When Danni had first thought up of the idea of going back to see Eleven, she knew it was going to be a tough sell. There was no way she would ever convince the Doctor to take her – even beyond the fact that he really didn't seem to like his younger self, going back on your past was never a good idea. Her next thought had been Jack, but once again she knew she'd come up against the same arguments.
Then her thoughts had fallen onto her mother. River didn't like Eleven any more than the Doctor and Jack seemed to dislike him, but then again River didn't like any Doctor. In fact, River didn't really like anyone who took Danni's attention off her, which meant that if Danni could give her a convincing argument, she stood a chance of River agreeing to it.
However, it was still going to be tough, River's surprised look told her that. But she had to try, she had to see him again, just one more time. She needed to see her husband when he still wanted to be her husband, not so much as a reminder of what she was fighting for – she'd fight for the Doctor as long as she had breath in her body – but more as motivation to keep doing so.
"Please, River." She practically begged, "I just want to see him again."
"Danni…" River groaned, her voice full of the apology she was about to give, "You can't go back on the past like that."
"Why not?" Danni counted, "You're the one who didn't shoot the Doctor and broke time. I just want to see him, it's barely anything at all!"
"No, it wouldn't be." River agreed, "But I know what you two are like around each other. There is no way that you'll be able to just stand back as he's walking away."
Danni looked positively offended, "I'm hurt by your lack of faith in me!" She snapped, "I know I can't talk to him! I just want to see him! I just want to say goodbye!"
"But it won't end at goodbye, will it?" River countered before sighing, sitting next to Danni, "You know I'd give you anything I could, sweetie," she started softly, "But this is too dangerous."
"What can break if I go see him?" Danni asked, a hint of desperation in her tone.
"You." River replied, reaching out to brush some of Danni's hair behind her ear. She was always taken aback by how pretty her Danni-Girl was, no matter the body, "I won't take you somewhere where you can get hurt like that. I've seen him break your hearts enough."
Danni tilted her head back, moving away from her hand, "You don't know what it's been like!" She exclaimed, feeling like the teenager she was much too old to be, "He's trying to irradiate Eleven from my life! He told me that if I didn't do what I was told, I couldn't be with him anymore! He pushed me over!"
Even though Danni thought she did actually sound a bit childish with her last point, she watched River straighten, as if finally listening to her. So she grabbed hold of it tight, "I can't take it anymore, River." She continued, "I miss my husband, I don't think he wants me there anymore." Her head was bent, but she looked up at the Pond child, "Please, he's already hurting me. Nothing can be this bad. He doesn't want me anymore; I just want to see a Doctor who does. He won't take me to see Eleven. You're the only one who can help me."
"Danni…" River sighed again, although she was liking the idea of Danni coming to her for help. She knew there were bodies that she didn't see, who had lived long past her own death, but this body still was very much dubious of her. She didn't see her as her mother, and would only start to see her as a proper friend towards the end. If this was what she had to do to prove to Danni that she was on her side, she would just have to do her best to ensure her safety.
Of course, getting one over on the Doctor was always tempting. She knew how much the old man that Danni would have come from at this point of time hated his younger self, so much so that he'd be completely outraged at the idea that River had taken Danni to see him. Hopefully it would help Danni see that she really didn't need the stuffy Time Lord in her life.
"Fine." She sighed and Danni beamed at her, chucking her arms around River and hugging her tightly.
"Oh thank you!" She squealed, "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
River chuckled, enjoying the hug before pulling back, giving her a pointed look, "No talking to him." She declared as a stipulation, "No going anywhere you know is dangerous, and we're not staying very long."
Danni nodded eagerly. She didn't want to stay too long anyway. Just enough to say goodbye to him, to let that part of her life go so she could focus on the now. She knew, in her head, she was comparing Twelve to Eleven entirely too much, which was something she had always thought she was very good at avoiding. His words were hurtful because Eleven would have never said them, his actions weren't like Eleven's, so they seemed a lot worse than they probably were. She loved Eleven dearly, but it was time to love the Doctor again, not just him, and a picture just didn't offer her the closure she needed. She couldn't talk to him, but seeing him had to help with that, right?
