CHAPTER 29

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MEET THE NEW HEAD OF THE HOUSE OF LUNGBARROW

"Will it be long, Clara? The High Council wanted to see us both right away for some reason," Cassiopeia said as she materialized the TARDIS in the middle of Clara's home.

"Yeah, well they can just wait until I shower and change my clothes can't they? Why are you so worried about being on time anyway, Cass? This is a time machine after all. We can arrive whenever we want. If I'm going to go have a face to face with the grand high muckety mucks of all of time and space, then I definitely want to look my best," Clara said.

"Just don't take too long, okay? I'm already not one of their favorite people," Cassiopeia said nervously.

Clara sighed as she said, "I've already told you a million times now, Cass. They're not going to put you on trial for what happened to your parents. That was in no way your fault. Nightshade was the one who sent them to that other universe not you. You did your best to stop that from happening. Besides if they're going to blame anyone it's probably going to be me."

Cassiopeia's face turned hard as she said, "If they try to do anything to you, they'll regret it."

"You bet they will. They'll have to go through me first. Even without my powers, I'm still no one to mess around with especially when someone tries to hurt Clara," Jackie said with a furious look on her face.

Clara smiled at how cute the child looked at that moment even though she was being completely serious as she said, "Hey, don't talk like that, okay? It's nice to know that you all care so much about me, but I don't want any of you to get into any trouble. Maybe I'm wrong and it won't be about that at all."

It had better not be. Lily said telepathically from her crib.

Luckily even with all Vortex users losing their powers thanks to Missy playing around with the laws of the universe Lily still had just enough power to retain her intelligence so that she could still talk to them telepathically. Clara was glad about that because while she was okay at understanding the language of babies by this point thanks to the Doctor she still wasn't as good as she would like to be.

"If I could walk, I'd gladly kick their butts for you, Clara. Michael offered in Baby even as she thought this.

"Thanks, Lil, Mickey. I really appreciate the sentiment even though I know that neither of you are going to be much of a worry to the Council. Jackie however just might beat them all up! I certainly wouldn't put it past her. All of you just wait right here okay? I'll be in and out in about ten or fifteen minutes okay? It won't be long I promise," Clara said as she left the TARDIS and shut the door.

Just as she did so the doorbell rang and Clara cringed as she said, "Perfect. That's just what I needed right now. Please just let it be a special delivery or something."

She hesitantly went to the door and opened it despite her every instinct telling her just to ignore it. As soon as she did, she couldn't help but smile despite how pressed for time that she felt.

"Well, if isn't Danny Pink. What are you doing here? Did you miss me that much? You could have just waited you know. I'm only off for one day. I'll be right back tomorrow I promise," Clara joked.

Or was it just joking? Part of her wanted it to be true that Danny had come because he missed her. She hadn't admitted it to him but she really liked him. She had almost since the first day that he had started teaching at Coal Hill School. She just hadn't had the nerve to say anything about it to him. After all how could she even begin to explain to Danny about the weirdness that was her life?

Danny looked almost terrified as he said in a slightly nervous voice, "I thought it would maybe be better to talk to you here than at school. Can I come in?"

Clara looked behind her for a moment to make sure that Danny couldn't see the TARDIS from the living room and then said, "Sure, come in."

"I'm sorry if I'm bothering you. I just . . . I just really need to talk to you about something," Danny said in an awkward manner.

Clara couldn't help but feel sorry for him because she knew that he seemed to be very shy around her for some reason so she said gently, "You're not bothering me, okay? It's fine. Sit down and let's talk about it whatever it is."

Danny smiled a little at that as he immediately sat down and said, "Thank you."

"Well, what is it? What did you come all the way here about?" Clara asked.

Please be about to ask me out. Clara couldn't help but think that even as part of her was terrified that he actually would. She could already hear herself trying to explain her secrets to him right now. Yeah, you're old and grey, Danny, and I still look like I'm in my twenties. So what? It's no big deal really. I just have really good genes.

"Clara, I – I . . ." Danny tried to say but the words wouldn't come out.

Danny looked completely frustrated and angry at himself even while he looked terrified at the same time. He wouldn't even look Clara in the eye. That's when she knew exactly what he had come there about.

