This is set sometime in the third story of Tyler Family adventures that I am about to start working on.

~oOo~

"It was a dark and stormy night," the Doctor said softly to his captive audience.

"Why does he start every story like that," Amy asked, not even attempting to suppress an eye roll.

Rose smirked over the rim of her tea cup. On the other side of the library, the Doctor was sitting with their grandchildren, EJ and Jamie. He was telling them a bedtime story, well a story of one of his and Rose's most recent adventures. "He thinks it makes them sound a bit more fairy tale. Like they won't know that what he's telling them is real if it just sounds like an old story."

"Well I hope he doesn't give them nightmares," Trisha added. "Otherwise, I'm going to make him sit up with them. The first time Dad told EJ about Daleks, she wouldn't sleep alone for a month."

"I remember the first time I told Tony about them," Rose recalled fondly. "It was before Mum and Dad died, before… well it was when I was trapped in that parallel world. Tony was fascinated, he made me draw them and help him make models. When we told Rory, he immediately started trying to build a defence system against them. The Doctor caught him setting up a laser security grid in the back garden."

The three ladies laughed loudly and earned a glare from Sabrina. She and Jenny were both reading in the corner. Even after growing up in this boisterous family Sabrina still hated to be interrupted while reading. Jenny couldn't care less and hadn't even bothered to look up.

"How old was he?" Trisha asked, observing that Tony and Rory were playing chess near the fireplace.

"Four, I think." Rose wrinkled her nose. "Probably not the best time to tell children about them or any other monster we've encountered. We know that now. It's best if we don't make them grow up too fast."

Amy set her teacup down and had that look in her eyes that Rose knew meant that Amy was thinking of Melody. Gently, Rose laid her hand on her daughter's and squeezed. It had all happened over two years ago now but the pain of the loss of Melody's childhood still resonated through the family. No one felt that pain more than Amy, Rory and Melody herself.

"You alright, sweetheart?" Rose asked quietly.

Pulling her hand back, Amy wiped away a tear that had slipped down her cheek. "'M fine Mum. It's just the pregnancy, extra hormones and what not. You should know."

The teacup almost slipped from Rose's hand. "What?" They hadn't told anyone yet, much to the Doctor's chagrin. But Rose associated telling people that she was pregnant with tragedy, since her parents had died the same day she broke the news. How did Amy know? Who else knew? Had the Doctor told them?

Amy's eyes narrowed. "I meant Rory. You gestated a part Gallifreyian long before I did. So I figured that you'd understand the weird alien hormone thing."

"Right, yeah, of course," Rose replied quickly. She could tell that both Amy and Trisha were about to press her to see if anything was wrong. Secrets weren't something that they kept in this family but this was something that she just wasn't ready to tell yet. Luckily, the Doctor chose that moment to walk over carrying two sleeping children.

"I think it's time for these little monsters to go to bed," he whispered with a jovial smile. Trisha took Jamie and Tony bounded over and relieved his dad of EJ.

"We'll tell them about the baby when you're ready," the Doctor assured her in her mind. "However long that takes. I love you. They love you."

Rose smiled and sent her love for him back through their bond. Soon enough they would tell them and every last one would be excited for the newest Tyler on the way. But for now, she would keep their growing child between her and her husband.