"So what do you think Rose and JD's news is?" Clara asked Amy.
She was sitting on the floor playing with Charlotte, while Amy was putting together a few snacks and drinks. Amy and Rory had decided to invite their friends over on Friday night and when Amy had called Rose, she said it was a great idea, since she and JD had news to share.
"I don't know, maybe they're getting married." Amy answered as she walked in and set a charcuterie plate on the coffee table.
"Oh come on," Clara replied. "It's way too soon for that."
"Not if you count the time they dated in Glasgow."
"I suppose, but she had been wanting to take things slow this time."
"Maybe she changed her mind," Amy answered and then changed the subject. "So where is Mr. Billionaire tonight?
"I don't know. It's not like I keep tabs on him," Clara replied.
"I told you he could come."
"Who could come?" Rory asked as he entered from the kitchen carrying wine glasses.
"Clara's boyfriend," Amy declared.
"And for the umpteenth time, he's not my boyfriend." Clara replied extremely annoyed.
"If you say so."
"I do, now drop it."
"Amy, stop giving her a hard time," Rory replied as he picked his daughter up. "Say goodnight to Auntie Clara, Charlotte."
The baby gave her a backwards wave and Clara blew her a kiss.
"It would just be nice to get to know him is all." Amy answered, ignoring both her husband and friend's pleas.
"And there's no need because it's not serious."
A knock came to the door, stopping Amy's interrogation and Clara was relieved for the distraction.
"Can you get that? I need to check on the mini quiches in the oven." Amy asked as she walked towards the kitchen.
"Sure," Clara agreed as she got up to answer the door.
"Clara!" JD said as she opened the door.
"Hey guys. Come in. Amy's just in the kitchen."
Clara closed the door and followed the couple in to the living room and took a seat in one of the chairs.
"So how have you guys been?" Clara asked, making small talk.
"Good," Rose answered.
"Really good," JD added as he smiled at Rose.
It was clear something was going on between the two of them and Clara started to think that maybe Amy was right.
"Well you two look very happy," Clara said.
"We are," Rose replied and she took JD's hand in hers. "But how are you doing?"
"Good."
"And would that have anything to do with the happy mood the Doctor's been in lately?" JD asked just as both Rory and Amy walked in.
"No, why would you think that?" Clara questioned.
"Because he's been in a really good mood lately. I just assumed that you were the reason for it."
"Nope, not me." Clara couldn't help, but wonder why he was.
"That's not the brother she's making happy, JD," Amy chimed in.
"Amy, shut up," Clara said, giving her friend a dirty look.
"Oooooh, you're dating the Doctor's twin?" JD questioned.
"I'm not with James," Clara replied angrily.
"Sure you are. You see him practically every weekend," Amy added.
"That sounds serious," Rose added.
"It's not, okay. Can we please just drop the subject."
"So are you guys just friends?" JD asked.
"Yes."
"With benefits," Amy added.
"Really?" JD said drawing out the word.
"Enough, okay!" Clara raised her voice, annoyed that JD and Amy wouldn't let up.
"JD, clearly Clara doesn't want to talk about it, so let it go." Rose added and Clara gave her a smile of gratitude.
"Thank you," Clara said to Rose. "Can we please just move on? I promise if anything changes in my relationship status you idiots will be the first to know."
"Sorry," JD apologised. "I was just really hoping you and the Doctor had gotten back together."
"That's not happening, JD, so get it out of your head."
"Fine," he answered although Clara wasn't convinced from his tone that this was over.
"Why don't we tell them our news," Rose said to her boyfriend.
JD smiled at her and nodded his head. "Go ahead."
"JD and I are getting married!" Rose exclaimed as she looked at her friends and held out her hand.
"No way!" Amy shouted and jumped up to hug Rose. "Congratulations!"
"Thanks!" Rose said happily.
Clara stood up and hugged Rose as well.
"I am so happy for you," Clara said.
"Thank you," Rose replied as she pulled back and smiled at her.
