Thank you for all your support! Ready for more angst?
The sound of bustling street and sun streaming through the curtains stirred John awake from his slumber. He didn't want to wake up just yet – the bed, while not the most comfortable thing in the world was still soft and snuggled closer to Clara, draping an arm over her stomach and burying his nose into her hair. Clara.
John's eyes shot open, filled with panic. He relaxed when he realised they were still fully clothed. His attention wandered back to the position he was in. His left arm was numb and being used as a pillow by Clara who was still sleeping.
Eventually, he relaxed and rested his head against the soft pillow, staring at the sleeping woman next to him. Maybe she was right. Maybe they should elope. John smiled at the thought of taking Clara to the Scottish countryside. She would surely love it.
What was he thinking? He couldn't do that to her, to her family, and especially her grandmother. She had trusted him to bring her back and he was going to stick to it.
"Are you having second thoughts?" Clara asked, eyes still closed.
John didn't know what to tell her. A part of him wanted to run away with her, but another part told him to do the right thing. He was tempted to leave everything behind and start afresh with the woman next to him.
When she received no response, Clara rolled over to face him. "We can still-"
He kissed her head. "Clara Oswald, I want nothing more than to marry you, to love you – to make you the happiest woman in the entire universe" he murmured. "But your grandmother trusted me, and I won't betray her."
He wiped away the single tear that had rolled down her cheek.
"I don't think I'm brave enough to do this," she said quietly.
John grabbed her hand, caressing it gently. "You have to be," whispered, kissing her hand.
Clara wished things weren't so difficult. She wished her father could see sense. What was wrong if she loved another man? Life seemed so cruel.
"I love you, I love you, I love you, John Smith," she chanted, kissing him.
He smiled at her sadly. "I love you more."
If this was going to be their last moment together, she was going to remember every bit of it. "Can you do something for me?"
"Just say it."
Clara snuggled closer to John. "If we got married, where would you take me to?" she asked, kissing his chest. She felt him smile.
"Scotland – the countryside is beautiful at any time of the year – I have a family cottage, next to a lake, somewhere in Crieff," he explained. "I'd love to take you there – there's a village nearby that has been baking the best loaf of bread I've ever tasted which I'm sure you will love, too."
She smiled happily, imagining the scene unfold in her mind.
They were running out of time, but they would savour every single moment they get.
"Oh, for God's sake, Dave!" Clarice sighed, slowly sitting on a chair. "You've been blind this whole time and, stubborn."
"I only want what's best for Clara," Dave stated. "That doctor won't give her the life she has now – she won't be happy with him in the long term."
"Who are you to predict their future together – do you have any idea how happy Clara is whenever she was with Dr Smith."
Dave shook his head in disagreement. He couldn't believe his mother had sent him to retrieve his daughter. Why on earth didn't she send Foreman – he would have been here with Clara by now.
"Dave," his mother said softly. "You are chaining your own daughter – my only granddaughter– please, don't do this to her."
"I'm doing this because I love her, mother."
She looked into her son's eyes. "What did you tell her?"
Dave scoffed. "Whatever do you mean?"
"You must have told Clara something to have caused her to act the way she did."
"I told her what needed to be said – she was going to marry Foreman."
Clarice pursed her lips. She knew her son was lying or at least hiding the truth. "I know you said more than just that."
He considered telling his mother the truth, but he was sure she wouldn't react well to it. Dave sighed. "I made Clara choose between me or her doctor."
Her eyes widened in shock. "Dave! How could you do that to your own daughter-"
"I promised her to John Foreman and I will honour that promise."
Clarice stared at her son in disbelief. "Even if she has to spend the rest of her life with someone she doesn't love?"
"Clara and John were childhood friends – I'm sure she will learn to love him, in time," he uttered.
"You can't force her to love someone."
Dave pinched the bridge of his nose. "Mother, please, we've been talking about this for hours now – Dr Smith is no good for her – besides Clara has rejected every single proposal – this is the last straw."
Clarice's shoulders sank in resignation. "You're punishing her for wanting to marry someone you don't approve – you barely know Dr Smith, so I think it's unfair for you to be judgemental."
Her son became silent, stunned by his mother's accusation.
"How would you feel if I or your late father didn't approve of your relationship with Elena?" she continued.
Her son shook his head. "This is different, mother," he argued weakly.
Realising that she was close to making Dave see sense, she placed a hand on his shoulder. "Just put yourself in her shoes – imagine what it feels like, to have your father make you choose between him or the man she loves, to succumb to what's expected from society."
Without another word, Clarice left the room, giving her son time to reflect and think about his actions. She would hope he would finally stop being so stubborn.
Unfortunately, her hopes would be dashed as while Dave would agree with what his mother said was true, he had told Lord Rassilon that his son would wed Clara. He couldn't simply break a promise.
The journey back to London was a quiet affair. Neither Clara nor John spoke much as they sat next to each other. They knew their lives will change once they step out of the train. They knew they would never be able to see each other again and it pained them both.
