Chapter 26 - "To us and the Future..."

Clara's PoV

'Morning, guys. Hey there Avia. Happy birthday to this little one I think.' Martha said and The Doctor handed her over to Martha for a hug.

We were at unit today. It had been a whole year since I had been discharged from the physio unit but still have to go back for scans once a year, for the foreseeable future, just too check for no movements of the metal plates.

'What's wrong Autumn?' She asked her as she had her arms folded.

'She's just having a strop because it's not her birthday it's Avia's' I said and wandered into the room.

'What's this, a cute little teddy bear for your birthday' she said to her and Avia took the teddy with open arms.

'Right is Daddy going to take you to the crèche to play with the children while I talk to mummy?' She asked.

'Yes come on. Oh look off she goes again' he grunted and walked directly behind Avia as she had picked up her new habit of walking.

'She's walking. Oh my gosh. Think a whole year ago today you had her' she said to me and I gave her a look.

'I'm trying not to think about the traumatic birth if I can help it' I pointed out and she grinned.

Plus the fact that she nearly didn't survive the birth, so it's good to think that she's made it too 1.

'Hey Clara, I've been thinking' he said as he walked in the door.

I was waiting for my x-Ray so I was patiently on the bed. 'You and thinking is not a good combination' I pointed out and he agreed.

'Listen, after this check up, and once you've got the all clear, we need a decent holiday. We haven't been away since the honeymoon, and it will be good for you and me to get back out there and explore planets for a little while' he said and I thought about that.

'Sounds great but what about the girls?' I asked him. 'They can stay with your dad while we go away for a week and then when we come back, we can go on a family holiday' he said and the idea of that does sound inviting.

'Alright, all looks good! In fact, nothing's moved at all, and it seems like you've been taking all the medication' Martha said.

We looked at each other happily and he rubbed the back of my neck.

We got back to the flat and I was really happy, so I headed for the bedroom to change. 'Play' a small squeak came from directly behind me as I walked to the bedroom.

I whizzed round to see that it wasn't Autumn that said that because she was already down stairs.

'Play' she said again and tugged on the bottom of my dress.

Turns out Avia has picked up some of Autumns lingo.

'Did she just say-?' I cut him off because we both knew it was true. 'I think she did' I agreed as I went into the bedroom.

I went back towards the bedroom sighing that she's so old, but she's persistent though and followed me, crawling behind me and waited to be lifted onto the bed.

I lifted her up assuming she would want to get down in a few minutes out of boredom and I laid down myself.

I shut my eyes and felt hands on me and she had snuggled herself up next to me and was doing what the Doctor does to me and to her. She was stroking my arm.

'Oh well look at you two' he said as he came in over an hour later.

You'd think he would have noticed his daughter was missing but never mind.

'She came up, she snuggled into me. It seemed cruel to move her' I said.

'Did daddy do your hair Autumn?' I asked her and she nodded. 'That would explain why it looks half digested' I mumbled.

'I heard that, are you insulting my hair doing skills?' He asked sarcastically.

'Yes that's exactly what I'm doing' I informed him and he smiled. 'You'd better take Avia to get ready, while I get dressed' I said to him and he woke her up and took her to the other room.

I found my light blue flowery patterned dress, and white sandals while Autumn was giving me a very detailed description (most of which I couldn't understand) about what she did in the crèche and what she did with The Doctor.

The exciting thing about Autumn is that she's very chatty and doesn't need any encouragement in talking.

'Okay, are you ready to go?' He asked and I nodded. I grabbed my jumper and sunglasses leaving.

'Clara' my Dad said and embraced me in a hug of which I did not appreciate.

'Where's the birthday girl?' He asked as I slipped through the door and made myself scarce making way to the back garden where I was greeted by rather a lot of people.

'Ahh there she is, I can't believe she's 1 already, it's just crazy' George said and I smiled assuringly. 'I know it's mad' I said.

'Clara, I'm going to go and see Mr Maitland, he's Umm doing the barbecue. Do you want anything?'.

'Yes. I'll have a burger. In fact not. I'm starving so I'll have two burgers' I said.

'Look mummy Gandad gave me fish' she said as she tugged on my dress. 'It looks very pretty' I said leaning forwards.

'Mummy, will you play on bouncy' she asked.

'Go and ask Daddy' I said to her but she didn't look happy.

'No you' she said. 'Autumn, there is no way I can go on the trampoline' I said to her.

She crossed her arms and stormed off in a strop and I watched as she pulled on his trouser leg and told him that I wouldn't play.

Not long after that Avia crawled towards me and she was looking for a hug.