After all the congratulations were over with, the group sat back down to hear the story of how JD proposed while they were in Glasgow last weekend. Clara was very happy for her friends and was glad that both of them were able to find their way back to one another. There was no denying that Rose seemed a lot happier now than she did over a year ago. In the middle of the couple's story Clara's phone dinged, drawing her attention away.
"Boyfriend?" Amy questioned.
"Shut up," Clara said as she picked her mobile up and read the message.
Doctor: We still on for coffee tomorrow?
Clara quickly started to type a reply.
Clara: Absolutely. Meet me at mine at 10?
Clara went to put her phone back down on the coffee table, but it dinged again.
Doctor: I'll meet you at the café at 10.
That was odd. Why would he meet her there when he would be walking right pass her flat?
Clara: Okay. See you then.
"Booty text?" Amy pried again.
"No," Clara responded, not elaborating. "It's none of your business who it was."
"Well if it's not James, who was it? All your friends are here."
"Amy, stop pestering Clara," Rory said.
"I'm not pestering. I'm just curious."
Clara knew the only way to shut Amy up was to tell her what was going on.
"I'm meeting the Doctor for coffee tomorrow, okay."
"Does James know?" JD asked.
"It doesn't matter what he knows. We're not a couple and it's just coffee with a friend. Now can we please drop it and talk about something else?"
"Agreed," Rose said. "I for one would like to know how your job is going since your promotion."
After the success of Mondasian's ad campaign, Donna had given Clara a promotion and more responsibility. She was loving every moment of her job and was happy to finally talk about something else.
The rest of the evening continued with no more talk of Clara's love life, but instead talk of wedding plans and Charlotte's first birthday. Periodically, Clara would find her thoughts drifting towards the Doctor and wondering what had put him in such a good mood. Perhaps tomorrow she would have to get to the bottom of it.
The next day Clara decided to get to the coffee shop a little earlier to make sure she was able to grab a table for her and the Doctor. She had just turned the corner, onto the street of the shop when she spotted the Doctor out front with a woman. They looked to be chatting and she wondered if maybe he had run into a colleague from work, until the woman leaned forward and gave him a slow kiss on the lips. Clara stopped dead in her tracks as her stomach did a flip and her jaw fell open. She wasn't entirely sure what to think or feel about this woman, but clearly she was the reason JD thought the Doctor was in a good mood. The couple pulled a part and the Doctor went into the shop as the woman started walking towards her. As she got closer, Clara was able to see that she was older, probably still younger than the Doctor, but a lot closer to his age. She was tall and thin, with dark hair and striking eyes. Her features were sharp, which made her undoubtedly a very attractive woman. They passed each other, the woman taking no notice of Clara.
Clara was shocked. She knew she had no claim on the Doctor, and she should be happy that he had moved on, but there was a part of her that was surprised he had. She
entered the shop and spotted him in the corner, so she grabbed a latte and went and joined him.
"Hi," he said as she approached the table.
"Hey," she replied as she sat down. "I'm surprised you beat me here."
"Barely, I just got here myself," he answered.
Clara wondered if she should tell him she saw him or wait and see if he said anything about the mystery woman. She was really curious, but at the same time didn't want to pry.
"So how have you been?" She asked.
"Good. What about you?"
"Same."
An awkward silence fell between the two of them, neither really knowing what to talk about.
"So is this what we've become? Two people who don't know how to talk to each other," Clara asked with a chuckle, trying to ease the tension.
"Sorry," the Doctor answered in the adorable way he would lower his head and the left side of his lip would lift. "There's something I want to tell you, but I'm not sure why I'm hesitating at doing it."
"We've been through a lot," Clara had answered. "Whatever it is, you know I'll listen."
The Doctor took a deep breath. "I've started seeing someone."
Clara's stomach flipped again at hearing him say the words. She was happy for him, but at the same time she felt something else towards this woman and she wasn't exactly sure what it was.