"I know just the place." She told River, quickly standing up before crouching down by the bed, reaching under for the box she knew held River's vortex manipulator, "It was a lovely day, but nothing happened. No monsters, no fight- ah ha," she pulled the box out, quickly handing it to her friend, "no fighting. We just went shopping. The Doctor bought me a new dress. And I bought him this." She reached into her pocket, pulling out a pocket watch, "It was his favourite."
River frowned as she strapped the large leather device to her wrist, "If it's his favourite, how come you have it?" She asked.
"Because he chucked it away when he regenerated." Danni explained, taking a moment to study the pocket watch once again. It wasn't anything special, but somehow still seemed so very pretty. Maybe he hadn't liked it as much as he had made out he had. Maybe it just wasn't to his taste right now. That was okay, she'd keep it safe until he liked it again.
"What an ass." River grumbled, but Danni shot her a look, "Alright, alright. Do you know the co-ordi…" she trailed off as Danni shook her head. Of course she wouldn't, "What about date and planet?"
That Danni could do. River did recognise it, which helped a lot, and she quickly typed in the destination into the small keyboard, "Ha, look at that." She murmered. Danni frowned and looked at the screen.
"Look at what?" She asked.
"04 08 1969," She read out of the screen, although Danni couldn't understand what the display meant at all, "That's the day I first met you. You were ginger and I was a brat."
Danni frowned, struggling to pull the date to mind. She met River first in Berlin, after Hitler, when she regenerated, but that was much earlier than the 1969 she must have been referencing.
"Oh!" She exclaimed, feeling rather stupid over forgetting, "You mean Washington, don't you?" River shot her a look, "Won't that just take us there, though?"
"Oh, sweetie." River sighed, "I really have to teach you how to use this thing. It just looks like the date, it's much more complicated than the Earth dating system."
"Of course." Danni replied, "I know that."
River couldn't help but be amused by the slightly flustered look on her face, "I'll show you how to get us back." She promised before holding her wrist out for Danni, "Hold on."
Danni's hand hovered for a moment over the manipulator. It had been so long since she'd worn one, and for a while she'd taken comfort from its presence even after it stopped shooting her all over time and space. However, even on someone else, it did just worry her slightly to have to touch one again.
But she placed her hand on it after a moment, taking hold and River took them away.
~0~0~0~
Danni had thought she remembered Hatuni quite well, but when they landed in the market place, she realised that she had forgotten quite a bit about it. She remembered the sandstone buildings, but not the way they seemed to shine in the sunlight. She didn't quite remember all of the different species that walked up and down the makeshift paths between the stalls, or the fact the dogs – or maybe an equivalent, she wasn't sure – seemed to be quite prevalent.
And she certainly didn't remember just how warm it was. The moment they had adjusted to jumping across time and space, she fanned herself with her hand, "Oh, I wish I'd worn something with shorter sleeves." She told River.
River, however, wasn't paying much attention to the weather. Her eyes were scanning the area, obviously looking for the Doctor, a woman on a mission. One she hoped to keep short and sweet, "And you think he'll be around here somewhere?" She asked.
"We spent all day here." Danni explained as they started down the main pathway, "And we separated for a while, that's how I was able to buy him the watch."
"This is such a bad idea." River murmured, although she made no move to take them back to the prison.
"Oh, it's not that bad." Danni dismissed, "We can spend the day here too! There's some lovely shops, we could make it a shopping trip!"
Now that did sound like a good idea, "Did you bring any money?" River asked and Danni shook her head.
"Nope!" She cried happily and River rolled her eyes. Of course not. When did either of them carry money with them when they had friends who would willingly pay for anything they needed. Not that they really needed anything with that blue box of theirs.
"Look!" Danni suddenly exclaimed, "Oh, they're so pretty!" She left River standing in the middle of the pathway as she dashed over to a stall covered in ornaments covered in shiny gems. River rolled her eyes, although she couldn't help but look on fondly as she made her way over to her side, slower than Danni had rushed over.
"You're such a child." She teased Danni, who nodded.
"What's the point if you're not a little childish sometimes?" She countered, "That must be a rule somewhere in your diary."
River shook her head, "Not that I recall."
