Chapter 22 - "Scared..."

Clara's PoV

They really did stick around for a few days.

I woke up every morning and did the same thing. I checked in on him, where he was still sleeping.

I brushed his hair and laid with him for a while telling him everything that Autumn and Avia had done.

I got them back into a routine, by getting Autumn back into nursery, and considered going back to school myself.

The house felt empty without him running around, like a lunatic. I missed him.

Amy and Rory helped with everything. We all made sure that the girls stayed away from the bedroom and most importantly, other people.

I told my dad he was on a business trip, but I think he thinks that he's left me again.

'Dad. I can assure you that he hasn't left me. It was a last minute business trip that he couldn't get out of. I'm sorry but he had to go' I said.

I was still a bit of a wreck if I'm honest. It wasn't just me though, Autumn was barely functioning and I didn't know what to do.

'Come on Autumn, do you want to go to nursery today?' I asked her and she shook her head.

She didn't want to leave my side.

She had become so clingy since coming home, and who can blame her.

She won't sleep anywhere other than my lap, and she wakes up during the night crying.

'Alright' I sighed. 'You'll have to come to work with me today' I said and groaned.

I had put Avia in the nursery, whilst she will still go, Autumn won't and there isn't anyone around to look after her a the time.

Amy and Rory do have lives.

I lifted her out of the car and she wouldn't even jump off of me. She was literally attached to me as I grabbed my files.

'Oh. Thanks Adrien' I said and he smiled.

'Not a problem' he said.

'So your back then?' I questioned. 'Yep. Abigail is with my Mum. We have an agreement' he said.

'Hey Autumn. What are you doing here?' He asked her.

She hid her head in my neck and wouldn't even look at him. 'It's a long story' I sighed.

I was really excited on November 18th a few days before my own birthday when I got the call.

It was funny actually the way it happened because I had gone into work to get some folders as I would start work again properly after christmas, and I wanted to get a head start on it all.

I had been doing some days here and there. But I will return properly after Christmas.

'Morning Clara, wasn't expecting to see you here' Danny said and I smiled.

'Thanks Danny, I'm not sticking around, it's just I came to get some folders' I said and grabbed a cup of coffee.

I was going to go and see Mr Foster actually, he wanted to discuss my pay, and the rest of my leave.

'Where's Adrien?' I asked and he shrugged his shoulders.

'He went to see his girlfriend last night when she wanted ice cream at 2am. I hate that woman. She's got him waiting on her tail and foot' he said and I smacked him.

'She doesn't deserve him' Danny complained.

I don't particularly like her either, I have a feeling she's going to screw him over. But we can't say anything so we only talk about her when he's not around.

I sat down and then my phone rang.

I figured I'd better pick it up and see who it is. It could be the Nursery or the Doctor, but it wasn't.

Funnily enough it was Adrien.

'Hey Adrien, what's up. You'll never guess where I'm sitting. Where are you?' I asked throwing a lot of information down the phone at him.

'Clara, I need a favour' he said and I sat up looking forward out the window.

'Umm' I said and he deliberated for a moment.

'I have a baby girl. She was delivered six hours ago, earlier this morning' he said and I spat my coffee back in the mug. This was something I couldn't quite retain.

'You what?' I asked, choking a bit on the stale tasting coffee. I couldn't believe that this was real.

'Yeah, she's about two weeks early, but she's doing really well, and she's so cute' he said and then stopped talking.

'Clara where are you?' He asked. 'At Coal Hill, did you want to speak to anyone?' I asked him and he panicked.

'No. Umm, well you can tell them the news but I need some help' he said and I was very confused at what he was trying to say.

'Listen, please don't say anything, it's actually really embarrassing, but my girlfriend... Well ex girlfriend, she's well gone. She doesn't want anything to do with the baby. I'm really in a pickle here' he said.

I knew it, we were right.

I wasn't going to say that though because he sounded stressed as it was so I stayed silent and wondered on his next request.

'Look, she's left... She's leaving the country as far as I'm aware and I don't have anything with me. They want to discharge her this afternoon, but I don't even own a car seat, and they won't let me leave without one' he panicked and sounded like he might hyperventilate.

I understood then what he was asking.

'Adrien, stay there. I'll come and get you' I promised him.

