Chapter Text
It was a long and boring flight from Hollywood to Glasgow, Scotland for Clara Oswald. She wasn't even sure why her agent thought it was a good idea to go to this rainy little country to do an interview with some reporter for the Daily News. When she got to the newspaper office just about everyone was making snide comments and hitting on her. She was surprised when she heard a raspy, Scottish voice telling them to leave her alone. She looked over in the direction of the voice and saw a middle aged man with graying hair and a slender build. He wore thick rimmed glasses and a suit with a matching waistcoat and tie. She did notice he seemed a bit wasted but sober enough to be aware of what was going on around him.
Peter Mclltchie was having a long day and even though he was already half drunk he was still to sober to put up with the twats he worked with hitting on everything that looked remotely female. He also hated how the picked on Paddy Meehan as well because she was a nice girl but had spunk which made him smile every once and while. He heard them hitting on someone else and said, "Come off it. Leave the lassie alone. Go find yerself a prostitute if ye are that desperate for a shag. Ye are bloody disgusting." He muttered to himself in Gaelic before he noticed a skirt clad woman by his desk. He looked up and blinked. He knew he recognized her from somewhere but his half baked mind wouldn't let him remember. He asked, "Can I help ye, lassie?"
Clara had walked over to the man's desk and patiently waited for him to notice her. When he finally did she said, "Yes. Thank you for getting the Caledonia bachelor party off of me. I'm Clara Oswald. I'm here to give an interview for your paper."
Peter replied, "Oh. Aye. Ye are an actress? Editor's in his office. Ye are welcome. They are a bunch of letches." He watched her go in Devlin's office and went back to work on his current article. He was surprised when he was called into Devlin's office.
Devlin looked up and said, "Murray Devlin. I take it you are Miss Oswald?"
Clara replied, "Yes Mr. Devlin. I'm here to be interviewed by your paper."
Devlin replied, "Yes. George McVie has already written up the questions for your interview."
Clara said, "I'm not trying to rude or anything, Mr. Devlin, but there is only one reporter I wish to do my interview. it is the skinny, gray haired man with the half baked look on his face and thick framed glasses. He was polite to me and got the others to back off. I will only feel comfortable if he does my interview."
Devlin yelled, "McVie! Dr. Pete! My office now!" He watched the two men file into his office and pointed to Pete. He said, "This I assume is the man you were referring to Miss Oswald. McVie, I'm sorry but you will have to give your article on Miss Oswald here to Dr. Pete."
McVie said, "What? Why?"
Devlin sighed, "Because she has agreed to only give the interview to him."
Clara replied, "I don't like your opinion of women, Mr. McVie. I also don't appreciate being called a tart and a whore just because I am an actress." She heard Pete covering a chuckle with a cough and smiled at him.
Peter never expected to be the only one she would let interview her but he didn't mind. She was very beautiful and had balls. After McVie shoved the interview questions at him he looked them over and had to change a few because they were just way to personal. He took her to the subeditors office and interviewed her. He went through about 4 cigarettes during the interview. When it was over he said, "Thank ye, Miss Oswald. I never expected ta be the one ta get yer interview but I'm glad I did. Ye are a very interesting and beautiful woman."
Clara said, "Please call me Clara. Do you mind if I just call you Peter? I'm not one really for formalities. What'd your surname?"
Peter replied, "Aye ye can call me Peter if ye like. Don't matter ta me. My surname is Mclltchie. I'm sure my editor will send yer agent a copy of the article."
Clara asked, "Is there anywhere fun to go around here?"
Peter laughed, "Not really. Only place ta go is the Press Bar." He got up and showed Clara out before going back to his desk to type up the interview with her. When he was done he gave it to Devlin before leaving for the day. He was parked at the pub when he looked up to see Clara standing in front of his table.
Clara had liked Peter and figured he would be at that pub he mentioned. Sure enough she found him in the back of the establishment in a corner booth nursing a scotch. She stood in front of him and when he looked up she said, "Hey, handsome. Mind if I join you?"
Peter made a lip flapping noise a bit like a horse and replied, "Ye are either blind or crazy with that one, lassie." Then he remembered who he was talking too and figured he wouldn't see her again after that remark. He was surprised that she laughed so he motioned for her to sit down.
Clara laughed because she realized he was talking to her like he would anyone else. She sat down across from him and ordered a glass of wine and another scotch for him. She said, "Well I still think you are handsome anyway. So tell me a little about yourself, Peter."
Peter sighed, "Why are ye so interested in me? I'm just a boring middle aged hack." He lit a cigarette and took a drag o it.
Clara replied, "Because I like you for some reason and want to get to know you a bit better."
Peter shook his head and said, "I'm just a poor lonely middle aged alcoholic. I hate my job and wanted ta be a writer once but never had the time ta write."
Clara asked, "Are you married?"
Peter had to think for a minute and then he replied, "The wedding band? I....was married but she left me for a younger rich man a long time ago. I guess I just got so used ta wearing it I never bothered ta take it off."
Clara put her hand on his and replied, "I'm sorry."
Peter sighed, "Thanks but it was for the best. All we did was fight. I couldn't be what she wanted me ta be and I couldn't stand her nagging. Funny thing is she was the one that drove me ta drinking because the only way I could stand her was if I was wasted."
Clara stayed there pretty late talking to Peter and listening to him tell her jokes and stories. She was enjoying the time she spent with him. She asked him if he would come back to her hotel with her.
Peter sighed, "No. Thank ye, Clara. I'm flattered but not interested in one night stands. If I sleep with a woman then she belongs ta me. I believe in loving the person ye go ta bed with and possibly marrying them. I'm not the kind of man ye'd want ta marry. I'm too messed up. Thank ye for a wonderful night." He got up and stumbled home knowing he'd probably regret not taking her up on her offer but he played for keeps and was incapable of staying unattached after sleeping with someone.
Clara had watched Peter stumble out the door and knew she wanted more from him. She was shocked and pleased that he had turned down the opportunity to sleep with her. She knew then he was a gentleman and took relationships seriously. She somehow knew that if she got involved with Peter that he wouldn't cheat on her. She decided that she wanted him as more than just a friend. Maybe she'd even like to marry him someday if they worked out. She went back to her hotel and extended her stay for a week since she didn't have to be anywhere else she decided to stay here and try to properly get to know this quiet man. Somehow she knew that she had to go slow with him or she'd scare him away.