I never know why. I only know who. (AU)

Chapter 23

Clara wanted to scream. Having a birthday dinner was really the last thing she wanted to do on her actual birthday. Especially this year of all years. For the first time ever, her Mum wouldn't be there, and she knew she was just going to feel like shit the entire time.

Even being allowed John to stay for the dinner wasn't going to cure anything, and her father had used that to convince her to actually have it.

He probably would have cancelled too if it hadn't have been for Clara's Gran coming down from Blackpool for the occasion, like she always did. She had spontaneously called up about it a week before, which Dave was grateful for or they would have completely forgotten. Too much was going on in their lives and they hadn't had much time to get in for birthdays.

And Clara really didn't want to think about being seventeen. She kept telling herself that at least is was another number up on the number line so she wouldn't seem like she was having a kid so young, but she knew she was only fooling herself by that.

The worst part about this entire birthday dinner was that they hadn't even told her Gran about the baby. the one time Dave had brought up how they could possibly mention it to her, Clara had insisted that they didn't need to tell her until she'd had the kid and had then, in a fit of hormonal anger, gone on to say about how they would hide they baby for the years until her Gran died. She later regretted saying that very much, but she wasn't going to deny that it seemed like the best idea.

Her Gran had always been so proud of her, and now she was going to let her down so much. Which was why it had been agreed there would be no mention of the baby during the entire weekend she was staying. Clara demanded it, making everyone swear it would be the silent topic that her Gran could just avoid.

Clara was closing up to four months, and it wasn't like the bump was getting any smaller, but it was still small enough to pass under normal tops and shirts. As long as they weren't skin tight she was fine, although she'd rarely worn skin tight things before anyway.

It would only be Clara's father, Clara, John and her Gran at this dinner, so it wasn't too fancy and it was only a small meal at home this year. Clara had insisted on that part very clearly. She didn't want to have to eat out and try and be respectable when she honestly would rather stay in the house.

This was much to her Grandmother's disappointment when she was told, but she didn't seem to care too much. She had bounded into the house, wrapping her arms tight around Clara and giving her a big hug in the doorway.

"Hello Gran." Clara mumbled softly, returning the hug eagerly as she see her father walking past her to help John in the kitchen from the corner of her eye.

"How's my favourite girl in the world doing?" Gran asked as she moved back, smiling at Clara. They were about the same height and it made them both laugh.

"I'm great Gran." Clara smiled, "How are you?"

Gran walked past Clara, leading the way into the dining room as she seemed just as giddy as ever. "Oh you know these old bones." She tutted, pointing to her knees. "But you know what I say, I'm not dead yet!" She laughed, making Clara giggle too.

She could hear the faint sound of John burning his finger in the background, and she tutted knowing that he would have done something stupid like touch a hot pan. She could hear him hissing over it, but it was clearly fine and it simply made her smile more.

"Happy Birthday!" Gran suddenly shouted, snapping Clara out of her gaze.

"Thanks Gran." Clara smiled, leaning forward once more to give her a thank you-hug.

She could practically feel her Gran shaking with the need to break away so she could hand Clara her present. She could tell that she was trying to make up for the clear loss in the room of Ellie. She had always adored her mother-in-law and it seemed her Gran was making sure that Clara didn't feel too down on that day because of that.