River closed her eyes too, trying to focus. There were all the memories from the Academy, a dreamlike, painful mess constantly present. There was the last goodbye to her parents, before going there. There were random memories that weren't hers, things that she had picked up from others. All this was jumbled together.

River said nothing, just felt a silence in parts of her mind as the walls appeared. The constant murmuring of images and words diminished. It didn't strike her in any way that letting Anakin into her mind like this would be frightening.

No. Just unfamiliar. Things neatly in their place was a new experience.

River gave a nod, cautiously pushing against one of them. But some things are gone. Still can't remember exactly when this happened.

There was a long silence. Academy. Details disappeared or hidden.

No. Not now. There was no hesitation in that reply.

Slowly she reached out and squeezed his hand for a second, meaning it as a 'thank you'. Enough of that. she agreed. Never enough of things that cause happiness.

River smiled, happy for him, and clearly wanting him to feel that she was. Those are the ones important to keep.

River chuckled. Will you tell her that?

Even if she didn't know Rory very well, River thought it reasonable to assume that she would. She nodded. "Seems probable."

It didn't matter that he might not let her feel what he felt in that moment; it was easy enoug for River to guess, and she let laughed warmly.

Neither had River been, although Fandom had changed that a little, and she made no effort to hide that from Anakin even if she could have. "Acorn is fine!" she exclaimed, not minding a change of subject if it mad him more comfortable, especially not to talking about spaceships. "A.J. painted a mural, tricked me into helping. And I took Rose flying. Have made promises to show others too." Most recently Ronan.

River gave him a mock serious look. "Wouldn't let her even if she tried." Then she giggled. "She did fine. I did let her fly for a short while." It wasn't that River didn't trust Rose, but this was the Acorn!