The Doctor had it; too many goodbyes had finally taken their toll.
He decided to take refuge in the 19th century with some help from Vastra, Jenny and Strax, not that they agreed with it.
He had also taken extra steps in his self-isolation by moving the TARDIS up on a special cloud.
Yes, he had pretty much succeeded in separating himself from the Universe but he was about to meet his match in a young barmaid/governess named Clara.
The Doctor was walking by when a young woman stopped him.
"Excuse me did you make this snowman?" She asked.
The girl had long brown hair and was wearing a form-fitting red dress.
He paused and looked at the odd snowman wearing an evil grin.
"No I didn't, why?" He asked.
"Well it at first it wasn't here than a second later it was." She said.
The Doctor looked closer at it. "Maybe it remembered how to build itself."
He grabbed a handful of snow and studied it.
"This snow is new, its alien." He said.
"That's silly." She replied.
"What's wrong with silly? I like silly." He smirked.
She liked his response and smiled.
"I'm Clara." She told the tall man wearing a brown pinstripe suit and a brown coat.
The Doctor smiled. "Lovely name, you should keep it."
He then turned and continued walking.
"Oi, where you going, we're just getting acquainted." Clara pouted.
"Those were the days." He smiled sadly. "Nice meeting you, Clara."
Clara wasn't giving up as soon as she heard him board his carriage she ran after it.
The Doctor was inside talking to Vastra.
"So you've met someone." She said hopefully.
"No, I didn't." He replied.
"Is she nice?" Vastra asked.
"I don't know I barely spoke to her and what does it matter?" He said annoyed.
"Because you can't help yourself you're so lonely Doctor." She pointed out.
The Doctor rolled his eyes. "She doesn't even know my name."
Just then Clara dropped in from the top and stared at him upside down. "Doctor, Doctor Who?" She said.
The Doctor groaned. "No, no, no; stop the carriage."
"What's wrong?" Clara asked.
The Doctor helped her down and shook his head.
"Stay here." He said.
"Make me." Clara replied.
He shrugged. "Have it your way." The Doctor got out and locked the door with his sonic screw driver with her inside shouting to get out.
"Strax!" He called out annoyed.
"Yes, sir?"
"How did she get in?" The Doctor asked.
Strax shrugged. "I don't know but I think you're being silly, sir."
"Oh, really and why is that?"
"Because you said it yourself that the snow was alien, be reasonable sir." Strax begged.
The Doctor stopped him. "Strax I've spent over 900 years saving the universe and the one thing I've learned is nobody cares.
Besides we've got a bigger issue." He said pointing at the carriage.
The door opened startling her.
"It's alright no one's going to hurt you." He said.
"What's going on?" Clara asked.
"Silence boy!" Strax exclaimed.
She shot the potato alien a look.
The Doctor groaned and smiled at Clara. "Sorry about that."
He shot Strax a look. "You want to try that again, Strax?"
"I mean silence girl." He repeated.
"You're going to have to forgive him, Strax is part of a clone race; typical middle child of six billion so he gets his genders easily confused."
The Doctor explained.
"Sir, that's so embarrassing." Strax blushed.
Clara just nodded still staring at Strax.
The Doctor looked at Strax and said. "Get the worm."
"Worm, what worm?" Clara panicked.
"Don't worry it won't hurt you just one touch and you'll forget the last twenty minutes."
Strax came back but without the worm.
"Where is it?" He asked.
"Where's what? Who's he?" Strax asked pointing at Clara. "Oh look it's been snowing." He added looking up at the sky.
The Doctor glared at him. "You didn't use the gauntlets, did you?"
"Why would I need those?" He asked.
The Doctor was ready to kill him.
"Did you want me to get the worm?" Strax asked.
"Yes!" He shouted.
Strax ended up under the carriage looking for the worm.
Clara stood there smirking.
"Oi' what's so funny?" The Doctor asked.
"Oh, nothing it's just I know what's going to happen next."
"Oh, really what?" He asked.
"Your little friend's going to forget again because he doesn't have these."
The Doctor looked and her holding up the gauntlets. He rubbed his eyes in frustration.
A second later they heard Strax shout out.
"Oh, dear sir it seems I've been run over by a cab!"
The Doctor rolled his eyes and grabbed the gauntlets from Clara and quickly found the worm himself.
He sighed as closed the jar; Clara still stood there grinning.
"You're not running." He said surprised.
"Why,this is fun?" Clara answered.
"I think you should go." The Doctor advised.
"Explain the snowman then I'll go." She replied.
The Doctor started explaining when a couple of snowmen started to appear.
"Doctor!" She shouted pulling him over.
He grinned. "Oh, brilliant!"
Then more appeared.
"What's going on?" She asked.
"Are you thinking about them?" He asked.
"Yeah." Clara replied.
"Then stop!" He said backing away.
"How?" She said frightened as more popped up.
They were suddenly surrounded by evil-looking snowmen.
The Doctor grabbed Clara by the shoulders and shouted.
"Picture them melted. In your mind imagine them melted!" He ordered.
Clara closed her eyes and the snowmen melted instantly.
