So there are a lot of Christmases that I haven't written in my multi-chapter AU Earthly Wonders. 10 of them to be precise. My aim is to write as many of them as possible before Christmas! But I am mega busy so it won't be all 10! I hope you can read these as one shots without reading EW too…

1 – The Necklace. This is set just after Clara and Danny's wedding/honeymoon. Ellie, their first born, is just over 1.

The house was oddly silent when Clara woke. She looked around and quickly noted the lack of husband in her bed and that it was just gone 8am; it was also Christmas day. She took a moment to smile up at the ceiling as she thought back over the honeymoon they'd not long returned from, and the Christmas they were to have with Ellie now they were back. Everything was running perfectly, she hadn't been happier in years and it was all down to her perfect family. However right now, they were oddly missing.

Clara swung her legs out of bed and stood up, pulling her hair up in to a quick ponytail for a moment until she could sort it. She grabbed her robe and pulled it round, heading downstairs. When she made it in to the kitchen there was a note on the side.

Patience my dear. Make yourself tea, get comfy, we won't be long. Oh, and Merry Christmas, I love you.

Clara stared at it in confusion but eventually shrugged and flicked the kettle on. Her mug was already waiting with the teabag inside and she quickly made the tea, sitting down and grabbing the remote. She had to admit it was a slightly odd start to Christmas, but she was somewhat enjoying it. Once she'd finished her tea, she made her way upstairs and got herself sorted and dressed. When she appeared back downstairs the front door was just opening and Ellie toddled in slightly unsteady but very enthusiastically, running at Clara with her arms spread for balance.

"Mamaaa!" She giggled as Clara picked her up and spun her around.

"Hello my little angel, where have you been then eh?" Clara looked to Danny for an answer, smiling at him.

"Long wayyyy" Ellie informed her and Danny just laughed. "Long long wayyyy." She repeated. "CHRISTMAS MAMA!" Ellie suddenly decided to shout down her ear. Clara chuckled and looked over to Danny.

"What on earth have you been doing to her?" She asked, going through to the lounge with them and letting Ellie down where she toddled over to the tree, still just as fascinated by the lights as ever.

"Nothing much, just had to go and collect something from your Dad." Danny smiled and sat down on the sofa, putting the bag he'd bought in down beside him.

"Like what exactly?" Clara asked, intrigued, and joining him on the sofa but watching Ellie at the same time.

"I don't really know, all I know is he wants you to have it before he comes over." Danny pulled the small box out and handed it over to Clara. "I'll go stop Ellie from destroying the tree." He smiled, standing up and leaving her to it.

Clara didn't open it straight away. She stared at the wrapped box for a moment trying to work out why her Dad would want her to have something before he arrived, it didn't make any sense. Eventually she started to open the paper carefully, making sure not to rip any. She could hear Danny behind her trying to control Ellie who was clearly enjoying the tree lights a little too much, but she didn't turn around. The paper came open easily enough in the end, and in front of her sat a black box with a gold edge. It looked new, but for some reason Clara had a feeling the contents was nothing but. She opened the box and a letter popped out, falling on her lap. She replaced the box lid for a moment and picked it up, reading.

Clara,

After giving you the bracelet at your wedding I knew the time had come to give you this too. Not long before your mother died we went shopping - she found this, and she wanted you to have it. She said I was to give it to you at Christmas, but I forgot, and then as time went on for some reason I just couldn't. I guess I became attached, I couldn't bear to let it go, but I was wrong to.

I want to apologise for waiting so long, and I want to apologise for being too cowardly to give this to you in person and in front of Linda.

Love you,

Dad

The letter sat in front of her for a few moments while she read it again. Was she meant to be angry? Maybe, but she wasn't. She couldn't be angry at him, he'd lost a wife as much as she lost a mother, she'd done stupid things back then and so had he, there was no point blaming anyone. Except maybe Linda, because she got the blame for almost anything Clara could pin on her now.