Silently, John grabbed her hand and squeezed it reassuringly. He didn't know why he did it. Perhaps he needed to reassure himself too. He glanced at the beautiful woman next to him, burning her face into his mind. At least he finally knew what it was like to truly love someone and he would cherish it until his death.
Once the train came to a halt at its final stop, the couple left the carriage in search of a cab.
Less than five minutes after they got in, Clara began silently crying. While she tried her best to hide it, John consoled her as soon as he noticed and handed her a handkerchief.
"Please," he begged. "Be strong and brave… for me."
"I don't think I can," she whispered, embracing him.
"I don't want our final memory to be one where you're crying in a carriage," he responded, pulling away before giving her a chaste kiss. John forced a smile. "Smile for me, one last time, Clara Oswald."
She closed her eyes and imagined the countryside he had told her earlier that day and smiled at the image of them spending time in the cottage returned.
The carriage came to a halt.
John took a quick glance out the window before he whispered words of love to her one last time. He squeezed her hand and kissed her cheek before stepping out.
He could see her grandmother stepping out, followed by Donna and Mr Rentford, as well as several household members.
He looked back and helped Clara out of the carriage.
Clarice was the first to embrace her. "Please do not frighten me like that, ever again," she said and pulled away. She turned to the Doctor. "Thank you, Dr Smith."
"Clara, I'm so glad you're alright!" exclaimed Donna as she gave her a bone-crushing embrace. "Medicine boy didn't do anything funny to you, did he?"
Clara forced a smile. "No, he was an absolute gentleman," she replied, wise to know it was best to leave out the part where they shared a bed.
"Great," Donna said before her features became serious. "What the hell were you thinking running off like that - what kind of a friend just leaves without saying anything?!"
Mr Rentford wanted to cover his face in shame. "Donna, there's no need for you to get angry."
"I didn't run around screaming 'Clara' for an hour around the estate for nothing!"
"Dear Lord," Mr Rentford murmured as he guided Donna back into the house.
It was time for John Smith to leave. He watched as Clara walked into her home before she glanced back and looked at him one final time. Her eyes were filled with sadness. He opened his mouth to say something but stopped when Clara quickly looked away.
The Doctor suddenly felt as if someone was watching him. He glanced around before looking up to see Dave staring at him from the windows on the second floor.
Wordlessly, he returned to the carriage and instructed the driver to take him home.
John Foreman had woken up early in the morning, anticipating any news regarding Clara. By noon, he decided to wait in the stables with Idris saddled up. News would come soon, and he could immediately dash to the Oswald residence without wasting time.
While waiting, his mind kept asking questions. Why did she run off? Why did she cry the day they met up? Was she afraid of him? No, of course not. That was a stupid question. Why didn't Clara's grandmother tell him who was sent to look for her? Is Clara alright? When will she be back, exactly?
Idris snorted when she got tired of watching her master pacing around.
"I'm sorry, Idris," he murmured, stroking her mane. "There's… I'm just thinking."
"John! John!" Harold yelled from outside the stables before he stepped inside. "I have great news – your-"
Harold didn't get the chance to finish as he watched his cousin mount Idris. "She's returned," he uttered watching as the horse galloped away.
He never felt so relieved that his plan was still in motion.
"Well, look who's finally back – imagine my surprise when I stepped into an empty house, yesterday," Missy said, as her brother entered the living room. "Where have you been – did you spend the night with Clara?"
She received no response. John had a pained and sad look on his face and her smile immediately dropped. "What happened?"
John sighed before he reached into the cabinet and took out a bottle of scotch. He poured himself a drink before telling his sister everything, from Clara running away to him travelling to Blackpool and taking her safely back home.
"Hang on, I still don't understand why she ran away or why you look so miserable."
"Her father didn't approve of us – me," John uttered, taking another swing of his drink.
Missy shrugged her shoulders. "Big deal – happens all the time."
"He made Clara choose between me and him."
"And she chose her father."
"No, I told her to marry Foreman," he murmured, finishing his drink.
Missy needed a moment to process what she had heard. "You bloody idiot!" she snapped.
Her brother furrowed his brows in confusion. "What-"
She slapped him hard. "You get a chance at a happy life and what do you do with it – you throw it away!"
"What the hell was I supposed to do – take her away from her family?" John roared.
She rolled her eyes. "Of course not, but why the hell did you ask her to marry somebody else – are you that dense?"
John sank back down on the sofa and poured himself another drink. "Like I said, it was either she shuns her father, or she spends her life with someone like me," he answered, slurring slightly.
Missy massaged her temples. "Look, I understand you don't think you're worthy of someone like Clara but guess what, idiot, you are – she loves you and you love her, so everything works!"
"It wouldn't have worked out if we eloped – we'd just spend the rest of our lives running away from our problems – there would be no end to it and the guilt will eat me up."
His sister shook her head. "Nobody asked you to elope with her – you could have fought harder – unbelievable - I can't believe this," she said as she walked out, leaving her brother alone to drown in his misery.
Fun fact: This is now officially the longest story I have ever written so yay!
And sorry about the angst.