Waking up at home was not the happy moment it should have been. The bed was empty beside her and it felt wrong. The room was empty and she hated it. School had become such a big part of her life, providing her with the love she just didn't feel in this house. It was a house now too, it wasn't the home she used to love.

Clara sighed, leaning over and picking up her phone to see Danny had already text her about half an hour ago.

Morning beautiful, how are things?

Even his text made her just that little bit happier, but at the same time she missed him being beside her.

Quiet. You?

She could hear her Dad moving about downstairs, but he hadn't come near her room yet.

The opposite, I'm being attacked by my younger cousins. You doing much today?

Clara looked around, trying to decide exactly what she was going to do today. The answer was probably fairly predictable.

Revision, work, sleep. Basically anything to avoid leaving my room to be honest. I suspect that will be the story of this holiday.

Danny read her text with sadness, she deserved a better life than this. He just prayed he could make his plan work.

Just look after yourself, promise?

Promise. I'm gonna go shower, talk later x Clara put her phone down and got up.

#-#-#-#

He was going to wait until after the weekend, but he just couldn't. His aunt and uncle had just left and both his parents were in the lounge so he took the opportunity to get them both together.
"Can I talk to you about something?" he asked to get their attention.

"Sure love, what's up?" Danny's Mum asked.

"It's kind of complicated…" he sat down and both his parents did the same. Danny pulled out his phone and found the picture of him and Clara he had hidden in the depths of his folders. Once it was up on the screen he handed it over to them. Danny watched as they both tried to work it out. "That's Clara, she started at school before Christmas and she's made me realise something huge."

His Mum and Dad still didn't really seem to know what to say, "carry on…" his Dad went for in the end.

"Jackie is so wrong, she's holding me back. I know you've never really liked her anyway and you were right, I can do so much better. After I failed that maths test Clara helped me out and I realised the only reason I'd been doing so badly is because of her," Danny told them both and he could tell they weren't exactly upset about the matter.

"Have you and Jackie broken up then?" his Mum asked, handing his phone back.

"No… not exactly," he took a deep breath, "I love Clara," he blurted out.

The reaction was not what he was expecting, "yeah, I can see that," his Dad replied and Danny looked up at him, "that photo! The way you're looking at her, the fact you showed us, and how nervous you are right now."

Danny was a little shocked but he needed to get this out. "Okay so, I love Clara. She brings out the best in me, but we want to keep this quiet. She has so much going on and Jackie really doesn't like her… there's a lot to it, but we're not telling anyone, especially at school. So yeah, I'm still technically going out with Jackie, but it's kinda just a formality."

There was a silence while they got their heads around this, "are you happy?" his Mum eventually asked.

"More than I've ever been," he replied.

"Then we're happy for you. You've seemed happier recently - I guess that's why. But I sense there's something else you want to add?" She was good.

"Like I said, she has a lot going on. I'm really worried about her being stuck at home for 3 weeks, it's not going to help her get better. Could she come over a bit? Maybe spend the odd night?"

"Danny you know the rules-" his Dad started, but his Mum interrupted him.

"What did you mean, get better?" she asked.

Danny sighed, he didn't want to say too much without Clara's permission. "She's been in and out of hospital a bit, had fits and really bad panic attacks that make her collapse. Before she came to our school it was really bad, but she's been so much better with her friends, the support of the school and apparently me. But for 3 weeks her friends are miles away, as is her support teacher, but I only live round the corner."

"Aren't her parents at home?" Danny almost cringed at the question.

"I…" he sighed again, "her Mum died in the summer and her Dad's not coping well. Please Dad, she needs the help."

"Okay, but she uses the spare room if she stays over," he replied and Danny jumped up.

"That's fine, thank you so much. I'll go finish tidying the spare room from where the kids were playing," he smiled and jumped up to go upstairs.

When he'd left the room his parents considered what had just happened, "I've never seen him so concerned, he really cares. Who are we to argue with that?"

"I guess we can only judge once we've met the girl," his Dad replied.

#-#-#-#

Clara had spent the whole day in her room, only leaving to use the loo and get food, but even then she strategically avoided her Dad each time. She had to focus on the positives - it had been a very productive day of work.

She went to bed early, giving up on finding things to do. The TV was on but there wasn't much to watch and quite frankly all the work had tired her out anyway, but that didn't mean she could sleep. The night was mostly spent staring at the ceiling until she gave up and picked up her book from the bedside table to read.

