Chapter 21

"Has anybody told you you're doing the man thing all wrong?" Having changed in to something a little more comfortable than work clothes, Clara walked out to find Danny cooking, and whatever it was it smelt amazing. "Not that I'm complaining, your food is wonderful." She went over to him, wrapping her arms around him from behind and dipping her finger in the sauce before trying it. Danny spun round, flicking her with the oven gloves he was holding.

"Patience Miss Oswald, patience." Clara grinned and grabbed the oven gloves from him.

"As much as I love you calling me that, it's the weekend now, can we revert back to Clara?" Danny grabbed them back.

"Let me finish dinner and I'll think about it." Clara raised her eyebrows, giving him a look before walking over to the fridge to find a drink. "No alcohol!" came the call from behind her.

"Yeah yeah I know, no fun for the invalid. Ow! Will you stop chucking things at me?" She couldn't help but smile despite the medicine packet that just hit her in the head. "You know for someone with target practice you're a poor shot." Silence, Danny looked around at her. "Sorry… mouth ran away again… I'll go sit down." Clara made her way through to the living room and sat down, leaning her head back.

The meal was quiet after that, and Clara was beginning to go crazy in the silence.

"Danny I…"

"I'm sorry." Clara looked up, confused.

"You haven't done anything? All you've done is spent far too much time having to look after me and had to put up with a whole load of rubbish in the meantime."

"The soldier thing is a tense subject. Not something I really want to talk about okay? Can we just move on? Talk about something else… I want to get to know you." Clara took his plate and stood up, taking it through to the kitchen.

"Get to know me how exactly?" Clara started to run the water for washing up, but an arm reached over and turned the tap off again.

"Nah uh, let's talk. No avoiding this time. Come on I just want to know if you were this much of a pain as a kid!" Danny must have followed her in.

"Cheeky! Alright alright come on let's go back through… I'm sure I can manage without washing up for one night… fact number 1: I'm a little bit of a control freak." Danny laughed as they walked back to the sofa and sat down.

"Really? You know I'd never have guessed. You hide it well!" Clara hit him gently as they sat down, she curled up to him cautiously and his arm curled around her. "Come on, what were you really like?" She took his fingers, playing with them a little whilst she tried to figure out how to answer that question.

"A Mummy's girl I guess? I don't really know, just a kid. I have a picture?" Clara took her phone out and found the picture of her mum and dad with her. "I was about 4 at the time I guess? Just an average day in the park." Danny took the phone from her, smiling at the picture.

"You were cute! Cuter now of course, but very cute. And they're your parents? You look just like your Mum. When do I get to meet them then?" She took the phone back, staring at the picture and not looking up.

"Might have to ease Dad in gently… don't want a repeat of Christmas… anyway what about you? I mean besides what I already know." Clara looked over at him, trying to shake off her emotions, but Danny didn't look like he was about to answer, he had his concerned face on again. Danny moved his hand out of hers and instead started wiping at her cheek, only then did she realise she'd started crying.

"I'm guessing you're not crying over Christmas…? Your Mum?" Clara nodded.

"I really didn't want to have to do this yet; I really hate crying in front of people."

"I said I wanted to get to know you, that means every bit of you, from your weaknesses to your annoying traits, your beauty and brains, and the things that hurt you most." She could see he meant it, his concern was very real.

"I was 16. She was 44. Hardest moment of my life and that's really all you need to know. My Dad is remarried, Linda has many ideas about who I should be going out with I should warn you. She's no match for Mum anyway… you'd have got on really well." Danny started running his fingers through her hair, kissing her head gently. Purposely Clara looked up so their lips met and they kissed softly, immediately she relaxed in to him. When they paused, Clara whispered to him, "you make me happy and that's all she ever wanted."

Once her eyes had finally adjusted the next morning, Clara noticed Danny wasn't there again and as seemed to be the way, there was a note on the pillow.

If you wake before I get back, sorry. Just gone for a run, and if you're lucky I might return with breakfast. Go back to sleep, won't be long. D x

Clara grinned, of course she wasn't going back to sleep. Instead she quickly got out of bed and grabbed her marking, before climbing back in to work through it whilst she had no distractions. She didn't manage all that long before he returned, but reading the essays was quite enjoyable really, so she didn't rush to put it away.

"Ey you, it's not even 9 yet?" Danny walked over and kissed her quickly. "I'm gonna jump in the shower okay?"

"Surely you must have marking to do? Bed makes it more comfortable, and actually I'm reading some fabulous things here."

"I tend to mark on Sunday; Saturdays are for bed and fun."

"Says the man who just went for a run before 9am. Now go shower or I won't let you back in." She grinned, pushing him back and he headed for the bathroom. Clara smiled and went back to her books whilst he was in there.

After they'd had breakfast Clara showered too, getting dressed and walking out to find Danny putting his shoes on.

"Going somewhere?" He looked up, smiling at her and walking over (he only had one shoe on at this point; Clara had to hold back laughter).

"You look beautiful. Now, we're going on a trip so you'd best find shoes and a jacket." Clara knew she must look dreadfully confused at that moment. "Just do as I say, you can thank me later." Clara did as she was told, going for boots and a cardigan that matched her dress. "Right! Let's go."

So she went.

Basically this chapter was all about cuteness let's not lie :P Possible drama next chapter… I'm an undecided soul.