Rating: T

Word Count: 1,914

Notes: Sorry this chapter took so long, it was a SUPER busy week for RP amongst other craziness that follows my life. Enjoy chapter three!

Now four months pregnant, Clara had started to show a little bit. She wasn't too impressed by the state of her bump, as she still didn't look quite pregnant; her clothing had just started to become tighter and it was difficult for her to navigate her wardrobe.

The Doctor had taken to sleeping in her living room when he did sleep. It was just easier for him to get to her in case she needed anything. She had woken up a few times craving the strangest things, and the Doctor had been more than happy to help her.

That night in particular had been tough. She had been irritable since that afternoon; something didn't feel right in her stomach, but it was her first pregnancy. She didn't really know what to expect, and she knew that stomach cramps were pretty normal.

Clara fell asleep after hours of tossing and turning, but was woken up in the middle of the night to a shocking discovery.

"Doctor!" She screamed. Tears flowed down from her eyes and she clutched the sheets in agony.

"What is it?" He said running into the room frantically. He flipped on her light and his eyes were wide as he glanced down to the bloodstained sheets. "Hospital." Was all he said as he picked her up and carried her down to the TARDIS.

The doctors in the emergency room took her away in a wheelchair and tried to calm the Doctor. He was not allowed in with her, and all he could do was wait. He paced the waiting room, tears in his eyes the entire time.

There had been a lot of blood. It didn't look good… for the little one or Clara. This was her first pregnancy, to his knowledge, and he knew that there could be complications with the first pregnancy. He was worried for her; he didn't want to lose his Clara, or the new addition. She had gone through so much pain losing her boyfriend; now losing the baby would rip her apart.

He felt like he had been in the waiting room for hours. He was reminded of the night Daniel passed, and it made him feel uneasy. By the time the nurses came to get him, he was crazy with anxiety.

"Would you like to go in and see her?"

The Doctor nodded and followed the man into Clara's room. She was asleep, covered in wires. He could hear her slow heartbeat beep in the heart monitor accompanied by a lighter, more delicate sound. It was a second heartbeat.

"How is she?"

"Stable, she's a fighter that one. Both of them. Mom and baby are doing just fine." The Doctor thanked the nurse, and sat by Clara's sleeping form. She's okay, they're both going to be okay. He thought to himself with a smile. He couldn't let his beautiful Clara go just yet.

The Doctor was in a strange predicament. He hated admitting it to himself, but he had feelings for Clara. He had known for a while, and just never wanted to actually admit it to himself until months ago. When Clara and Daniel were together, he knew he didn't have a chance with her. He tried to forget them, but it hadn't been working so well.

Now, those feelings were still as strong as ever. He wanted to let Clara have her space; she was still mourning Daniel and she was pregnant with her first child, it couldn't have been an easy time for her.

He sat by her bedside and pushed her hair back away from her face. The Doctor hesitantly laid a hand gently on the tiny bump visible under the thin layer of blankets. He stroked the bump lovingly with his thumb and let out a huff of air.

"Thank you. Thank you for being here." He spoke to the bump softly. "She hasn't been doing well, she misses him. You're the last thing she has of him. She loved him, and she loves you. I wish you could have met your father. I didn't know him very well, but I knew that he completed her. He would have been here for you every step of the way; I wish it were him here in my spot. He's supposed to be here, but he's not. Now I need to be that person for both you and your mom. I only hope I live up to his standards."

The Doctor dropped his head to the edge of the bed as a small tear formed in his eye. "God, we thought we had lost you tonight. I know I don't know you yet, and I'm not your father, but I love you. You're a part of Clara, and I love you. You give her hope; you give me hope." The tears flowed freely as he kept speaking. He had felt so much emotion, and he let it wash over him, shaping his words. He wasn't afraid of what to say anymore, he just needed to let it out. "I love your mother so much, and I've loved her for so long. I just hope she'll accept me."

Clara's eyes began to flutter as he let out those last few words. She was disoriented and in pain, confused and anxious all at the same time. "Wha—?" She tried to sit up, but the Doctor pushed her back down.

"Woah there, be careful. Just lay back down." He stroked her cheek carefully as she took in her surroundings and called to memory the events of last night.

"How is he? How's the baby?"

"She is doing just fine. It's a miracle you both made it out so strongly."

Clara let out a breath of relief and looked up at his pained face. "You've been crying?"

