Knock, knock, knock. Clara Oswald looked up from her computer and checked her watch. She wasn't expecting anyone for a few more hours. So why would anyone be at the door? She sighed and pushed away from her desk. As Clara passed through the kitchen, she picked up an apple and took a bite. Finally, she was at the door.

Outside stood a man who looked exhausted as he held numerous parcels in his hands. "Package for Clara Oswald," he said as cheerfully as he could muster.

"That's me, thanks," Clara said, signing for it. "Happy Christmas!" she called after his retreating figure. Clara looked down at the return address, Joseph Drosselmeyer. Smiling, she closed the door behind her and started rummaging for a knife to open the box with. Having acquired one, she sat down at her table and cut open the tape. On top of a neatly wrapped present lay an envelope.

Opening it, she read:

"Dear Clara,

Happy Christmas! I'm sorry I can't make it to dinner this year. I would love to meet this boyfriend of yours, but with traveling I'm finding it difficult to spend Christmas with anyone.

I'm currently in South America at an archeological dig, trying to find evidence that there are creatures like aliens living amongst us humans. I'm surprised to say that I'm rather enjoying it. The head of the expedition keeps flirting with me despite the fact that I am 10 years older than her. Can't you imagine it!

The dig is planning on eating Christmas dinner as a group. It should be interesting to hear all of our different languages blending together. Dr. Williams is currently laughing at something I said earlier, I'd better go correct her.

I found your gift while I was in Germany, I hope you enjoy it!

Best Christmas wishes to my favorite goddaughter,

Dr. Joseph Drosselmeyer

P.S.- (This is Dr. Williams) He's flirting back.

Clara laughed at the fact that her godfather was flirting with a woman ten years younger than him. Then, she took out the present. It was wrapped in red and white candy stripes and had a sticker that said "Fragile" on it. Tearing off the paper, she opened the box inside.

Dressed in a smart colonial military uniform, sword in hand, was a nutcracker. He had an overly large chin, a fine set of teeth, and his dark hair in a ponytail that was also the handle. Clara smiled and stroked at the finely carved wood. Its green eyes seemed to take on a gleam of delight that made Clara chuckle.

"Drosselmeyer's crazy," she said as she put the nutcracker on the mantel. "I'll bet that you're some kind of alien he found at a battlefield and thought would look nice on my mantel!" The figure winked. "Oh great, now I'm going mad!" A chuckle sounded. "I'm going to call the Doctor now," Clara turned on her heel to go find her phone.

"Stop, Clara!" a man's voice sounded through the room, "The Doctor already knows that I'm here." Clara slowly turned back to the fireplace. The nutcracker had grown to be the size of a man. He had taken on more human features, yet still retained the texture of wood.

"How do you know my name?"

"Come on, you're the Impossible Girl! You've saved the Doctor's life 1000s of times. How can I not have heard of you?"

Clara's face took on a slight smile, "Am I really that famous?"

The nutcracker chuckled, "No, that's just how Dad describes you."

"Who?"

"The Doctor. I think you might have heard of him."

"The Doctor is your dad? How did you become a nutcracker?"

"Yeah. My mom would say 'spoilers' to that second question though."