Apologies for the long wait before this chapter, I think the Christmas season has been affecting my creativity :-)
The five of them continued walking through the forest, which was completely empty, Eleven and Amy up front, with the others lagging behind.
"I'm definitely missing something!" exclaimed Eleven to himself, as he slapped the side of his head. "Think Doctor, think!"
"Trying to impress Clara?" interrupted Amy with a smirk, "Hoping to get the answer before the other Doctor?"
"Who do you take me for, Pond? Do you think I'm going to get competitive with another version of me just because his Companion is er quite nice?"
"We-ell, you do seem rather smitten by her. You never had those eyes for me."
"I don't know what you're talking about. She's got a boyfriend anyway."
"And you're married to my daughter! God, that still sounds weird. Besides, she's got her own Doctor."
"Yeah, but he's all old and wrinkly. And he doesn't wear a bow-tie, and…"
"Bow-ties are cool?"
"Well they are. It is quite exciting though, seeing into my future, indeed having a future, and if Clara is to be my future Companion when you and Rory sadly have to leave me, well er first impressions count and all that."
"Will she remember meeting you?"
"It's hard to say. When time streams get mixed up like this, the earlier versions of the Doctor never remember meeting the later versions, but with human minds it gets more complicated. Generally they forget the detail of the actual events, but something is left in the subconscious."
"So she will remember you floundering around?"
"Yes. No!"
"Those feelings of disappointment when the young looking Doctor let her down."
"No, I won't let her down, I mean…"
Eleven then saw Amy laughing.
"Come on raggedy man, better find the kittens! You're so transparent!"
"Am not," Eleven huffed in reply.
"So er, travelling with the Doctor" Clara spoke carefully, "How's it been?"
"Good, yes good" replied Rory. "Interesting, great actually. Quite a contrast with my normal life."
"You're a nurse aren't you?"
"Yes, it's hard work but really satisfying. I guess being a teacher is the same."
"Yes. Do you find combining the two can get a bit," Clara lowered her voice, "Stressful?"
"A bit, as you never know when he's going to turn up and turn your life upside down! His visits are becoming less frequent though, it's as if he's trying to say goodbye to us."
"Really?"
"Yes, well we have a nice life, and maybe he feels that if we keep travelling with him, eventually something will go wrong, and it'll all end horribly."
"I'm sure he'll never let that happen, he cares for you two too much."
"I know he'll always do everything to keep us safe, but someday a day will come where not even he can save us, or even worse if one of us doesn't make it."
Clara put her arm around Rory.
"Oh I'm sure that day will never come, and you and Amy will live happily together."
Clara exchanged a glance with Twelve who was behind them and had been listening in. Twelve smiled back, a sad smile, like the ones he'd noticed on Clara. At least Amy and Rory were together after he lost them, that was one small consolation…
"Yeah, you're right" exclaimed Rory. "Let's catch the others up!"
"There you are!" exclaimed Amy as the others caught up Amy and Eleven. "Lurking at the back as usual Rory. I take it you saw nothing back there?"
"Not a sausage" replied Rory.
"Now flying sausages, that would be a thing!" replied an excited Eleven, waving his arms around. "Imagine a forest full of flying sausages, Cumberland Whirls flapping around the leaves, Bratwurst nesting in the branches, Chipolatas…"
Eleven tailed off as he noticed everyone giving him that look.
"...Well I've seen stranger things..."
"That much is true" replied Twelve.
"Yes!" continued Eleven, pleased and slightly surprised by Twelve's show of support. "Anyway, er we've done a loop all around this forest and seen no signs of life at all. It'll start getting dark soon, so I suggest we head back the TARDIS, sorry the TARDISes for the night."
"Ooh, can we choose which TARDIS to sleep in?" exclaimed Amy with an excited smile. "I've never had a choice before."
"We can have a TARDIS sleepover!" replied Clara. "Shall I bring the midnight feast?"
"You wouldn't want to share with us, Rory is a terrible snorer."
"I do not snore!" replied the indignant Rory.
"Do!"
The two of them argued this point as they walked back to where the TARDISes were parked, which didn't take long, as they'd taken a circular route through the forest.
