Chapter 14

Clara and John were sitting there with bills scattered around them when Katie came down, already in a cheerful mood.

'How many?'

'150? 200?'

'Probably a bit less than that, I hardly have any family on my side.'

'100 then, at least.'

'I guess so.'

As Katie stared closer she realised the bills weren't bills, but wedding plans. As she took a carton of juice from the grudge she rolled her eyes. They had brought that one up again. Sighing, she didn't speak to either of them and retreated back to her room. It hadn't affected her mood however, which was untarnished and excitable. She had arranged a day with her mum for the first time since last year, and of course without John's knowing. Any opportunity she wasn't travelling was good enough for her, and days came and went so fast. She had longed to see her, have her mother by her side, and not some woman with an articulate obsession with Jane Austen. She waited and waited for 12 o'clock to roll around, every minute feeling like an hour. Her mum wasn't exactly a punctual woman, but she always kept her word. Sure enough, when the doorbell rang a wide grin split her features and she raced down the stairs, watching as Clara opened the door to a lady that towered over her in height. Clara's eyebrows raised and called to John, who froze with horror when he saw her.

'You're Clara Oswald, are you?'

'Uhm, yes.'

'Shorter than I expected.'

'Okay...'

She strode in without invitation, facing John with a smile on her face.

'Hello, sweetie.'

'What are you doing here?' He asked.

'Taking my daughter out for the day. Is that a problem?'

'Yes, it is. You don't have any claim over her, I have full custody.'

'Yes,' she replied coolly, 'and I'm her mother.'

'You've been travelling since you left me, you've hardly made any effort to be in Katie's life so I don't know why you're suddenly fighting so hard.'

'John,' Clara interjected, placing a hand on his arm, 'it's just a day.'

'Listen to your fiancée, John. Better than you listened to me, anyway.'

'How did you just suddenly decide you'd come over here and take Katie out?'

'She wanted me to. I told her I would come the first day I was off.'

'John, you're not stopping me so I wouldn't try it. Just because you've got a nice job and a girlfriend doesn't make me less able to look after her.'

'We've had this conversation already River, you travel all around the world, you can't take her everywhere with you and you can't leave her alone and come back late at night. You're just not capable of looking after her. You've always been wild and adventurous and she needs someone always there.'

'I am in the room,' Katie stated, 'can we stop talking like I'm a child?

'You are still a child.' John replied.

'Let her,' Clara said suddenly, still sticking up for her, for what reason she didn't know, 'they haven't seen each other for a while. As long as she gets back by the end of the day it shouldn't be any problem.'

John sighed heavily, still conflicted. River stood with the same defiance as she did and a glance in her direction offered a wink.

'You can't keep me from her forever.' River concluded, smiling winningly.

'Fine, alright.' He said, throwing up his hands in defeat. 'But you bring her back after dinner.'

'Yeah, whatever you want.'

She smiled at Katie, and she returned the smile jovially. It felt so good to see her.

'Right then. Only around seven hours, better get going.'

They proceeded toward the door, her dad still staring disapprovingly.

'Congratulations, by the way. Katie told me. Make sure he doesn't wear his fez.' She smiled at Clara.

John glared silently as she left, and Katie started to laugh. It was going to be an amazing day with her mum, something she had wanted for a long time.

'Where are we going?'

'Lunch?'

'Good idea.'

Her mum was so energetic, badass, everything her dad wasn't. Both of their personalities clashed. Yet she had turned out most like her mum in personality, her dad in appearance.

'Where have you been, then? What parts of the world?'

'Just back from an archeological dig in Russia. I'm due for Dallas tomorrow.'

'Cool. Things are really boring here in comparison.'

'Why? Is it that Clara person?'

'Mhm,' she murmured, sipping on her milkshake, 'she's so dull.'

'Isn't she your teacher as well?'

'Yep. Embarrassing, stupid, annoying. They're everywhere I go.' She complained.

'I feel sorry for you. Clara doesn't look interesting at all. Bit plain.'

'You're telling me,' she scoffed, 'I wish I could go travelling with you.'

'I know. And I really would if I could.'

'It's killing me, living with them. They want a wedding and a family like I'm not good enough for them. It's sickening.'

'Wait, really?' She laughed, 'John better be prepared. I remember what he was like with you. Paranoid. Uptight.'

'He hasn't changed. I really just don't want to deal with annoying little Clara's around me. I'll be moving out before that happens.'

