"Don't you want to go to bed, it's past midnight?" the Doctor was trying to be kind and considerate, but Clara knew that he wasn't on his way back to bed and he truly wanted her to stay,

"I'm fine, I'd rather stay up anyway" she answered, here eyes slowly making their way up to meet his as they stood in the glow of the console room

"Goody gumdrops!" he exclaimed as he slid across the floor, "how about we each get to open a present now? Not a big one, just a little one?"

"Sounds good to me" Clara replied, mesmerized by the sound of his voice.

Soon they were sitting on the fluffy carpet of the lounge, it had a fireplace which kept it extra cosy, Clara reached into her pocket to bring up the neatly wrapped comb for him, as he held something behind his back.

"Who's gonna go first?" Clara remarked excitedly

"Ladies first, of course" the Doctor replied, so, in response, Clara handed over the little item and placed it in his hand, his eyes lit up as he began to peel off the selotape, his eyes wondered up and he looked at her questioningly

"Yes, you can rip it" Clara replied, knowing exactly what he meant. He tore the paper off in a flurry of ecstasy and he held the comb, examining the little, paisley-like pattern that covered it. There was a silence, and Clara got nervous.

"It's beautiful" he murmured, more to himself, "I love it" he said as he met her gaze.

"I'm so glad! Now it's your turn, Mister!" He presented a poorly wrapped little thing from behind his back, but she still thought it was perfectly done, she reached out and took it from his grip and slowly tore the wrapping paper off, it contained a crimson bow attached to a hairclip,

"I thought it would go with your hair, and you wear a lot of red, so-"

"I love it!" she shouted as she wrapped her arms around him, immediately fastening it into her hair.

"I was right, it looks lovely in your hair!" The Doctor said after a few minutes of silence, a few minutes of them appreciating the fact that the other was there with them, they talked for a while, talked about every adventure they'd been on, and the many they had to come, but still one thing was plaguing Clara's mind.

"Who is she?" Clara suddenly said

"Who's who?" he replied

"The woman, the blonde woman, the TARDIS interface woman?"

"Oh" he muttered, looking at the floor, she was fairly sure that a tear escaped his eye, but he wiped it away immediately

"It's a long story" he began,

"Well then it will be a long night" she retorted

"Her name was Rose" he said slowly, "she used to travel with me, but - er – something happened"

"Is she dead?" Clara said quietly, ashamed that she had brought it up

"No, far from it, she's happy, and alive, living a perfect life, with another me."

"What? What do you mean another you?"

"Something happened, she was sucked into a parallel universe when I needed her, we were reunited, but I gave her up so she could be happy. I- I" he choked on his words, Clara realised this was more important than she thought it was, she realised she shouldn't have brought it up, but there was no going back now.

"How was there another you?"

"Something happened that created a, sort of, human version of me, so it was me but I age and grow just like humans, I gave her up so she could have me, but I couldn't have her".