The heat of the fire was enough to make Clara wince, but she could hear the little girl screaming in the room and even though she knew in her heart it was just a nightmare, the terror froze the blood in her veins as she rushed forward. It was the old factory, the one they'd found Ella in, and it was crumbling around her, metal beams clanging to the ground, the stomps of Cybermen approaching from all sides, and a call, repeated over the pounding in her chest, "You will be upgraded."

"Ella!" Clara shouted, hissing when flames licked at her ankle as she brought her arm up to her nose to shield herself from the smoke and embers floating around her. "Ella, I'm coming!" And then she looked about and demanded, "Doctor!"

Moving forward, she carefully worked her way through the wreckage, waiting to hear the sound of the Sonic, or some triumphant joke from his lips just before he assured her everything would be alright, but all she heard were the whines of robotic joints as they marched inward towards the steady tears of a baby girl Clara couldn't find. She coughed against the smoke and peered through the waves of fumes and she saw her, settled in a pile of soot, hands and knees blackened from crawling, small swipes of charcoal over her pale skin.

Clara darted towards her, inhaling deeply despite how it burned at her lungs and as she entered the clearing, the little girl turned in her direction, eyes momentarily wide with fear before her lips shook and she released a long bellow that began with a pained, "Mumma!"

Swooping her up, Clara held her tightly to her chest, kissing her cheek and forehead and, despite herself, telling her firmly, "It's alright, baby, mummy's got you."

Ella gripped at her cardigan at her chest and shoulder and she burrowed her head into Clara's neck, screaming in terror as Clara repeatedly told her she was safe. Then the metal hand clamped down on her shoulder and she shouted out when she saw the darkened eyes staring down at her until she shot up in bed, palms thrusting out into the breasts of a man who fell backwards with a grunt as Clara took a long shaky breath and looked around the room before untangling herself from the sheets to stumble away from the bed and shoot the Doctor a confused look.

"You were having a nightmare," the Doctor whispered, hands raised slightly, cheeks burning as he swallowed and watched Clara tug her nightgown back down over her hips to fall loosely at her thighs. "Are you alright?"

Shaking her head slowly, she shifted to turn, still feeling unsteady as she made her way to the crib on the other side of her bedroom, holding tight to the railings as she watched the baby inside sleeping calmly. Eyes closing, Clara tried to control her breathing, and then she reached into the crib and carefully pulled the little girl up to her chest to cradle, checking her over with a gentle hand as Ella sighed in her arms, a smile turning her tiny lips up.

Without looking to the Doctor, Clara admitted, "I dreamt we were back at the factory; they were going to convert us and you," she lifted her eyes to meet his, "You weren't there."

He looked to the ground guiltily as Clara began to make a slow circle around the room, looking to the plump pale cheeks and the calm eyes on the infant she held. They'd had her three months and already she couldn't imagine a life without her and she knew it was a dangerous thought, tried to tuck it away in the back of her mind, but Clara found herself checking over the girl again before settling a long warm kiss to her forehead, listening to the calm sigh Ella released in response against her neck.

Clara stopped as she reached the bed and she dropped her knuckles to brush against the Doctor's cheek, offering lightly, "Wasn't your fault."

He nodded and smiled weakly up at her, "Clara, she's safe."

She sat next to him and he lifted his arm to drape over her shoulder, holding her securely as they both watched Ella sleeping. The little girl gripped at her own onesie and then sneezed lightly as they both chuckled and Clara found her eyes drifting shut as her head tilted into the Doctor and she smiled when he pressed a kiss to the top of her head, his hand rubbing at her shoulder. "I'm afraid of the day we're not there to protect her," she admitted, "If we don't find her parents; if we don't…" her words faded but they both understood – if they didn't keep her for their own, and the Doctor knew, from her mumbled words just before she woke… subconsciously Clara was already thinking of Ella as her own, even though she fought him on the subject while awake.

Kissing her again, he leaned his head into hers and touched a knuckle to Ella's cheek, telling her plainly, "I promise she'll always have someone looking out for her, Clara."

She nodded in response to his words and when she lifted her head to look at him, she leaned into his delicate kiss comfortably before smirking and looking back to Ella. The corners of her puckered mouth shifted up into a smile in her sleep and Clara imagined she was dreaming of the lovely places they'd visited, not hindered by the fears of the universe they'd been sheltering her from. She was thankful for that and she silently promised, for as long as she could, for as long as she was allowed, she would be that someone for Ella.