Chapter 1 - 10th Doctor

He parked the TARDIS just around the corner of the apartment building. It was good place to observe, he thought. Maybe through observation he would understand why this girl seemed so meaningful. The Doctor wasn't sure when it started but he had dreamed about her every other night at first. And the more he tried to put his finger on the mystery that was this young brunette, the more dreams came. He had thought about it and was very sure to have met her several times under different circumstances.

The Doctor remembered a few incidents: she was a patient in the hospital that was abducted and taken to the moon, she was a student at the school taken over by Krillitanes.

He knew that eventually he had to go in, say hello and scan her apartment. How else was he going to find out if she had a time travelling device, a vortex manipulator maybe? After that he could just ask her where she got it and demand she stopped at once. The Doctor knew that time was nothing to be played with, but did this girl?

As luck would have it, a motorcycle arrived and the young woman he'd been waiting for dismounted and headed for the door of the apartment building. It seemed to be the Doctor's lucky day. He had tried on several occasions but she never showed up. Today was the day. He hid behind the TARDIS until she was inside the building and then made a run for the door. It closed right in front of him. Hastily he searched for his sonic screwdriver, unlocked the door and followed her inside. Her steps were still audible, above his head, 4th or 5th floor until they stopped. That's it, he thought, one step to solving another mystery.

There was a TARDIS-blue doormat in front of her door, welcoming any stranger that might set foot inside her apartment. He looked at the doorbell and read her name: Clara Oswald. The name seemed strangely familiar to him, like everything about that girl. He had no choice. He rang the bell.

Clara answered the door with a smile that quickly faded once she saw him. Her face, so happy and cheerful before, stared at him in confusion.

"You," was all she said at first.

You? That was an add way to greet him, he had to say. Of course, he was well known throughout the universe but no human has ever. . . unless. . . she knew him. It was at that precise moment the Doctor realized he wanted her as his companion. The decision, of course, was already made when he came here, but now he knew. He had to have her. By looking at her alone the Doctor could tell that she was adventurous, smart and funny and he had been alone for so long.

"I'm not really an expert, but I don't think you should be here," she interrupted his train of thought.

He ignored her last statement.

"Clara Oswald, I want you to come with me."

"Come where?" she asked and now she smiled.

"With me. In the TARDIS. To travel anywhere in time and space," he said enthusiastically.

"Uhm, okay. Let me just get my purse."

Clara grabbed her purse and closed the door before she turned to look at him. "So, where are we going?"