"Then we'll have to add it when we get back." Danni declared, turning away from the stall to look for another one, "Remind me; Rule 45, always be a little…"
Danni grabbed River's arm as she trailed off, taking a small intake of breath. There he was. Looking at a stall full of small bags, picking up a blue one to take a closer look. He was on his own, so it must have been for her. A surprise, because he'd always been like that. He never went out of his way to buy her gifts, she had never wanted to be showered with things, but if something caught his eye that he thought she wanted, then he'd buy it.
This didn't keep his attention for long, though. He put it down and started chatting to the man behind the stall, although they were too far away to hear what he was saying. Probably explaining the history of the bag to the blue man, who wouldn't really have cared anyway, but was still listening because that's what Doctor could always do. He could hold your attention and make you feel like the entire universe thought you were absolutely fantastic and worth the time.
She was completely drawn in by his smile, and the gesture of his hands. The way his hair seemed to move with his enthusiasm. He just shone with happiness, and her hearts ached slightly as it felt like, even after such a long time, she was starting to forget that. It shouldn't have surprised her so much.
River didn't care about the Doctor. She had no time for him when he was supposed to be with them, so a Doctor that they were spying on didn't hold her attention at all. She was focused on, like she always had been, on Danni. She'd not let go of her since she'd grabbed her to stop them both. She had taken in a small gasp when she'd spotted him, and it seemed like she was holding her breath. Her eyes shone behind her glasses, but River was actually rather impressed with the way she didn't seem to actually be breaking down in the sobs she had expected. She just seemed to be memorising everything she could about the man who, for some reason, held her hearts tightly.
Then her head dipped forward, her eyes closed and River watched the weight of her grief crush her. Her shoulder's dipped, the tiniest of sobs broke from her lips. Her nails dug into River's arm painfully as her grip tightened and immediately River turned to pull her in for a hug, wanting to offer all of the comfort she could.
But before she could, Danni straightened, a smile appearing on her face. She didn't apologise, or try and explain it away. Her grip loosened on River and she let go, leaving small indents in her skin. Her eyes stayed trained on her husband once more.
She wanted to run over. She wanted a hug, a kiss, just something one more time. She'd take anything if only to say hello to him again, to be his Danni-Girl again. But she couldn't. Even in her completely broken state she knew that. One thing she had always been good at was following the rules of time and this was one of them. If she changed anything, then who knew what could happen?
"Goodbye Spaceman." She whispered, her face crinkling as she struggled to keep her tears at bay. She then turned to River, a shaky smile on her face, "Let's go." She declared. River nodded, taking her hand and swelling with joy when Danni didn't snatch it back.
"Do you want to stay?" She asked, turning Danni around so that she could no longer see the Doctor, heading in the complete opposite direction to get her as far away from him as quickly as possible. Danni shook her head.
"No, no I think I want to leave." She replied apologetically, "Driver's choice?"
River grinned, "I know just the place."
Behind them, in a flash of light that only a few onlookers saw, a ginger woman appeared out of thin air. Her brown eyes scanned quickly, her breath coming out in heavy pants. She just had to find him, then she'd be safe. She needed the Doctor, to help her get home.
She spotted him, "Doctor!" Danni screamed in a Scottish accent that could rival her grandmother's, but before he could even spin around, a brown haired woman appeared next to her. Missy grabbed her arm and they both disappeared across the universe.
The Doctor had just been wasting time while Danni shopped on her own. He knew that she was looking for something to buy him; she always thought she was discreet but he could always tell when she was up to something.
He was happy to let her wander, though. He had to admit, the idea of a present did always make him feel a little bit like a kid, and if she didn't find anything, then she'd try and make it up to him, and there was never anything wrong with that.
He still hadn't spotted anything for her though, he thought he'd been on with a winner with the blue bag, but the stitching on it just wasn't up to standard. It didn't matter, though, because the call of his name caught his attention. It was distinctly Scottish, an accent that didn't exist on this planet, but his mind immediately flew to their old Scottish companion. It didn't sound anything like Amy, but maybe it had been.