He is trying to ask me out! Clara realized in surprise.

She decided to make it easy for him as she said in her gentlest tone, "Are you here to ask me on a date, Danny?"

Danny looked absolutely relieved as he said, "Yes, that's what I would have said. Eventually."

"Yeah, in about ten more months maybe," Clara said with a chuckle.

"So, uh, how do you feel about that? Or have I just gotten an answer?" Danny asked in a hesitant voice after she laughed.

Clara immediately became serious as she said, "I wasn't laughing at you, Danny. I promise I wasn't. I was just being my usual wisecracking self who puts her foot in her mouth. Just call me Miss Big Mouth because that's exactly who I am sometimes. My answer is yes. Definitely yes. Only I can't go right now. Sorry."

Danny looked disappointed as he said, "When then?"

Clara hesitated because she didn't want him to take this the wrong way before she said, "I'm honestly not sure. You see I have to go somewhere important today and depending on what happens when I get there I may be busy for a while to come. I'll call you back and let you know just as soon as I can, alright?"

Danny frowned as he said, "Sure."

"I'm not blowing you off. I swear. It's just that something very important has come up, and it may determine my entire future. I won't know when I can date you until I get this all resolved, okay?" Clara said.

She could have lied to him and just told him what he wanted to hear, but Clara Prime from Missy's universe had warned her just before she left not to lie to anyone that she loved no matter what her reasons for doing it were. The extremely sad look in her eyes had made Clara instantly listen to her because she had obviously paid a horrible price for lying to someone that she had loved.

Danny looked deeply into her eyes and then he nodded as he said, "Alright. I hope that it's soon though."

He got up and started to leave as Clara went on ahead of him to open the door. Hopefully she would still have time to at least change her clothes if nothing else.

"So do I," Clara admitted as they both stopped at the front door.

Then the two of them started to come closer together. Clara's heart was now beating so hard that it was about to burst out of her chest as she realized that they were about to kiss.

"Clara, are you ready yet?" Cassiopeia suddenly shouted.

Clara felt like killing her at that moment as Danny looked at her in complete shock.

"I thought that you said that you lived alone. That's what you told me before," Danny said.

"I did back then. Things have changed now though, Danny. A lot. That's part of what I have going on that I have to get straightened out at the moment before we can date," Clara said in as vague a manner as she could.

"I'd better go then I guess," Danny said as he looked confused.

"Yeah, you probably should. I'm sorry. I'll explain all about it later, alright?" Clara said.

Yeah, of course," Danny said as he started towards the door.

"Clara, did you hear me? Where are you?" Cassiopeia said as she suddenly came into the room.

"Who could help hearing you, Cass? You have an even bigger mouth than I do and that's saying something," Clara said in an irritated tone.

"Oh!" Cassiopeia said as she could tell immediately that she had just interrupted something important.

"Yeah, oh," Clara said.

Cassiopeia looked extremely apologetic now as she said, "Hi, I'm Clara's . . . new roommate. Yeah. That's who I am. Don't mind me. You two just go on back to what you were doing. I'll just go to the back room and stay there until you're done."

"Who is this then?" Jackie said as she suddenly came into the room right behind Cassiopeia while she looked Danny up and down with a scrutinizing eye and a deep frown on her face.

"Who is she? You said that you didn't have any children," Danny said.

"I don't. Well, none that are my own anyway. You see this is another thing that has changed recently. I'm taking care of the kids of my best friends. They . . . They're away right now and I'm going to take care of them until they come back again. It's complicated," Clara said.

"I'm beginning to see that," Danny said as he started to feel nervous once again under Jackie's unflinching gaze.

"So why are you here? Are you here to ask Clara out? If you are, then I'll need to know a few things about you first. What do you do for a living? How much do you make? What are you intentions towards Clara? Is this serious or just a fling?" Jackie said.

"Hey! What are you, my mother? That's none of your business, Jackie!" Clara said as she stared at her in disbelief.

"How old is she? She only looks like she's about three or four but she sounds like she's much older," Danny said in amazement.

"Yeah, she's four going on forty," Clara said as she gave Jackie a look that told her not to say anything else.

