Clara rolled over expecting to snuggle into John, but what she found was an empty bed. She sat up and looked around the room and heard the shower running in the ensuite bathroom. After professing their love last night, John and Clara had spent most of the previous night tangled in John's sheets, stopping long enough to have dinner and then heading right back to the bedroom. They had lots of lost time to make up for and make up for it they did, in abundance. So it wasn't surprising that John was in the shower, as she herself was in need of one. She threw back the covers and made her way to the washroom where she opened the door and was hit with a cloud of steam.

"Do you have room in there for me?" She asked, announcing her presence so she wouldn't startle him.

He pulled back the curtain and stuck his head out. "Always," he replied with a smile.

"I was surprised to not see you in bed," she said as she joined him.

"Sorry. I have a meeting in a couple of hours and I need to get into the office to go over some things before that."

John squeezed some shampoo onto the palm of his hand and started washing his hair.

"That's okay. Maybe this weekend we can have a bit of a lie-in," she said as she reached for her loofah and body wash.

"Sounds good. And speaking of the weekend. Nancy is throwing Jamie a birthday party on Saturday night. Do you think you'll be able to go with me? I know things are uncertain with your dad."

"I don't think it'll be a problem. I'd love to go with you."

"Good, they'll be happy to see you."

"And I can't wait to see them. Is it a big party?"

"I'm not sure. I think they just invited some friends and a few family members that can make it down from Scotland," John's expression changed from smiling to serious and Clara knew there was likely an issue. "I know Nancy said that Jenny and David will be there, so I hope that's okay."

"It's okay for me," Clara replied as she traded spots with John so she could wash her hair. "I think the question is, will it be okay for Jenny."

"Well I don't care what she thinks," John said. "If she wants to be a part of our lives, she's going to have to get over whatever is bothering her because I love you and I'm not letting you go ever again."

Clara smiled at him, happy to hear him admit his love so easily, but at the same time she hated that there was still a rift between Jenny and her dad. She really wished there was something she could do to help mend their broken relationship, but knew it was really up to Jenny to do that and not her.

"Good, because I love you too and I'm not going to let you let me go."

John laughed and the pair continued to bathe while chatting about their plans for the day before John stepped out, having finished before Clara. He grabbed a towel off the hook behind the door and dried his body off before wrapping it around his waist. He loved how domestic this all felt; having Clara here with him, but he still couldn't fully believe that she was going to move back to London and that they could finally be together. He'd been wishing and hoping for this ever since she had left, but there was a tiny part of him that worried she may later regret her decision because she had made it during a time when people shouldn't make life altering changes.

By the time Clara got out of the shower she saw John with his face in a towel standing in front of the mirror. As he pulled the towel away she was surprised to see the beard she had come to love the last couple of days was gone.

"You shaved."

"You have very keen observation skills." He winked at her through the reflection in the mirror. "It was time."

"I hope you didn't get rid of it because you thought that's what I wanted." She stepped over to him and placed her hand on his smooth cheek.

"No, I just really missed that. I can't feel your soft hands through the beard when you touch me." He then leaned into her and kissed her on the lips. "I also like how that feels without it too."

"Well either way is good for me, so I'm happy if you're happy," she smiled.

"Oh I'm very happy." They smiled at each other and then went into his room to finish getting ready for their day.

When Clara arrived at the hospital, her Gran and Aunt Liz were already there visiting with her dad, who was sitting up and looked a lot better from the previous day.

"Can I join the party?" She teased as she entered and greeted each family member with a hug. "How are you, dad?"

"I'm doing okay. What did you bring me?" He asked as Clara placed a backpack on a nearby counter.

"Just some clothes and toiletries. I also brought you some magazines and a book."

"Thanks. Is everything okay with the house?"

"Yeah it's fine. I'll swing by tomorrow and check the mail."

"Swing by? You're not staying there?"

Clara forgot that her dad didn't know where she was.

"Uhm, yeah, I decided to stay at John's until you get home."

"John's? Does this mean you two…"

"Not at first," Clara cut him off. "But we talked last night and decided to give it another go since I also decided I'm moving back to London."

