Prologue: Tenth

Clara Oswald walked down the street in a suburb outside London, walking the rescue dog Angie and Artie had recently gotten from their parents as an Easter present. She was passing Artie's school- his parents didn't want him going to school in the city- when she saw it.

That blue box. What had she called it? A snog box- that's right! The Police Public Snog Box- he had always hated it when she called it that.

Why was he there? He knew Artie went to school there. Hell, he had sneaked Artie out of school once to take him to the first ever theme park! Was he coming to visit her? Did he miss her?

She didn't care, she told herself. She was the one who had walked away. It had been a simple choice. He had found someone else to travel with, and she felt she wasn't welcome anymore. Of course, he had never said anything, but she could see it. Plus, the time between going home to take care of Angie and Artie was becoming too wide. She had felt it was best to go home. And he had let her.

Bravely, she marched up to the door of the TARDIS, rapping her knuckles briskly on the wood. The door opened, and an attractive man in a brown suit stood before her. Instantly, Clara knew her mistake. This was not either of the Doctors she had ever met. This was the tenth Doctor.

"Sorry," she mumbled, tugging on the dog leash. "I just-"

"Who are you?" He asked, stopping her from walking away. He stepped fully out of the TARDIS.

"No one," she insisted, making to leave.

"Only special people can see her." The Doctor said softly, glancing at his beautiful time machine. "She has a perception filter. Only people who know her can see her."

"Oh. Um-"

"Have I met you before?" He looked at her curiously. She found herself blushing under his stare. Every time she had helped this Doctor while in his time stream, she had never been face to face with him. She had to admit that he was very handsome.

"No." Yes. "No, you haven't. I don't know why your perception thing didn't work on me." She backed up. From her time with the Doctor, she knew a few things about timelines. It wouldn't be good for him to meet her before he was supposed to meet her. He had never noticed any of her echoes helping him, so the Dalek asylum should be his first time meeting her. Not here. Not now. Not in front of a stupid school, while this stupid dog stretched the leash with all its might so that it could chase a squirrel.

A pretty blonde girl poked her head out of the doorway. "Who's this?"

The Doctor looked lost for words. "Um-"

"Clara." Clara replied immediately. The Doctor grinned.

"Clara." He repeated, liking the way her name rolled on his tongue. "I was just asking Clara if she wanted to come with us." Rose looked exasperated.

"Mickey and Clara both?" She asked, hands on her hips.

"Oh, I can't!" Clara protested. "Really, I-" She faltered at the sad look on his face. How could she say no to that face? "Yea. Sure. Just, give me a moment to drop the dog off at home."

Clara scurried off. Luckily for her, Artie's aunt lived nearby. Clara explained that she needed to run into a store for a moment, and Aunt Lynn was glad to watch the dog for her.

Clara was halfway back to the TARDIS when she halted. Could she really rewrite the Doctor's history?

By now, she could see this Doctor. One look at the smile on his face answered that question for her. Yes. Yes, she could.