It was late at night when she felt the sharp pain. She let out a silent scream as she sat up and noticed the wetness pooling between her legs and making a puddle on the sheets.
The Doctor sits up the moment he hears her and rubs her back, doing what he can to soothe her.
"D-Doctor..the baby's coming.." she utters through gritted teeth, closing her eyes and taking deep breaths. He immediately stands and grabs the bag they'd packed ahead of time - she'd filled it with clothes for her and the baby, hygiene products, items of comfort - and runs back to her.
He's never had to deliver a baby before and doesn't want to mess up, and Clara would likely be more comfortable in a human hospital with professionals to calm her.
Helping her out of bed, he supports her as they walk to the console room. She sits in his chair against the railing, taking shaky, labored breaths as he pilots them to a hospital in London.
His hearts ache at the sight of her in pain and he wishes he could do something, anything to take it away.
She lets out moans of pain, holding onto her stomach and biting her lip to try and keep herself silent. She doesn't want him to see her like this, in pain and writhing. She wants to shield him from it, but it's too much for her and she can't.
Her back aches and she feels her muscles tighten with each contraction as he helps her into the hospital. It's sudden and intense, sharp and tight, and she briefly considers shooting herself in the head instead of going through with it.
She's taken to a room and lays down, spreading her legs painfully as they check how far she's dilated. Her head pounds as she begs for ANYTHING to relieve this strain, and she practically cries in joy when they finally give her epidural.
The Doctor holds her hand, not minding the tight squeeze of her pained grip. He frowns at the sight of her writhing and the sounds of her pained cries, but it's natural, he knows. She'll be alright, tons of women have done it before, but he can't help but feel sorry for her.
"Alright, Miss Oswald," her doctor says in a happy tone, taking another look between her legs. "Looks like we've reached ten centimeters. It's time to have a baby."
The last three months had gone by in a flash.
The Doctor had continued to take care of her, and she spent most of her time on the TARDIS. It was too hard to be without him for a week like she did before - she missed him far too much. She'd always hated the gap in time, but her hormones made it more intense.
A month away from her due date, he'd stopped taking her on any sort of adventures that required running or risking her life. She'd protested up until then, reassuring him that she could handle herself, but his concern grew as she started to move slower, having to lug the extra weight of her child along with her.
He'd taken her elsewhere instead. Pools, spas, parks and theaters. It hadn't been quite as exciting as running for her life from aliens, but she had to admit it was better than doing nothing on the TARDIS.
She'd known it was a girl from the beginning. She could feel it - not that she expected her daughter to stay a daughter. Who knows, maybe she had a son in disguise or a they pronoun child. Any way, she would love the baby unconditionally.
The Doctor had helped her with names, but none of his suggestions seemed to be right. She'd thought about it long and hard, speaking to her bump and asking what sounded the best.
And the moment she saw her face, she knew she'd chosen something perfect.
Her eyesight was blurry as they set her on her lap, but the moment she touched the sobbing baby her pain was relieved.
Looking down at her, she lets her eyes move over her darkly pigmented skin tinged pink with her newness to the world - a perfect mix of Danny's and her own. Eyes wandering, she takes in the already thick hair of dark brown curls. Her small eyes open as she wails and Clara's breath hitches at the sight of a pair of brown eyes she knows so well from the mirror.
The Doctor stares as well, still clutching Clara's hand tightly. The sight before him is so unbelievably human, so new and beautiful, a fresh life.
She smiles widely, and he wipes tears falling from her eyes. She's exhausted, he can tell, but he knows she's far too stubborn to give up this time with her baby.
A nurse approaches a table near the bed, holding a pen and looks down at the certificate ready for them. "So, honey, we got a name?"
Clara doesn't tear her eyes away from the baby but speaks softly and tiredly, rubbing her thumb along the back of the Doctor's hand gently.
"Raven. Raven Aubrey Oswald."
The first few days go by just as quickly as the last few months. Clara sleeps through a lot of it, not that he minds - birth is a trauma.
He spends his time wandering around the hospital, sneakily helping injured and sick humans. It makes him happy to know he can help someone on his time off from planet saving adventures.
When she's awake, she holds Raven close, protectively to her chest. He knows her works has shifted, that this baby is now her primary reason for living and that she now exists to protect her.
At first, he thought he might not be able to love the baby. The product of his Clara and someone else. But now, as he holds her, he only sees Clara in her. The love of his life.
Her love for Raven spreads to him. He can't help but care for the gorgeous little human in his arms.
She can't help but smile every time she wakes up to see him holding her. Talking to her. Her love and her baby, together.
She'd never been happier.