Day 12:

A Merry Christmas

The sun filtered through Clara's window slowly, creating slowly shrinking shadows as the morning progressed. The Doctor and his companion were in the same positions they had been all night; he in the chair with his head lolled back, and her in her bed beneath two of her comfiest blankets. It was a quiet, peaceful morning. Not even the birds were stirring. All seemed right with the world.

The Doctor's eyes fluttered open, and he quickly became awake of the dull ache in his sore neck. Falling asleep sitting up was not what he had meant to do, for reasons that were now being made clear. He adjusted himself grumpily, but froze when his eyes landed on Clara's still sleeping form. Her head was facing him, a small smile playing at her lips. Good dreams. Happy thoughts.

Her chest rose and fell evenly. Slowly. It was mesmerizing. She was so beautiful. The Doctor's blue eyes sparkled as he gazed at her for another moment, an unknowing smile coming to his face as well. If only life could always be this simple and quiet and peaceful.

As the sun rose higher and the shadows drifted to the back of the room, near the door, Clara's eyes slowly opened, taking in the Doctor in front of her instantly. The smile on her face grew. So did his.

"Good morning, Clara."

"Good morning, Doctor."

She sat up and pushed the blankets away from herself quickly. Her purple pajamas were ruffled and wrinkled and her hair was a bit of a mess, but neither of them cared in the slightest. Her hand found the Doctor's easily, and she led him to the living room without any further delay. He didn't even try to protest.

Clara's knees collided roughly with the wooden floorboards beside the tree so that she could turn on the switch for the lights on the Christmas tree. The room seemed so warm and pretty with the decorations and white string of lights. It was just like a Christmas card, only better. So much better.

The Doctor sat next to her on the floor and pulled a small box out from under the tree, where he had put it last night. Clara's eyes widened in shock. "You didn't have to get me anything."

The Doctor handed her the box gently. "You're my favorite person to shop for."

Clara felt a fluttering in her chest from his words, but she ignored it and tore into the wrappings. He had wrapped it so perfectly; it must've taken hours. She knew how sloppy he usually was with that kind of thing.

Inside the paper was a black box, about the size of her hand. She opened the top of it with apprehension and gazed at the wonderful object inside it with wonder and awe.

It was a necklace. Not just any necklace, though. Instead of sparkles or jewels or diamonds, it held a glowing, shining round blue marble in its center. It was almost definitely not from Earth.

"It's beautiful."

The Doctor smiled at Clara's smile, easing up a bit. He sat back and leaned on his hands, relaxed. "It's from an old civilization that was founded on the belief that if you wore this special rock, you'd always be safe. This was one of the last ones ever made."

Clara looked at the rock in her hand, then at the Doctor. "It's TARDIS blue."

His eyes shifted ever so slightly away from her. "That was intentional. I...I got it because...well, because...I want you to know that you're safe. With me. In the TARDIS. That I'll never let anything happen to you."

He looked at the floor, clearly embarrassed. "It was silly. Don't know what I was thinking."

Clara's arms were wrapped around him before he could degrade himself anymore. He merely closed his eyes and let her hold him there, rather tightly. Her voice came in his ear quietly. "Thank you, Doctor."

She pulled away from him, her eyes shining in the reflection of the tree lights. After a moment's pause, she turned and scooped up a box from behind a low hanging branch, wrapped in red paper with a green now on top. She passed it off to the Doctor quickly. Her movements were jumpy enough to know she was nervous.

The Doctor ripped the seams of the wrappings slowly, taking in the whole moment as it passed. His brain was trying to work out what it was before he saw it, though he tried to shut it up. Sometimes having an overactive mind wasn't all it was cracked up to be.

The paper peeled away, revealing an odd cubical object that made the Doctor's eyebrow furrow. Clara picked at her fingernails anxiously. "It's a...it's like a Dream Catcher. It's from, ugh, I don't remember what the planet was called, but they said it helps you stop having bad dreams. When you start having a nightmare, it, ugh, it helps calm you down. Gets you back to sleep quickly. They said eventually you wouldn't even have bad dreams anymore."

Clara seemed to gain more confidence, and met the Doctor's gaze. "That is why you don't sleep often, isn't it? Besides the 'superior biology' stuff? You have nightmare."

Clara couldn't read the Doctor's expression. All of his focus was on the device in his hands, staring absently at its surface. Slowly, he turned his face up to her. His eyes seemed to be rimmed with pink. It was obvious he was nearly crying. Clara felt a pang in her chest. 'I went too far'.

All of a sudden, the 'Dream Catcher' dropped to the ground and, before Clara could grasp what was happening, the Doctor's arms were wrapped around her shoulders, his face buried in the crevice between her neck and shoulder. Slowly, she regained her senses and returned the hug, rubbing circles over his back. She could tell he was definitely crying now.

After a moment, she heard his slightly cracking voice. "Thank you, Clara."

The weight lifted from her chest. Smiling through the tears that had fallen down her own face, Clara whispered, "Merry Christmas, Doctor."

The Doctor lifted his face enough for Clara to see his tear-stained, smiling face. "Merry Christmas to you, Clara Oswald."

The two best friends stayed in an embrace beneath the tree for another five minutes. Time stood still. But, then again, time always stands still for time travelers. It wasn't long before they were back in the TARDIS, going on adventures and saving the universe. The twelve days they had spent together during the Christmas season was soon long past, but it was never forgotten. A little domestics never hurt anyone, even a grumpy old Timelord. He just had to have the right person show him that. And, for the Doctor at least, Clara Oswald was always the right person.