Hey guys! Wow it's been SO LONG since my last update. I guess nobody even thought I was going to continue it anymore, amirite? But I guess at some point I didn't think so either. I've started Uni for a month now and everything's so hectic and it's hard to start anything. Homesickness and other kind of blues, if you will. I was supposed to do school work, but instead I just sealed my fate (probably) and chose to write this chapter. I got really impatient at the end because it just didn't seem to end and I kind of hurried it. I hope it's not that noticeable. Also, I know that at this point this fanfic seems more Clara x 11 than Clara x 12 but I assure you it's getting there. Next chapter is going to have even more Whoffaldi in it. I'm building it up, but if you think it's too slow, let me know and I'll pick up the pace in a jiffy!

P.S. This chapter is a whooping 7,840 words! Almost double of the last chapter. Do you think it's too long like this? Let me know what you guys think! Thank you all so much! 3 3 3

The third time was actually the second time they came face to face.


"Clara, are you sure this is okay? What if the teachers catch us? Oh God, mother will literally kill me. And yes! I know how to use literally and I am not joking. And my father, well, my father might just disown me. How am I supposed to pay for University when that happens?"

Clara turned her head and whispered to him sharply. "John, stop blabbering." She turned her head back around the corner, sticking her back to the wall as close as possible.

"But-" John tried again but was cut short by Clara's hand over his mouth. His face was hot and his breathing laboured. I wish he'd stop being such a worry wart, thought Clara. She tried her best to reassure him.

"I promise it's going to be okay, alright? You can't back down now. We said we'd go to this conference together. You won't leave me alone, would you, John?" As much as she told herself that she'll stop persuading her best friend with her puppy eyes, she often found herself resorting to it when she needed to get her way. One conflicted look and then a very dramatic sigh later, Clara knew John would play along with her plans again.

"Alright. But just so you know, the puppy eyes have never been fair." John replied, looking more relaxed after taking a definite decision. Clara turned around once more and gave him a cocky smile.

"I knew you'd come around. You always do, Smith."

John pinched Clara's nose gently and held his hands there for a second. "That's only because you have the biggest pair of eyes possible on a human being, Oswald." He smiled and Clara quickly turned around once more, not wanting John to see the pink that she could feel stretching across her cheeks. I'll tell him one of those days. Today, tomorrow, maybe next week…or month. That is if the clever brat didn't already figure it out. As silence fell upon them, Clara found it hard to concentrate on the task at hand – of waiting and making sure none of the security guards will see them walking away from the school grounds – because her mind was going in overdrive with thoughts about the wonderful lad behind her. It didn't help that his breath was so close to her neck. Sometimes it seemed ridiculous that a crush could last as long as hers. It's not even a crush anymore. I've been in love with him for a long while now… No matter how many times she got close to saying it, she always chickened out at the last second. God only knows what John must've thought of her every time he caught her staring at him, asked her 'What's wrong, Clara?' only to excuse herself to the bathroom or pretending she heard someone calling for her. He's going away soon and then every thing will fall apart and you won't forgive yourself for not trying harder.

Her thoughts were interrupted by John's voice and a sudden heat of wave at the back of her neck. Her body shuddered pleasantly. "Is it okay to go now? I haven't heard anyone for the last five minutes."

She took one last look around the school grounds and after she was sure nobody was around anymore she got up from the crouched position she was in. "Yeah, I think it's safe now. "

John held her hand and she looked at him in surprise. "What are you waiting for then, Clara? Run!" And run they did. He held her hand tightly as he led the way carefully around the school grounds and out the main gate. John kept running even after they were a safe distance from the school so Clara felt compelled to yell at him.

"John! John, you can stop running now! We're far from the school!" The stop was so abrupt that she couldn't help running head on into his back with a loud OOF . "I said you could stop running but not right this second. "

"I'm so sorry, Clara! Did you hurt yourself? Anything broken? Strained? Your ankle? Face? Out of breath? What's wrong, tell me!" John fussed over her, taking her face into his hand gently and lifting her head so he could examine her more attentively. "You're steady on your feet, that's good, that's brilliant! You don't seem dizzy, just red in the face. I suppose running does that to you, doesn't it, Clara. Ohhh, but your nose is red, that's not good. Did you hurt your nose? No blood, that's a good sign."

