Prologue

The Professor, Belle and Strax landed in a dark alleyway in Victorian London. They had came there via a Vortex Manipulator that Strax had given him a couple of hours earlier.

"Well, I really should be going to Madame Vastra and Jenny again," Strax said. "Would you like to join me?"

"No. I think we should look around for a bit," the Professor said. "May find someting useful to help us."

"Right." Strax bowed and headed off to his home with Madame Vastra.

"Um, now what?" Belle asked.

"First, you need to change into proper Victorian clothes..." the Professor said, then looked around til, making sure there was no one around. Once he was sure, he waved his hand and engulfed Belle in blue smoke. Once the smoke cleared, Belle was in her blue dress with white shirt. The Professor smiled at his work and started to walk off. "Coming, Belle?"

"Yes. I'm coming," she said, starting to walk off after him.

The Professor and Belle walked around for what seemed ages til they came to an Inn. The Rose and Crown it was called. The Professor opened the door, and let Belle go in first, then he followed her in and made his way to a table. He and Belle sat down and waited for a waitress to come and serve them. One did. A brunette waitress wearing a red dress with a red shawl.

So...What can I get for the lovely couple?" the waitress asked.

"Oh, we're so not a couple. She's dating my, uh, uncle..." the Professor said, going back to what he called Mr Gold during the curse.

The waitress smiled. "Good. Now, what would you like to order?"

"I'll have a glass of whiskey. Belle, what would you like to have?"

"I'll have some mead," Belle said.

The waitress smiled again and left them to get the two their drinks. She came back a couple of minutes later, giving them their drinks, and sitting down. "There you are," she said.

The Professor looked at her. "Shouldn't you be working?" he asked.

"Oh, I'm due for a break," she said. "So, what are you guy's names?"

"I'm Belle, and that's the Professor," Belle said, taking a sip from her mead.

"The Professor, huh?" the waitress said, cupping the Professor's cheek with her hand. "Now I have a name for your cute face. My name's Clara."

"What a lovely name. Clara," the Professor said.

"Thanks, I'm thinking about keeping it."

The Professor chuckled. "So, do you know anywhere we can spend the night?"

"You can always stay with me," Clara said, getting up. "I don't mind. I'll show you now."

"Okay," the Professor said, getting up to, with Belle.

Once they were up, Clara lead out the door and towards her house, which was nearby, and up some wooden stairs, Once they got there, Clara unlocked the door and walked in, followed by the Professor and Belle.

"It's lovely," Belle said.

"Thanks," Clara said. "Now, I only have two bedrooms, so one of you is gonna have to share with me."

"Belle. You take the other bedroom. I'll share with Clara," the Professor said.

"Okay," Belle said, as she slowly headed to her room.

"Look after that bracelet too."

"I will."

"Good," the Professor said to Belle, then focused his attention on Clara. "Show me to your room."

"Okay," Clara said, smiling and took his hand as she led him to the room. It was small, with a double bed against the wall, but it looked cosy and comfy.

"I'm gonna like sleeping here," the Professor said, taking off his scarf, jacket and knee-high boots, before hopping into the bed. "Now, you can undress into your night gown and I can keep my head under the blankets while you do..."

"You'd better keep under the covers." Clara warned sharply. Making sure the Professor couldn't see, Clara quickly undressed. She pulled the Victorian nightdress over her head causing her hair to attract static. "You can look now." Clara said as she patted down her hair.

The Professor put his head up and smiled, opening the blankets so she could get in. She smiled her thanks at him as she climbed in. "You look beautiful..." the Professor said.

"Thank you," Clara said, as she cuddled up into the blankets, and him. Though he didn't mind. Part of him knew he had to move on with his life, after Oswin, and he knew Clara would be the one to do it. He cuddled into her back, as they drifted off to sleep together.