"What? What about your job?" Dave asked.

"I can look for a new one here. It's just with all of this…" She motioned around the room. "I realised that I really miss you guys and I don't want to be so far away."

"Are you sure about this? I don't want you making this decision because I got sick."

"It's not just because of your heart attack. Sure that made me think about this more, but I started thinking about what was important to me; a life in Toronto or being able to spend as much time with you and Gran as possible? The answer was you and Gran."

"And John?"

"I'm not going to lie, he was a factor too."

"And what about Jenny?"

"Still angry, but she needs to accept the fact that I love him and he loves me. We're not going to let her stop us from being together."

"Oh dear, I'm so happy to hear this,'' Gran said. "I'm sure in time Jenny will come around."

"I hope so," she replied to her gran, then turned back to her dad. "So do you mind if I move back home?"

"No need to ask. Your Gran and I will be more than happy to have you there."

"Thanks," she smiled at her dad, relieved that the news of her and John being back together was well received. Now it would seem they just had one person left to win over.

"So what do you think looks good?" John asked as he looked at his menu.

He had picked Clara up from the hospital and taken her to a restaurant he had been wanting to take her to at Christmas time, but didn't get the chance to before all hell broke loose. It was a small Italian restaurant near his home that he had wanted to try for quite some time, so he was happy to finally be able to sample the food. He had always thought the atmosphere looked romantic when he passed by it on the street, and he was right.

"All of it," Clara replied.

"Do you want to each get something different and share?"

"That sounds good."

The waiter came by with their drinks and then took their food orders before leaving them alone at the dimly lit table.

"So that's good news that your dad should be able to come home next week," John said.

"It is. I'm just so relieved," Clara answered. "Now I just need to tell work my plans of quitting."

"Right," John replied and looked down at the table, not wanting to discuss his concerns.

"What is it?" Clara asked.

"Nothing."

"No, I can tell something's wrong from your tone. You do want me to move back to London, right?"

"Of course I do," John quickly responded. He didn't want to have this conversation now, but it looked like they were about to. "It's just that I want you to be one hundred percent sure this is what you want."

"It is. Why would you think it's not?"

"Because I just feel like you came to this conclusion quickly and because of your dad. I don't want you in six months' time, when he's feeling better, to regret your decision."

"I know it seems like it's coming out of nowhere, but I really do feel strongly about this. Sure I'm going to miss the life I have in Toronto, but I can't stand the thought of not being here if something horrible happens to my dad or Gran. As I said last night, I have more to gain from being here than I do from staying in Canada. The biggest of all being you."

"And you're sure you want to give up your job? The career you were building?"

"I can get that here. London has publishing houses and I have more experience now, so I'm hoping it won't be too challenging to find one. Besides, I actually took your advice and started writing, so who knows what might come of that."

"You did? Can I read what you've written?"

"Not yet, but once I'm ready to share, you'll be the first person to read it."

"I can't wait." John gave her a wide smile.

"Look, I appreciate you being concerned, but believe me I had a lot of time to think the past few days and once I made the decision to move, I felt lighter, happier, and I knew with no doubt that I had made the right decision."

John really did believe her and his worries were subsiding. "Good because regrets are a horrible feeling and I don't want you to have any."

"No regrets here. Although, I do believe if I stayed in Toronto I would have had a room full of them." She reached across the table and took John's hand. "The biggest of all would have been not being with you."

"Ditto," he replied as he squeezed her hand.

"I am going to miss my flat, though. Lots of great memories in that place and it's going to be hard to see it go."

"Fantastic memories," he answered, with a cheeky grin, and it became clear his mind had wandered to all the sexy times they had there.

"But I'm looking forward to making new ones with you here," Clara said, bringing him out of his thoughts.

"Me too," John replied. "I can't wait."

The waiter arrived back at their table with some bread and their conversation changed to John's work, although in the back of John's mind he started thinking of a gift he wanted to give Clara, but wasn't entirely sure how he could pull it off. Regardless, it would have to wait until the morning anyway, so he focused on the beautiful woman in front of him and the relaxing evening they had planned.

