The Doctor awoke to a bright white room, by the smell of the air it was Earth. Just as he was starting to become aware of his surroundings, he noticed that he was tied to the hospital bed. "Huh, of course. An alien who has saved planets countless times, is dangerous and needs to be restrained. Humans. Such potential. Such stupidity." As the Doctor attempted to sit up he felt a literal stabbing pain in the right side of his body, he gasped out in pain but was interrupted by Kate Stewart walking through the automatic door. "Where's Clara? Is she okay? Let me see her!"

"Calm down Doctor, she's okay. She was the one who brought you here. Do you remember what happened?" The Doctor wracked his brains for information about the attack but his train of thought was broken by Clara bursting into the room. "Doctor! Thank God you're okay!" Her joyful expression turned serious as she slapped his arm "Don't you ever do that to me again!" The Doctor chuckled, his laugh infecting Clara until the pain in his chest was too much.

"So what's the damage doc? Heh, that's odd, calling someone else the Doctor."

Well, the blade penetrated one of your hearts, but apparently you only need one to survive but that's good news. Unfortunately, regarding your unusual lifespan we don't know where this puts you."

"I do." The Doctor stated solemnly. "I need both hearts for my body to handle regeneration and give me the 300 years or so that I normally get per life. I've been this version of me for around 240 years."

"So you only have 60 years left?" Clara butted in.

"More or less" he said with a smile.

"Why are you smiling Doctor?! You've just worked out that your life has been dramatically cut short and you don't care?! Kate broke the connection between the Doctor and his companion.

"Because Kate, unlike some, I wish to grow old and enjoy the thing that any normal person would. Grow old and have a life with someone I love. That's something your Father would have understood." As Clara started to blush Kate realised the two would need a few moments alone and made an excuse to leave.

"I'm so glad you're okay Doctor, you really had me worried" She embraced him gently to not hurt his unusually fragile body.

"The bugger didn't even let me finish my sentence, what I was going to do, was get down on one knee, do a lovely speech and propose"

"Yes."

"Yes?"

"Yes I will marry you, you fool!" They both burst out laughing as Clara wiggled her way into the hospital bed next to him and they shared a kiss that would make even Jack Harkness blush.

A week later, the new couple were in Clara's now furnished and decorated apartment, thanks to the Doctor even though he was meant to be resting.

"Doctor! Please! Just sit down and watch a film! You're meant to be resting! You were stabbed literally a week ago and I have work to do! I know you're used to always being on the move but just let me do this marking and I'm all yours."

"Fine! Only because I love the way you being all mine sounds!" He said with a wink and changed the television channel.

~10 minutes later~

"Clara! I'm bored!" The Doctor whined. "Come play monopoly with me!"

"Oh no! No way. You just cheat!"

"No I don't!"

"Doctor! Saying that your piece is the TARDIS and moving it anywhere on the board is cheating!"

"Oh fine! Can I help you then? I'd be a great teacher, I could be called 'The Teacher'" Clara pulled him in by the lapels of his jacket and kissed him passionately. "Please shut up" She giggled and sat back down to her marking. The Doctor joined in on her laughter "I should talk more often, much better than duct tape!"

The Doctor continued arguing over the miss-representation of the Tudors on the Discovery Channel until his vision went dark from the hands over his eyes. He felt her lips travel down his neck as he relaxed. Although they had a very emotional bond, they were strangers to intimacy with each other. Usually the Doctor would fling his hands about and knock something over but this time was different. He turned round to face her on his knees, still kneeling on the sofa, facing towards her and away from the TV. She ran her hands through his hair and rested them either side of his face. For once it was the Doctor that made the first move. He captured her lips with his own, placing one of his hands at the base of her spine and the other at the back of her neck. They practically melted into each other due to the pure heat and passion of the kiss.

They pulled away from each other after what felt like centuries, breathless. They looked at each other with knowing eyes and the Doctor picked himself up from the sofa and held her hand, leading her into the bedroom. They stood at the foot of the bed staring at each other.
"Are you sure?" The Doctor asked, with a hint of worry and giddieness.
Clara looked at him and smiled. "Are you?" With that, all worry from both parties dissipated and they crossed the distance between them.
"I love you so much, my dear Clara"
"Likewise chinboy" A small wink was all that was needed for the couple to go to bed and cross another barrier in their relationship.

"That was much better than expected." Her brown, doe eyes looked deep into his emerald eyes with a flirty giggle.
"So you've imagined it eh?"
"Well, maybe once or twice, you do insist on being naked most of the time, what did you expect?" They both chuckled and curled up into each others arms as they fell asleep.