The Last Time Lord and The Impossible Girl Classic Edition

by Smaug25

The Doctor and Clara Oswald. The Hybrid. They will laugh, cry, love but most of all, run. They shall run from the beginning to the end of time and beyond, and if anything tries to stand in their way, their worlds will burn. *STORY BEING RE-WRITTEN*

3. The Snowmen

The Snowmen

In London in the time of Queen Victoria, there were many tales of a remarkable personage known as "The Great Detective", also known as Madame Vastra, the lizard woman of Paternoster Row. Aiding her is her beautiful accomplice, Jenny Flint, and their mysterious henchman, Strax, whose countenance was too abominable for photographers. There are also accounts of a fourth member of the Paternoster Gang, a shadowy figure whom they only seek help from for the direst emergencies.

London
November 1892

A dark and snow-filled night had fallen over London. Streets were busy as men and women alike were pacing about, while horse driven carriages were moving hastily up and down the roads. In one alleyway, a small figure stood there, seeing the nearby street. It was Strax, known henchman to Madame Vastra. 5ft 2, and with a face like an overgrown potato, wearing a black cloak to hide his silver blue armour. He motions a hand wave down the alley before two extra figures appeared from the darkness. The closest was Vastra's maid, Jenny Flint while the second figure was the detective herself as they joined Strax to watch the street, yet in a more waiting and patient manner. Jenny was 5ft 4, with brown hair and wearing a black frock dress with a matching hat. Vastra was 5ft 9, a humanoid reptile with skin and scales, all with varying shades of green, while wearing a large purple cloak to mask most of her features. A fourth figure appeared from behind them, a man who like the three, dressed in a typical Victorian suit, yet unlike the three before him, his clothes were more rugged with no care put into them. 6 feet with a top hat that hid his close cropped, deep brown hair and his face sported a 5 o'clock shadow that he did not seem to support. Jenny turned to look at him before nudging Vastra and Strax to do the same. "I'm so glad you came. We have news, I think, of interest to you. There was a meteor shower in the southwest, unexpected timing and density. I've calculated there is a thirty-four percent chance it is the result of alien intervention." Vastra said in restrained agitation, but the man stared at her in silent indifference, so she continued. "Twenty four percent." She corrected with a slight sheepish tone, but the man still didn't say anything. "Well, they could just be meteors, but it is worth looking into. There is also a very pleasant tearoom in that area." She added hopefully.

"Also, there's a Professor Arasmus Pink who's claiming he's going to split the world open with a giant drill through the thinnest part of the Earth's crust. I think we should investigate." Jenny added in the same tone, yet still, the man's expression did not change in the slightest. "Okay, he doesn't actually have a giant drill and he's not really a professor and he was a bit drunk at the time and singing a bit, but you know it's never too early to investigate a drill." Jenny added yet her tone grew more sheepish as she continued.

"I have declared war on the moon!" Strax suddenly roared in excitement.

"Do be quiet, Strax." Vastra snapped.

"Sorry, ma'am. It is just that the moon has hung unmonitored and unsuspected in the sky for too long. It has gained an enormous tactical advantage."

"There's no one living there." Jenny pointed out.

"Then it is clearly time to act, and they won't suspect a thing."

"Who won't suspect a thing?"

"Moonites." This made Vastra and Jenny roll their eyes before turning their attention back to the man, then they all fell into awkward, sheepish silence. They did not notice that his expression never changed, not even flickered during their banter.

"Why do you keep doing this? What is the point? I have told you. I keep telling you. I do not do this anymore. I've retired." The man said, his northern accent flourishing despite his indifference as he walked up to the trio.

"There's a man on Praed Street with an invisible wif-" Jenny stopped her attempt however as the man glared at her. "Okay, he doesn't have a wife." She muttered like a child in trouble.

"You're wasting your time." The man almost spat at them before he uncrossed his arms and walked away.

"Goodnight!" Jenny called yet the man did not respond. "I think he means it." She said now with a tone of sadness as the man disappeared out of sight.

"Yes, my dear. I rather think he does." Vastra replied in the same tone before urging the two of them to leave.

"Damn moon." Strax grumbled, looking up at the sky with a glare before leaving in their direction.

One Month Later

Inside the cream coloured home of their latest culprit, Strax was putting handcuffs on the criminal, while being watched by Vastra, Jenny and a police Inspector. "Prepare for obliteration, Earthling scum." Strax growled.

"Mister Strax, if you could just take him aside for a moment, I have some officers on the way." The Inspector interrupted, earning an eye roll from Strax.

"As you wish. Human filth." Strax said begrudgingly, causing Jenny to roll her eyes as Strax led the man out of the house.

"Sorry, he's new." Jenny said dryly to the Inspector.

"Funny looking fellow. Turkish, is he?"

"He is a genetically modified clone warrior from outer space." Vastra said indifferently.

"Ah, makes sense, heh. Well, what a case *Chuckles*. Identical twins, poison undetectable to science, an ancient Egyptian curse." The Inspector rambled before he refocused his attention back on Vastra. "Once more Scotland Yard is in your debt, Madame Vastra. Where would we be without you?"

"Quite some distance from a clue, one imagines."

"You may be right." He said with a nod, before he paused and stared with a puzzled frown at Vastra for a few moments. "Ummm, does it ever...uh...hurt?" He asked hesitantly.

"Does what hurt?" Vastra asked in a confused blink.

"Your skin condition, I've always wondered."

"It's not a condition, Inspector. It's just skin." Jenny interrupted sternly.

"Are you sure?"

"I am, as I may have failed to mention, an intelligent reptile from an ancient civilization long preceding humankind. Many of us slumber under the Earth's crust." Vastra said with a touch of dry humour.

"Madame was accidentally awoken by an extension to the London Underground." Jenny added.

"I was not initially keen on the society of apes, but I made the most elementary of errors. I fell in love." Vastra said before looking kindly at Jenny who returned the look.

"What, with the, uh…Turkish fellow?" He asked dumbly.

"No, not with the Turkish fellow." Vastra retorted with a roll of her eyes before wrapping her arm around Jenny's waist, making Jenny reciprocate by leaning into Vastra gently.

The Inspector glanced between them before the realization quickly sank in. "Good lord. Oh, good lord." He muttered in shock.

"Come along, my dear." Vastra said with a mischevious smile.

"Yes, my darling." Jenny returned. They both walked away to their carriage laughing at the Inspector's expression as he repeatedly muttered "Good lord" to himself before leaving. Even in the carriage they were still giggling before they calmed down as a comfortable silence sank in for a few moments. "Still no word from the Doctor then?" Jenny asked with a twinge of sadness.

"No, my dear and there won't be." Vastra replied in the same tone.

"He can't sulk in his box forever."

"Heartbreak and tragedy is a burden to us all. Pity the man with two hearts who had to kill his own people to save billions of others."

Jenny nodded silently before staring out of the carriage window. "It's starting to snow again."

Vastra frowned at that. "But it can't be."

"Well, it is nearly Christmas."

"But the clouds."

"What about them?"

"There aren't any." And Vastra was right. There was no clouds out that night. Just a clear, dark sky.

1842

In a snow-filled backyard to an enormous house, a group of children were playing in the snow while laughing in joy. One kid however stood alone, silently building a singular snowman. A pair of adults walked up to stand behind him, a male and a female, and the woman asked, "Walter, don't you want to play with the other boys and girls? They're very nice."

"I don't need anyone else." Walter responded indifferently.

The woman turned to look at the man with a sad expression on her face. "He never talks to anyone. He is so alone. It is not right. It's not healthy." They both gave a sigh of defeat knowing nothing they say would convince the boy, so they turned to walk back into the house, leaving him alone once again.

"I don't want to talk to them. They're silly." Walter said aloud.

"They're silly." A voice suddenly emanated from the snowman, making Walter pause before he looked around in case someone had said it behind him. "Don't talk to them, they're silly. Don't need anyone else." Walter turned to run back into the house but stopped his tracks by saying, "I can help you."

This made Walter gulp, and he asked in a cautious and timid voice, "How?"

"Help me be like you. Then we will not need anyone ever again. Do you wish to help me?"

It took Walter only a few moments of sudden silence to make his decision. He looked back at the and said with a small smile, "Yes. I will help you."

24th December 1892

Standing atop a small flight of stairs behind a massive house was Walter. Through all those long years, he had grown to 6ft 2, hair a deep brown with a large receding hair line and rather gaunt features to his face. His expression was a blend of indifference and a scowl, as he watches a group of men work in collecting samples from the snowmen below. They then pass the sample jars into a carriage that works its way around to the front of house, with Walter going to collect the jars before heading inside. Within the massive room is a large round glass globe, filled with flowing snow with four electrical pylons on each side, all sparking with power. Walter grabs one of the jars before walking up to the globe. "The last of the arrivals has been sampled." Walter said, holding up the jar in his hands.

"A great swarm is approaching. As humanity celebrates, so shall it end. Will the final piece by ready?" The voice of the snow booms out of the globe.

Walter opens a small latch in the globe, before opening the jar in his hand and using a spoon to shovel the snow inside before closing the empty jar. "It's in hand. I serve you in this as in everything else."

"And do you keep my secrets? Those men who helped us tonight?"

