My story continues. Thanks for the kind comments
"So where will we find these kittens then?" asked Amy with a smile.
"The kitten like creatures live in the forest over there" replied Eleven, pointing at some trees in the distance. "They fly around, supping nectar from flowers, like Earth humming birds. They're shy though, as they do have predators."
"Predators?" spoke Amy cautiously.
"Yes, things are back to front here, in the forest you will also find bird like creatures which prey on the kittens."
"How big are these birds?" replied Rory with a concerned look on his face. "Are we going to be attacked by giant birds, swooping out the sky?"
"Oh no danger of that, as they don't fly, but are great climbers. They hide in the dutdut tree, as that's where the kittens like to feed on the nectar. The kittens like the fruit as well."
"Oh, that's not very nice! Poor kittens" spoke Clara, exchanging glances with Amy and Rory.
"That's nature Clara" replied Twelve. "Otherwise the planet would be overrun with kittens! Besides, on Earth cats prey on baby birds, so it only seems fair to reverse the process elsewhere."
"Ye-es, but our way somehow seems more normal."
"Clara, everything is normal somewhere, and abnormal somewhere else."
At that moment Clara's phone rang.
"Probably PE" Twelve exclaimed coldly. "I wonder what he wants."
"Hello Danny!" exclaimed Clara with exaggerated brightness in her voice.
{Hello Clara, did you manage to find that guy's auntie?}
"Yes, all sorted, they were reunited" replied Clara nervously.
{Great, I was wondering where you were as school resumes in five minutes.}
"No need to worry, I'll definitely be back in time" exclaimed Clara staring at Twelve.
{So you're on the way back.}
"Yes, I got distracted looking for kittens" Clara grimaced.
{Kittens?}
"Yes, I met some friends, er Amy and Rory, and they were looking for a kitten" continued Clara as Twelve smiled admiringly, "And I was helping them."
{That's a busy lunch break. Funny, you've never mentioned them before, are you sure everything is fine.}
"Of course."
{You are telling me the truth Clara aren't you? Please tell me if you're with him?}
"Of course I'm not with him, you can talk to Amy and Rory if you like."
Amy and Rory looked at Clara quizzically, as she mouthed "sorry" back to them.
{Sorry, I er better let you get back. Love you!}
"Love you too! Byeee!"
"So what did PE want?" asked Twelve.
"Oh er nothing."
"PE is Clara's boyfriend. PE teacher."
"You have a boyfriend, that's nice" spoke Eleven with a hint of disappointment in his voice. "Called Danny, er nice name."
"Yes, Danny, and he's a Maths teacher. We work together at the same school."
"Handy. So how does he feel about the Doctor" asked Amy. "Him over there got a bit jealous."
"Didn't!" exclaimed Rory,
"You so did!" replied Amy.
"Ok, yes I was jealous; well, it's hard to compete with a Time Lord with a blue box who can take you anywhere in time and space."
"Yes" replied Clara sadly, before hastily adding "Danny is er happy with me travelling with the Doctor."
"Well he is, if ignorance is bliss" replied Twelve.
"Yeah, well same difference."
"So you've kept your travelling with the Doctor secret from Danny?" asked a quizzical Amy.
"Not entirely, it's just that he thinks I've given it up, which maybe perhaps isn't 100% accurate."
"Tricky, I never had that problem!" exclaimed Amy. "I just flew away with him, whether Rory liked it or not!"
"Yes, how could I forget!" replied Rory. "Has Danny been in the TARDIS?"
"Ye-es, but he hasn't been anywhere in it. It all got a bit complicated. Anyway, kittens!" exclaimed Clara desperate to change the subject.
"Yes kittens!" announced Eleven. "Come along Ponds, Clara and er older me."
The five of them walked towards the forest, Clara slightly conscious of that previous conversation, and what it revealed about her. She couldn't keep up this ridiculous pretence, and had to tell the truth to Danny. But how and when? And then what? It's not as if she could give up travelling with the grey-haired stick-insect anyway. Clara looked at Amy and Rory and thought how straightforward things were for them, travelling together, none of this conflict she had.
