Disclaimer: I do not own anything. At all.
A/N: Well, here we go. I had to do something with all these 11 feels. So, here's one last hurrah for the drunk giraffe. Thank you, Matt.
Chapter 1: Holiday Cheer
Just one more piece of tape should do it…Clara thought to herself as she tugged the last piece of loose wrapping paper in place before taping it over.
Done!
She finished wrapping a present meant for the Doctor, but paused…Did it need a bow? Ah well...it couldn't hurt. Turning, she walked up the stairs carrying the wrapped box to her room. There must be some ribbon up there somewhere…
Outside, a distinct whooshing noise filled the air.
No! He was early…Clara looked at the present in her hands before quickly finding some ribbon. Perhaps she had time to tie it properly…
"Clara!" The Doctor eagerly called, ringing the doorbell.
Clara sighed and left the ribbon next to the present before rushing downstairs and opening the door.
"Doctor! Happy Holidays!" She exclaimed, hugging him. "It's lovely to see you again. Come in, come in!"
"Hello, Clara. Happy Holidays to you, too! Don't you have a fireplace somewhere? It's freezing in here, too." The Doctor said after pressing a kiss to Clara's forehead.
"Just wait downstairs a moment!" Clara said before rushing upstairs to finish tying the bow.
Throwing open the door to her room, she rushed to loop the ribbon over the box and tie it as neat as she could.
There.
After standing back a moment to admire her work, Clara grabbed the present and headed downstairs only to hear an excited whoop from the Doctor.
"Oh, you shouldn't have! Yes!" The Doctor beamed, rushing towards her as he stooped slightly to kiss Clara enthusiastically on the cheek. "I've always wanted one of these things!" He said, waving around an odd contraption a repairman forgetfully left in her flat recently.
"What…" Clara said looking confusedly down at her neatly wrapped present. "What did I give you?"
"This!" The Doctor said, waving it around. "It's perfectly alright that you didn't wrap it, but how did you even know I've always wanted this?"
Well. Clara placed her present on the table beside them. "I…don't even know what that is! It's not even mi—" She began to say.
"Why! It's a left-handed flange tuner!" The Doctor excitedly said, examining every inch of the tool.
"…But you're right-handed."
"What if I want to use my left hand? The possibilities are endless! Right or left…Or I can use both – at the same time!" The Doctor continued, staring at the item in his hands with wonder.
"Right….So I reckon this was a good present?" Clara smiled, pushing her present away. Oh well. She supposed she could always save that one for next year. Or his birthday…whenever that was…
"Yes! Thank you!" He said, hugging her again. "That reminds me…Here! Your present! It probably won't be as good as the present you gave me, but…"
"Oh, shush! I'm sure I'll love it…" Clara smiled, taking a thin, rectangular-shaped wrapped object from him.
"Go on then, open it up!" The Doctor said, beaming as tossed his new present from hand to hand.
"A….piece of paper? How thoughtful." Clara said, tilting her head a bit, looking at what was most definitely a piece of…paper backed by some cardboard.
"Silly me…I wrapped it the wrong way…Turn it over!" He said, taking it out of her hands and showing her the proper side.
Clara's eyes widened as she read the words.
FRANZ LISZT
DECEMBER CONCERT TOUR
ONLY AT THE BERLINER SINGAKADEMIE
"No way….No way!" She said as her jaw dropped. "We're seeing the Franz Liszt? In 19th century Berlin?"
"Yes! The one and only! We're seeing one concert from Liszt's legendary European tour of the 40s." The Doctor beamed.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Clara squealed, hugging the Doctor tightly.
"Mind you, it's Berlin in winter without the fancy electric heaters. So you might want to dress a bit warmer." The Doctor said, examining Clara's floral print skirt and bright Christmas jumper.
"Oh of course! Give me fifteen minutes!" Clara said before rushing up the stairs.
She was going to see Liszt!
"Although, don't you think you should change, too? Surely you have a thicker sweater or a jacket other than that same outfit you always wear, yeah?" Clara teased, pausing at the top of the staircase.
"What's wrong with what I always wear?" The Doctor exclaimed before returning to his TARDIS.
OoOoOo
Ten minutes later, Clara rushed out of her flat wearing a long, thick coat and a wooly scarf over layers and layers of clothes. Locating the TARDIS, she pushed open the door only to find it locked.
"Doctor…Doctor? Can't I come in now?" Clara said, knocking.
"Just give me a moment!" The Doctor called out.
Nearly five minutes later later, he opened the door wearing… the normal clothes he usually wore in a darker shade with an added black coat.
"You look warmer, Clara. Good. How do I look?" The Doctor asked, twirling around for her.
"The...same? Like your usual self?" Clara offered, leaning forward to fix his bowtie a bit.
"Thank you, Clara. Now, shall we go?" The Doctor said, taking her hand and leading her into the TARDIS.
"Berlin. December 27, 1841. 6 PM. Ready?" The Doctor asked.
"Of course!" Clara excitedly said.
"Well then." The Doctor smiled as he pushed down the levers of the TARDIS, making the engine purr and that brilliant sound only the TARDIS could make reverberate throughout the room.
"We're here!" The Doctor said, running towards the door. "Berlin in winter…Isn't it beautiful?" He continued as he opened the door to reveal old buildings blanketed by white.
People ambled around the streets moving in and out the shops buying things already for the New Year. Others sought refuge from the cold and huddled together near burning fires. Children bundled with layers and layers of clothes ran past them, laughing as they bent down to scoop up snow to throw upon each other.
"Oh wow! It's absolutely gorgeous…but f-f-freezing…" Clara said, poking out of the TARDIS door a bit only to draw back slightly as the harsh winter wind blew across the town.
"Let's go see?" The Doctor said, opening the door further.
"Let's." Clara smiled, looping her arm around his.