The Doctor wiped the tears from his misty eyes, and nodded. "I guess I have. My god, I was so worried about you!" He told her as he pushed the hair from her eyes. "There was just… so much blood, and your face, I couldn't look at the pain on your face any longer. I never want to see that look again." He kissed her forehead and breathed into her hair, calming himself down just knowing that she was okay.

"It's alright, I'm here. I'm fine. Thank you Doctor."

The Doctor stayed with Clara through the night. She was kept in the hospital all through the next day and into the evening running tests. Once they had given her a clean bill of health, her and the Doctor were sent on their way.

The Doctor helped her into bed that night. He sat with her and rubbed her sore back until she was on the verge of sleep.

"Wait, Doctor, can you stay tonight?" The Doctor looked at her curiously. "Sorry, last night just really scared me."

"Of course." He told her, settling himself into her bed.

From then on, the Doctor and Clara had taken to sharing a bed. She was more comfortable with him there beside her, and he loved being there to protect her.

It was one of those nights, lying in bed with his hand on her growing tummy, that he felt it… a small nudge to his hand. Clara looked up at him and smiled. "Did you feel that?"

"What the hell?"

"He's kicking Doctor!"

"What do you mean she's kicking?" He asked her completely confused.

Clara rolled her eyes. "The baby moves around in there, its normal. Sometimes they push off the walls of my uterus, and that's what you felt! They can respond to voices too, soon he'll start recognizing yours."

"That—that's amazing!" The Doctor said. He moved his hand across her growing tummy wanting to feel it again. "Does it hurt?" He asked.

"A little bit, not really anymore. It really shocked me at first though. He's surprisingly strong!"

"My little girl is going to be a fighter." He said, kissing her belly with a smile. "Well… not mine but—"

"I know what you meant, Doctor." Clara told him. She wasn't sure how she was supposed to feel about the Doctor. She still felt like she was mourning the death of Daniel, it wasn't something she was just supposed to "get over" quickly. The pregnancy had heightened Clara's emotions, and in that moment, she was more confused than ever. Maybe she was feeling this way because they were "playing house", or maybe she did genuinely have feelings for the Doctor. She felt that it was too early for her, and with everything she had been through, it wasn't the right time for her to be making huge decisions. Clara didn't want to lose the Doctor because of something that happened in the heat of the moment.

Weeks passed, and it was finally time for Clara to find out the sex of the baby. She and the Doctor had been fighting about it since she found out she was pregnant, and now they would finally settle it.

The two of them waited in the room for Clara's OB/GYN. Clara was nervous, she had been waiting for this day for a while. After their little scare a few weeks ago, she needed that reassurance that her baby was healthy, and she hoped today's appointment would give her piece of mind.

"Alright, ready to find out the sex of the baby?" Clara nodded and took the Doctor's hand. "Okay mum. The jelly is going to be a little cold." Clara nodded and winced as the cold instrument was pressed to her belly. The adults in the room held their breaths as the little heartbeat could be heard through the monitor. They all watched the screen intently as the baby's features were pointed out to them.

"Would you two like to know now?"

The Doctor squeezed Clara's hand tightly and nodded. "Yes!" Clara nearly shouted with excitement.

"Okay, well… congratulations, looks like you'll be welcoming a little girl into the world!"

"I knew it!" The Doctor said excitedly.

"Apparently you did. I was so sure it was going to be a boy, but I'm glad I'm having a baby girl." She said lovingly to her stomach.

"I'll just leave you two for a moment. Get cleaned up Clara, and call me back in when you're ready and we'll finish off the appointment, okay?" Clara nodded and watched the woman smile as she left the room.

The Doctor was still smiling as he bent down to be level with Clara's stomach. "Hello in there little Ellie."

"Ellie?" Clara said sadly. "How did you know?"

"Oh, well I just figured, because of your mother…"

Clara smiled at the Doctor. "It's perfect… Ellie Danielle Oswald."

"Beautiful." The Doctor told her. It had been such a tender moment, and the Doctor felt it was the right time. He pushed her hair away from Clara's face, and leaned in, pressing a light kiss to her lips.

Clara had been thrown off by the kiss. She hadn't seen it coming, and really wasn't ready for it, either physically or emotionally. She broke away from the Doctor, and stared at him wordlessly. Clara didn't understand what she needed to say to him, didn't understand what she could say to him, but she just wasn't ready.

"I-I'm sorry." The Doctor said quietly before getting up and leaving the room. "Clara's ready for you in there." He told Clara's doctor before leaving the building and waiting for her in the TARDIS.