"We are gathered here today, my sisters and brothers, to mourn the passing of Clara Oswald; daughter, teacher, and friend. She has been the light for many, cheering everyone even in the darkest of times, and was always very strong, even when her mother had passed away when Clara was just at the tender age of 18, and also when her partner, Danny Pink, left us a few years before her.

But we mourn because she is now only a memory for us, even in such a short life. For Clara has passed on to a better life in the presence of God…"

The weather was bleak, the air was ever so slightly crisp with a cool light breeze, quite expected for a December morning. All were gathered to give the final farewell to Clara Oswald. She was to be buried amongst the trees, near her beloved mother.

All encircled her place of burial, wearing black outfits, listening to the Pastor's final words, before her coffin was to be lowered down. For her death had been so tragic, taken from the Earth so suddenly, that almost no one knew how she had died. Some said it was because she could no longer live without Danny, but many others contradicted this statement, saying that she was too strong to do such a thing. After all, the autopsy only indicated sudden cardiac arrest. What actually happened… no one knew.

Absolutely no one there knew…

But all had one thing in common. That her death had shaken everyone to the core… family, friends, especially fellow teachers…. Who had lost 2 young co-workers in less than 18 months.

Everyone had no idea what had happened on that day, just 2 days before Clara's 29th birthday, from the Earth's perspective.

No one knew…

Except 2 people, who stood lurking in the shadows.

2 young, yet ancient people who have seen the Universe from different perspectives.

2 people who had witnessed what happened to the companion.

2 people who still hadn't tasted death.

An immortal and a human frozen in time.

Both relieved a few moments before their definite death.

One a few minutes before the end of the Universe.

The other a heartbeat.

A person who had only heard her cry as Clara died.

The other had yet to experience what death under the hand of a Quantum Shade felt like.

"It's funny, isn't it?" Said Clara as she blinked away the tears. "Seeing yourself being buried." Her hold on the tree trunk tightened itself. "It's me in there, flesh and blood. Yet, here I am, still waiting to die, frozen in an instant, knowing what will happen of me." She was dressed quite normal to the sombre occasion (her own, actually); a black lace dress with a shirt collar, black leather jacket and combat boots. Tears made their way down her unblemished cheeks, observing all the people.

A figure in a long coat, clutching fists to her chest, sobbing in the shadows.

"It's the Doctor, Clara." Said Me.

The girl breathed a laugh, "Yea." Clara couldn't help but remember. The Doctor.. A name which made her so so happy, full of memories which only she had known and cherished for whole decades before the new face remembered her former companion.

"You should go talk to her." The immortal replied.

Clara turned to look at her friend, her eyes burning fiercely with fear and pain. "NO. Never." Her voice was a bit angrier than Clara imagined it would sound in her head. She looked at the grass below her in shame. "Sorry Me. I-"

"No, no…. it's fine Clara. I understand… it's not easy." Clara's lips curled into a weak, betraying smile. But Clara's eyes never betrayed what she really felt on the inside.

Longing…

Pain…

Comfort she will never get as long as she lives.

Till her last heartbeat.

Clara turned to look at the Doctor again, both the 2000 year old traveller and the former companion heartbroken.

One for forgetting

The other for longing and remembering what it felt like to be alive in the blue TARDIS, to hear the Doctor speak her name one last time, not just as a name. But as a friend, or rather, a clear memory.

Well, Clara was just a memory now…..

She longed the Doctor to speak her name as the time lord remembers the wonderful days they had together.

Not like in the diner…

"Guess it hurt her too, Cla. After all these years…" Me's voice trailed off.

Clara sniffed. But no more tears came. All her processes were frozen, not just her tiny little human heart. She had cried them all.

Everyone made the sign of the Cross as Clara's coffin began making its way down into the pit. Even Clara herself made the sign of the Cross, praying and hoping that her death would be a swift one.

The pit was closed off with mounds of soil and roses and bouquets from her friends, family, fellow teachers and also some students she used to teach, including Courtney Woods. The girl could only imagine what really happened to her teacher. There was the head principle and all of the school staff, including Adrian, her fellow English teacher.

No… not all the staff…..

Danny wasn't there….

Clara breathed a laugh…

Of course he wasn't there.

Her final conversation with cyberDanny flashed in front of her eyes, holding in yet another desperate sob.

After a few minutes of mourning, people started leaving. The last to leave were her father and grandmother. Both red eyed, they stood in front of her tombstone, next to her mother.

"I'm sure she's in a better place Dave. They're watching over us…. Over us all."

Does being frozen before her last heartbeat count?

How she wished to talk to her father and grandmother, tell them that she was going to be OK, to stay strong...

"Let's go dear, you'll catch a cold." continued the grandmother.

Dave was reluctant to move from his wife's and daughter's grave.

But they finally left.

Everyone left.

Except one, very special person.

A/N: This is not the end! Another chapter's left! Hope you enjoyed the first; any feedback appreciated. Till then take care!

Edit: thanks to AntimonyAvenger for bringing out my mistake xD