A/N: Again, I'm really sorry about the slow updates! I'm really busy, especially this time of the year. Hopefully I'll have more time to write after the break. Anyway, enjoy this chapter :)

It wasn't long before the others realized there was something different in the Doctor and Clara's relationship. They weren't the best at hiding it.

"You and Clara have definitely slept together."

The doctor snapped his head around from where he was sitting on the front desk to look at Rose, who had just come down the stairs. "What?! Why would you think that?" He asked, his mouth hanging open in a scandalized expression.

"The way you were just acting with her while you talked on the phone. Something's happened between you two." She grinned.

"No, they haven't slept together yet. But I'll bet you anything she finally kissed him." Came Jack's voice as he made his way over from in between bookshelves to lean against the desk. "Isn't that right, Doc?"

The Doctor's face turned a light shade of pink. "Well, uh, yeah… Yes, we kissed. We went on a date, and then we kissed. It's a completely normal thing for two people who like each other."

Jack and Rose laughed, loud enough to attract the attention of David, who came down the stairs and wrapped his arms around his girlfriend. "What are we talking about?"

"Clara and the Doctor." She replied. "They kissed."

"Took them long enough." Answered David.

"Oi! What do you mean, 'took them kong enough'?" The Doctor asked, narrowing his eyes at his brother.

"Well it was obvious you've both liked each other for a long time. We all seemed to know it before you."

The Doctor was about to reply, when Clara herself walked in, holding a take out bag from the restaurant down the street in one hand. She smiled at everyone, before realizing that they'd all stopped talking to look at her. "Uh, is there something in my hair?" She asked, bringing a hand up to smooth down the top of her head.

"No! There's nothing wrong, just ignore them." The Doctor jumped up quickly, going over to and taking the bag from her hand before pressing a chaste kiss on her forehead.

She smiled at him, but she could see the others giggling quietly from the corner of her eye. "Okay, what is it?" She asked, stepping around the Doctor.

"Oh, nothing. Just… you and the Doctor." Jack said.

"What about us?" She said, deciding whether she should be offended or not.

"We were wondering if you'd shagged yet." Jack said quickly, before Rose could intervene.

The Doctor gasped, scandalized, and Rose hit Jack in the arm to shut him up. "Ignore him. We're happy for you two, that's all."

Clara fought the urge to roll her eyes at the whole situation. "I'm going to pretend you didn't say that." She told Jack, grabbing hold of the Doctor's hand and leading him up the stairs.

"Where are you going?" Jack called out to them.

"Dinner."

"Is that code for sex?"

"Jack!"

They heard Clara laughing as they finally climbed the stairs to the top

After dinner, Clara and the Doctor say themselves down on the couch to watch a movie, but neither of them seemed very interested in what was happen kin on the screen.

Clara was resting her head on his shoulder, trying really hard not to fall asleep.

The Doctor, on the other hand, had one arm around her, but was using his free hand to scribble calculations on a small blue notebook he was balancing on his lap.

After a few minutes, he sighed, closing the notebook and pushing it away from him on the couch.

Clara looked up at him with a questioning look in her eyes. "What's wrong?"

The doctor tried to reassure her, but the smile didn't quite reach his eyes, and she didn't believe him when he said, "everything's fine. Nothing you need to worry about."

Clara sat up and turned to look at him, suddenly feeling much more awake. "Well now I'm definitely going to worry." She frowned.

"No, no, it's fine. Everything will be okay."

"Who are you trying to convince?" She took his hand and held it in hers, giving him a reassuring squeeze. "Tell me what's going on, I can help."

"No, you really can't." The Doctor sighed. "We're almost bankrupt now, the bookstore, I mean. Barely anyone but the regulars even come in anymore, and you and Jack aren't buying much."

"What are you going to do?" Clara asked softly.

"We have to sell it. There's no other way, and we already have an offer. A very generous offer, more than we could have asked for." He said sadly.

"I'm sorry, John." Her free hand went up to his face, slowly pushing back the hair that had fallen into his eyes. The bookstore meant everything to him. He'd read books from there when he was a child, and had grown up next to it. "I wish I could do something."

"You can." He told her, a hand going up to hold her cheek. "You already are, just being with you helps, knowing you'll be here for me."

"Then I won't ever leave."

For the next few weeks, the bookstore felt sad and gloomy, and for the first time ever, Clara noticed how empty it was. She took the Doctor out as much as she could, to distract him, and the night of the last Wednesday before they sold the shop, she was taking him out to dinner.

