Hello! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! And if you're here for chapter 7, enjoy! :)

Dave Oswald sat behind his desk, signing all the invitations which will be posted tomorrow. His 60th birthday was coming up in three weeks and because he was so thrilled with his daughter's love life and life in general, he decided to throw a lavish celebration. His mind was at ease as he knew it would only be a matter of time before Clara falls in love with John Foreman.

Speaking of his daughter, the doors to his study swung open and she strode in.

"Donna said you needed to see me," Clara said, a puzzled look on her face. She was about to leave for dinner with John when she was told to see her father shortly after asking Mr Rentford to bring the carriage around.

Dave beamed before standing up and handing her one of the sealed envelopes. "Would you be so kind as to pass this to Mr Foreman. Tell him that both he and his cousin are invited to the party."

Clara said nothing as she took the letter. The moment her father's birthday party was mentioned, she wanted nothing more than to invite the Doctor. At the very least, she wouldn't have to spend a substantial amount of time with John Foreman, as much as she adored her childhood friend.

Her father had told her she could invite her friends and so, she had, including her best friend, Amy Pond but she had wondered if it would cast suspicions if she invited John Smith. To Dave's knowledge, he was just the family doctor.

"Clara?" her father said, snapping her out of her thoughts. "Is something else the matter?"

It's now or never.

"I was just wondering if we could maybe invite the Doctor? He has been kind to me and even refused to receive payment the first time he came here so I think it's only fair if he's invited."

Dave pondered the suggestion for a moment before he made his decision. "Very well, then."

Going around his desk, he quickly grabbed a pen and scribbled the Doctor's name on the invitation letter. "It's Dr John Smith, right?" he muttered.

"Yes."

After placing the letter in the envelope, Dave handed the letter to his daughter. "Tell Mr Rentford to deliver it to him after he drops you off at Gallifrey."

Clara merely smiled before leaving the room. She had other plans.

"Enjoy your dinner with John!"

"I don't understand why you have to drag me here to this restaurant when we could have dinner at home," John Smith complained as he and his sister waited outside the entrance to be seated.

Missy rolled her eyes in annoyance. "I can think of a few – one, because I want to – two, you don't have any food at home – three, I didn't want to buy any food for you since you're a grown man and four, even if I did, I don't feel like cooking."

"But why did you have to drag me here?"

"Well, I can't let my baby brother starve, now can I? What are you planning to have for dinner at home – air?" she responded.

"I would have had something light and cheap."

Missy chuckled. "Tonight, you're having something delicious and expensive."

"Table for two?" asked a waiter who approached them.

"Yes," John replied immediately before Missy had the chance to give a sarcastic answer.

"Right this way."

As the waiter was guiding them to their table, John spotted two familiar faces among the patrons – Clara and her Chin Boy, but what caught his attention was obviously Clara. He couldn't help but admire over how beautiful she looked in the blue dress she was wearing. He was sure she would look beautiful in any dress. John couldn't help but smile at the thought of it.

However, he soon realised his current situation and the expression on his face morphed into that of horror. If Missy ever found out about this, well, he couldn't really imagine what would happen, but it wouldn't be good for him or them. One thing for sure is that she would embarrass him a great deal.

"You look like you saw a ghost," his sister said calmly as they took their seats. "Just a moment ago, you were being your grumpy-self and now you're behaving strangely."

"I'm not behaving strangely," John defended, trying to sound as calm as possible.

The waiter returned with two menus and left shortly after.

Missy examined his face intently before cracking a smile.

He's done for.

"You're actually glad I took you here, aren't you? You're always hungry so it's no surprise," she said, pulling out a compact mirror to check her face.

It took him a lot of willpower to not let out a sigh of relief. "No comment."

John never felt so relieved in his entire life.

Missy closed her compact mirror shut with a reassuring click.

"Or does it have something to do with that stupid smile on your face you had twelve seconds ago?"

He was sure his heart had a mini heart attack when she dropped the bomb.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he replied, his throat suddenly feeling dry.

Missy glanced at the direction where Clara Oswald and John Foreman were seated.

She grinned at her brother. "You sly dog! Chasing after married women!"

"She's not married!" John said through gritted teeth.

"Engaged."

"Not engaged."

"Being courted then."

"It's a bit more complicated than that, I'm afraid."

Missy chuckled. "Relax, I'm just pulling your leg - already knew who she after doing some sniffing around, shall we say, since you were being so discreet about the letter she wrote you. It doesn't take a doctor to put the pieces together. Well educated, wealthy family, probably lives in a big mansion somewhere. Father is probably well known. Easy-peasy."

"Don't interfere," John warned.

"I have no intention to."

The Doctor was sure he was the only person who knew what Missy's actual job was. She would often say she works as a governess, but John knew his sister well. She was far too intelligent to be teaching children, far too adventurous and cunning to live a simple life. What people didn't know was that Missy Smith is a criminal consultant.

"So, you and this Oswald girl – how serious is the relationship because by the looks of it, she doesn't fancy Chin Boy at all," Missy commented. "Well, maybe just a bit."