'Well all you have to do is keep then away from each other. Make distractions.'

'Trust me, I've been to Leeds and back and done extra homework for it. I'm not giving up that easily.'

'Just raise a little hell. Make Clara want to leave.'

Katie began to grin at the idea. She was very closely tied with her dad but it probably wouldn't take much to get her to break. She knew Clara had a fierce temper and a burning impatience.

'I'll do that,' she nodded. It was a growing idea, something she was glad to elaborate and put into action. The rest of the day was positively the best day that year, her mum buying her things, making her smile twice as many times than usual and discussing everything they had missed.

••••

Clara could see the look of dread on his face and couldn't comprehend what was so bad about the situation.

'Why were you so reluctant?' She asked.

'Because River is a bad influence and a horrific example of being a mother. She chose her work, Clara. She chose travelling and work over her own daughter. And Katie still acts like she's the world's best mum. It's not right to mislead someone like that.'

'But they get on, Katie thinks the world of her and that's not a bad thing.'

'Seeing her again, though...it was a very unexpected shock.'

Clara herself didn't know what to think of her, a smirky smile and bouncy blonde curls that framed her face. She did admittedly look less of a mother and more of a free spirited traveller but there couldn't be any doubt that she loved Katie. She had also noticed how very similar they were, Katie having inherited her sarcastic nature and commandeering attitude. Even the way she spoke and some of the things she said was something Katie would say.

'Why are you always defending her? I've always wanted you to treat her fairly but you always seem to take her word over mine.'

'Because,' she said, stepping forward and placing her hands on either side of his waist, 'I was Katie once, remember? My mum died, and that's why I would encourage more visits from River, because I don't want Katie missing out on all the years I've missed out with my own mum. And I understand why she doesn't like me, I really do. I've never liked Linda either, my stepmother.'

'You know sometimes I think you could solve any problem in the world.' He smiled.

'You do realise that I can solve a problem right now.'

'What problem?'

She leaned on tiptoe and kissed him, John instantly drawing her close to him. He knew exactly what she was thinking, smiling at the realisation. No one, except them. She quickly pulled off his shirt and he was kissing her aggressively, walking blindly toward the general area of the stairs. His fingers threaded through her hair, each touch of skin felt like a revelation and it was a relieving feeling to return to that comfort in her arms. Something inside him was bubbling with anticipation, every step drawing closer. Clara felt the planes of his chest while he pulled her tighter to him, outlining the curve of her body, driving his tongue between her teeth with a force unexplainable to him. He climactically picked her up, her legs wrapping round his waist as he stumbled up stairs. He was too caught up in her to notice the door was only a few feet away and instead crumpled to the floor with Clara straddling him. It seemed almost too good to be true. Her lips caressed his teasingly, lightly. His hands slipped underneath her shirt, his mouth kissing her neck as she moaned into his ear. He grinned, rolling her over so he was atop her, finally discarding her shirt and letting his hands glide over her stomach, kissing any space he could. He could feel his pants become tighter as his arousal became apparent and Clara brought her lips to his again. Her hands roped to his neck, up into his hair as he grinded against her.

'John, we're doing this on the floor.' She laughed breathlessly, 'the bedroom's only two steps ahead of us.'

He considered a moment, pressing another kiss to her lips and scrambling off her to pick her up from the floor. He lead her to the edge of the bed where they fell together, Clara's hair spread around her like a halo. He grinned as she unbuttoned his jeans, and soon enough all clothing was abandoned on the floor. She guided into her with a moan as her fingers anchored in his hair and he rocked against her, building up to the climax that had her head reeling. It felt incredibly gratifying to feel the pull of such bliss like he hadn't fully felt in ages with Clara. Everything kept getting in the way and now it was like heaven on earth. He sunk deeper into her with a throaty groan, his lips attached to hers. He drove faster and harder until neither could hardly breathe and as he came Clara kissed him again, pushing him further over the edge. They didn't break away, still tenderly caressing each other's bodies and graciously grazing over skin.

'It's 2 o'clock and we have five hours left.' He said, staring at the clock. Clara started to kiss him again, smiling against his mouth.

'Better make it worthwhile, then.'

With a laugh he rolled to the side, beginning again the overwhelming pleasure, indulging himself with Clara and feeling like the luckiest man alive because of it. When he looked into her eyes again he saw endless stars and galaxies and the love he'd been wanting for so long.