Clara was beginning to lose the will to live. Her Dad had not stopped checking in on her the whole evening while she was trying to pack. He'd come home from work with a bag full of travel bits and pieces, multiple hairbrushes and- "underwear Dad? Really?". She knew he only cared, but there was only so much she could handle right now.

"Dad, you're crowding me!" she finally gave in and told him, "I love that you worry, but I just need to sort this myself. I'll be down in a little while," Clara smiled to reassure him she wasn't angry.

"Sorry, I'll back off," Dave stood up and held his hands up, "I'll go sort some tea out. See you in a bit," he left, thankfully not seeming upset at her actions. Clara shut her door after him and picked up her phone, sticking her earphones in and calling Danny, sticking the phone in her pocket so she could use the mic on the headphone cable and keep packing.

"Hey, everything alright?" he answered.

"Why do you always assume there's something wrong? Honestly you're as bad as Dad," she chuckled, double checking the number of tops she'd packed. "I just had to chuck him out of my room before he put himself in the case to make sure I get there safe."

"Oh dear, that bad eh?" Danny replied. "How's the packing going otherwise?"

"Pretty good, I think I've got nearly everything, how about you?" she smiled, recounting her tops for at least the 4th time that evening.

"Oh I was done about 5 hours ago, you don't get away with it in this house. To be honest if my Mum had her way I'd have been packed last week, but there we go. We'll come and get you in about an hour then?" he asked, they were leaving early so it made sense for Clara to go over there tonight.

"Sounds perfect. I'd better go say goodbye and drink tea, see you soon," she smiled at the thought of spending the next week with him as they hung up.

Clara zipped her case up and stood up, taking it downstairs and putting it by the door before going into the lounge. Her Dad had made a pot of tea that he was currently pouring out for them. She sat down on the sofa inbetween him and her Gran, resting gently against her shoulder. "I'll miss you both, I hope you know that," Clara told them.

Her Gran put an arm around her, "you have the best time, don't be worrying about us, you deserve this holiday love."

"I love you Gran," she smiled, "you look after yourself while I'm away though, no slacking on your exercises."

"Hey, ditto young lady," Dave perked up, handing over the mugs of tea. "You've been doing fantastic I'm so proud of you."

Clara smiled, blushing a little and moving off her Gran and over to him, "I love you Dad, couldn't have got this far without you," she told him.

Dave smiled and hugged her close, "you've got a good group of people around you now. You know yourself better than any of us do, you know exactly who you need surrounding with."

"Thank you, and thank you for accepting Danny, I know how hard that is for you," she smiled, taking his hand and squeezing it.

"He's a good lad, I can see that now I'm just sorry it took me so long. He makes you happy and that's the most important thing," he smiled and kissed her head. "You enjoy yourself this week."

Clara smiled and sipped her tea, she couldn't help but think about how proud her Mum would be of them all right now and that was a nice thought.

The hour passed and there was a knock at the door. Dave stood up before Clara, it still took her a moment, and went to the door. He greeted Danny's parents and Danny just as Clara caught up. "Hey," she smiled and hugged Danny.

"Missed you," he whispered in her ear and Clara gave him a look of agreement when they stood back again.

She tried to make the goodbyes to her family as quick as she could, much as she was never going to admit it this wasn't actually easy for her knowing she would be away for that long. "I just hope Dad doesn't give Gran food poisoning while I'm away," she groaned as they got in the car.

"Well surely he did cook while you were ill?" Phil asked.

Clara chuckled, "he tried his best. He has a recipe book I left him before I started at the school so hopefully he'll follow that… hopefully."

Back at Danny's house they settled down in bed early given the 4am wake up call. "You know the plan for tomorrow right?" Danny asked.

"You've told me at least 3 times in the last hour. Honestly I think you're worrying more than me and that's impressive," she chuckled and kissed his hand that was resting over her. "I'll be fine, now go to sleep," she smiled into the darkened room and shut her eyes, this was going to be a very comfortable position for the next few nights.

The car journey to the ferry didn't seem too long, but then Clara had slept for most of it. When she woke they were already on and Danny was nudging her so they could get out of the car. "Oi sleepyhead it's time to move, I'm starving."

"Of course you are I'd expect nothing more," Clara mumbled sleepily, rubbing her eyes and getting out, walking round to join him. Danny smiled and wrapped his arms around her when she mumbled about being cold.

"Come on you two, enough snuggling let's go and get food," Phil rolled his eyes making both of the teenagers laugh and they followed him off to find the café.

