"Hi, honey I'm home!" said the Doctor appearing on River's doorstep in his tuxedo and top hat, even flourishing his Sonic Cane as a memento of their 'first date', in Berlin all those years ago.

"And what sort of time do you call this?" River asked and then hugged him, "It's good to see you again sweetie. How's Clara?"

"She's in bed," the Doctor said, "And no I haven't been sleeping with her River; she won't let me."

"Maybe she's worried you wouldn't have enough energy left to satisfy me," River said winking flirtatiously.

"Oh you're still a bad girl after all these years," the Doctor said tapping her affectionately on the nose, "But I'm going to take you somewhere. You know you've always wanted to go to Darrilium? Well tonight is the night Professor Song!" River beamed at him.

"Well it's about bloody time," she said, "Hold on a moment sweetie," she disappeared back inside the house. When she returned she was wearing a green dress. The Doctor smiled.

"You look lovely," he said and took her hand, "Alright my wife; time to take you to see the Singing Towers."

"How was it?" Clara asked when the Doctor stepped into the TARDIS and put his head on the door.

"It was wonderful and upsetting at the same time," the Doctor said sadly, "Even the sex made me sad. It reminded me that I'll never do it with her again. Fortunately she's very good at it," the Doctor turned and looked at Clara, who was unbothered by him talking about his and River's sex life. He'd been crying but he managed a small smile, "Good job on that Sonic Screwdriver by the way." Clara smiled.

"I learned from the best," she said and then went towards him, "Are you okay?"

"No," the Doctor said, "My wife's about to go to her death," he strode past Clara. She didn't say anything just watched him standing by the console, "I'm going to miss her," he said. Clara wasn't sure if he was talking to her, the TARDIS or himself.

"Maybe you should get some sleep Doctor," Clara suggested gently, "You're going to need time to recover." The Doctor choked on a laugh.

"You'd think I have all the time in the Universe," he said stroking the console of the TARDIS.

"Even Time Lord's aren't immune to the passing of time," Clara said, "Actually I think it affects you more than most other living beings."

"I know," the Doctor said, "And I can't just suffer the loss of one lover and then skip to the next as though nothing's happened."

"I know," Clara said, "I wouldn't expect you to." She put a hand on his shoulder, "River gave us her blessing Doctor, but I understand that you don't feel ready to try anything just yet. Give yourself all the time you need," she walked past the Doctor and disappeared further into the TARDIS.

"Am I dishonouring River's memory old girl?" the Doctor asked the Time Machine. The TARDIS made a soothing noise, "Yeah I know. I knew I'd have to let River go eventually; she told me so all those years ago when I met her in the Library. But should I have waited longer?" The TARDIS made another soothing noise and the Doctor smiled, "You always know what to say Sexy," he said, "Even though you can't actually talk; makes me miss having you in a Human body." The TARDIS made a noise that might have been a chuckle as she remembered the time she had been transferred into the body of a Human.

The Doctor smiled and moved around the console of his beloved Time Machine, flicking switches, pressing buttons and setting a course for nowhere in particular. The loss of River was still fresh in his mind. Clara had been incredibly patient with him; it had been three years since River had whispered his true name into her ear, but she never tried to push him to end his relationship with his wife. She was one of the best companions the Doctor had ever had, and that was saying something considering his massive twelve hundred and eighteen year life span.

"So, Sexy," the Doctor said to the TARDIS, "Next stop everywhere," he smiled and pulled a lever. The TARDIS made a purring noise and then, more gently than usual, entered the Time Vortex to take the Doctor and Clara on their next adventure.