"It won't be a problem. I promised to feed them." Walter said. He then walked out onto the steps and looked down upon the men as they talked amongst themselves, stopping to look up at him.

"Beg your pardon, Dr Simeon. It's been a long day and I don't see any food here." One of the men says, politely confused.

"I do." Walter said dryly.

The men all look confused before a group of snowmen suddenly rise out of the ground, with delightfully evil faces and sharp teeth bared as they start to eat away at the men.

"What is this?!" Another of the men yells in terror.

"I said I'd feed you. I didn't say who too." Walter said, still keeping a dull expression on his face before turning back into the house, the men's screams of fear and pain lasting long into the night.

The Rose & Crown

Inside a local bar, many a man is conversing amongst themselves while downing drinks in their hands. Passing through them is a young brunette barmaid in a red dress, who picks up a few empty flagons before turning to pass out of the back door. As she closes the door, she turns to look down an alleyway to see a snowman rise out of the ground, this one with a small thin smile as it stares at her. She sets her tray down on a nearby barrel before slowly moving a small distance towards the snowman both in confusion and trepidation. Out of nowhere, a man passes by, ignoring both her and the snowman. "Did you make this snowman?" The girl asks in a cockney accent.

"No." The man says indifferently.

"Well who did? Cause it wasn't there a second ago, it just appeared, from nowhere." Her last words make the man stop before turning around to stand next to the snowman, trying desperately to hide a look of wonder.

"Maybe it's snow that fell before. Maybe it remembers how to make snowmen." He mutters to himself.

"What? Snow that can remember. That's silly." She said with a slight snort.

"What's wrong with silly?" He asks, turning to look at her, a small smile on his face.

"Nothing. I'm still talking to you, aren't I?" She retorted.

The man looks at her fondly for a moment. She's clever. And gorgeous. Wait, no, stop that. "What's your name?"

"Clara."

"That's a nice name. Clara." He looks away, hiding the sadness from his voice before walking away. "You should keep it. Goodbye."

Clara looks at him in confusion before walking to catch up to him. "Oi! Where are you going? I thought we was getting acquainted."

The man stops and turns to look at her. "Those were the old days." He says softly before walking away.

Clara stands in contemplation for a small moment. He's quite handsome. She mused to herself. But…his eyes. They were old. Far too old. She then hears someone urging a horse to move followed by the sound of carriage wheels. "Bugger it." She mutters before running down the alleyway to see a carriage moving through an empty street, then continuing to chase after it.

Inside the carriage, the man sits silently as the voice of Vastra floats in through a phone speaker. "Ah, refreshing to see you taking an interest again. Was she nice?" Vastra asks.

"I just spoke to her." The man restrains himself from rolling his eyes.

"And made your usual impact, no doubt."

"No, no, no impact at all." He said impatiently. "Those days are done."

"You can't help yourself. It's the same story every time and it always begins with the same two words." She admonished like a mother to her child.

"Uugh, she will never be able to find me again, she doesn't even have the name "Doctor"! What two words?!" He snapped.

The hatch on the top of the carriage opened suddenly, Clara popping her head inside with a grin on her face. ""Doctor"? Doctor Who?"

The Doctor raises his eyebrows in shock. "Okay, that's it. Get inside. Strax! Stop the carriage." Once Clara had entered the carriage with an "Oof", he opened the door to stand outside before holding up a hand to Clara, who was about to follow him. "Stay here." He then closes and locks the door.

---

In another part of town, a man with dark hair and a large matching beard is standing outside his house, looking upon a frozen pond. He bids farewell to the driver of his carriage as it moves away before gazing back at the pond. After a few moments, the front door of his house opens to reveal his maid and Walter standing there, but the man does not see either of them. "The pond has frozen over." As he speaks, Walter moves out of the doorway to stand behind the man. "It hasn't frozen since the night-"

"Since the night your children's governess died, a year ago." Walter interrupts.

The man looks at him in surprise before turning to look at his maid. "Dr Simeon, sir. He insisted on waiting." She informed.

"She drowned in this very pond, which then froze." Walter continued. "You didn't find her till a month later when the ice finally melted."

"I recall the incident, it's the sort of thing one remembers." The man says.

"Ice remembers too." Walter said, hiding a slight sinister tone of warning in his voice.

"Who are you? What do you want here?"

Walter reaches into his coat pocket to pull out a card that says "The Great Intelligence Institute" before handing it to the man. "The pond is yours, Captain Latimer. But what is growing inside it, when it is ready is ours. Good evening." Walter then walks away, leaving both Latimer and the maid confused as they walk into the house. Both do not notice a small amount of frost starting to form inside the pond. Walter takes a route through alleyways to silently head back to the institute. On the way he stops as Jenny appears suddenly in front of him.

"Well, Dr Simeon. You're out late tonight." Jenny said with her hands on her hips.

"Almost makes you wonder what you've been up to." Vastra said from behind Walter. "But then I have often wondered about the activities of Dr Simeon and his exceptionally secretive institute."

"Well, I am honoured this evening." Walter says sarcastically. "The veiled detective and her fatuous accomplice."

"At your service." Jenny mockingly curtsies.

"You realize Dr Doyle is almost certainly basing his fantastical tales on your own exploits? With a few choice alterations of course as I doubt his readers would accept that the veiled detective is in reality," He moves to Vastra to pull back her veil, showing indifference to her look, "a woman, and her suspiciously intimate companion."

"I resent your implication of impropriety. We are married." Vastra bluntly said, her last words surprisingly making Walter's eyebrows raise slightly.

"More than can be said for you, eh dear?" Jenny quipped, raising her eyebrows at Walter, making him scoff.

Vastra grabbed a small handful of snow and gazed intently at it. "Now then, this snow is very peculiar, don't you think? The ice crystals have a low-level telepathic field as if it can detect and respond to the thoughts and memories of those around it. Memory snow. Snow that learns." Vastra says, rolling the snow around in her grasp.

"How fascinating." Walter says, once again sarcastically.

"I hope it's listening to the right people. It could be a terrible weapon in the wrong hands, don't you think?" Vastra asks.

"I think winter is coming. Such a winter this world has never known. The last winter of Humankind. Do you know why I'm telling you all this?" He asked in a low, dark tone.

Vastra, while staring back at Walter, dropped the snow in her grasp and gave a small smile. "I am intrigued." She said simply.

"Because there's not a single thing you can do to stop it." Walter then steps around her and continues back down the path.

"Perhaps I can't but I know a man who can!" Vastra calls in a retort.

"I look forward to meeting him!" He calls back tauntingly before disappearing out of sight.

Vastra sighs before walking up to Jenny. "Do you mean the Doctor? He will not help us. He never helps any more, you know that." Jenny said in a soft tone.

"Yes, my dear I do. So, pray for a miracle because we are going to need him." Vastra said, returning her tone.

---

The Doctor knelt, getting a closer look at the snow as Strax was using high-tech binoculars to look upon the Institute, while Clara was banging and rocking the carriage, repeatedly demanding for release from custody. "They've taken samples from snowmen all over London." Strax puts away the device before turning to the Doctor. "What do you suppose they're doing in there?"

"This snow is new, most likely alien." The Doctor said, ignoring Strax's question. "When you find something brand new in the world, something you've never seen before, what's the next thing you look for?"

Strax ponders for a moment before grinning. "A grenade!"

The Doctor rolls his eyes, suppressing a groan. "A profit, Strax. Remember Victorian values, they'll be out to make profit." He said, standing back up and tossing the snow in his hand aside.

"I suggest a full-frontal assault with automated laser monkeys, scalpel mines and acid!" Strax beamed.

"Why?" The Doctor asked impatiently.

Strax had to hold back a gulp. "Couldn't we at least...investigate?" He asked with a sheepish whimper.

The Doctor scoffed. "It's none of my business. Go on your own."

"Sir, permission to express my opposition to your current apathy." Strax said.

The Doctor rolled his eyes. "Permission granted."

Strax stood straight and squared his shoulders. "Sir, I am opposed to your current apathy."

"Thank you, Strax. So, if I am ever in need of advice from a brainless and psychotic potato dwarf, I will let you know." The Doctor spat.

"But if this snow is suspiciously new and alien, shouldn't we be making some attempt to destroy it? Be reasonable-" The Doctor cuts off Strax by putting a finger on his lips.

"Like I said, it is not my problem. After saving so many people over so many lifetimes, the universe rewarded me with one gift: Loneliness." The Doctor said the last word with bitter sadness. "Now, we have a problem of our own to worry about." He then walks back towards the carriage before opening the door.

"Oi!" Clara yelled in annoyance.

"Quit your whining, no one's going to hurt you." The Doctor said, entering the carriage to sit opposite her.

"What is that thing?" Clara asks in confusion as Strax comes into view.

"Silence, boy!"

"That's Strax and as you can see, he is easily confused!" The Doctor growled to Strax.

"Silence, girl! Sorry sir." Strax said in sheepishness.

"He's a Sontaran." The Doctor said to Clara, as if Strax wasn't even there. All Clara could do was stare at the Doctor in wide eyed awe. "They're a clone warrior race; whole legions produced at a time. Two genders are apparently too far for him to count." The Doctor said slyly, making Strax appear even more sheepish.

