AN: In honour of bisexual visibility day last Saturday here are some visible bisexuals.

Another Girl Another Planet XXII

Jenny

She didn't think that she smelled of the rancid guts of a space monster, but after floating around inside that thing's belly she had rigorously showered twice just to feel clean again. She was sure that if she did smell, Clara would have no qualms about letting her know, but she would rather avoid that potential embarrassment. Her spaceship being in quite a disgusting state she had left it behind in favour of commandeering the TARDIS to bring her to Hollowmire, and had landed in the village before sending it away again so that the walk would give her time to think of what to say to Clara. Not that she had much time, because Clara didn't live too far on Hollowmire's outskirts, and the newly-repaired Porsche complete with salvaged spark plug made short work of the journey. So, as she pulled up outside the lonely cottage on the hill, she was still at a loss for what to say.

She got out of the car and took the keys with her, along with a small bouquet of roses she had picked from the TARDIS garden. Another present because she felt guilty about the thing with her eye and nearly dying during the day. She walked up to the front door, knocked, then stopped to listen, trying to keep her coat wrapped around her because it was chilly. She heard Clara approach from the other side.

"You know you can just come in, right?" she called through the door, the sound emanating through the letterbox. "The door's unlocked." Clara went to open it but Jenny grabbed the handle and held it tight.

"Don't open the door," she said.

"What? Why? What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Jenny said quickly, "I just have to tell you something. Before you see. Uh." She hadn't rehearsed this enough. "I kind of… got a black eye."

"You what?" Clara was stronger than her and forced the door handle, making Jenny relinquish it, only having time to hide the flowers and the keys behind her back before Clara came out to scrutinise her. Clara who was all dressed up for this 'surprise' and looked so stunning Jenny hardly noticed her worried expression as she took Jenny's face to scrutinise the bruise. "Did you get in a fight?"

"No! I got jumped."

"Jumped? You got jumped?" Clara asked incredulously, "By who?"

Jenny deliberated for a while and finally answered, "By Ashildr," when Clara looked at her imploringly.

"Ashildr? Where is she? Is she here? Let me talk to her."

"She's not here. You're not talking to her. You'll just… I don't know, break her nose, or something."

"So what if I did break her nose? This is a really nasty bruise. What were you doing with Ashildr today?" Clara let go of her face.

"She sent a message asking for my help through the Doctor's psychic paper, so we went – both of us – to see what was going on and it was this abandoned spacestation and she jumped out from behind a corner when I wasn't paying attention and punched me in the face. She thought it was funny." Jenny explained as quickly as she could.

"Your help with what? She just wanted to hit you?"

"There was this giant alien monster flying around eating entire colonies of people. It was over two kilometres long and we built a bomb, flew inside it, and blew its heart up. It was disgusting. I didn't even want to go but my dad guilt-tripped me. He said that if anything happened to me then he'd answer to you. And Martha. Go and break his nose if you want," Jenny said, then added, "But don't actually break his nose… have I ruined everything? I'm so tired of this!"

"Of what?"

"Of every time I come here just being me explaining how I've been injured that day."

"This is only the second time," Clara said, "And it's not as bad as your thumb, and it's Ashildr's fault. The next time I see her I'll give her a piece of my mind, mark my words…" Jenny didn't believe her. "Look, it doesn't change anything. We're still going to have a nice night. Come inside, warm up a bit." Clara turned to walk into the house.

"No, wait a second," Jenny stepped inside. She stopped and glanced back.

"Hmm?"

"I haven't had a chance to say hello to you properly."

Clara smiled and made the short return journey to the doorway, leaning in to kiss Jenny without a moment's hesitation. And really, Jenny thought that was the best thing to happen to her all day, and as she kissed Clara back she produced her bunch of roses from behind her back, which Clara saw as soon as she broke away.

"Oh, wow! Roses? How did you know I like roses?" Clara asked her, in awe of them.

"I don't, I just… wanted to make a gesture. To sort of say sorry for getting into trouble again. They're nothing fancy, just from the TARDIS," she said, letting Clara have the flowers.

"My mum used to grow roses," she said, "The smell reminds me of her. She grew white ones though, not red."

"I thought for a long time about the colour," Jenny explained, "Because I thought red was sort of cliché, you know? But it means love and passion and stuff, so… the white one means purity and innocence. I didn't think it suited you. But now I know, next time I'll get some white ones. I'm sure the Doctor won't miss any. I've got something else, though." She held up the car keys.

"Are they…? Is…? You were serious about fixing the car?"

