This is another one-off story - a sequel to "The Call." It was somewhat inspired by the evolution of the relationship between Clara and the Doctor, but mostly by a single look she gave him in one episode.
This story should make a bit more sense if you first read "The Call."
I've briefly documented my relationship with the Doctor before. It's ever changing, along with his face. It took thirty-six hours to accept this him as him, but it wasn't really that simple; that was only the beginning.
It was so hard. We were trying to figure out how to be with each other while he was trying to figure out who he is. I almost left him* - technically, just a break from travelling until I could stand to be with him again. I was trying to get out "the easy way" while holding onto hope that he might change back into the kind and youthful man I married. I knew that was a horrible thing to think, and that that change would never happen. He could never go back to being anything - he'd always be different.
Eventually, I was able to peek through my clouded thinking into his head. I saw him for real. It still took time, but our relationship is great now. It looks nothing like before, but it's perfect for us at this time. I do live on Earth now, and I'm a school teacher. Get that: me, a school teacher. He frequently comes back to take me with him. We've had some scary adventures, some really scary adventures, some great times, and some really (ahem) great times.
I've learned that over the years, we've both changed a lot. We've grown a lot. As we grow, our relationship also has to grow. Otherwise, we grow out of the relationship. It's never easy. Figuring out this last growth period was the most difficult I've experienced in my life, and I don't doubt that there will be even harder ones in the future. I'll just have to keep in mind that it's a phase, and our relationship will be even better and stronger once we're through.
*A reference to the episode "Mummy on the Orient Express."