"Sir, please do not discuss my reproductive cycle in front of enemy girls. It's embarrassing."

"Typical middle child of six million." The Doctor said with a beaming grin.

"Who are you?" Clara asked in confusion and awe.

"It doesn't matter because you're about to forget that you ever met me. Bring the worm." He ordered.

"Sir." Strax proudly said before marching to the front of the carriage.

"You'll bring the what?! The worm?! What worm?!" Clara demanded in fear and agitation.

"Don't worry, it won't hurt you. Just one touch and the last hour of your memory is gone. Nothing to be afraid of."

That made Clara furrow her eyebrows in confusion. Wait a moment. If you lose your memory by touching it, how will Strax bring it over- Strax steps back into view with a blank look, making the Doctor blink several times.

"Where is it?" He demanded.

"Where's what sir?" Clara bites her lip to hold back the giggling bubbling within her.

"I sent you to get the memory worm." The Doctor said through clenched teeth.

"Did you? When? Who's he?" Strax points at Clara, who lets out a snort. "What are we doing here?" Strax turned to look around him with a grin. "Look! It's been snowing!" He beamed.

The Doctor put his face in his hands for a moment before sighing. "You didn't use the gauntlets, did you?"

"Why would I need the gauntlets?" The Doctor raises his eyebrows at him in a "Are you that stupid?" manner, which made Strax slowly nod. "Oh, you want me to get the memory worm."

"You...idiot." This made Clara lose it, the Doctor glaring at her in embarrassment. After a few moments, Strax was underneath the carriage looking for the worm, which was squealing loudly. "Well can you see it?" The Doctor asked, standing outside the carriage while Clara leaned against a brick wall.

"I think I can hear it." Strax said, his voice slightly muffled by the loud screeching of said worm.

The Doctor turned to glance at Clara who is no longer holding back her laughter, instead giggling away to her hearts content. "Oi! Don't run away, just stay where you are." Besides, it's not like she looks great smiling-wait, no, stop it!

"Why would I run? I know what's going to happen next and it's funny." Clara grinned.

"Come on, he's not going to fall for it again." He groaned.

"Well then, he's quite the idiot, isn't he?" Clara returned with a smirk.

"That's true, but he gave his life for a friend of mine once."

"Then how is he alive?" Clara asked in awe.

"Another friend of mine brought him back, it's a long story. Now I'm not sure his brain made the return trip." The Doctor complained, making Clara giggle.

"I can see it!" Strax proclaimed gleefully.

"Ooh, can you reach it? Have you got it?" The Doctor asked, returning his attention to Strax in the vain hope that he wouldn't stare too long at Clara's glowing smile.

Silence. "Got what sir?"

Clara walked to the front of the carriage and grabbed a brown pair of large, three fingered gloves. "Are these the gauntlets?" She asked with a teasing smirk.

"Sir, an emergency! I think I've been run over by a cab!"

The Doctor looked back and forth between the gauntlets and Strax, before groaning aloud, which made Clara laugh even more. Grabbing the gauntlets and pulling out a jar, he went to grab the worm himself. "Here it is. One touch, an hour of memory. One bite, decades gone." He set the worm into the jar before sighing in relief, then turning to look at Clara in surprise, seeing her still standing there and looking eagerly at him. "You still don't want to run?"

"I don't understand how a snowman builds itself. I might run once you've explained."

The Doctor looked at her in admiration before taking off the gauntlets. "Clara who?"

"Doctor Who?" She countered.

"Ooh, that's a dangerous question." The Doctor flirts.

"What's wrong with dangerous?" Clara flirted back. Around the corner, a snowman rises suddenly out of the ground, attracting Clara's attention while the Doctor rambles to himself. "The snowman!" Clara exclaimed.

"...it targets a low-level telepathic field, seems to reflect people's thoughts and memories and because it's unusual-"

"No, Doctor!" Clara grabbed his arm to pull him into the snowman's view, stopping his rambling as he laid eyes upon it.

"Oh, that's interesting." The Doctor said, raising his eyebrows.

"Where did it come from Doctor?" Clara asked, some fear growing in them both as next to the snowman, the ground started to swirl.

"You were thinking about the snowman when it appeared?" The Doctor asked.

"Yes." Another snowman shot straight out of the ground.

"Well, please stop." They both turn to run but stop as more snowmen emerge to block their path, sadistic evil grins on their faces as they bare their teeth and move towards them. The Doctor cupped Clara's face in his hands to focus her attention on him. "Clara, you need to stop thinking about the snowmen, they're feeding on your thoughts!"

"What do you mean?!" Clara exclaimed.

"The more you think about them, the more they appear! Imagine them melting Clara!" He said.

"How?!"

"Just picture them melting!" Clara closed her eyes, thought deeply about melting snow and after a few seconds, they both jump in shock as freezing water washes onto them. They open their eyes and look around to see no more snowmen and the path clear again. "Good job Clara." The Doctor congratulated.

"Will that happen again?" Clara asked with relief.

"Don't worry, you'll know what to do if they come back." He said with a grin.

Clara then motions towards the worm. "Unless I forget."

The Doctor looks between her and the worm before sighing, grabbing her hand and pulling her towards the carriage. "Alright then, you won't forget. Just do not come looking for me. Awful things happen to those around me, you're better off on your own."

"Wait, what about the snowmen?" Clara interrupted. "Shouldn't we be warning people?"

The Doctor looks at her solemnly for a few moments. "It's not my problem." He then closed the door of the carriage and walked away, missing Clara's shocked and hurt expression. "Merry Christmas. Strax, take her back to where we found her."

"Sir."

The carriage began to move as the Doctor walked away, not noticing that Clara stood on the other side having jumped out. She begins to silently follow the Doctor as he looks around discreetly before jumping a large fence into a yard. He inconspicuously whistles "Silent Night" before looking around one more time then jumping straight up and grabbing onto something which he pulled down. This made Clara widen her eyes in awe. Did he just pull a ladder out of nowhere? The Doctor climbs onto the ladder before knocking twice on its side, then the ladder rolls back up taking him with it as he and the ladder disappear from view. Clara fights hard to restrain a grin as she watches before moving cautiously to the same spot and looking upwards. There is absolutely nothing there. So how did he do it? Clara jumped up with one arm raised upwards before falling back to the ground in a huff. Now I wish I was taller, because that was silly. Standing up straight, she jumps with both arms raised, surprise growing across her face as she grabs onto the ladder which then rolls down to the ground. Clara climbs onto it before pausing then knocking on it twice as it repeats the motion in reverse, raising her up towards a platform and a tall, spiral staircase. Clara looks down upon the street to see a few people moving about, one of them looking in her direction briefly before moving on as if they saw nothing. Am I... invisible? Is the whole staircase invisible? She looks up at the sound of ascending footsteps before she cautiously follows, wrapping an arm around herself as a bitter chilly wind blows around her. As she reaches the top, Clara stares around in wonder at the star-filled night sky before turning confused at the sight of a blue police box sitting atop the mist. Slowly reaching her left foot down, she giggles in awe as her foot touches a solid ground under the mist before continuing to walk on it towards the box. Reaching out her right hand, she puts a light touch on the box, recoiling in slight shock as she hears a soft humming noise before going ahead to knock on the door. Clara quickly moves to the side of the box in silence as she hears some loud sounds like metal clanging against each other for a moment before the door opens.

"Hello?" The Doctor called timidly. He walks outside a few steps before turning around at the brief sound of light breathing. "Anybody here?" He then moves quickly to check behind the box as Clara moves in front of the doors. "Hello?" Before she can look inside, she quickly moves towards the staircase to descend back to the ground. The Doctor moves back around the box to hear the soft sound of footsteps on the staircase. Did someone follow me here? Was it...Clara? The Doctor then timidly moved back inside the box and closed the door in silence.

---

Inside the Great Intelligence Institute, Walter is grabbing more sample jars before moving up to the globe. "It is time to wait. Time for patience. All we want will come soon enough." Walter said dreamily as he shoved more snow inside the globe.

"Yes. Tonight: The thaw. Tomorrow, the snow shall fall again but stronger. The drowned woman and the dreaming child shall give us form at last. We shall wait, then tomorrow the snow will fall and so shall mankind. She is coming. "The voice booms.

---

The sun rolls in through the window as Clara awakens, taking a few moments to wipe the drowsiness from her eyes. What was I doing today? …Ah yes. Time to be Miss Montague. This made her smile as she rises from bed to see her already packed bag filled with her black dress already waiting for her. After getting ready, she grabs her bag and heads out the door, the owner of The Rose & Crown following her. Look at that. The snow must have thawed during the night. Clara mused as she stared at the clear ground around her.

"I'm begging you, Clara. I'm on my knees." The owner said, and she shook her head with a smirk.

"I was only helping out; Elsie will be back this afternoon. I, meanwhile, have my own work to get back to." Clara said slyly.

"Why won't you tell us?"

"You'd never believe me." Clara kisses her hand in a farewell motion as the owner nods in reciprocation before she turns to leave. As she climbs into her arranged carriage, she lowers the blinds over the windows before hastily changing from her red bartender dress to her black governess frock. The carriage then arrives at the Latimer house and Clara exited the carriage, gazing at the house with a smile as the maid comes out to greet her. "Alice. How smart you look today." Clara said, now with a distinguished English accent.