Clara gasped at the feeling of cold water being splashed on her.
"What just happened?" She asked.
The Doctor just shrugged. "Does it matter?"
"It does if it happens again." She pointed out.
"Then do what you did before." He said.
"But shouldn't we warn people?" Clara asked.
"Not my problem." He answered as he left.
Clara followed him; she was determined to find out where he lived.
She managed to track him down without being seen to a park.
Clara hid behind a tree and watched the Doctor jump up and grabbed a ladder before disappearing.
She slowly walked towards the tree and reached up pulling down the ladder as she climbed Clara realized she was climbing thru the clouds.
When Clara reached the top she smiled in awe as she looked around.
"I'm on top of an actual cloud." She thought excitedly.
Turning she spotted a police box and carefully approached it; she was about to knock when she heard him coming to the door.
Panicking Clara hid on the other side praying he wouldn't find her.
"Hello?" He said.
The Doctor stepped out and searched around but found nothing.
"Must be my imagination." He said as he went back inside.
Clara let out a deep breath of relief.
She realized it was getting late tomorrow she had to go back to her second job as a governess but she was determined to investigate those snowmen further.
The next day Clara was back at the tree, she had learned from Captain Latimer's children that their former governess had drowned in a pond and was completely frozen over.
She could sense trouble as she took a closer look at the pond but Clara was now confidant this clue could capture the Doctor's attention.
Clara started jumping up and down trying unsuccessfully to reach the ladder.
"Doctor!" She yelled not caring that people were staring at her.
Then she heard a female voice behind her. "Miss, are you daft? What are you trying to do?"
Clara glanced behind her at a small brown hair girl. "I'm trying to get to the Doctor. I need to tell him something."
The girl looked at her. "Doctor Who?"
"That's right, do you know him?" She asked.
The girl just smiled. "My name's Jenny and I think you need to come with me."
Jenny led Clara to a Victorian style house, they were greeted by Strax. "Hello gentlemen, step this way if you don't want to be annihilated."
They looked at him strangely.
"I mean come in ladies." He corrected himself.
Strax brought them to a room where a giant lizard woman was waiting.
Clara was shocked but this matter was too urgent to be frightened.
Clara sat in front of her and waited for her to speak.
"My name is Vastra, Jenny told me you were looking for the Doctor."
Clara started to say something but Vastra stopped her.
"Before you speak I want you to use only one word answers because lies are easy to tell because their words but truth is harder to say in only one. Do you understand?" She asked.
Clara nodded.
"Why were you looking for the Doctor?" Vastra asked.
"Danger." Clara answered.
"Why would he help you?" She asked.
"Kindness." Clara said.
Vastra chuckled."The Doctor prefers isolation as opposed to helping people as his friends we don't approve but we help to provide it. So don't get your hopes up that he'll even consider helping you. Is that clear?"
"Words." Clara answered.
Jenny smiled.
Vastra seemed impress and continued. "Was he kind? Very kind, hero even; he used to help but too many losses has stopped his desire from doing so. Do you understand?" She explained.
"Man." Clara replied.
Jenny nodded eagerly at Vastra.
"Alright but if you expect him to help you need to explain everything in one word only." Vastra said.
Clara thought about it and one word came to mind. "Pond."
The Doctor found himself at Captain Latimer's house where Clara worked.
He was staring at a frozen over pond, the Doctor scanned it with his sonic screw driver.
He knew the snowmen and this pond had to be connected in some way.
He had already paid a visit to Dr. Simeon where he found a big clear ball filled with what look like snow except it was made to mirror something, something human which brought him to this pond.
The Doctor also discovered something called The Great Intelligence was controlling Dr. Simeon, using his mind and body to do it's dirty work.
The Doctor swore sometimes humans liked being controlled, easy life.
Clara spotted him from her window and invited him inside.
Reluctant but to deep in this to go back he agreed.
She went to tell the children.
Franny and Digby were getting ready for bed when Clara came in excited to tell them about the Doctor.
"Franny, Digby an answer our problems is coming soon; tonight a man called the Doctor is going to save us." Clara grinned.
"Is he really going to help us?" Franny asked.
"Yes he is." She smiled.
"Is this man even real?" Digby asked.
Then a knock came on the door, Clara was expecting the Doctor but instead the frozen body of the former governess appeared.
Panicking Clara took the children and ran but they were trapped.
The frozen governess kept repeating over and over in a menacing voice "You've been very bad."
Franny and Digby cowered behind Clara wanting to know where the Doctor was.
"Where is he? Why isn't he here?" They protested.
"I don't know!" She said.
Then a puppet appeared from the puppet show toy theater speaking in the Doctor's voice before zapping the ice governess with a sonic screwdriver.
The ice governess shattered into pieces.
"Hello!" He said smiling.
"You took your precious time didn't you?" Clara frowned.
"You're welcome." He replied rolling his eyes.
"Where were you?" She asked.
"I was here I was just waiting for my cue." The Doctor replied straightening his tie.
"It's cooler." Digby said shivering.
"See he's agrees with me." The Doctor replied.
"No, it's cooler in here." Digby repeated.
