Thirteenth X Clara - Alternative

Chapter 3: Hello Again

She always used to think the term "Time standing still" made no sense. She had actually been in situations where time stood still. Why should she believe others when they'd say that? But this... this was a moment where she felt like apologizing to all those people she doubted over it.

Her throat collected two quick gulps as the Doctor began to put face and body to memory and remember who this woman was. She began to unconsciously fiddle with her hands, just like she'd do when she was nervous, and boy, was the Doctor nervous right now. Her brain began to put the woman together like a puzzle until she completed it and realized who she was standing in front of.

The visitor wore sandals. She wasn't one to wear them when she travelled with her, but she supposed it wasn't practical for saving the universe. The jeans she wore were, though. They didn't seem too tight and looked loose enough for running, which was good. The shirt caused the first pangs to her hearts. She got her that shirt when they went to Barcelona. The planet, not the city. She was glad that she still wore it. The woman's jacket was new, frayed at the bottom, mostly black with a floral pattern at the sides. It was beautiful, and it looked great on her. Most things did honestly. She noticed another recent addition. She had started wearing glasses. She hadn't known that she needed them. That was another thing she would kick herself over once this ordeal was finished. Her hair was still as it always was, short and chestnut brown and smelled of peaches and almonds, her favorite shampoo. But the last piece of the puzzle was the eyes.

Those beautiful, easily inflated, big, hazelnut eyes. Eyes that had once smiled at her, eyes that were once filled with tears over her, eyes that had looked empty on that street and eyes that bravely looked back as the Doctor left her, not knowing who she was. But she knows now, she remembers everything. Oh, she thought she'd never see her again. She thought their time was over together, but unless she was dreaming (which she hoped upon all hopes she wasn't); they got a third chance to see each other. Finally, she could see and remember her again. Her Impossible Girl had come back to her.

"Hello." Clara said with a small wave.

This wasn't a social call. Far from it, but she felt she should break the news with as much tact as she could. She looked at the strange woman who had answered the door, who she assumed was his new companion. She didn't blame him for moving on, hell she encouraged him to. Though she felt slightly jealous and honestly? A bit smitten. The Doctor knew how to pick them. She had seen how many of his past companions had been rather attractive ladies, and this woman wasn't any different.

She wasn't that much taller than her, a rarity in the universe, she realized. She had short blonde hair and rather pretty green eyes. Her outfit was simple enough, but her sneakers were cute. They looked like her old sneakers. But as she took a closer look, she realized that those indeed were her old sneakers. But she didn't blame her for wearing it, or even him for giving it to her. He probably didn't even know that they were hers, or rather, couldn't remember. But she was distracting herself. The woman's looks were not something she needed to take great note of, at least not now.

The Doctor tried to smile to show some kind of bravery to Clara but it never reached her eyes. Her eyes, that she was trying with all her strength to not fill with water and burst into tears over seeing her best friend again. She wondered what she could possibly be here for. It could only be one thing. She came to say goodbye before she left for Gallifrey. It made sense, and she was glad she could have her memories back to see her one more time. It was time for her to face the Raven and this time, she couldn't save her.

Clara was about to speak again when she noticed the woman's eyes were tearing up. He probably told her about her story, at least what he could remember. She had gotten similar responses when she had finished telling the tale of how she ended up with no heartbeat to whoever would listen. She couldn't blame her. It wasn't quite a fairytale ending.