Chapter 5: Doctor Sugar Daddy

"So, what's the story?" Delilah leaned in on Clara, letting Clara get a quick whiff of her rich perfume, which seemed to be a mixture of hard vanilla and berries. Clara bit her lip nervously, as she did every time someone asked her what was the nature of her relationship with the Doctor. Clara took a sip of her punch with a hint of rum, and smiled.

"After we finished school, I took a break to take care of children, a favour for a family I knew. Then soon afterwards I met the Doctor, we became very good friends. Best friends you can say, and we decided to travel together. You know, that was my original plan, and we've been traveling ever since. More like running, really." Clara let out a nervous giggle. Delilah nodded then leaned in an inch closer and whispered, "So, not your sugar daddy then?"

Clara stopped giggling and almost began to choke on her drink. She felt her cheeks burn a bright shade of red and she shook her head viciously.

"No, of course not, why would you think that? He's just a mate..my best mate. He's very special to me..." Clara took another gulp from her drink, trying to ease her nerves dorm.

"Do you love him?" Delilah enquired.

Clara stared back at Delilah, trying to find the answer to her question.

"Yes..I suppose I do. I do love him..not in that way of course, but I love him."

"Not in that way, however what other way is there?" Delilah spoke softly.

Clara looked at her for a moment then her eyes dropped. Delilah put her hand on Clara's shoulder and whispered, "Let's get back to the men." And they walked back.

"Well, Clara's...amazing. That's the word I can use to best describe her." And beautiful, he thought.

"How'd you both meet?" William asked.

The Doctor began to recall years ago, in his previous incarnation, how he encountered echoes of Clara before actually meeting the real Clara. He practically begged her to travel with him, and he chuckled.

"It's a long story. We had previously run into each other, and I practically hunted her down, she was such a mysterious girl. Except we didn't meet again due to my effort, she phoned me thinking I was a computer help line, so I guess it was destiny."

William blinked rapidly and drank from a glass.

"Wow, that's definitely destiny. Almost like you two were meant to be together. Definitely romantic."

The Doctor stared of behind William, thinking of the possibilities he didn't exactly have anymore, due to an older face. Romantic, he never thought it that way. Now that he did, it actually did seem romantic.

"You love her, don't you."

That statement startled the Doctor, making him fixate on William. The last time he truly loved someone, it was in his tenth form, being in love with Rose Tyler, then in the next regeneration, he married River Song. He fancied her, yes, but he didn't love her. He married her in a different timeline, to save time itself. So he wondered, did he love Clara? He fancied her, yes. He couldn't deny it anymore. But he felt for her more than he ever even felt for rose..which only left one answer.

"I suppose I do..now that I think about it." He said quietly.

He heard giggles from behind so he turned and saw Clara and Delilah walking towards them.

"Hello Boys." Clara smiled as she sat down on her chair again.

"Clara was talking about you."

"And so was he. We were talking about how you guys met. What a..interesting life you have now Clara. I never thought you'd lead this life, but I'm not judging you at all." William smirked. Clara looked confused, so the Doctor whispered to her, "I told him you were my companion."

"He told me everything." William piped in.

Clara looked back and said, "Oh! He told you! Okay, wow didn't know you'd tell them this, Doctor." Clara gave the doctor a stern look, probably upset that he broke the agreement. She wasn't ready for anyone to know she ran off with an alien into space. But he didn't say that, he only told the man that she was his traveling companion.

"Companion?" Delilah's eyebrows rose. "Clara, you minx. I knew it."

"Haha well yes, that's how we travel together. I'm surprised you took it well." Clara had a confused face.

William laughed, "So, from your point of view, what's it like?" William asked.

"Well what exactly do you mean? What's what like?" Clara muttered.

"This life style of yours."

"Well..for one, he shows me wonders..he shows me the stars" Clara muttered.

"Uh, Clara.."

William let out laughter and Delilah gasped.

"Clara!"

"She doesn't get paid, either."

"So no pay, traveling is free, sugar daddy! I knew it!" Delilah look on in shock.

"No! Hold on." Clara became alert and the Doctor felt unsteady with the way Clara's eyes were getting.

"Hold on, what's a sugar daddy?" The Doctor asked Clara.

"You." Delilah hide a shameful smile.

"An older man spoiling a younger woman in exchange for her companionship." said William.

"Well I do spoil you Clara, I guess I'm a sugar daddy." The Doctor stared at Clara and shrugged.

"NO." Clara gasped. "He's not my sugar daddy, it's not like that."

"Oh then how is it then?"

"I'm his companion. Traveling companion."

"And more."

"No, not more. We travel in space and time and that's it!" Clara shrieked.

"Clara, wait-"

"Space and time?" William and Delilah looked at each other in confusion and Clara raised her eyebrows. She turned to look at the doctor quizzically, and he forgot to tell her that he only said part of it.

Clara turned back to William and Delilah who had gone quiet at Clara's sudden outburst. Clara sighed and drank the last of her punch.

"I'm sorry you guys, it's just that I'm not sure why you guys are thinking the Doctor & I do stuff."

"Well, not all sugar daddies do stuff with their sugar babies, a lot just enjoy female company." Delilah pitched in.

"But we do! We do stuff all the time?" The Doctor frowned.

"Doctor, shut up."

"Well, he said you were his companion, and I asked if you got good money, and he said no, because you didn't want to get paid, even though he wanted to. Oh, and he also said you considered him your hobby." William spoke quickly.

"Yes, thank you. That is all I said." The Doctor shook his head and looked down at Clara who seemed to be turning a deep shade of purple.

"Are you alright? You seem more coloured in, are you coming down with something?"

Clara looked at the Doctor, with a smile that didn't feel like a smile. It almost seemed demented, and her eyes were rapidly inflating. The Doctor felt uncomfortable.

"Ohhhh I'm perfect. I'm very well, John Smith may I talk to you in private? Care to join me in that hallway over there?" Clara grinned, and leaned in.

"Okay Clara Oswald, as long as you get your eyes under control."

They both stood up, and Clara grabbed the Doctor's arm a little too tight for his preference, and she told the other two they'd be back.