Day 27: On One of Their Birthdays

Rating: T

Summary: The Doctor helps Clara celebrate her birthday.

Word Count: 2,575

Notes: Sorry I've once again been absent. TIFF happened this week. It was nuts. I met a bunch of people including Daniel Radcliffe, Tom Felton and James Corden. Yes, I took a selfie with Craig freaking Owens.

This one's really long. Sorry if it's horribly awkward, I'm finishing it off at like 1am cause I want to get it out tonight, also I can't write. Let me know what you think by leaving me a review or inboxing me!


The Doctor knew that Clara's birthday was coming up. She had told him not to get her anything, but he knew that he absolutely had to. She was his best friend (he wished she was more, but at the moment, that was where they stood).

Earlier on in the week, the Doctor had taken Clara to a planet that was entirely shopping malls. They had every style from every era of every planet ever documented. As soon as he told her this, her eyes went wide and she rushed over to look through the racks. She left with quite a few bags full compliments of the Doctor, and was insanely happy with how the day had turned out.

But the Doctor felt like he needed to get her more, something personal. He decided to personalize Clara's gift by getting her some jewelry. He went to one of the oldest caves in the universe and picked out a very special crystal. The TARDIS was able to shape it into a beautiful teardrop shape, and the Doctor finished off the crystal by backing it in gold and stringing it through a gold chain. He just hoped Clara liked it.


The Doctor joined Clara and the Maitlands out at a restaurant for dinner the night of her birthday. They went back home for cake and tea, and the Doctor decided that that was when he would give her his gift.

She opened a few wrapped bundles before blowing out her candles and digging into the delightful chocolate cake.

The Doctor decided after the cake it was time to leave. Clara walked him out to the TARDIS, and he presented a small, delicately wrapped box to her.

"What's this?"

"Why it's your present from me of course!"

"You didn't have to get me anything. I dragged you along a planet-sized shopping mall. Isn't that enough?"

"But I wanted to give you something more personal." The Doctor smiled down at her and encouraged her to open the package. When she did, she gasped.

"Doctor, this is absolutely beautiful!" She lightly touched the delicate stone. "How much did this cost you?"

"Clara! You should never ask how much someone spent on you! But, if you must know, I didn't spend a penny. I went back and plucked it from a cave. The TARDIS helped with the rest." He smiled and took the chain from the box, fastening it around her neck. The pendant sat beautifully on her collarbone, and glistened brilliantly.

"Thank you, thank you so much!" She jumped and wrapped her arms around his neck in a hug. "Doctor, are you busy on Friday?" She said letting go of the man.

"When am I ever busy?"

"True. Would you like to come out with me and a few friends from uni? We were gonna celebrate for my twenty-fifth." Clara asked shyly. She really wanted him there.

"Sure! Sure I'll come!" Clara clapped her hands in joy.

"Great! It'll be an amazing night. Meet me here at 8?"

"You're the boss! I'll be here." They smiled, said their goodbyes, and walked back in the direction of their houses. The Doctor set the coordinates, and set off for Friday.

He landed in precisely the same spot, and knocked on the Maitland's door.

"Ah! Hello Doctor! Come on in." Clara ushered him into the house. She looked different. She was wearing a lot more makeup than she was used to, and her hair was a controlled mess of large curls.

"Wow, Clara, you look…"

"Is it okay? Is it too much?" She panicked.

"No, it's amazing." He answered truthfully.

"Great! Wait here, I'll be right down." She disappeared up the stairs and into her room. Minutes later, he could hear her calling for him.

"Are you alright?" He said walking into her room. He noticed that her back was bare, except for the thick strap of a bra.

"Yeah, could you help zip me up?" He eyed the dress she was wearing, if you could call it that. It was a short, tight black dress with a lace top that covered her arms and chest. She looked amazing, there was no denying that, it was just something that the Doctor wasn't used to seeing her in.

"Um, sure." He said from behind her, keeping his eyes on hers in the mirror at all times. He didn't want to look at her bare back, fearing it would bring up thoughts provoking some… natural responses. It was definitely something he didn't want to happen.

He fumbled slightly with the zip being so close to her bottom; that bottom that looked so good in that tight dress. STOP IT NOW. His fingers brushed her lower back slightly as he dragged the zip up the track. "Sorry!"

