Clara has been transformed into a Time Lady, the TARDIS's amazing plan has worked!

"Clara" asked the Doctor, "Do you feel different, how is your brain coping?"

"It's funny, sometimes I think I'm just a normal human, then I realise my brain is so much more powerful, when I have thoughts that would never gone through my mind before. I also have memories of Oswin and Claroswin's previous lives, of their dreams and aspirations."

"What do you remember?"

"From Claroswin, I have these vivid images of being on Gallifrey of meeting Time Lords and Time Ladies, of guiding you to your TARDIS, and the constant yearning to be reunited with you again."

"And Oswin?"

"You'll find out soon enough!" A smirk appeared on Clara's face, followed by a look of shock at what had gone through her mind.

"I'm not sure who should be more worried" replied the Doctor with a smile.

"Doctor, am I definitely like you now, I mean will I definitely regenerate?"

"According to old sexy, yes. Of course the only way to answer that question would be to kill you and see if you regenerate, but that would be a bit drastic! Everything she's said so far has come true, I've no reason to doubt her now."

"So instead of growing old, I'll stay like this until I regenerate, then come back with a whole new body. That'll take some getting used to, it'll be weird… seeing Angie and Artie get old and die, seeing everyone I know and love… die before me. Oh god…"

The enormity of this overcame Clara, who broke down in tears, as the Doctor comforted her.

"It's a pain I have to bear, the one downside of our existence, I have seen so many people I've loved taken away from me. But Clara, life is a series of good and bad things, and this one bad thing shouldn't cloud you from all the good things about being a Time Lady, the amazing things you can do, the people and alien creatures you'll meet, and all the lives you can make better. Clara, with the warmth of your humanity, combined with your amazing new physiology and intellect, you'll be wonderful."

"It'll be strange regenerating into someone else, hopefully I'll be taller next time!" added Clara trying to force a smile. "But then, what if you don't like the next version of me, what if I turn into someone horrible or evil and you don't want me anymore?" Clara burst into tears again.

"You'll always be wonderful. Each version of me is different, but ultimately we're all the same person. Similarly, each future version of you will look different, and have a bit of a different personality, but deep down will still be the same Clara Oswald I love. Besides, you've no idea what the next version of me will look or behave like. It might be you rejecting me, in favour of some human toy boy!"

"Hmm, I hadn't thought of that! You'd better make sure your future versions are nice to me or else!" Clara laughed; from her memories of the other Doctors, she couldn't imagine leaving him for a human ever. And with that thought she drifted back to sleep again with a smile on her face, watched by the Doctor.

It was a whole new experience for Clara, but it was also a whole new experience for him as well, dealing with someone becoming a Time Lord or Lady, and having to come to terms with a whole new way of living. It would be a lot for Clara to cope with, but he was sure she would manage; having seen so much of his long and varied life via her fragments, and all the different faces, she of all his human Companions was uniquely equipped to make the transformation.

By the time she woke up again, the Doctor had decided that Clara was strong enough to leave the medical bay, and she returned to her own room with his assistance. The TARDIS had now redecorated it beautifully, and provided the most comfortable bed Clara had ever experienced. After another couple of days of rest, having insisted that the Doctor no longer needed to watch over her around the clock, she was missing him. Clara grabbed a red dressing gown and shuffled out of the door, towards the console room. He wasn't there, so where else could he be? Then she remembered the room where the TARDIS had transformed her, he was bound to be there. She slowly walked towards it, and there he was.

"What are you doing up?" the Doctor exclaimed when he saw her.

"You could be more pleased to see me" Clara pouted back.

"Sorry, it's just that you need to rest." The Doctor rushed out and found a chair for Clara to sit on.

"Thanks. Well I was getting bored. And I missed you a bit."

"Oh, er thanks. I missed you too, but didn't want to wake you when you were sleeping."

"So how often have you been checking?"

