#15river

The TARDIS materialized softly, as if sensing that loud, clanking gears would be out of place here. The Doctor stepped out into a secluded garden, wrapped in early evening shadows and a gentle breeze. The garden was beautiful—tucked away, with towering hedges and soft, winding pathways flanked by flowers in muted colors. It wasn’t the kind of place he’d expect to find River Song, and yet, at the same time, it was perfectly fitting.

His gaze drifted along the path until he spotted her.

She was seated on a stone bench, a book resting open in her lap, one hand lightly tracing over the pages as her eyes moved across the lines. Her curls, now tinged with more silver than gold, caught the fading sunlight, framing her face in a soft, quiet glow. She looked up at the soft sound of his footsteps, her expression softening into a smile that held neither surprise nor amusement—just an easy, comforting familiarity.

“Hello, Sweetie,” she greeted, closing her book and placing it beside her. Her voice was a little quieter than he remembered, but it carried the same warmth.

The Doctor, for once, found himself at a loss for words. He took a few steps closer, his gaze fixed on her as if trying to reconcile this older, softer River with the one he’d known across all her wild adventures. “River,” he murmured, his voice almost reverent. “It’s been… some time.”

She patted the space on the bench beside her. “Then come and sit with me. I’ve kept your seat warm.”

Without hesitation, he took her invitation, settling down beside her. Her hand found his, warm and steady, fingers lacing together without a second thought. He glanced down, noting the absence of her familiar blaster holster, replaced only by a slim belt and her trusty sonic screwdriver tucked neatly at her side. The fierceness, the flirtatiousness, that wild edge he’d known—he could still feel its echo, but it had softened, folded into something deeper.

After a quiet moment, he spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. “Are you happy here, River?”

She gave his hand a gentle squeeze. “Very. There comes a time, Sweetie, when a quiet garden feels like the grandest adventure of all.”

The Doctor’s gaze softened, a mixture of love and sorrow flashing across his face as he took in the peaceful scene around them. He wanted to ask more, to fill the silence with his usual flurry of questions, but something about the stillness of the moment held him back. Instead, he simply leaned in, resting his head lightly against hers.

He sat in comfortable silence, feeling the warmth of her hand in his, the gentle rhythm of her breathing as she sat by his side. He closed his eyes, letting himself relax into the moment. It felt like coming home in a way he rarely allowed himself to experience. She was here, whole and radiant and alive, and for now, that was enough.

But after a few moments, a hint of curiosity crept in, tempered with his usual blend of disbelief and awe.

“I didn’t expect you to be so… grounded,” he murmured, glancing at her face. He searched for some flicker of the old River—the irrepressible force who flirted and laughed in the face of certain doom. And yet, here she was, calm, almost serene.

River smiled softly, her gaze shifting to the blooms around them. “Well, perhaps there’s something to be said for quieter adventures, Doctor. Sometimes, there’s nothing quite as powerful as simply being still.” She tilted her head, studying his face with a knowing look. “Though I suppose that doesn’t sound like your River.”

The Doctor’s brow furrowed. “Well, you’re still my River,” he replied, though his tone was uncertain. “Just… different, somehow.”

Her smile deepened, and she raised an eyebrow. “You have no idea just how different, do you?”

He blinked, thrown off by the calm certainty in her tone. “Should I? I mean, of course, I know we’re always moving through each other’s timelines, but you… you seem…”

She laughed softly, cutting him off with a gentle shake of her head. “Oh, Sweetie. Haven’t you realized? I’m the one who has all of our memories now.”

The Doctor’s breath caught, and for a split second, he felt the ground shift beneath him. His fingers tightened around hers reflexively as he looked at her, really looked at her. His gaze lingered on the faint lines around her eyes, the softer edges to her smile, the hint of timelessness that felt so much like his own.

“You mean…” he started, his voice hushed, struggling to wrap his mind around it. He swallowed, his words suddenly faltering as he felt the weight of her presence. “You’re… you’re… you’ve been to the Library?”

So you know who everyone is, I added their names