Chapter 11 - 'It's your Birthday...'

Clara's PoV

I had heard him. I knew he had come in and taken her out. And after everything... I still trusted him not to runaway with her.

There was a baby monitor in the spare room, well Autumns room and they all connect.

So everything he was saying to her I could hear. At first I was going to go and see them, but then he started telling her amazing stories and I couldn't help but listen.

I had no idea how much he loved me and how much of an accident it really was.

I'm sure he has a good reason, and he'll explain. I just don't want to forgive him and have him disappear again.

I woke the following morning and stumbled into the lounge.

I would have woken her up, but you know what they say about a sleeping baby... Don't wake them up. So I figured she's asleep, don't disturb her.

'Morning' I said finding him sprawled out across my sofa. No shoes, watching the TV.

He hates the TV, he only watches it to take the mick out of the programs and correct the ones that are wrong. He was munching on a piece of toast and getting crumbs everywhere, much to my distaste.

I was going to go to the kitchen but instead picked up the washing basket filled with clothes that I was sorting out until last night.

'Someone put a card through the door' he said.

I was confused, because there's no way the post man could have been yet, but I took the card from his hand and opened it anyway.

'It's from Nina' I said smiling and placed it on the coffee table. Alas it was today the 23rd November meaning that it is my 26th birthday.

I hate birthdays and I hate fuss, which is why every year I try to skip them, but it never works.

'How's the fist?' He asked. He couldn't help but suppress a smirk and I could see that.

'Just fine. No thanks to your really stiff chest' I complained. 'She's two weeks old how can she have worked through this many clothes?' He asked.

'She's a baby. She wears about three outfits a day' I said. He really was completely clueless.

'Where are you going now?' He asked. 'To sterilise the bottles, and clean up the kitchen. You done here?' I asked, picking up his plate anyway.

'You've changed' he said sighing in the doorway. 'You sound shocked by that. The last few months haven't exactly been easy' I said to him.

'I know. That's my fault' he said. I was waiting for an explanation but I really don't think that there is one.

He sat down at the kitchen table and started sifting through his pocket. He then placed a long he box on the table.

'What's that?' I asked advancing to the table and perched myself opposite him.

'Well... It's your birthday... So' he said pushing the box towards me. I picked it up and opened it.

'Oh my gosh' I said as I pulled the silver bracelet out of the box. It had a few charms on it and one of them was the Tardis.

'How the hell did you manage that?' I asked. 'I know people' was all he replied.

'You didn't have to get me anything' I said and he smiled. 'I did, because it's what I really came back for...' He said and drifted off.

'Thanks' I whispered afraid of what comes next.

'Crap who's at the door?' I complained. He got up and got it though, and I'm just glad it didn't wake Autumn up, because I didn't want a crying baby.

'The post' he said. It seemed a bit early for the post but I took the letters and he handed me a brown A4 sized envelope.

'Did you sign for that?' I asked looking at it. 'Yeah why? What is it?' He asked.

I knew exactly what it was. So I opened the envelope and pulled the pieces of paper out.

'Is that the-?' I cut him off. 'Yes it is' I said admiring the fact that my daughter is now a person.

She has a birth certificate and everything. 'November 10th' he said but not as a question.

He said it more as a fact... Which it was. 'Wait my names on here' he said. 'Yeah why wouldn't it be?' I asked confused.

'To be fair, I deliberated many times whether you should be on it, but in the end went with it.' I said.

He was clearly shocked and somewhat honoured that he was on it. 'So I'm her actual dad then?' He asked.

'Yeah. I didn't make it up. I'm not that sick. I haven't slept with anyone else. You were the first person I've had sex with in 2 years' I admitted.

'Admittedly it was stupid of us to not use protection but I just figured that we weren't compatible and that's why we didn't' I said.

'If it's any help... I didn't know we were compatible either, but she doesn't have two hearts... She can't be mine' he said.

'Well how else would you explain it then?' I asked. 'I can't. But I bet Kate can' he said.

'No way, I'm not having them run tests and experiments on her. Or worse than that take her away' I said putting my foot down.

'They won't, I'm in charge now. No one can do anything. And anyway, Osgood is a good friend and would never hurt a baby' he said.