"Oh, er every now and then. Or perhaps a bit more often than that, er can't remember."

Clara smiled before continuing.

"So what are you doing?"

"Trying to work out how the TARDIS turned you into a Time Lady. She never fails to amaze me with her brilliance."

"Don't tell me, you're trying to work out how to transform me back!"

"Yes, there must be a Big Friendly Button somewhere, to reset everything." The Doctor smiled before crouching down to stroke Clara on the cheek. "But the TARDIS has hidden it from me, so it looks like I'm stuck with you forever."

"Sorry about that" Clara laughed back nervously as the Doctor gazed into her eyes.

"Clara Oswald" the Doctor continued, "I was going to wait until you were 100% recovered, but seeing you in front of me, so beautiful, so perfect, I can't wait any longer. Will you marry me?"

"Of course!" exclaimed Clara before grabbing the Doctor for a sloppy kiss, which had the effect of knocking the chair over and crashing them both to the ground.

"Are you ok Clara?" asked the worried Doctor.

"Don't worry, I'm not about to start regenerating!"

Clara stood up with the Doctor's assistance, but was still a bit wobbly.

"I think I need to get you back to your room. Your body still needs rest, but I'll always be available if you need to talk about anything. Your body has gone through a lot of changes, but the changes to your mind are even greater."

Smiling, the Doctor picked Clara up and carried her back to her room.

"Doctor, what are Time Lord weddings like? Are they like human weddings?"

"There are different ceremonies, but the simple one just involves a simple exchange of vows."

"I want my family to be there, though it will be a bit of a bombshell to tell my father that his daughter is no longer human and is about to take part in a Gallifreyan wedding. Especially after your last naked appearance at Christmas! He might think you're the leader of some strange cult that has brainwashed me."

"A strange cult? Are you suggesting that I'm some sort of god like figure who has inspired followers to travel to the far corners of the earth spreading my message, or that I inspire such devotion that Companions are prepared to lay down their lives for me? Ah, er those perhaps weren't good examples."

"I would love Clara Oswin Oswald to be there too. Without her, you would never have gone looking for me, and none of this would have happened."

The Doctor nodded in agreement.

"Then we'll need Captain Latimer and the children as well, and we can't leave out Vastra, Jenny and Strax either. If we can find her, then Lara ought to be invited as well. Plus The Maitlands, and some of the teachers from Coal Hill, plus my friend Nina, and my friends from home and from University and..."

The Doctor and Clara exchanged glances.

"That's a lot of people to explain my transformation to, and we haven't even got to your side of the, er aisle? Maybe it would easier to have a simple ceremony."

"It's up to you Clara, Gallifreyan weddings only need one witness to be valid. You have plenty of time to think about it."

The Doctor kissed Clara on the cheek before bouncing back to the console room. There he spoke quietly to the TARDIS.

"Something I need to ask you, about Clara and me, how can I put it, um, are we compatible?"

The TARDIS replied.

"Sorry, I didn't mean in terms of her personality and looks, as she's perfect. I meant more, er physically, as in make and female type intimate activities, of the sort that produces babies."

The TARDIS replied again.

"No, NO! You're worse than Oswin! I didn't mean like that, you have a filthy mind!"

The Doctor smiled.

"It's good to know though."

He then paused before continuing.

"We, Clara and I that is, can we have children together? I mean there's no hurry, and I don't know her feelings obviously, but at some stage I'd love to have a child again, it's been a long time."

The Doctor waited expectantly, before getting the answer he had been praying for.

"YES! YES! YES!" he exclaimed as he danced around the console room, waking Clara who wondered what the excitement was all about, before drifting off to sleep again.

Clara and the Doctor are getting married, hoorah! Maybe as we approach the wedding I'll be able to write a chapter that doesn't feature any scenes of Clara crying, as I have put the poor girl through the emotional wringer in this story!

Thanks for all the reviews, I'm glad some of you have enjoyed my ramblings :-)