Chapter One; The Untold Future
Jane Smith had always been a very happy and healthy little girl ever since the day she was born. She had blonde hair and light green eyes (although they tended to change from time to time) resembling more of her mother than her father, while her big brother (who was now almost three years old) looked more like their father. All of a sudden Jane found herself being picked up by her father and carried over to the kitchen table.
"Alright Princess," he began before planting a kiss on the top of her head. "Lunchtime." He told her as he sat her down inside her highchair while Peter sat beside her on top of his booster chair while eating a bowl of cereal. As The Doctor placed a bib around his daughter's neck Shadow trotted over to him. "Shadow, you already have your breakfast. Remember? I just filled your bowl." He told him. The dog let out a groan before trotting back inside the kitchen.
Just as soon as he started to eat his kibble Rose came through the door. Peter's face lit up at the sight of her. "Mummy!" he cried excitedly.
"Hullo baby, good morning." She said as she smiled warmly at him and walked over to him to greet him with a kiss on the cheek. "How'd you sleep last night?" she asked him.
"Good." He answered as The Doctor walked over to his wife and gave her a good morning kiss.
"How was the shopping trip?" he asked her.
"It went really well. I got some new pretty outfits for Jane, and I also brought Peter a surprise." She explained as she placed her bags up onto the table and took out a miniature toilet.
"Uh sweetheart are you sure he's old enough for that?" her husband questioned.
"Sure he is. Besides he starts nursery school in a few months and he needs to be potty trained before then. And you're the one who's sick of changing his nappies." She told him.
"That's because I'm sick of being a human target." He told her. "Still I don't want to try and push him if he's not ready." He said.
"But they won't let him into nursery school if he isn't." she said while Peter just watched his parents bickering back and forth.
"He doesn't need nursery school!" The Doctor exclaimed. "Look, Peter." He began as his son turned his head and looked at him. "There was a farmer who had a dog,.." he sang as Peter smiled and started to join in with him.
"And Bingo was his name-o. B-I-N-G-O, B-I-N-G-O, B-I-N-G-O, and Bingo was his name-o." they sang together.
"There now, you see that? He's a genius. He's not even three years old yet and already he can spell." He told her.
"Doctor, I understand that you're scared about letting him go but you can't stop him from growing up." She told him.
"What!? I'm not scared of letting him go! I'm taking him to get his first haircut later this afternoon remember? We both have our hair appointments at two o'clock." He said.
"Yeah but that's different, you'll be with him there. At nursery school he'll be all by himself." She pointed out.
"Alright fine, you've got me alright? I don't want him to grow up so fast because of what his future holds for him. I want to spend as much time with him as I can because even though I'm a time lord, I dunno what'll happen to him and I want to protect him." He explained.
"I know, and he's lucky that he has a father that's looking out for him. But deep down he's just a little boy like everyone else and he should enjoy being a kid and going through each new milestone in his life. And to be honest neither of us knows our future, Jane could very well end up being the one in danger. That's why we have to treat our children equally." She pointed out.
"I know and I love them both very much." The Doctor told her.
"I know you do, and that's why you have to let them grow up while at the same time let them be kids." She told him when suddenly Jane began to cry.
"I know sweetie you're hungry. I promised to feed you." He told her as he started to walk towards the kitchen.
"I have an idea, I'll feed her and you can tell Peter all about the potty." She said. "I mean after all, it's easier since you're both boys and when Jane's old enough I'll explain it to her." She told him.
"Oh alright, but not at the table." He said as Peter gestured for his father to put him down. "Peanut, Daddy's got to talk to you about something." He told him as he hoisted him up inside his arms before placing him back down on the ground beside the mini toilet. "This is called a potty and whenever you feel like you need to take a poo-poo you sit down on top of it." He told him.
"Why?" Peter asked him.
"You just do, and when you have to go wee you stand up." He answered.
"Why?" Peter questioned him again.
"Because you're a boy and that's how you use the bathroom." His father told him.
"Why?" he asked for a third time as Rose came out of the kitchen with a jar of baby food.
"Never mind, you're better of showing him the next time that he has to go. Otherwise you're just on a never ending road with him." She said as she pushed up a chair in front of Jane and placed the baby food down on her tray. "Alright get ready, this is Jane's first time trying solid food." She said excitedly. "Ready to try some squash?" she asked her daughter eagerly inside a high pitched excited voice that caused her to grin.
"Alright, get ready to open up the hanger because here comes the airplane!" she cried as she made the spoon circle around while making vrooming noises. Jane opened her mouth as the spoon came towards it. The Doctor watched eagerly to see what she would do. As soon as the squash was inside her mouth she spat it back out again.
"I don't think she's too thrilled about it." He said while Rose wiped the bottom of her mouth and Shadow rushed over to the front door and barked. "C'mon Peter, do you want to come with me while I let the doggie out?" he asked him.
Peter nodded as The Doctor grabbed ahold of the leash. "Sit." He told Shadow as he immediately obeyed and waited for it to be clipped onto his collar. "Alright Peanut make sure you stay right behind me so you don't get hurt. After all he's a big doggie and I don't want you to get knocked over." He told him as Shadow wagged his tail and bounded out the door.