saying he'll just stick his head round the door

"That's all he needs." Mickey muttered with a concerned look.

In the dining room the buyer arrives

"He's creepy." Bill grimaced, gaining a few nods of agreement. The Doctor grimaced, they had no idea.

He introduces himself as Scratch a representative of the Shoal of the Winter Harmony

"Oh, wasn't that the brain things in New York?" Nardole realised with his own grimace. The Doctor nodded while the rest of the room watched the exchange confused - the words meant nothing to them.

River doesn't care about the details, just wanting her payment. Scratch runs a hand along his scar n his face and pulls his head open

"Ugh. That's gross." Rose made a disgusted face that was echoed across the group.

"That would put me off my food." Martha agreed.

Scratch removes a metal globe from his head and puts it on a napkin River provides before closing his head again

"Wise idea with the napkin, I would not want to touch that." Donna declared.

Scratch explains the globe will transfer the money to whatever account she chooses when instructed. River puts the bag on the table and warns him he might have to dig around a but for the diamond

"You're giving him the head?" Ryan asked.

River and the Doctor exchanged a look which only concerned the room more. "That was the plan." River eventually answered

"That is not reassuring." Rory sighed.

Scratch asks if he's being tricked before revealing the rest of the dining hall if filled with diners of the same species, all watching on

"That's really not good. You're outnumbered." Clara analysed the screen with concern, things were not looking good.

River receives the globe, promising no tricks, as Scratch allows the transfer of a hundred billion credits as agreed

Jack whistled in appreciation. "That's a lot of credits."

River accepts it and suggests he might need a spoon or something

"I think you should stop talking River." Amy glanced at her daughter concerned. She had an odd feeling things were about to go drastically wrong again (it tended to be the case when the Doctor and River were together).

The Doctor and River shared a silent conversation, both frowning, which was not helping ease her worries in anyway.

Scratch makes a declaration that they do this for their distant king

"Please don't tell me what I think it about to happen is about to happen." Martha groaned. The Doctor and River's grimaces were all the answers the room needed.

River starts to unzip the bag uncaring of Scratch's declaration until they start chanting Hydroflax, she zips up the bag again

"Smart move River." Jack snorted at seeing River zip up the bag. This was just typical when adventuring with the Doctor. Murphy's law seemed to take full affect around him - whatever could go wrong would. The room was all watching as the tension increased again, there was now two dangers and the group was greatly outnumbered with no visible escape route.

This is awkward, they don't want to hand over the bag

The group snorted at the Doctor's humour. "That's a bit of an understatement, Doctor." Rose said.

In the baggage area, Flemming begs for his head and comes up with a bargain as he knows who River is really married to

"Really?! You're luck is terrible." Amy announced looking between the married couple in concern.

"How does he know who you are married too?" Bill asked River confused. She really didn't seem the type to give out information like that, especially to people like Flemming.

River frowned, glancing at her parents and the Doctor who were all aware of the reason Flemming knew. "It's a long story and unfortunately a lot of people knew for a while. But the Doctor keeps deleting herself from any sort of database for reasons adjacent to that." Her answer was vague but seemed to satisfy the group for now - they were used to not getting actual answers for ages.

Scratch wants to know why they delay in the dining room, as he has paid. 12 and River fumble to come up with an excuse to explain the head of their king in a bag

The group watched the exchange with growing tension. There was no way to escape this - either they refused to hand the bag over or they let them find the head, neither was going to go down well. They couldn't deny the exchange was at least a bit entertaining - the way the pair were stuttering to try and find an excuse.

They try to hand over the bag and leave quickly before Scratch opens it

"Get out of there quickly, please." Rory muttered, glancing nervously between the pair in the room and the screen.

Scratch declares they will stay as he doesn't like surprises, he starts to unzip the bag

"I can't watch this." Clara muttered.

The Doctor snatches the bag back and stands on a chair declaring he can't just stand back

"What are you doing?" Yaz asked the Doctor with raised eyebrows. She was used to the Doctor's crazy plans but this seemed especially dramatic.

"You'll see." The Doctor grinned.

