~That Which We Dream For~

Even with his advanced hearing the Doctor couldn't tell what was going on outside. Was he yelling at her? What if Clara needed him? This time period wasn't known for its kindness towards women, especially women who lived unmarried with a man. And humans weren't known to react well to surprises and things they believed immoral.

At that thought the Doctor's long fingers gripped the arms of the chair so hard his knuckles turned white. What if he hurt her? Or threw her out, which would equally destroy Clara. Springing to his feet the Doctor debated whether to go after them. He paced back and forth on the floral patterned carpet, spinning his bowler hat nervously. His presence might only make things worse. This had been a horrible idea, but he couldn't say no to Clara. The Doctor could never say no to his Clara.

The back door opened.

"I'll make us some tea." He heard Clara say. She sounded happy, that was a good sign.

Henry entered to room. Without pause he marched up to the Doctor, pulling back his arm. Seeing what was coming the Doctor made no attempt to defend himself.

Crack!

Henry's fist collided with his chin. He staggered backwards knocking into the sofa.

"Now we can talk." Henry said calmly.

"Oh my god!" kettle in hand Clara dashed into the room.

The Doctor waved her off gently, rubbing his jaw. "It's fine dear. We're just having a friendly little chat."

Henry looked amused now that that was over. Feisty as ever Clara seemed ready to spit fireballs at her father. "You promised!" she hissed, brandishing the kettle like a weapon.

"That," Henry said, "Was for going behind my back and for basically stealing you. Go finish making tea Clara. I swear I won't hit him again."

With a weak grin the Doctor gave her a small thumbs up indicating that it would be fine. She still looked murderous, particularly at being ordered around. Shooting him one last worried glance Clara marched out in a huff. That shocked him more than anything; he'd hate to think what would happen if he tried giving her an order. Not that the Doctor would. They could hear her slamming kitchen cupboards in the other room.

The Doctor turned to Henry cautiously. The punch hadn't really hurt; few humans could wield the amount of force necessary to actually damage him. But his jaw did sting. The Doctor also knew he deserved it. No amount a punishment could make up for the fate he'd condemned Clara too by falling for her. The Doctor destroyed everything he touched and the universe was far too cruel to make an exception for Clara.

Her father no longer looked angry, well maybe a bit, just unsure. Bewildered might also be a good description. They stared at each other awkwardly.

"So," began Henry sitting on the edge of his chair. He was floundering, "A Time Lord?"

Also taking a seat, the Doctor nodded. Good the basics, he could deal with the basics. Henry seemed willing to listen. Clearly he wanted to understand now that the worst was over.

"You look human."

"Yes, and you look Time Lord." the Doctor said with a small smile.

Henry stared him in the eye, a shrewd expression on his face. "You're older than you seem." he said, "I could tell my daughter was avoiding saying it."

"Clara was afraid to upset you, though it would be justified, by telling you my age." The Doctor's face turned bleak. If Clara's father was going to try to accept him he wanted the man to fully understand. Understand what his daughter was giving up to be with him. "I am 1,149 years old."

Henry leaned back in his chair absorbing that. "She's only 24."

"Age is often considered irrelevant by my people, though to be fair, Time Lords generally don't marry outside the species."

"Why are you?"

The Doctor stared at a point on the wall. This was the topic he'd wanted to avoid, the topic he always wanted to avoid. "Because they're gone now. My people die with me." he said quietly.

Henry's eyes widened, as so many others did, at the indescribable grief of being the last of your species. It was unimaginable. "Dear lord…" he breathed, "How- how could that happen?"

"War, hatred, arrogance. The same way it always happens."

They sat in heavy silence. The Doctor could hear the grandfather clock in the hall ticking attempting to regulate that which it could never understand. He could hear Clara cursing at the gas light appliances in the kitchen and the steady heartbeat of the man sitting across from him. It felt as if the universe was counting down, but to what he didn't know. Maybe he didn't want to.

"Do you love her?" Henry asked softly.

The Doctor met his gaze. "Yes. I love her more than anything, though I have no right to. Your daughter deserves so much more than me.

