That morning, when Clara woke up, she hadn't even needed to check the calender to know what day it was. The heavy weight of dread mixed with sadness that she felt when she awakened, was enough to tell her that it was March fifth.
Nine years ago, on this day, her mother had died. That had been the worst day of her life, and one she tried never to think about. She didn't like to remember the pain her mother had been in, or the look in her eyes when she slipped away. Unfortunately for Clara, she had a very good memory, and something like that was hard to forget.
She had spent most of that morning trying to keep herself from crying, which wasn't easy, because even though it had almost a decade, just thinking about her mother's death made Clara sad.
It was so unfair that her mother had died. ''Days that should have been that never were.'' What Clara had said on Akhaten about her mother's death, was the only way to sum up what she felt. Her mother had been to young to die, the days that should have been and never would be. Her mother would never see her get married or have children, if those events ever happened in Clara's future. The loss of her mother, had been the main impact on her life, second only to meeting The Doctor.
Clara thought about all of this as she laid on the sofa, absentmindedly stroking the binder of 101 Places to See. A tear that she had tried so hard not to cry, fell from her face, landing on the book in her arms. She squeezed her eyes shut, knowing that if she started to cry she might never stop. But it was no use, and she couldn't stop the tears from flowing freely.
There was a loud wosh as the TARDIS materialized in the living room, and the Doctor jumped out. As soon as he saw Clara's face streaked with tears, and noticed how tightly she was hugging 101 Places to See, the Doctor realized she was very upset. No it couldn't be, he thought. Is it March already? He whirled around to glance at the calender hanging on the wall. It was indeed March. In fact, it was the fifth—the day her mother had died.
He couldn't stand seeing Clara so upset, and seeing the look of sadness on her face. He would try and cheer her up. Yes! That's what he would do. ''Fancy a trip, Clara? I know just the place. An entire planet made of cotton candy! Well, it's not really made of cotton candy, and I wouldn't recommend eating any of it, but it's really bouncy. You just have to overlook how sticky it is.''
Clara sat up, set the book on the table, and wiped the tear tracks off her face with her hands. ''Doctor,'' she began. ''I don't really feel like taking a trip today. Maybe next week?''
''Oh,'' he said, slightly disappointed. How was he going to cheer Clara up if she wouldn't go on a trip? ''Well, if there is anywhere you want to go, just give me a ring.'' He turned around and began walking back into the TARDIS, when Clara suddenly exclaimed,''Wait!'' He stopped walking and spun around to face her. Had Clara changed her mind?
''There is one place I would like to go. Can you take me somewhere I can get some flowers?
''Yes, of course! I know a place with flowers that sing! Singing flowers! Imagine that Clara!''
Clara couldn't help but laugh a little, despite how sad she was. He seemed so enthusiastic about these flowers. ''They don't have to be alien flowers, just any flowers will do. I want to put some flowers on my mum's grave.'' And just like that, the light mood went back to somber.
''Of course,'' he said softly.
Standing up, Clara grabbed her jacket and pulled it on. She grabbed 101 Places to See as an afterthought. ''Alright, I'm ready,'' she said, taking a deep breath. ''Let's go.''
The Doctor walked into the TARDIS followed by Clara. She took a seat on one of the chairs, and paged through her book as the blue box took off. It wasn't long before they landed. The two of them walked out of the TARDIS, and into a field of orange, pink, yellow, red, and purple tulips.
''Doctor, where are we?'' Clara asked as she gazed at the assorted ray of colorful tulips.
''Holland,'' he replied. ''I know tulips aren't traditional flowers to put on a grave, but...''
''They're just right,'' Clara interjected. ''Mum's going to have tulips all the way from Holland on her grave. Thank you, Doctor''
She ran out in to the field of flowers and began picking tulips. The Doctor joined her after fetching a basket out of the TARDIS for Clara to put the flowers in. She filled the basket with flowers, then followed the Doctor back into the mobile box. Their next destination, being of course, the graveyard where Ellie Oswald was buried.
They both stepped out into the cemetery. It felt cold and dark in comparison to the bright field of flowers they'd left behind. In one hand Clara clutched her mother's book and with the other she grabbed the Doctor's free hand. As he felt Clara's small hand wrapping around one of his, he didn't withdraw his hand, instead he wrapped his hand over her's protectively. Clara looked up at his face for a moment, just to remind herself that he would always be there for her. Then she walked forward into the cemetery. She knew exactly where her mother's grave was, that wasn't something she would ever forget. As the two of them walked through between the graves, Clara tightened her hold on the Doctor's hand. It wasn't that she was afraid—she had been here many times before—but every time she came here she could remember her mother dying, and that's not how she wanted to remember her. She wanted to remember her mother happy and full of life.
Clara knelt down in front of her mother's grave and rubbed her hand across the stone, brushing leaves and dirt off of it. The Doctor handed her the basket of flowers and knelt down next to her. He understood how upset she was, he had lost his family and so many of his friends. Clara took the flowers out of the basket, and taking a ribbon out of her jacket pocket, tied the flowers together and laid them on the grave.
''Mum, she was the best,'' she said softly. ''She would've liked you, I know she would've.''
''I'm quite sure I would've like her too.''
''I just... I miss her.'' Clara sniffed. Don't you dare cry, not in front of him!
The Doctor absentmindedly put his arm around her waist. Clara felt his arm around her, but didn't withdraw herself from his arm, it made her feel safe knowing he was there comforting her. And that was when she had a revelation. The TARDIS is a time machine! ''Doctor! You can take me to see her, in the past!'' Clara exclaimed. Why had she not thought of it sooner?
The Doctor stood there shocked, she hadn't? She had. The last time he took a companion to see their deceased parent, the world almost ended! He couldn't take Clara to see her mother. What if she decided to save her mother's life?
''Clara, I can't.''
"What do you mean you can't? You have a time machine!"
''Clara, there are are implications and consequences to saving someones life in the past!''
''Is that what you think I want to do, save her life? I couldn't even if I wanted to! Mum, she became ill, I can't exactly prevent that!'' Clara was frustrated and in tears by now, she of all people understood that rewriting time was dangerous. ''I just want to see her happy and—and alive,'' she whispered.
''We can do that, as long as you promise not to interfere.''
''You know I promise.'' Clara grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the TARDIS. ''Come on, let's go see my mother.''