He spun around to look for her but couldn't see the ginger anywhere. But, the sight that caught his eye completely cleared his mind of anything else. Just down the road stood Danni, who had also heard the call of his name. She was looking around, a slightly bewildered look on her face, trying to spot where the shout had come from. River was by her side, which meant that this wasn't his Danni. This was another Danni, probably from the future if he had to guess at this distance because his Danni was still horrifically angry at River's deceit.
They caught each other's gaze and, for a moment, stood still. He should leave her alone. After all she was from further on in his time line, he couldn't risk it.
But when did you have a chance to meet your wife in the future? He hadn't done that in decades!
She also seemed to be torn over what to do, but when he started running towards her, she grinned and rushed over to him as well. They fell to a stop in front of each other and he could see it in her eyes and the way she held herself; she was hundreds of years older.
"Danni." He greeted with the hugest grin on his face. She was older, but still the same body. He'd not gotten her killed, or maimed, or anything. If only he could hold onto this body for that long, then maybe he could be with her as well.
She couldn't stop grinning. He was right in front of her, but instead of hugging him like she wanted, she just shifted slightly on the spot, "Doctor." She replied, enjoying the feel of his title on her tongue.
"You shouldn't be here." He told her with a teasing tone and she shrugged.
"I-I was just bringing mother dearest shopping." She explained, only stuttering slightly over the not-exactly-lie. She had intended on taking River shopping here, it just wasn't the only reason they were there, "I must have got the years wrong, or something."
"I'm glad you did." He told her honestly, because just the sight of her had his hearts flying. She was going to be okay. As River fell by Danni's side, ready to catch anything that the blonde girl might let slip, the Doctor took another quick look around, "Did you bring the TARDIS?"
Danni knew what he was asking – he wanted to know if her Doctor was there, or, in fact if she had a Doctor at all. For some reason that was all Eleven seemed to worry about. If she would be okay after he'd died, if she'd have the TARDIS, if she'd have friends. His concern for her was magical and felt almost foreign compared to Twelve, but instead of making her sad at the comparison, it just made her almost giddy in happiness.
"No, you dropped me off a Stormcage." She explained, watching the relief break out on his face, "We took the space hopper."
He couldn't believe it! He was still around. He took a quick look up and down her, guessing that she was at least a couple of hundred years older than his Danni. So he had at least another two hundred years with her! He'd take it!
"And you two aren't, you know…" He nodded towards River, who looked distinctly disinterested in the entire affair. He didn't particularly care about her enjoyment, either, but he knew Danni would like him to ask.
"What?" Danni asked, her brows furrowing as she glanced up at River, "Oh! You mean angry, don't you?" She shrugged, "There's only so long you can be angry for, isn't there?"
The Doctor's silly grin softened slightly, which ruined River's surprise and elation at the sudden declaration that Danni wasn't as angry with her as she had first thought. She didn't want him to be happy about that, she wasn't here for his entertainment, "I couldn't find where the shout came from." She told Danni, making sure to only address the blonde, "And nothing suspicious seems to be going on. Probably just someone looking for an actual doctor."
Danni giggled as the Doctor almost pouted, "I am an actual Doctor." He retorted.
"A degree in cheese making does not make you a doctor." River snapped, "It makes you a drain on the educational system."
"You used your degree to find Danni." The Doctor pointed out, "What was that, exactly?"
"Wait, am I not a good use of the educational system?" Danni piped up, pretending to be annoyed even though she was just enjoying the little meeting. It was just like all the times before it, where she'd gang up on him with anyone who would tease him with her. And, just like her always did, the Doctor turned to face her, looking completely alarmed, "You know, my Doctor wouldn't say that."
He tried to explain his statement, stuttering as he tried to tell her that he thought she was worth all the resources in the universe, and while he also thought people should agree, they might not and… and he noticed that she was just smirking at him. He sagged slightly in relief – he didn't want her going back and telling stories on him to her Doctor, after all.
"You little…" He trailed off, pausing for a moment to think of a name to finish that sentence with. But then he caught her gaze for just a moment. Her eyes twinkled brightly, her smile lit up her entire face. Hundreds of years into the future, and she was simply stunning. He couldn't help himself. He laughed, pulling her in for a hug that turned into him spinning her around. She squealed in surprise, the noise turning into a giggle before he put her back down.
