The Doctor is mildly horrified by her words. He thought she knew better. Thought she was different. And she was. What the hell happened in those twenty-four years that made her so different now compared to the River he had just left?

Why was she playing this kind of game?

He didn't like it. He needed to get away before something drastic happened. He nodded. "Okay. Then don't blackmail me for mine."

Because that's what it was. Blackmail. Emotional blackmail. Leaving him with no choice, no autonomy, no option to try to find another way. Now, if he tries to push her away, she'll interpret it as him not loving her, which is the farthest from the truth.

Sometimes, loving someone means letting it go somewhat peacefully. Ironically, she was the one who taught him that when they first met. And he had let her go so many times. And the last time - to the Library still was ahead of him. And now, it would happen twice. Once when they get out of this mess and once at the end of those twenty-four years he had to go back to.

And these thoughts really aren't helping. It's making everything worse. He's noticed now, that his toe is tapping. Marking out the seconds.