"Governess should enter by the back door unless accompanied by the children." Alice quipped in a soft teasing manner, the both of them smiling at each other.

"And how are the children? Excited about tomorrow?"

"Francesca, same as ever. Digby said he missed you every day. Captain Latimer wants to see you." Alice quickly added.

"Of course." Clara then picked up her bag to move into the house before stopping and turning to look at Alice. "Every day?"

"Twice on Saturdays."

"That's better." Clara said with a wink before moving inside the large house. After moving towards Latimer's office, she politely knocked on the door before entering. "Captain Latimer." She greeted.

"Ah, Miss Montague, welcome back." Latimer replied with a kind smile.

"Thankfully, in time for Christmas. Apologies for my brief absence. Family, honestly, so unpredictable. You wanted to see me?" Clara hid a smile as she distantly wondered about her…rather intriguing night with the snowmen and the Doctor.

"Francesca has been having nightmares."

Clara sighed. "Young girls often do."

"Every night this week, she says. She will not tell me about them." Latimer gazed at the floor in dejected, dull misery. "I mean…I want to help her, I just…don't know what to do." He shrugged.

"Perhaps if you ask her kindly enough, she might tell you."

Latimer gave a smile at her words. "If I may say, you already have a remarkable amount of wisdom in your life, Miss Montague."

"Thank you. I'll see to the children now." Clara reciprocated the smile before curtsying and turning from the room. She heads through the house and out a door to the backyard to see the two children running around in laughter. They both spot Clara and rush towards her.

"Miss Montague!" Francesca exclaims.

"Miss Montague, you're back!" Digby also exclaims.

"Ah!" Clara holds up a hand making them stop and clear their throats politely.

"Good morning, Miss Montague." Digby said politely.

"Good morning, Miss Montague." Francesca mirrored.

"Good morning, Francesca." Clara shakes her hand. "Good morning, Digby." Clara repeated with him. "Christmas Eve is a most thrilling day, don't you think?" They both nod with a grin. "Now then, what have you two been up to while I was away?"

"I did seven drawings and we saw a dead cow." Digby said joyously.

Clara raised her eyebrows in mild shock. "Well…how exciting."

"Do your secret voice. Please."

Clara glanced around quickly before waving her hand for the two of them to lean forward as she does the same. "Hello mates!" She whispers in her cockney accent making the two children laugh. "Now then Francesca, I want a quick word and no, you're not in trouble." This made Francesca sigh in relief as they moved towards a nearby bench while Digby played with a red ball. "What is this about you having nightmares this week?" Clara asked worriedly.

"They're not exactly nightmares. Just dreams." Francesca said timidly.

"It's about our old governess, the one who died. She's haunting Franny from beyond the grave." Digby shakes his hands above him for mocking affect before returning to play.

"Why haven't you spoken to your father about this?"

"We can't talk about things like that to Daddy."

"You could try."

"Miss Montague, do you want to see where she died?" Digby asked. Clara contemplates for a few moments before giving into the temptation and nodding. Digby then leads them to the pond at the front of the house. "She fell in there and then it froze. She was stuck in there for days and days." Digby paused for a second. "I hated her. She was cross all the time, no matter what we did. In Franny's dreams, she's still down there, just waiting. Waiting to return."

Clara looks upon the pond with confusion riddled over her face. Why has everything else thawed out except the pond? The Doctor said the more you think about it, the more it will appear. Is this what he means? "Franny, you dream about her. But what exactly do you dream?"

"She just says that I've been naughty, so she'll come out and punish me."

"Did she say when?"

"Tonight, for Christmas."

"Honestly, I think Franny's gone mad. Maybe she needs a doctor." Digby inputted. This makes Clara look at him with a suppressed grin. I know just the man.

---

Clara returns to the yard where she followed the Doctor to the night before. "Doctor!" She called to the sky, not noticing the people around the yard looking at her in confused bewilderment. "Doctor!" Jenny pauses in her walk by the yard to see Clara, her yelling attracting the bewildered attention of the people around her. "Doctor!"

That made Jenny rush into the yard. "Now then, that's enough noise." She interrupted. "We don't want to attract attention, now do we?"

Clara turned to look at her. "I'm looking for the Doctor. Do you know him?"

Jenny smiled. "Doctor Who?" This made Clara smile knowingly.

"You do know him then."

Jenny nodded. "Yes, but he's not exactly here right now. I can take you to meet someone who can reach him."

"Who?"

"My wife." Jenny said bluntly, enjoying Clara's raised eyebrows at this. Then, after a moment, her eyes widened in realization.

"Wait a moment, are you Jenny Flint? From Paternoster Row?"

"Yes, I am. I won't need to tell you who my wife is."

13 Paternoster Row

Entering 13 Paternoster Row, Clara immediately paused in surprise upon the sight of Strax. "Do not attempt to escape or you will be obliterated!" Strax warned before blinking at Jenny's stern glare. "May I take your coat?" Strax held out his arm.

Clara blinked a couple times at the mixed signals before handing her coat timidly and moving past Strax with Jenny to enter a room filled with plants and two chairs in the centre. On one of those chairs sat Madame Vastra drinking...Okay, that's either red wine or blood. However, the mere sight of Madame Vastra made Clara look at her in awe.

"Sit." Jenny motioned to the empty chair as Vastra looks at Clara in observation.

"There are two refreshments in your world with the colour of red wine. This is not red wine." Vastra said bluntly as she placed her glass down on the table beside her.

"Madame Vastra will ask you questions." Jenny immediately said. "You will confine yourself to single word responses. Do you understand?"

"Why?" Clara asked in confusion.

"Truth is singular. Lies are words." Vastra said. "You met the Doctor, didn't you?"

"Yes."

"And now you've come looking for him again. Why?" Clara paused in contemplation at that.

"Take your time. One word only." Jenny said.

"Curiosity." Clara says finally.

"About?" Vastra asked.

"Snow."

"And about him?"

"Yes."

"What do you want from him?"

"Help."

"Why?"

"Danger."

"Why would he help you?"

Clara squints for a moment. "Kindness."

Vastra scoffed. "The Doctor is not kind."

Clara raised her eyebrows in challenge. "No?"

"No. The Doctor does not help people. Not anyone, not ever. He stands above this world and does not interfere in the affairs of its inhabitants. He is not your salvation nor your protector. Do you understand what I'm saying to you?"

Clara smirked. "Words."

Vastra relaxes slightly as Jenny gives a small smile. "He was...different once. A long time ago. Kind? Yes. A hero? Definitely. But something horrific happened."

Clara contemplated for a few moments. People only act like that because of…"War?" She finally asked.

Vastra looked up at her, slightly impressed at her cunning. "Yes. His world was at war. A long and terrible war. The Doctor had to make a choice. He could end the war, but it would leave him the only survivor of his race, yet the universe would be safe. Tell me, what would drive him to make that choice, knowing what it would do to him?"

"Selflessness."

Vastra nodded. "That is why he's alone. Putting everyone else before him. Now he prefers isolation, but not because he does not want the pain to return. That pain he will feel shall always be there. He prefers isolation because he does not know how to move on. Kindly choose a word to indicate your understanding of this."

Clara contemplated for a few moments. "Man." She said softly.

Vastra gave a questioning glance to Jenny, who quickly nodded. "We are the Doctor's friends. We assist him in his isolation but that does not mean we approve of it." Vastra then leaned forward towards Clara. "So, a test for you. Give me a message for the Doctor. Tell him all about the snow and what fresh dangers it presents and above all, explain why he should help you." Clara goes to speak but Vastra quickly put a finger on her lips. "But do it in one word." Vastra smirked as Clara's eyes widen in disbelief. "You're thinking it's impossible that such a word can exist or that you can find it. Let us see if the gods are with you."

---

The Doctor sat silently inside the TARDIS, reading one of the many books from the extensive library. The phone on the door rings, making him groan as he puts down the book to answer it. Someday, I must patch that back through to the console unit. "What is it Vastra? I'm trying to read here."

"Miss Clara Oswald and her concerns about the snow? I gave her the one-word test."

"That's always pointless." He groaned. "All right, what did she say?"

"Pond." The Doctor gave a completely and utterly confused expression at that word. "Strax has already suggested where to start investigating. There is an institute called "The Great Intelligence". Perhaps you should look there."

The Doctor heard Vastra hang up as he continues to stare in confusion. The TARDIS then beeps at him as if to say, "Go on then."

"No. I've already told them; I don't do this anymore." He said, placing the phone where it belonged.

*Beeps* (Take a look then.)

"Why would I? Ponds do not tell you that you are in danger. Clara must be in over her head."

*Beeps* (Not as much as you.)

"No. That is final. I'm not going."

*Beeps* (Don't forget your key and sonic, thief.)

The Doctor realized that in his aimless rambling, he had already opened the doors of the TARDIS, making him groan in defeat. "Oh, all right, you win. I hope you're feeling happy." However, he then paused before letting a grin appear on his face. "You know what? Let us have a bit of fun."

