"Doctor?" Clara asked as she came bouncing into the console and up to the Doctor. He turned to her with a small grin.
"Clara!" He announced copying her mannerisms. "Ready for an adventure?" He asked but Clara sighed and shook her head.
"Actually there was something I wanted to ask you, you see I did as you said. I talked to the TARDIS and I, well she took me somewhere you see and now I don't understand." She said softly and he frowned gently.
"Oh? Where did she take you?" The Doctor implored looking away and fiddling with the buttons casually.
"To a bedroom. It looked like a woman's, all set up and everything. A blue book by her bed and a pair of red heels by the door." She said watching his face carefully, he stilled at her word's before flipping a switch as if pained as he leant against the console eyes closed.
"I'm not trying to replace her," He all but growled softly and even Clara could make out the hum which was most definitely doubtful that resonated from the console.
"Am I missing something again?" She said folding her arms with a worried look. He huffed slightly before opening his eyes and looking up to her.
"That was my wife's room." He revealed before gulping slightly, her eyes widened and she lashed out punching his shoulder. He let out a small oof but didn't stop her.
"WIFE?! You have a wife! Does she know you go around picking up girls. Did you get her the same way? Promise her the stars?"
"Stop it." He said sternly not looking up to her as he moved around the console but she only followed him.
"Why? Are you feeling guilty cause you should be. For gods sake-"
"BECAUSE SHE'S DEAD!" The Doctor bellowed turning to her sharply. "My wife is dead Clara! She told me to find someone! To move on and not stay sad!" He said his eyes filling with tears and he moved away dragging his hand over his face as he sat on the step.
Clara blinked completely stunned and guilt racked her for the words she had just said. When the TARDIS had shown her the room, Clara had guessed it was someone important. And well, she had presumed, when he said it was his wife's room that he had left her for the stars. She bit her lip walking to sit next to him quietly and took his hand.
"I'm sorry, I didn't realise. What was her name?" She asked and he turned to her with a sad smile and nodded before going into his pocket and getting a picture. It was of him, she recognised him but he was also different, wearing a tweed suit instead of his purple one. She smirked slightly looking at it closer before seeing the woman.
She was wearing a TARDIS blue dress, her hair was extremely curly and she held onto the Doctor's hand laughing as he held the camera above them. They looked happy and Clara saw the same look of love in the woman's eyes that she had seen whenever her mother had looked at her Dad.
"Professor River Song." The Doctor said bringing her out of her thoughts and she looked up and saw the fond loving smile which her own father had taken to wearing upon her mother's death. Clara smiled.
"She looks lovely,"
"Oh she was, but she was so much more than that Clara, she was funny and smart and like me." He said looking to the picture.
"What do you mean?" She asked gently. "Like you?"
"Her parents were human Clara, like you but then well newly married couple you can guess what they got up to. Oh the Pond's how I miss my Pond's... River she was, well she em, started on the TARDIS, child of the TARDIS herself." He said patting the stair fondly and Clara smiled sympathetically as she heard the melancholy sound of mourning. "Anyway, because of that River became, like me. Part timelord, two hearts, able to regenerate. She was, so special and I loved her all the more for it."
"Is that why she doesn't like me?" Clara asked looking down to her feet. The Doctor sighed putting an arm around her. "Is it? Does she want River?"
"You know, I'm not sure about that if I'm honest. Remember when you told me I was like a boy who couldn't date anyone without his mother's consent?" He asked and Clara smirked before nodding. "Well it's a bit like that, the old girl is my best friend, my sister, my wife, my mother... And my mother-in-law. She's mourning the daughter she never got to see, hold, talk to. So, in answer to your question, yes and no. My wife would have loved you, and that upsets the TARDIS, because River can't meet you. So, you remind her and me of what we've lost and then you also help her move on. But, like everyone, a part of her doesn't want to move on." He finished.
Clara's head rest on his shoulder, his hand on her knee in an affectionate manner. She nodded slowly.
"I understand, it would be a bit like if my Dad moved on, if the woman was like my Mum, I'd be happy because well, it'd be like getting to have a second chance, but then I'd feel like I was betraying my mum." She said softly. The Doctor smiled and the TARDIS hummed gratefully.
"There we go then..." He said before standing up. "Come on then," he put his hand out for her and she took it with a small frown watching as he then rushed over to the console starting to pilot it.
