Chapter 7: When It's Time To Say I Love You

The night was young, the music eccentric, the atmosphere beautiful, and Clara was in a dilemma. The Doctor had asked her if she thought he was handsome, and her brain was not working properly. What kind of inappropriate question was that? She thought. Well, it wasn't inappropriate. Actually, it was a simple question, but why was it so shocking? Why was it so difficult for her to answer it? She never thought to herself if he was handsome or not, but Clara would be lying if she didn't observe him in that way. She stared at the Doctor for a moment, thinking. Well, he was tall, which was definitely attractive. He was adventurous and the most brilliant man she's ever met, which was something she was attracted to, and his eyes were a piercing blue, with such intensity that made her shudder. Not to mention, he won the sexy accent award with that deep scottishness in his voice, which she once compared to mood lighting. She drank the last of her wine, and decided to answer.

"Yes, I do."

There, she had said it, and she actually felt good. After all, friends compliment each other right?

The Doctor stared at Clara incredulously.

"Do you really? Or is it the wine talking?"

"The wine? Why would you think that?"

"Because you have clearly drank more than you should. Your face has begun to fluster, your breathing had quickened since we got here, and I secretly scanned you with the sonic screwdriver a while ago, and in human terms, I apologize for my language but, you're getting drunk Clara." The Doctor stared down at Clara in disapproval.

Clara began to laugh and raised her hand to call over the waiter.

"I am so not getting drunk. I'm fine, and look, I'll be drinking some more. Plus, you drank quite a bit already, what about you?" Clara smirked.

"Clara Oswald, I'm a Time Lord. And this is just wine, I can handle wine better than you lot. " the Doctor huffed. The waiter came to their table, offering them more glasses of wine, and Clara gladly took two, one for the Doctor, and the other for herself.

"A toast?" The Doctor raised his glass.

"A toast to what?" Clara smiled.

"A toast to the brilliant liar that you have become."

Clara's smile quickly turned into a scowl and felt very tempted to punch him on his arm. She gently put her glass down on the table and turned to place a her left hand on the Doctor's shoulder.

"Doctor, what makes you think I'm lying?"

He rolled his eyes and leaned a few inches lower, close enough that Clara could smell peppermint and wine from his breath.

"Clara, remember that teacher who looked like the dashing young time traveller I once was? You said he wasn't your type."

Clara snorted and placed her other hand on his shoulder, her face inches from his. She knew she might be crossing physical boundaries, but it didn't matter, she had to get the point across him.

"Doctor, just because I wasn't interested in Adrian doesn't mean I didn't fancy you back then. Not that I did fancy you..but..okay anyway, that was you back then. You're different now anyway aren't you? I can find you handsome now, can't I?" Clara gave a small smile, and the doctor blinked rapidly.

"So what you are telling me is that you think I'm better looking now than before I regenerated?"

Clara sighed, "No, what I'm saying is that I find you attractive now, and is there a problem? You're talking to the person with the Marcus Aurelius pinup. Mountain ranges can be attractive to me."

"Are you saying I'm the mountain range?"

"Shut up." Clara drank her wine and the Doctor drank his, a thoughtful look on his face.

"Well, you find me handsome. This is new."

"Again, shut up." Clara smirked as she drank the rest of her wine, heat rising up to her face. Suddenly, Delilah and William returned to their seats, grinning.

"They're about to have their first dance!" Delilah squealed as the lights dimmed, and Karen and Alex took the main floor, hand in hand, a purple light glowing above them. Clara gasped as smoke flowed beneath the couple, giving a surreal effect. Clara grinned as she saw the couple stare at each other, lovingly.

The Doctor knew that whatever was going on, was important, but with this new information he received from Clara concerning his vanity, he couldn't concentrate on anything but Clara's thoughts on him. What was the Doctor suppose to do now? He would be lying if he didn't enjoy her statement, but what if she was lying just to not hurt his ego? For some reason he couldn't believe she actually found him attractive. This new mindset killed his excitement, so he decided to focus on the married couple. The groom (which the Doctor found annoying for some reason) had his hands on the bride's waist, and her's were on his shoulders, and the Doctor had a flashback to minutes ago, when Clara had her hands on his shoulders. The Doctor couldn't help but take notice to Karen's height, she was Clara's height, and Alex seemed to be the Doctor's height. He chuckled at this ironic observation, and started imagining Clara in a white wedding dress for some reason, but decided to get it out of his head. Instead, he focused on the music, which seemed like a rock ballad, and the melody intrigued him. He decided to pay attention to the lyrics as he observed the couple dance.

Words get trapped in my mind, sorry I don't take the time to feel the way I do..

Cause the first day you came into my life, my time ticks around you..

The Doctor chuckled, because he never did take the time to express how he felt. Everything was always trapped in his head, his thank yous for Clara and whatnot, and now that Father Easter had given him a second chance with Clara on Christmas, he decided to just let go and start opening up more. He had a quick flashback to the days he searched for Clara, and the day he met her and she decided to travel with him. His time really did tick around her once she was in his life.

But then I need your voice, as the key to unlock all the love that's trapped in me..

The Doctor looked at Clara, her eyes shining like stars, a beautiful glow in her face. The tone of her voice always calming, always what he needed. Perfect in every way.

All I want is you to understand, that when I take your hand, it's cause I want to..

The Doctor drank the last of his wine and felt a burning sensation in his esophagus, but also jittery in his stomach. This song was hitting home for him for some reason, and he realized he related to the lyrics on a different level. He looked at Clara again, and remembered all the times he avoided touch, but slowly they progressed into a more physical bond. And he hoped that she knew how special it was every time he held her hand. It wasn't out of habit, or because he does it with everyone. It was special with her, and because he truly wanted to hold her hand. And only Clara's...

I feel lonely for, all the losers that will never take the time to say, what is really on their mind instead, they just hide away..

The Doctor snickered for a moment before the sudden realization hit him. He was the loser. He never took the time to tell Clara what was on his mind, and if it wasn't for the second chance he received, he would of lived in regret his whole life, and he had to do it fast, before it was too late. He knew their time together would not last forever...

Yet they'll never have..someone like you to guide them & help along the way..

The Doctor looked down onto his lap and smiled. Oh his Clara, always funny, always brave, always there when he needed her. She helped him through the toughest times, guided him through the darkest moments, and he could never repay her. The Doctor found himself with watery eyes, a sudden fear and excitement bubbling away in his gut. He took Clara's hand and she squeezed his, never taking her eyes away from the twirling couple.

So tell me when it's time..to say I love you...

The sudden fact hit him like nothing before. He loved Clara, and not only did he love Clara, but William was right. He was in love with Clara Oswald.

PSA: the song used in this fic is very very whouffaldi so listen to it! It's called "When it's Time" by Green Day