John stared at his so-called date in surprise, flabbergasted. She wasn't joking when she said her name was too long for his patience. "Romana, then, for short?"
Romana flashed him a kind smile. "Yes."
"Would you mind explaining to me what's going on," he demanded in a hushed tone so as to not attract attention from other patrons.
"I think it's quite obvious, isn't it?" she murmured. "You, Clara and the very thing that's not being addressed."
"She was jealous, big deal," the Doctor said, frowning. "Bill could have been lying."
"Why would she?"
Romana had a point. Bill didn't have a reason to lie and she wasn't the type of person to lie. Regardless, Clara had told him before that she wasn't interested in him. Then again, he had said the same to her and here he is now contemplating his feelings for her.
"There you go," the woman said. "Do us all a favour and get straight to the point with her."
"Are you a fairy, too?"
She set down the glass of wine and nodded. "Let's just say that I've been a silent observer and decided to jump in when everything came to a halt."
"Please tell me that you're not my second fairy godmother or something equivalent of that," he sighed. One fairy godmother is enough.
Romana shook her head. "I can assure you that Clara is your fairy godmother and not me."
"Then why are you doing this?"
"It doesn't matter," she explained. "What's important is that you stop dancing around each other and be honest."
As much as John wanted to question Romana further, he knew that it would be pointless. Why is there another fairy trying to meddle in his personal life?
"I'm not asking you to run back to your shop and snog her, although let's be honest here, that's actually what everyone wants," she continued, whispering the last few words.
"What?"
"Just tell Clara how you feel," Romana encouraged, taking a bite of her steak.
The Doctor shot her a look which implied he was hesitant in taking her advice. "What if-"
The fairy raised an eyebrow. "Trust me when I say that she feels just as strongly for you."
"How are you so sure of that?"
Romana considered her options carefully. She could reveal the truth, or she could just go with the flow. The only issue stopping her is John. She wasn't sure how well he would react.
"I'm losing my patience here with you talking metaphorically and playing this game."
"She fell in love with you before and it's happening again."
It took him a few moments to process her words and when he finally understood what she meant, he blinked. "What do you mean it's happened again?" he questioned. "Are you suggesting that Clara and I met before?"
Romana flashed him a smile. "That's exactly what I'm suggesting."
The problem is, he didn't have any recollection of meeting Clara beforehand. Nothing. He could only remember their first encounter in his bedroom.
"The first time you met her was actually during your final year at uni," Romana explained. "Don't you remember?"
"Wake up."
John Smith could only groan in response as his head began throbbing. It was far too early for him to be up and about, especially after drinking all night.
"Wake up and I'm not going to ask you again," the bossy voice demanded just before his duvet was ripped away from him, exposing him to the chilly room.
He shot his eyes wide open and was greeted by the sight of a pretty woman. "What the-"
The young man immediately grabbed a pillow and covered his crotch.
Clara dropped the duvet and shot him a look which dared him to finish his sentence. "Don't cuss."
John blinked several times, snapping out of his drowsy state. How the hell did she get into his room?
"This is why you shouldn't drink irresponsibly."
He could only stare at her in confusion.
"Oh, right, where are my manners," she muttered. "Clara Oswin Oswald."
"Have we met before?" he managed. "How did you get in?"
"Magic," she answered. "No, we've never met before."
He still couldn't comprehend why she was in his room then. "Why are you here then?"
"I'm your fairy godmother."
There was a long awkward silence. "What?" he said. "That is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard."
"Your Scottish accent is the thickest I've ever heard," she shot back.
John ran a hand through his brown curls and looked around. Was he dreaming? That could be his only explanation. "This can't be real."
"Believe me, it is," she retorted, sitting down in a chair.
"Why are you here?"
Clara decided to get straight to the point. "You're struggling with uni and clearly not coping well since your, well, since your grandad-"
"Ok, I get it," he sniped.
"Clearly not a morning person."
"Clearly an escaped mental asylum patient."
The fairy godmother rolled her eyes. This was the first time anybody had ever called her that. "Ok, what do you want me to do to prove that I'm a fairy?"
"Where are your wings if you are one."
That was a comment she heard far too often in her lifetime. "Fairy godparents are nothing like the ones in fiction."
She made a good point. "You said you used magic to get in here," he said. "Prove it."
She smirked. His pig-sty of a room could use a bit of a tidy-up. "With pleasure," she replied and produced her trusty wand, a sonic screwdriver.
The next thing he knew, every object in the room began moving by itself as if they had all come to life, rearranging themselves neatly. Books, clothes, furniture. Just about everything.
John could only watch in amazement as his room quite literally tidied itself.
"Hope that crushes your doubt."
"I could be hallucinating."
Clara dropped her shoulders before a thought crossed her mind. "You cheated during a test back when you were eight."
He froze. There was only one person who knew he did such a thing and that was himself.
"Now do you believe me?"
She took his silence as a yes and beamed. "Great," she chimed. "I guess we can start over – Clara Oswin Oswald."
