And a huge thanks to everyone who read the story and left a review :) It makes me so happy to see/read that my fanfics are appreciated and loved. I've already started on the next one, another professor/student AU but it'll probably be a few days before I start posting. I'm still in the planning stages and I've only written down a few scenes. I want to wait until my eye is fully back to normal before I throw myself into that but I hope I'll be seeing you as my readers again for that one :)

Chapter 20

The Doctor knocked carefully on Logan's door and peeked through the crack where he saw his son lying on the bed with one of his comic books.

"Hey kid, can I come in?" he asked.

Logan simply shrugged and looked back down at the painted pictures in front of him. Reluctantly the Doctor stepped closer, realizing that his son was still mad at him.

"I could take you to the comic book shop if your school report looks good this year. What do you say?" he suggested casually as he sat down next to his son.

"I have a C in maths," he admitted without looking up.

"That's the only C, right?"

Logan nodded.

"That sounds good enough for some new comics," the Doctor said, taking a deep breath, "But that's not what I came to talk to you about. Could you please put the comic away for a moment and look at me?"

Reluctantly his son pushed the pages aside and sat up in bed, appearing anything but amused. He knew. Logan knew what this was about.

"I know you're not a kid anymore and I know you already know everything there is to know about it so I'm just going to say it," the Doctor began, "I really like your teacher. Miss Oswald is nice, don't you think?"

"I guess," Logan replied with a shrug.

"Well, I think she's very nice and I would love to get to know her better. I think you understand, you know, because of Melina."

His son stared down at his feet that he had crossed on front of him.

"I know you loved your mother very much and there was a time I really loved her, too. But you know that we were separating before her death and we had our reasons. Your mother and I had agreed that we would probably be better off with someone else, we just weren't good for each other and no one was to blame for that. The important thing is that she was your mother and I don't intend to replace her. No one could ever replace her. Do you understand that?"

Slowly he nodded but still avoided his father's gaze.

"I agreed that I wouldn't date anyone back then because I thought it would be best for you. I wanted to be there for you and I hope I was. But you're growing up so fast and you'll be a man in the blink of an eye and I don't think you still need me as much. I think there's room for more than just you. I'm not saying that I want your teacher to move in with us or be your stepmother or anything like that. I just want a chance to get to know her but I want you to be okay with that."

Still Logan remained silent and the Doctor reached out and nudged him gently to finally make him look up.

"Come on, kid," he smiled at his son, "We kinda a need a woman around here. At least I do. I need someone to tell me to clean up my room like I do with you cause I'll never do it on my own."

Finally his son cracked a smile, even if it was only a shy one.

"So you're not gonna marry Miss Oswald?" he asked.

"No, at least not any time soon," the Doctor replied reassuringly, "And not without your permission. Logan, you're the most important person in my life and you always will be. You're my pal and no woman can change that. So, what do you say? Do I have your permission to ask your teacher out on a date?"

Logan pulled a face, looking slightly disgusted. "Only if you use protection. I do not want a sibling. Ever!"

The Doctor broke out into laughter. "I was gonna have that conversation with you, not the other way around. But let's make this a deal. There will be no siblings for you as long as there will be no grandkids for me, eh?"

"Ew, Dad!"

The Doctor reached out to ruffle his son's hair, laughing as he did before he pulled him closer for a hug. And for the first time in a long while Logan even hugged him back.

OOO

With a long, tired sigh Clara sank down in her chair after the class had finally left the room. Summer holidays. That was exactly what she needed right now. Long, relaxing, stress free summer holidays. Then suddenly she was startled by a knock and the door and she turned around to see the Doctor standing in the doorway. For a moment she was mad at him and ready to yell until she spotted a bouquet of flowers in his hands.

"What are you doing here?" she asked him warily.

"I'm picking up Logan, promised to take him to the comic book shop if his school report looks good this year. He's waiting in the car and I thought I could steal a moment to talk to you?" he raised the bouquet higher, waving it slightly.

Clara considered it for a moment before she rolled her eyes and gestured for him to step inside the classroom. She rose from her seat and leaned back against the desk.

"So?" she asked.

"So, I brought flowers," he said and handed them over, staying an arm's length away from her.

Reluctantly Clara took them from him and admired them for a moment. "Nice," she commented casually, "Nice flowers."

"I talked to Logan," the Doctor explained after a moment, "And I'm afraid I had to make a deal."

Clara frowned at him, wondering what on earth he had done now. "What kind of deal?"

"I promised him he wouldn't get any siblings as long as I wouldn't get any grandchildren. I hope that's not a problem?"

For a moment Clara had a hard time believing what he was saying. "What?" she asked in confusion, "What does that mean?"

The Doctor granted her a smile. "It means he's okay with us dating. Took a bit of talking to convince him but he seems fine with the idea. We probably shouldn't show it off too much right away but, generally, he's fine with it."

"Really? Just like that?" Clara asked in disbelief, "I, erm, I don't know what to say."

"Well," his smile widened, "You could start by saying that you will go out on a date with me on Saturday. Logan is at a sleepover. He and Tim and Leon want to play video games all night, I think. We would have the house to ourselves."

"And he's really fine with it?" she felt the need to ask once more.

"Ask Logan if you don't believe me."

"I do, I believe you" Clara replied, looking down at the flowers in her hands, "I should probably put these in water."

When Clara turned around to the washbasin she suddenly felt the Doctor's hand on her arm, softly pulling her back in his direction.

"You haven't answered my question. Will you go on a date with me on Saturday?"

She huffed in reply. "Of course I'll go on a date with you, you idiot."

Clara didn't even have time to prepare before the Doctor bent down and kissed her, cupping her face in both his hands as he did.

"Not here," she mumbled against his lips, "One of the kids might see us."

The Doctor pulled away for a moment, grinning. "They all know already anyway."

"Okay," she shrugged, "Good point."

Just as she was about to yield to another one of his kisses Clara heard someone clear their throat by the door and when she looked past the Doctor she spotted the headmaster standing in the doorway.

"Mr Chesterton," Clara blurted out, quickly stepping away from the Doctor, "I didn't even hear you come in."

The old man smiled kindly. "I'd have been surprised if you did. The teachers are all gathering for tea and biscuits in the staff room if you want to join."

"I'll be there in five," she replied nervously and only started breathing again when she heard Mr Chesterton's steps retreating.

Both the Doctor and Clara started giggling once they were alone.

"Not to add any pressure but that date better be a good one now cause all the teachers will be asking me about it after the holidays," Clara said jokingly.

"I think I can handle the pressure," the Doctor smiled, "And I better get back to the car now, Logan is waiting. I'll pick you up at six?"

"Don't be late," Clara told him, smiling, and watched until the Doctor had left the room. She lifted the bouquet of flowers to her nose and inhaled deeply, the smile still on her face when she realized that she felt really, truly happy.