I'm back to tell you all the things I love about this before the reveal!

I love love love the Doctor seeing River for the first time, really seeing what they are to each other, setting away all of his suspicions. It's such a nice moment, especially since in the episode, he was so angry with her, and it was because she mattered so much. It's perfect. And River reinterpreting it, making it a sweet moment, that's perfect too, because River reinvents herself and her universe. And her voice, oh my. And her certainty that the Doctor will hold her hand again.

All that's been stolen is one day returned. Oh, YES. Her love for him. His love for her. Her parents. Her peace of mind. Her control over her own destiny. Her life among the stars. Everything.

River on the swings! A nice echo of the Doctor on the swings. And I love the callback to little Mels, who never cried, who shouted at the sky. And now River, older but still young enough to want to see her father. And Rory, tentative at first, and then full of resolve, walking straight over to her. Because he's never quite known what to do around her, has he? Even when she was Mels - she's always been so direct and he's never been the same way. She's an arrow and he's a caretaker. He's used to softening bad news.

I love River talking to Rory about what she wants, and her moment of seeing the father with his baby daughter and aching a little. Because it was so lovely, seeing Rory with the baby, even though she was Flesh. I love her not knowing what he knows or what she's said before, because they're all so timey-wimey and she never knows when it's safe to show her love. I love that Rory's corner in her mind is quiet and soothing - it just fits. And I love Rory saying yes, that's me, I'm your father and you are my daughter and sometimes I think we don't understand each other but sometimes I know we do, and you and I have something special that we don't have with other people, and I love you. And Rory holding people together! I love too that River knows she's not finished, just like the Doctor, and that she can come to Rory in this half-done state and he will still be there for her.

And the hand-holding! Because they'll never have daddy-daughter lap time or shoulder time or any other kind of holding because the possibilities of all those moments were destroyed at Demon's Run, and she would never let him soothe her before. It's such a big step for both of them and so deftly handled. And Rory being the anchor that holds them and keeps them steady, Mels and Amy who were woven with the same thread of recklessness in different patterns.

Rory never gives up on goodness and hope and love. Rory invites her in and makes her part of their family again. Perfect.

Amy Pond, the girl who waited. A rare moment of stillness, because sorrow and the end of something have conspired to hold her in one place. But she wanted her daughter with her. And more hand-holding, which I love, and the parallel structure of their lives, Amy's and River's, the conscious choice to rebuild and to dedicate their lives to the greater cause of love and light and goodness and steady hearts. It's not easy to stop running. But then Rory is there to hold them, to hold them together, and to soothe all the hurts you only notice when you slow down.

And River can feel the world turning underneath them.

Thank you again, so much! I love this story to little bitty bits. I want to print it out and sew it into a blanket and cover myself in it.