"I'm so sorry. She's . . . she's very precocious for her age so she thinks that she's an adult," Cassiopeia said as she too gave Jackie a look that told her to stay quiet or else.

"That's alright. Don't worry about it," Danny said as he eagerly looked toward the door.

"Well, Danny has to be going now. Say good bye, Danny," Clara said as she gave him the way out that she knew that he was so desperately looking for at that moment.

"Good bye, Clara," Danny said as he looked at Clara with regret.

Before he could open the door though, Clara sighed and said, "Oh, I am not letting it end like this. Wait a minute, Danny. There's something that I have to do first."

Then she completely surprised Danny by giving him a kiss.

"Ew!" Jackie said as Cassiopeia glared at her and whispered to her to shut up.

Danny didn't pay any attention to her whatsoever though. He just looked at Clara with a dumbstruck look on his face and a large smile.

"Hadn't you better go now, Mr. Pink?" Clara said with a warm smile.

"What? Oh, yes. Yes, I guess I should," Danny said as he continued to smile.

Then he reluctantly opened the door and started to leave only to run right into Cydonia.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" Cydonia said as she accidentally bumped into Danny.

"Not as sorry as I am," Clara said with a groan.

Danny looked between the two of them with his mouth hanging wide open as he said, "You're both identical."

"Nothing gets past him does it?" Jackie said with a snort.

Cydonia thought quickly as she said, "That's because I'm Clara's . . . sister. Yes, I'm her twin sister. I just came by to take care of the kids while she's away."

"Sister? You told me that you were an only child," Danny said.

Clara gave Cydonia an angry glare as she said, "I am. She's not my sister. She only says that to everyone in order to keep from explaining the real truth which is much more complicated. She's a . . . very distant relation to me. Very distant."

"She's like an identical cousin to you then?" Danny asked.

"Something like that, yeah, only she's not my cousin either. I swear I'll explain everything to you later, alright?" Clara said.

"Okay. I have a feeling that it's going to be a long one," Danny said.

"You have no idea. Good bye, Danny. I promise I'll call and set up that date just as soon as I can," Clara said as she smiled at him.

"Good bye," Danny said as he smiled back at her and then shut the door behind him.

"Date, eh?" Cydonia said with a huge grin as soon as he was gone.

"Yeah, an actual date. Can you believe it?" Clara said in an excited voice.

"He's not good enough for you, Clara," Jackie said with a frown.

"Shut up, Jackie. It's none of your business," Cassiopeia said.

"It is if he winds up being my step-dad because that man is nothing like my father," Jackie said.

Clara looked at her with a small smile now as she finally realized why Jackie had been acting like such a brat.

"No one's going to ever try to replace your father, okay? All of this is only temporary. You're just staying with me until your parents come back, alright?" Clara said.

"What if they don't?" Jackie said in a sad voice.

"They will. I promise they will," Clara said.

"If they don't though, then that means that you're my new mother which I don't mind because you're been a second mother to me for a long time now. That would make whoever you marry my new father though, and I don't want it to be just anyone. I want it to be someone special. Someone worthy of you," Jackie said.

"You don't even know Danny yet. Don't be so judgmental. Besides, who says it's going to lead to marriage anyway?" Clara said.

"That look on your face that's what," Jackie said.

"Well, she's got you there," Cydonia said with a giggle.

"We'll discuss it later alright?" Clara said to Jackie with a frown.

"Yes, I'm afraid that you'll have to, Clara Oswald. You have important business awaiting you at the Capitol," A voice said from out of thin air.

"Oh, great!" Cassiopeia said.

"I haven't even changed yet," Clara protested.

"What you're wearing is of no concern to us whatsoever, Clara Oswald. What is important is your immediate presence on Gallifrey right now," The voice said.

Then its owner finally appeared at last. It was Commander Maxil, the head of the Chancellery Guards. He was dressed in full Time Lord robes which only made Clara even more nervous. That meant that this really was serious. Extremely serious.

"It's my fault, Commander. I told her that she could come home for a moment to change her clothes," Cassiopeia immediately said.

"It really doesn't matter whose fault it is, Lady Lungbarrow. All that matters is that the Council is being kept needlessly waiting. That's why they've sent me to bring both of you immediately. There is a very important matter that must be resolved immediately," Maxil said with a haughty tone.