Once they'd eaten and chatted for a while it was time to return to the car and the next part of the journey was underway. This time Clara was more awake and they ended up chatting about what they were going to get up to on the holiday. "You're still a child Danny, we can't leave you alone for long."

"Hang on, yesterday I was mature for my age," Danny pointed out.

"The law says otherwise, and we still have rules to lay down," Gina told him as she drove. "You know what we've said you can-"

"-share a room as long as we keep the door open," Clara and Danny both repeated back at her, grinning at each other.

"It's okay Gina, we'll be good," Clara reassured her.

"Hey we're nearly there," Phil told them.

Clara sat up from where she'd been resting against Danny and looked out of the window, "oh I recognise this from the pictures, we go left in about 10 minutes then it's up a lane on the right."

Phil looked round in surprise, Danny smiled, "told you she has an impressive memory," he told his parents.

"And you told her the exact time it takes to get from here to there?" his Dad asked. Danny suddenly thought about this and looked to Clara.

She noted everyone focussing on her and realised they were expecting an answer, "oh, that's just simple maths. Distance and speed… I could technically be wrong if you speed or go too slow."

"Well I wouldn't want to mess with the maths," Gina replied, "where did you get your academia from then Clara?"

"Both my parents were pretty smart I guess. My Mum encouraged me to read from a young age and I loved it, reading taught me a lot, I don't know really I just get on with work," she shrugged.

"She does read a lot," Danny pointed out, "seriously, you should see how many books are in her case."

"It'd be more but they didn't fit and the case got too heavy…" Clara said, tailing off when she realised how weird she was beginning to sound. "Anyway, yeah."

Soon enough they pulled up at the holiday home and everyone got out, heading inside. It was exactly as the pictures had shown so Clara was able to find her way around no problem. Danny followed her up to their room and put the cases down at one side, he smiled when he saw Clara admiring the view. "Better in real life huh?" he asked and made his way over to her. Clara reached behind him and grabbed his hands so he wrapped them around her. "You okay?"

"More than, I just don't quite know how to process it all," she admitted. Danny understood, reassuring her. "If someone had told me a few months ago that I'd be stood here today I… well, I'd probably have run off and cried that someone was talking to me but, you know," she smiled sheepishly. Danny chuckled softly and kissed her head.

"Yeah well, likewise," he smiled, "what do you want to do then? We have a little while till dinner."

Clara smiled and turned around in his grasp, "can we explore? There's so many little alleyways out there."

"Course we can, did you still want to change?" he asked and Clara nodded. "Alright, I'll be downstairs," he smiled and let her go, shutting the door behind him and going back down.

Danny went down and helped his parents to unpack some of the food, they looked up at him, "everything okay?"

He looked up to see them both staring at him as he put tins in the cupboard, "yeah fine, why are you looking at me like that?" he asked.

"You've got that smile on your face again," his Dad pointed out and Danny suddenly straightened it out. Both parents laughed at him and Danny briefly considered throwing one of the tins in his hand in their direction, but thought better of it. "Come on, what is it?"

"None of your business," he eventually replied, but that evidently wasn't good enough. "Fine, Clara just looks really happy that's all," he told them. "You'll see."

True to his word when Clara came down they both had to admit it was the happiest they'd seen her. Clara looked at the 3 of them, trying to work out why she was being stared at. Danny reassured her all was fine before explaining that they were going to go for a walk. After a short lecture on not going too far they were able to leave and Clara smiled, taking his hand and heading outside.

Danny led her through the village explaining everything as they went. He had a brief conversation with someone in french as they went by and Clara gave him a look but he shrugged if off and she decided to approach this conversation another time. It didn't take long before they got to the seafront. Clara smiled at the view, it was stunning. She walked over to the edge of the beach, leaning on the railings and looking out over it. Danny managed to keep a few steps behind to take a photo. Clara turned around when she realised and covered her face as he went to take another photo. "You look beautiful," he replied. She rolled her eyes, turning back round to the sea. Danny walked over and joined her, nudging her gently. "You are, I couldn't resist taking a photo," he replied, showing her.

"You know I don't remember the last time I wore a dress without tights…" she inspected the photo, "now I remember why."

Danny put his phone back in his pocket, "will you stop? You look gorgeous." He looked at her face, "has someone said something?"

"Wh- why? Why would you think that?" she asked, a little stunned at his ability to read that.

