They moved in to their new place the following week as Danny had always been planning for himself. The time frame allowed Clara to take her time to move her stuff over which meant once Danny's belongings were in; the rest of moving day was essentially spent lying on their new sofa with the TV on. Clara's head rested on Danny's chest as they held hands and relaxed. She groaned as her phone started ringing and she had to lean over to fetch it, suddenly going to sit up but he held her in place.

"Relax, you told me everything went well with your Dad so there's nothing to be afraid of," he kissed her head softly before she answered the phone with a smile on her face.

"Hi Dad, is everything okay?" Clara pushed Danny's hand away as he started wandering his fingers up her side making her squirm.

"Oh yeah it's fine, I've just had about ten phone calls from your Gran asking about this chap of yours and when we will get to meet him," Danny had moved himself close so he could hear and his reaction to being called her chap nearly made her fall off the sofa, letting out a small squeal. "You alright?" Dave asked.

"Yes, yeah sorry just not paying attention to where I'm walking," she replied.

"Liar," Danny whispered in her ear teasingly and she grinned. "Invite them over for dinner," he added much to her surprise. Clara turned her head to make sure he was serious and he smiled.

"How do you fancy dinner tonight?" Clara asked him before adding "at our place."

"Your... you've moved in? I thought you weren't moving fast!" Her Dad sounded shocked, but not really upset.

"Danny moved in to the area and it's a gorgeous house Dad, I promise you'll understand when you see it. I'll text you the address, bring Gran, say 5?" she was checking everything with Danny as she spoke. "Love you Dad, see you later," she hung up once he'd agreed and text him the address before smiling and putting her phone down. "Danny we need to organise dinner in the next 3 hours..."

"Don't worry, I've got it all covered. You relax here, I'm gonna nip to the shops," he stood up and grabbed the car keys and his wallet from the table before opening the door. "Oh hello there," Danny smiled as he opened the door, "Clara! Visitor!" he called, "come on in, I won't be long then I'll say a proper hello." He ran out, shutting the door just as Clara appeared in the hall to see Adrian stood there looking slightly bemused. She hugged him, smiling as he spun her round a little.

"Come on, let me see it then!" Adrian grabbed her hand and looked at the ring, "it's beautiful Clara," he told her before playfully hitting her over the head.

"Hey! What was that for?!" Clara asked, rubbing at her head although it didn't really hurt.

"Being home for over a week and not even inviting me to see the ring, honestly some best friend you are," he grinned and they both laughed as Clara lead him through in to the lounge. "This place is beautiful by the way; I'd kill to live in this area."

"Sorry this last week has been crazy what with my Dad and Gran and trying to organise the move, I meant to ring you but I've been so tired. We were meant to just be relaxing this afternoon but now my Dad is coming round for dinner I'm in for a night of questioning," she sighed and slumped down in the sofa. "Sorry, I've not even offered you tea,"

"It's alright I take the hint, I'll go investigate your kitchen," Adrian rolled his eyes and Clara smirked at him as he walked off, grabbing the TV remote and flicking it off, picking up her laptop from the table instead. She sat with her feet up and started flicking through her lesson plans. "A lot to catch up on?" Adrian asked as he stood in the doorway while the kettle boiled.

"I've just opened my emails, it's not pretty," she sighed, "tell me I did the right thing taking the promotion?" he walked over and sat on the arm of the sofa.

"You definitely did, you'll be amazing, especially now you're back to yourself. Everybody knows this summer is going to be difficult for you, don't worry about taking your time replying to things. Just prioritise the emails, and if you need a hand with anything then let me know – it is officially your job to boss me around now after all," Adrian grinned and went back to make the tea. Clara started working through the emails and replying to the more important ones. She knew there was a lot of work and planning to be done but thankfully she'd done an awful lot before the holidays had begun. Adrian reappeared with tea and put the mug down on the table beside her, joining her on the sofa.