Clara thought she might be dizzy then, if it wasn't for the budding pain in her neck from the way he held her face looking up. John was almost a foot taller than her so it was natural that she was always looking up to him. She might have wondered before how he looked from above but she was soon more attached to the way his whole body would cover hers when he gave her one of his bear hugs.

"I'm fine, really. My nose hurts a little but that's about it. I was just telling you to stop because there was no use to running anymore."

He smiled down at her, one of his brilliant smiles that Clara had loved right from the beginning. "Good. Wouldn't want your pretty nose to get scrunched up, would we now?" He tapped the tip of her nose once with his index finger and then let go of her altogether. "Now that we established that you're still in functioning order, shall we proceed?"

She laughed and linked her arm with his. "We shall, aye!" And they walked arm in arm all the way to her house.

Clara took a look through the window to make sure her parents weren't at home before unlocking the front door. She dragged John inside before her nosy neighbours saw them and would tell on her.

"Clara, there is such a thing as too keen!" He laughed while going up the stairs.

"You'd know all about that wouldn't you, John!" She yelled and then followed him quickly to her room. When she got there he was already sprawled face down on the bed with his backpack put neatly on her desk. "Look who's comfortable."

He took a glance at her and then sank his face in her pillows again. Clara's heart skipped a bit at the thought that his scent might linger enough for her to fall asleep surrounded by it. You're being a total creep, Clara Oswald.

"So what? I must make myself at home since it's barely 10:30, I'm tired and you're about to go do your girly things which I know for sure that they take thirty four minutes and twenty six seconds per average. And that's when you say it's your I'm-not-messy-but-still-look-as-if-I'm-not-trying look. For such an occasion it will take you anywhere between fifty two minutes and one hour and nine min-"

Clara cut him off abruptly, holding her hands to her ears and hurrying to her closet. "Alright, alright. I get it! I take a long time getting ready!"

John looked almost hurt and placed a hand above his heart, over dramatically, again. "Well I never-! Clara Oswald, I never said such a thing!"

She scoffed and started looking through her wardrobe. It took her longer than expected to settled on the dress her mother had bought for her birthday that year. It was an A-line, long sleeved pretty thing. Red, with a subtle checked pattern and a black Peter Pan collar. Clara never wore it, saving it for a more special occasion than just going to school. She moved the hanger on top of her wardrobe and grabbed a thick pair of black tights, draping them right next to it. She chose a pair of reddish-brown, lace-up, oxford shoes with a low wedge heel.

After finally being happy with her choice of outfit she turned back to look at John. He had fallen asleep and was now breathing softly. His head was turned away from her and she couldn't help but laugh at the way his long limbs were dangling from the edge, her bed being a couple of inches too short for him. He looked so peaceful sprawled over her small bed, that it was out of her power when she got closer and sat on the edge. She started caressing his hair lovingly and smiled at the fact that John's hair was as silky and fluffy as always. Clara might not have had the courage to tell him up front how she felt, but she allowed herself moments like this. It was not the first time she bent down and pressed a kiss to the top of his head and then one on his temple. Suddenly embarrassed, she jumped from the bed, grabbed a pair of clean underwear and ran to the bathroom.

After she showered, applied a thin layer of make up and made sure her hair was in place, she returned to her room. To no surprise, John was still sleeping, in the exact position he was before she left. Sighing, Clara grabbed her clothes and went to change in her parent's bedroom. While she was putting her shoes on, she heard John calling her.

"Clara? Clara where are you!" He shouted and then Clara heard the sound of the door opening. His voice was louder now. "The clock in your room shows me it's been approximately one hour and ten minutes which is one minutes over the maximum its ever taken you to get ready!"

Just as she was getting off the bed, the door burst open. "Aha! There you are!"

She walked over to him and then around him into the hallway. "I'm not dead, Smith. I was just finishing." When she didn't hear him saying anything back or follow her she stopped and looked at him. "What? No witty come back from the cleverest brat I know?"

John swallowed and then broke into a huge smile, his light eyebrows almost reaching his hairline. "Clara Oswald! Look at you! You look beautiful!"

"So I'm not beautiful all of the time is what you mean?" She couldn't help wanting to tease him. John always got so flustered.

His eyebrows were suddenly knitting together, the sudden change very comical. "What! No!" He started gesticulating furiously with his hands. He usually did that, but it got worse when he was embarrassed or anxious. "Why would you ever say-"

Clara started laughing and made her way back into her room to get her coat and muffler on. "Come on, I was messing with you. Come over here and get dressed quick. We'll miss the train!" And just like that he was ready to go in under two minutes.