I gritted my teeth. 'If you had been here 8 months ago, you could have had some say... Just because your name is on that certificate, does not entitle you to make any decisions when I had to make them all. On my own' I said but it was more like yelling again now.

'And what about these final notices Clara? Don't tell me your okay because in less than three weeks, you won't actually have anywhere to live' he said to me and I snatched the envelope out of his hand.

I shrugged my shoulders. 'I'm living on a teachers wage with a new born baby, who is now on maternity pay. What do you expect?' I said again starting to yell it at him.

'Just let me help Clara. If she really is mine... Then let me help' he begged.

'No offence but could you leave please?' I asked.

'My dad will be here any minute and I don't want anyone seeing you' I said and he stood up. He shut the front door behind him, and I sighed placing my head in my hands when she cried.

'Listen Clara. Parenting classes will be fun' Nina said to me trying to make me go.

My father was insistent that I go to these classes at least once because apparently they would help me.

At this point I'm 5 months pregnant, feel bloated and the last thing I want to be doing is going to a stupid class where all the perfect parents are preparing for the babies.

'I'll wait in the car park. Wouldn't want anyone mistake taking us for a couple' Nina grinned.

'Welcome everyone. Feel free to make yourself comfortable' a stupid woman said and I just slumped dramatically in a seat at the side, refusing to do anything.

'Come on Clara. At least join in' she said as the woman on the floor, we're making positions that I wouldn't think about doing when having sex let alone during child birth.

'No. I'm good over here. But a cup of tea would be nice' I complained and she nodded.

'What are you so afraid of?' A guy asked me. 'I'm not afraid... I just don't want to do that' I said to him and there was left a comfortable silence.

'No husband?' He asked. I shook my head. 'One night stand gone wrong I guess' I admitted.

'Oh and that's why your here on a Saturday morning ruining your weekend.' He grinned.

'Yeah. Unfortunately' I laughed. 'How about you?' I then asked.

'Her. The blonde woman. She's my friend. It's not my baby, I'm just helping out' he said. 'Hence why your sitting at the side of the room' I said arms folded. 'You guessed it' he smirked.

I sighed, but he kept me company the rest of the afternoon really. He kept me sane really, because if I didn't have anyone to talk to, I would have got up and left.

'So how many months are you?' He asked and handed me thankfully a coffee.

'5. It's a girl' I said pointing that out. 'Wow, you don't look 20 weeks pregnant' he complemented. At least he knows his audience.

'Sorry to bombard my dramatic life on you.' I said when I headed to the car park.

'Hey if I hadn't talked to you I would have gone insane' he said, and scribbled something down on a piece of paper.

'My number. If you need to talk' he said and I smiled. Who would have known that I can still be considered attractive and flirt whilst pregnant.

Doctors PoV

She told me to leave and I don't want to anger her anymore, but it's fine. I'm sure she'll get over it.

And I have one of the baby's hats, so I might be able to get some DNA off of that, just for some clarification really.

Before I went to Unit however I stopped downstairs, in the building after having slipped one of the final notices in my pocket.

'Hi. I'm John Smith. Just wanted a word' I said holding up the psychic paper.

'Shit an inspection?' He said stumbling up and nervous. Crap. The psychic paper really hates me sometimes.

'Umm. Yeah. But really I'm here about a tenant you have in this building' I said and he ran to the files, and started printing things off.

'Clara Oswald. 8th floor' I said and he nodded, but relaxed slumping back into the chair.

'Oh her' he said grabbing the file. He handed it to me and I stared.

'Why haven't you evicted her?' I asked shocked. She had missed the last 5 months rent and the interest that was building on the flat was enormous.

'That was the plan, but then she had her daughter a month and half early. I couldn't evict a woman with a new born baby. She should have been gone weeks ago. But I do have a heart' he said.

It wasn't to shocking that she hasn't paid, she's not poor, buts she too proud to take benefits or money from people if she can help it.

Another thing that was completely shocking was the fact that Autumn was born a month and a half early, yet looks so healthy like a normal baby.

'I'm a friend of hers. Let me cover the rent she owes and the next few months. Just don't throw her out on the street' I begged.

'Sir you have no idea how much she owes.' He said and I laughed. 'I'm pretty sure I can cover it' I said and handed him one of my many bank cards.

