𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘚𝘪𝘥𝘦 | 𝘖𝘴𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬 2 ✔︎

Chapter XV - I Love You Too, Clara

Ash glances up at Sherlock and I when we walk in. She's at the counter, cleaning it. No customers are visiting right now.

"Sherlock?" she questions, "Clara, what is this?"

I left Sherlock by the door, looking around inquisitively and walked over to Ash at the counter. "I tried to explain to him," I said plainly, "about the Doctor, but he wouldn't believe me. He thinks I'm insane," I looked back towards him, than over to Ash again. "I had to show him some way that I wasn't lying."

Ash understood what I meant. "Clara, no!" she blurted, snapping Sherlock's attention to her. Then she said more hushed, "You can't just do that--this is a Type 40 time machine."

I stared back at her. "What, do you not trust him?" I asked, "After all, this was your idea anyway."

Ash glared back at me but didn't argue. I took that as an invitation to go ahead. "Follow me, " I said to Sherlock. He followed me as I walked over to the door with Elvis printed on it. Ash followed behind us.

I opened the door cautiously and watched Sherlock's face. "This..." I said, opening the door completely, "is our TARDIS."

Sherlock stared at it blankly. Then he turned to me and said, "It's an impressive work of art, Clara."

Anger ignited in me again. "Damn it, Sherlock, you haven't even stepped in!" and with that, I pushed him in.

Walking in after him, I saw his expression change from blank, to shocked, to back to blank in less than a second. "Still impressive. I like what you did with the mirrors--to make it seem bigger."

I clenched my teeth and tightened my jaw to hold back a scream. "No--Sherlock. This is it's actual size!"

Sherlock looked at me unbelievingly. I sighed in frustration. Then Ash said from behind me, "Go ahead, take a look around."

We watched as Sherlock walked forward and around the console, his eyes taking it all in. His hands touched the console and the diner made a noise at our new arrival. After a long while, he finally said, "This isn't possible. I don't believe you."

I exhaled in defeat, but said, "Really? You don't believe me? Sherlock--Why would I ever lie to you?"

He just looked at me, and I knew that he knew I was right. "But... it can't be possible." he countered. "This machine can't time travel! Everything about this isn't right!"

In one swift movement, Ash was next to Sherlock by the console, turning wheels and pressing buttons. Our TARDIS made a roaring noise--it was dematerializing, as well as materializing. Once it was all over, Ash said to a shocked but awed Sherlock, "Go ahead, look outside."

Sherlock glanced at her for a millisecond but then dashed out of the TARDIS door. I followed him, and met him out on the street. His eyes were glancing around wildly, trying to process everything that had just happened. We saw people passing in old-timey clothes. The buildings had changed into old London ones. Carriages were pulled by horses down the cobblestoned streets.

"Excuse me, sir." Sherlock said to a man passing by. The man stopped. "What day is it?"

"Well, the 23 of September, I believe." the man answered.

"And the year?" Sherlock asked rather frantically.

"Why, 1934, of course!" the man looked at Sherlock strangely and walked away.

Sherlock turned to me, his face still stunned. As he walked towards me, I saw him crack a smile. I smiled back. "Clara, did you hear? 1934!" His blue eyes stared into mine and I felt his rough hand cup my cheek. I leaned into it and he bent down to kiss me, and I swear my heart leaped out of my chest. The butterflies in my stomach were uncontrollable, so I kissed him back and wrapped my arms around his waist. Closing my eyes, I wanted this moment to last forever.

"You two are getting a bit excited, don't you think?" Ash interrupted. We both pulled away jerkily to see Ash leaning against the doorway of the diner. No one could tell how long she'd been there, but a smile played on her lips. A warm blush painted my face a bright shade of red and I rubbed my neck, looking down. I could even see a small blush creep up onto Sherlock's face and neck as well.

"Come on," Ash said to us, not really caring. "Let's get back to our proper time period."

~221B~

"So, do you believe me?" I asked Sherlock as we stepped back into our flat.

"Of course, Clara." he answered. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry I doubted you."

I smiled at that and felt my insides melt at the sound of his voice.

I fell asleep next to him that night. Just me and Sherlock, lying in our bed. Dreaming of things we wouldn't have dared say aloud, for fear it would ruin the moment. As I once again stared into his eyes, 'I love you' kept resurfacing at the top of my mind. I felt like it was something I had been wanting to say for a long time, but I couldn't think of why. I hadn't known him that long, after all.

Suddenly a stab of panic struck me. What if I never got to tell him? To tell him I loved him? "Sherlock," I said aloud, seizing the moment. "I love you."

He didn't wait long before saying back, 'Such a strange three words, those are. I love you, as in, "I love who you are--every part."' Sherlock pauses. 'I love you too, Clara. And... I'm sorry if you ever feel otherwise.'

And I fell asleep in his arms, dreaming of those five words.

~~~~~~

Dedicated to ASFGamerGirl531 for just discovering my books and encouraging me to continue. I hope you're liking it so far!

I had MUMBLES by ZOLA running through my head while I wrote this. (video above)

-O