Hey, remember me? Yeaaaaah, uh... first Christmas and crap got in the way, then I was just too lazy to update. I sincerely apologize.

Oh, and about the Christmas special... let's not talk about it. Ever (because FEELS).

She could just leave, she knows. Walk out the doors and never have to deal with the bow tie man ever again. She can't bring herself to do that somehow, but there's no way in hell she's crawling back to the Doctor right now, so the compromise is to curl up beneath the deli counter and twirl a stray piece of merchandise in her hands, willing herself to stay angry at him.

But if Laurie's honest, she's mostly just angry with herself. As big-mouthed and haughty as the the Doctor had just been, she's dealt with far worse in the pass and she's never stood up to herself like that. She's loathe to admit it, but there's something about this man that makes her inexplicably braver, but even now she can feel her courage draining once again. Will she ever be able to do that without the Doctor perched on her shoulder like some fallen angel?

"Mind if I join you?"

Laurie looks up to meet kind eyes and an understanding smile, and she nods her head. Clara ducks down to face opposite her under the counter, their knees knocking together as the young woman takes a moment to look at her.

"Sorry about him," she starts. "He can be a rightout git at times."

Laurie doesn't miss the affectionate smile tugging at the corner of Clara's lips even as she speaks. "But..."

"But in every other instance he's the kindest man I've ever known. It's not his fault he's had the mood of a teenage girl lately." Clara falters as she she spares a nervous glance at Laurie. "Er, no offense."

Laurie only shrugs. "Fact of life. Continue?"

Clara sits back and looks vaguely upward. "Like I said, he's not to blame. Well not completely, anyway. He's just... homesick."

Laurie cocks a puzzled head. "Then why doesn't he just fly back across the pond and-"

"That's not his home," Clara explains sadly. "Where he's from is a bit more tricky to get to." Before Laurie can prod further, Clara goes on. "He loves us humans, he really does. But under the skin he's an old man, Laurie, and sometimes I think we remind him of what he's lost. His home, a line of friends and family and loves..."

Laurie nods, at last understanding. "No place like home." Then her face splits into a grin. "Has he tried clicking his heels three times?"

Clara laughs. "We'd need some sparkly red heels first. It'd go great with his fashion sense."

Laurie giggles alongside her, but inside she still hesitates. The Doctor might have some baggage, but so does everyone, and it certainly doesn't excuse him for his behavior. It'll take a lot more than that to get her to-

A sudden crash jolts both girls from their seats. With a quick exchange of confused glances, they scramble from their hiding spot to investigate.

"Doctor, if this is your way of apologizing it isn't working," Clara calls out.

Laurie looks everywhere for a hint of that floppy hair or purple overcoat, set more and more on the edge the longer she doesn't find either. Then, in possibly the biggest mistake of her life, she turns her back. Couldn't have been much more than a second, maybe two, but then a sudden crack and puff whips Laurie around again. Her only comrade is a wisp of smoke trailing to the ceiling.

"Clara?"