Author's Note: First of all, THANK YOU SO MUCH! Seriously you guys. Thank you for following, favoriting, reviewing. I never expected so many so fast. I almost cried. So thank you all very much.

This one is pretty angsty. I almost cried while writing it. I REALLY recommend hearing the song (On and On and On by Wilco) while reading cuz its such a beautiful song that goes great with the show in general imo and really sets the mood for this piece. Also, I cut out some lyric stanzas (can you call them that?) between each stanza (?) so they don't appear in this sequence in the song. Just so you guys don't get confused like my sister did.

Please don't cry
We're designed to die
Don't deny
What's inside

One day we'll disappear
Together in a dream
However short or long
Our lives are going to be

Please don't cry
This world of words and meanings
Makes you feel outside
Something that you feel already
Deep inside
You've denied
Go ahead and cry

On and on and on
We'll stay together, yeah
On and on and on
On and on and on

You and I
We'll stay together, yeah
You and I will try
To make it better, yeah

"I'm tired." Her voice was raspy, barely above a whisper, and he had to concentrate hard to hear what she was saying.

"I know."

"Can I sleep now?"

"No."

"But I'm so tired." She mumbled into the pillow. Closing her eyes for a moment, she sighed contently at the immense relief washing over her, sleep only seconds away. The Doctor shook her lightly until her eyes were open again.

"Just one more night, Clara." He tightened his hold on her body, bringing her closer if that was even possible at this point. "Please. Stay awake with me one more night."

"I don't think I'll make it."

"Don't you dare say that. You're going to make it. Just stay awake." He demanded.

She laughed sickly. "You've been repeating that ever since the incident. You and I haven't slept in three days."

"I'm not sleeping because I have to look after you. And you know you can't fall asleep yet. I still haven't found a cure. You know what'll happen if you fall asleep before finding that cure." She nodded weakly.

"If I fall asleep my body will weaken its resistance and the poison will enter my brain and I will die." He flinched at her mechanical tone as she repeated what he had told her a few days ago.

"It's okay, Doctor. I'm not scared. Everybody dies-"

"Shut up."

"and I'm no exception to that rule."

"Clara, please-"

"I'm going to die."

"But not now. Do you hear me? Not now." She smiled but he could see that it was draining her to do so. It was too much work, too much energy that she didn't have anymore. Looking up at him, Clara slowly lifted a shaking hand from under the blanket and cupped his cheek lovingly.

Despite feeling fine without sleeping for months, the incident had taken a huge toll on him, emotionally and physically, to the point where even her thumb moving softly against his unshaved skin was enough to lull him to sleep. Realizing this, he covered her hand with his to stop her, bringing it down to place a gentle kiss on her palm.

Without letting go, he placed her hand firmly against his chest. The feeling of his heartbeats flooded her weakened body with peace.

"Why did you have to save me?" He asked, voice shaking with pain and fury.

"Because I didn't want to see you in so much pain. Because I wanted to be your hero. Because I was born to save you. Because if I hadn't, you would be the one dying right now."

"I would have regenerated." He spat.

"No, you wouldn't have. It would be killing you just as its killing me."

He let out a shaky breath and finally let himself look at her after all this time. His throat constricted; she looked so fragile. Her eyes were bleary and she was pale, so very pale. He knew she wasn't going to last long and he hated himself for failing to save her yet again.

"Please, Doctor. Let me rest. Everything is going to be okay." Her eyes were starting to close and her breathing was slowing down; he could barely feel it against his neck.

Cursing under his breath, he placed a rough kiss into her hair, her forehead, her cheek, and then a slow, lingering one on her lips. Their first kiss; one that felt so right. One that she needed just as much as he did.

"Fine. You can go to sleep. But only for a little while, okay?" His voice broke and he swallowed hard. He felt like he was suffocating, drowning. His whole body trembled in silent agony

"And you have to promise me that you'll wake up. Please, Clara. My Clara. My beautiful Impossible Soufflé Girl. Please promise me that you'll wake up." His breathing was coming in short and hard takes, tears flowing freely down his face and onto her hand and hair.

"I promise." She kissed the hand that was clutching hers harder than ever and buried herself further into him, closing her eyes.

She broke that promise. But he never held it against her.