---

Inside the institute, Walter sat writing at his desk as the globe remained silent before the snow inside it started to move in agitation. "Danger. Danger."

Walter looked up in confusion and concern. "What's wrong?" He asked, moving around the desk and up to the globe.

"There is danger here. An intelligence that is beyond anything else in this time and place."

One of his butlers enters the large room without knocking. "Dr Simeon, sir. There is someone demanding to see you."

Walter waves dismissively. "No callers, not in here, not ever. Did he leave his name?"

"Sir...it's Sherlock Holmes." This make Walter turn around to look at the door, confusion radiating off his face as the door opens, the Doctor stepping inside, wearing a typical Sherlock Holmes outfit and a large, beaming grin.

"Hello! Impressive with the office and snow globe. Now, hush. I see from your collar that you have an apple tree and a wife with a limp, am I right?"

"No."

The Doctor started looking sheepish, yet the grin ceased to fade. "Do you have a wife?"

"No."

"Bit of a tree? Some apples?"

"I enjoy "The Strand Magazine" as much as the next man, but I'm perfectly aware that Sherlock Holmes is a fictional character. Get out!" The last words Walter yelled towards his butler.

"Do you have a goldfish named Colin?" The Doctor asks the butler.

"No."

"I'm sure I used to be better at this." The Doctor went to the desk and picked up one of the business cards.

"Who are you and what do you want here?" Walter demanded.

The Doctor ignored the first question and moved up to the globe. "Snow. And how convenient of you to have an honestly, quite impressive snow globe inside your conveniently secretive institute."

"You must step away now! The equipment is highly valuable." Walter snapped.

"We are the Intelligence." The voice of the snow booms out into the room, making the Doctor raise his eyebrows.

"Talking snow. Now we're talking." The Doctor laughed at his own joke while Walter looked dully indifferent.

"You are not of this world."

"It takes one to snow one." The Doctor laughs again yet Walter stays indifferent. "Come on, work with me here. Sure, the jokes are a hundred years too early, but it is still very funny. *Clears Throat* Anyway, let us have a look. A multi-nuclear crystalline organism with the ability to mimic whoever and whatever it finds. It looks like snow, yet it isn't."

"You must leave here now." Walter repeated.

"Can I have a bit of hush, thank you?" Walter goes to ring a bell for aid. "Now then, big snow fella, you must be a swarm. You are the leader while the snowmen act as your foot soldiers. You turn up on a planet, generate a telepathic field to gather knowledge." The Doctor pulls out his red tipped sonic and points it at the lock on the door. "But you cannot conquer the world using snowmen, so you have to evolve. You'd have to become...Human."

The door begins to rattle as muffled voices float through outside. "Kick it down!" Walter yelled at the door.

The Doctor moves towards the desk and begins to flick through the large book on it. "To do that, you need a perfect duplicate of Human DNA in ice. Where do you find that?" The Doctor lands upon a page holding newspapers, one of which reports the death of a governess in a frozen pond. That is what Clara meant. This made the Doctor laugh heartily. "This is fantastic!"

"Get in here!" Walter yelled as the door opened swiftly. "Take him downstair-" Walter stops however as he turns around to notice the Doctor has already left, taking an exit through the back door.

---

The Doctor stands outside the Latimer house, looking upon the frozen pond in contemplation. Snow wants a good look at a Human being, they get a body frozen in a pond. Pond. Not bad at all, Clara. The Doctor lets an impressed smile appear before turning around at the sound of footsteps to see Strax armed with a gun. "Strax? What're you doing here?"

"Madame Vastra wondered if you were needing any grenades." Strax said with a grin.

"What?" The Doctor asked in bewilderment.

Strax paused sheepishly. "She may have said help."

"For what?"

Strax blinked. "Well…your investigation."

The Doctor scoffed. "Investigation? Who says I'm investigating? Do you think I will start investigating just because someone clever and…and…and gorgeous smiles at me? Who do you think I am?" The Doctor rambled in denial.

"Sherlock Holmes." Strax said with a smirk.

The Doctor turned around and pointed a finger but cannot find any words for a moment. "Don't be clever, Strax. It doesn't suit you." He warned emptily.

"Sorry, sir."

"I'm the clever one, you're the potato one." He said, poking Strax in the forehead with his finger.

"Yes, sir." Strax's smile becomes harder for him to hold.

"Now give me some hush or go away."

"Yes, Mister Holmes." Strax started giggling mischievously before walking away.

"Oi! Shut up! You're not clever, or funny and you've got...tiny legs." The Doctor turned around to glance at the pond, shaking his head with a small frown. "Nice job there, Doctor. Couldn't even produce your own retort." He muttered.

One of the windows of the house has its curtains drawn back to reveal Clara, who looks down at the Doctor with a smile. She then motions her hand for him to come up, which made him pause for a few seconds. I am just leaving; I am not going up. I am leaving, NOT going up. He then held up five fingers and a thumbs up making Clara grin as she shuts the curtain. He quickly smacked his forehead in self irritation. "Five minutes, Doctor, where did that come from? Sentimental old bastard." The Doctor said with a huff as he went ahead towards the house.

---

In front of the gate to the house, Walter Simeon's carriage pulls up, secretly watched by the Paternoster Gang. "It's the Human male from the institute. What is he doing here? I suggest we melt his brain using projectile acid fish, then interrogate him." Strax said, making Vastra and Jenny look at him, eyebrows furrowed. "Other way around." He grumbled, making them both shake their heads.

---

Inside the house, Clara is tucking a nervous Francesca into bed. "Am I going to have the nightmare tonight?" She asked in a small voice.

Clara looks at her in determination. "Definitely not."

"How do you know?"

"Because, someone is coming to help."

"Who?" Digby asked curiously.

"You'd never believe me."

"Is it another one of your stories? The ones that are "Definitely" true?" The last bit made Clara gasp and Digby giggle.

"Oi! All of my stories are true." Clara said with a smile.

"Like how you were born behind the clock face of Big Ben?" Digby asked.

Clara smirked. "Accounting for my acute sense of time."

"So, what's this one?" Digby and Francesca leaned forward anxiously.

Clara clears her throat. "There's a man, called "The Doctor". He lives on a cloud in the sky, and all he does all day, every day is to stop all the children in the world from ever having bad dreams."

"I've been having bad dreams." Francesca pointed out.

Clara had to hide a giggle. "He's been on holiday." A creaking sound emits from the floor outside the door. "But I am confident he has now returned to work and in fact, he's here right now. Aren't you Doctor?" Clara looks up at the opening door but jumps in shock as the children scream. Standing in the doorway was a living sculpture made purely of ice, with eyes as pale as the moon. "Bleedin' 'ell!" Clara exclaims, reverting back to her cockney accent.

"The children have been very naughty!" The Governess yelled.

"Just get back, now!" Clara demands to the children, who despite the terror in their eyes, did as she said.

"You're doing your other voice!" Digby reminds her.

"Yes, love, did you notice?!"

"Naughty, naughty children!"

"Run!" The three of them rush past the governess and out the door. Clara locks the door behind them as they hear the Governess groan impatiently.

"What do we do?" Digby asked.

"Franny. Picture her melting." Clara said as she rushes over to Francesca.

"What?"

"In your head!"

Francesca closes her eyes for a moment, but nothing happens. "I can't!"

"I have lost my patience!" The Governess roared as she rips the door open. "You have been very naughty!"

"What about the man?! You said the man was here, the cloud man!" Digby said to Clara.

"Well, he's not, is he?!"

"Where's the Doctor?!"

"Doctor?" The Doctor's voice rings out from the puppet box, making the three of them gasp. "Doctor? *Chuckles* Doctor Who?" The three of them looked bewildered at the moving puppet who pulls out the sonic screwdriver and points it at the Governess, who roars as she shatters into a million pieces, making the Doctor laugh as he moves out from behind the puppet box. "Fantastic!" The children smile at him while Clara raises her eyebrows, trying hard to hide a smile of her own.

---

Outside the house, Walter moves to the back of the carriage and activates a device that begins to spew snow all around it.

---

"Where did she go? Will she come back?" Francesca asks the Doctor as he scans the melted ice with the sonic.

"No. She's just draining through the carpet." The Doctor stands up to look at Clara. "Antifreeze. Not sure I have used it before, nor do I think I will be using it again. You're welcome."

"I'm incredibly grateful. I knew you'd come."

"No, you didn't. This is not the sort of thing I do anymore. So, the next time you're in trouble don't expect me to-" The Doctor pauses as he looks in the mirror. After he left the institute, he had changed into a black leather jacket, dark purple jumper, and black trousers. Yet what stopped him rambling was not his clothes.

"What is it? What's wrong?" Clara asked in concern.

He shook his head slightly, not taking his gaze away from his new face. "Nothing." In all that time on the cloud, I never even looked in the mirror to see this face. "Haven't been paying attention to the state I'm in. Clothes were just sort off jumbled together, like always."

The Doctor did not notice frost starting to form on the windows from the snow outside. "It's cooler." Clara said, pointing out the sudden drop in the temperature.

The Doctor looks up in the mirror, eyebrows raised before he lets forth a grin. "Ah, could've been worse. But look at the ears." He flicks them a few times with a frown. "They just do not want to stop. Nose is the same too. Hair…" He runs a hand over his head before shrugging. "Going to miss having big hair but short hair is nice enough."