"I can't believe we're actually here." Clara said. They both gaped at the big, imposing building in front of them. "Pinch me, John. Or-or better yet, hold me. I feel myself going weak in the knees."

He laughed at that and turned to Clara. He grabbed her shoulders gently and smoothed out her coat. "We're really here, Clara! We're just about to sneak into the University of Manchester just so we can attend a conference!"

John's bright demeanour helped little to smooth out Clara's nerves. "I'm not so sure about this anymore…" Her eyes started shifting nervously between her best friend and the building in front of them.

He was quick to catch on it and grabbed her face. "Look at me, Clara. Stop thinking about all that could go wrong. Think about the things that will go right. We're going to be fine. If anyone asks why we're here, we're going to tell them that we're in our last year of College so we're looking around, remember? That's what we settled on." He let his hands fall. Clara closed her eyes and exhaled deeply. When she opened her eyes again, they were full of determination.

"Come on, Chin Boy. There's medical geniuses waiting for us inside!"

"That's my Clara!" John said and Clara felt her heart blooming at that small affectionate way of addressing her. She loved it when he called her that. His Clara. His. His. His, she thought, all the way inside. She's never loved her name more than when it rolled off his tongue.

They found themselves in a room brimming full with people. Miraculously, they found spots almost in the front, but near the wall. It was out of eyesight for most people but they still had a pretty clear view of the front. They were both giddy with excitement, cracking jokes under their breaths and giggling like little kids caught in the act of doing something bad.

"I can't believe we'll see the Doctor in real life! I bet TV doesn't even compare!" John said enthusiastically. He was bouncing from one foot to another and Clara found it hard not to do the same. It had been her dream for two years now to see the doctor in real life. Ever since John had shown her his work and realised that he was the one whose word she'd written on her wall, she made it their mission to see him live at least once before they graduated College.

"I still think I must be dozing off in History and dreaming about all of this. I hope I don't wake up any time soon. I just-" She started, but when she didn't continue, John encouraged her with a 'Go on, what's bothering you?' and Clara found herself confiding in John once again. "I don't know, John. What if he ends up being totally different in real life? I mean…" she bit her lip and looked over to the stage nervously. "I mean, I've spent the last two years of my life looking up to this man – at this guy who half the world considers him one of the greatest geniuses in medicine and the other half a mad, brilliant astronomer -, taking all of his words and speeches to heart. For God's sake, I've tried reading his outrageously complicated research books! And although my head was hurting from all the information, I read them as if they were some sort of Bible for me. He's…He's so perfect from an intellectual point of view and so passionate about what he's doing. But that's when you read articles and news about him or when you watch the very rare videos that he stars in. I'm scared that I'll be so disappointed because I have this ridiculous standards I expect him to meet. " Clara left her words trail off and decided only on staring holes into the floor. She was biting her lip so hard she knew blood will start flowing soon but she couldn't stop. In her mind, this conference was decisive for her future. If she was impressed, she'd finally make the decision between going into teaching or medicine. But if she was disappointed…what happened then?

Clara was roused from her inner thoughts when she felt John's finger entwine with hers. His hand was incredibly warm, she realised. All her warmth must have dissolved in her frenzy. He spoke low and wasn't looking at Clara as he did. "I know it's scary. I know how you feel. I know exactly how you feel. Sometimes, when I'm thinking about the future, there's not a lot I want to do except for medicine. But sometimes I'm thinking that I don't even want to do that. I'm left so confused, Clara. I like medicine, I do. I know that. But in my mind, just as in yours, I doubt my passion. What if it's just my parents' influence that's making me want to do it, I'm thinking. And the only way to remind myself that is by reading about him." He turned his head and smiled down at Clara, gently tucking a stray hair behind her ear. "So at least, if we get disappointed, we'll be disappointed together, won't we, Clara?"

Clara's heart was caught in her throat. She squeezes his hand tightly and nods her head once. John smiles, lets go of her hand and puts the same arm around her shoulders, bringing her close to him. Her body flushes against him as he rests his chin on top of her head. She can't say anything as John rubs her shoulder and she can feel him smiling. Suddenly, she's not anxious anymore.

"It'll always be me and you, Clara. John Smith and Clara Oswald until the end of the universe." John said and Clara cuddled closer to him at his words.