He reached out, cupping her cheek, the contrast to the excitable hug surprising her slightly. Her skin burnt underneath his touch, the touch of a man she never thought she'd feel again, "You're beautiful." He breathed and she flushed.
"Will you always think so?" She asked, making it sound like she was teasing him, when she really just wanted to hear the answer. He wouldn't lie to her, would he?
"Of course." He promised, "Nothing that could ever happen will change that, Danni-Girl." He smirked, "Maybe I should have a word with your Doctor if you don't know that."
The mention of her Doctor, of Twelve who was innocently waiting on the TARDIS for her, had Danni smiling sadly as the guilt started to build up again. A short but sweet meeting, but it had to end before it was ruined by the feeling that she shouldn't have gone behind her husband's back. And, as much as she could drag it out for all time, the longer she stayed, the harder it would be for her to leave again. She had to say goodbye to him. To his floppy hair and his big hearts and the way his skin felt on hers, "You should head back to your Danni." She broke to him gently and his head dipped forward just a moment. He didn't want to leave either, although he was just hesitant to leave any Danni behind.
His hand dropped, "You're right."
"As always." She added cheekily and he chuckled before letting his hand fall from her face.
"She's trying to pick out a present for me." He explained and she nodded.
"I remember." She told him, "And don't worry, I love both your presents." His eyes widened.
"Both?!" He asked in a panic, but she didn't reply, just gave him a little look that said she wasn't going to give him any hints of what to buy him.
They fell into a silence for a moment, neither of them wanted to move, and River didn't want to interrupt the moment they were having. As much as she didn't like the man, Danni loved him, and she would end the universe for her.
The Doctor straightened, giving her his best smile, "Goodbye, Danni. I love you." He said, making sure he told her. He always would, just to see the effect it would have on her. The way he could see the joy at his words flowing through her, the way her whole body would lift as if it had given her a little bit more life. It was almost as if she echoed how he felt about having her by his side. And she smiled; Oh, that smile...
"Goodbye Theta. I love you too." She replied softly, telling Eleven for the very last time how she felt. He turned and her hearts raced painfully, the panic overwhelming her. This was it. The last time she was going to see him, speak to him, feel him close and she wanted to reach out and grab him. Scream at him, beg him to stay with her forever. But she didn't.
She didn't have to. The Doctor obviously decided that while he was going to leave, it wasn't going to be on a stupid goodbye. He spun around and pulled her close. When she realised what he was going to do, her breath caught just in time for him to cover her lips with his own. They were so soft, moving in perfect harmony with her own. He always said that he'd regenerated into this body for her, and this body had always seemed to fit with his perfectly. His hand on her hip, the other arm wrapped around her torso to hold her close. The whole universe disappeared when he kissed her like that.
The thing she noticed the most, though, was just how different it was to Twelve. Eleven kissed her like it was the last time he ever would, probably brought on with the way she would jump away and the fact that he was on his last life. Twelve kissed her like that wasn't the case, because he was never going to let her go. He drank her in like air, held her firm and in the perfect place to take exactly what he wanted from her, while leaving her breathless and craving more. Eleven kissed her like they were equals, Twelve was very much in charge and Danni was taken aback by how much she actually missed that. That, for the first time, Twelve's kiss felt like the norm, and Eleven's felt out of place. Not unwanted, far from it, but it wasn't her Doctor's kiss and that's just what she needed. The little prod in her own head, moving Twelve from a Doctor to the Doctor.
When he, reluctantly, broke the kiss, her eyes were glazed over and he couldn't help but smirk. He was glad he could still take her breath away after all those years, "Goodbye, Danni-Girl." He said slowly, carefully pronouncing her name.
"Goodbye, Spaceman." She whispered, hands still on his arms. He smiled softly, unable to resist another kiss, this time on her forehead. He knew that she'd never let him go, and the fact was that he didn't want to let her go either. It felt like he was abandoning her, which was just plain ridiculous. He had his Danni, and she had her Doctor, and they needed to get back to them before anything terrible happened.