It was actually about half past 5 and admittedly she was probably hungry.

There was quite a few relatives here actually and a fair few people.

'Hello Avia' Adrien said as he crouched down in front of her while she was on my lap.

'Happy Birthday' he said and handed her a present of which she looked at him very strangely.

But she ate the present all the same and so I assisted her with it. 'Oh wow that is awesome' I announced and he smiled proudly.

He had bought a very cute t-shirt with ducks on it and evidently ducks are her favourite.

The Doctor gave me the "I'm doing the cake now so please control the other one" look so I went on a hunt for Autumn.

'Autumn, are you upstairs. Mummy can't come up so could you come down please?' I shouted up.

She peeped round the corner of the stairs and looked down.

'Come on, do you want to come and have some of Avia's birthday cake?' I asked her and she nodded her head, then came down the stairs one step at a time.

She lifted her arms for me to lift her up and I knew there was no chance I could do that so instructed her to take my hand instead.

'No, I want hug' she said and crossed her arms. She has a temper like mine. Stubborn.

'Autumn, I can't lift you up. If you want a hug you can but once I sit down okay?' I said to her and held my hand out again.

'No. I want to be carry' she cried and actually started crying and grizzling.

'Come on, let's go and find Daddy' I said to her but she got annoyed then and hit me instead.

She's clever and she knows what she's done then and what comes next so she then try's to look cute and she hugged my leg crying.

'Nuh, Uh. No way your not getting away with it that easily young lady' I said to her and she tried crying.

I sent her packing to the step. I sighed and wandered back to the door frame of the back garden where Avia was the centre of attention siting very snugly on his lap hugging him, and everyone was surrounding her.

'Come on Clara, where's Autumn?' He asked urgently.

'She's on the stairs' I said and he looked at me odd. 'Long story, she's a bit jealous' I said and he grinned.

He moved Avia onto his other knee and I sat on his lap as well then.

'Dad, will you go and tell Autumn that she can leave the step, but she needs to come and see me' I shouted at him and he stuck two thumbs up so I assumed it to be a yes.

'Okay, Avia do you want to do the cake now' I asked her and she smiled even though I don't think she was too bothered or really understood.

'Clara, she won't shift. She keeps saying Mummy told her to stay' he said and I sighed.

'At least she learnt' I said and got up.

'No you hold Avia, I'll go and get her' he said so I sat back down.

'Wow, look grandad put duckies on the cake for you' I said to her and she was somewhat excited. But to be fair I think she was tired. It is 8 o clock. I'll put her down in a bit.

That's probably why Autumn hit me, because she was starting to get groggy and miserable.

'Right, what do you say to Mummy?' He instructed her as she came and hugged my knee.

'Sorry' she said and I stroked her head.

'Are you going to help Avia with her cake?' I asked her and she nodded giggling.

'Go on then Avia, blow out the candles' I encouraged her but she stared at me blankly.

'Blow bubbles' Autumn said to her and she did, blow the bubbles. It's clear that Avia knows who to listen too and that doesn't give me much hope for the future.

Eventually we gave in on the prospect of her blowing the candle out alone and so we let Autumn help her.

'Cake pease daddy' she said impatiently tugging at his jacket.

'Well she's her mothers daughter hey' he said sarcastically.

'Watch it chin boy otherwise you can sleep on the sofa ' I warned but we already knew we were staying here tonight.

It didn't take long after for Avia to fall asleep in my arms and he eventually by about 9 o clock took them both up and put them to bed.

Once they were asleep, a few people stayed for a little longer but the final few people where just us, and my Dad.

'Well, I'm going up to bed' my Dad said and I moved to sit on The Doctors lap. 'Night Dad' I smiled.

I snuggled up in his lap and rested my head on his chest.

I felt him running circles on my back, and so I did the same on his chest.

'So what happens next?' He asked and I smiled. 'I don't know what do you mean?' I questioned.

'You know. With us... And the future?' He questioned. 'You know the future... You work there' I grinned looking up.

'That's not what I mean' he said smiling.

'I don't know. Just take it one day at a time and hope for the best?' I questioned.

'Ever thought about having more kids?' He asked.

'Have you?' I questioned. 'I haven't no. But then I never really thought that I would have two kids...' He said trailing off again.

'No me neither' I admitted.

'Well. Well just see what the future brings then hey Chin Boy?' I said and he laughed.

'Alright. To us and the Future' he whispered into my hair.

'To us and the Future' I whispered right back and connected my mouth to his.

I was hoping that this was the way my life was going to be for a very long time.y