'Well, she's pretty lucky she's got a friend like you. I mean other wise she really would have to be on the streets in trouble' he said and I grinned.

'Just don't tell her. I'll sort it' I said and left, running for the Tardis. I flicked a couple of levers. I can't believe this has happened. I just think of when I first asked her out.

It had been months and I was desperate to admit my feelings to Clara.

She had noticed that something had been up lately. I had stopped going to see her twice a week, I cut it down to only Wednesday's. Not because I wanted too.

But because I had too. I was so nervous around her these days. My palms were sweating every time I go near her and I literally cannot get her out of my head.

When she isn't here I can't walk past her room on the Tardis because it smells overwhelmingly of her.

I noticed just recently after a lot of research and jumping around that apparently I'm in love with Clara.

I suppose I was in denial for a while. I had no idea, and when I did finally understand, I knew that I couldn't act on it.

Could I?

My thoughts were interrupted when the Tardis phone rang and I jumped out of my skin. I knew it had to be her because no one else has the number of the Tardis.

'Doctor, I know this is unconventional, but are you busy?' She asked down the phone in a panic. Even if I was busy... I would drop anything I am doing for Clara.

'No, why what's wrong?' I asked. 'I'm running really late. If I'm late for another lesson, Foster will sack me. Any chance you could like take me back half an hour or so?' She asked.

'I'm not a taxi service' I said down the phone sarcastically, but she wasn't in the mood.

'Please Doctor. I'm begging' she begged but I was already landing the Tardis in her flat. I waited patiently for her to grace me with her presence.

'Morning' I said and she stumbled into the Tardis the picture of perfection even through she was a mess.

She had thrown any clothes on that she could find by the looks of things and was still trying to put her boots on when she fell through the doors with a pile of books.

'Oh crap' she complained as she dropped them on the floor.

She sighed and crouched down to pick them up, as did I and ended up touching her hand.

It was one of those cliche moments in movies that you get and had no other option but to brush it off.

I jumped up and put a pile of books on the console and span around trying to hide my blushing.

'You don't have to rush now. Your in a time machine' I assured her and landed 15 minutes ago so she had plenty of time to sort herself out.

'There's even time for a shower if you want' I said. 'Thanks, but I have marking to do anyway chin boy' she said now in a better mood.

I wandered towards her and handed her a cup of coffee.

'Well someone's organised' she said and I grinned. 'More organised than you' I said and she frowned.

She took the coffee and ran to the doors, but I stopped her. What the hell is wrong with me.

'Clara?' I asked and she turned around.

'Umm?'.

'Are you busy on Saturday? It's just I was wondering if you wanted to, you know. Travel?' I asked and she looked up.

Damn those eyes. Those brown eyes. 'No I'm not busy. I'm totally free. Pick me up at 10?' She asked and I nodded.

'Sure' I said and she ran out the doors.

Well that went surprisingly well seeing as I sort of asked her out on a date I suppose, but then I didn't so... At least she said yes.

That's always reassuring. This is it. I had waited so long for this to happen. I had finally decided to make a move on Clara.

We'd been friends for over a year and a half now, and I'm not getting any younger.

In fact I'm almost 2000 years old. It's time to make a move. My main rule in life is to not invite companions along with me who I may possibly develop feelings for, but Clara's different and I don't know why.

When she died at the Dalek Asylum, I had no idea at all who she was. As far as I was concerned, she was just another ordinary person.

After meeting her in Victorian London and her dying.

I couldn't get her out of my head. Even when I met her briefly and sent her away.

I went back to sulking in the Tardis and I couldn't get her out of my mind even then.

It's like I wanted her to come and find me, because she was an amazing person to be around. It was when she died again and I realised there was a chance that I could find her that I was really besotted and since I have found her on earth, she now makes some sense to me... It makes it much, much harder to control my feelings for her.

Thus the reason, I decided it's time to make a move.

I wanted to make sure that it was a good day out. I hadn't come right out and said that I was asking her out.

I was just hoping that she would get the gist and go along with it.

'So where are we going chin boy?' She asked as she practically danced around the Tardis.

God she's so cute when she's excited. 'To a restaurant, I thought it might be nice if we go out.

'Okay. I'll be back in a minute then' she said and danced off down the corridor. I grabbed her hand when we exited the Tardis.