Thank you all for reading, for writing reviews, for sticking with the story until the end :) I really hope you enjoyed it.

Now, my (or rather 'our' because I am going to work on the next one with a friend) next project is still in planning and it will take a while until it is going to be published – but it is big and it's gonna be great, so keep an eye out. In the meantime I will busy myself with some fluffy and smutty Tumblr prompts.

Chapter 21

"It's the Time Lords!" his former incarnation exclaimed as soon as a familiar planet began to emerge from the crack in time and space.

"Yessss," the Doctor hissed with a grin before he raised his voice. "Welcome home, boys! And you better say thank you properly because it only took the destruction of the universe to bring you back!"

A warm glow emitted from the newly surfaced planet and one after another the stars appeared back in the sky. A ray of light exploded from the planet's core and the Doctor held tight to his TARDIS for a second as it blasted the Reapers out of time and space.

"They're gonna kill us!"

"Oh, don't be such a pessimist," the Doctor told his former self, "They might. They might not. I imagine Rassilon is not amused. Alright, better be off. Someone is expecting me. Don't worry, you'll forget this ever happened until you're ready to do it again."

He turned around one more time to look at the former Doctor, who was still obviously confused about what had happened.

"You're absolutely mad," he said.

"You will understand one day. And you will know she's worth it."

The Doctor stepped into the TARDIS and shortly after landed on Gallifrey. It felt strange. For so many centuries he had wished to return home, but when he set his feet onto the ground and saw the council members waiting for him just a few yards ahead, the Doctor was reminded of why he had left Gallifrey so many years ago.

Rassilon raised his hand and the Doctor noticed that he was wearing his gauntlet.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't erase you from time right now," Rassilon threatened.

The Doctor shrugged as he approached them. "I brought you back into this universe. I think I deserve a thank you."

"You have always been pompous and arrogant," Rassilon replied, shaking his gauntlet.

"Have you taken a good look at yourself?"

"Doctor!" a female voice scolded him and a small woman stepped up from behind Rassilon and a few other council members. Her face was unfamiliar, but the Doctor felt as if he should know her, "Behave yourself, will you?"

"You almost brought on the destruction of the universe. Twice," Rassilon reminded him, "We sent the only one who knew how to travel between the realms to you with a poison to defeat the Erebos and you succeeded. So why did you do it? Why cause a paradox?"

"Because I need your help. I wasn't able to defeat the Erebos, but my friend was, and she was frozen in time doing so. You need to undo it," the Doctor demanded.

Rassilon scoffed. "We should punish you, not help you."

"You can do both for all I care. But save Clara. She saved the universe so many times. Without her I wouldn't be standing here. Without her Gallifrey would have gone down in the Time War. You owe her."

"And we owe him," the woman who had previously spoken said. This time he finally recognized her.

"Romana," the Doctor granted her a warm smile, "I knew you would be on my side."

"I'm not," she replied coldly, "I do not condone what you did to bring us back. You couldn't have known we would be able to undo the damage you've cause."

The Doctor shrugged. "You're right. I didn't. I was only hoping."

"Enough!" Rassilon shouted, "You are a disgrace to the Time Lords and you shall be erased!"

"Erase me if you must! But save Clara, unfreeze her, bring her back to Hiraeth where the rest of her people now live."

Rassilon raised his gauntlet again, pointing it at the Doctor when Romana stepped forward, placing her hand gently on his arm and lowering his weapon.

"I have a better idea," she said, her voice still lacking the warmth he was used to from her. The Time War had turned her cold as well. "We will unfreeze Clara."

The Doctor sighed in relief.

"But she's not going back to her people. Like you said, she saved the universe multiple times and if you care so much for her, she must be a good person. We lack her kind."

He stared at his former companion, not fully understanding. "What are you saying?"

Romana smiled. "I'm saying that Clara will stay on Gallifrey. She will go down the same route that you and I have walked. She will enter the Academy and become a Time Lady."

His mouth fell open. Clara a Time Lady. It meant that they would be equals. She could travel with him forever. Oh, she would be insufferable after her time at the Academy, but he would love her even more for that.

"And you, Doctor," Romana continued, "You are banned from Gallifrey until you have redeemed yourself. You can say goodbye to Clara, but you will not see her until after her education here in finished."

He swallowed and finally nodded. Romana understood and extended her hand to Rassilon, who only reluctantly handed her the gauntlet. He didn't like it, but no one else protested against Romana's judgement.

Romana came walking towards the Doctor and in passing said: "Come on, let's unfreeze your girlfriend."

