Rating: T
Word Count: 1,910
Summary: Clara's perfect life had been torn apart in a matter of seconds. The Doctor couldn't leave Clara alone in her state, but will she let him help her pick up the pieces?
Notes: This took way too long.
The Doctor's eyes went wide. Suddenly he was thankful for the prenatal classes, but they wouldn't come in handy unless he moved.
He knew he needed to get up and help her… NOW, but he couldn't make his body move. The Doctor was in a state of shock, and even though she had the belly to prove it, the baby was finally feeling real to him.
Clara gave him a pointed look and moaned in pain, clutching her belly.
"Alright, alright hospital time. Labour time. Baby time. We can do this Clara." The Doctor looked at her frantically and moved about the small apartment. He held the small of her back and guided her into the TARDIS.
"Doctor my bag! The birth plan! The car seat… it's all still inside." She yelled as she clutched the console. Her knuckles were white and the pain was apparent on her face.
He hated seeing her in pain. "Just a moment dear!" He called as he sprinted back into the living room. The Doctor figured he really should have gotten all this together earlier, but there was no time to dote on the past. This was happening, and it was happening now.
Once they were all set, he set the TARDIS for the hospital, and moments later, they had landed outside. He ushered her inside, and as soon as they were past the door, he was yelling. "She's having a baby!" The Doctor yelled frantically. A woman in scrubs ran towards them and helped Clara into a wheelchair.
"Clara, don't forget to breathe. Remember in class? Remember what they taught you?" The Doctor asked Clara as she was being wheeled into a room. He demonstrated the technique, feeling silly, but he knew it would help her. She nodded and began to do the breathing exercise she'd been taught. "Very good Clara, very, very good."
It seemed to take them forever to reach her room, but once she was there, she was helped into a gown and her vitals were checked.
"On a scale of one to ten, how bad is the pain dear?" The nurse asked her.
"Um, I dunno, maybe a nine point five?" Clara said through clenched teeth. The Doctor watched her and winced; it was tough seeing his Clara in so much pain. He stood beside her bed and took her hand, rubbing her knuckle lightly with his thumb.
"Alright, your doctor will be in in right a moment." Clara smiled up at the Doctor through her pain and nodded as the nurse left the room.
The beeps on Clara's heart monitor slowed as the contraction faded, and she smiled as the pain ebbed away.
"How are you feeling?" The Doctor asked her tentatively.
"Alright, I guess. That was a bit intense, but I'm doing better now." She squeezed his hand and smiled.
"Good. I'm glad to hear it." He told her with a chipper sounding voice. The Doctor sat in the chair beside her bed and bent down to press a gentle kiss to her knuckle. "You're having a baby Clara!"
"I know." She said, her smile faltering a bit. "I just wish Daniel could have been here to meet her."
The Doctor kissed her knuckle once more, feeling the affection was needed. "I know Clara. I do too."
"But I'm glad you're here. Thank you by the way, you really didn't have to stick around to help."
"Why wouldn't I? I'm your best friend, am I not?"
"I know, but with everything that's happened, and then the stuff between us… it's really nice to know you're there Doctor."
"Always." The Doctor told Clara, his hearts beating a loud staccato beat in his chest. Suddenly, Clara's face changed, and he knew another contraction was on the way.
"Doctor…"
"Don't worry Clara, it's just a contraction. Just breathe, remember the breathing."
"No… Doctor I can feel her. I want to push." Clara yelled frantically. He could tell she was frightened; a first time mother, and she had no idea what labour was supposed to feel like. That, and she hadn't had her epidural yet… that wasn't supposed to come until much later.
"I'll call the nurse." He said panicking. The Doctor pressed the button for the nurses and they came running in moments later.
"Clara?"
"I feel like I need to push. It doesn't feel normal, what's going on?"
The Doctor tried to calm her down as the nurse checked her over. "Clara, she's ready to come out. We're going to get you ready to push." The nurse told her seriously.
"Wh—what?" Clara looked around frantically. "But what about all those hours of waiting? This wasn't supposed to happen!"
"This is something that can happen dear. You're fully dilated, we'll get you ready to push."
Clara looked towards the Doctor nervously and took his hand. He was just about as white as a sheet, but he tried to calm her down as much as he could.
"My birthing plan. What about the epidural?"
"There's not enough time, mum, she's ready to come out."
The Doctor stepped in to comfort Clara. He stroked her hair away from her face and planted a kiss to her forehead. "It's alright Clara. Everything is going to be okay."
Clara's heart was racing as she looked between the Doctor and the nurse. "O-okay." She took a deep breath and smiled through the pain. "I'm having a baby!"