"You and me, chin boy." She said, resting her head on his chest and she barely hears his protest at her pet name, the one he's had since the first hour together.

When it was time for the Doctor to finally come on stage, everyone fell silent. Nobody said a word as he made his way to the podium.

"Good afternoon, everyone. I hope you're all well today because I might ramble quite a bit and I wouldn't want to bore you to death! I'm the Doctor by the way." He said with a smile and scratching his salt-and-pepper hair a bit. There was a round of applause and Clara found herself clapping as if her life depended on it. Her eyes were big with anticipation and she could hardly breathe from the buzz it all gave her.

After the clapping died down, he started talking again, more confident this time. He's not used to being on stage. Clara thought matter-of-factly. "Well, I said ramble but I'm not going to talk uselessly. I suppose I'm going to make a small introduction of myself and then give you free way to ask me as many questions as you can fit in an hour!"

"I've recently developed an interesting device which I'm sure most of you have heard about. I've been out of the spotlight for almost half a year because… well, not that I don't like talking to you all or love melting under all those lights…" The audience laughed and Clara found herself liking him more than the image she'd constructed. He's brilliant. Brilliant and funny. This is going nicely. She thought as the doctor kept going.

"The truth is I had my hands full between basically living at the hospital and working on my project. So once I found myself free of one of those, I decided to relax a bit. And I'm starting to suspect I'm secretly a machine because I don't like it when I sleep a lot and I love it when I can talk to people about what's going on in my head. So I asked my good friend, David Tennant – he's just right there, on the chair." The Doctor pointed at a nearby chair behind him and the audience gave a round of applause for him as well. "So I asked him if we could go around the country to talk and open up the minds of young people to the wonderful opportunities that are awaiting them in our amazing fields of expertise – opinion which is not biased at all, thank you very much – and he was more than happy to indulge me! It's been a long while since we've done it. I remember the first time we started doing this. It was around twelve years ago if I'm not wrong. We went around primary schools and just talked with little children openly. It was a breath of fresh air compared to our busy and demanding schedules." He stopped for a second and his eyes grew softer, possibly at the memory of those times.

He soon started talking again. "This is why we're here today. The University of Manchester is the second we've visited this week. I'll answer your questions now. Lecturers, students and press alike. Please keep in mind that the questions will be strictly professional."

The moment he stopped talking, questions were heard from every corner of the big room and suddenly Clara was overwhelmed. She had thought about what questions she could ask for so long, but now that she was surrounded by so many people who wanted the same thing as she did, her confidence began to falter.

"Let's get closer, Clara!" John said eagerly.

Panic overtook Clara. She could feel herself sweating. "Closer? What do you mean closer? We're close enough. I don't want to go to the front. What if someone realises we're not supposed to be here? We don't have a permit. Or worse, John! What if he sees us?!" She exhaled everything in one breath. Her emotional stability was crumbling and John had the audacity to laugh in her face. "What?! Why are you laughing, John? It's not funny!"

"Oh, Clara. You're the funny one. Your face is green. You look like you're about to faint."

"Well, I am!"

"Don't be." He said suddenly, tugging on her hand, making his way through the crowd, along the wall. "I'll be right here. We both have questions to ask. Let's not waste this opportunity!"

Clara couldn't say anything anymore as she let herself being dragged by John. Her small body was shoved around so much she thought she wouldn't make it alive before she got to the front. The trip was easier for John, seeing as he was a lot taller and bulkier than her skinny frame. When they finally emerged at the front, she was so relieved and her vision so blurred that she almost forgot where they were.

When she looked around, everyone was paying attention to the doctor as he was answering a question. Clara couldn't make much sense of it without the context but she realised it was something about his device.

"I have a prototype and it's going to be released to the public for experimental treatment soon. But that's all I can reveal about that, folks." He said as he smiled. From the front, you could clearly see that his hair was now more salt then pepper and his face had gathered a nice collection of wrinkles, especially between his eyebrows and on his forehead.

"Alright, next question! Who wants to go next?"

"I have a question, Doctor!" Clara was absolutely terrified when she realised that the voice came from right next to her. From John.

"The young man with the bowtie! Ask away."

Clara flinched. As much as she liked his bowties, she told him to leave it at home. It will attract too much attention, she had said. She wished she hadn't been right.

"I was just wondering, Doctor, since the internet is not a very reliable source, how many degrees do you have? Also, do you mind if I ask when you just knew you wanted to study medicine? Or was it a thing you've always felt suited you?"