The Doctor does a over-dramatic speech and holds up the head before declaring they must find the truly devout as the diners hiss and watch on

The room was grinning at the Doctor's crazy idea - it was a very 'Doctor' scheme and their craziest ideas tended to work for some strange reason.

They start to auction the head, choosing people at random and naming prices, the Doctor then wakes the head up by stabbing an ear - Hydroflax wakes up screaming as the diners all bow down on the floor

"Run!" Rose declared. They had earned themselves some time and now they needed to use it to put some distance between themselves and Scratch.

River grabs the Doctor's hand and they run for the doors but Flemming blocks the way as the body enters, River and the Doctor are grabbed by security

"Great, because things couldn't get much worse." Bill muttered. They were all watching with concern, just when they thought the Doctor and River might have a chance at escape things got worse.

Hydroflax wants to return to the body but the body scans him and declares the damage irreversible and he is useless now. The body incinerates the head revealing the diamond

The room watched almost blankly as Hydroflax was killed, he hadn't exactly been an innocent or nice person so they couldn't really regret his death. They were more concerned with the danger River and the Doctor were in and the suggestions of whose head the cyborg was now after.

Flemming snatches River's diary

"Oh you don't touch someone's diary." Donna declared.

He tells the body that if it wants a head there is none better than the Doctor's and River's diary is the ultimate guide to him, River is pissed he's got her diary

"How do you manage to get yourselves into these situations?" Jack asked the Doctor incredulous.

"In this case I blame River." The Doctor teased.

"At least half this situation is your fault." River argued back.

"It was more than half your fault."

"I got us out of it."

"It was a team effort."

"Oh so the escaping was a team thing but getting into the danger was my fault."

"Exactly."

Flemming reads through the diary, commenting on events such as the Pandorica and a picnic in Asgard as River fumes

Amy and Rory shared a glance with the Doctor and River at the mention of the Pandorica. The pair of them were getting increasingly concerned with where the video was going, although they had relaxed a bit upon seeing Flemming with River's diary - there was no way River wasn't going to get revenge on him for that, she didn't let anyone near her diary.

Flemming remarks about a film being made about the Crash of the Byzantium

"Did they?" Amy asked. "Was it a horror movie?" Neither River or the Doctor answered her, too focussed on the screen and what they knew was about to occur. Amy's words was not reassuring anyone about her time travelling with the Doctor.

River wants to kill him as Flemming continued reading, getting to Jim the Fish

"Who is Jim the Fish?" Graham asked. No one answered him, most of the room was equally confused.

Flemming reveals River has just been to Manhattan

Amy and Rory flinched at the mention of Manhattan, it definitely put River's attitude in perspective for them. "Oh River." Amy said softly, giving her daughter a sad but understanding look. It seems neither the Doctor nor River were in the best headspace - at least they had each other. The Doctor squeezed River's hand, she hadn't missed that comment the first time around but it hadn't been the time or situation to say anything about it.

Scratch interrupts, agreeing the Doctor's head would be great

"How would that even work? Like would you head regenerate?" Bill asked, head tilted to the side in puppy like curiosity.

"You know what? I have no clue." The Doctor answered, face scrunched in thought.

"And lets hope you never have to find out." River sighed at her wife's antics.

Flemming adds a lot of people on the ship would be happy to see the Doctor's career ended

"Always nice to know you have enemies. Means you're doing something right." the Doctor said, voice full of false cheer.

"Or something very wrong." The Master countered with a smirk. The Doctor just glared at him before turning to focus on the screen, she had more important things to worry about than him at the moment.

The body uses Nardole's head to check if River is the Doctor's wife, he confirms she is

The room turned to look at Nardole in silence. The cyborg shifted in his seat uncomfortable after a minute at the silent eyes on him.

Flemming wants to know where the Doctor is

"Right next to you." Clara declared, she was starting to see how this situation was about to go downhill again.

River admits she doesn't have a clue as Flemming argues she must know as he loves her, River says the Doctor has never loved her even as Flemming calls her a liar

"River." The Doctor mumbled, shifting closer to her wife again, moving her hand up to give it a kiss. "Of course I love you."

"I know Sweetie, we talked about this on Darillium." River answered. "But thank you for saying it."