"Because your face says it and I have a pretty good feeling I know who," he replied honestly. Clara sighed and looked away. "I'm right aren't I? You shouldn't listen to them, you're gorgeous and they are just jealous. Honestly Clara," he reached round and put a hand under her chin to turn her to face him. "The good girl always gets the hot guy in the end," he grinned.

"Oh, tell me when he comes along then," she shrugged and looked back, pausing for a couple of seconds while it registered to him before running away when he started to respond.

"Hey! That's mean!" he ran after her. Clara giggled, managing to quickly kick off her sandals and pick them up to run more effectively on the sand. "You cheeky sod!" he called out a little more breathlessly as they kept running. Clara tripped a little in the sand allowing Danny to catch up and he grabbed her, picking her up and spinning her around. They both laughed freely, eventually falling down on the sand together. "See, that's the girl I fell in love with," he smiled as they both settled, turning to look at her.

"Do you think we are just being stupid teenagers?" she asked, taking his hand.

"Do you?" he replied.

"No, I know how I feel," Clara told him.

"As do I," he replied, smiling. "And I don't think I've ever been happier than right now."

Clara moved herself slightly to be lying with her head resting on his chest. She could feel his heart still beating heavily in his chest from the running and his breathing slowly settling. Danny moved his arm to support her and gently played with a few strands of her hair. "Me neither," she eventually replied.

They stayed there for about half an hour before Danny got a text to say dinner was nearly ready. He helped Clara up from the sand and they joined hands to walk back to the house, shaking out sand as they went.

When asked what they'd been up to both of them simply replied that they'd sat on the beach, nothing more needed saying. There was something special about that moment that both of them knew didn't need putting into words.

#-#-#-#

The next morning Danny woke naturally. He looked up to see Clara sat reading, fully dressed. "What time is it?" he asked sleepily.

Clara lowered her book, grinning to herself at how silly he looked. "Just gone 8, you can go back to sleep if you want."

"Why are you already dressed then?" he asked, thoroughly confused.

"Just fancied a shower so I got myself up. I'm fine," she reassured him. "Honestly I'm happy enough if you need more sleep. Both your parents are still in bed."

"No no I'm awake," he told her, sitting up in the bed and accidentally hitting his head against the wall.

Clara tried to suppress a laugh but that wasn't easy, "sure about that?" she asked and Danny rolled his eyes at her. She grinned back, putting the bookmark in the page she was reading and shutting the book. "You sleep okay?"

"Like a baby, you?" he asked.

"Better than I have done for a long while. I was thinking we should make your parents breakfast, especially seeing as we are awake now," she shrugged a little.

"What were you thinking of making?" he asked, curious.

"My pancakes are legendary," Clara winked.

"Well as are my dad's so you'll be well critiqued, but if you're willing to take the risk…" he shrugged.

"Oh I very much am. Come on, get yourself up. There's a little shop next door right? I might go and get some bits," she pondered.

Danny looked at the clock, "Yeah it'll be open. I'll come with you it won't take me long-" Clara put a finger to his lips to shut him up.

"I can manage. Promise. I'll call if I'm in any trouble but it's only next door," she smiled and kissed him. "I won't be long." Clara climbed off the bed and went off downstairs with her bag and going off to pick up some bits.

She wasn't actually as confident as she'd made out and it wasn't easy, but she managed to buy the fruit and other bits she wanted before returning to the house. Clara organised the ingredients and hunted out various bits of cooking equipment, just getting organised when Danny came down. "Nice selection. You survive okay?"

"No I'm dead this is my ghost coming to haunt you. With pancakes." Clara added on the end. Danny chuckled and walked over, "right then. You can sort the fruit out, I'll get the batter mixed." Danny saluted jokingly and Clara hit his arm playfully, "you're such a goon."

When Danny's parents came down they had just finished putting everything together and Clara immediately started cooking the pancakes. "What's all this?" Gina asked.

"Clara's idea," Danny immediately told them, "crazy fool was up early so went and got everything for it. She informs me she makes great pancakes."

"Ah so I have competition then?" Phil asked. Danny nodded and Clara blushed, "I look forward to them." It didn't take long to cook it all up and she served them each. They all sat down and thanked Clara as she joined them at the table. Danny's parents tucked in and their opinion was quickly apparent. "My goodness these are wonderful!" Phil commented.

"Yeah no offence Dad but I think you've been outpancaked," Danny grinned, "where did you learn to make these?!"

Clara just shrugged, "Mum taught me when I was about 7. Family recipe, just a little extra dash of this and that. Haven't made them for ages because… well, Dad."

