Thanks for the review :) Today's chapter is a bit short, but I really wanted to do some writing in between editing wedding photos. . .

Chapter 14

Clara jumped into the hallway, dripping wet and cursing the weather. She just dropped her umbrella where she stood, the storm had broken it anyway, and headed for the warm living room.

"Are you sure you want to go to Wales with this weather going on?" Clara asked the Doctor, who was sitting comfortably on the couch.

He turned around to look at her and his face turned into a frown immediately. "Honey, you need to change out of these clothes. You already have a cold."

"I don't have a cold," Clara denied, "It's just a little bug. I'll be fine."

If Clara was honest with herself, she hadn't really felt all that well in the past two weeks or so, but she blamed it on the cold October weather and the fact that she still hadn't heard back from Madame Vastra. They probably had abandoned her, or could her investigation really take over a month?

"How about I'll draw you a bath?" the Doctor asked, "We still have some time before the cab gets here."

Clara threw a blanket over her shoulders and took a bite off the chocolate bar that was sitting on the couch table. "But I still haven't packed," she said with her mouth full, "And you shouldn't leave the chocolate lying around. Sammy can reach the couch table now."

The Doctor put his arms around her and smiled. "Why? You'll eat it before he does anyway."

"Didn't you want to do something, like, draw me a bath?"

"Yes," the Doctor picked her up and threw Clara over his shoulder. She laughed and kicked and called out to him to put her down but he carried her all the way upstairs.

"Come on, crazy man, put me down," she begged.

"Not unless you say please," he said as he stopped in front of the bathroom door.

"Please?"

"Alright, alright," the Doctor said reluctantly and finally put her back on her feet. He kissed her before letting her go.

The water was nice and hot when she got into the tub and Clara instantly felt better. She leaned back and let the water caress her hair and face. A few minutes later, the bathroom door opened again and the Doctor appeared in the doorway, holding two cups with visibly steaming beverages.

"I made some cocoa, you want?" he asked.

"You need to ask? It's liquid chocolate. Hand it over!" Clara demanded and took one of the cups.

"Mind if I join you?"

Clara shook her head while blowing over the hot cocoa. The Doctor undressed and quickly stepped into the tub with her. He watched her sipping the hot chocolate for a while.

"You've developed a sweet tooth lately," he realized.

"It's the weather. Everything's all dark and grey. I can use all the endorphins I can get," Clara said and took another sip. "I hope it isn't that bad in Wales. I don't want to be indoors all weekend."

"Well, I could think of some indoor activities that are fun," the Doctor winked at her.

Clara smiled and pretended for a while that she didn't know what he was talking about. "Oh, and what would that be? Scrabble?"

"Much, much better."

"Then it's got to be Monopoly."

The Doctor pulled her closer and kissed her.

"Mh, that could work, too," Clara said.

"I'm very happy," the Doctor said, suddenly sounding very earnest.

"I'm happy, too."

Clara thought the Doctor looked like he was about to say something, or ask something. Like there was a "but" to his happiness but he never said anything.

"We probably should start packing," Clara suggested, "And we also need a new umbrella. The storm killed it earlier."

ooo

It was almost dark when they reached the cottage but at least it wasn't raining. When they got out of the cab, the Doctor put his arm around her and smiled happily at the small house. Isabel was leading her dog around on the leash, Sammy sniffing at everything. He, too, seemed excited about this trip.

"Could you imagine one day living in such a place?" the Doctor asked.

"Mh, I don't know. I think I'd miss London," Clara admitted, "The next town is like 20 miles away."

Suddenly Clara wondered what the aliens next door were doing right now. Would they come looking for them? Out here? There was only one other building in sight, a bigger cottage that was surrounded by all the things and animals you'd suspect should be around such a place. There was farming equipment and horses and cows. Aliens could hardly hide out here if they wanted a roof over their head. Still, Clara couldn't shake the feeling that something had followed them. If they were to attack them now, what would she do? Open the watch, of course, whether she wanted to or not. She opened her handbag to look for the watch, but it wasn't there. Suddenly Clara realized she had left it at home, in her drawer.