"You told him about your job yet?" he asked and Clara stopped typing, "didn't think so, you should be proud of this not hiding it, I bet you haven't told your Dad either." He knew her too well. Clara sighed and shook her head before leaning over to rest her head on his shoulder. "You always used to tell Tom these things first, I know, but that habit needs to change now. I know I've been here for you and that's never going to change, but you need to be open and honest with Danny and your Dad if this is going to work out and that includes the good as well as the bad." Adrian moved to put an arm around her. "You're my best friend and I'll never stop caring about you but I want to see you running to Danny now," he hugged her gently and then sat her up.

"What did I miss?" Clara smiled when Danny seemed to appear on cue and jumped up to see him, putting her laptop down. "Are you really working already?"

"New heads of department are busy people," Clara looked round at Adrian and glared at him for what he said but he just smiled and sipped his tea.

"You never said?" Danny put the bag down and threw the keys on the side.

"It was confirmed about 2 days before you flew out," Adrian added and Clara threw the nearest cushion at him. "Alright alright but someone had to tell the poor bloke." He finally stood up and turned around to face them, walking over and shaking Danny's hand. "We spoke on the phone? I'm Adrian, loyal best friend and all round protector. Be warned." Clara looked up at Danny's face as he suddenly looked a little scared and she couldn't help but laugh and then kicked Adrian.

"Don't scare him! Take that through to the kitchen would you please?" Clara pointed to the bag and looked at Adrian who took the hint and picked it up. "I'm sorry about him, he does actually quite like you believe it or not, and I'm sorry I didn't tell you about the promotion I'm actually pretty rubbish at sharing good news," she told him.

"Well don't be, tell me everything and anything because I want to celebrate with you. That's how this all works now missy," Danny kissed her gently, "and we will celebrate later but for now I have some cooking to do. Adrian can stay if you like?"

"Best not, my Gran doesn't like him much… that's a story for another day though, but you get going I'll come help once I've said goodbye," she told him and gave him another quick kiss before going to collect Adrian.

"So why doesn't your Gran like your best friend then?" Danny asked as Clara joined him in the kitchen after saying goodbye to Adrian. "Seems a little odd, he's been very good to you."

"She's convinced he just wants to jump in to bed with me, can't get her head around the fact we're just friends. I gave up trying to explain, trust me it's not worth it. So what are you cooking?" Clara asked and stood by the stove, leaning against the side.

"You'll find out, why don't you go and put your feet up for an hour before they arrive?" Danny asked and smiled, leaning over and kissing her cheek.

"Mmm tempting, but I'd better look over some of those emails, might bring my laptop in here if that's okay?" Danny nodded, "I am sorry I didn't tell you about the promotion, honestly," she called back as she collected her laptop.

"It's fine I get it, I'm just really pleased for you. How're you coping with the extra work so far?" He asked as she settled at the table in the kitchen.

"Mmmm it's okay, I've not had much chance to look at it to be fair, but nothing I can't sort out. How's your prep going?" Clara typed another email reply, glancing over to see Danny chopping onions and smirked a little at him attempting to hold back tears.

"Good, it's a nice class set I've got I'm quite enjoying lesson planning," Clara stood up from her seat and grabbed a tissue, dabbing at his eyes, "yeah alright cheeky." She laughed at his response.

"So who have you got then?" Clara asked him as she returned to her chair. Danny quickly followed, logging in to his emails to bring up his class list so she could scan through. "You're right, pretty good bunch. Watch out for those year 11s though, they'll be a fun bunch, half of them are in my tutor," she laughed, scrolling down the list.

"You saying you can't control your pupils?" He laughed, chucking everything in the frying pan.

"If you weren't cooking I'd throw something at you right now, cheeky sod!" she rolled her eyes, shutting his email down and going back to her own. "My Dad just text, they're on the way," she commented as her phone vibrated on the table beside her.

"You could sound happier…?" Danny commented, looking around at her but Clara was still focussed on her laptop.