"It's okay." She said nonchalantly. When the zip was all the way up, she turned around and thanked him, grabbing her shoes and purse. "Ready to go?"

"Yeah, where exactly are we going?"

"Just over to a friend's for drinks, then we're going out on the town." She said smiling and biting her lip. "Aren't you hot in that jacket?"

"What?" He said, his hearts pounding in his chest. Does she think the jacket is hot?

"We're going to a crowded place, you might want to leave your jacket."

"Oh. But it completes the outfit!"

"I like it off! I don't mind the waistcoat. In fact…" She trailed off as she took the jacket from his shoulders and laying it neatly on her bed. She turned back to his front and undid the buttons at the cuffs of his sleeves and rolled them up to just under his elbow. "There, much better." She gave him a once over and straightened his bow tie. "Looking good Doctor!"

"Oh, um thank you."

Clara giggled and grabbed his hand. "They're expecting us now! Can we take the TARDIS over?"

"Sure! We can even be a few minutes early if you'd like."

"No, let's be fashionably late." The two of them situated themselves in the TARDIS, then took off, and landed moments later down the street from Clara's friend's house.


When Clara said they were going to her friend's house first, he didn't realize it was so that they could get him drunk.

Upon arriving, Clara's two friends Emily and Alice had already lined up four shot glasses filled with a clear liquid. They sang "Happy Birthday" to Clara, then each downed the shot of cake flavoured vodka.

"Ugh, that did not taste like cake at all." The Doctor said while coughing from the strong flavoured drink.

"That was awful. Where's the chase?" Clara asked. Alice motioned towards the kitchen, and Clara disappeared through the doorway.

"So, you and Clara, huh?" Emily asked, smirking.

"Oh, um, we're just friends. We travel together."

"Okay, fair enough. But have you two, you know…?"

"Um, I don't know what you're talking about?"

"It's okay, we'll get it out of you later on." Alice said as Clara came back through the door with cups and a bottle of pop.

Emily and Alice kept handing the Doctor various drinks. Clara sat on the couch sipping her own drink laughing, as he got progressively drunker.

"Guys, be careful! If he's too bad they won't let him in."

"I'm fine, I'm fine. See?" The Doctor stood up quickly and stumbled slightly, but managed to get his footing back quickly. "Time lord senses, different then those humany ones." The Doctor was quite tipsy by this point, but he wanted to prove to Clara that he wasn't a lightweight. Plus, he promised he'd go out with her for her birthday, he couldn't let her down.

"Time lord? Clara, this one's off his rocker." Clara giggled and nodded her head. The Doctor joined in trying to decipher what was so funny.

"He's hot though." Alice turned towards him. "Doctor, you picked a good one. Clara's one of the best people I know. Don't break her heart."

"Well, she's not mine exactly."

"Can I have you then?" Emily asked jokingly.

"Guys! Leave him alone! Shall we get going?" Clara giggled.

"Where exactly are we going?" The Doctor asked her.

"Just this little place." Emily assured him.


That little place turned out to be a packed club. The Doctor hesitated before stepping through the door, but followed Clara, Emily and Alice to the bar where they each did two rounds of tequila shots.

"That was even worse than the cake thing!" The Doctor whined.

"Oh stop it! Let's go dance!" Alice grabbed Clara and Emily's hands and ran for the dance floor. Clara looked funny running in those giant heels of hers. He watched as her and her friends wiggled their bodies to the ridiculously loud music. Suddenly, Clara turned around and made eye contact with him. She motioned for him to come over, and smiled as he started walking.

He was almost to Clara when a young woman stopped him. "Dance with me?"

The Doctor looked at the girl puzzled as she waited for her answer. "Um, sure?" She nodded and turned around, pressing her backside to his hips, and moving them to the beat of the song. He looked up at Clara with a look of extreme confusion. She was giggling, but the smile never reached her eyes.

He awkwardly stood watching Clara as the girl grinded herself against him. He noticed a good-looking fellow approach her and ask her a question. She nodded, and danced the same way as the girl he was currently with. He frowned as he watched her, upset that Clara chose this man over him. He asked her though; maybe she would have danced with you if you asked her. The Doctor thought to himself. He shook his head bringing him back to the present. The girl in front of him had turned around and stared in the direction of Clara.

"You're here with her, aren't you?"

"Well, I'm not really with her."