"He better!" Amy announced, more than vaguely threateningly from half way across the room. She was really not liking the direction this video was suddenly taking. the rest of the group was watching the screen with no little amount of confusion - they could se how clearly the Doctor loved River but the Doctor wasn't always good at expressing their emotions, they all knew that well.

The body scans River to confirm she isn't lying, she's not. Flemming argues he's correct and River is the woman who loves the Doctor

RIVER: Yes, I am. I've never denied it. But whoever said he loved me back? He's the Doctor. He doesn't go around falling in love with people. And if you think he's anything that small or that ordinary, then you haven't the first idea of what you're dealing with.

The room shifted a bit uncomfortable with watching what seemed like a very personal and emotional declaration. No one voiced it but several of them disagreed with River's words. The Doctor's problem was the complete opposite, they loved too much and too fiercely and it always meant they were left alone eventually. The Doctor was giving River such a sad look through her little speech, finding it all the harder to watch it the second time with no imminent danger, but she made no comment. She had spent twenty-four years on Darillium happy and they'd had a long time to discuss their feelings and insecurities.

Flemming keeps arguing that if River is in trouble the Doctor will come to her recuse as River denies it

"Yes I will." The Doctor mumbled into River's shoulder, leaning closer so she was practically tucked into River's side.

"I know Sweetie. And I will always come when you need me." River answered back, putting an arm around the Doctor to keep her close.

Flemming declares the Doctor is probably already there, River disagrees saying to scan the ship for two hearts and stupid clothes, you can't miss him

"What's wrong with my clothes?" The Doctor muttered to River but she was ignored by everyone. they were all to focused by the drama unfolding on the screen. It seemed this was how River was going to find out about the Doctor's identity.

12 tries to interject but River keeps going saying wherever the Doctor is its not caring about her and she's fine with that. According to her, the Doctor isn't sentimental enough or in love enough to be there with her

The room couldn't take their eyes off the screen despite how personal it felt to the pair. Amy and Rory wanted to make a comment about their daughter's insecurities but they also didn't want to overstep or embarrass her so they made a silent decision to talk to her next break. A few people in the group couldn't help but agree with River's sentiment, they always seemed to find themselves falling in love with the Doctor and she never did the same for them, or at least not in the way they wanted.

The Master was scowling in his corner unnoticed by the entire room. He hated this video. Hated seeing how sickeningly in love his Doctor was with the hybrid. He was the only one close enough to understand who the Doctor was, the only one that was close to being on the Doctor's level yet the Doctor always left them and abandoned them.

River finally meets the Doctor's eyes and the penny drops. There is a pause before 12 whispers hello sweetie, and River comments on his roots

"That's your first comment!" Amy exclaimed. She was glad to see River finally realise who was with her, hopefully it would help her insecurities, but she was unbelievably exasperated with their antics. "You two are unbelievable." River and the Doctor looked far too proud of that fact.

12 can't resist teasing her a bit, throwing her words back at her light heartedly

The room watched the screen with a lighter atmosphere, of course the first thing the pair did was tease each other. Now that they were on the same page the group felt more confident about their escape.

River and the Doctor work out exit strategies as the others listen on confused by the change in tone and direction of the conversation. 12 declares there are four exits - two concealed and one in the ceiling

"That's only three." Yaz pointed out. It was good to see the pair back in planning mode, so calm and confident with their ability to escape - it was reassuring.

The Doctor just grinned and waved at the screen while River rolled her eyes.

River adds the one in the floor but 12 doesn't like that one as its too tight

Yaz nodded her understanding, not even bothering to hide the wide smile on her face at the interaction between the pair. She could admit she was slightly in awe of River despite her dubious morality - she was a spectacular person who seemed almost constantly in control (the Doctor being a rogue factor that would knock anyone off their groove).

Flemming asks what they're talking about but River shushes him, before a clock chimes two o'clock

"Your plan?" Amy asked.

River smiled. "My plan."

River proposes the hypothetical that a meteor strikes the lower deck, asking where would be the safest place to stand, funnily but not coincidentally, they are in the exact right place

"How did you know about it?" Graham blinked. The Doctor and River raised an eyebrow at him, waiting for him to connect the dots. "Right time travel." Graham nodded, feeling a bit embarrassed for having forgot. Ryan and Yaz both gave him teasing grins.

