Am I a Good Man?

River took a moment to forget herself and to look over the man opposite her. His words were recognized, but it seemed her brain hadn’t yet processed them. Taking in his features and analyzing his voice, a smile started to play across her lips. Finally remembering her Blaster was in his face, River quickly re-holstered her weapon. “Oh, sweetie… I love what you’ve done with the face. And those eyebrows. The Delphon would love you.”

Letting out the breath he'd only been vaguely aware of holding, the Doctor smiled. "Oh, they do- I've already been. Had trouble even getting a coffee last time, but now I get it thrown in my face so I'm not entirely sure how much of an improvement it is." He's not overly surprised that she didn't recognize him despite having what she'd said to be the 'spotters guide.' Logically he wasn't even supposed to have this face or any other now.

"Regeneration…?  Doctor? ”

"Hello, Amy."

"I’d say at least a thousand years for you-" Her smile began to widen, her hearts beat just a bit quicker and her grip on his arm tightens just a little bit. Adrenaline coursed through her veins and maybe she tugged him along just a little bit faster— down the path they took many years ago. She thought this was an impossible situation given the knowledge his tenth self had of her before even running through all of space and time together.                      “I hope the show tonight is as good as last time’s.” There’s a moment where she looks at him and she can see his past selves. His Eleventh face, and Tenth. She sees him in those new eyes of his and in the way he smiles and swaggers around the TARDIS. He’s always been the same mad, impossible man, with a different case.

But now, here where they were equals, he could remember it all. Every cuppa, every night spent keeping each other's nightmares at bay, every star they'd seen. And oh, was he looking forward to making new memories.

     ❛  not a chance that they’re friendly aliens, is there?❜ 

"There's always a chance, but you'll have to ask them- not me."

"Right, I see. Do I ever go ginger though?"

"Not between you, Handy, Chinny, and me, no."

"What’re you so busy with that you can’t solve the mystery of your face? I don’t know about you, but if there was a problem with my face, I’d make that top priority.”

"Especially since I got the idea UNIT called me? That or my end of the space-time telegraph is malfunctioning."

He looked carefully at the identification, trying to find something at fault with it. But there was nothing wrong with it so he had to admit defeat. “My apologies, sir. Is just protocol. You know how Starfleet can be about these things.”

"Indeed- wouldn't want any impostors or ne'er do wellers mucking about a ship like this." Well that was settled- for now. If he could just remember exactly where he'd left the TARDIS, the Doctor could get off this ship without being thrown into the brig and spend a ridiculous amount of time answering questions.

The planet’s name rang a bell— no. No, no, no this couldn’t be the same man- it couldn’t. Then again maybe it could? Did she really want to take that chance? Perhaps he’d see it, the way confusion briefly wrote itself all over her face before she spoke. “I actually have been here, once. What a grand night it was. Stargazing for hours— honestly I think we-I may have fallen asleep at some point from how much time I’d spent there.” It’s a silent test, that way she doesn’t make a fool of herself— but if it’s him he’ll know. Taking his arm she stepped out of the TARDIS and took in a deep breath. “It’s nice to see this place again.”

He looks at her, a twinkle in his still fairly new eyes. Oh, he'd spent so long hoping that it was her, so long worrying that if he said anything it would all be ruined. By everything he'd learned since they'd been separated this should be impossible. But it wasn't. Impossibility was seeming more and more like an impossibility unto itself these days.

"Well, it definitely doesn’t involve that. This is not my everyday. Is this something you see all the time?”

"Oh, every week or so I'd say. Every other? More than you at any rate."

River’s smile is broad, they’re caught up here. She doesn’t have to hide things from him because they’re no longer back-to-front. As he gathers the items she makes sure the stabilizers are on for when they leave the planet. Something about him— she doesn’t mind this man calling her Melody, unlike his previous face. “Let’s go then.” There’s laughter in her voice and eyes.  She’s happy.

He offers his arm to her, happy to see her happy. Even if they weren't as quite synchronous as he was hoping, he did love the time they had together.

"That would be lovely. Tea and the  stars, every woman’s dream.”

"Tea, biscuits, and the stars," he says, grabbing a basket from next to one of the book cases in the console room. Stepping down the stairs and towards the door, he gives her another smile. "Shall we then, Melody?"

"I’m not the one who came up with it!"

"Not that difficult."

    “You sure know how to treat a woman.” ….Yes.

"Two thousand years in- I hope I would. Come on, then. Shall I bring some snacks?"

   ”Well, no offense, but what the hell are     you doing here? Hill Valley and— and—     and time travel just don’t mix. Things get     out of whack. I mean, you come here     and tell me you know me and I’m not     gonna lie— it’s got me worried.”

"Oh, just passing through mainly. I do that a lot. Not ever on purpose, though. Bit surprised the TARDIS even landed here now you mention it."