"No, the room. The room is getting colder." The Doctor looks around in confusion before they divert their attention to the crackling noise under the carpet, which begins to give way as the Ice Governess rises.

"She's coming back!" Digby exclaimed.

"What's she going to do? Is she going to punish me?" Francesca asks fearfully.

The Doctor pulls out his sonic and tries the antifreeze, yet nothing happens. "Okay, she's learned not the melt. That or I need a new sonic. What is wrong with you?" The last part the Doctor says to the sonic, which would have been funny in any other situation. "Sorry children, but it's not really your old Governess. She's just a beast and she's here to eat you."

"Doctor!" Clara exclaims.

"What?! Do you want me to lie to them?! Have you got a better idea?!"

"No, you?!"

"Yes: Run!" The Doctor motions the children out as he grabs Clara's hand before they run out the door and downstairs, straight into Captain Latimer.

"Children, what is the exp-who the devil are you?! What are you doing in my house?!"

"It's fine, don't worry. I'm the Doctor, your governess's gentlemen friend and we've been upstairs...snogging!" Both the Doctor and Clara look at each other in surprise as they both exclaimed the same word in unison before clearing their throats to hide their blush.

The front doorbell rings as Alice runs into the hall. "Captain Latimer! In the garden, there's snowmen and they're just growing, out of nowhere, all by themselves! Look!" She rushes to the front door to open it and standing there is the sweetly smiling couple of Vastra and Jenny.

"Good evening, I'm a lizard woman from the dawn of time and this is my wife." Both jumped slightly as Alice runs back into the hallway, shrieking in terror.

"This dwelling is under attack! Remain calm, Human scum!" Strax demands as he strides into the room.

Alice shrieks again before fainting onto the floor, Captain Latimer checking to see if she's okay.

"So then, any questions?" The Doctor asks Latimer.

"You sure kissing is all you did up there?" Latimer quips, referring to their blushes.

"What? No!" Both the Doctor and Clara stammer before the Doctor rushes to a window, Vastra moving to join him. "Vastra, what's happening?"

"The snow is highly localized and, on this occasion, not naturally occurring."

"It's coming out of Dr Simeon's cab by the gates." Jenny points out.

"Of course, Simeon wants the Governess for snow globe boy in the institute, so he's come here for her now that she's up and about." The Doctor deducted.

"Sir, one pulver grenade would blow these snowmen to smithereens!" Strax exclaims passionately.

The Doctor groaned. "Come on, use your brain Strax. They're snow, you can't blow smithereens to smithereens. You know what Clara? You were right, not sure where his brain went to." This made Clara giggle in remembrance of their first meeting.

"Clara? Who's Clara?" Latimer asks.

"Captain Latimer, your current governess is in reality a barmaid called Clara."

"Fantastic!" The voice of the governess at the top of the stairs diverts everyone's attention.

"Meanwhile, your previous governess is now a living ice sculpture impersonating me. Oi! I'm the one that says "Fantastic", not you!"

"Fantastic!"

The Doctor sighs in defeat. "Oh, never mind then. Jenny, what have you got?"

Jenny holds up a force field bomb before throwing it in front of the Governess, causing an amber coloured field to appear, trapping the Governess on the stairs. "That should hold her!"

"Sir, into this room! One observational window on the line of attack and one defendable entrance!" Strax calls from the entrance to Latimer's office.

"Right, everyone in there. Latimer, you can help her. What's her name?" The Doctor asks, pointing to Alice as everyone but Vastra rushes in.

"Alice and don't worry, I'll help her." Latimer at once moves to carry Alice inside.

"Good man!" The Doctor moves to the foot of the stairs and pulls out his sonic to amplify the forcefield, yet it starts to fizz for a moment before working again. "Ugh! I seriously need to update you, old fella!" He grumbled.

"Nice to see you off your cloud and engaging again." Vastra said over his shoulder.

"Vastra, I'm not engaging. I'm under attack."

"Don't lie, you've missed this." Vastra says knowingly.

The Doctor turns and points the sonic at her before grinning. "Shut up!" This makes Vastra smile as they both move into the office. "Strax, how long have we got?"

"They're not going to attack, sir. They've made no attempt to conceal their arrival. An attack force would never abandon surprise so easily and they're clearly in a defence formation." Strax informed.

"Not bad, Strax. See? You've still got it!" The Doctor rubs his knuckles on Strax's head in glee.

"Sir, please do not noogie me during combat prep." Strax says with disgust.

"So, there's something here they want." Vastra points out, returning the Doctor to the task at hand.

"The ice woman. They need her to be like her." Clara quickly deducts.

"Exactly. Not bad there Clara." The Doctor says with a warm smile.

"What would she give to them?" Jenny asks.

"The Governess is a perfect duplication of Human DNA in ice form. That's what they're after, the fusion of snow and humanity. To live here, the snow needs to evolve. That's why they need her, she is what they need to become. Clara, when the snow melted last night, did the pond?"

"No."

"Living ice, so it will never melt. If the snow gets a hold of her, they will learn to make more. It will allow them to build an army of ice and it will be the last day of humanity on this planet." The doorbell rings, making the Doctor look up with a cold expression, already figuring out who is there. "All of you, stay here." He moves out of the room and closes the door but stops as it opens again to show Clara moving out to join him. "Oi! I told you to stay in there."

"Oh, I didn't listen."

"Yeah, you do that a lot."

"That's why you like me."

"Who says I like you-" Clara cuts him off by grabbing his jacket and bringing him down to smash her lips against his, making him freeze in surprise before he lets his hands rest on her shoulders.

"I think you just did." Clara says with a mischievous look as they part.

"No, you kissed me."

"And you blushed."

The Doctor does not find words for a second. "Can I have a bit of hush now?" He clears his throat after noticing how high pitched his voice is before moving quickly to the door, leaving Clara as she giggles behind him. He opens the door to see Walter standing there, the snowmen behind him growing aggressively, before letting an expression as cold as Walter's show on his face.

"Release her to us. You have five minutes." Walter warned.

The Doctor slams the door in his face, before marching towards the stairs. "We need to get her out of here yet kept away from them."

"How?" Clara asks.

The Doctor pulls out an umbrella from a nearby rack. "With this." He then pulls out the sonic and aims it at the field.

"Doctor, what're you doing?"

"Between you and me, I have no idea." The field deactivates before he uses the sonic to switch the position to behind him, not noticing Clara has already moved beside him. "Right, you look after everyone here then I can-Clara!" He whined.

"Look out!"

The Doctor ducks as the Governess lashes out before grasping Clara's hand and pulling her up the stairs. "That was stupid, Clara!"

"You were stupid too!"

"Oi! I'm allowed to be stupid!"

"Fantastic!"

"Why does she keep saying that?!" Clara groaned in annoyance.

"Mirroring, random mirroring!" The Doctor grabs the umbrella, ready to strike to delay her. "We need to get on the ro-" Clara however grabs his hand and continues the run. "No, no, wait! I'm the one that does the hand grabbing! That's my job!"

"Doctor, shut up!"

"Sorry!" Reaching the attic, he pushes open the window and climbs outside, before turning around to see Clara still there. "No time for a breather, Clara!" The Doctor admonishes.

"Oi! Try wearing a bustle and climb through a window!" The Doctor then grabs onto her and pulls, sending them tumbling onto the roof.

"It'll be easier if you take those off!" They both pause, their earlier blushes returning. "Ok, I didn't mean-"

"I know."

"I just-"

"I understand. Now what's the plan?"

"Who says I have a plan?"

"Of course you have a plan, you took this." Clara says, grabbing onto the umbrella.

"What did I just say, Clara? I'm allowed to be stupid." They both scramble as they get up off each other, the Doctor looking upwards to the sky.

"Yes, but you're also clever." Clara crosses her arms as she says this.

The Doctor smirked. Time for a test. "If I have a plan, what is it?"

"Fantastic!"

Clara's eyes widened in almost playful agitation. "Is this a test?"

"Yes, now hurry up."

"What will she do to us?"

"Kill us."

"Fantastic!" The Governess then started to slowly turn into snow to move through the window.

"So, hurry up then. Do I have a plan?"

"Oh, I figured it out already." Clara boasted before throwing the umbrella at the Doctor.

"No, you didn't." He reciprocated both the tone and throw.

"Course I did."

"Tell me then."

"Why should I?"

"Because we'll be dead in half a minute, so hurry up."

"Alright then, grumpy. If we were escaping, we'd be climbing down the building. If we were hiding, we'd be on the other side of the roof. But no, we're right here."

"So?"

"So…" Clara uses the umbrella to reach up and pull the ladder down. "After you."

"After you."

"After you!" Clara huffed. "I'm wearing a dress, have your eyes front soldier."

"What do you mean, they're always front." The Doctor grumbled before moving up the ladder.

"Mine aren't." Clara flirted while looking at him appreciatively.

The Doctor looks back at her with the blush returned. "Oi! Stop it!"