After their dinner, they went back to John's and decided to watch the movie they missed the other night.

"Do you want some popcorn?" John asked as he threw his keys in a bowl on a nearby table at the front door.

"We just ate," Clara said as she took her boots off.

"I know, but it's a movie. You need popcorn with a movie."

"Fine, but you're likely eating most of it on your own."

They stepped into the kitchen and John took a bag of popcorn out of his pantry and put it in the microwave, while Clara found a bowl. As the kernels started popping, the doorbell rang and the couple looked at one another, wondering who it could be.

"If that's Jamie, I'm sending him packing," John said as he walked out of the kitchen.

He wouldn't put it past his friend to show up, especially since John had called him that morning and told him what had happened the previous night. However, when he reached the door and opened it, he was shocked to see Jenny on the other side.

"Hey," she said. "Can I come in?"

"Of course," John said as he stepped aside to let her enter. "I'm surprised to see you."

"Yeah, well, Clara told me about her dad and well, I guess it got me thinking," Jenny replied. "Can we talk?"

"I'd like that, but you should know…"

Clara came out of the kitchen carrying the bowl of popcorn and stopped in her tracks when she saw Jenny, who turned and locked eyes with her.

"...that Clara's here." John finished speaking, worried about what was going to happen next.

"Hi," Clara said uneasily.

Jenny turned and looked back at John. "Maybe we can talk some other time."

"I'd rather the three of us sit down now and talk about this."

"By this, do you mean that the two of you are together again?"

"Yes."

Jenny looked back at Clara. "And what about the distance?"

"Not an issue, since I've decided to move back."

"For him?" Jenny motioned to her dad.

"No, for me."

Silence and tension filled the room as no one really knew what to say next.

"Why don't you sit down honey and we can all talk about it," John suggested. "You came here clearly ready to do that."

"I came here," she said as she looked at her dad again. "Because I hate being angry at you and I hate not talking to you. But I didn't think Clara would be here and I'm not ready to talk to her."

"I can go," Clara said, not wanting to interfere with Jenny and John working things out.

"No," John said. "You're not going anywhere."

He walked past Jenny and stood next to Clara. "Clara did nothing wrong and whatever anger you have towards her needs to stop. We're going to be together and if you and I are ever going to work things out, then you need to work them out with her as well."

"Well, I disagree. In my eyes she did something very wrong."

"I told you, I was the one who pursued her, whether you want to believe it or not, it's the truth."

"But she didn't say no." She looked at Clara. "You should have said no."

"Why?" Clara asked.

"Because he's my dad."

"And he's also just a man. A kind, caring, generous, funny man, who I fell in love with. Every moment I'm with him makes me happy and I'm pretty sure I make him happy too. Are we supposed to deny what's in our hearts just because he's your dad and I'm your friend?"

"I just…" Jenny hesitated. "This isn't how things are supposed to be." Jenny took a step back towards the door. "I should go."

Clara knew her friend well enough to know that Jenny was beyond anger now and that there was something more to all of this.

"Honey please," John begged. "I really want to work this out. Will you just stay?"

"I want to work this out too, dad, but this just hurts too much." She opened the door. "I'm sorry, but I just can't."

She walked out and closed the door behind her.

"I don't know what to do," John said as he stared at the empty space Jenny just vacated.

"I think that there's more to this and she's going to need time to admit what she's really feeling," Clara responded as she placed a hand on John's arm, causing him to look at it and then to her.

"I think you're right. I just hope she can work past it and start to accept this," he turned and placed his hands on Clara's hips. "Because you, Clara Oswald, are in my life and it's four and half billion times better for it."

"Mine too." She gave him a brief kiss. "Now maybe we forget about Jenny and go watch that movie."

"Sounds good," John replied.

They sat down on the sofa and snuggled up to one another, while they played the movie. However, John really couldn't focus on it as his mind kept drifting to Jenny. He really did want to work things out with her, but he also wasn't willing to sacrifice his happiness to do it. He just really hoped that there would come a time when the two most important women in his life could be friends again and they could all move towards a new future of togetherness.