Dave Oswald watched as his daughter was handed a bouquet of flowers, dressed in her wedding gown. Today is the big day. Today is the day his daughter is getting married.
"You look lovely," he commented, beaming.
"Thanks," she murmured before looking at the mirror.
Dave felt his heartstrings being pulled. She looks so much like her mother. Ellie would be proud. He knew she would be happy that their daughter is getting married and to a good man, too. Something he wished he was. Maybe he wouldn't have hated John if he didn't choose this life. Maybe he would have showered his daughter with the love she deserves. "Your mother would be very proud," he said. "I can just imagine the look on her face if she was here."
A sad smile played on the bride's lips. She really wished her mum was still alive to see her today.
"Right, we just need to fix the hair a bit and we're ready to go," the stylist said as she adjusted Clara's hair.
Dave nodded in acknowledgement before deciding to wait outside to give his daughter space. In a few minutes, he would be walking her down to the altar. Never had he felt so nervous in his life and he had been in far worse situations, but nothing compared to this.
As much as he disliked John, he was happy that his daughter is marrying the man she loves. The feeling only grew stronger when he walked her down the aisle, to her husband-to-be.
It was ironic, however, that Dylan is the best man.
As the ceremony began, Dave took his seat next to Linda in the front row and observed the couple. What would it mean for the future now that John is a part of the family? A family full of secrets.
The couple exchanged vows and Dave shifted in his seat, his eyes darting back and forth between the two. There were so many times he tried to convince himself that the detective doesn't love his daughter and that it was all part of a conspiracy to arrest him and shut his operation down, but he couldn't convince himself. Not when it was clear that they love each other very much.
What bothered him, however, is the fact that John is still very much unaware of Clara's true identity. He wanted to feel hopeful that by the time the detective finds out about it, the marriage would end, but no, instead, he's worried of how it might affect his daughter and the couple's relationship. He could only hope that the detective takes the news well when the time came.
"I now pronounce you man and wife – you may kiss the bride."
John cupped Clara's face with his left hand, the wedding band flashing brightly, and captured her lips.
The guests erupted into a fit of cheering, clapping and whistling.
"I can't believe I got to witness the idiot getting his happy ending," Donna cried, wiping a tear that rolled down her cheek. "We really did a number on him."
Dave chuckled, unable to help himself from overhearing her comment. He then noticed that his wife had been quieter than usual since they arrived. "You ok?"
Linda nodded. "Yes, of course," she replied. "I'm just making the effort not to cause a scene, according to your own words."
"It's Clara's special day."
"I wouldn't have said anything even if you didn't assume that I would be callous enough to ruin her wedding," she hissed before standing up to join the guests for a photo-op.
Dave watched her leave his side to join the group gathered in the garden. Without much thought, he got to his feet, forcing a smile as he passed a few of Clara's colleagues.
"You might want to ask those bodyguards of yours to stop touching their ears every five seconds," Vastra whispered to the father of the bride. "It's getting too obvious."
"Are you sure it's not just your MI5 training kicking in?"
"I wouldn't be pointing it out to you if I wasn't sure."
"They're new recruits, but thank you," he said before standing next to his daughter.
"On one," the photographer announced, holding up his hand. "Two, three!"
"I don't think I've ever felt so happy and tired at the same time," Clara groaned, emerging from the bathroom in her pyjamas.
John was still dressed in a suit, only having taken off his jacket. He had rolled up the sleeves and had popped a few buttons. "I don't think I can feel my legs," he muttered as he sat down before browsing through the room service menu.
She giggled. "I stepped on your foot once by accident during the entire dance," she murmured, wrapping her arms him from the back. She kissed the back of his ear.
"That and my ears are still reeling from all the nagging from Donna – 'fix your hair', 'your shoelaces aren't tied properly you skinny alien'."
She kissed his other ear. "Better?"
"Wasn't the point, but yes," he said, putting the menu away and fully focusing his attention on his wife. "Thank you, Mrs Smith."
His eyes trailed from her brown eyes down to her nose and finally, her lips. He leaned forward and planted a soft kiss as she returned the gesture.
"Still think you being best man is a joke," Danny muttered, downing his drink.
"Look, the guy doesn't have a lot of friends," Dylan explained. "And we've been working together for almost two years now, so clearly it was me or Aidan."
The two men were at the hotel bar, having a late-night drink after the day's event. Attending the wedding was one thing and securing the building was another.
"You two seem to be enjoying yourselves," a voice commented.
Both men looked over their shoulder and were greeted by Dave's sombre face.
"Ah, boss-man," Dylan said. "Care to join us?"