"You should try again now things are better," Danny smiled.

"And when you do, please let us know, we might pop in," Gina snuck in there to everyone's amusement.

Once they'd finished Danny and Clara cleared up the plates, putting everything in the dishwasher. "Museum today then yeah?" Phil checked with them all. "As long as that's alright Clara?"

"It's your holiday, you don't have to run everything by me," she smiled, "but yes, I'm looking forward to it."

After breakfast they cleared up and got organised to head out. The trip to the museum was short and once there Danny and Clara were told they could split off but not leave the building, which was fair enough. They walked inside and Danny directed her to the first area, explaining the history behind it all and translating some of the signs.

"Danny," she stopped him and he looked at her, "it's in English on the other side," she pointed out.

"Oh yeah, I forgot about that… when we last came Mum was still banning me from reading the English to help my French," he chuckled.

"Well it obviously worked, I can't believe I didn't know how good you were at French. How do you get round that with your mates?" she asked, genuinely curious.

"I just… play it down," he shrugged.

"Are you serious? Danny you have gotta stop damaging your grades for these people," she sighed. "Promise me, you can't do this to yourself," Clara turned to him and gave him a stern look.

Danny looked at her, "I don't think I have much choice do I?" he asked. Clara shook her head. "I'll try, that's all I can promise."

Clara accepted that, turning back to look at the different artefacts. They walked around together, holding hands. Danny seemed to know how to avoid the larger groups, but it wasn't the busiest of places anyway. They seemed to spend hours admiring everything in there and Clara loved listening to Danny telling her little facts about various items. After a while it started to get a little warm inside. "I know we're not meant to leave but can we just grab some fresh air for 2 minutes?" she asked him. Danny thought for a moment before leading her in a different direction.

"We can do that without technically leaving the building," he smiled and they got down a corridor which seemed fairly abandoned. At the end were a set of double doors and Danny opened them onto a small balcony. "It's open to the public but hardly anyone knows about it. Nothing special," he moved so Clara could get out. She could definitely argue about it being nothing special with the stunning view out over the town, although the balcony itself was just a small area. "This okay?" he asked.

"Perfect," she smiled and leant against the railings, enjoying the shaded area. "This place is fascinating, there's still so much to see," Clara commented.

"Took me 3 visits to see the whole lot. I've only taken you to my favourite areas so far. We will probably go for lunch soon, but we can come back after if you want," he smiled, actually standing back a couple of steps from her and watching as she studied the surrounding view.

"Only if there's no other plans, I don't want to be a bother," she replied. Now he stepped forward and leant against the railings beside her.

"Clara Oswald you will never be a bother," he told her.

"You wanna bet?" she grinned, turning to look at him. "I could make myself a bother," she shrugged.

"Then I'd just have to do this," he replied and leant forward to close the gap between them, kissing softly but prolonging it just a little.

"That's cheating," she gave him a disgruntled look, "but I guess I'll take it." Clara smiled again and rested her forehead against his. "Sometimes I forget society tells us we are too young for this."

Danny knew what she meant, "I know. But who cares about society when you got me."

"Touché," she grinned. "I love you."

"I love you too," he smiled. The moment was interrupted by Danny's phone ringing, "that'll be lunch," he chuckled softly and answered the phone. "Hey Mum." Clara watched him having the conversation, stifling a laugh when he said they were looking at Roman plates to which Danny hit her gently. He also seemed to be reassuring his parents that she was alright, to which she blushed a little. Danny reached over with his spare arm to pull her closer, "we're fine. Meet you in 5," he finally got off the phone. "Think we'd better go," he reached for the door.

"Thank you for bringing me out here, just what I needed," she smiled, following him through. They made their way out, meeting his parents just outside the entrance. "So where's lunch?"

"There's a beautiful restaurant not far from here, it's Mum's favourite," Danny explained. "From there we can go back and do more of the museum or explore the park, whatever you want," he smiled.

"I'll have a think," she replied, planning on spending the meal workout out what they actually wanted to do.

It was only when they sat down at the table for dinner and Danny and his parents conversed with the waiter in French that Clara really began to realise she was on holiday. Maybe she could only understand little bits of what was being said but she felt so at home right now, like she was meant to be here. It was comforting to be wanted, but also to know she was being missed at home. This was exactly what she needed and to know that Danny and his family knew that too was important.

"You alright?" Danny asked. Clara looked up from her daydream and nodded.

"Sorry, just thinking," she smiled and turned back. This was going to be the best holiday.