"Ready to go?" She called up the stairs.

"Yeah, be down in just a mo'" Came the Doctor's muffled reply.

While she waited, Clara looked around the store with a sad smile. She really was going to miss this place. But she was grateful for the memories, that she had made in this place.

She could only imagine how the Doctor felt. He's dreamed of owning this exact bookstore ever since he was a child, and now he had no other choice but to sell it.

Suddenly, the Doctor came bounding down the stairs, a smile appearing on his face as soon as he laid eyes on her. "Notice anything new?"

"Hmm, nope." Clara said, trying to hide a smirk.

"What? Really?" The Doctor looked extremely disappointed. "Not even around the neck area?"

"Don't think so."

The Doctor pouted at her. "Well then I'm not going to notice the new red dress you have on."

Clara laughed, stepping forward to kiss away his pout.

"That counts as noticing." She pointed out. "And of course I noticed the new bow tie, Chinny."

For a moment the Doctor tried to keep his face serious, but he didn't last long before he was smiling at her again.

"Alright let's go, or they'll give away our table." She said.

The walk to the restaurant didn't take long, but they were too late, and the table they'd had reserved was given away. Luckily, there was an empty table for two near the front door of the fancy restaurant, and they didn't have to wait long before they were sat and given food to eat.

They ate in silence, until finally, the Doctor spoke up. "What are you thinking?"

Clara shrugged, taking another bite of her food before answering. "I'm thinking… I got a job offer, at Coal Hill, the school Angie and Artie's dad works at." She told him.

The Doctor's eyes widened"Oh… and you're going to take it?"

"I think I am, it's about time I stopped nannying, and I've always wanted to teach." Clara told him, a smile appearing on her face despite her best efforts. "The only downside is this means no more weekdays off."

The Doctor nodded slowly, reaching across the table to hold her hand. "I'm going to miss seeing you everyday." He smiled. "But you're going to be a brilliant teacher, Clara Oswald."

"You think so?"

"Of course!" He told her, pausing for a moment before he spoke again. "How come you didn't tell me before?"

"There's just a lot going on in your life right now." She said simply.

"Clara, there is nothing that could happen in my life that would make me not care about what's going on in yours."

They got back to the bookstore much later than they'd expected, land they walked through the doors laughing at a story Clara was telling about Artie.

"John." David's voice was soft, just stern enough to draw the attention of both the Doctor and Clara.

They quieted immediately when they saw who was standing next to him. He looked to be in his late thirties, with a short beard and dark hair combed over to the side. He nodded at the newcomers, his eyes lingering a moment too long on Clara.

"Mr. Latimer." The Doctor nodded back, suddenly standing up straighter.

"Hello." Clara greeted uncertainly, glancing sideways at the Doctor before turning back to the man. "I'm Clara."

"James Latimer." He replied, reaching out a hand in her direction. She took it, surprised by his gentle grip.

When the handshake lasted a just a second too long, the Doctor cleared his throat impatiently. "I assume you're here to finalize the sale?"

"Yes I am. If you'd like to join us, I need both of the co-owner's signatures."

"And then this place is yours."

"And then this place is mine." He repeated.

Feeling the Doctor reach for her hand, Clara gave his a comforting squeeze, before letting go. "I'll wait for you over there." She said, gesturing to the row of bookshelves behind them.

He simply nodded at her, before heading over to where his brother was standing.

Slowly, Clara walked around the store, weaving in and out of the aisles as she tried not to eavesdrop on what the men were talking about. She supposed she could have gone upstairs, but it would have killed her to not be there in case the Doctor needed her. And by the way he kept looking back at her and smiling sadly, she guessed it would have killed him too.

Breathing out slowly, she picked up one of her favourite books from the shelf, flipping through it absentmindedly. Amelia Williams, one of her all time favourite authors, who just happened to know the Doctor.

She froze. Sudden realization coming over her.

"Wait!" She called out, running out of the aisle. "Don't sign anything yet. I think I know a way to save the store from bankruptcy."

A/N: Wow is that an actual plot line? What did you guys think of this chapter? Did you love it? Hate it? Let me know. Thank you to everyone who reviewed and anyone who even reads this, I love you 3

I'm thinking of ending this story soon, maybe in the next couple chapters. I do have another story currently in progress, which I'll start posting after I'm finished with this one. It includes Amy and Rory and a lot more plot than was in this one, but that's all I'm going to say ;)