I'm not worthy of her and never will be." he continued, voice breaking for the first time, "There are things in my past, sins I can never atone for. Some days it is more than I can bear just to get up in the morning, to put one foot in front of the other and keep living. Some days I'd rather die than face what I have done. But then she's there. The most beautiful, and selfless, and innocent person I've ever known. And I realize I have to keep going for her, I have to keep trying to make up for what I've done for her."

"You don't have to prove anything to me."

Clara stood in the doorway carrying a tray of tea-things, her expression stricken. Hands shaking slightly she set the tray down on the coffee table. The Doctor caught her hand before she could burn herself pouring the tea. Gently he pulled her down next to him on the velvet sofa.

"I thought I was helping." Clara whispered.

Flustered, Henry quickly finished pouring the tea and setting out the plate of little sandwiches Clara made. This was a conversation he wasn't part of.

Angry at himself for upsetting her, the Doctor took Clara's hands in his own. He never wanted to see Clara sad. It was his job to make her happy; it was what he lived for. "Love, you help me every second of every day. I never smiled, not once, for nearly two decades until the day I met you on the street."

"You mean when I almost knocked you over?" Clara said the corners of her mouth turning up.

"Exactly."

She leaned against him in a simple comforting gesture. They were alright. The pain which constricted his hearts melted away when Clara looked up at him with her dark, expressive eyes. Nothing could hurt the Doctor while she was looking at him like that. Nothing.

Henry coughed pointedly reminding them he was still in the room. They laughed breaking any remaining tension. A happy, slightly astounded expression lit up Henry's face, as he watched their interactions.

"So when is the wedding?" he asked, sipping his tea.

"We haven't exactly worked that out yet." the Doctor admitted. "I don't actually know a lot about weddings…"

"Something simple is fine." Clara assured him. "Where did Vastra and Jenny get married? Perhaps they have some ideas."

"As long as Strax doesn't want to be the minster."

"I really must properly meet Strax."

"Don't say I didn't warn you." he quipped.

Strax probably wouldn't know how to handle Clara. Between her, Vastra, and Jenny, the Sontaran would be totally outnumbered and the Doctor loved giving him a hard time. Though talking to the girls was a good idea. In fact he was sure Vastra was ordained…

"There's always the garden." Henry said hopefully gesturing out the window, turning faintly pink.

Clara gasped in delight, "That's perfect, papa! We could have the wedding here." She grabbed the Doctor's arm giving him the pleading look she knew he couldn't resist. His fiancé was very manipulative when she wanted to be.

"Sounds good to me." the Doctor said. It was better than any plan he could have come up with. The temporally mixed up guest list was still an issue, but that's what a time machine was for. He might just skip that bit except Sarah Jane would skin him alive. Clara probably would too.

As the afternoon wore on and the tea grew cold, they chatted about everything and nothing. Henry showed off his latest specimens and revealed himself to be quite the amateur scientist. The Doctor could see where Clara got her intelligence, though she didn't have much interest in plants.

Clara enthusiastically tried to explain computers to her father, who didn't have the faintest clue what she was talking about. He just nodded a lot. It was hard to keep a straight face. Everything to do with electronics fascinated Clara and she'd been teaching herself how they worked. There was a pile of how-to books on her bedside table and the Doctor had fun helping her with them.

Eventually the sun set signaling it was time for them to leave. Henry saw them off with many hugs and assurances that they could visit anytime. After stepping out of his daughter's embrace he shook the Doctor's hand firmly.

"Take care of her… son."

He blinked, completely thrown by the sentiment. It meant family, something the Doctor hadn't had in a very long time. "I promise."

For one shining moment, standing beside Clara and Henry, the Doctor could see a future he never dared to dream for, not after Gallifrey. A family. His family. The Doctor could see it there just beyond reach. Clara, his beautiful wife and standing beside her a child with his eyes. And he wanted it so badly it hurt.


Author's Notes:

We've got some action packed chapters coming up then it's wedding time. (I imagine there are a lot of people yelling 'It's about time already woman!') ;)

Anyone who reviews can get a sneak peek into the future! Enjoy! :D