He took a step back and watched the tears gather in her eyes. Instead of comforting her, though, he just offered a nod to River before turning his back and walking away.
"Doctor!" She called after him and he hesitated, turning around to see her grinning, "You don't tell me!"
He couldn't help but chuckle; always helping him, no matter how long it had been, "I'll forget it ever happened!" He called back before shooting her a quick, lazy salute. He then continued on his path without looking back. He had presents to pick out.
Danni didn't move as he disappeared from view, watching him almost skip out of her life forever. She shook slightly on the spot, River watched her hands clench together but she didn't call after him, she didn't even start crying.
"I thought I'd have to tear you away from him." She commented, "But you only look mildly upset."
Danni turned to her, on the verge of crying, but the biggest smile on her face, "But he was so happy!" She told River, her voice just a fraction above a whisper, "When we were together, he was happy. What more could I ask for?" She turned back, staring at the corner he'd turned around, "We can be like that again, and living in the past isn't going to help. I have a Doctor. That's all I ever wanted."
She wiped her eyes before reaching out and grabbing River's hand, "Come on, mum." She declared happily, "We've only got an hour before he picks me up. I'll let you buy me an ice cream."
"Does this place even have ice cream?" River asked in reply, glad to see that her thoughts were turning back onto the most important thing; their day out together.
"It's just a saying." Danni retorted, "It can be any sweet treat, it doesn't have to be ice cream."
~0~0~0~
When he had been his younger self, the Doctor would often wait around the three hours between dropping Danni off at a friend or family's house, just so that they would never lose the fact that they were still in sync. For every minute she aged, he wanted to age that same minute. They had spent so long aging at very separate rates, and while he would always be hundreds of years older than her, he had liked the fact that they were on the same timeline as each other.
Twelve, while still enjoying the idea of her not being pulled away, had a very separate way of looking at it. Yes, it was nice to be that in tune with each other, but why waste three hours away from her when he could just jump forward and barely miss her at all?
When he stepped out of the TARDIS to meet his wife and her mother, he found them both still in the cell, huddled around that diary Danni had insisted on giving her back when she had no idea just what the woman was to her. A quick look over his wife though told him that they'd not been there very long. A faint layer of dust on her shoes said they'd been somewhere sandy. The fading pinkness in her cheeks was an indication that it had been hot and she was just cooling down again.
"No, no, rule 56 was 'Don't shave a Kunum', not don't save. You should always save as many people as you can." Danni was telling River, "And rule 76 is just… who told you that one?"
"I think we were on Neptune…" River started but Danni nodded.
"Oh yeah," she interrupted, "I remember. No, that's just wrong. Honestly, sometimes I wonder what was going through my head when I was that young."
"Alright, I think that's enough walking down memory lane." The Doctor drawled, pulling their attention onto him. Danni's face lit up and he straightened slightly, the happy feeling giving him a slight swagger to his step, "Home time."
Danni nodded, passing River back the diary, "We'll have to have a clear out of those rules." She told the archaeologist, not wanting to cause a fuss by asking for more time with her. She'd actually enjoyed the last few hours since seeing Eleven. Being able to give him a proper goodbye, one where he wasn't dying and she wasn't overwhelmed with being left behind and him betraying her, had really lifted her spirits. He was still out there, happy and with her, and even thought the Danni he was with wasn't her anymore, it was still a Danni who had made him that happy. She could live with that. And his promise had given her new hope that her Doctor was still just that; her Doctor.
"You always say that." River replied, standing up to give her a hug, "Don't be a stranger."
"We won't." Danni promised, turning and skipping over to the Doctor's side, "I need a bath." She told him, "We went shopping, it was so sandy. I feel gross." She leant up, pressing a kiss onto his cheek, "Coming?"
"I won't be a moment, my Pet." He purred in reply, placing a hand against the small of her back to give her an encouraging nudge towards the TARDIS doors, "I just need to settle your tab."
Danni paused as she followed his gentle command, "Tab?" She repeated.
"You've got ice cream on your shirt." He replied and she looked down, seeing the small stain.
"Oops." She giggled, "Fine, don't be long."
"I won't." He promised and she grinned.