"You know me too well," he replied with a smile and they both paused in front of the TARDIS doors, "Thank you, Romana. It means a lot to me."

She eyed him for a moment, then handed him the gauntlet.

"You've got an hour. Don't take longer, or Rassilon will blast your pompous ass into oblivion," she warned him.

The Doctor nodded and stepped through the doors. Clara was still standing in the same spot where he had left her, a tear frozen on her cheek and yet so utterly beautiful that he took a moment to look at her. He slipped the gauntlet over his right hand and just caressed her hair, watching as the film that covered her started to lift and Clara blinked. She gasped for air when she was finally free of the poison, but looked at him in horror.

"Doctor, what have you done?"

He couldn't help but smile as he threw the gauntlet carelessly across the room and cupped her cheeks.

"Everything's okay, Clara, don't worry. We're on Gallifrey," he whispered and quickly kissed her forehead, unable to stop grinning. He had her back. She would become a Time Lady and then they would be together forever.

"Gallifrey?" Clara uttered, "How is that possible?"

"Long story. I have no doubt they will tell you everything."

Clara reached out, grasping the fabric of his sleeves, still staring at him.

"Why?"

"Clara," the Doctor began, his voice suddenly more sombre, "They agreed to save you under two conditions. I can't come back to Gallifrey. Not until I have redeemed myself, which could take a couple of centuries. But you. . ."

"What about me?"

"Romana, an old friend of mine, wants you stay. She wants you to stay here, go to the Academy and become a Time Lady," the Doctor explained.

Clara furrowed her eyebrows and began to splutter for a moment, until she could find the right words. "But that means. . ."

"You and I. We can travel the universe forever."

"But. . ."

"You will love the Academy, Clara, you will love this," he said sincerely.

"But you won't be here," Clara objected.

"They know what you did for them, for Gallifrey. You will have friends here. Maybe not Rassilon, but others, like Romana. They will take care of you."

Clara looked up at him and a shy smile formed on her lips. "You're happy about this, aren't you?"

He nodded.

"But we won't be able to see each other for God knows how long."

Suddenly and without a warning the Doctor swept Clara up in his arms and started moving into the direction of the corridor.

"We better make our last hour count, then, huh? And once you're a Time Lady we will have an eternity."

Clara objected no further as the Doctor carried her into his bedroom and gently set her down on the bed, immediately starting to cover her lips and her face with kisses. Clara buried her hands in his hair, dragging him down on top of her as he was beginning to find his way under her clothes.

"Doctor," Clara said softly when his mouth left hers for a second, "Can you do the think like last time? The telepathic link?"

He smiled at her. "Of course, my Clara. And next time we do this, it can go both ways."

Clara chuckled in reply as he brought his hands to her temples. "I'm looking forward to it."

All of a sudden she grew still under him, and the Doctor knew what was going on. He was inside of her head after all. He laughed.

"Oh, don't be silly. I will love you no matter what face you wear. Just like you did with me."

He bent down to kiss her again. Clara gasped as he moved inside of her and they kept turning and writhing in the sheets, loving each other properly for the first time. For him the times before hadn't counted, it hadn't been right, but this absolutely was. It was just him and his Clara, happy to be together, kissing the time away.

But the hour was up way too soon and they both got dressed on their way to the TARDIS doors. Every step that brought him closer to saying goodbye felt heavier. Clara got on her toes to kiss him one last time.

"Now," the Doctor said, "Do what I would do. Misbehave. Cause trouble."

Clara giggled. "I will most definitely not. What will you do in the meantime?"

The Doctor shrugged. "The usual. Travel. Check on the people on Hiraeth, try to help them out whenever they need me. The universe needs a Doctor."

"Yes, it does," Clara said, looking at him. Her smile suddenly faltered and a second later she threw her arms around him, buying her face in his chest.

"I don't want to leave you," she admitted.

"It's not forever, Clara. We will see each other again," the Doctor tried to comfort her, his hand gently stroking her hair.

"It's centuries, Doctor, centuries. That's a lot more than any human should live."

He took Clara's face in his hands to make her look at him. "And they will have passed before you know it. Trust me, Clara, don't be afraid. And when you're back here, none of our problems will matter anymore. It's all gonna be fine."

Clara sighed before the Doctor bent down to kiss her again. He would miss her, but he would pass the time somehow.

When she had stepped through the TARDIS doors she turned around one last time, waving shyly. The Doctor spotted Romana waiting for her. Yes, she would take care of Clara until he could see her again. He stood by the doors and watched as the women disappeared into the building before he stepped back inside. They would be reunited, but until then, he had a universe to take care of.