"No." Clara says with a sly smile. As the Doctor climbs onto the platform, Clara moves onto the ladder before clearing her throat and briefly returning to her English accent. "I understand you're the previous governess, but I regret to inform you the position is taken." She uses the umbrella to knock on the ladder twice to make it roll upwards. "Goodnight." She says the last part in a taunt, making the Governess growl. Clara climbs onto the platform to join the Doctor as they both begin to move up the staircase. "So, you can move your cloud? Can you control it?"

"What? No. No one can control clouds! That's silly. I use the wind. Much more sophisticated." The Doctor says the last part with proud smugness. They hear a rattling noise, making them look down to see the Governess pulling the ladder and beginning to climb it.

"She's following us." Clara says with a bit of fear as they continue to climb.

"That's the idea, keep her away from the snow." The Doctor said. "So, barmaid or governess?"

Clara blinked. "She's after us with the intent on killing us and you want to have a chat?"

"Well, we can't do that after we've been killed now can we?" The Doctor retorted.

"How are we climbing up this so quickly?" Clara asked, quickly changing the subject.

"It's a long story. I'll just simplify it and say it's shorter than it looks." They both reach the top, making the Doctor pull out the sonic and use it on the staircase.

"What are we standing on?"

"Remarkably dense water vapour. Should keep her trapped for a moment." Some of the cloud then forms around the staircase, hiding it from view. They both turn and walk towards the TARDIS as the Doctor pockets the sonic and pulls out a key.

"So, you actually live up here, on a cloud, in a box?" Clara reiterated.

"Yes, I do." The Doctor nodded.

"Blimey, you really do know how to sulk."

"Oi! I'm not sulking." The Doctor grumbled as he opened the door.

"You live in a box. One that you haven't been maintaining very well, I might add." Clara said, pointing out the muck and grease on the TARDIS.

"Are you going to witter on all night?" The Doctor adds in defensive of his home as they move inside, the lights off as he prepares the reveal. "She's no more a box than you are a governess."

Clara growled. "Ugh, spoken like a man! You know, you're the same as all the rest! Sweet little Clara works at "The Rose & Crown", ideas above her station. Well, for your information, I'm not sweet on the inside and I'm certainly not-" The Doctor cuts her off by flicking the lights on and she drops her growling to stare around in awe. "Little." The console room was expansive, bathed in a golden hue while stylized in the form of coral.

"She's called the TARDIS. A ship that can travel anywhere in time and space. And she's mine, my home." The Doctor added in fondness.

Clara was utterly speechless at the size and expanse of the room. "But this...look at it, its…"

"Go on, say it. Most people do." The Doctor teases with a smile, which turns into a laughing grin as Clara rushes around the TARDIS exterior before moving inside.

"It's smaller on the outside." Clara admits finally.

The Doctor deflates at the different admission. "Okay, that's a first."

"Were you expecting me to say, "Bigger on the inside"?"

"That's what most people say." He grumbled.

"Well, tough then." Clara rushes around, giggling as she sees the interior in more detail. "Is there a kitchen?"

The Doctor raises his eyebrows in surprise. "Another first."

Clara pauses in contemplation for a second. "I don't know why I asked that, it's just...I like making soufflés."

The Doctor looks at her distantly. "Soufflés?"

Clara turned to look at him in confusion. "Why are you showing me all this?"

"You followed me, remember?"

"You're nearly a foot taller than me." Clara holds up the umbrella to emphasise her point. "You could've reached the ladder without this. You took it, for me." She chucks the umbrella at him, who catches it, his expression growing softer. "Why?"

The Doctor puts the umbrella down before reaching into his pocket. "I never know why. I only know who." He then pulls out a TARDIS key and puts in into Clara's hand.

Clara looks down, tears of joy coming into her eyes. "What's this?"

"Me, giving in. You're right. I've been sulking on this cloud for too long. It's about time I stopped." He said, giving her a soft smile.

Clara gives a light chuckle despite the tears. "I don't know why I'm crying."

"I do. Remember this, Clara. Right now, remember all of it, because this is the day. This, Clara Oswald, is the day that I stop sulking and start running!" The Doctor's words turn passionate as he moves to the console and starts flicking switches but halting in terror as he hears Clara scream. He turns around to see her outside the TARDIS, the Governess dragging her as she drops the key in her hand. "Clara! Let her go! Clara!"

"Get off me!" Clara exclaimed.

"Let her go now!" The Governess pulls Clara to fall with her off the side of the cloud, laughing evilly as she does.

"Doctor!"

"No! Clara!" He kneels on the edge of the cloud, looking in despair as he watches her fall to the Earth.

---

Inside the Latimer house, everyone shoots up in shock as they hear a loud shatter followed by a slam of something hitting the ground.

"What on Earth was that?" Vastra exclaims as they move towards the window. They look outside to see the broken body of Clara on the ground, surrounded by ice.

"Clara." Jenny murmurs in sadness. Strax pulls out a medical device to scan Clara.

"Oh, dear god. Where did she fall from?!" Latimer exclaims before moving to the door. "We have to get her inside!"

"The snowmen will kill you, Latimer!" Vastra yells.

"She's hurt!"

The medical device beeps as it finishes the scan to say, "No Life Signs Detected". "She's Dead!" They all stop as they hear a loud, groaning noise, looking outside to see the TARDIS materialising around Clara.

"What is that?" Latimer wondered.

"The Doctor. He's bringing her in."

Inside the TARDIS, the Doctor pilots it to land inside the house, before picking up Clara in bridal fashion and moving her outside. "Latimer, move everything off the table." The Doctor said bluntly.

"She's dead, Doctor." Vastra pointed out.

"She can't be, now do as I say!" The Doctor roars, making everyone flinch as they quickly move everything off the table. The Doctor then sets Clara down before snatching Strax's medical device and resuscitates Clara. "Keep her alive, Strax." He orders as he plants a soft kiss on Clara's forehead before moving inside the TARDIS, Vastra following him.

"Madame Vastra said she was dead, so how can she be alive again?" Latimer asks softly.

"This technology has capacities and abilities beyond anything your puny Human mind could possibly understand." Strax pauses awkwardly for a moment. "Try not to worry." Strax then gets to work on the medical device.

Inside the TARDIS, the Doctor is scanning the ice crystals of the Governess before groaning. "This sonic is getting worthless!" He snapped.

*Beeps* (She'll be all right)

The TARDIS then opens a hole in the console before a silver sonic with a blue light appears, making him pause to grab it and stroke the console softly. "Thank you, old girl." The Doctor said with a sad smile before returning to work, not taking the time to marvel at the improved sonic.

"Doctor, could the creature still be a danger?" Vastra asks gently.

"No, not in here."

"Then you should be with Miss Clara."

"She's going to be fine. I know she is. She has to be." He muttered in an almost pleading voice.

"Doctor, please. Her injuries are severe. That equipment will bring back anyone for a moment but long-term-"

"Vastra, it's my fault what happened to Clara. She was in my care."

Vastra sighed. "What is the point in blaming yourself?"

The Doctor looked down in sadness. "None. Because she's going to live. She has to live." The Doctor then pulls a gauntlet out and a memory worm jar before taking the worm from the jar and placing it inside a box covered in markings then moving outside to join the others. "Jenny, could you please..." He stuttered.

"Sure." Jenny at once grabs the box for him as he moved towards Clara, placing a hand on her forehead and rubbing it gently.

The Doctor gives a soft smile as Clara opens her eyes and looks at him. "Hello." He whispered.

"They all think I'm going to die, don't they?" She asked wearily.

"They do. But I know you'll prove them wrong and live."

"How?"

"I never know how; I just know who." He then reaches into his pocket and pulls out the same key before placing it in her grasp and kissing her hand.

"Doctor…Vastra said you were the saver of worlds once. Are you going to save ours?"

"If I do, will you come away with me?" He asks with kind hope.

Clara, despite her current situation, lets a soft smile grace her features. "Yes."

"Well then, Merry Christmas Clara Oswald." He then leans down and plants a kiss on her forehead.

"Merry Christmas, Doctor."

The Doctor then stands up straight, clicks his neck before taking the box back from Jenny and moving to the front door. He opens it to see Walter standing there patiently, before holding the box up. "I have here a piece of the Ice Lady. It has everything you need to know about making ice people. If that's what you want, I'll see you at the office." He finishes with a taunt before shutting the door and moving to the TARDIS, motioning for Vastra to join him.

"So then, Doctor. Saving the world again? Might I ask why? Are you making a bargain with the universe? You'll save the world to let her live?" Vastra asked.

"Yes, and don't you think that after all this time and everything that I've ever done that I'm owed this one?!" He snapped as he flickered the switches of the console.

"I don't think the universe makes bargains, Doctor." Vastra simply said.

"It was my fault! So, she will live!"

"Well then, old friend. Better save the world." She said kindly.

The Doctor hugs Vastra with a smile before pulling the materialization lever to take them to the institute. They exit and set themselves patiently for Walter, the Doctor sitting at his desk with Vastra standing by him. They both give a knowing nod as they realize that the voice of the snow doesn't seem to talk without Walter. Said man then storms into the room in haste.

"You promised us something! Have you brought it?!" He demanded.

"Big fella has been remarkably quiet while you've been out. That's to be expected considering who he really is." Standing up, the Doctor grabs the box and holds it up as he moves towards the globe. "Do you know what this is?" He asked.