"Love you." She told him but he didn't reply. He wasn't about to give River, of all people, a reason to make fun of him. Unfortunately, she had enough ammo. He nodded, turning his back on her and missing the way she faltered in the doorway.
"Go on." He told her and Danni did just that, rushing into the TARDIS and shutting the door behind her before the strength she'd gained from Eleven drained away.
The Doctor reached into his impossibly big pockets, looking for some screwdriver, "How much of what do I owe you?" He asked.
"Oh, don't worry about it." River told him coldly, "I don't want your money."
"And I refuse to be in debt to a woman who gave up the most precious thing in this universe." The Doctor replied, "How much?"
River's blood ran hot, her anger and annoyance flaring at him. No matter what body, young and bouncy or old and grouchy, he always was such an arse, "Don't you even want to know where we've been?" She asked, "Aren't you worried I took her somewhere incredibly unsafe?"
"You would not take her anywhere she could be harmed." He replied tiredly, "But I'll bite. Where did you take her?"
"We went to Hatuni." River replied pointedly, hoping to jolt the memory in his head. She was rather surprised to see him just shrug it off.
"I remember taking her there." He said, "A second hand day out, but a lovely planet."
"She asked me to take her there because of that. Begged me, even. Just for a little taste of the past." River replied, just to see the hurt flash on his face. This Doctor was harder to get a rise out of than some of the others, but she was surprised when he failed to pick up what she meant.
Her smirk grew, "You don't remember, do you?" She asked him and he frowned.
"Remember what?" He asked, "It was a nice day. We probably ate at the same ice cream stall she took you to, saw all the same sights."
River shook her head, "No, not that." She dismissed, "We bumped into you. Eleven, your last body."
"No you didn't." The Doctor replied, the frown on his face just adding to her glee.
"Oh, you forgot her!" River crowed, "Oh, how typical of you."
"What's that supposed to mean?" He challenged.
"Remember the ice cream but not your wife." River taunted, "Your priorities are as straight as always."
He took a step towards her, his sudden anger radiating off him but River didn't back away. She wasn't scared of him, he was pathetic for the most part, "My priority is, and has always been, my wife." He snarled, "Something I cannot say about you."
"Then why did she beg me to go back?" River taunted, "'My husband doesn't want me anymore. I just want to see one who did. Please, River, only you can help me.'"
The Doctor glared at her, unable to work out whether to believe her or not. True, Danielle did seem a lot happier than when he dropped her off, but that surely was because he was picking her up. That always happened. No matter who she was with, no matter which part of her little but far reaching family she happened to be visiting, whenever he picked her up she shone with happiness. That's all this was – she was happy to see him, and her words just backed that up.
"You're not going to win this, River." He told her firmly, refusing to rise to her attacks, "Your time with her is finite. Mine will last until the very end." He spun on his heel.
"Of course it doesn't." River snapped, "Time is all relative. The clock struck Twelve, and she still came to me to find her Eleven." He turned around, eyes blazing, her words echoing in his head.
"What did you say?" He asked lowly, but she didn't seem to recognise the words she spoke to him.
"She came to me for help, not you." She continued, "Her mother, not her husband."
The Doctor chuckled harshly, "Her mother?" He mocked, "You're not her mother, River. You're the woman who dumped her in another universe. You didn't want her then, and she might forgive you, but you'll never be her mother."
River glared at him, "She called me mum." She told him proudly, "She's my Danni-Girl and I'm her mum."
"It's just pity." He told her, turning his back on her again and heading to the TARDIS, "Enjoy prison, River."
He darted inside, leaving River to falter in her happiness, wondering just for a moment if he was right. Whether Danni would ever think of her as her mother.
The Doctor, on the other hand, was happy to find Danni in the console room, looking like she had been waiting for him, "What were you two arguing about this time?" She asked him.
"What else?" He asked, determined to get them both away from River as quickly as possible, "You."
She rolled her eyes, "You know what she's like." She told him, "You shouldn't let her get to you."
He flipped a couple of switches, "She said you went to go see Mr Floppy Hair." He said casually, watching for her reaction. He expected her to deny it, or hide the fact that she'd asked. Instead she nodded, leaning against the console.
