Danny was waiting for her. He was just standing there, "so beautiful" as her gran would describe it, his eyes glowing with love and pride. He opened his arms, and Clara walked straight into them. His embrace was warm, so different to the cold metal of the cyber shell.
"You were amazing," Danny murmured. "I watched you. I was with you, every step of the way."
Danny's jacket was starting to get damp.
"Hey, they'll going to be fine." Danny kissed her on the forehead. "Your dad and your gran will be okay. The Doctor will look after them. And you know the Doctor. He'll find someone to travel with him."
Clara nodded slightly, her face still buried in Danny's shoulders. "I love you. I thought I'd never say that again."
"I love you." Danny echoed. "Oh, Clara..."
They held each other for a long time. Then a voice broke the silence.
"Clara."
Spinning around, Clara jumped out of Danny's embrace and ran towards the newcomer.
"Mum!"
Ellie Oswald threw her arms around her daughter. "You've grown so much!"
Clara laughed, her eyes watering again. "Mum, have you met Danny?"
"Clara, I have been watching you every day of your life. I found him the moment he turned up here and introduced myself."
Clara turned to Danny, who nodded in agreement.
"Clara," Ellie said. "I am so proud of you. My beautiful star."
Something of a warm and gentle glow seemed to flow through Clara's body, something she hadn't felt in a long time. It wasn't happiness - it was more than that. It was more than words could described, but she was an English teacher, and so she came up with a few candidates: "peace", perhaps, and "joy". And more than anything, love.
