“What if Clara stopped before leaving in Hell Bent because she recognised that song?”
The Untitled Love Song
By colemansdimple
“Maybe someone will find your TARDIS for you.”
She gets up and heads to the door of her own TARDIS as she prepares to leave the person she loves most in the whole universe. And then he starts to play. She stops, remembering.
Ever since she started her new life in the TARDIS with the Doctor, she realised she had never been happier. Her days were full of mystery and adventures and everywhere people always seemed to need their help. But when the night came and she got under her covers to sleep, she always had nightmares. It's when her fears and anxieties manifested in the form of dreams that made her wake up screaming, tears hot in her eyes.
Soon the Doctor could no longer ignore it and began to silently keep guard outside her bedroom door. As a way to keep her company and to make sure she was safe. Until one day, when she accidentally stumbled on him as she left for breakfast. He was sleeping on the corridor floor.
Clara knew she was worrying him too much and so, one night, after their reading time in the library, she put on her pyjamas and knocked at his bedroom door. Since that day they began to sleep together. It was easier then having him sleep on the floor, so he agreed with it, and he could keep an eye on her all night. But Clara's nightmares wouldn't stop. Although when she woke up now she had him to hug her tightly and reassuringly.
One day, after they managed to escape a particularly dangerous adventure rescuing another planet, she said: "We can do this forever!". He looked over at her, all smiles and dimples and braveness and not a care in the world. And then it hit him. There's no such thing as forever. Sure, her living 24/7 in the TARDIS could stretch her human lifespan for a very long time, and he would be there by her side for that very long time, but not forever.
Deep within his heart he knew how this would end. She would make a mistake and he would sacrifice himself for her. And then he would be gone. Well...not entirely gone...but he would regenerate...he would become another person with an entirely different personality. And if there was one thing he knew for certain, was that whoever he might become, that person would not love Clara Oswald like he did. He loved her with every atom, every nerve, every tiny molecule of his body. So he needed to prepare, he needed something of his to remain with her. Something that she could keep and know what she meant to him, if the worst happens.
But he didn't know what he could give her. In the TARDIS she had everything anyone could possibly need. And nothing that existed in the universe would ever be good enough for his Clara. So he decided to create something. Something that doesn't exist yet. Something only he could give her. This self, this Doctor. He would make her a song.
Every night, before he went to bed he would practice and practice and practice. He asked the Old Girl to build him a studio next to his bedroom so he wouldn't be far from her at night.
And that's why, from their bed, Clara could hear him play. There were times when the tune changed, it was all messy in the beginning. Like he was trying to find the right words or chords. Specially when they had their little fights, the song would come out faster. But within them all she could feel, there was always love. She loved that song, as much as she loved him. And ever since he began playing it, she realised she no longer had nightmares. It was as though he lulled her to peaceful sleep.
He had it all planned out. He would play her song at her birthday. A birthday present was the perfect excuse. He didn't need words to tell her how he felt. He knew his Clara would know when she listened to it, even after he was no longer this self.
It was pretty late already so he decided to stop and return to bed. She would be waiting for him after all. He never cared too much for sleep but now he couldn't wait for nighttime, couldn't believe how happy his days were either. It seemed like the universe finally decided to give him a reward in the form of Clara and he will bloody well take it.
He dressed his own pyjamas and got under the blankets next to her, snuggling close to her warmth.
“You finished work pretty late today.” she mumbled.
“I'm sorry.” he smiled, kissing her forehead.
“Not sorry enough.” she said, smiling, as she turned around and softly kissed him on the lips.
As they hugged closer and their kisses became more passionate, his mind was slowly drifting away from her song. It was pretty much finished anyway. He still needed to write down a title for it though, but he wouldn't bother with that right now. Her birthday was still a couple of months away. He had plenty of time.