It was a little surprising to see her phone light up as a text came through given that it was only just 6am. She leant over and picked it up, smiling at Danny's name on the screen.

Call me when you wake beautiful xx

She quickly dialled his number, very ready to talk to someone after being home alone for so long, "I wasn't expecting this straight away," Danny answered.

"Nor was I expecting a message at 6am. Are you okay?" Clara got in there first.

"Absolutely, just fell asleep early and woke up early, what about you?"

"Why did you call?" Clara avoided the question, but Danny was smarter than that.

"Don't ignore me missy, why are you awake?" he tried again.

Clara knew he wouldn't give in, and she didn't really have a reason to lie to him. "I haven't actually slept."

"Clara! Why? Has something happened?" he asked, sounding rather concerned.

"No, well, not really. I guess I just don't feel that comfortable here anymore," she told him. "Anyway, why did you phone?"

"I told my parents everything," he told her bluntly - the easiest way to do it. "They know, and I think they understand. More importantly, they're happy for you to come here. Even stay if you want. I mean they said you'll have to use the spare room but we can work on that. Anyway, that's kinda what I'm saying. I think that made sense."

Clara chuckled quietly at his confusion, "really though? They understand?"

"Enough. I'm sure once they get to know you they'll see what I mean," he paused, "do you think you'd sleep if you were here?"

"I don't know, I've not met your parents and it's new…" Danny could sense the panic in her voice.

"They won't be awake for a little while. Come over now, we can go one step at a time and you can relax." It scared her, but Clara wanted to get out of this house and she wanted to be with Danny.

"I can be there in 20 minutes?" she looked at the clock. All she needed to do was throw some clothes on.

"Text me when you're outside, I'll send you the address. See you soon."

Clara hung up and sorted herself out, slipping her trainers on before running over, taking the chance to enjoy the fresh early morning air.

When she arrived Danny let her in quietly, locking the door and leading her upstairs to his room. Once they were inside he relaxed. "The room is pretty soundproof, it used to be a rehearsal room for the kid who lived here before us," he told her. Clara nodded and shook her jacket off, sitting down on his bed. "You okay?"

"Mmm," she nodded, "just tired I guess."

Danny sat down back on the bed and lay back, gesturing for her to join him. There were no arguments as she rested her head down on his chest and he held her close. "Sleep, you need it," he kissed her head gently. "You'll be fine here." Clara couldn't argue, she didn't have the energy to. Running over had probably been a mistake, but she quickly stopped thinking about that and dropped off to sleep.

Time passed and Danny watched as she slept peacefully in his arms. He heard his parents get up as 9am came round and he knew it was only a matter of time till he had explain himself. It was as he was thinking about leaving the room that the door opened without warning.

"Danny we-" his Dad started before he saw Clara, but stopped when he did. "What on EA-"

"Dad shush!" he replied but it was too late and Clara woke up, coming round and looking up to see Danny's dad stood there. Before Danny could stop her she'd jumped up to the corner of the room. "Please just leave Dad! Did you not learn the art of knocking?" Danny spoke in anger and followed Clara, crouching down beside her. "It's alright, you're still in my room and I'm still here. It's just my Dad, he might have no manners but he's harmless."

"Danny this isn't on, we had one condition," his Dad tried again.

"Do you not see this isn't the time?! Shout at me all you want later, but not now," he turned around briefly to shout at him before turning back. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to shout," he held his arms out for Clara to lean in which she did. "Just breathe gently in and out, you're gonna be okay," he kissed her head but Clara looked up, shaking her head.

"Too late," she told him, "I'm sorry."

"No, you do not have to be sorry, Lie down love," he helped her, making sure anything dangerous was out of the way - doing everything he could before she started fitting. Danny glanced at the clock to make a mental note of the time. "Happy now?!" he looked back up, knowing his Dad was still there.

"Can I do anything?" he asked, a little in shock.

"Yeah, don't be here when she wakes up for goodness sake," Danny scowled, looking back to Clara and just watching. He heard his Dad back out, shutting the door behind him. It was just over a minute after that when she stopped, slowly coming round and opening her eyes. "Hey, it's just us, Dad's left the room," he told her quickly. Clara sat up slowly, having a quick look around before leaning his direction. Danny wrapped his arms around her and kissed her head carefully. "How are you doing?"

"Tired…" she replied. Danny nodded, "I'm sorry."

"No, don't you dare say that, you've done nothing wrong. It's a new situation and you've barely slept, it wasn't the ideal time. I'm sorry that happened, I invited you over here for peace not this," he rubbed her arm as he spoke.

