Clara pulled herself out of the Doctor's arms. "I'm—I'm sorry—I have to take that call. It's my Gran's special ring tone." Reluctantly the Doctor released her.

"I'll go upstairs and finish dressing while you take it," he offered, playfully bopping the tip of her nose. She smiled and turned to her call.

Racing up the stairs almost two at a time, the Doctor felt much lighter than he had in a very long while. Not since he'd found out he hadn't destroyed Gallifrey did this kind of euphoric sensation rest in his hearts. He felt like he could beat his weight in Cybermen, like he could face oncoming hoards of Sontarans single-handedly, like he could move whole planets and shape star systems. He gave a whoop as he twirled in the hallway and then danced into Clara's bedroom. Gathering up his fresh pile of clothing and boots, he swirled across the hall to the bathroom, where he stripped down to take a shower. Clara could hear him singing boisterously in the bathroom from where she was in the kitchen.

Downstairs, her call finished, Clara tidied up her makeshift bed on the couch. She left the pillows and blankets in place in case the TARDIS was still out of commission. He could sleep here from now on. She preferred her own bed, thank you very much, and she knew from experience that he didn't sleep a lot anyway.

She met him halfway up the stairs on the landing as he galloped down, freshly showered and fully dressed in the new suit of clothes. This consisted of a pair of dark brown trousers, topped by a knee-length deep TARDIS blue wool coat in a naval design with brass buttons, shoulder straps and a wide collar. Underneath this he wore a simple blue and white striped shirt. But something surprisingly was missing.

"Where…where's your bow tie…?" Clara's brown eyes were large with dismay.

The Doctor looked down to the empty spot at the hollow of his collarbone where the neckpiece once sat. One side of his mouth lifted in a melancholy smile, and his eyes looked sad.

"I may be wearing the old face…but I'm not the same me as I was, Clara. There was another me in between. The things he felt and experienced are inside me now, and forever a part of me. The bow tied fellow is gone. I'm the same Doctor inside, but…" he smiled a bit broader, but still sadly, "some of me is going to be a bit different now. I…hope that's okay…?"

Clara looked into his green eyes and smiled bravely back. "It will take some getting used to…I'll miss it and the tweed coat. So are bow ties no longer cool, then?"

"Oi! Bow ties will always be cool, Clara Oswald, don't you forget that. Just like cat pins, celery sticks and velvet smoking jackets will always be cool." He grinned down at her, knowing that after seeing all his different faces, she'd know what he was referring to. "It's just…this time around…bow ties just don't feel right. Maybe that will change, but for now…"

"Well…" Clara sighed, reaching up and touching the spot where the bow tie used to sit, "I'm just glad you came back to me, even if you are a little different. There were a few things I liked about you when you were Scottish, even though you were old and surly. And rude. I didn't like that part much."

"Don't worry…I fully intend to be anything but rude to you this time around." He grabbed her shoulders and kissed her soundly on the lips. The grin on his face matched the one he'd had when they first officially met, that long ago day on the Maitland's doorstep. It and the kiss made all sorts of butterflies go off in Clara's stomach.

"I'm going to check out the TARDIS to see if she's finished repairing herself," he enthused. "I might take her for a bit of a spin if she has. Want to come with me?"

Clara laughed. He was like a big excited puppy. If he'd had a tail, she imagined he'd be wagging it vigorously about now. "I have to shower and get dressed," she smiled back. "But you go ahead. You have some apologizing to do to her. From what you've told me, this is the second time you've messed up her insides while regenerating."

"She'll forgive me. She always does." He looked suitably guilty for a second, and then gave her a grin and a wave and bounced up the stairs to head out to the roof where the TARDIS was parked. Before he reached her bedroom door, however, Clara called out to him.

"Just one more thing, Doctor," she stated, looking up at him from the landing with a hesitant smile. "Look at me and promise you'll come back to me. And this time," her voice cracking a little as a tear slipped down her cheek, "don't lie to me."

He turned to her, the happiness gone from his face, replaced by an expression of deep sorrow and remorse. Hopping back down the stairs to join her, he took her face in his hands, wiping the tear away with his thumb. He looked deep into her distressed brown eyes and sighed.

"Clara Oswald…I promise you…I will return to you as quickly as I can. After all," and here he kissed her forehead tenderly and then leaned his against it, "you are where my hearts are." He bent down and kissed her lips once more.

And with that promise, he skipped once more up the stairs and through Clara's bedroom. When she heard the door to the roof shut and then the TARDIS' whining as it dematerialized, Clara slumped against the wall. Now it was a matter of waiting to see if he'd actually return.

Shorter chapter this time, sorry, it just kind of seemed like the right place to end it. BTW, this story takes place chronologically some time after The Caretaker. In this version, the events of Kill the Moon and beyond do not take place. Neither does anything involving Missy-there is no Missy in this tale (sorry Missy lovers).