The doctor answered right away, as if he had expected those questions to pop up some time soon. I bet he went over all the possible questions and prepared all the answers before hand. Is his mind working even in his sleep? Clara found herself thinking.

"I have three four degrees in total: one in astrophysics, two in medicine – neurosurgery and cardiothoracic surgery and one in music."

The audience was suddenly so quiet Clara heard John swallow before addressing the doctor again. "Music?"

The Doctor laughed good naturedly at everyone's amazement. "Yes, music. Which brings me to your second question. No, I haven't always known or felt that medicine was right for me or that it was what I wanted to do. In fact, it only occurred to me after I was in a car accident. I was on my way to a gig and the next thing I knew I was in a hospital bed. My mother let me know I had been asleep for 4 days and that it was a miracle I was alive. Apparently I should've died but for the fantastic neurosurgeon that took care of me. After that it was a frenzy of getting into medical school, finding it life changing and deciding on continuing. My astrophysics degree was after my neurosurgery one. Then the Cardiothoracic Surgery one."

"How long were you in University for?! That's a lot of degrees."

"Imagine everyone's surprise as I finished my second degree in four years, third one in two and the last in another four."

"So you had four degrees by the age of… 34?" John asked incredulous. Clara could feel the respect oozing out of him. His eyes also sparked with what Clara could only identify as new found hope. She smiled at the thought that he was finally convinced he was made for medicine. For someone with a mind as clever as his, he sure can be daft sometimes.

"35. I had to stay in the hospital for a while after the accident."

John was silent for a moment before talking again. "Thank you. That's all I wanted to know." His smile was big and heartfelt and Clara was glad he got the answers he was looking for.

"It was my pleasure…" The Doctor replied unsure.

"John. My name's John Smith. And I think you just helped me make my life changing decision."

Between the approving smiles and the roar of the crowd that erupted once again, Clara forgot all about her questions. She turned to John and hugged him by the neck tightly. She sank her face in the crook of his neck and exhaled for what seemed like a long time. "I'm so happy for you, chin boy. You got your answers, didn't you? Your face was an open book."

John didn't waste a single moment and wrapped his arms around Clara, tighter than he had ever before. She couldn't breathe properly but found that she didn't mind in the least. It was a pleasant kind of pain. When he lifted her off the ground for a few second she thought she might faint from the lack of air, though. When she was put down, she glanced the Doctor's way. Was he looking this way? Wait, is that a smile? But she didn't have time to dwell on it before John started whispering in her ear. Her skin prickled.

"I did, Clara! I did! I don't think it could've went any better. I feel so much better now that I know even a genius has his doubts. Maybe more so than normal people."

She pried herself from his arms, just a little bit, so she could look at his face. She grabbed his head gently and spoke slowly, as if she was talking with a child. "You're more than normal, John. You're brilliant and mad and oh, so kind. When I'll be calling you Dr. Smith, I'll know you deserve that title more than anyone. "

He didn't say anything at all or move for a few seconds but then Clara was horrified to see that his eyes were glistening, the warning of tears obvious. Before she could mention it, he bent down and sank his face in her shoulder. "Thank you, Clara. My Clara."

The moment didn't last long as John was accidentally shoved forward, almost making both of them fall to the floor. The sudden movement seemed to rise him from his own thoughts and he jerked suddenly from the embrace.

"Clara! Clara, your question! You didn't ask him a question! You had a really important question to ask him! Oh, God, I completely forgot. Forgive me, Clara. I was so caught up in the moment I didn't realise…" John said, his expression so horrified that Clara had to fight the urge to soothe him with something else than a hug. The way he held her by the waist with one hand and another on her shoulder brought to life a delicious feeling in the lower part of her stomach. She bit her lip. Oh my stars, I'll do something I regret soon. So she detangled herself slowly from him as to not rise suspicion and tried her best to soothe him with words, even thought that was far from how Clara wanted to solve the problem.

"It's okay, no big deal! There's still twenty minutes left. I'm waiting for the opportunity to ask him and then he'll wish I never opened my mouth!" Clara had told him with the most convincing smile she had.

But the opportunity never came. Or rather, she didn't take it. As the minutes went by, John was growing more and more impatient, nudging Clara now and again to let her know that he thought it was a good time as any to get talking. She never did. After each missed opportunity she kept telling herself she'll do it next time but as the moment approached, she couldn't open her mouth.