'I'm coming, just stay with your daughter' I instructed him and he sighed in relief.

I stood up then and ushered Danny to the corner, explained what was happening and then made a quick announcement before we left:

'Good news everyone, Adrien had a healthy baby girl born earlier on this morning' I said and then we both left in a hurry.

Danny couldn't actually come with me because he still had an afternoon of lessons to teach but I agreed to keep him in the loop and I explained to Mr Foster that we had to make the meeting quick.

He did make it quick, in fact it was a pointless exercise, he could have told me over the phone, but I guess he wanted to make it official.

I swung by the house where the Doctor actually was.

'Hey, where's Avia's car seat?' I asked.

'In my car why?' He said as he followed me around the house. He must have been so confused at what I was doing.

I grabbed the cute baby grows I had bought him to get her home and took our car seat for him to get her discharged.

'What are you doing, going out with a baby seat usually helps when you have a baby' he said sarcastically and I threw him a look.

'It's complicated but Adrien's girlfriend had her baby, but she's gone and left him. He doesn't have the car seat with him, so he can use Avia's to get her home in. It's only for half an hour' I informed him.

'Oh god, poor Adrien' he said sympathetically.

'Yeah I know, baby girl though. He'll be such a good Dad' I said and left for the hospital.

'Let me know what's happening' he said.

'Oh Clara, thank god' he said and hugged me right.

'I really needed to see someone who knows what there doing' he said relieved.

I handed the seat to one of the nurses who agreed it was okay to use to take her home in the car.

Adrien already has one on order but she wasn't due for another 2 weeks so the stuff hasn't even been delivered yet.

'Do you want to see her?' He asked and I nodded.

'She's adorable Adrien' I said and he smiled.

'I'm stuck on names though, I mean it looks like it's up too me' he said and I smiled.

'She looks so cute and innocent' I said and he laughed.

'She doesn't feel like she's mine' he said.

'Have you got any thoughts on names?' I asked.

'Well, I wanted Abigail, but she didn't like it' he said.

'She looks like an Abigail, and it doesn't matter it's up to you' I pointed out.

He agreed and after much persuasion did go with Abigail.

'Please Autumn, you can't grab onto me all day. I have to teach some lessons' I said to her.

Martha was at the house and monitor The Doctor during the day. She checks in on him and makes sure he hasn't woken.

I placed her down on the floor in my classroom, and she ran to my chair.

As soon as I went to the door, she was right up behind me and clung onto my leg.

'I was literally just getting folders, you silly monkey' I said to her. This isn't ideal, but until he wakes up, there's not a whole lot I can do to assure her or calm her down.

'Hi Miss Oswald' my year 12's said. 'Miss? Are you aware that you have shrunk' Caleb said.

'No. That's my daughter Autumn. She's two' I told them.

Caleb went towards her but she ran away and grabbed my leg crying.

'Did I scare her?' He asked concerned.

'Don't worry. Her own dummy scares her at the moment' I assure him and picked her up.

I started writing on the board and the day pretty much went from there.

'I need to pee' she said puling on my dress. 'Again? I only took you at break' I complained.

I sighed and grabbed her hand. 'Danny. You busy?' I asked.

'Will you just watch my class while I take Autumn to the toilet?' I asked him.

'I can take her' he said.

'As much as I appreciate that... I don't think she'll let you' I said and took her to the bathroom.

I was more exhausted having her with me at the end of the school day than normal.

'Please Autumn. Mummy wants to sleep on her own bed tonight' I begged.

She cried almost instantly at the idea of leaving her in the room on her own and would t let go of my neck.

I looked over at Martha, desperate for help.

'Try this' I she said and threw a bottle of liquid at me.

'I'm not drugging my daughter' I said.

'It's not drugging. It won't knock her out. It will just give her a peaceful nights sleep, and you as well' she said.

As much as I hated the idea of drugging her up, I needed sleep.

'Come on Autumn. Take it for Daddy' I said to her.

She opened her mouth reluctantly and did swallow, then I have her a milkshake to wash it away with, and she fell soundly asleep on my lap.

I placed her in her bed, but left the door open for her. I knew the chances are she'll climb in with me, but even if I only get half an hour sleep... It's better than none.