12 registers River's escape plan as the computer alerts them to the meteor storm about to hit them

"You're so smug." The Doctor echoed River's words from earlier.

"I'm allowed to be, darling." the Doctor smiled but didn't deny River's claim, she definitely was allowed.

River reveals she's an archaeologist and dug them up in the future when asked how she knew, saying she'd see them in four hundred years

"So badass." Bill whispered to herself with a grin.

"Thank you." River answered which caused Bill to jump, she hadn't thought anyone had actually heard her. She stared at the screen, hoping desperately she wasn't blushing but knowing she likely was.

The floor gives way and 12 and River drop in to the reception, River talks about a book called History's finest exploding restaurants

"You think I can borrow it?" Jack asked, entirely serious. River winked while the Doctor watched concerned - she was seriously regretting the fact that they had met.

12 asks what River thinks of his new body, she asks how he got it as there are supposed to be rules, the Doctor tells her a thing a happened

"A thing always happens with you." Martha shook her head while the Doctor just shrugged, it was true.

River catches the diamond as a boom sends it flying, there's a bit of flirting about how good River is

"Could you two stop flirting and actually escape?" Amy raised an eyebrow at the pair, while Rory just groaned next to her.

"Sorry mother." River answered completely unapologetic which only made Rory groan more.

They make their way to the bridge but the body drops in on them

The room had mostly forgotten the cyborg with all the drama that had occurred between River and the Doctor. They were slightly concerned but mostly comforted by the fact the pair in the room seemed completely unfazed by its appearance.

They decide to conquer and divide, River starts to drive as the Doctor deals with the cyborg

"Sensible choice. River is the better pilot." Clara nodded.

"How do you know that?" The Doctor protested, going through her memory to find a time where River had driven/piloted with Clara.

"Almost anyone would be better than you." Clara raised an eyebrow.

"She's got you there Sweetie."

More flirting

"You are both terrible." Rory declared, head in hands.

"Oh poor baby." Amy teased her husband.

"I take it back. All three of you are terrible."

The cyborg wants the Doctor's head, the Doctor doesn't want to give up his head. Instead the Doctor gives him the money globe and sparks fly from the neck connector - the Doctor's introduced it to the best firewalls in the galaxy

The room grinned at seeing the cyborg so easily defeated finally - things were finally going the Doctor and River's way (despite the whole crashing spaceship thing). Of course the Doctor defeated it with one of their unusual and crazy unplanned plans.

The cyborg does not understand, 12 retrieves River's diary

"Thank you for saving my diary." River whispered to the Doctor.

"Anytime."

The Doctor makes a bad pun which he even admits wasn't very funny but he had to say it

That drew snorts out of the group. "I'm glad you finally admit you aren't funny old man." Clara grinned while the Doctor just smiled back, unable to be annoyed by the comment when she had just admitted it herself (and happy to see Clara in a better mood).

12 runs up the stairs to join River who is trying to use her sonic trowel on the ship's systems. Surface impact in two minutes, and everyone else has already left - River declares they should too

"At least one of you is semi-sensible." Rose declared.

"It won't last long." Amy snorted.

They get into an argument about who's married more people as they try to get the ship under control

The room watched the exchange entertained, they'd heard the pair have similar argument in the room with them and it was nice to know some things never changed.

"I'm not sure that's the time to have that argument." Donna pointed out with a raised eyebrow at the pair who shrugged unrepentant.

River recognises the planet they are crashing into - Darillium. She reminds him he always says they're going to go there for diner but cancels last second, 12 wants to continue that tradition

"Oh Doctor." River mumbled to her wife as she pressed a kiss to the Doctor's forehead. She understood now while he had kept cancelling and was almost thankful for it despite how much she had hated it then. The stories she'd heard had scared her more then she would admit.

12 uses his sonic on the console declaring he can use the internal teleport power cell to boost the thruster as River comments on it

Jack narrowed his eyes at that. He wasn't quite as much as a the expert as the Doctor and River (and the Master) but he felt something fishy with that statement. It didn't help River was giving the Doctor a stern look.