The Doctor glanced to his right to see Clara and John Foreman chatting. He didn't see anything odd about that but upon closer inspection, he could tell that Chin Boy was doing most of the talking. Clara was simply nodding or smiling.

"What do you mean just a bit?" he asked, a hint of jealousy in the tone of his voice.

"You didn't answer my question."

John ran his hand through his messy silver curls. "I don't know – I told her to give Chin Boy a chance."

"You may be a doctor, but you are also an idiot. Doctor Idiot."

The same waiter who handed them the menus came over. "Are we ready to order?" he asked with a wide smile on his face.

Once Missy and John had placed their orders, they continued their conversation.

"Idiot," she repeated. "You're given a chance to find someone and what do you do – tell that person to find someone else."

"I only told her to give some time. Maybe she'll change her mind and not end up with an 'idiot' like me."

"Thank God she hasn't," Missy replied calmly, smiling. "Change her mind, that is."

The Doctor glanced at where Clara was seated, and he realised she was staring back at him.

"It wasn't exactly what he wanted to hear, and he had no intention of leaving the company to Harold, so I had no choice but to read Economics," John Foreman explained.

"I'm sorry, John," Clara said sincerely. "I can still remember what you told me that day – you wanted to be the Doctor. Not a doctor but the Doctor. The very best."

John smiled at her, touched that she still remembers his silly ramblings as a child.

They were both talking about their childhood and teenage years. John had planned to go to medical school, but his dream was cut short when his father demanded him to abandon his plans of becoming a doctor and run one of the smaller railway companies he owned.

"It's fine, Clara – maybe I could manage the company for a few years and then return to university," he said, taking a sip of his drink. "I can't give in easily."

Clara placed a comforting hand on his before her eyes caught a familiar figure. Her brows furrowed in confusion. She was sure the man is John Smith and her guess was correct when he glanced at her. She noticed that he was seated with a woman and she couldn't help but feel as if her heart being ripped apart.

"Clara, what is it?" John asked before glancing back to see the Doctor seated across the restaurant. "Ah, him."

The Doctor rose from his chair and walked over to them, followed by the mysterious woman. "Miss Oswald, what a happy coincidence," he said, taking her hand and kissing it.

"A happy coincidence indeed, Dr Smith," she replied, beaming at him. Her skin tingled when his lips made contact with her skin.

"This is my sister, by the way," the Doctor said. "Missy, Miss Oswald, Miss Oswald, Missy, and Missy, this is Clara's, erm, friend, Mr…"

"Foreman," John said, taking her hand kissing it.

Clara was relieved to find out that the woman was the Doctor's sister.

While Clara got on well with Missy, the two Johns just stood next to each other, avoiding eye contact.

"I hope your horse's demeanour has improved since we last met," the Doctor said.

"She certainly has. Even went as far as apologising to Clara by handing her a bouquet of flowers. She has manners."

"Good to know."

"And my horse has a name – Idris."

"Maybe her manners would improve if she had a better name."

Their conversation was cut short when the two women started giggling.

"It was lovely to meet you," Missy said as she shook hands with Clara. "We must have lunch sometime."

The Doctor furrowed his brows. Those words would never come from his sister. Not from Missy Smith.

"That would be wonderful."

The day that happens is the day John Smith kisses Clara Oswald.

The two siblings returned to their table.

"See, it wasn't that bad."

"You've just made it worse, I think."

Missy grinned. "Nonsense and besides, I like her – she's definitely your type."

The following day, John Smith got a surprise visit from Clara in the evening, shortly after closing his practice.

He heard a knock and shut the book he was reading before yelling from the living room. "Go away, Missy."

"I'm definitely not Missy!" piped Clara from outside.

John threw the book on the sofa before running to the door. "I'm sorry, I thought my sister was here to bother me again," he explained before stepping aside to let her in. "Please, come in."

"Thank you – I actually came here for a good reason," she murmured, staring into his bright blue eyes.

They were only inches apart due to the narrow hallway but none of them had the intention of moving. John couldn't find the right words to describe what he was feeling – he felt as if his heart would jump out of his chest.

"I always believe you are here for a good reason," he whispered.

Clara held up the white envelope. "Father has invited you to his birthday celebration – there will be everything - food, wine, dancing-"

"Dancing?!"

Her smile immediately disappeared as she saw the horrified look on John's face.

The Doctor immediately distanced himself. "I'm flattered to have been invited but I don't think-"

He stopped talking the moment he saw the sadness in her eyes. "How do you do that?" he asked.

She knitted her eyebrows. "Do what?"

"Your eyes! It's as if they can inflate!" he explained before realising his mistake. "I'm sorry, that's not what I meant. It wasn't my intention to be rude – you have beautiful eyes…"

Clara giggled at his frantic behaviour. "Doctor, please, you have to come. It will be wonderful."

"I can't dance," he confessed. "I haven't danced for ages and I'm bad with people."

He felt as if his brain was about to short-circuit. He wanted to do nothing more than to kiss her when she beamed at him, making her dimples visible. His sister is right – he is an idiot. How could he say no to those eyes, to that beautiful face.

"I'll teach you then," she said, grabbing his hand and dragging him to the centre living room.