"I can't wait to see your TARDIS" exclaimed Amy to Twelve. "I bet it's very different inside."
"Yes, it has a bit of a different look" he replied opening the door.
"Wow, this is a lot different" spoke Rory as he entered, "Much more serious, more scientific."
"It's good" replied Amy. "Classy."
"Well I don't like it" moaned Eleven, "It's all a bit gloomy, no fun at all."
"I assume you changed it after regeneration" continued Rory. "A new TARDIS for a new Doctor, is that how it works?"
"Something like that" replied Twelve carefully.
"So do you control your TARDIS interiors?" asked Amy.
"Yes, well sort of" replied Eleven. "Her interior reflects the personality of the Doctor, both consciously and subconsciously. As well as after a regeneration, the changes often happen because of something momentous in that Doctor's life, wanting to move on, to try and forget about bad memories."
"Well your TARDIS certainly reflects your personality!" exclaimed Amy. "The mad man with a box."
"Is that a good or bad thing?" added Clara with a smirk.
"Oh you'll love my TARDIS" exclaimed Eleven. "It's definitely the best one there's ever been!"
"I bet they all say that" laughed Amy to Clara. "You know what it's like, boys with their toys!"
"Only one way to find out" replied Clara.
Clara was genuinely interested to see Eleven's original TARDIS, having only seen his later version. Having already seen the TARDIS consoles of Ten and the War Doctor, she was ticking them off quite nicely!
"Coming?" exclaimed Clara to Twelve, as they left his TARDIS.
"No thanks, I can remember that TARDIS well."
"Of course" replied Clara quietly.
"Enjoy yourself, I'll be doing some analysis here."
The four crossed over to the other TARDIS, where Eleven proudly opened the door to his TARDIS.
"What do you think Clara! Isn't that the coolest thing you've even seen?"
"Wow!" she replied, "That's amazing."
"Take a look at the console, and this amazing floor."
Clara was genuinely surprised by how colourful it was, and how exciting it all looked. It all screamed energy and fun, him and the Ponds having adventures together.
"May I?" she asked, spotting the pinball on the console.
"Be my guest!"
"Reminds me of my childhood in the Blackpool arcades!" she exclaimed.
Launching a ball, she thought about how different the TARDIS looked when she had first met him, so much more clinical and cold; he had changed it presumably during the long period of isolation on the cloud, where her Victorian fragment had found him. Clara looked at Eleven and thought about the long period of sadness that he would soon endure…
"So whadda you think then? Much better than the other TARDIS?"
"I think they're both equally good" Clara replied carefully.
"The correct answer" exclaimed Amy, "Imagine how insufferably smug either of these Doctors would get if we showed a preference for their TARDIS!"
"Yes, I can quite imagine that! Incidentally, have you and Rory ever had problems with the TARDIS, you know, funny things happening, like er your bedroom vanishing?"
Twelve was working at his console when he was surprised by Clara's return.
"I wasn't expecting you back so soon. I thought you might have liked to spend the evening with the others."
"Nah, it's been a long day, so midnight feasting and sleepovers will have to wait for another occasion. All those warnings about Rory's snoring too!" Clara laughed.
"I'm happy for you that you've got your Doctor back, even if only for a short time."
Seeing Clara's slightly puzzled expression, Twelve continued with his best 'friendly' smile.
"I totally understand, and won't get jealous."
Clara didn't respond, so he less confidently continued.
"I mean that I er genuinely don't mind. While you put up with me, you must miss my previous version, he was all young and tactile and huggy. Yes hugs were definitely his thing. Along with bow ties, so not all good, but then he didn't have the killer eyebrows."
Clara silently approached the Doctor, then to his surprise clasped his right hand and with a touch of emotion in her voice spoke.
"You, you are my Doctor. And don't you ever forget that."
And with that she left for her room before he had the chance to reply.
A few emotional scenes and virtually no plot development, yup a typical chapter of mine!
Thanks for the reviews, the next chapter will probably be after "Last Christmas" has aired, which might affect its tone, depending on what happens to Clara!