"We bumped into him on Hatuni." She explained, "It was hard, but I got through it. You were really sweet." She smiled at him, "Do you remember? I teased you about getting me presents, but you never did get me two."
He looked down at her for a moment, "I don't remember that." He replied and she frowned.
"I-I've just been there." She told him, "I was with River, you were surprised how old I was. I didn't tell him he regenerated or anything."
She seemed upset that he didn't remember, but he knew he wouldn't forget something like that. He may have lived a long life, but he would remember seeing a Danielle from the future. He remembered the first time he came across two Dannis perfectly; back on Messaline, when Jenny was born. He'd remember this time as well, how could he not? Two Danielles held so many possibilities.
"Alright, I get it." He replied, rolling his eyes to show that, he too, was good natured, "You and River having a little joke."
Danni shook her head, "No, no it happened." She replied, "Did you- you forgot me, didn't you?"
"Of course I didn't!" He promised, although he feared he really had. He reached over, pulling her up close for a hug, knowing that the look on her face meant that she desperately needed one, "How could I ever forget you, my Pet? You know how you dominate my thoughts, and my hearts, and my life. There's never a moment where I don't remember you."
He felt her relax in his arms, and he was certain that he had truly forgotten meeting her when he was young and she was old. Maybe, over all those years of wishing she was there, he'd forgotten times when she actually was.
"Sorry." She told him, even though she had nothing to apologise for. She placed another kiss on his cheek, "I'm going to have that shower, then it's your turn to take me on a date."
"I have just the place." He purred and she flushed happily as she ran out of the room. The smile he'd put on his face for her fell away to a thoughtful downturn of his lips. Suddenly the bewilderment at her behaviour was making a lot more sense. Maybe she wasn't more emotional, or distance, maybe it was him. Maybe he'd really forgotten how to make her feel safe with him, make her happy when she was sad.
He needed help. And, regrettably, there was only one person who could help.
He needed to talk to Clara Oswald.
~0~0~0~
Across the universe and not as far into the past as any of them might have thought, Danielle Fielding flashed back into existence, restrained against Missy in a room that only existed when it was necessary. She struggled with effort, but vainly, as Missy shushed her.
"Danielle, Danielle." She repeated as she held a tight grip on her wrist, stripping it of the spare Vortex Manipulator off her, chucking it away from them, where it disappeared from view, "Stop fighting, my Pet. It's okay, you're away from him."
Danni broke out of her grasp, but only because Missy let her. She spun around, having learnt long ago to never turn your back on the other Time Lord. Her eyes burnt with anger, "I'm never going to stop fighting!" She snarled in an accent not dissimilar from the husband she was trying to find, "I'm never going to stop trying to get away from you!"
Missy held a hand to her hearts, like Danni had wounded her, "Me?" She asked, "You know you need me, my Pet, much more than I will ever need you." She reached out to cup her cheek but Danni stepped away, the idea of that woman touching her again making her skin crawl, "That stuffy old man can't do the things to you I can, can't make you feel like I make you feel."
"He's my husband," Danni retorted, like it was a promise, a speck of hope that she constantly held onto, "He's always trying to find me, and I'm always trying to get back to him. You are never going to change that. I am not your 'Pet', and I never will be!"
"Oh, Danielle." Missy sighed, "I must admit, when you regenerated into a 'fiery Scot'," she strengthened her accent for the description, "I was rather amused. But it's, oh, it's just worn a bit thin, hasn't it?"
Danni's hearts skipped a bit, her blood ran cold as Missy turned to head to the door, "W-What's that supposed to mean?" She asked, remembering the last time Missy had said something rather similar.
"Well, the thing is, my Pet, I still don't think he's out of your system." The other woman explained, "And while you're so stubborn, I don't think he ever will be." She turned, grinning manically, "Don't worry, I can fix that right up. You're only on your third body, aren't you?"
Danni shook her head, her anger and stubbornness falling away to pure panic, "Please, please Missy, don't." She begged, rushing over, "Please, not again, I-He's not seen me, please don't take this body, please!"
Missy reached out and cupped her cheek, and this time Danni didn't flinch away, "I'm sorry, my Pet, I've made up my mind. You've got to go."