"Sorry, I guess I'm a little nervous," she smiled nervously. Danny left the dinner in a good place and walked over, shutting her laptop down.

"That's not going to be helping. Go get yourself ready, it'll be fine! We'll spend tomorrow working on the sofa," Clara stood up, grinning and kissing him softly, "you sure about that?"

"Yes, absolutely certain," Danny laughed and pushed her towards the kitchen door. Clara rolled her eyes and chuckled softly as she made her way upstairs.

Danny opened the door before Dave had even knocked. Dinner was now in the oven, ready to be served when they were all sorted.
"You must be Mr Oswald," he held out a hand which Dave kindly shook, "I've heard lots about you."

"Danny, lovely to meet you finally, this is Clara's Gran, Mary, and my wife Linda," he managed to hide a look of confusion about Linda and allowed them all in.

"I'll just go and fetch Clara, feel free to investigate the living room," Danny told them, jogging upstairs to find Clara with clothes all over the bed sat in the middle. "Clara they're… what on earth?" he asked as he walked in the room.

"She came didn't she?" Clara asked, obviously meaning Linda. Something wasn't right here; Danny could tell this was stressing her out so she sat down beside her once he'd moved a couple of dresses away.

"Linda? Yes, she seems nice?" The look he received told him he was wrong, "it can't be that bad?"

"It can be, that woman hates me, she's hated anyone I've ever dated and makes it her aim in life to make me feel as bad as possible. I can't do anything right in Linda's eyes and yet my Dad just doesn't see what she's doing," Clara leant over to rest in to him, sighing. "I love my Dad and my Gran so much; I was really hoping she wouldn't come…"

"Well you know what we're gonna do? We're going to go down there, show her how happy we are, enjoy your time with your Dad and your Gran and ignore any comments she makes. You're going to wear that gorgeous dress you wore last Friday and I'm going to go and play the good host. I'll see you in a few minutes?" He checked she was okay with that and then kissed her gently before standing up, heading back downstairs. As he made his way back to the living room, Danny paused in the hall and listened to the ongoing conversation.

"Don't you think it's very early for them to be living together?" Linda spoke harshly; maybe he could begin to see where Clara was coming from.

"Maybe, but she seems happier than she has done in months Linda, this could be good for her, I never thought I'd get to see that smile on her face again." Dave sounded sincere; he clearly worried about his daughter.

"Have you ever thought that this could end in heartbreak?" Danny nearly walked in then but held off.

"Maybe it could, but maybe it won't and just maybe you could be happy for the girl?" That must have been her Gran's voice – the voice of reason. It was then that Danny decided to walk in pretending to be oblivious.

"Can I get anyone a drink? We have tea, coffee, wine, beer, the usual really?" Danny asked, ignoring Linda's studying look.

"We'll both have a red wine if you don't mind, Mum?" Dave looked over to Mary who responded for herself.

"Oh just a coffee for me dear, best not get on the alcohol too early. Let me help you," she said determinedly and followed Danny in before he could protest, shutting the door behind her. "I'm sorry about Linda, she can be a little forward," before Danny could open his mouth she added, "I saw you outside the room, I know you heard. Like Dave said, Clara seems happier than we've seen her in an awful long time and that's all down to you as far as I can see. I for one can certainly see why she likes you," she spoke a little flirtatiously towards the end.

"Gran!" Clara had obviously arrived at some point during that but neither of them were too sure when, didn't stop Mary from laughing and walking over to hug her. "How're you doing?"

"Wonderful thank you, especially seeing you back to yourself. Let me take those drinks out," Mary turned to Danny and held her hands out for the wine glasses, taking them through.

"I'm so sorry," Clara smiled a little awkwardly. "Unlike Linda, my Gran has a habit of loving anybody I bring home. I'll warn you now; she just wants a great grandchild…" Clara laughed and took her glass from him before walking out to join them in the living room.