"I'm much more comfortable here than I would be at home right now, thank you," she replied. "Can I sleep now…?" Danny nodded, helping her up and onto the bed. "You should go and explain," she told him.

"I'll go when you're asleep," he told her, sitting beside her as she lay on the bed.

That didn't take long, and as soon as she had dropped off Danny quickly got changed and went downstairs to find his parents.

"What the hell is going on Danny? We said she could come over, maybe stay in the spare room, we did not say you could sneak her in overnight into your bed!" Even his Mum was angry, but Danny just shook his head.

"That wasn't actually my plan you know? But she hadn't slept all night, she was scared in her own home and how is that fair? I know what you're thinking, but this relationship is not about that. I just had to sit and watch her have such a bad panic attack she started fitting just because Dad woke her up and she doesn't know him. It might seem like nothing to you, but to her that's the scariest thing. I don't know why, but she's comfortable with me and I promised to be there whenever she needs me and I'm not breaking that promise. Do what you want with me, but do not hurt her, she's lost enough," he was almost crying giving the speech to his parents who both looked on in almost shock. "I can't let her grief win, she doesn't want it to but she needs help that she's just not getting from her Dad. Please, please let me do that. Let us do that, show her not everyone is judgemental. Some people do understand."

He hadn't expected his Dad to be the first person to walk over to him, but he did. "You really care about her don't you?"

"More than anyone could ever understand," Danny replied.

"You're so young-" he started, but Danny shook his head.

"So what? Feelings are feelings whatever age you are. Yes, people my age can misunderstand them, over exaggerate them, but I know what this is. I need to protect her, however bloody corny that sounds. You saw what happened up there, imagine having to watch Mum go through that regularly…" he fought back tears. Both his parents looked at each other and his Mum walked over. "She's more than the girl you saw in there. She's bright, bubbly, beautiful, brave and much cleverer than I'll ever be. Let her be that person here?" They both nodded, realising how serious he was in this.

"We have to trust you to be sensible, and you have to admit that hasn't always been the case recently," his Mum pointed out.

"That's changed, she's changed me, I promise you," he told her, being sure to make eye contact.

"Then we will trust you," his Dad replied. "When she's awake we'll get to know her and she can get to know us. You're right, she should feel comfortable here."

"Thank you, I need to go back, but thank you," he hugged both his parents quickly and jogged back upstairs. Clara was still sound asleep and she likely would be for a while yet. He sat down beside her, grabbing his laptop and opening it to do some work while he waited.

Around 1.30 his door opened and his Mum walked in with a tray, walking over and placing it down on his bedside table. "Lunch for you both, I hope it's okay," she whispered.

"Thanks," he replied, "I'm sorry if I sounded harsh earlier."

"You care for her, and you made a good point Danny - we were maybe a little harsh, but please speak to us in future," she told him. Danny nodded, looking down to Clara. "Still asleep?"

"I'll wake her to eat. She didn't sleep at all last night and then the fit on top of that…" he stroked her hair back gently. "It's not fair Mum, she deserves so much better."

"You're a good lad Danny, you're giving her that," she smiled. "I'll leave you be. Let me know if you need anything."

Danny nodded and waited until she shut the door before nudging Clara awake carefully. Her eyes flicked open and he made sure he was in sight for her. She smiled slightly when she saw him and sat up slowly. "Are you okay?" she asked.

"Course I am, how're you feeling?" he replied.

"Kinda woozy, but okay. Are your parents angry?" Clara ran a hand through her hair to sort herself out.

"They were, but I kinda ranted at them and I think they really do get it now. Mum bought lunch up, that's why I woke you - thought it'd be worth you eating even if you wanna go back to sleep after?" Clara smiled at him.

"You know me well," she replied, taking the plate from him. "Thank you for all this, you could've got into so much trouble for me…"

"Worth it, now shut up and eat," he grinned. Clara smiled gratefully and did as requested.

#-#-#-#

After they'd finished eating Clara found herself feeling a little more awake and stood up, stretching out a little from where she'd been curled up. "We should take this down," she nodded to the plates on the bed.

"You don't have to go, I can take it," he replied but Clara shook her head.

"No I should show my face. It's alright, I'm all good now," she smiled and grabbed his hand, pulling him upright off the bed, wrapping her arms around him. "Thank you."

"Stop thanking me, you'd do the same," he replied.

