From The Light Of The Stars

Chaper 1: What?!

     It had been a long day. The Doctor was still out, fighting aliens, saving lives, trying to avoid marrying anyone else wherever he could help it. Just generally doing his thing.

     She should be with him. Usually she was, usually she was up for anything whether she was tired or not. But today, today the strain was just too much. She was more exhausted than she ever remembered being.

     Clara sighed as the water cascaded down her form. This wasn't so bad though, the TARDIS Galaxy shower. The Doctor had made it for her one day when he was bored: it had different light settings, and could even play music under the steady stream of glittering water. She's set it to  disco mode once: flashing lights and blaring music, the water pouring to the beat of the songs.

     Today though she needed to rest. The light was a simple white. Silver stars circled the ceiling and Chopin flowed out of the speakers, helping to relax her tense muscles.

     Clara held her hands under the diamond drops, the light catching on her silver wedding ring. She smiled as the reflection darted over her face: what a day that had been.

     They'd gone to the 51st century, where the universe had finally legalised marriage between different species (providing they were biologically similar enough. There had been so many tests, and it had all got a little awkward). The Doctor had worn a transitional Gallifreyan gown with its high collar and etched gold symbols. She'd worn one of the famous silk dresses from Peltiona Four, dusted with living diamonds which the Doctor had painstakingly hand picked from the diamond fields of Remita-Ràca.

     She giggled, remembering her dad's reaction to their engagement announcement, letting her mind wander over the events for the thousandth time:

She's taken the Doctor home to her tiny flat, leaving the TARDIS parked around the corner. No need for more than one shock at a time.

She remembered picking up the phone: hands shaking in anticipation.

"Dad, hello?"

"Clara! Why haven't you been
answering my calls? We haven't heard from you for days!"

"Ugh, look, I'm sorry dad. But I..."

An awkward pause, she was biting her lip, considering slamming the phone down and chickening out. But no, she couldn't do that. The Doctor was in a friendly, if somewhat condescending mood today. He was less likely to lose his patience than usual, and she couldn't waste this chance.

"I have something to tell you. Not, not now though. I can't do it over the phone. Can you come for dinner?"

"Well this is a little out of the blue! I have plans." He sounded angry, but she knew it was just relief. He always worried about her far too much.

"Dad please. It's taken me long enough to scrape up the courage to pick up the phone, and goodness knows what will happen if I have to wait any longer."

"Ugh ok. I'll cancel my plans. Be with you in about an hour, that ok?"

"Ok. Thank you."

"Yeah ok, see you soon!"

"Wait, dad!"

"What is it now Clara?"

"Make sure to bring Gran, won't you? She needs to know too."

"Alright, better make it an hour and a half then. Now goodbye!"

     She put down the phone, silent for a couple of minutes as she remembered her mother. She would have guessed what Clara had to say immediately. She would have been so excited.