Dave silently took his seat next to the DCI and ordered his drink from the bartender.
"Couldn't sleep, boss?"
He shrugged, preferring to be quiet rather than going through the trouble of explaining his fight with Linda. "What brings you two here?" he asked, changing the subject.
"Danny here needed a mate and I was more than happy to oblige."
Dave nodded. "You two deserve it after taking care of Clara."
"It's part of the job, sir," Danny replied.
"Something else bothering you, Dave?" Dylan enquired, sensing that his boss had something else on his mind.
"I just find it strange that Davros has been quiet," he stated. "No surprise visits, no taunts, nothing."
Dylan and Danny exchanged looks, realising that Dave was right. Something was bound to burst the bubble.
"I'll go to the security room," Dylan announced, drink completely forgotten.
"Pink, sweep through the entire floor," Dave ordered discreetly so as to avoid other people from overhearing their conversation.
"Yes sir," the former soldier said, striding out of the bar in determination.
He did what he was told, checking the entire floor of where Clara was located. As he walked past the suite she was in, he spotted a door leading to the staircase and decided to see if there was anybody lurking around. Danny pushed the door and looked around. "Floor's clear," he said to the earpiece.
"Yeah, everything checks out," Dylan agreed, watching multiple CCTV feeds through the monitors. "Staircase is a blind-spot, so I can't see you."
"How about now?" Danny asked as he stepped into view.
"Just half of you," the DCI replied. "We could install another CCTV facing the staircase, so it shouldn't be an issue."
Danny was about to speak when he caught sight of a member of the hotel staff in his line of sight, pushing a cart. He immediately took out his smartphone and pretended to text someone, head down and stood in front of a room.
"Did they order room service?" the former soldier whispered.
It took Dylan a few seconds to get back to him. "Yep, fish fingers about twenty-minutes ago," he stated. "Might do the same later."
The waiter knocked on the door twice before it was answered by Clara dressed in a bathrobe.
"Make sure she doesn't see you."
"What do you think I'm doing?" Danny muttered through gritted teeth.
"Have a good evening, Mr and Mrs Smith," the waiter said with a smile, happy to have received a big tip, before shutting the door.
Once the employee headed in the opposite direction, Danny looked up. "I guess you can tell the boss he has nothing to worry about."
"It'll be like talking to a wall," Dylan grunted. "Right, mate, I'm going to call it a night since I'm sure the missus and Charlie will be wondering where I am."
"Heading to the security room," Danny said, taking the staircase. He went down a floor and produced a key card to the junior suite, tapping it against the doorknob before the green light flashed.
"Evan and Will have it under control," Dylan explained. "Though I'm sure these two could use a fresh pair of eyes."
"Night-shift starts in half an hour, so the next group will be here soon," Will explained.
Danny nodded before taking a seat. "I'll just stick around until then."
Evan shrugged. "Suit yourself."
"I'm out, boys," Dylan announced before leaving.
The three men continued to monitor the feed, attempting to spot anything suspicious or out of the ordinary as their boss had instructed.
By the time the night-shift group arrived, Danny was certain that his boss was just being his paranoid self.
Clara was safe and that was all that mattered to him. Everything is going to turn out fine.
Three Months Later
Clara stared at the stick she held in her hand with a wide grin. Finally. After three months of trying, they finally got their wish! She couldn't have been more ecstatic. She rushed out of the bathroom and checked the time on the wall clock. John would be home in an hour.
She considered phoning him and haring the news at the very moment but decided against it. She could wait for an hour. She could pass the time by marking her students' homework. Oh, who was she kidding?
Clara clutched the pregnancy test to her chest. She was on cloud nine.
By the time her husband returned home, he looked as if he was ready to sleep for the next two days.
"I'm guessing you had an eventful day?" she teased.
John sunk further into the sofa. "Chasing suspects is just the beginning," he muttered tiredly. "What was even worse was the stupid annual progress report meeting."
She kissed his cheek, running her fingers through his curls. "Then I guess what I'm about to say will make you feel a bit better."
He shot her a curious look.
"I'm pregnant."
John's eyes grew wider as the realisation sunk in. "Pregnant?"
She produced the test.
He sat up straight. "When-" he asked excitedly.
"When I got back from school."
John placed a hand on her stomach. "I can't believe it."
"Neither can I at first," she giggled. "But we are having a baby!"
He leaned forward and kissed her. He was going to become a father. While the milestone came in a bit later than he had expected, he wasn't complaining. "Have you told anyone else or am I the first to know?"
"You're the first, detective."
John held his wife's hand. "We should have a mini celebration."
"You read my mind," she murmured, beaming as she squeezed his hand.