"So are we all going in the TARDIS then?" Clara asked.

"No, there's no need for that. We have a much faster means of getting you there," Maxil said.

Suddenly both Cassiopeia and Clara felt themselves dematerializing as Cassiopeia said to an alarmed Clara, "It's alright, Clara. They're just showing off."

"Showing off? How like your father you sound, Lady Lungbarrow," One of the High Council said as the two women appeared before them a moment later.

"Thank you, Cardinal. I'll consider that a compliment," Cassiopeia said with a smile.

"You would. Also like your father, you choose to run from your responsibilities especially as the new head of the House of Lungbarrow. We hear that instead of raising your sisters and brother yourself as is your family duty that you have delegated that responsibility to a human, Miss Clara Oswald. This will not do. It will simply not do. A human cannot raise the heirs to one of the Great Houses of Gallifrey," Cardinal Astalan, a new member of the Council that Cassiopeia had never met before, said.

"That's funny. A former human gave birth to two of them," Cassiopeia said with a smirk.

"Yes, but Calliope is at least a Time Lord biologically if not by birth, and she did actually graduate from the Academy. Clara Oswald meets none of those qualifications," Astalan said.

"Wait a minute. So this is a custody hearing for the children? Is that what this is?" Clara asked.

"In part, yes. But it's also a direct intervention by us in order to get the new Lady Lungbarrow to accept her new position as head of her House. She wants to go running off on adventures through time and space like her father instead of dealing with her responsibilities at home. This cannot be allowed. She must either find a way to do both or she must stay on Gallifrey forever and have her time travel privileges permanently denied to her," Astalan said.

"That's not fair. Rose traveled with the Doctor and nobody bothered her about it," Clara said.

"Lady Arkytior also carried out her duties on Gallifrey after she returned and took care of the heirs to the House herself. There's a huge difference," Astalan pointed out.

"So you want me to handle the affairs of the House, take care of my sisters and brother, and save the universe all by myself?" Cassiopeia said in disbelief.

"Your mother did it," Astalan said.

"I'm not my mother though. I – I'm not even sure I can handle saving the universe much less do everything that you want me to do. Besides that my parents wanted Clara to take care of them. They said so," Cassiopeia said.

"Yes, we know. That's partly why we're here. Arkytior and Theta Sigma both designated Clara Oswald as the children's legal guardian in the event of their death or disappearance," Astalan said.

"Yes, I know. They told me that they were going to do that," Cassiopeia said unsurprised.

"Did they also tell you that they named Clara Oswald, a human, the new head of the House of Lungbarrow?" Astalan said.

"What?!" Both Cassiopeia and Clara said at once.

"So you really didn't know then. We had assumed that this was made at your request so that you could shirk your responsibilities when the time came, but it appears that we were mistaken," Astalan said.

"Wait a minute. Let me see if I understand this right. I'm the head of the Doctor's family. I'm Lady Lungbarrow?!" Clara said in shock.

"You are according to the Doctor's will but this is not legal. No human not even a near immortal one can be the head of one of the Great Houses much less raise that House's heirs. The general public wouldn't stand for it," Astalan said.

Cassiopeia started to open her mouth to speak but Astalan quickly said, "Before you say anything, I must add that Calliope is a special case. She is a Time Lord in every way but birth. Clara Oswald is in no way a Time Lord."

"She was linked to two of them though. Clara mentally linked with both of my parents just before they vanished, Cardinal. That legally makes her my sister according to the Linkage Laws that were passed long ago by Rassilon, Omega, and my grandmother. Plus if that isn't enough for you my father was legally made her adoptive father on another world years ago and that makes her his daughter by galactic law*," Cassiopeia said with a triumphant smile as she saw many of the High Council look at her in shock.

"Is that why they linked with me?" Clara said in surprise.

"Yeah, they wanted to make sure that you were legal. Sorry that I didn't tell you before. I didn't think that it would be this big of a deal. I should have known that the Council would blow it all out of proportion though. It's exactly what they do," Cassiopeia said.

Astalan looked physically ill as he said, "Then we have no choice but to officially name you the Lady Lungbarrow, Clara Oswald. You are the new head of the House of Lungbarrow."