"But I don't have to," she pointed out, kissing him to stop him arguing back. "Come on, downstairs." She grabbed the tray and loaded the plates on, carrying it down.

His parents were somewhat surprised when they walked into the kitchen together. Danny took the tray from her to put it on the side by the sink. "I'm sorry for all the problems I've caused," Clara addressed them, "thank you for letting me stay. I mean, I guess once you've seen the teenage girl fitting on your son's floor you don't have much choice but… here we are."

Danny's dad smiled, "it was more how Danny reacted that persuaded us, we've never seen him so protective about anything!"

"And that includes the toy soldiers," his Mum pointed out, much to Danny's disgust.

Clara chuckled at the face he pulled before replying, "I'm lucky, you have a good kid."

"Well thank you for that, but I have a feeling half of this behaviour is down to you actually - there's been a big change over the last few weeks according to his teachers," his Dad told her.

Clara looked up to Danny, raising an eyebrow "oh really?"

"Maths grades have jumped up from last term," he informed Clara.

"Well I take full and complete credit for that," she patted his arm.

Danny rolled his eyes and chuckled, "well speaking of which, I could do with a hand with the maths work."

"Really? Even with your new super clever brain?" she teased him and Danny grinned, hitting her playfully. Clara chuckled and grabbed his hand, "come on then - let's have a look," she looked back to his parents as they went to leave, "thank you for lunch."

"No problem love, see you both later," they replied and Clara smiled, making her way upstairs.

Danny grabbed his maths books and they sat back on the bed. Clara looked over what he'd already done and started to take him through what he was struggling with. They worked together again and soon enough he'd got the hang of what they were doing. "What would I do without you?"

"Fail, we've been there," Clara grinned. "You're clever Danny, you just haven't been given the opportunity to show it before." She looked over to her phone as it rang on the side.

"Your Dad?" Clara nodded, "does he know where you are?"

"He doesn't care," she shrugged as she let it ring out. Danny spotted something on the screen when it finished ringing.

"I think the 5 missed calls say otherwise…" he replied, "you should phone him back, just let him know you're safe."

"I already text him, he only wants me to do stuff for him," Clara kept her eyes firmly focussed on the textbook.

Danny sighed, taking her hand, "just make sure everything's okay, I know you're worrying really," he told her. Clara glanced over to her phone, "I know you want to."

"Sometimes I think you know too much," she complained, but she also knew he was right. "Fine, but keep quiet," she grabbed her phone and called her Dad back.

He answered almost straight away, "Clara what's going on? Why won't you answer my calls?"

"No idea Dad, why could I possibly be upset?" she asked him sarcastically, "look I'm just telling you I'm fine and not to worry, I'll deal with myself, you deal with yourself - that's the easier way to handle this holiday."

"Clara I wasn't phoning you for that," he sighed.

"Then what?" she asked, getting impatient.

"Your Gran's been taken to hospital, that's where I am right now," he told her. Suddenly she was listening, sitting up in panic but unable to reply, "Clara?"

"I… what…?" she was already tearing up, Danny watched her closely.

"She fell at home, tripped over a wire and broke her hip. She's awake and smiling, but she'll need an operation later this afternoon," he told her. Clara shook her head and Danny put an arm around her. "Can you get here? Do you want me to come and get you?"

"No, you stay with Gran," she got out quickly, "I'll make my own way."

"Okay," he replied before adding, "are you okay?"

"Oh sure I'm great," Clara sighed, "but I'm not about to collapse on the floor if that's what you're asking. Go be with Gran, see you in a bit."

Danny waited until she'd hung up before he asked, "what's happened?"

"My Gran fell, she's broken her hip and needs an operation, I have to go but I don't know how I'm gonna cope…" she was panicking, as much as she tried not to.

"Your Dad will be there love," he replied.

"And what good will that be? He doesn't exactly cope well in these situations," she pointed out.

"What about Greg and Hayley?" Danny asked. Clara thought for a moment and nodded, "good, if they're gonna be there you can talk to them. I'll go and ask if my parents can drive us over and drop me in the café across the road from the hospital, then you can call me anytime too. Is that okay?" Clara nodded again, trying to regulate her breathing. "I love you, it's going to be fine," he kissed her softly. "From what you've told me your Gran is a strong woman, I have every faith. Now, you sort yourself out and I'll speak to my parents."

Clara let him go and stood up. She had to be strong for her Dad and her Gran and she was determined to be as such. At least she had the support this time.