Just like that, the hour was up and the doctor was saying his goodbyes and thanked everyone for having him. As John and Clara listened to all the other people that were left, she felt herself getting more and more depressed. It got so bad halfway through the speech of another famous doctor that she excused herself from John with the pretext that she needed to use the bathroom. He looked at her worriedly for a moment, deciding whether to believe her or not, but one determined – albeit glossy - look from Clara, he backed down and told her to get back safely.

She hurried to the bathroom, made sure no one else was there and went inside a stall. She allowed herself to weep quietly for a couple of minutes before grabbing some toilet paper and wiped at her cheeks angrily. You're such an idiot, Clara Oswald. You wanted to be here so badly. You skipped a whole day of school and spent money for nothing. I hope you're happy with yourself, you bloody coward! After she was sure there were no more tears coming, she decided that she needed to use the toilet. While washing her hands she looked at herself in the mirror and was pleased to see that her waterproof make up was doing its job. There was no sign of crying except for some redness of the eyes. She dried her hands and made sure her hair was neat before getting out of the bathroom.

She was searching for her phone in her bag, wanting to text John that she wasn't coming back into the room and that she'd be waiting outside when she collided into someone. Her bag fell from her hands and thankfully nothing else fell out of it except for her wallet as she stumbled backwards and hurried up to pick it. Another pair of hands met her halfway and she didn't have the courage to look up to see in front of who she made a fool of herself.

"I-I'm sorry. I wasn't looking. I was searching for my phone. I needed to text someone. God I'm such a klutz sometimes." She raised back to her feet as her wallet was being given back to her.

"That's quite alright, miss. No harm done! I'm feeling just dandy." The person replied.

Clara recognised the voice immediately and couldn't help but stare when she looked up. It was David Tennant, the Doctor's best friend, Rose's celebrity crush and another person Clara looked up to. David Tennant was for astronomy what the Doctor was for medicine. She bit her lip nervously. I'm going to end up with a scar if I don't stop this habit.

She was confused when his face suddenly fell when he properly looked at her. Then realisation dawned on her and she couldn't look away quickly enough after that.

"Oh no. Why are you crying? Did something happen? Are you hurt? Need something? There's water over there. Come, I'll show you." He hovered over her all worries and frowns. Clara couldn't quite understand where all the panic had come from. It's not like he knew her, right?

She dismissed his help fast. "I-I'm fine, really." She lied. "I was just a bit overwhelmed inside. Too many people around, getting squished. You know, the usual when you're as short as I am." After saying that she realised just how tall he was, too. Taller than her John, that one was.

He relaxed at her words but he just didn't seem to be able to mind his own business. "I know a crying lady when I see one. If you don't want to tell me, that's fine, really. But I thought I'd like to help you if there was any way I could." He spoke softly and his eyes were so full of understanding that Clara couldn't help telling him what was bothering her.

"I'm just disappointed that I didn't get to ask the Doctor any questions, is all." She said, trying to seem as nonchalant as possible. She shrugged and continued. "Maybe next time he's on a 'tour' around."

The man broke into a huge grin and she thought she could see why Rose had such a big crush on him. When she'll hear that I've spoken to him she'll either pester me about everything that has to do with him or want to push me out the window from jealousy. Clara thought with a smile.

"Well, miss…"

"Clara. "

"Clara. I could help with that if you wanted me to!"

Her heart leapt. It was beating like crazy inside her body. Could he really? Would he take her to the doctor in private if she asked him to? The idea was too good to be true. She couldn't help hoping it would happen, though.

"Really? How?!" She asked him, her voice a bit too high for her liking. Her heart fluttered in her chest and her smile was tugging at the corners of her lips.

"Yeah. He just excused himself a couple of minutes ago. Don't tell him I told you, but those trips are tiring him out after the busy year he's had." He winked at her and suddenly Clara felt incredibly bold. As if she could ask anything of him and she'd show her even the stars if she asked. Ironic, seeing what he specialises in.

"Oh my stars! You'd bring me to him? Really, truly?"

"Haven't heard that expression before!" He laughed and she knew he was referring to the expression she's gotten from her mom. "But sure I will, Clara. If he's willing, I'll bring you to him, alright?"

"Oh, please! That would be so awesome! I'll be in your debt forever. I only have a question to ask him. A single one." Clara couldn't contain her smile anymore and the next minutes were such a blur that when she came back to her wits she realised she was waiting outside a door and she could hear the muffled voices of the Doctor and David Tennant.