It took him a second to process what had just happened before his eyes. "John… John Smith," he murmured,
"Looks like you and I are going to have a lot of fun."
He doubted that considering how bossy she seems to be. He estimated that he could get her to leave in a week.
"If you're thinking of getting rid of me, I'd seriously reconsider that since you can't," Clara commented, flashing him a cheeky smile.
"I… I can't believe this."
Romana shrugged. "It's a lot to process."
"Why didn't Clara say anything?"
"Why didn't you say anything either?"
It was then a thought struck him. She had no memory of their first encounter either. Otherwise, she surely would have at least mentioned it. "Oh."
"Yes."
Romana then began explaining that their memories had been wiped when the head of fairy godparents back then discovered that a human and fairy were in love. "Rassilon didn't fancy the idea of one of his fairies giving up her life to become a human," she stated. "It's the reason we are where we are now."
"Why didn't he approve of us?"
"Office politics," she answered. "Simple as that as he was aiming for a spot in the high council and didn't want a 'scandal' as he said, to taint his image, which is utter rubbish."
The Doctor looked down at his meal, unsure of what to say. If what Romana had said is indeed true, then he would have to talk to Clara about it. He wondered how she would take in the news.
"Just be honest with her," Romana advised, taking a sip of her wine. "I don't think I need to say anything more than that and this conversation should explain why your previous relationships failed."
"Worst case scenario is Clara storming off," she added and chuckled.
He supposed that it wouldn't hurt to take a leap of faith.
Clara looked straight at the entrance of the shop and nothing else, anticipating John's return. She would have to ask him how his date went and there was a chance that he actually enjoyed it. Slim chance, but a possibility, nonetheless.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, she spotted John. The bell chimed and she blinked her eyes a couple of times. How long had she been waiting?
He seemed surprised to see her. "You… the shop is still open."
It then dawned to the fairy godmother that she had forgotten to close the shop. "I was busy… checking your inventory," she lied.
He paused for a second. "Didn't you do that-"
"It doesn't matter," she retorted before changing the subject. "How was your… date?"
He shrugged in response, taking off the jacket.
The Impossible Girl had expected him to elaborate a bit more. "That's it?"
"We did talk a lot," he revealed, flipping the 'open' sign to 'closed'. "She, well, told me something."
Clara was unsure of what he meant and decided to remain silent.
The Doctor began biting his thumbnail. "I'm not sure where to start or say since I don't want you to run away."
She shot him a confused look. What on earth is he on about? "Just tell me everything from the beginning."
He supposed that revealing that Sandra's real name is Romana would be a start. "Her name is actually Romana."
"What?"
"Romana," he repeated. "It was actually longer than that and sounded a bit complicated, so it was just Romana."
"Romanadvoratrelundar."
"Yes, that."
It still didn't make sense why a member of the high council would travel all the way to this world and ask John out on a date. "Did she tell you what she was doing here?"
"More than that, actually."
She waited for him to continue, but he hesitated. "Well, go on."
"There's something I have to say first before that."
She furrowed her brows and crossed her arms. Why couldn't she get a straight answer out of him tonight?
"I…," he began. "I have…"
All he has to do is say that he fancies her. Short and simple, just as how Romana had taught him earlier. "I have a duty of care," he blurted, wondering what the hell he had just said.
Clara blinked several times. "What?"
"Sorry," he murmured before leaning forward and whispering the three words in her ear.
The Impossible Girl was completely silent. "As in…"
"Yes."
"Did Romana tell you to do this?"
She did more than that. She made him realise something that he had been fighting and ignoring for quite some time now. "Yes."
The fairy godmother took her time to process everything.
"Bill's right about what she said earlier," the fairy godmother confessed. "I was jealous."
John raised both eyebrows. Feeling elated and amused that Clara was jealous. "She is a clever girl, after all," he commented, earning a giggle.
Before he knew what was happening, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down for a kiss. He instinctively cupped her face with both hands.
"She definitely is," Clara whispered once they pulled away before a thought struck her. Where would they go from now? Does this mean her mission's finally complete? If so, then wouldn't that mean John would be back to square one once she returns to her world?
"Romana also told me something else," the Doctor said, catching her attention and slowly releasing her, as much as he didn't want to.
"What would that be?" she asked, smiling. It felt nice to be able to come to terms with her feelings for John. A weight had been lifted off her shoulders.
"She said that we met before," he stated. "Over 30 years ago."
The smile faded. She had no memory of such a thing. "That doesn't make any sense, I mean if we did, then I would have remembered-"
He beckoned her to sit down first before continuing further and by the time he had finished his story, Clara was speechless.
"Surprise, bitches!" Jack exclaimed as he appeared out of thin air. "Sorry, I've always wanted to say that."
"Jack?!"
"It took you two long enough," Missy commented grumpily as she examined her nails.
"What… is happening?" John asked. "Who..."
The Impossible Girl shut her eyes momentarily. She had no idea either, but she was sure her superiors would clear everything up. Hopefully.