"Cars aren't very hard to fix," she said, "Take a look, it's in the drive, I drove it up here." Clara took the keys and nearly knocked Jenny over in her rush to get outside to see the car.

"Oh my god!" she exclaimed, Jenny following her out, "You-! How are you even real, Jenny? How is it possible for you to exist?" She was staring at the vintage Porsche.

"Honestly, it's not that big of a deal, the bullets didn't do much damage and I only had to replace the windows with some that are tinted like your glasses are to stop the daylight. And I changed the tyres for brand-new white-wall ones and had to make a new spark plug."

"You made a new spark plug?"

"Yeah. I've got a degree in mechanical engineering, you know," Jenny reminded her, "This is literally the equivalent of you, I don't know… writing an essay about a poem. But look, I did make this as well." She took the keys back from Clara and showed her the keyring, which was two shiny, tiny metal love-hearts soldered together.

"This is terrible! You're so romantic! You're making me look bad! No matter how hard I try I can never match you."

"Don't say that! It was just spare bits of metal I didn't want to waste. I really haven't done anything spectacular."

"Everything you do is spectacular, including being modest."

"It's just a stolen car. Forget about that; I'm dying to know what this surprise you've had planned is! Come on," Jenny nudged her playfully with her elbow.

"I was-"

"Oh, wait! Sorry! One more thing; I forgot," Jenny went to open the boot of the car and pulled out a wine bottle full of dark red liquid, "The Fifty-First Century's finest refreshment for you, my darling. Courtesy of my ex-husband." She held out the bottle to Clara, who came and took it.

"This is Jack's blood?"

"Yep. He came and dropped off a few bottles."

"Wow, finally I can drink the blood of someone who isn't me," Clara smiled, "Tell him thanks, when you see him."

"I keep interrupting. Surprise. Tell me. I'm desperate."

"I just thought we could have a picnic. It's not very impressive, really."

"A picnic?" Jenny laughed, "That's brilliant, I've never been taken on a picnic by a girl before. Definitely not such a pretty one. That's uber romantic." She was beaming. Clara studied her, then sighed.

"You mean that?"

"Why would I lie?"

"To make me feel better."

"Don't say that! I think it's great, really, and I'm ravenous – where's the food? You haven't been cooking, have you?"

"No, I bought everything. Obviously. Except the biscuits, one of the Followers of Oc'thubha came to the shop and gave me a tin full of biscuits. Said it was a pity I live so far out of the village and they can't give me biscuits more often," Clara said, "They're so thoughtful. You know, for a cult. You don't meet many cults who are so neighbourly. Right then, you, you're carrying everything. And leave that bottle of blood in the car, I've already got my flask all warmed up." Jenny did as she was asked, making sure the car was locked when she was done.

"Why am I carrying everything?" she asked, but got no answer. She turned and found Clara to be gone. Back inside presumably; the front door was still open. "Clara?" she called. A few seconds of nothing, then Clara returned carrying a picnic basket Jenny had never seen before. "Did you buy the basket specially, as well?"

"That's a funny story," Clara began, holding the basket out to Jenny, who took it off her hands. It was heavy, sure, but nowhere near too heavy for her. Or for Clara. "And you're carrying everything because you're shown me up with your lavish gifts. You're vile, really. It's like you don't think of my feelings at all."

"I stole that car from the mafia because I'm a criminal," Jenny reminded her yet again, "Really, I'm not nearly so great as you think. You know I'm a murdering pirate, too, and a thief. Huge thief."

"And somehow, I don't care," Clara said, locking the front door of the house.

"Can we not drive to find a good spot?" Jenny asked.

"I've got a spot picked out already. Come on, we're going this way. It's cold out, good thing you're wearing that scarf."

"I always wear your scarf," Jenny said, beginning to walk. The scarf was very warm and soft and was her second-favourite thing in the world, after the girl who had knitted it for her. "Listen, I love this, I really do, but isn't it a bit odd to have a picnic in the middle of the night?"

"It's just cold. It's a clear night and there's no light pollution around Hollowmire," Clara said, "And you know something? I've never properly been stargazing before. And I've especially never been stargazing with the woman I love."

"You're making the woman you love carry an awful lot of food."

"I'm the one who paid for it," Clara said, "And you're always boasting about how strong you are. Do you not like being out at night?"

"I'm sort of used to it. Since I only sleep once a week. But, uh, you're starting to like being nocturnal?"

"I don't know. I used to be a morning person, and now… but it's alright really.I've got you; you make it all a lot easier," Clara smiled, walking at Jenny's side. Jenny got the niggling feeling Clara would like to hold hands, but couldn't because Jenny's hands were full carrying their picnic hamper. When she smiled Jenny saw her fangs, almost glowing pearly white in the moonlight. She was ethereal to look at beneath the night sky, imprinted against the shadows like she had been borne from them originally. In a way, she had.