"So tell us more, all you said before is that you met at the camp and now you're engaged?" Dave sounded a little confused.

"That is basically the long and the short of it," Clara told them, but he looked less than happy about her answer. "Okay, so we didn't get off to the best start if I'm honest, for the first few days I was… less than friendly. We got there though," she started explaining.

"It was probably the most cliché start of a relationship ever actually. Summer camp, man saves woman from impending death, we couldn't have got more chick flick if we tried," Danny laughed, but Clara cringed. "Ah… hadn't mentioned the impending death?" She shook her head, "I'll go and get dinner served." Clara nodded and he backed in to the kitchen.

"It's fine Dad, I'm fine honestly. Just a little accident, ended up in the raft water, there was a rock in the way and my head made contact but I'm here and I'm fine. He really did save me though, although I had already realised I'd been a bit of an idiot by then. To be honest he might not know it, but he's saved me from much worse…" she tailed off, realising what she was almost admitting to them.

"There's no need to play the depressed widow card, you've got yourself a new man now get over it," Linda told her, but Danny walked back in to the room as she spoke and was quick to get on her.

"Are you joking? Considering who your husband is I should think you'd know better than to say that. Clara told me everything that happened with Tom, and it does still affect her. I'm not going to stop her from being upset, I can't change the past, but I can help the future and I have every intention of doing so. You may not have noticed how low she's been, but I can see how much it's affected her and I can't let you speak to her like that!" Clara stood up and walked over, stopping him there.

"Excuse me, what right do you have in this conversation? You only met Clara a few weeks ago and you think you're some kind of expert?! She's spent months wallowing she just needs to get over it!" Danny looked over at Dave who clearly wasn't going to say anything. He took a step forward but Clara was already there.

"Danny knows me better than you ever have! You've not helped one but since I lost Tom, you think it's that easy?" She faced up to her, feeling the anger build as she turned to her Dad, "and you've not said a bloody word?! Don't you see it? Don't you see what she's been doing, how much her attitude has affected me? Remember that night I left yours and ended up in hospital? When you picked me up the next day I told you I'd fainted because I hadn't eaten?" Dave nodded, a little in shock at her sudden turn of emotion. "I lied. I came home that night and I opened a bottle of vodka and a packet of painkillers and I didn't stop. If Adrian hadn't come round unexpectedly that night you'd have been going to the hospital for a whole different reason. Before you ask, I couldn't tell you because of her, because I didn't want to upset you, how stupid was I to care about that?!"

"Clara I…" Dave started to reply but she shook her head.

"Just go, get out, take your precious wife with you and enjoy your happy life! I've got mine right here and if you can't accept that then fine, let her continue to control you and enjoy your dreamy little world!" Clara screamed, trying to keep as composed as she could.

"I'm not going anywhere when we're like this," Dave replied, not shouting, just sounding concerned but Clara couldn't take anymore of Linda's glaring.

"Fine, I'll go then!" Clara held her arms up and backed off a few steps before grabbing her jacket from the chair and storming out of the house.

The rest of them stood there in a stunned silence as she left, Danny was still trying to get his head around what she'd admitted as were Dave and Mary, Linda just seemed to look fed up. Danny grabbed his phone, immediately texting her to ask where she was going.
"I hope you're happy," he looked up to Linda and Dave. "I suggest you leave now, I'm going to go and find your daughter and fix your mess. Do you know how nervous she was for this, how much she wanted you to accept us and understand us? Your daughter talks about her Dad so fondly; I really thought you'd be better than this." Danny told Dave truthfully. He didn't reply, just turned to Linda who picked up her bag from the floor and they started to head towards the door.

"Mum?" Dave looked back at Mary.

"I'm not going anywhere until I know she's safe. You should be ashamed of yourself," she replied and he accepted that.

"Please let me know she's alright," Dave looked to Danny who rolled his eyes. "She's my daughter."