He hands a cable to River telling her to hold it, he teleports her away declaring crashing spaceships his job. She's not happy with him

Amy and Rory let out a breath at seeing River at least temporarily out of danger, they knew it wasn't likely to last long with the Doctor still in danger so they were enjoying it for the seconds it lasted.

River is teleported to the Tardis and immediately pilots it to the Bridge, materialising around the Doctor as he protests

"The pair of you are idiots. You both need to leave." Amy declared giving them both a stern look like misbehaving toddlers (which they acted like a lot). The pair just smiled at each other and then her which made her narrow her eyes.

River exits the Tardis, swiftly followed by the Doctor. They argue about whose job it is, before deciding its getting a bit close and they should go back in the Tardis. they do so just in time

"Finally." Rory muttered. Things had been getting far to close for everyone's liking. As heartfelt and honest as the declarations had been it really wasn't the time.

The impact sends them flying, 12 recovers first and checks on River who is unconscious

The group watched in concern as the pair went flying from the impact, no one taking their eyes of the screen or making any comments so they didn't delay finding out if they were hurt. They let out a breath they didn't know they'd been holding at seeing the Doctor move around and check on River.

River is fine. 12 picks up the diamond which landed on the floor. He opens the door to find burning wreckage promptly closes it again and jumps a bit forward in time before going out again

"The joys of time travel."

Alphonse runs over wearing a hard hat, he asks if the Doctor saw the ship come down and says he's been searching for survivors. The Doctor commends him but tells him there isn't any and if there were they likely wouldn't be worth it

The room felt some sympathy for the man, the Doctor's compliments were worth quite a bit for some unknown reason. It was good to see a genuinely nice person just trying to help and the group was interested to see what the Doctor was up to.

The Doctor looks to two tall pillars of stone asking about the Singing Towers of Darillium, they've arrived at last

The group turned to the Doctor and River confused by that statement - clearly there was something going on here that they didn't understand. River, the Doctor and Nardole just looked sad.

The Doctor declares they should build a restaurant there with a view of the towers, he gives Alphonse the diamond telling him the reward would be substantial, when Alphonse asks why 12 is giving it to him, 12 just says restaurant

"Of course you give away the most valuable diamond in the universe so you can take River on a date." Jack shook his head, smiling. It was so very typical Doctor behaviour.

The Doctor goes back into the Tardis where River is still unconscious. He sends the Tardis forward again, exiting into a busy restaurant. He asks for a reservation on a balcony with a view of the towers - the only one available isn't available until Christmas day in four years time, that's not a problem for 12

"That's a really good use of time travel." Clara looked far too thoughtful about that, especially knowing that she had her own Tardis with Me. The Doctor narrowed her eyes at Clara suddenly a bit nervous about what Me and Clara were getting up to across time and space.

In the Tardis, River wakes up and goes outside. The receptionist greets her by name and tells her the Doctor is waiting for her on the balcony. River uses her transformation spray again before she is led to her table

The group watched quietly as the atmosphere seemed to take an almost melancholy/sad feeling. They couldn't help but feel what was about to happen was important although they had no idea why - as most of the danger seemed to already be done with.

On the balcony, River arrives to find a familiar red metal body with a familiar head on top

"But what?" Rose asked, blinking at the site of the robot. The room had all tensed at the sight but the Doctor just smiled reassuringly and waved at the screen.

Ramone greets her, explaining the Doctor find them in the wreckage and patched them up, the bad part is all gone and Nardole and him part time on top

"So that's how you met Nardole?" Bill asked the Doctor who grinned.

"Yep, made him his own body eventually."

The Doctor interrupts, he's cleaned up and carries a gift

"You clean up nice Doctor."

"Jack!"

He gives her the box, River opens it to reveal a sonic screwdriver which she is very happy about

"Of course you'd give her a sonic." Martha shook her head but was smiling at the pair, happy to see them together.

Donna, however, was frowning slightly, she'd thought for a while that she had vaguely recognised River but the sonic and diary had just confirmed it. She glanced almost frantically at the Doctor who frowned, eyes sad, but nodded - she was right in her thoughts. Donna's heart broke just that little more for the Doctor, watching the screen with a new perspective.