"But you really like her?"

He carefully formed his answer before speaking. "Yeah, I love her."

"Then you should go to her." The girl said smiling. "You're really cute, for the record. She'll say yes."

He thanked her, and went back towards Clara. The Doctor tapped on the man's shoulder and asked, "Do you mind if I steal my friend away?" The man looked at him like he had three heads, but Clara put her hand on his shoulder and said, "I'm with him… well, he's my friend." The man shook his head and walked away.

"Some guys just don't understand the word no." Clara said. "Do you want to dance?" She asked him shyly." The Doctor looked towards Alice and Emily, who were nodding vigorously behind Clara.

"Sure." He replied. Clara smiled and started doing the most ridiculous arm movements in front of him causing them all to laugh. Then he pulled out the 'drunk giraffe'.

"My god that's horrific! Never do that again!" Clara laughed at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him in for a hug. "Thank you for coming." She looked into his eyes with a mischievous glint, and turned around, pressing her bottom against him and wiggling her hips as the other girl had done. She snaked her hand up and around his neck, pulling him down to whisper in his ear. "You looked really sexy, I figured I might as well give it a try. Oh, and your hands belong on my hips."

The Doctor blushed furiously, but placed his hands where she guided them, moving in time to the beat of the music. It was like a sensory overload. The music pounded in his ears, the feel of her beneath his fingertips, the way she looked in that dress, the smell of her all around him; all this mixed with his drunken state wasn't helping his wandering mind. He wanted her, but he wasn't sure if she wanted him. She was pretty drunk, and he really didn't want to take advantage of his companion.

Clara wound her hands up his neck bringing him down again. This time, she bit his ear lightly, making him shiver. "Wanna get out of here?"

"Sure." He replied breathily.

"We're gonna head out ladies, but thanks for an amazing night!" Clara hugged each of her friends who bid her farewell after pulling her in, and whispering something in her ear that made her blush.

Clara took the Doctor's hand and left the club, heading in the direction of the TARDIS.

"Well, that was fun!" The Doctor said following behind her quickly. Clara was practically running.

"It sure was. But you know what's more fun?"

"What?" He asked her, intrigued.

"I'll tell you when we get there."


Finally they reached the TARDIS. Clara led him to the console and pushed up against him. "Thanks for coming." She said quite drunkenly.

"You're welcome, you already said that."

"I know, but it needed to be said again." She pushed on his shoulders, reaching up to press her lips against his swiftly. The Doctor was drowning in the feel of her all around him. Her hands on his neck, the way her soft lips tugged at his own, the quiet groans she made as he wound his own arms around her waist.

The Doctor responded hesitantly at first, but never tried to stop her. It wasn't until she started unbuttoning his waistcoat that he hesitated.

"We should stop."

"Do you not want this?" She asked, hurt.

"No, well yes, I do, very much so, but we're drunk, and it's your birthday, and you'll regret it."

"Will you regret it?" The Doctor hesitated. "Oh," Clara pulled away from him, "so you don't want this then."

"No! I do, believe me, I do, but just, not in this state."

"Is it something I did? Do you not like the way I look?" Clara began to get choked up.

"Clara, you look amazing, believe me, it's killing me to say no, but we'd both regret it if anything happened tonight."

"Just to be clear, you do want to have sex with me?" The Doctor's eyes went wide; he blushed crimson and his hearts pounded.

"I um—I…"

"I just wanted to know cause, um, I do."

He looked shocked. He shouldn't have been, she just tried to undress him on the console, but he was still shocked. "Well… I want, I want to make love to you. I don't just want sex, because I love you. I want it to be so much more."

Her eyes welled up with tears. "You love me?"

"Yes." He said shyly. "I was waiting for the right time to tell you, and I probably sound like an arse seeing as we're both pretty plastered, but I do."

"I love you too." She said hugging him tightly. He could feel the weight of her in his arms. She was pulling him down, as if she were ready to fall asleep right there.

"What do you say we head off to bed?"

"Is that a proposition?" She giggled.

"No, but you sound tired."

She yawned. "I am tired."

"Alright, up we go." He picked her up bridal style and carried her to his bedroom. By the time they had reached the room, she was already asleep in his arms. "Happy birthday, Clara." He whispered kissing her forehead as he lay her down on the sheets and crawling in beside her.