"You remind yourself of that," Danny replied before they left. "Would you mind staying here in case she comes back?" He looked around to Mary who nodded, "it's okay, I understand why you didn't get involved and I'm sure Clara does too."

Danny ran out of the house and jumped in to his car having instructed Mary to help herself to the dinner. The biggest problem he had now was that Clara could be anywhere. This area was new to him and even she didn't know the local village that well, he had no idea where she might go. Her phone had been turned off leaving him no option but to drive and hope. You'd have thought she couldn't have got far, but he also knew how fast she could run if she wanted to. This was going to be an almost impossible task.

After a good hour of searching and a phone call or two to Mary to make sure Clara hadn't turned up at home Danny finally had a brainwave and turned around, driving towards the one place she definitely knew how to get to. When he arrived at Coal Hill he noted the one light on and sighed a little with relief - she was definitely inside. Danny parked up in the road and walked over to the caretaker's house - Clara had taken him a couple of days ago to ask him to let her in - evidently it wasn't the first time she'd done so.

"I was hoping you might turn up," Danny didn't even get to explain as he opened the door, keys already in hand. "You know I've been letting Clara in at all hours for months now since she lost her fella and when I saw you both the other day I knew something was different. Today though... What's happened?" He asked as he pulled the door shut behind him and walked over the road to the gate, "I never lock the door while she's inside so you should be fine from here. I hope everything is alright."

"It will be, at least I hope it will..." Danny decided not to provide much explanation and walked through, heading inside. It took him a moment to remember where he needed to go, but eventually he found the English corridor and the correct classroom. Clara was sat at her desk typing away as he walked in.

"Some people eat, some people go shopping, but Clara Oswald comes to work when she's stressed," he leant against the doorframe. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry you had to go through that."

"You'd think I'd be used to it by now, I just can't stand it anymore, you deserve better..." Clara sat back and he could now see how red her eyes were. Danny walked over and she immediately stood up to hug him, starting to sob in to him again.

"Don't say that, you're the one that deserves to be treated better by your family. I can't believe the way Linda spoke to you, your Dad wasn't much better. They've gone now, it's just your Gran left at the house and she's very worried about you," he kissed her head softly.

"Can we stay here? Just for a bit? Call Gran and tell her I'm okay but I know nobody will disturb us here, it's why I like it," she explained and separated from him as he pulled his phone out.

"I'll be 2 minutes, but we can't be long I'll have to drive your Gran home," Danny walked out to make the call. He returned a few minutes later and sat down on her chair, pulling her down to sit on his lap. "She told me to give you a hug from her and take as long as you need," Clara nodded, leaning back in to him. Danny glanced over to her laptop and the lesson plan she had going. "Jane Austen huh?"

"Wonderful woman, fabulous author, my favourite lessons to teach. I've lost count of the number of times I've read Pride and Prejudice but I never get bored of it," Clara reached forward and opened her desk drawer, pulling a copy out that looked rather read. "My Mum bought me this copy, I was far too young to read it at the time but as soon as I could I did. I guess it's my lucky charm now, full of hundreds of notes as I studied it over the years but still just as special." Danny carefully took it from her, flicking through the pages gently. She wasn't joking; the book was full of hard thought out notes and there was something of a beauty about it. He let himself read the first couple of paragraphs which Clara clearly noticed. "You can borrow it if you like?"

Danny suddenly looked up, "oh gosh no I couldn't, I'll get my own copy," he told her, going to hand it back but she shook her head.

"No really, I know you'll look after it," she smiled and kissed his cheek gently. "Plus you get to learn all about it as you read – what a bonus!" Danny rolled his eyes and Clara laughed.

"That's more like it." Danny put the book down on the desk and linked his hands in front of her as his arms rested round her waist. "Let's go home love, as much as this is very nice bed will be a lot more comfortable," Danny whispered as he rested his chin almost weightlessly on her shoulder.

"You're probably right… but I am kinda starving so maybe food and telly first?" Danny chuckled and nodded, following Clara up and heading home.