"Make what a lot easier?"

"Y'know," Clara said, then lowered her voice and smirked, "Being a vampire. I'm lucky you barely sleep and you can be awake with me at weird times like this."

"Yeah…" Jenny just agreed. Clara frowned.

"Are you okay? You seem quiet."

"I didn't know I was usually loud."

"You're not, but… you talk a lot to me. Maybe not to others."

"Do you think I'm quiet?" Jenny asked genuinely. It was something she had been wondering.

"Erm… that's a hard question, actually… I think it's hard to judge, like, because I'm your girlfriend so you talk to me all the time," Clara said, glancing at her every few moments while they walked, though she was keeping her eyes quite closely on their mysterious route. "I think I talk quite a lot though, and quite fast, so maybe I don't notice as much."

"Yeah," she said, then nothing for a while, thinking. Clara took it upon herself to control the conversation, which was usually they way things went and they were the way Jenny liked them.

"Do you recognise where we are yet?"

"No. Should I?"

"We are en route to literally the most important place in the world," Clara said, "To us."

"Right, um – Clara?"

"Mmm?" Clara stopped when Jenny stopped, and Jenny looked at her very apologetically.

"My thumb's not doing well today," she admitted. It wasn't. Probably because she had been hitting Ashildr and cutting up alien excretions with a sword. Strenuous activities were bad for the tendons.

"God, I'm sorry," Clara trumped her in terms of being apologetic, because she was suddenly mortified that she had bade Jenny carry their basket in spite of her current impairment. "I'll hold it, don't worry," Clara came to relieve her.

"Honestly, I think you're stronger than I am," said Jenny, passing the basket over, letting her fingers brush Clara's when she did.

"Do you really?"

"For definite," Jenny answered, flexing her right hand. Her thumb was aching quite badly; she was going to have to avoid using it for a while. "Ugh, I don't think my hand is ever going to heal."

"It's only been a few weeks barely, and it was such a bad injury," Clara said, "I wouldn't worry about it. Just try to think back and work out where we are, we're nearly there." Jenny took in their surroundings and wracked her brain, but it was just the damp hills and grass of the moors as they got further away from Hollowmire.

"The village looks spooky from up here," she said, "Especially with that viaduct – is it broken?"

"Yeah, the Fallon Viaduct, half of it's collapsed. Sally and Esther have this great story about the viaduct, Sally tells it really well. Ask her about it when you next see her," Clara said. Jenny made a mental note to do so, because Sally was often quite good at telling stories. She certainly had some interesting ones.

"Oh my god!" Jenny exclaimed, stopping in her tracks, "I'm an idiot." Clara laughed.

"It took you so long I'm not inclined to disagree. And I think this is as good a place as any," she said, also stopping and setting the basket down on the ground. Jenny was trying and failing to hold back her grin and keep collected; Clara was thoroughly proud of herself.

"Clara," she said, "Come here." Jenny went and hugged her, and she laughed, and once Jenny let go she kissed her warmly and kept one arm around the back of Clara's neck. She didn't think Clara had expected that kind of exuberant reaction, but it was exactly what she was going to get.

"Save some for later, woman," Clara stopped them kissing, though she very plainly didn't want to. Jenny was surprised that she managed it, and kept her intoxicating proximity while they talked.

"Clara Ravenwood," she began, "Have you brought us back to the spot where we confessed our feelings for each other and became officially an item?"

"I have indeed," Clara said. Jenny sighed and with her broken hand she brushed some of Clara's hair out of her eyes.

"I love you."

"I don't love you. I'm breaking up with you, actually, that's why we're back here. Start and end in the same place, right?"

"You once told me that when you get nervous you make bad jokes," Jenny said, "Like that one. Which I forgive you for because I really like that the only reason you said it is because I'm making you nervous."

"You're amazing, so shut up," said Clara, letting Jenny kiss her again, but not for long, "Seriously though, I'm hungry. I think you're extra touchy today – what's gotten into you? We only saw each other this morning." Jenny relinquished Clara so that she could get the picnic blanket out from the top of the basket, laying it down neatly on the grass.

"It's been a long day."

"Are we out of sync?"

"No."

"So you really are just clingy?"

"I'm not clingy…" she mumbled, sitting down at Clara's side on the grass.

"I think you're super clingy."

"Wait… do you actually?"

"Yeah – do you want some sausage rolls? It's mostly sausage rolls," Clara said, holding out a packet to her, but Jenny pushed it away. "What?"