When David poked his head out, Clara knew just by looking at his grin that she was allowed in. She went through the door gingerly, as if afraid she'll scare the doctor somehow and he'll decide he wouldn't meet her after all.

When she entered, he was sitting on a light brown couch with a mug in his hand. She wondered what he was having. He seems like a coffee person, she decided. As she got closer and closer the Doctor only smiled kindly. He seemed so tired from so up close. She could see all of his rebel strands of hair and suddenly he seemed more like a human person than the idolised image she'd been nursing with such care.

When he talked, it was low and his Scottish accent thicker than ever, but not unkind. "Sit, Clara. Don't stand. Standing is such a chore, isn't it?"

Clara didn't answer as she sat on the other side of the couch, maybe just a little bit closer than deemed polite. But her boldness hadn't left her yet, so all was good. David took a seat at a desk, turning the chair around and sitting with its back between his legs. Both of them were watching Clara intently.

"I hear you have a question for me, Clara" The Doctor said and her name from his lips brought her back to reality, more forcefully than anything. "I'm sorry you didn't get a chance to ask me back there. I should've known that the press would ask the most questions, not leaving enough room for students. You're a student, right?"

"I am but not at this University…" She started meekly, but after he raised his eyebrow in question while sipping his tea, Clara suddenly realise that he wouldn't tell anyone they'd come without a permit. "I'm in my last year of college, actually. Me and my best friend kind of…sneaked, inside?" She talked slowly and with an embarrassed grin on her face. "We couldn't get permits but we've wanted to see you live for so long that we knew we'd have to sneak in no matter what. It was easier than expected, to be honest." This time she giggled and talked about their 'infiltration' with a sense of pride.

Much to her surprise, both of them laughed. This time it was David that spoke. "Ah, young people. I wish I still could get around like that. Sounds like you guys are one hell of a duo."

Clara flushed pleased at his comment and made a mental note to herself that she and John made a nice duo to them. So who cared what anyone else thought.

"Then I must answer your question if you've went to so much trouble to come and see me! You flatter me. You and your boyfriend with the bowtie." The Doctor smirked as he sipped from his cup again. It's earl grey. He's drinking earl grey, Clara realised, catching a wift of the smell coming from his mug.

"He's…He's not my boyfriend."

"Oh, he isn't? By the way you guys hugged I'd swear you two were together!" David said, the trace of a smug smirk on his face.

"David, don't scare her, now. She's here to ask me questions, not to hear you make implications, you old bat."

"Look who's talking. Old bat he says! Ha" David said while shaking his head and resting his chin on the chair.

"So, Clara, the question? I wouldn't want to keep you too much. The convention should have been done for a few minutes. I'm sure John's searching for you."

She knew the thought of John frantically searching for her should have made her want to run out of the room and assure him she's alright, but now that she was in the room with those two, she couldn't seem to unglue herself from her spot on the couch. However, she knew she was overstaying her welcome so she struggled to find the most important question she had wanted to put forward but never got to. Her head was swarming with all the possibilities. She quickly decided on one, the choice being so obvious.

"A few years ago I wrote this brilliant quote on my wall, above my bed and for a long while I had no idea who said it. I could remember the words clearly, just not the person. The quote was: 'How could you ever get tired of watching the stars? Every time you think you've got it all figured out, you spot something you haven't seen before or discover something you never thought of before. It's the same with medicine. The truth is, you never stop learning. When you think you're oh so clever, the human body or the Universe decides to give you a reality check. There is nothing more beautiful than being proven wrong when you think you know it all. It's an adventure, really.'" When she finished reciting the words – now like a prayer to her – she could see both of them smiling. Different kinds of smiles that she couldn't quite place. But smiles she liked, nonetheless.

"I think I know who that might have been." The Doctor replied.

Clara smiled sweetly and continued enthusiastically. "I now do, too. Found out a couple of years back. I've been reciting them almost every night since then. They sum up what I think about the world so clearly. I'm torn because to me is the world is consisted of people and knowledge. People are the vessels of knowledge, but they need to be nurtured to enjoy that knowledge. Whereas knowledge is just there and I ache to research it and get pleasantly frustrated when I realise that my learning has never stopped and never will." She spoke everything from the bottom of her heart. She's vocalised her thoughts so many times to John, the first time weakly, fearing he'd think her silly, and then more confidently and more torn every time. They came to her easily now. But of fear of rambling too much, she went straight to the point.

