"Come on, kids, it's not as if Clara's moving to America," Mr. Maitland said encouragingly.
"No, it's worse," Artie said.
Angie reached across Clara to smack her brother.
"Hey! None of that!" Clara warned. She was sandwiched between Artie and Angie on the sofa, trying desperately to keep her own emotions in check, and praying that neither kid would slip and use the words 'alien' or 'time travel' in front of their father. Or 'Cybermen.' That would be really bad.
"She's just going traveling, like she meant to do a year ago. She'll be back to visit."
"That's right," Clara added. "And Wendy is lovely. I think you'll all get on famously."
"She won't be you," Artie said mournfully.
Clara cuddled him a bit closer.
"I don't know if I want to talk to a stranger about…well…stuff," Angie muttered.
The Doctor, who'd been sitting silently through all of this, suddenly leaned forward to look her in the eye. "Angie, you can call Clara, whenever you like."
"Yes, of course you can," Clara agreed quickly.
"Are you mental? It's too expensive."
"Angie!" Mr. Maitland said sharply.
"It's all right - it's fine," the Doctor said dismissively. "Angie, you know what? I've got Clara a very special phone package for our trip, so you really can call her, any time you'd like. All right?" He winked.
"Thanks!"
Clara smiled at him gratefully.
Mr. Maitland rose to his feet. "Well now, we can't keep you any longer. Don't want to miss your flight." He extended his hand to the Doctor. "Where did you say you'll be visiting?"
"Everywhere," the Doctor replied with a perfectly straight face.
Clara gently disentangled herself from the kids and hugged her old friend goodbye. "I'll miss you all," she said simply.
"I don't know how we would have made it through this year without you. Take good care of her," he added to the Doctor.
"Never doubt it."
Clara twined both arms around the Doctor's and leaned her cheek against his arm as they walked towards the TARDIS. "Thank you."
"What for?" he asked curiously.
"Today. You don't do domestic and you don't like endings, but you sat there while I said goodbye to the kids."
He glanced down at her fondly. "I know how much they mean to you. And besides, this isn't an ending…it's a beginning."
They stopped in front of the TARDIS and he fumbled in his pockets and pulled out a shiny new key. He pressed it into Clara's hand. "Here. Why don't you do the honors?"