She thanks him and kisses him on the cheek. He tries to compliment her but she rightfully guesses he has no concept of style or people changing

"I'm impressed you tried. You're terrible with that stuff as Eyebrows." Clara grinned at the pair, she was quite happy to have seen them properly. Her only actual interaction with River had been Trenzalore and the Doctor never really wanted to speak about her but it was clear he loved her.

"She's not much better now." Yaz grinned ignoring the Doctor's protests.

"She never is." Rose laughed.

River gazes at the Singing Towers listening to their music, before asking why the Doctor is crying

"It's beautiful." Martha muttered, but like all the other she was watching the Doctor and River.

12 declares it is just the wind, River argues and pushes asking why he's sad. The Doctor turns the question back on her as she repeats her earlier answer of her diary almost being full, she'd worried, the Doctor tells her not to be

Despite the Doctor's comment the room couldn't help but be a bit worried, things had suddenly taken a sad turn. Donna, Bill and Nardole were especially sad as they had some idea of what happened. The interaction just solidified Amy and Rory's determination to talk to their daughter soon.

River remarks on the stories about them, one of which says the last night they spend together is at the Singing Towers of Darillium, she wants to know if its true but he just answers spoilers

"What happens to her?" Amy demanded, unable to take it anymore.

"Amy."

"No Doctor. What happens to River?"

"It's okay Mother." River tried to intercede while the Doctor just looked so deeply sad that it terrified Amy and Rory more.

"No it's not River." Rory joined in.

"It is, its already happened for me and I will see the Doctor again. Stories aren't always true and they don't always know everything." River declared, tone leaving no room for arguments.

The Doctor looked so hopeful at that declaration, pressing closer to River. She was still facing her wife's parents though. "We'll talk during the break, I don't think there is much more left." Amy and Rory nodded reluctantly, understanding that was the best they were going to get at the minute.

River gets why he kept cancelling now and starts to spiral as she wants him to find a way around it, the Doctor declares not everything can e avoided forever, every night is the last night for something and every Christmas is the last Christmas

Clara flinched at the words fake Danny had said to her during the weird mess in the North Pole. The rest of the room was watching the exchange unnerved at seeing River almost breaking down, it seemed so out of character for her and the exchange seemed so personal, they felt a bit guilty for watching it.

River argues that the Doctor will find a way to save the day like they always do

DOCTOR: No, I don't. Not always. Times end, River, because they have to. Because there's no such thing as happy ever after. It's just a lie we tell ourselves because the truth is so hard.
RIVER: No, Doctor, you're wrong. Happy ever after doesn't mean forever. It just means time. A little time. But that's not the sort of thing you could ever understand, is it?

The Doctor turns the conversation back to the Towers, but River is more focused on him

The group had nothing to say at the scene unfolding before them, all a bit in shock as the pair of time travellers almost seemed to be saying goodbye.

River finally asks how long a night is on Darillium, the Doctor reveals it is twenty four years

More than one person let out a little chocked or relieved noise at the Doctor's words. The whole situation was still unbearably sad, knowing it could be the last time they saw each other, but it gave them some time at least. The music from the towers seemed to say everything they were all currently feeling.

River cries happy tears, declaring she hates him, they both know she doesn't mean it. Together they lived happily for some time

The room was silent as the final word disappeared, unsure what to actually say about that rollercoaster of an episode - it had seemed so innocent at the start but had ended on such a heartfelt and emotional moment. The Doctor gave one last kiss to the back of River's hand as her wife gave her a soft look full of her love - both of them thinking back to their domestic bliss on Darillium. The Doctor then turned to the rest of the room. "I think we all need a break, the last few videos have been ... intense."

There was several grumbles of agreement as people started to stand up and stretch their legs. The group slowly dispersed, leaving the screening room in search of a walk or something to eat, conversations striking up about anything and everything. Soon the only people left in the room were the Doctor, River, Amy and Rory.

Amy leaned forward in her seat, eyes locked on her daughter and the Doctor. "Start talking."