"What I mean to ask is… Should I choose to nurture other people in the hopes that they'll develop the wish to gather as much knowledge as possible or just to… gather knowledge myself and help people in other areas…medicine more exactly."

The Doctor considered her with blue, unmoving eyes. She'd started thinking that maybe she'd offended him somehow. She was about to start apologising when he started talking again.

"I can't answer that for you, Clara, I'm sorry." He looked at her straight in the eye, lowering his cup to his leg. Her heart sank to her stomach, doubts starting to creep in every corner of her body. She supposed it must have showed on her face because the doctor continued almost immediately. "But I can tell you a thing or two, Clara. You see, in the end, the world is still a never ending place. Even the world itself keeps learning, keeps changing. All we can do is try and keep up with it. It's exhausting, frustrating sometimes, maybe even unfulfilling at times. But above else, Clara, it's beautiful. The world, the Universe, the people. It all comes down to the people. Because in the end, it's still the people who push knowledge further and further back, until it needs to show us new sides to it, to keep us interested. Humans are marvellous, don't you think? No matter what happens to them, they bounce back and when they're back on their feet, they're stronger than ever. Now it all comes down to you, Clara. Would you like to help them develop that knowledge or protect the knowledge that resides in everyone? I was on both sides of it and I think you can see which one I've decided it's the best suited for me. You have to decide whether you want to develop or protect. Whether you want to be a teacher or a protector. And believe it or not, you know the answer to it. You just needed someone you thought qualified enough to tell you the things you already know. I can see you're a very clever person, Clara. Don't doubt yourself. Doubt won't help you down any path you choose."

She stared at him so hard, she was sure she'd bore some invisible holes through him. She wasn't moving and her mind was already going over all the possibilities. She could hear her brain getting fried from all the thoughts she was having at the moment. Everything made sense and no sense at the same time. When she trusted herself enough to speak, it came more confident then she'd expected.

"You're right. Completely, utterly right. Blimey!" Her previous shocked state was quickly dissolving into warmth that engulfed her own being. Of course. Of course. I knew all along. I just didn't trust myself with this decision. But he thinks I'm clever enough to make this decision by myself. And suddenly, she didn't need anyone else's approval but the Doctor's.

And she'll always remember the way his eyes twinkled, his expression wrinkles appearing playfully around his eyes and his eyebrows raising high in what she thought was pride?

And remember she did. Even when John was running towards her, looking more tired and worried than she'd ever seen him. Were she in her normal state of mind, she might've hugged him and told him that she's okay and that she's sorry and end it at that. But just like John had felt earlier that day, she felt as if a huge weight had been lifted and all that remained was Clara and if she were honest with herself, she loved nothing more than she loved Clara. But if she were even more honest with herself, she loved John more than she loved Clara.

So when he finally stopped running and started panting in front of her – from all the running around, she suspected – Clara was not in the least surprised when she touched his shoulders and slowly brought him up to his full height. His eyes were full of fear and love. He looked like he was about to cry.

John sobbed. "Clara…Oh God, my Clara. Don't ever do that to me again. I thought…Oh the horrible images and ideas I got! I thought you got kidnapped or murdered or who knows what else and I-" Another sob got stuck in his throat and it took him a second to be able to talk again, strained as it was. Clara couldn't help but think I love you, John. I love you so much, you big chinned clever idiot, the whole time he tried to talk. "I don't ever want to go through that paralysing fear again. You were gone for a whole hour! "

Before she could react, he had an arm around the small of her back, gently moving his hands over her muscles, and his other hand was brought to her face where he stroked her jawline gently. Butterflies erupted in her stomach and she wanted him to be closer. She took a small step forward and he took one as well. Their bodies were pressed against each other, both having stupid grins on their faces. She thought he'd finally kiss her when he started leaning in but he just smelled her hair then started pressing soft kissed from the top of her head, to her ear and behind it, down her jaw and finished with her nose. All the while whispering Clara, my Clara… My brilliant Clara.

She closed her eyes and when she felt John's lips press gently and carefully against her own, Clara slid her arms around his neck and kissed him back fiercely. She thought of his green eyes and light eyebrows and easy smile and how perfectly she fit anywhere in his arms.

Somewhere in the back of her mind there was a flash of blue that seemed to say I'm proud of you and at that moment, Clara felt proud of herself too.