The Doctor noticed they were shivering and realized the shattered governess was reforming herself.
"No, no, no she's rebuilding herself, this ice doesn't melt." The Doctor said.
"What do we do?" Franny asked.
The ice woman suddenly reappeared. "You've been very naughty!" It growled.
"Run!" He said.
They all ran out where Captain Latimer was standing at the bottom of stairs looking cross.
"What is going on here and who are you?" He said.
"Hello I'm the Doctor a friend of your governess and now is not a good time to be asking questions." He replied.
"I demand to know what's going on!" He shouted.
"Well the house is under attack by evil snowmen and we're being chased by your former governess whose imitating Mr. Punch." The Doctor explained.
The ice woman could be heard from on top of the stairs.
The Doctor put his arm around speechless Captain Latimer's shoulder. "Any questions?"
Then the maid Miss Alice came rushing in. "Sir they're snowmen growing bigger and bigger outside."
A knock came on the door. "Alice go answer that please." Captain Latimer said.
"But sir…" She protested.
"Now Alice!" He said.
She left but a second later there was a scream.
The Doctor sighed. "That would be our friends Clara."
He went to the door and saw Vastra, Jenny and Strax standing there. "All we did was say hello." Jenny replied.
"Next time try the back door." He said.
Captain Latimer stood there stunned. The Doctor just looked at him. "Close your mouth, carry Alice and take everyone into the library and stay there." He said.
Clara decided to follow the Doctor.
"Oi' I said everyone in the library including you." The Doctor said.
"I guess I don't listen." She replied.
"You have a habit of doing that." He said.
"That's because I like you." She said grabbing him by the lapels and passionately kissing him.
After the kiss the Doctor cleared his throat. "Yes well we shall continue this discussion later."
Clara grinned.
They ran up the stairs where the frozen woman stood looking very angry.
"We're trapped aren't we?" Clara said.
"Well yes, we are." He replied.
"Now what?" She asked.
He grabbed her hand and yelled. "Run!"
They ran to the roof but the monster followed them.
Clara got stuck in the window and the Doctor had to pull her out.
"What are we doing out here?" She asked.
The Doctor grinned. "Think about it. Why would we be out here with an umbrella?"
Clara's eyes danced as she took the umbrella. "Because it pulls down the ladder."
They climbed up and he quickly unlocked the TARDIS; stepping inside Clara gasped.
"It's smaller on the outside." She said looking around.
He smiled. "That's a new one I haven't heard yet."
The Doctor turned to Clara and smiled. "Clara I want to give you something."
He reached into his pocket and gave her a key.
"What's this for?" She asked surprised.
He sighed. "I've been alone for too long because I thought that's how it should be but an old friend once told me to find someone and she was right. I want you to be that someone."
Clara smiled and was about to accept the key when she was suddenly pulled backwards from the TARDIS by the ice woman.
The Doctor tried to grab her but he was unsuccessful; all he could was watch Clara plummet to the ground.
He quickly rushed back down to tend to her, the Doctor found her lying in the snow surrounded by shards of ice left from the now shattered ice creature.
"Clara?" He said softly gently touching her forehead.
She groaned slightly in pain. Clara barely opened her eyes at him.
"Doctor?" Clara whispered.
"Shh… don't speak just hang on for me Clara." He choked.
"I can't, I'm sorry." She mumbled.
Vastra suddenly came out. "What was that noise?" She asked before spotting Clara on the ground.
"Doctor, what happened?" She said shocked.
"Clara got the ice woman but unfortunately it got her as well." He said shaking his head.
"I'm sorry." She said.
The Doctor glanced at Vastra. "She's not going to make it, is she?"
Vastra just hung her head and said nothing but her silence said everything.
"I'm not surprised they never do." He said softly.
Clara took his hand and smiled sadly at him. "Run, you clever boy and remember."
Tears fell from her eyes as she closed them one last time.
The Doctor kissed her forehead. "My Clara." He whispered.
Then Jenny and Strax ran out yelling for the Doctor.
"Doctor the snowmen have melted, all of them." Jenny said.
He gave a sad smile he knew how the snowmen melted; it was because of her tears.
"You were so human, Clara." He whispered.
"Sir we can't find Dr. Simeon anywhere." Strax replied.
They saw the Doctor kneeling over Clara's body.
"Sir I am so sorry." Strax said.
The Doctor shrugged. "Doesn't matter, nothing does." He said standing.
"I'll carry Miss Clara inside; you three tell Captain Latimer what's happened and tell him Clara died saving the world." The Doctor replied grimly.
They nodded and went back inside.
The next day Clara's funeral was held, it was small just Captain Latimer and the children attended.
The Doctor watched from a distance, he thought that was best.
When everyone had gone he walked slowly to Clara's grave with a small thing of flowers.
Placing the flowers on her grave he noticed her name on the headstone.
It said Clara Oswin Oswald. "Oswin Oswald, where have I heard that name, before?" The Doctor wondered.
He then remembered her last words, they echoed in his head. "Run, you clever boy and remember."
"Were Oswin and Clara the same person? But that's not possible." He thought.
"Is it?" He wondered.