Clara looked worried as she said, "I'm not sure I want to be though. Does this mean that I can't leave Gallifrey because I had something very important that I had to do back on Earth?"

"You can travel wherever you wish as long as your duties to the House and to the children are fulfilled," Astalan said.

"That's a relief. I like Gallifrey but I wouldn't want to live here," Clara said.

"This can't be allowed to happen, Cardinal. Surely we can do something to challenge this. The human herself doesn't even really want the job," A Council member said in protest.

"Not really, no," Clara admitted.

"She's been made a legal member of the family and is therefore able to be made its head. There's nothing that we can do about that. However she will need someone to guide her since she knows nothing about House politics or procedures. We can and will appoint someone to watch over her and make sure that she knows what to do and is handling things properly. They will monitor her for us," Astalan said.

"Will this person be with me all the time because I really don't like that idea?" Clara said.

"You will have no choice. We have to make sure that things are being done properly. This person will go wherever you do and will report to us on a daily basis on your progress. We have decreed it," Astalan said.

"Wait just a minute! You can't stick me with a complete stranger and just drop them down right in the middle of my life like that! People will get suspicious back on Earth," Clara said.

Astalan considered that for a moment and then said, "You are correct. That's why it won't be a complete stranger who will monitor your progress and report back to us. It will be someone that you already know very well."

The Cardinal smiled smugly as he turned to look at Cassiopeia as he said, "You will be made to be responsible for the running of the House in one way or another, Cassiopeia. You will watch her and guide her through what she must do. You will report to us regularly on her progress and you will be put under a mind probe to ensure your truthfulness if necessary so don't even think of lying to us. If she isn't meeting our standards of conduct in any way, then she will be removed immediately. Then you will be put in her place to handle all of her duties just as you should be already. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Cardinal," Cassiopeia said in a defeated voice.

"Does she really have to go everywhere with me? I have a date," Clara protested.

"Yes, she must be with you at all times. We will be watching to ensure that this is so," Astalan said with a huge smile.

"You're enjoying this way too much. I can't go on a date with her along. Danny will think I'm a complete nutter," Clara said.

"That is just one of the many things that you will have to work out for yourself. It's none of our affair," Astalan said.

"Thanks a lot!" Clara protested.

"That concludes our business here then. You will be returned home now," Astalan said with a dismissive wave of his hand.

Cassiopeia and Clara then found themselves back in Clara's home in the blink of an eye. Cydonia looked at them with concern as they both stood there with shell-shocked expressions on their faces.

"I take it that they didn't give you good news then," Cydonia said.

"You could say that alright. I guess I really am going to be Clara's roommate now," Cassiopeia said before explaining everything to her.

"That's ridiculous! What about Clara's date? You can't go on the date with Clara!" Cydonia protested.

"I'll just have to cancel it. There's no other way," Clara said sadly.

"No, wait. Wait just a minute. The Council didn't say that you had to be stuck right next to Clara. They just said that you had to go everywhere that she did. What if you went to the same place but were in a different part of the building by sheer 'coincidence' and just happened to pick that same time and place by 'accident', Cass? You could watch her from nearby but not be close enough for Danny to see you. That would work, right?" Cydonia said.

"I suppose so. I don't see why not," Clara said.

"Why would I be there by myself though?" Cassiopeia said.

"You wouldn't. You'll be on a date too," Clara said as she exchanged an evil smile with Cydonia.

"A date? With who?" Cassiopeia asked.

"How about Shawn?" Clara said.

"We're just friends," Cassiopeia said.

"It's not a real date. It's just an excuse to be there. Of course if you two wanted to make it into a real date then that would be up to you," Clara said.

"Stop it! We're just friends!" Cassiopeia shouted in irritation.

"I think she protests too much. Don't you?" Clara asked Cydonia.

"Oh, I know she does," Cydonia agreed with a grin.

"Just . . . Just leave me alone. Both of you!" Cassiopeia shouted as she ran out of the room.

"Cass, wait! We didn't mean anything by it," Cydonia said feeling guilty.

She glared at Clara as she said, "See what you did?"

"What I did? You were in on it too," Clara said.

