Chapter 4 - "Elephant..."

Clara's PoV

I woke up, a bit groggy and still tired but I was very dazed.

It was when I tired to move that I had to clutch my stomach in agony because for some reason it had been shoved out of my mind that I had, had a baby not that long ago.

I looked around the room when I had finally managed to move into a better sitting position and saw my dad in the corner.

'Have you been here all night?' I asked. 'All day Clara... It's 4 in the afternoon' he said with a grin.

'Jesus. Did I really sleep for that long?' I asked a bit shocked by this information. 'Yeah, but the nurse said you were exhausted' he informed me.

'Where is the baby?' I asked confused but wanted to see her. I didn't feel complete, and feel strangely flat without her inside of me.

'The nurse is checking her over, and giving her a bath. She thinks she can discharge tomorrow' my dad told me.

'Both of us?' I asked in shock again. There's a lot of shock lately. 'Yeah. Recon she's as healthy as a horse and your doing just fine' he said.

I encouraged him to go home and sleep tonight, and bring the car seat back in the morning because she can't leave unless we have one anyway.

No offence to him, but I just want to spend time with my baby and bond with her.

Louise handed her over to me as soon as dad had left, I fed her successfully and got her dressed and wrapped up ready for sleep.

She looked so precious and I couldn't help but stroke her face. I was analysing her so much, because I wanted to see me in her, but she just looks like him.

Thankfully though, by looking at her she has lucked out and hasn't got his massive ears or giant chin. But in 24 hours, her hair has got darker.

Not by much, only enough to know that it's definitely the doctors hair. I Inhaled her baby scent as I leaned over to put her in the cot, of which had been moved so close to me, that I don't need to even get up.

I rummaged down the bag, and found the pink dummy I wanted for her and pulled out her first toy.

It seems ridiculous but it's a pink elephant of which I named Ellie. Does resemble my mums name but that's not the reason.

I just think the stuffed elephant suited that name. I did know the gender all along. Again my dad wanted me to keep it a surprise, but once I have started clothes shopping for babies, I knew that I had to know.

I had to know what colour I could buy and wanted to paint the walls that colour. So I did, much to my dads distaste and painted the walls in my spare room pink.

My dad thought it was ridiculous because it's not 100% certain, but I figured if it did turn out to be a boy, I'd just change it to blue.

I woke up at about 3am. My stomach growling and my head pounding. I jumped up out of bed and headed towards the bathroom.

It's a good job I did really because when I got there, I realised I was going to be sick. I ran to the toilet and hurled myself over it, vomiting violently into it.

I groaned and sat back, still leaning on the toilet not completely sure if I was done. 'Clara?' A voice behind me asked confused and dazed in sleep.

'I'm fine. Go away' I said shouting it out the door. But alas he came in anyway when I launched my head forward again.

'Ughhh' I said, but felt his hands pull my hair out of my face. I was appreciative of that because it didn't stick to my neck then.

'Jesus, you look really pale Clara' he said to me and I glared. 'So would you if you had just vomited three meals' I complained to him, but went to the sink, shrugging him off and cleaned my mouth out.

'Are you sure your alright?' He asked. 'I crawled back into bed. No I feel terrible. My head hurts, but I don't feel sick anymore' I said and he stroked my head, handing me a bottle of water.

'Drink. Get some fluids in you' he said and I did as he said. But if anything it made me feel worse.

'I must have eaten something off' I said the following morning when I went into the lounge feeling sorry for myself.

I wrapped myself in a blanket and burrowed in a cukoon on the sofa. He left a bottle of water on the table, along with some toast and a bucket.

He kissed my forehead and went into the Tardis. 'If your ill... I'll leave you too it. I'll come round in a couple of days' he said smiling and the Tardis made its normal whooshing sound.

I didn't say it but in a way I was glad he left and that I could be sick on my own.

He was the last person I needed seeing me in a state. If I had known then that he wasn't going to come back... I would have stopped him from going. That was the day that my life literally was turned upside down.

I wandered around the room, in the hospital looking for things. I was surprised I was even out of the bed.

It hurt to bend down, or move over... But I didn't care. I'm a single parent now and she is all that matters.

She was awake and very much alert. I wondered if that was an alien thing. She seems to be advancing already and she's not even two days old yet.

I had wrapped her in a baby grow and blanket in the car seat. I covered her in another blanket and put a small hat on her head.

I didn't want her getting cold in the November snow. It was unfortunately starting to snow, but it wasn't sticking to the ground, it was just nice to look at.

'Here you are Clara. Discharge forms for you and baby' Louise said.

I signed them and she smiled. 'So I'm your nurse now, and I'll come and do your home visit sometime next week. Is that okay?' She asked.

I nodded making sure my address was correct when my dad came back in the room. 'Come on Clara. There's people at your flat dying to see you' he said and I groaned.

'It's alright.. It's just your gran and the Maitland's with lots of balloons. Seems like word got out' he smirked.

Dad took the car seat and bag while I followed behind to the car. I would have drove myself home but I'm not allowed to drive for 8 weeks. I mean that's a lot of weeks.

I sat in the back of the car with her and watched her sleep. She was so cute, the way she had easily drifted off into sleep, when the car started moving.

The hospital was only a 10 minute drive, but it was the eight agonising flights of stairs to get to my flat that took ages.

I walked in and was shocked at how many balloons and banners there was up.

I smiled at how cute my whole family was. 'Thanks guys. You didn't have to do all this' I said and they were all over me then like flies.

'Congratulations Clara' George Maitland said patting me on the back. 'Thanks' I said and sat down on the sofa. 'She's due a feed dad, would you mind sorting the bottle?' I asked exhausted again.

'I can't believe she came so early' he said to me. 'Your not alone there. I'm so shocked as well' I said.

Dad bought the bottle back but to my relief... I was able to shift her off to someone else to feed her, knowing that it's me that's going to have to do all the annoying night feeds.

'She looks so much like you Clara' my gran said. 'I know' I smirked. 'Does she have a name?' Gran asked.

'No not yet. I'm still making decisions' I said taking her back and headed towards my room. 'Come on.. You must have had an idea of names' Angie said.

'I did... But none of them suit her' I complained and tucked her into the basket.

I turned the baby monitor on and pulled the door to. I was surprised at how well I was doing at being a mother.