It's Saturday and you know what that means, right? New chapter! Thank you so much for your reviews :)

Chapter 26

Once again, the whole house had stayed up late, watching over Robert and his condition with a critical eye. Even though the doctor had reassured them that there was no reason for him not to wake up again, everyone seemed worried - and so was Clara, but she was the only one who really knew what had happened to him and she had faith that in time, he would pull through. Yet the concerned household had prevented her from going outside to see John and it was already past midnight when she finally put on her coat to out and just as she was preparing to leave, an antlered head peered through her wall.

Clara uttered a sigh of surrender, wondering if she could ever convince him not to do that and yet, her heart still skipped a beat at the sight of him like it always did. With every kiss they shared, that only seemed to grow worse and slowly, Clara started to question her resolve to never marry again. Of course, it was way too early to even think about such things at this stage, but Clara could feel heart soften more and more when it came to looking into the future. Somehow, being with John felt absolutely right. Somehow, being with John felt like she was slowly healing at last.

"Hey," he said softly, granting her a smile as he stepped through the wall. It seemed ridiculous to Clara that he could do that and yet touch her. "How are you?"

Clara nodded, smiling back at him. "Doing well," she replied. "I was just coming to see you."

"And your friend?" John enquired, raising his impressive eyebrows at her.

Blowing the air out of her lungs, Clara let her shoulders sink. Yes, the doctor had said he would wake up, but that didn't mean Clara was free of all worry, especially in John's presence. She imagined him feeling incredibly guilty about the incident. "He hasn't woken up yet," she explained calmly. "But he will. I'm sure of it."

"Can I see him?"

Clara's first instinct was to say no for several reasons. Mainly, she wasn't entirely sure if that was what Robert would want after everything that had happened and secondly, Clara didn't want the evening to be about him, she wanted it to be about herself and John. She wanted to be alone with him, to talk to him, but as she watched that look on his face, she faltered in her determination.

A few minutes later, Clara was quietly leading him along the corridors even though she was the only one who had to make sure she was quiet enough not to wake anyone. John moved soundlessly and somehow, it made Clara think that his feet weren't really touching the floor at all. It reminded her once more that he wasn't human and right now, it came as a surprise to Clara that she needed constant reminders at all. It didn't really seem to matter when she was with him.

They entered the room Clara had only just left half an hour ago and Robert still hadn't moved. He was lying in his bed just as he had all day and the day before that and it made Clara wonder whether he would move again at all. John didn't seem to share her thoughtfulness as he stepped closer to the bed and observed the sleeping Robert from up close.

"The doctor says he's very confident he will make a full recovery," Clara tried to reassure him, but she could tell from the look on his face that the guilt was still weighing heavily on his heart.

After that, she watched wordlessly as John stepped forward and placed his hands on Robert's temples just like he had done with her only a few nights ago. Back then, he had lifted the fog that had clouded her thoughts, making everything a little clearer. Was that what he was doing to Robert? Was he healing him? Trying to convince him to wake up?

"He's in shock," John explained after a moment. "His mind is racing with everything that he's seen, unable to cope with the reality. He doesn't understand."

"Can you help him?" Clara enquired curiously.

John hesitated for a moment and all Clara could hear was his breathing. Then, he finally released Robert. "I'm trying," he said softly and then turned to look at her once again. "Trying to make him forget. I can't promise it'll work, but he will wake up sooner or later."

Even though the doctor has said it before him, hearing those words from John instantly filled her with relief and maybe, Robert wouldn't even remember what exactly had happened in the forest. One way or another, everything was going to be alright.

Back in her own room, Clara still felt a sense of calm and maybe even happiness as she settled on her bed, John sinking down on the mattress next to her. Suddenly, she didn't even want to go outside with him even though the fresh air would probably do her good. There was something homely and cosy about being here with him, so close that their bodies were almost touching and it occurred to her that she would quite like touching him, but there were a few more things on her mind that she needed to say.

"Thank you," Clara said after a moment of silence.

John looked up, visibly confused as to why she was thanking him and it made her chuckle.

"For helping Robert even though he did… what he did," she explained and she couldn't help the smile that spread across her face. "You are human, John. You're cursed, but you're human and I will help you."

The sigh that escaped John's lips was heavy and sad. "Clara, I'm not sure there's a way for me to be released from this curse."

"There has to be," she replied determinedly. "And I will find it no matter what it takes. I mean, um, unless you don't want that."

It had never occurred to her before that maybe, John was enjoying this ghostly existence. After all, he was practically immortal in that way, but it was also a lonely way of living or not living and from the way he had struck up a friendship with her and her mother before her, Clara could tell that he would very likely give up immortality for companionship. However, would she stay with him once he was fully human again? Right now, John wasn't a danger to her or her resolve to never marry again. He was a ghost, an immortal and Clara was safe in his presence not just from anything that might harm her, but also safe from the danger of loss. As the Hunter, John would never die. He would never leave her like Danny had and maybe it was the reassurance of that which was drawing Clara in.

To silence her own nagging thoughts, Clara sat up and leaned forward until their lips touched. As soon as they united in a kiss, Clara felt her fears and doubts fade into oblivion. If a simple kiss was able to do that to her, what would happen if they went further than that? Could he even go further than that? Clara had never considered it until now, but suddenly, the possibility and her own curiosity seemed overwhelming as John parted his lips to let her in.

Clara once again felt that rush of excitement course through her body, that soft, electrical tingling his touch left on her skin and in a moment of bravery, she hooked her arms around his neck and let herself fall back, pulling John down on top of her.

He broke the kiss and looked at her in confusion, but Clara granted him a sincere, loving smile. She didn't want to say it out loud out of fear it might scare him away, out of fear it might ruin the mood, so instead, she focused entirely on what she wanted. John was still touching her and maybe the connection they had shared the other night was still open and he could read her mind, so Clara focused on that.

I want to be with you, she thought. I want to be one with you.

Still, John hesitated for a moment longer until at last, he smiled back at her. When he bent down to kiss her once more, Clara thought that it felt different, that it felt even better than before, knowing that they both wanted the exact same thing. Clara closed her eyes and let herself fall, for a moment forgetting everything that wasn't John and revelling in the feeling of his naked skin on her own, the soft, cool tingling sensation, that moment of ecstasy as he finally entered her and at last, the feeling of sheer bliss that blasted away the last bit of doubt she had still had. Clara finally realised that she was falling in love.