Then they both smiled as Cydonia said, "This must be the kind of thing that always sets the Doctors at each other's throats."

"Yeah, having yourself around for longer than two seconds gets annoying very quickly. No offense," Clara said.

"None taken. I feel the exact same way. No offense," Cydonia said with a smirk.

"You'd better be glad I like myself so much," Clara said as she hugged Cydonia.

Cassiopeia meanwhile was on the phone to Shawn. He was currently staying at the Powell Estate where Rose had arranged for him to get an apartment so that he would have somewhere besides the TARDIS to call home. She had wanted him to have as normal a life as possible.

At that moment, Cassiopeia really envied him.

"So that's the whole story, Shawn. It's not a real date. It's just an act, okay? So don't get freaked out," Cassiopeia explained.

"It's fine, Cass. I don't care if it's a date or not as long as I get to be with you. That's never a bad time. Don't worry about it," Shawn said.

"Why not? I have to worry about everything else. This . . . This is just too much. Now I have to stick to Clara like glue. It wasn't bad enough that I had to take my Dad's place. Now I have to help Clara take my Mum's place. I never wanted this. I didn't ask for it. Why do I have to do this just because I'm the oldest?" Cassiopeia protested.

Then she took a deep breath and said, "Sorry. I'm whining. I know that. I just don't have anyone else that I can talk to about this. No one else understands or at least they don't seem to anyway," Cassiopeia said.

"I think they do. Maybe they don't really understand how you're feeling about it though. It's okay, Cass. You can always talk to me whenever you want about anything. I'll always be here for you," Shawn promised.

Cassiopeia smiled as she said, "Thank you. You don't know just how much that I appreciate that."

"I think I do. You're been doing the same thing for me after all. You've always been there for me ever since I came to this universe. If it wasn't for you, I think I would have gone crazy having to deal with being here instead of at home. It really helped me having you to talk to about things. I'm just returning the favor by doing this for you," Shawn admitted.

Then he became very quiet for a moment before he said, "Cass, did you bring me here with your powers? I won't be mad if you did because I know that it wasn't on purpose. I know you well enough now to know that you wouldn't do that."

Cassiopeia sighed as she said, "I honestly don't know. I was thinking about how lonely that I was and how I wanted someone special in my life just before you appeared. Maybe I did bring you subconsciously but I can't say for sure. I'm so sorry if I did."

"Don't be. It's not too bad. At least I got to meet you," Shawn said with a smile in his voice.

"I feel the exact same way. I'm so glad that I met you. I . . ." Cassiopeia started to say and then stopped.

"What is it? Are you okay?" Shawn asked in concern.

"I'm fine. I have to go now. Just be there for the date okay? I'll call and tell you where and what time later when Clara sets it all up," Cassiopeia said.

"Sure. I'll be there. I wouldn't miss it," Shawn said.

"Good bye," Cassiopeia said.

"Bye," Shawn said as he hung up.

"Cass, are you okay? I didn't mean to make you even more upset," Clara said from behind Cassiopeia right after she closed her phone.

"You didn't. What made me upset was that I . . . Never mind. It could never work out anyway. Come on, Clara. You have a call to make," Cassiopeia said.

Clara looked at her sadly as she said, "Yeah, sure."

She wondered if she should have a talk with Cassiopeia about her love life. Then she decided that that wasn't her place. She would be there for her if she asked her to be but otherwise it wasn't any of her business.

Despite being made Lady Lungbarrow, she knew that she wasn't Cassiopeia's mother. She couldn't even hope to take her place. She found herself wishing more than ever that Rose and the Doctor could return soon.

Nothing was the same anymore without them.

*Readers of It's Better With Two will already be aware of this.

Next: Clara and Danny and Cassiopeia and Shawn have a double date even if Danny isn't aware of it. Since this is Guardian Who, it couldn't possibly go well though of course. Something just has to happen to mess everything up, and it will in the next chapter as the Terileptils appear to cause Cass and Clara a huge headache. Let's see Clara explain them to Danny. Plus we'll have more of our regular cast back next time, and we'll even get a glimpse of what the Doctor and Rose are up to in their new home. Just because they're not in the same universe anymore doesn't mean that they can't be in this story after all.