December 10th

She was better. There was no denying it.

Throughout the day she was almost as cheerful and smile-filled as he'd ever seen. She ran about the flat as opposed to the slow, ambling steps she'd taken mere days before, her movements were energetic and excited, not depressed and reluctant as they'd been, and her eyes. The most noticeable features on her entire being. They shined. Lit up so bright the Doctor was nearly blinded by her emotional atmosphere alone.

Clara Oswald

Was nearly healed.

"Oi, I was drinkin' that." Clara frowned, reaching out for the drink as it was snatched from her hand.

"Not anymore!" The Doctor chimed in a singsong voice, raising his eyebrows as he took a sip from the fizzy drink. Clara stood up and threw herself in his direction, hand extended, but he just twisted away.

"Doctor!" She laughed out, trying to keep her stare firm and her scold realistic and she reached around him. "Give it back!"

"But its the last one!" He mockingly complained, turning his back. "Go get your own."

"You just said it was the last one!"

"Oh yeah." He grinned and took another sip. "Sorry. Not really, actually."

"Well then you can drive to the store and get a whole new bloody box of Pepsi." Clara crossed her arms, throwing her head back and stomping her feet. "Come on!" While he was in the midst of downing the rest, she launched herself forward, wrapping her arms around him from behind. The Doctor just chuckled and raised his hand above his head, eyes squeezed shut with laughter as Clara hopped up and down in desperate attempts to reach. "Dammit, Doctor!" She pouted, stepping back and crossing her arms. She looked away with an indignant stare from the corner of her eye as if she were a child.

"Oh, grow up a little." But when he went for another sip, Clara seized the moment.

"Hey!" He shouted as the can was knocked from his hand, flying right into his shoulder and exploding its contents all over his jacket and face. "Clara!" He wiped his eyes with one sleeve and shook his hands out, sending soda droplets flying forward into Clara's face.

"Oi! Stop that!" She turned away and raised one shoulder to shield herself.

"Oh, Clara." He announced from just inches behind, arms extended. His shirt and sleeves were drenched, and droplets continued to fall from his soaked hair. "Come here."

"Oh, no you don't! You stay far away!" Clara shouted, eyes wide, back pedaling with as much speed as she could manage without falling over. "Far far away."

"But I just want a hug!"

"You never want a hug! Don't you dare... don't you dare!!" She spun around and ran into the kitchen, palms pressed against the back of her head and elbows tucked in close. She ran straight into the counter and found herself cornered.

"Claaaaaraaaaaa." He sang, ambling forward with tantalizingly slow steps.

"No!" She squealed, biting her lip and squeezing her eyes shut, leaning forward against the counter. "Doctor, no!"

"Clara, yes!" He chuckled sinisterly and threw his arms tight around her from behind, gripping her wrists to keep her from running off.

"You bloody idiot!" She laughed and squirmed around, bunching her hands into fists and lightly kicking out as she was lifted off the ground. "No!" She twisted around and knocked her head backwards against his chest. "Put me down!"

He spun her around a few times before releasing her onto the couch, backing up immediately with hands raised.

Clara groaned and hauled herself up, extending, her arms slightly extended to her side as she frowned at herself in disgust. "I'm so gonna kill you."

The Doctor waved his hands in the air with an expression of mocking fright. "Oh, are you now?"

"But lucky for you," She began, shaking herself off and toeing off her shoes. "I need a shower first."

"What if I want to get a shower first?" He challenged.

Clara shot him a look, waggling a finger in his direction. "Not doing that again. My house, my rules."

"Ah, but, in case you haven't noticed," He swept his arms across, gesturing to the small space. "This is a flat."

"Don't try me, Time Lord!" She hissed, backing away, keeping her eyes fixed on him until he was no longer in sight.

The Doctor lowered his head and laughed a bit, smiling inwardly as he shrugged off his jacket and unbuttoned his shirt. All it took was a few seconds with the sonic aimed in his own direction until his clothing immediately dried and refreshed, and he pulled them back on.

He ruffled his hair as he plopped down onto the sofa, kicking back and relaxing with a content sigh. He tilted his head in the hallway direction, hearing the sound of the shower starting and a surprised howl from Clara, muttering something about a faulty shower head soon after.

It was astonishing how far she'd come in a mere day. Only yesterday was she still sad, pained, and utterly alone. She still had a bit of work to do, of course. After all, the boy was still out there, and neither of them knew his whereabouts. The Doctor meant to question her on that, actually. He didn't want to diminish any good in-the-moment feelings, but he was curious at how she'd had such a quick turn around, when in fact, things still weren't that bright.

But that was a conversation for another day. In that moment, all the Doctor cared about was that smile of hers that he had missed for a long, long time.

Things were looking up.