Hello again! Sorry I went AWOL after the last chapter - I've been deliberating over this one for a while and haven't had the guts to post it. I was intending to make this the final chapter, but wanted to see these two finally tangled between the sheets and didn't want to crow-bar it into this chapter. Anyway, apologies again for keeping you all hanging on - hopefully this makes up for it! :)
Chapter Eleven
"Well, what do you think?"
Clara stood in the doorway of her bathroom, looking out at the Doctor who was laying on her bed, feet still touching the floor. His head shot up when he heard her voice and his jaw nearly hit the ground.
It was Amy's 30th birthday and she was holding a big 1920s style party, so Clara had decided to make an effort. She had on a sparkly black and gold dress that hugged every inch of her perfectly. The neckline disappeared teasingly into her cleavage, leaving just enough the imagination. She had bangles on her wrists, and a gold clip holding her hair in place. It was all worth it for the look on the Doctor's face.
"Clara," he said, standing up. His intense gaze swept over her. "You look…you look…stunning,"
He took her hand and twirled her around. "Beautiful," he whispered.
"Let me have a look at you, mister," said Clara, stepping back and taking him in. He had also made an effort and wore a black three-piece tuxedo and a long necktie. God, he looked good.
Clara smoothed her hands up his chest and toyed with the buttons on his waistcoat. She tilted her head up towards him.
"You wearing a tuxedo is a huge turn on, do you know that?"
He blushed and averted his gaze.
"What's wrong?" she asked, kissing the underside of his chin gently.
"Nothing, I just…" He looked back at her. "Are you sure I should come to this party?"
She looked surprised. "Of course, Amy invited you too. What's brought this on?"
"I just feel old, and you look beautiful, and I don't want you to feel embarrassed about-"
Clara pressed her finger to his lips, silencing him.
"You can stop right there. We've had this conversation before, and in no way, shape or form am I embarrassed to be with you. I find that idea absurd. If anything, I feel the opposite - I want to show you off to all my friends. My tall, sexy silver-fox who is just about the kindest, cleverest person I know."
He smiled a little but she continued.
"But more importantly, I don't care what anyone thinks - I only care what you think."
She tugged his head down a little and touched her forehead against his.
"What do you think?" She whispered, fingers stroking the soft curls at the nape of his neck.
He smiled and kissed her mouth, hands sliding around her waist, the satin under his palms, and he felt his worries leave him. All that was left was her.
"I think that you, Clara Oswald, are wonderful," he said in return.
She smiled, pleased to have assuaged his insecurities.
"Right, let's go before we're late!"
oOoOoOo
Amy had hired out a big marquee for her birthday which was decorated with fairy lights and black and gold glittery decorations and balloons; chairs and tables with white cloths were gathered around the edges, making space for inevitable cheesy dancing later on; a bar with cocktails and wine and a birthday cake stood at the back. The place looked great and was already in full swing.
As they entered, Clara felt the Doctor tense next to her. She reached for his hand, sliding her fingers in between his and smiling at him. She reached up on tiptoes to whisper in his ear.
"I'm so glad you're here with me," she said. In return he squeezed her hand tighter and kissed the side of her head.
"I'm just thinking about being able to take that dress off of you once this is all over," he said, that boyish grin on his face again and a twinkle in his eye which made Clara flush.
Before they could go any further, the birthday girl stopped them.
"Well don't you two just look amazing!" Amy almost yelled across the room, before quickly leaving her other conversation to slide over to them.
Clara and Amy hugged and the Doctor kissed her cheek, wishing her happy birthday.
"Amy, the place looks great!" Said Clara "There's so many people here!"
"I know! I didn't think anyone would come!" Amy grinned and glanced around the room. "By the way," said Amy, shuffling a bit closer and lowering her voice, "Rachel Grant is here."
Clara rolled her eyes. "Why on earth did you invite her?! She always causes a drama."
"I think I was a bit drunk when I sent out invites to old University friends. Samantha Lake and Jenny Parker are here too, floating around after Rachel just like they used to. Try to steer clear of them if you can."
"Thanks for the heads up."
Amy grinned. "You two go and enjoy yourselves - I want to see you on that dance floor later!"
With that, Amy went off to say hello to another guest. The Doctor pressed his hand to the small of Clara's back and they went in to find somewhere to sit.
oOoOoOo
"Do you want another drink?" He asked, his hand sliding over her thigh in a way which made his request seem anything but innocent. They'd been sitting together in a corner, talking and drinking and people watching as they enjoyed the music.
"Please. White or red wine, surprise me."
Before he could move away, she touched his chin and edged him towards her, kissing his lips gently. He smiled.
"Be right back."
After he'd gone, the women that Amy had warned her about earlier floated over with big fake smiles.
"Who'd have thought that Clara Oswald would be the one to bag herself a sugar-daddy?!" teased Rachel, slightly spitefully as she sat down next to her. The others giggled but Clara rolled her eyes.
"I can assure you whole-heartedly that he's in no way a sugar daddy."
"Well there can't be many reasons you'd tie yourself with a guy twice your age who has a kid already…" smirked Rachel.
Clara laughed in disbelief. She hadn't spoken to these people in years, and yet here they were chuckling about her love life and had clearly been gossiping about her. Rachel had always been a bit spiteful since Clara went out with Rachel's ex - for about a month, about 10 years ago. She'd never let it truly let it go, no matter how much she said she had.
