Title: Twelve Days of Christmas gifts (1/13)

Author: Flydye8

Pairing: 12th Doctor and Clara

Rating: T

Disclaimer: I don't own them I just play around with them.

Summary: The Doctor (12) contemplates Christmas gifts for Clara, while searching the computer database in the TARDIS for the right ones; he comes across a list of stories. Reading them he receives his inspirations for his gifts, from the authors' writings. This takes place before the Christmas Special.

Author's Note: This past semester of college was a rough one for me and one of the things that kept me sane was reading the many delightful stories of Clara and 12th Doctor, posted here on FFN. This is my way of thanking each of you for your writings.

Additionally, I have a challenge to each of you; can you guess what stories the gifts were chosen from? Give a guess in the comments below, I will post the list after Christmas.

Happy guessing.

Day 1

The Doctor didn't want to believe Father Christmas; he didn't want to know that his Clara was not alright. He wanted to believe that she was happy with Danny and living the "normal" life, getting married, raising babies, but he couldn't shake the feeling that Father Christmas was telling the truth.

Pacing the promenade of his TARDIS he spoke out loud, voice echoing in the ancient machine.

"Question, if Father Christmas is right why hasn't she called?"

"Conjecture, PE won't let her." Shaking his head he dismissed that idea immediately he knew that if Clara wanted to do something no one would stop her.

"Possibility, she is hurt and cannot call. No, that cannot be true I would know." Turning facing the heart of his ship, the sound of his ring echoing like his voice, he repeated in a whisper, "I would know."

"Probability, she believed the lie I told her, so completely, she will never call. Oh, who am I kidding that is not a probability; it is the conclusion."

Falling heavily in his leather chair he signed, "So what can I do to help her, become better without interfering in her relationship with PE?"

Sitting in his chair he contemplated different ways, discarding the ideas as he continued to ponder, when suddenly he knew what to do. Running to the computer screen of the TARDIS he pulled up the date, 12th of December, smiling he knew exactly what to do. It was twelve days to Christmas, he would send her a gift for each day up to the 25th. But, what gifts to send her, they had to be special, show her that she was at the forefront of his mind.

"Of course, books!" he exclaimed loudly as he typed in his computer the phrase 'fictional stories'.

Clicking on the first link, given to him by the search engine he was using, his eyes widened as he saw a subcategory called Doctor Who, 12th Doctor and Clara. Clinking he was amazed to see story after story about him and Clara within the pages of the website. Pulling a chair up to the screen he got comfortable and clicked the first story.

A few hours later he finished the first story, shaking his head in amazement, he silently admitted that the long hair nilly, of Sherwood Forest was correct. History was a burden, but stories make legends. It seemed that he and Clara had become legends in the world of fiction. How the authors knew about him and his companions was a mystery, one that may never be answered.

While reading the story he figured out what his first gift was going to be for Clara. After saving the story within the TARDIS data banks, he programmed his ship for his first destination, Earth, London, March 1977.

Smiling as the TARDIS landed he hurried out to find the first gift for his Clara, a snowman to hang on her Christmas tree.

Clara smiled superficially at each of her students as they left her classroom. When the last one left she allowed her smile to falter. It was getting harder and harder as Christmas approached to maintain the pretense of happiness. This Christmas would mark the first one she would spend alone.

Her father and his wife were going someplace warm for Christmas and dragging her gran with them. So none of her family was going to be in town during the holiday season, they tried desperately to get her to go, but she refused stating she couldn't take the time off from work.

Pushing her chair from her desk, she stood up reluctantly, hardly finding the energy to go back to her flat. Walking down, the now quiet halls of the school, she dropped by the office to retrieve her mail before heading home.

As she approached her mail box she observed a TARDIS blue box on the ledge, her heart hammering in her chest, she flipped the card and read the inscription: To Clara. Reaching down with shaking hands she lifted the box and brought it close to her chest.

For the first time in weeks, she felt her spirit lifting; the Doctor had not forgotten her. Turning around quickly she bumped into Crystal, the new maths teacher.

"Sorry, Crystal." Clara stuttered.

"That's okay, what do you have there, a gift from a secret admirer?"

"Nah, it is a gift from an old friend."

"Well aren't you going to open it, I can never wait to open my gifts."

"I think I will wait till I get home." Clara responded smiling at the other teacher as she departed from the office.

Hurrying home, holding onto the package, Clara arrived at her flat in record time. Entering, she dropped her bag and marking on the foyer table and rushed to the couch.

Reverently, she opened the package and pulled out a crystal ornament in the shape of a snowman, holding it up to the light, she admired how it sparkled. Giggling she noticed that the year 1977 was engraved within the crystal.

Placing it gently on the table in front of her she reached into the box and pulled out a micro SD card. Hurrying to her desk, she retrieved her laptop and placed the card in slot. Encoded on the card was a story, opening the document she began to read.

A few hours later, she finished the story and contemplated the theme. She knew that the Doctor chose this story for a reason. He still believes that she only loves his previous self and that the only way she could ever find happiness is to be with that aspect of him.

Grabbing her phone she selected the Doctor's name from her contact list; typing out her message quickly she pressed the send button before she could change her mind; hoping he would get it. Yawning she shut down her computer and headed to her bed.

The Doctor was resting in his chair, thinking of his impossible girl, when the TARDIS phone began to ring. Hurrying to answer it, he picked it up, hearing a series of beeps and pauses he used his sonic screwdriver to send the message to the main computer. Rushing to the screen he smiled as he read the text from Clara, "You are wrong; it is not him I want to see again."

Closing the message, the Doctor felt the pain in his hearts lesson considerably, since the last hug he had given to Clara before leaving her.