"Turning and turning in the widening gyre

The falcon cannot hear the falconer;

Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;

Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,

The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere

The ceremony of innocence is drowned;

The best lack all conviction, while the worst

Are full of passionate intensity..." -Yeats

"Excuse me, you want to take me WHERE?"

He grinned slightly, amused by her exasperation. "The lagoon planet of Nobtox. Fascinating place, that. The fish life there evolved into carnivores, and they eat people! Sort of the opposite of what it's like here."

Clara grimaced. "Um, not really my idea of a date, to be honest."

The Doctor raised an eyebrow at her. "Who said this was a date?"

She crossed her arms. "Doctor. You promised, you PROMISED that you would take me someplace nice after that last fiasco with the rampaging Silurians."

He looked puzzled. "Did I, now? Don't really recall."

His companion stared at him in stony silence.

He finally relented. "I suppose I MAY have mentioned something about a quick trip to Italy or Paris."

"You're such an old codger, you know that?" She was trying hard to keep herself from smiling but it was becoming increasingly hard when faced with the Doctor's mannerisms.

He rolled his eyes. "How can I be old when we look the same age?

She laughed aloud at his orneriness. "We do NOT look even remotely the same age, especially since we both know who the beauty is in this duo."

She half smiled indulgently and turned back to the Tardis controls. "Well, I can't argue with you there."

Smiling, Clara walked over and laid her head gently on his shoulder. She felt him stiffen momentarily before relaxing to her touch. She knew it would still be awhile before he would be completely comfortable with certain types of physical contact. For some reason this incarnation of her beloved Doctor was filled with wariness and trepidation, especially when it came to relationships with others. But she could already tell she was starting to slip through his barriers. She knew it took a great deal of trust for him to confess his feelings for her, and besides; she was patient. She could wait as long as necessary to finally reach the inner sanctum of his heart.

"So when do we leave?" she asked, looking up at him, daring him subconsciously to kiss her.

He cleared his throat. "Right now, if you like. No time like the present, as they say."

She stifled a giggle. "Oh Doctor, who else but you would ever say that?"

A short time later, the Tardis emitted its usual groaning, wheezing sound as it landed. "You're going to love it here, Clara," the Doctor exclaimed as he ran around the console exuberantly, adjusted levers and pulling switches.

"When are we exactly, again?"

"Late 16th Century. Italy. Lovely place. Lots of art, lots of food, lots of interesting people."

She grinned. "A girl could get used to that!"

He grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the Tardis doors. She felt the usual spike of exhilaration that she always felt when going to a new place with the Doctor. She didn't think that would ever change.

He threw open the doors with his usual panache and gesturing outside announced, "Clara, I give you..." He stopped in his tracks as he looked outside.

They were in the middle of a clearing that seemed to be surrounded by a vast forest. The huge trees towered over them, throwing shadows across the ground that swayed and danced eerily as the wind shook the branches.

Clara folded her arms. "Doctor, where exactly are we? Correct me if I'm wrong, and I don't think you will need to, but...is this where we're supposed to be?"

The Doctor was flabbergasted. "I...must have missed."

Despite being completely annoyed at the situation, she couldn't help but find the Doctor to be adorable when he was flustered. "Again, you mean. You missed again. Remember that time in Glasgow?"

He glared at her. "Thank you, once again, for stating the obvious."

She grinned cheekily back at him. "You're most welcome!"

"Well," he said scratching his head, "We might as well go and see where we are and what's going on. I'm sure there is something interesting we can find."

She rolled her eyes. "How did I know you were going to say that?"

He boldly strolled out of the Tardis, followed closely behind by his companion. He took a moment to turn in a circle, glancing at the surroundings. Suddenly he pointed to the right. "There!" he exclaimed.

"There, what?" Clara asked, mystified.

"There is a path through the woods! Don't you see it?"

She squinted. "I guess that looks like a path?"

He sighed and shook his head, murmuring something that sounded a lot like 'pudding-head' before setting off in the direction of the trail. Right as they reached the clearing the Doctor held up a hand, halting Clara behind him.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Someone's coming," he said seriously.

She looked up, heart beginning to race, as she heard the brush ahead of them start to rustle with movement...

~To be continued