"Super clingy?"

"Okay, yes, but I like it. I'm sorry, that's bad." Jenny was staring at her.

"Why am I clingy!?"

"…I don't mean that, I'm just… I'm not really used to being with someone who loves me as much as you do. You're very intense."

"I am?"

"You showed up here today with a car and a bouquet of roses, that would be too much for a lot of people," Clara said, "I didn't mean to upset you, Jen. Are you sure you're okay? You seem way off since this morning." And now Jenny had to bite the bullet and confess her sins.

"I've got to tell you something."

"What…?" Clara asked seriously and slowly, putting down her packet of sausage rolls.

"I nearly died today," Jenny said, not looking at her, "We were two seconds away from getting killed by a bomb that made a black hole. Literally. Two seconds." Clara said nothing. Jenny didn't know if she was angry or not. "Don't… shout at me. I'm upset enough with myself, I don't want… but I can understand you being angry. I said to him this morning that I didn't want to go because it would be dangerous and I'm trying hard to be safe…"

"Him who?"

"My father."

"Right. Your father." Jenny did not look at Clara. "I'm going to talk to him."

"You're what?"

"Not talk to him like I'm going to talk to Ashildr. But the next time I see him… putting you in harm's way…"

"He just wanted to help people. We saved a lot of lives."

"Well… I'm selfish."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean I don't care about the lives you saved as much as I just care about you and I want you to be alright-"

"I know, I know, Clara," Jenny took her hands, "I'm so sorry. I just keep thinking about, like, what if I hadn't made it out? I would have lost you. I would have lost my dad. And I worry about you, about if you'd be okay without me, because I don't think you would be…"

"I definitely wouldn't be okay if the love of my life ended up getting killed," Clara said firmly, "For like, the second time. After Danny." Clara bringing up Danny cut Jenny deeply.

"You've managed with that alright, though, haven't you?"

"Only because of you. For two months afterwards I couldn't do anything except get drunk and have stupid, anonymous sex, and then you came into my life and it was like the skies had cleared and the sun was shining again. And you're the sun. Not to sound too clingy." Jenny made a loud sound of frustration.

"Ugh! That's it! That's it." Jenny let go of Clara's hands.

"What?"

"How serious are you about our relationship?" Jenny asked her.

"Jenny, I told you I want to marry you last week. After only a few months I'd say that's pretty bloody serious."

"Yeah, because, I am, and… hmm… can I stay with you?"

"…For how long?"

"Until my stupid hand and my stupid eye and my stupid hero complex are…" she sighed. "I mean… I'm not suggesting we move in together. Really. Unless you want-"

"Um, no."

"Well then I'm not. But… maybe it's not good for me being on the TARDIS."

"What are you saying? You're going to leave the TARDIS?"

"Maybe. Definitely for a while, if you'll let me stay with you. I can always get the ship and live in the garden."

"You don't have to live in the garden, Jen," Clara shook her head and nearly smiled. Jenny picked up a box of sausage rolls and shuffled closer to Clara so she was right by her side and they were touching. Contemplating her choices, she ate one of the mini sausage rolls. "Did you eat that in one bite?"

"Hmm?" Jenny asked with her mouth full. Clara raised her eyebrows. "Am hungee," she mumbled through chewed up pastry.

"When are you not hungry?" Jenny pouted and didn't respond to that, just ate another mini sausage roll, self-consciously consuming it in two bites this time instead of just cramming it in all at once. Even though she was ravenous. Clara didn't say anything while Jenny mulled over her prospects.

"Do you think five months is a long time?" she inquired. Clara opened her mouth to respond, but Jenny cut her off, "Actually it's longer than that because I ditch and spend extra time with you all the time. And me and Jack used to go off together sometimes for ages without anybody else. So… gosh. Could've been a year. Do you think a year is a long time?"

"Uh…"

"Moving here would be easy, don't you think?"

"You're saying a lot of things but you're not explaining what you mean," said Clara.

"I know you think I'm just like my dad – and so does everybody else – but I'm not. I don't like this jumping around, I like to stay for a while. I've lived in some pretty boring places before, and I did have the patience to spend years at an alien university getting my degrees. What I mean is I know Hollowmire is small but I don't think it's going to bore me to death, or anything," Jenny said, "As villages go, a lot of weird stuff does seem to happen. Not to mention the ancient extradimensional god living in the mines."

"Yeah, Oc'thubha is quite cool. Sally took me to meet him the last time we went to The Mermaid. He really likes roller disco and he says 'dude' all the time," Clara said, taking one of the sausage rolls, conscious that Jenny was working her way through them dangerously quickly and soon enough there may not be any left.

