"Orson is Clara's descendant, isn't he?" Elise asked while Clara and Orson were in the TARDIS.

"I don't know, but it seems that way doesn't it?" the Doctor said, "Never met yours though."

Elise's breath caught in her throat. "Excuse me?"

"Your children. I imagine they're out there, but I've never come across them."

It wasn't a huge surprise to Elise that she would have children. She'd had her suspicions with the Wooden King and Queen, but they'd been confirmed on Trenzalore.

Clara came out of the TARDIS and sat in a chair next to the Doctor. "What are we doing?"

"Waiting," the Doctor told her.

"For what? For who? If everybody in the universe is dead, then there's nobody out there."

"That's one way of looking at it."

"What's the other?"

"That's a hell of a lot of ghosts."

The lights in the capsule dimmed and turned blue.

"Do you have your own mood lighting now? Because, frankly, the accent is enough," Clara commented.

The capsule creaked and the words "Do Not Open the Door" appeared.

"Where did that come from?" Clara asked.

"It's always been there. It's only visible in the night lights."

"But who wrote it?"

"Colonel Pink. Apparently, at night, he needs a reminder. Six months stranded alone, I suppose it must be tempting."

"What is?"

"Company."

The capsule creaked again, reminding Elise of the Russian submarine, an adventure she'd rather forget.

"What's that?" Clara asked.

"What kind of explanation would you like?" the Doctor asked.

"A reassuring one."

"Well, the systems are switching to low power. There are temperature differentials all over this ship. It's like pipes banging when the heating goes off."

"Always thought there was something in the pipes."

"Me, too. Who were you having dinner with?"

"Are you making conversation?"

"I thought that I would give it a try."

"I told you. A date."

"Serious?"

"It's a date."

"A serious date?"

"Do I have to bring him to you for approval?"

"Well, I would like to know about his prospects. If you like, I can pop ahead and check them out."

"Frankly, you've already done enough."

The Doctor's concern for Clara made Elise smile. Although he kind of sounded like an ex-husband wanting to make sure his ex-wife (who he was very much still in love with) would be taken care of. Elise knew that the Doctor approved of her choice in partner going off of the phone call, but Elise hoped this Doctor would approve as well.

There was a loud shrieking noise that startled them.

The Doctor stood up slowly. "Atmospheric pressure equalizing," the Doctor said.

"Or?" Clara asked.

"Company."

"Why are we doing this? Why don't we just go?"

"Because I need to know."

"Why? About what?"

"Suppose that there are creatures that live to hide. That only show themselves to the very young or the very old, or the mad, or anyone who wouldn't be believed."

"Okay, so..."

"What would those creatures do when everyone was gone? When there was only one man left standing in the universe?"

There were three knocks on the door.

Clara stood up and Elise stepped closer to the brunette. "What's that?" Clara asked.

"Potentially, the hull cooling," the Doctor said.

"Potentially?"

"Believably."

The knocking came again.

"Someone knocking."

"But how is that possible?" Elise asked.

There were more knocks, joined by a scraping noise.

"Doctor..." Clara said.

Elise was practically pressed up against her back.

More knocking.

"You don't actually believe all this, do you? Hiding creatures, things from under the bed."

Knocking and scraping.

"What's that in the mirror, or the corner of your eye? What's that footstep following, but never passing by?" the Doctor asked.

"Why does it matter!" Elise yelled.

More knocking.

"Did we come to the end of the universe because of a nursery rhyme?" Clara asked.

There was more knocking and the Doctor sonicked the door.

"No!" Elise yelled as the door started to unlock itself.

"That's you turning it, right?" Clara asked.

"No. Get in the TARDIS. Both of you," the Doctor told him.

"Why?"

"I have to know."

"Are you insane? This isn't worth risking your life over!" Elise snapped.

"Doctor. Doctor?"

"The TARDIS, now!"

"Okay, okay. Somebody is out there. Now we know, we can leave. Doctor!"

"It's a pressure lock. Releasing it could've triggered the opening mechanism."

"Is there even an atmosphere out there?"

"There is an air shell round the ship. Why are you still here? Take Elise and get inside the TARDIS."

"Because I am not going to leave you in danger!"

"Then you will never travel with me again, because that is the deal! TARDIS, now! Do as you are told!"

Clara ran to the TARDIS. "You're an idiot." She stormed inside.

"I know," the Doctor said. He turned to Elise. "Get inside the TARDIS."

"No! I'm not leaving you!"

"Don't be stupid. TARDIS!"

Tears of frustration filled Elise's eyes. "Why won't you let me help you?"

"Because I don't need your help."

Elise felt like she'd been shot through the hearts, but she didn't cry. She turned around and stormed into the TARDIS.

"What are you doing? Why aren't you out there helping him?" Clara asked her.

Elise ignored her.

Clara grabbed the young Timelord by the arm.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Elise pulled away from her.

"He doesn't need my help. Maybe he never needed me in the first place."

Clara let her go and Elise retreated to her room.

Elise came out of her room much later.

Clara and Orson were gone.

So was the Doctor.

Elise approached the telepathic interface.

Could she use it to find the man she saw in the café that day? Just as she was about to place her hands on it, a hand grabbed her wrist.

"What are you doing?" the Doctor asked.

"I just...I was going to..."

"What? Find that guy?"

Elise blushed furiously. "How is that any of your business! You don't want me to be happy, do you!"

"You used to be happy with me."

"Yeah? Well things change. People change."

Elise ripped her wrist out of his hand and stormed off to her room. She angrily swiped at the tears running down her cheeks. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing her cry.

Never let him see the damage.

The Doctor sighed. He knew he had upset her, but he knew who the man was and it wasn't time for them to meet yet. But he wasn't sure when it happened.