Meanwhile Twelve pondered the changes in Clara, she had changed and was becoming more and more at ease with being economical with the truth. Amy, dear Amy and Rory, were they like this when they departed? Probably not. Clara was definitely becoming more like him, and had that day done a very good job at being the Doctor.
Twelve looked across at Eleven and realised that all the changes had happened with his 'face'. At that moment Twelve really wondered whether he was a good man or not.
As they reached the forest, Amy came over to Clara as she sensed Clara was feeling a bit down.
"So you and Danny and the Doctor is all a bit complicated then, I gather."
"Yes, and sorry about mentioning you and Rory in that conversation. It's a bit tricky with Danny, as I'm keeping much of my life secret from him."
"Why don't you invite him on to the TARDIS, go travelling together?"
"The Doctor doesn't like him, as he used to be a soldier, while Danny doesn't like the Doctor. And I don't think Danny would be interested anyway, he's shown no interest in travelling with the Doctor at all."
"Really? It was much easier for me; I had my boys nicely under control! Do you love him?"
"Who?"
"Danny."
"Well, er yes. Of course."
In a whisper Clara continued.
"Did you ever fancy the Doctor?"
"Oh yes" Amy whispered back, "I even gave him a good snog once. Indeed I may have given him more than that if he hadn't protested so much! Fancy is a funny word though, he was my imaginary friend throughout most of my childhood, and then he was back and wonderful, well most of the time, how could a girl resist?"
"Indeed."
"He was having nothing of it though, and deep down Rory was the man I wanted. I know that at some point in the future we'll say goodbye to the Doctor, and go back to our ordinary lives again. I could never say goodbye to Rory though."
"That's lovely."
"If I may be bold, I sense that at the moment you wouldn't be able to make the same decision, to give up the Doctor."
"No" Clara replied sadly. "Is it greedy to want both lives?"
"Oi, you two" Eleven exclaimed, interrupting them, "What you are whispering about? I hope you weren't talking about me!"
"If we were, it's none of your business" replied Amy with a laugh.
"Yes, keep your big chin out of it!" added Clara.
"Oi, what's wrong with my chin? Funny that, Oswin referred to my chin as well."
"Great minds think alike" replied Clara, inwardly cringing.
"Besides there's two of you now" continued Amy, "We might have been talking about the other Doctor, the one with the sexy Scottish accent!"
"Sexy Scottish accent?" Eleven exclaimed, while Twelve smiled.
"Yes, maybe he was inspired by me".
"Well if he was, why didn't he come back ginger? It seems such a waste, coming back with a Scottish accent without the ginger hair to go with it."
"We could always dye his hair" added Clara with a smirk, "Though it would take ages to dye his eyebrows as well!"
"I hadn't noticed, but those are serious eyebrows" replied Amy, "It's as if he's making up for the lack of eyebrows in his previous regeneration."
"Is today pick on the Doctor day or something" moaned Eleven. "I mean I could do the same to you two, oh yes, Amy Pond with her long legs, and Clara Oswald with her er not so long legs."
"Is that all you can think of?" asked Clara provocatively as she approached him.
"Yes, when there's so much more that can be added" interrupted Twelve. "That round face, so incredibly wide, and I did mention that you really need to wash more, plus…"
"Kittens!" interrupted Rory, much to Clara's relief. "We were here to see flying kittens, and I don't see any. Are these the right trees?"
"They are Rory" replied Eleven. "Nothing at all, no kittens, and no birds. Maybe they are elsewhere in the forest? We'd better have a look."
The five of them walked into the forest, which was dark with a sinister feel. Amy strode confidently along with Eleven, who was busy scanning everything with his sonic screwdriver, while Rory and Clara walked more cautiously behind, with Twelve at the rear.
"Quite creepy this forest" commented Rory.
"Yes" replied Clara, who then added with a weak smile "I'm glad I'm not the only one."
"So very quiet as well, no sign of any animal or insect life at all."
"That's a good point Rory" added Twelve from behind them. "It's as if everything has left the forest, very strange…"
Quite a Claracentric chapter, but then I had to throw in a little bit of Danny, seeing that this is S8 Clara, just to add to the emotional complications...
More angst and silliness to come (plus flying kittens if they ever manage to find them!)