"He likes baking. Everyone likes baking here." Clara nodded. "And I like baking."

"Oh my god, you should totally go and live in Sally and Esther's spare room."

"Do they have a spare room?"

"It's full of junk."

"I'd rather live in my spaceship. I like the ship, I'd like if it was more… homely. Right?"

"Jenny, I think that you should do whatever will make you happy. And keep you safe."

"Well… it's not like I'm choosing between the Doctor or you. I can still see him all the time, and jump back to the TARDIS, and it would be nice to have a more normal relationship. And a job, to occupy me, since you keep telling me I need a hobby," Jenny said. "I could work in a bakery. Do you think?"

"I think anyone would be crazy not to hire you to do something that involves cooking, and I think that it would entail me getting even more free cupcakes from you than I already get," said Clara.

"You don't think I'm being crazy?"

"Not really. It's a big change, but I don't think it's crazy. Just something to think about. Maybe don't do it on a whim, yeah?"

"Okay. Then I'll stay with you until my hand is alright and my black eye goes away, and if anyone shows up trying to make me go rescue people somewhere, I'll talk to you about it first. Then after that I'll decided if I'm going to come here and live in my spaceship and work in a bakery. I just don't think it should be a bad thing if I want to make different choices based on what I think is best for us."

"And do you think this will be better for us?" Clara asked.

"Well… what do you think? It's fifty-fifty, right? You and me?"

"I just like you to look after yourself. But at the same time I, perhaps somewhat selfishly, would adore if you lived close by," said Clara, "I'm honestly happy with whatever you decide, but it's your decision, not mine. As long as I still have you I'm not bothered." Jenny smiled at her.

"Thanks, Clara. I forget how good you are to talk to," Jenny kissed her cheek.

"I try my hardest."

"It's a bit chilly out here."

"Yeah. I like looking at the stars, though."

"Have you got any tea?"

"Of course." Clara picked out a metallic flask and poured some hot tea into the lid, handing it to Jenny when she was done, "All for you." Jenny sipped it and thought it was the best tea she had ever tasted in her life.

"This is perfect, honestly. You said you want to stargaze? I'll show you something, lie down," Jenny requested, lying down herself on the blanket and setting the flask next to her. Clara did, and Jenny moved so that they were on a bit of an angle so their heads would touch. Easier to point our stars that way. "Okay, do you see up there? All the way to the left? That small star in between those big ones?"

"I think so," Clara said. Jenny pointed it out for her with her hand. "Oh, right. I see it."

"That's a star called Mirs," said Jenny, "That's the star system where Messaline is. In four-thousand years from now, I'm going to be born right where that tiny blip is."

"Wow… that's cool."

"Tungtrun is there too; same system."

"I'd rather go to Tungtrun than Messaline."

Jenny laughed, "Why? Messaline is a paradise world now, and one of its moons is where Nios has set up her new colony. It's called Synthoid Prime, I heard."

"Huh. Nice. But because you said most of Tungtrun is cold and underground. I think I'd do quite well somewhere cold and underground."

"Maybe I'll take you there someday. But it's not that great, it's a big smugglers port where I lived in Arooh."

"Is there no end to your life of crime?"

"Maybe there will be now I've met a nice girl."

"Ha, that's sweet. Speaking of me meeting nice girls, my dad thinks we're engaged."

"Why?"

"I told him you said you want to marry me someday, and he thinks that's the same thing," said Jenny, "But – and here's why I mentioned it, because I promised him I'd talk to you – he said he'd like to give me away. After he asked me if I'd wear a suit."

"Would you wear a suit?"

"No, I'll wear a dress, definitely."

"Good. You'll look way hotter."

AN: You guys are gonna hate me for this, but I'm going on break. Well, only sort of. Basically, my next storyline is a Closwin storyline and you know I always do one 10,000 word chapter for those, or 2 10,000 word chapters for that Spook Watch crossover. But this is the LAST Closwin storyline EVER in this fic so I'm gonna try and make it very long and very good so expect something in the realm of 20,000-30,000 words in just one chapter. So I'm basically writing a novella, and I haven't started. Plus, I'm going back to uni now, and I have 2 writing jobs, so I really can't keep up with uni and work AND fic regular updates, so I'll be off main fic until mid-December I reckon. BUT I'm going to try my best to finally finish this Spook Watch storyline I've been writing since last Halloween (it's seriously taken me this long) and get another Jenny Who? chapter out, so I'm not going cold turkey from fic or anything, I'm just focusing on much longer chapters in the background of everything else I have to do.