"That's great," she replied trying her best to sound enthusiastic for him. "How long?"
"Not long," the Doctor answered. "And it's not serious."
"Well most relationships don't start that way. Where did you meet her?"
"James' opening actually."
"Really?"
"Yeah, she's the cousin of his VP."
"River." Clara answered.
"Yeah, Missy gave me her card and I found it a couple of weeks later. Thought maybe I'd see if she wanted to grab a coffee sometime."
"Missy," Clara said wondering to herself what kind of name that was for a grown woman.
"Yeah," the Doctor answered, not sure what tone he was getting from Clara. She couldn't possibly be jealous. After all she was the one who moved on with James. "Anyway, I just thought I'd tell you."
"Well I'm really happy for you. You need to get out more and be a little more social."
"I'm social enough," the Doctor replied.
"Says the man who very rarely gets out," Clara teased.
"Well I was getting out more taking pictures with you, but we haven't done that for awhile. So really it's your fault I don't get out much."
"Okay then, let's start doing that again," Clara suggested.
She had really been enjoying their outings and had missed not seeing him so regularly, so maybe it would be nice to get back to doing their excursions.
"Really? Thought you might be too busy on the weekends with your boyfriend."
"He's not my boyfriend," Clara responded.
"Isn't he?"
"No. I'm so tired of having to explain this to people." She sighed.
"Well you haven't explained it to me." The Doctor stared at her wondering what kind of relationship she and his brother had. He was certain that James cared for her based on how he interacted with Clara, but maybe there was some hesitation on her part.
"There's nothing to explain. Neither of us are looking for something serious, but we enjoy each other's company."
"Do you think you'll ever want something serious?" He asked.
Clara stared at him unsure how to answer.
"Sorry, I shouldn't pry like that. It's really none of my business."
"No, it's okay. I just really don't know the answer to that question. I haven't really been thinking much beyond the here and now."
The Doctor nodded, not really knowing where to take their conversation. There was a part of him that was happy to hear things weren't serious between her and his brother, but there was another part of him that still cared for her very much and wanted what was best for her.
"So, how about it? Want to meet next week and take some pictures?" Clara asked trying to change the subject again.
The Doctor thought for a moment and deep down he knew he should say no, but he just couldn't. It would be nice to see her again, but this time with the knowledge that there was no chance of rekindling their romance. That ship had sailed and it was now time to embark on friendship. It might also give him an excuse to do a little bit of reconnaissance of James' shop and see if he could find out why his brother had returned to the UK.
"Sounds good," he finally agreed. "How about we check out Convent Garden?"
Clara agreed and they made a plan to meet next Saturday. They then moved on to talk about music, work, and just nothing in particular. Once the Doctor had gotten his news out of the way the conversation flowed a lot better and it started to feel like it did before. Clara couldn't help, but notice that the Doctor did seem happier and a lot more like the person she had met in the pub so long ago.
After their coffee, the Doctor walked Clara back to her flat and they parted with their plan to shoot photos the next weekend. Once she was inside, she looked at her phone and noticed that James had called earlier. She knew he likely wanted her to come over, which she did want to see him, but she was getting a little tired of it always being at his place. She had let him control things so far in their non-relationship, but she was starting to feel that she needed to take that power away from him. She yearned for it and perhaps tonight was the chance to see if she could. She dialed his number and waited for him to answer.
"Hey, beautiful," he said when he picked up.
"Hi," Clara replied. "I saw that you called."
"Yeah, I was wondering if you wanted to come over for dinner."
"Actually, why don't you come over here and I'll cook for you for a change."
James thought for a moment. Going to Clara's made it feel more like a relationship and that was what he was trying to avoid, but at the same time he did really want to see her.
"Okay, I'm curious to see how good you are."
"Well I'm not as good a cook as you, but I make a really good soufflé," she replied.
"I look forward to tasting it. Seven okay?"
"Make it half seven," Clara responded.
They ended their call and Clara started to put her plan into motion to see just how much power she could get him to give up