Chapter 14 - 'I'm here to help...'

Clara's PoV

'Dad. I'm fine. I'd rather not have a birthday anyway' I said being deadly serious.

'Clara I'm not leaving you alone on your birthday' he said. 'I'm not alone' I said. 'I have Autumn' I stated bluntly and went to the kitchen sink.

Then I saw out the corner of my The Tardis down on the grass. 'Anyways I'm going out with a couple of people from work' I lied.

He knew I was lying but he went with it all the same.

I'm practically broke, so I'm not going to be going out anywhere, but now that he's back... I just want to have a civil conversation with him. Get to the bottom of this.

'Fine. But ring me when you get home' he said not looking the faintest bit interested.

I nodded and waited the customary 5 minutes for my dad to get down the stairs and for The Doctor to land the Tardis in my flat.

'Here comes daddy again.' I said sighting, to a sleeping Autumn. She was completely oblivious to everything going on. She's so lucky.

'You back then?' I said sarcastically. 'I thought it might be another year' I complained.

He shook his head in defence. 'Nope. I've come back to take you out' he said.

'Take me what?' I asked shocked. 'For dinner. It is your birthday, and you did just tell your dad your going out. So the least we can do is make that true' he said.

I was going to object, but I don't think he was going to let me.

'Were going out of town, but I'll still bring you home tonight' he assured me. 'Now go and clean up a bit. Feel free to grab a clean outfit from the Tardis' he said.

I did just that. But I took her with me the whole time. It's not like I don't trust him, it's just he doesn't know what she likes and doesn't like.

I exited the Tardis and placed her in her car seat. I then packed a bag of her stuff and the things that she'll need like milk, clothes and a dummy.

A thought occurred then though. 'Can you actually drive?' I asked. 'Of course I can drive what do you take me for?' He complied.

'Oh. It's just I can't drive after the cesarean. I can't drive for about 6 more weeks' I said a bit dull about it, and handed him the car keys.

He smiled as I left the flat, but I was in no such mood. I placed her seat in the back of the car, and sat myself in the front.

I can't say that there was a whole lot of conversation, but I was intrigued as to where we are actually going.

'Hey Clara' Adrien said as I practically waddled into the teachers lounge. 'Hey' I groaned and he laughed.

'Pregnant life not treating you too well hey?' He said and I grinned.

'No. My back hurts. My head hurts. I'm tired all the time. I just can't wait for her to get out of me' I groaned again.

'Don't speak too soon Clara' he joked. I guess I should have seen it coming really. The fact that she was born so early.

The back aches that week. The constant fatigue at work. In fact the day I actually gave birth I was at work. Mr Armatiage had to send me home.

'Clara. Go home. You shouldn't be here. And no offence but you look like hell' he said coming into my classroom.

He picked up a folder off the floor I had just dropped and placed it on my desk.

'I really can't. I don't work. I don't get paid. And with a baby on the way... I can't afford not to work' I said.

'It's fine. Take the week off full pay. Your one of my most valued teachers here and valued teachers should be looked after' he said. I

wasn't going to argue with him when he said that so packed up my stuff and went home.

It was obviously not long after arriving home that my waters broke. She was coming and she was coming now.

'You really don't have to do this' I said to him but he laughed. 'As much as you don't want to admit it. You probably haven't had a decent nights sleep in a while. Or a decent meal since being pregnant. So order whatever' he said sitting at the table.

This place wasn't overly fancy, but it was fancy enough to know that I could never afford to eat here.

Which nerved me because I didn't have the heart to tell him. 'I'll have the steak. Chips. None of that sauce and stuff... But make sure it comes with a side order of Fish Fingers and Custard' he said to a waiter. 'Sorry?' The waiter asked confused and I couldn't help but suppress a smirk.

'Make sure as a side order I get a plate of fish fingers and a bowel of custard' he said.

'She'll have a pink wine' he said. I wasn't aware of this but went for it anyway.

'I'm not really sure' I said. 'Do you like steak?' He asked me. 'Yeah' I said reluctantly. 'She'll have the same as me then' he grinned.

'But Ummm... No fish fingers' I said. He laughed.

'So.' He said and I sighed. I looked over at the car seat where she was more than happily asleep. She hadn't battered an eyelid about being in such a loud place.

'So why did you choose Autumn?' He asked making polite conversation I guess.

'Well. Adrien choose it really. I just figured it worked because she was born in the Autumn.' I admitted.

We ate and then he glared again. 'Why do you keep looking at me like that?' I asked a bit put off my ice cream.

'You can't go on like this. I mean I don't know what's in it for me. I don't know if you even want me anymore. But I know for a fact that you can't afford a whole lot' he said.

'Look those final notices... There never final. There's always more' I said shrugging it off like it was nothing.

'Can we have the bill' he asked. 'Clara... He was going to throw you out three weeks ago. He's only let you stay because he didn't want to throw you out on the street with a newborn' he told me. I gasped.

'Shit. How am I gonna pay for that?' I groaned putting my head in my hands.

'Please don't kill me... But I've already sorted your rent for the next 6 months. And the ones you owe. Call it a loan' he said.

I looked at him. He stared back nervous. I was angry that he had been snooping, but I was really happy at what he had done.

So I jumped up and engulfed him into a hug. He flailed around nervously.

'Thank you so much' I whispered in his ear. He chuckled and patted my back. 'It's okay. I wasn't going to have my child and her mother living on the street' he said.

I pulled back and he smiled at me. The waiter handed him the bill and I gasped at how much it was for two people. 'I've got it' he laughed.

'Why?' I asked him. 'Because like it or not... It's your birthday and I'm making sure you have a good one' he said.

'Just face it Clara... I'm here to help' he said.