Once she'd thought long and hard about this, Clara opened the box. Inside lay a beautiful locket necklace – heart shaped with a diamond placed in the very middle and a swirl pattern. She picked it up carefully, looking closer and smiling at its beauty. But it was when she opened it over that she felt the tears start to fall. 'I will always be here. I will always find you.' She read the inscription over and over, the writing was small – to fit it all in – but it meant so much.

"Mummy cwy!" Clara looked up suddenly to see Ellie stood in front of her pointing at her. She quickly wiped her eyes and smiled at her, picking her up to sit beside her. She was so very smart for her age, sometimes too much so.

"It's okay sweetie, Mummy's okay. Look at this; your grandma got it for me." She moved the box slightly over so Ellie could see. She looked for a moment but then looked back up to Clara.

"Play?" She asked and Clara could only smile, kissing her forehead. She quickly removed the necklace from it's box and clipped it around her neck, holding it just for a moment longer than needed and then stood up with Ellie.

"Why don't we go and see if Daddy needs help in the kitchen shall we? I believe we foolishly agreed to host Christmas lunch again." Clara straightened Ellie's jumper which boasted 3 reindeer, one with a pom pom red nose, and took her through to the kitchen.

The family arrived a couple of hours later. Clara had spent most of the morning entertaining Ellie as Danny was insistent he was fine in the kitchen, and it didn't really seem fair to leave Ellie alone to play either. Dave came in first, shortly followed by Linda and then her Gran who Clara quickly noted was clearly already a little fed up with Linda's groaning. Ellie was quickly distracted by their entrance and started to get up to go and see Dave, until she spotted Linda. Quickly she backtracked and hugged in to Clara, grizzling slightly. Clara smiled weakly at her Dad and picked Ellie up, kissing her head and gently stroking her hair back.

"Hey, settle down it's alright sweetie. It's a happy time okay?" Clara whispered to her, but it wasn't helping. Danny had appeared from the kitchen now, greeting everyone and taking the coats.

"Well it's lovely to see you too." Linda said sarcastically to Clara who just glared at her briefly before turning her focus back to Ellie, ignoring Linda's scoff as she did.

"I'm just going to take her upstairs for a moment, we won't be long." Clara looked to Danny who nodded, understanding what she was going to do. As she left the room she gave an apologetic look to her Gran who just smiled in sympathy for the moment. She took Ellie upstairs to her room, taking a seat on the beanbag in the corner which had become her place to calm down recently as they were trying new things with her. Clara wiped the tears from Ellie's face and sat her up on her lap to talk to her.

"It's all going to be okay El, I promise." She smiled, reaching over and grabbing her teddy from the bed and handing him to her. "We need to be nice today for Grandad." Clara told her. Ellie took the teddy by the arm and put the hand up to her mouth. "I know you're scared baby, but it's okay." Sometimes Clara didn't know just how much Ellie could understand, but it seemed to be working. She went quiet for a while to listen and make sure Ellie's breathing settled.

A few moments later there was a quiet knock on the door and Clara looked up to see her Dad stood there. Ellie jumped around but seemed okay once she saw it was Dave, though she still settled back in to Clara.

"Sorry darling, everything okay?" He asked, taking a few steps inside the room. Clara nodded and he eventually made his way over to sit on the floor beside her. "It looks beautiful on you." Clara knew exactly what he meant, not taking her eyes off Ellie as she replied.

"It's perfect, but you know you could have just given it to me right?" She asked. He didn't reply, they both knew the answer. "I forgive you Dad." She told him, finally looking over. "Thank you." They both smiled, and Clara zoned back in to Ellie to see she'd finally settled. "Right kiddo, let's go see how Daddy's doing with lunch shall we eh?"

Once they were back downstairs Clara let Ellie go to see her Gran and stopped her Dad in the hall. "You've been amazing this year Dad, everything you've done… please don't think you're not doing enough. I love you, and we're going to have a wonderful Christmas." She hugged him tightly. Dave was shocked at first, but soon returned the hug.

"I'm so proud of you, and I know your Mum would be too." He let go and stood back, keeping hold of her shoulders and smiling at her. "Merry Christmas darling, you deserve it."