The cold sunlight of Christmas morning streamed through the curtains, hitting the Doctor's eyes as he yawned and stretched. Had he really slept that long? He looked down at his chest and regarded the reason still sleeping there. Everything was bound to be different now, or was it? They would undoubtedly still get annoyed with each other, still bicker, and still banter, which he was totally against. All the while, they'd still see planets, and all the beauty and wonder in time and space.

The difference would be in the freedom this new honesty provided. Free to experience joy, as well as the pain that went with it. No longer alone, the pain so familiar to him could be better faced now that they were both free to express their true feelings. Feelings, that word didn't have to be a scary thing. Fear of the finite, that would be ever-present. The finite was an unknown quantity, but that fear was the cause of so many regrets. Humans lived in the finite, facing it with equanimity.

He'd thrown in his lot with humans, with this little human in particular. Couldn't he then too, draw on her strength, face that fear with the bravery he so admired of humanity? With her help, he could push down that wall, and remember how to, once again, live in the now. There was too much good in the universe, to keep that joy walled up any longer.

Feeling his hand absent-mindedly tracing patterns on her arm, Clara wrapped it tightly around him and stretched. Reaching up bleary-eyed, she kissed his cheek and murmured, "Merry Christmas, Doctor."

Taking her hand and kissing it, he replied softly "Merry Christmas, Clara, my Clara." She grinned as she nuzzled into his neck. The ambience of a typical Christmas morning wafted over them as they enjoyed the stillness; footfalls on the stairs, and down the hallway, voices speaking indecipherable good cheer, the smell of a Christmas dinner that they both hoped was traditional. At least it likely was, given Jenny and Strax. Listening to the sounds of a normal Christmas where nothing happened.

The sounds of Christmas. Sounds. Together, their eyes were drawn to the source of the promising smells of Christmas dinner, the large vents above the bed. The Doctor looked down at Clara, as she looked up at him through mirrored expression. Eyebrows high and eyes wide, their mouths went slack at the sudden realization. If they could hear the sounds of Christmas morning, then… If they'd hoped to keep this private, that hope was gone. It was done, it happened, and everyone heard it.

All they could do was collapse in laughter. Wrapping their arms around each other tightly, there was nothing for it other than to laugh and laugh, between exclamations of "Oh no!" and "Your face!" Whenever one stopped, the facial expression of the other would only serve to set them off all over again.

Their laughter finally under control, the Doctor raked his hand across his face, "Well then…"

"So, that happened."

He grabbed her and pulled her in for a tight hug, "It most certainly did." He looked back down at her, as they both giggled, threatening to erupt into an outright laughing fit all over again.

They reluctantly parted as their muscles screamed that it was time to get up. Not bothering with his robe, the Doctor sauntered over to see what he could scrounge up in the wardrobe. Clara slipped on hers, and grabbed a belt from the bedpost with a smirk. Stepping up behind him, she spanked him playfully.

He hopped a bit, but wasn't overly surprised, "Don't start what you can't finish, Oswald." He looked down at her with a grin and a wink.

"You're terrible," She said, shuffling over to curl up in the big comfy chair, still a little bit too groggy to fully realize what he already knew.

"You started it," he complained lightly as he slipped on a pair of trousers. He was going to need another wash, but at least he had something to wear back out to the Tardis. It was more than he could say for the Boss, still blissfully unaware, staring into middle distance in his chair.

"Your fault, you could've chosen to not have such a nice ass when you regenerated." Clara looked around the room as her mind cleared. She needed coffee, or tea, in the morning and had neither. Especially after a night like that, impossible in so many different ways.

He shrugged, "It's a lottery. If I actually had a choice, I'd be ginger. Always wanted to be ginger…" His voice trailed off wistfully as he searched for a suitable shirt.

"Kinda glad you didn't get a say then," she really should get dressed too… Oh. She frowned.

He smirked knowingly as he tossed on a shirt, "What was that you were saying about not needing any Christmas jumpers?"

"Shut up." She stretched as she got up, no time like the present, nothing for it, really. The coast sounded clear. She'd ask the Doctor to come with her, but his idea of help would only end up being the opposite of help. With any luck, she could make it to the room that she was pretty sure would still be stocked with those beautiful dresses, and avoid awkward questions, at least before she was dressed and ready to face them.

Putting her ear to the door and hearing nothing, Clara took a deep breath. The Doctor tucked in his shirt as quickly as he could, watching her from the mirror. There was no time for anything better, but he'd set that right one day soon, if she liked. Clara felt his hand grab for hers as he spun her around to face him.

Already caught off guard, her eyes widened as he slipped off his ring. He smiled sheepishly, "This isn't the way I planned it, but when is it ever?"

"You planned…"

"Shut up," He licked his lips nervously, holding the ring up to her. "This ring is a memento, in memory of all my companions. A reminder of the good times we shared. I thought it was lost, but I found it after I regenerated. I trust you with this." He was serious and sincere, but he couldn't control his face slipping into a foolish grin as he slid the ring onto her index finger.

It was difficult to ask a question when you didn't know what the question was. She already knew his name, they'd practically eloped. "Will you marry me? No, that's not the question." By his own traditions, they were married, it didn't take much, a simple matter of a link and intent. It was time to wait for her. "The question is," His thought process trailed off, and his voice took over.

"Clara Oswald, would you do me the honor of looking after this ring, until such time as you'd rather have one of your own?" His choice was made, it was time to let Clara make hers.

Clara was dumbfounded. Her heart felt like it was ready to burst, but really, weren't they already married? Still, it would be nice to do this with some semblance of normalcy, like a normal couple. Her cheeks flushed as she unceremoniously blurted out "I expect you to properly ask. I want to be surprised," she inwardly cringed at herself, but decided to press on.

The Doctor opened his mouth to interject. She was so romantic when she was practical. He could tell her of a planet where they…

"In a completely normal way."

"There's this planet where they…"

"We'll discuss what normal is later."

"Yes, ma'am," he pouted as she pursed her lips. He'd explain later how he was married to her already. Much later, as in after she married him, maybe. It didn't really matter. "I'm having this ring back!"

"You know where I live," She spoke softly, touched not only at the moment, but at his complete trust. It spoke more of his affection for her, than the question itself. The Doctor would always have her back.

"That I do," he agreed in a solemnity that would be easier to believe, could he have kept a straight face. With that, she leapt up into his arms as he met her in a tight embrace. He would indeed be getting his ring back soon.

A/N: I can supply a link regarding the story behind the Doctor's ring, if you don't already know it and would like to read more.