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Chapter 27

Even though his breathing had long returned to normal and his heart had slowed down, the Doctor didn't dare to move. Clara was dozing in his arms, his hand softly caressing her hair, and he just knew that once he started to move, he would break that wonderful spell that made him feel as if everything was perfect. Then Clara sighed in his arms and nuzzled her face against his chest.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Yeah," she hummed happily, "Bit hungry though."

"Same," he laughed, "I could put the quiche in the oven."

"No, don't go," Clara complained and tightened her grip around his chest.

The Doctor chuckled in response. "Well, it's either that or starving."

Eventually he managed to convince Clara to let him go for the moment and the Doctor made his way back into the kitchen to finish preparing their dinner. It took a while, and as he was busy a the stove, he heard the shower run in the next room. His heart sank a little. He had hoped to just slip back under the covers to where Clara was waiting for him and continue this small moment, pretending that everything was okay.

However, Clara didn't join him in the kitchen and when the quiche was done the Doctor grabbed the bottle of red wine, two glasses and their dinner and made his way back into the bedroom.

Clara was lying in bed, wearing his shirt, and she had book in front of her nose that she was reading intently. Maybe they could continue their moment of happiness after all.

"Dinner is ready," he said and placed the baking mould down on the bed before he handed Clara a knife and fork.

She raised her eyebrows curiously. "We're eating in bed? Out of the baking dish?"

"You didn't seem eager to come into the kitchen," the Doctor replied as he opened the bottle of wine and poured them both a glass.

Clara threw the book aside and the Doctor watched as she sat up in bed, took a sip from the wineglass she was handed before she reached for the fork and poked it into the middle of the baking dish.

"This looks good," she uttered before she stuffed a piece into her mouth, "Mhhh, this is good. Can I have your cooking skills, please?"

With a smile the Doctor settled down next to her and tried the quiche as well, glad to see that it was one of his better creations.

"When did Missy say she needs this house back?" Clara suddenly asked, her mouth still full.

The Doctor was a little surprised by her question. "Uhm, I don't know. I suppose she won't need it today. It's up for sale though. You can buy it if you like it."

"So," she dipped the fork into their food repeatedly, "We could stay here all night?"

He smiled as he leaned back in bed. That was something he really hadn't expected. He had expected dinner, talking and maybe he had even hoped for a kiss, but never this. Not after what had happened at the staff Christmas party. "We could," the Doctor found himself replying, "But won't you be missed?"

"No," she said, "Told Danny I'm spending the night at Amy's place."

He couldn't help but laugh, even though it wasn't really funny at all. "You really had this planned, hadn't you?"

"I hadn't planned anything," Clara's head shot up and she was almost glaring at him. Then the tone of her voice softened. "But I knew I couldn't leave things the way the ended at the party. That was cheap and wrong and I like you more than that."

The Doctor took a deep breath. He wanted to say something, tell her how much he loved her, but Clara interrupted his train of thoughts.

"I will talk to Danny. I'll be honest with him about marriage and the house and then I will make my decision. I think he deserves at least that," she said.

Slowly the Doctor nodded and he knew that whatever her decision turned out to be, he would have to accept it. And if she chose to be with Danny, the Doctor would pack his things and run because there was no way he would ever get over her now. Not after this.

Then suddenly her mood seemed to lighten up as she stuffed another piece of quiche into her mouth. "What about you? Do you want to get married, have kids and buy a house?"

The Doctor scoffed. "Well, there's a change of topic," he replied.

Still Clara raised her eyebrows expectantly.

He shrugged. "I just want you," he told her truthfully.

The Doctor had half expected Clara to scold her for saying that, to change the topic once more, to remind him of Danny. Instead she smiled as she dropped the fork into the baking form and before he knew what was happening Clara had swung her leg over him to sit on his lap.

"Just so you know," she beamed at him, "We're definitely going to stay over night."

When Clara bent down to kiss him, the Doctor had no idea why he should even try to protest her decision.

Clara laughed as she sank back into his arms and the Doctor took a deep breath, trying very hard to get his breathing back under control. The sun had already moved around the window and he guessed it was past 11 am, though the Doctor would be damned to actually bring up the time and cause this wonderful morning to come to an end.

Then he felt Clara move again as she scrambled to lie on top of him, staring straight into his eyes.

"Hi," she said happily.

The Doctor chuckled. "Hi."

They looked at each other for a long moment and there was so much that he wanted to say, so much that he wanted to tell her, and yet it all came down to one problem.

"Don't go back to Danny," he found himself saying and at the mention of his name the smile faded from Clara's face.

"You don't understand," quickly she averted her gaze, "I have been a terrible girlfriend. The least I can do is give him an honest chance."

When she moved to get up, the Doctor reached for her hand, attempting to pull her back. "That's the guilt talking, not you."

"You don't know that!"

Suddenly there was the clicking of a lock and for a moment their eyes met.

"Missy," the Doctor hissed and darted out of bed to where they had discarded their clothes the night before. As quickly as possibly both of them got dressed while Missy's voice already sounded through the house.

"Hello? Anybody home?"

The Doctor only just managed to close his trousers when Missy carefully glimpsed around the corner.

"Oh good," she said, "You're dressed. Good morning, Clara."

"Morning," Clara mumbled behind him and the Doctor turned around to throw her an apologetic glance.

"I just came by to tell you that I've got people coming in at 2 pm today. Wouldn't want them to catch you by surprise," Missy explained nonchalantly, but the hint of a smirk on her face told the Doctor that she had also wanted to see how their talk had gone.

"You could have phoned, you know?" the Doctor said.

"Ah, well, you know. I thought I'd better be thorough," she granted them a smile, "And now I'll be on my way again. Bye!"

The Doctor exhaled sharply once Missy had closed the door behind her and turned back around to face Clara, who looked more than a little uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry about that," he said sincerely.

"It's okay," Clara nodded, "I'll help you clean up."

When Clara followed him into the kitchen, the Doctor was glad of her help with the mess he had made of the room the previous evening, but he also realized that their great mood had vanished completely. The moment was gone.