"I do not understand these markings." The voice booms.

"A map of the London Underground, 1967. Key strategic weakness in metropolitan living, if I'm being honest."

"Enough of this. We are powerful but, on this planet, we are limited." The Doctor pulls out his sonic and switches it behind his back, changing the voice to sound like a child. Walter Simeon, as a child to be exact. "We need to learn to take Human form. The Governess is our most perfect replication of humanity."

"What's happening to its voice?" Vastra asks.

"Just stripping away the disguise." The Doctor says as he pockets the sonic.

"No! Stop! Stop that! Cease! I command you!" The voice roared, it's new inflection now making Walter shake in shock.

"Why does it sound like a child, Doctor?"

"Because it is a child. Simeon as a child. The snow has no voice without him."

"Don't listen to him! He's ruining everything!"

"How long has he been talking to you?" The Doctor asked Walter.

Walter gulped. "I was a little boy and…he was my snowman. He spoke to me."

"Snow doesn't talk, Walter, it just mirrors. It reflects everything you think and feel and fear. You poured your darkest dreams into that snowman and look at what it became!" The Doctor spat.

"I don't understand." Vastra said, calming the Doctor slightly.

"It's a parasite, feeding on the loneliness of a child and the sickness of an old man. *Chuckles* Carnivorous snow meets Victorian values and a terrible monster is born."

"We can go on and do everything we've planned."The voice implored.

"Oh yes, sure. What a plan, create a world full of ice people." The Doctor mocked.

"What's wrong with Victorian values?" Walter asked rhetorically before snatching the box and ripping the lid off.

Vastra rushes forward, ready to draw her sword, but the Doctor holds up a hand. "Are you sure?"

"I've always been sure." Walter said coldly as he rips open the box before suddenly yelling in pain as he clutches onto the memory worm, which is biting deep into his hand. Eventually, his screams fade and his knees wobble, the man losing balance and falling face first onto the floor.

The Doctor gave a cold smirk. "Good. I'm glad you were so sure since your entire life's now erased. No parasite without a host. So, without you, no voice. Without the Governess, no form."

"What...what...what's happening? What's happening? What did you do?" The voice asked fearfully.

"You've got nothing left to mirror anymore." The Doctor taunted. "Goodbye."

"What...did...you…" For a moment it looked like it was dying before the machine powered up and the snow began to fly around inside menacingly. "Did you really think it would be so easy? "It taunted in return.

The Doctor looks at it in fear. "That's not possible. How is that possible?"

"Doctor!" Vastra motions towards the window, where they see even more snow than before.

"No, that's not possible! You were just Dr Simeon; you were never real! He just dreamed you, so how can you still exist?!" The Doctor demanded, turning back to the globe.

"Now the dream outlives the dreamer and can never die. Once I was the puppet-"

"Now I pull the strings!" Walter yells with the voice as he rises from the ground, covered in frost, and electrified by the globe's pylons. "I've tried for so long to take on Human form! By erasing Simeon, you made space for me! I fill him now!" Vastra draws her sword and rushes to Walter who throws a hard fist at her. She catches it before kicking him in the stomach and piercing her sword through his upper arm. Walter yells in pain as he backhands her hard, causing her to stumble to the floor in a loss of balance. Walter then rushes to the Doctor who performs the same backhanding motion causing Walter to stumble before the Doctor tackles him straight into his desk, shattering it upon impact. Walter however uses this moment to claim an iron grasp on the Doctor's neck, cutting off his air supply before removing Vastra's sword and placing his other hand on the Doctor's face, which begins to freeze over from Walter's ice-cold touch. "Born in snow! Born in Simeon! I applaud your effort, but it shall not be enough, for even this old body is strong in my control! Do you feel it now?! Winter is coming!" The Doctor begins to scream in pain as the frost begins to seep through his skin into his very flesh, causing his nerves and muscles to seize up in agony.

---

Back in the house, the children struggle to hold their tears for Clara while Latimer holds her hand and Strax works away on the medical device. "No, you must fight. Hang on and fight, boy, you can do it!" Strax said in encouragement.

"Captain Latimer." Clara whispered, gaining said man's attention. "Your children. They're afraid."

Latimer swallowed. "Help me, Clara, please. I don't know what to do." He pleaded.

"Hold them. Just hold them and be there for them. The rest will be easy." Clara smiles as Latimer moves towards his children, embracing them as the family cries together.

---

Walter begins to seize up as thunder booms outside while the snow begins to turn to rain. He then starts to shake in agony before giving a loud scream of pain as he collapses to the ground, the snow inside the globe bursting into water. "No! What's happening?!" Walter gasps in pain.

"Doctor! The globe! It's turning to rain!" Vastra yells as she struggles to regain her balance. Both her and the Doctor look to Walter who gives several more gasps for breath before collapsing into the floor, as the life of the snow rapidly drains away, leaving him cold and alone. Vastra moves to check his pulse before helping the Doctor off the floor. "He's dead. Walter must've died when the snow took over, leaving him a mere shell. But what killed the snow?"

The Doctor takes a moment to regain his breath. "Snow mirrors, Vastra." They move over to open the window before reaching out to catch some of the rainfall. "There was a critical mass of snow at the house, so if something happened there, it would be so powerful that the snow would be forced to mirror it."

Vastra pulls a hand back in and tastes the water, frowning for a moment before it comes to her. "Salty. Saltwater rain. It's the family, Doctor."

"Yes. The only force on Earth that could drown the snow is a whole family crying on Christmas Eve." They both nod at each before racing into the TARDIS. Materialising the TARDIS back inside the house, the Doctor and Vastra exiting to see Latimer embracing his children, the three of them crying over Clara's dying body. Jenny is rubbing Alice's shoulder as she too struggles to hold her tears while Strax stands in silent respect by Clara.

"I'm sorry sir, but there's no more to be done. She now has moments only." Strax said softly before moving aside.

The Doctor moves slowly to Clara, a few tears prickling his eyes as the two of them exchange eye contact while he kneels beside her to hold her hand. "We saved the world, Clara. But not only that, you saved my life. I thank you for that."

"Are you going back to your cloud?" Clara whispers, her voice almost faint.

"No. Not anymore. No more brooding."

Clara's eyebrows raised slightly. "What changed your mind?"

"It wasn't what changed my mind. It was who." The Doctor smiles fondly at her before kissing her forehead.

Clara closes her eyes while struggling to breathe before whispering at last, "Run. Run, you clever boy. And remember me." Clara then passes on just as the bell signalling midnight begins to toll.

"It's Christmas." Jenny informed in sadness. "Christmas Day."

25th December 1892

The Doctor and the Paternoster Gang stayed for Clara's funeral, even past their goodbyes given to Captain Latimer and his children.

"What was it controlling the snowmen, Doctor?" Jenny asks.

"The institute was called "The Great Intelligence", probably as the name Simeon coined for it. Think of it like a telepathic mind, able to manifest itself in singular and multiple forms at once."

"Do you think it truly melted with the snow?" Vastra implores.

"No. It already learned to survive beyond physical form, though I doubt we'll be seeing it anytime soon."

"Is that why you told it that the London Underground was a key strategic weakness?" Vastra points out, having already figured out his lie.

The Doctor stared blankly at that before pulling the business card out of his pocket and looked at it. ""Great Intelligence". Why does that sound familiar?" The Doctor muttered to himself before moving to Clara's grave.

"Doctor?" Jenny asks in puzzlement.

The Doctor looked at Clara's grave for a moment before his eyes widened as he saw her full name: Clara Oswin Oswald. "No. It was her." He whispered. Oswin. Soufflé girl. It can't be her. And Clara, on Gallifrey. It can't be. The Doctor stands up quickly, turning to look at Vastra and Jenny. "I never wondered about it the first time on Gallifrey, I was too busy running. And with the Daleks I was too busy fighting the War that I didn't notice then, but it was her. Both times! Same attitude, same personality, the same voice, the same woman! Twice! The second time and now she died to save me, the same woman!" The Doctor started to ramble in joyous excitement.

"Doctor, please, what are you talking about?" Vastra asked in bewilderment.

"Something is happening, and I don't know what it is!" The Doctor laughs maniacally for a few moments. "This is fantastic!"

"Doctor!" Jenny exclaims.

"Right, you two, stay right there! Don't move an inch!" The Doctor then starts to race back to the TARDIS.

"Are you coming back?!" Vastra called.

"Probably not!"

"But where are you going?!"

"To find her! To find Clara!" The Doctor runs away laughing, leaving Vastra and Jenny both bewildered and relieved to find their friend with a sense of renewed energy.

"But Clara's dead. What's he on about?" Jenny asks her wife.

"I'm not sure, but perhaps the universe makes bargains after all."

---

Inside the TARDIS, the Doctor is racing about, flicking switches as his ship flies away into the Time Vortex. "Clara Oswin Oswald!" He then looks at the monitor to see two photos of Clara. One from the Clara on Gallifrey and one from the Clara in Victorian London, before letting a large grin radiate off his face. "Watch me run!"

---

AN: The echoes are over, now it's time for the original Clara to join us. Once again, thank you for reading and leave a review if you wish. :)