Repost for @doctorriverweek
The TARDIS door flung open.
"You should have seen their faces!” River Song beamed laughing as she walked into the console room. The Doctor followed her inside in silent amusement, the usually strict eyebrows hung now (relatively) relaxed, accompanied with a slight smile on his face.
"’A reality bomb,’” River quoted playfully, "’can't be disabled with just a hairpin!’ he said. Well, in your reality, maybe…"
She put her satchel on the console and leaned on it. Her arm twitched for just one tiny split of a second, before she faced the Doctor with excited joy.
"Where to next?"
The Doctor regarded her silenty for a moment then he snapped his fingers.
"There's something I've been meaning to show you," he started towards the exit of the console room leading to one of the many corridors of the vast ship, checking back on River who was staring at him, moveless.
"Well?" he urged "Don't just stand there all day, come on."
Curious but mostly puzzled, River followed eventually.
She found themselves entering a cozy looking room. The Doctor thrusted himself on a sofa.
"What are you up to?" River asked raising an eyebrow.
"Meditation!" the Doctor replied spreading his arms.
"Uhm… meditation?" River asked incredulously.
"Meditation! Not what most pudding brains call that - the real time lord deal! A journey inwards for a change. I can show you how to properly clear your thoughts. What do you think?"
"My thoughts are fine. And dirty but that's how I like them." She said naughtily.
"Oh come on just give it a go, you will see how useful it is, promise."
River made a few unsure steps forward then stopped.
"You want a break," she blurted.
The Doctor turned his head away pouting as someone who had been caught in the act.
"Except," River continued, "I know you. You don't take breaks. You want a break on my behalf."
Defeated, he looked at her.
"Well you have just been chased through the universe."
"So what?" River shot back annoyed. "You think I can't handle some bloodthirsty morons of a species?! I am here, aren't I?"
The Doctor allowed himself a cheeky smile.
"Daleks, Discordia, Cybermen... All in a day’s work for Professor River Song. No no, I found her one true weakness: a sofa."
River sighed irritated but sat next to him eventually.
"Right... this is a waste of time," she remarked, crossing her arms.
"Oh I see, is that what I am to you now?" the Doctor shot back pretending to be insulted.
"You know what I mean!" River groaned annoyed and leaned back on the sofa with more force than necessary. After a few silent seconds she softly added, "We do have a deadline now..."
The Doctor put an arm behind her back.
"Doesn't everybody?"
River turned her head away, but did not respond. It was the Doctor who eventually broke the silence.
"Still you fear that I would see you weak somehow."
That earned River's attention but she made no sound.
"But really," the Doctor continued, "how could I ever see you as anything else than the strongest and most brilliant person I've ever met?" he smiled at her warmly.
She watched him for a while. Soon, she returned the smile.
"Still a charmer," she remarked.
"You still enjoy it."
She moved to rest her head on his chest, while whispering, "I still hate you... "
Whatever the Doctor's response would have been, it was interrupted by the steady sound of River's breathing.
Instead he reached for the blanket on his left and carefully pulled it over her.