"It's nice that you guys find so much spare time to judge who I'm seeing - it's flattering really,' said Clara, feeling the heat of anger rise in her cheeks. "And although I couldn't care much less about your opinions on who I chose to spend my time with, and I know you're picking for drama because your lives are so void of love or excitement, but I'll humour you just this once…"
Clara looked Rachel dead in the eyes. "I have never known a man like him. He is whole-heartedly kind, the perfect gentleman and the best father; he is funny and clever and talented and makes me happier than anyone ever has. I am completely in love with him and he's more deserving of that love than anyone. So maybe keep your snide comments to yourself from now on and think about the human being on the other end of your words."
Rachel lowered her gaze, a bit embarrassed. The others shuffled, feeling awkward.
Clara let out a breath and then a familiar Scottish voice piped up behind her.
"Wine anyone?"
Clara swallowed, wondering how much he'd heard. She stood up and turned towards him. Her anger dissipated completely as soon as she felt his warm gaze, the reassurance in his eyes.
She took the glasses from him, set them down and then took his hand, leading him out of the marquee and into the fresh night air. She needed to breathe and calm down. She needed him.
Outside, away from the noise of the guests, she took a deep calming breath, smoothing her hands through her hair.
"Are you ok?" The Doctor asked softly.
She turned to him, concern on his face. She nodded and stepped closer to him.
"Yeah, I just…I can't believe…I just…"
The Doctor closed his arms around her waist and brought her into his chest.
"I know," he said "I'm sorry."
"No, don't you dare apologise - *I'm* sorry for the horrid people I used to be friends with," she said, her hands curling around his shoulders and holding him tightly. "How much did you hear?"
He smiled into her neck. "I didn't hear what they said, but heard enough to know what was going on." He kissed her underneath her ear. "Thank you for defending me, whatever they said."
After a few seconds of quiet and soft breathing, the Doctor spoke again. "I heard you say that you love me."
Clara stilled and then pulled back to look at him. She hadn't planned on having this conversation tonight.
"I do," she said quietly.
He touched her cheek and smiled, thumb against her jawline.
"Say it again," he whispered, leaning closer. "Please."
Clara closed her eyes and felt her heart hammering against her chest. She met his gaze again. She wanted him to feel her words entirely.
"I'm in love with you, John Smith - completely and utterly."
His smile widened and he looked at her for a few seconds, drinking her in completely and wondering how on earth he got so lucky. Then he brought his other hand up and cupped her face. He breathed a soft laugh, leaning in to rest his forehead against hers.
"You used my name," he whispered, thumb stroking her cheek.
She laughed, hands gripping his jacket and pushing herself into his warmth. "It felt strange - I think I still prefer 'Doctor'".
He grinned and closed the small gap to kiss her. Pressing his lips against hers, he felt her mouth open up under his and let him in. She'd told him she loved him and it felt great. Clara felt happiness flowing through her veins like never before and the Doctor was sure her kiss tasted sweeter somehow. Her hands slid up his chest, teeth grazing his bottom lip slightly before drawing him back into her. They were in the middle of a field, kissing like no-one was watching. His kisses slowed and shortened and then he pulled back to look at her again.
He pushed a strand of hair out of her eyes and then lowered his hands to her waist again.
"You know," he said, averting his gaze to his shoes, "after River died, I thought I was done, I thought that was it for me." He sighed. "But then you came along, Clara Oswald."
He stroked her hip and raised his eyes to hers again, a smile pulling at the corners of his mouth. That small smile that always made her melt. "I fell for you the morning you let me walk you to your office in the rain, I was just too terrified to do anything about it. But then by pure chance, I show up at a colleague's house for dinner and there you are, with your big eyes and your smiles and your short dress and I knew I had to do something. And by god, am I glad that I did because I've never been happier."
Clara let the tear that had been lingering in the corner of her eye fall gently down her cheek, unable to hold back emotion any longer. He wiped it away with his thumb.
"What I'm trying to say," he said quietly "is that I love you too, Clara Oswald."
Clara grinned and went up on her tip-toes, wrapping her arms around his neck and hovering just above his mouth.
"I was wondering when you were going to get to that part," she breathed against his lips, kissing him before he had the chance to respond.
When she pulled back, to her surprise, he burst out laughing.
"What are you laughing at, chuckles?" She asked with a grin, arms still tightly around neck keeping them close, hands smoothing through his hair.
"I just wasn't expecting to have this conversation in the middle of a field outside a marquee."
Clara laughed too, turning around briefly to listen to the noise and frivolities behind them. It felt like miles away.
"Where would rather have had this conversation?" She teased.
"Hmmm, preferably in my bed with you naked underneath me whilst you got your breath back from furious love-making," he said in a low growl, pulling her tighter against his body, making her giggle.
"Hmmm, this is better, I think" she said "I might have been in such a pleasure filled haze that I might not have heard a word you said."
He laughed and then tipped his head down, kissing her softly once more.
"Shall we go back inside before they all think we've done a runner?" He asked, nodding his head in the direction of the marquee.
"Only if you'll dance with me," she said, curling her fingers around his.
"Fine, but only because you told me you loved me."
They grinned and headed back in.
Thanks for sticking with me, friends. Hopefully there won't be such a long gap till the next and final chapter!
Ax