The Doctor smiled at his brave, impossible girl. The nurse beside him nodded and started preparing Clara. He watched as everyone moved so calmly around the room, knowing she was in good hands. But he felt helpless at the same time. He wished there was something more he could do to help Clara with the pain, but all he could do was be there for her.
"Doctor? I'm scared." Clara whispered shakily.
"I know Clara, but you've got to be strong, okay? Ellie will need you, your daughter will need you."
Clara nodded and squeezed his hand again. The Doctor pressed a kiss to her hair and looked over at the nurse, watching them expectantly.
"Alright, are you ready to push?"
The frightened woman in the bed nodded again and adjusted herself. Once she was sat comfortably, she nodded.
Ellie Oswald used to describe Clara's birth as beautiful, the happiest moment of her life. Clara couldn't agree less. It wasn't beautiful, the pain caused her to scream out and nearly crush the Doctor's hand. The only other sounds in the room were her heart monitor, the nurse counting, and the Doctor's words of encouragement as he bit back his comments towards her tight grasp. That is until the cries of a newborn cut through the rest.
Tears instantly began to fall as Clara got the first glimpse of her daughter.
"You did it Clara." The Doctor whispered lovingly in her ear.
"Congratulations mum!" The nurse told her as she cleaned her up. Clara felt dead tired, but she wanted to hold her baby girl so much.
All the necessary tests and procedures were done, and once Ellie had been passed off with a clean bill of health, she was handed to Clara. The woman teared up again as she held the baby in her arms for the first time. The nurses made sure they were okay, and left to let the little family have some alone time.
"She's so beautiful." Clara cried as she stroked the baby girl's thin wisps of hair away from her face.
"I know Clara, she really is."
Clara held the girl in one arm and took her little hand in the other. She looked up at the Doctor with a loving smile before looking back down at her daughter. "Hello Ellie! Ellie Danielle Oswald, named after two of the greatest people who ever lived, and two people who would have loved you so much." The Doctor wiped away a tear of his own and stood up to give the two girls some alone time. "Doctor…"
"Yes, sorry. I just… didn't want to get in the way."
"You're not in the way, don't worry. She's sleeping now anyways." Clara turned to get out of bed, but the Doctor stopped her.
"Here, let me take her for you." He carefully lifted the little bundle in his arms, admiring each little breath that passed through her nose. He set her down in the hospital crib, and went back to Clara. The Doctor sat on the edge of her bed and pulled her in close placing a gentle kiss on her head. "You did it. You were so great today."
Clara smiled and leaned into the Doctor. "Thank you, so were you. I couldn't have done it without you." Clara took a deep breath and looked up at the Doctor.
"I can't wait to see all of Ellie's firsts. She's brilliant Clara, I'm telling you right now, her commentary is fabulous."
Clara frowned, but didn't question it. "Doctor, you don't have to help or anything, I wouldn't make you stay on Earth for me."
"No, no I know Clara, but I want to! I want to be there for you, and I want to be there for her. I mean… if you'll have me that is."
Overcome with emotion, Clara took the Doctor's cheek and turned his face so she could kiss him properly. Clara's heart was erratic as her lips moved against his slowly. The Doctor was a little bit shocked by the kiss, not expecting it after the last time he'd kissed her went wrong. But slowly, he settled into it, kissing her back lightly before she pulled away.
"Doctor… I'm sorry, it just felt… right—"
The Doctor's lips lightly touching hers cut off Clara. Just as quickly as the kiss started, it was over.
"You don't have to apologize Clara. I—I love you, and I want to be a part of that life… if—I mean—if that's okay."
Clara's smile shone back up at the Doctor as she nodded. "I want you there, Doctor. I love you too, and I didn't want to say it, it felt like it was too soon, but… now it's perfect. It feels perfect to be with you."
The Doctor smiled and kissed Clara again. He decided he'd never get used to the way her lips molded against his own. The couple was just settling into the kiss when a soft cry broke through their silence. The Doctor broke away and brought the little girl to Clara who cooed at her.
"I think she might be hungry." Clara jostled the child awkwardly in her arms so she could prepare herself to feed Ellie. The Doctor excused himself to go get a gift for his two girls and to give Clara some privacy.
When the Doctor returned, they were both fast asleep, Ellie resting against Clara peacefully. He smiled at his adorable little family, admiring the strong woman in the bed. Two teddy bears, one smaller than the other were placed on the windowsill before the Doctor climbed onto the bed gently beside Clara.
He was cradling the two girls in his arms when he felt Clara stir gently. "Shh, shh, you need your rest."
Clara smiled and kissed him on the lips gently. "I love you."
"I love you too, now rest. You've had a long day and little Ellie will need her mum soon. Enjoy it."
Moments later, her breathing was even once more as she lay cradled against him.