Hey, if anyone ever asks, can I use Mrs. John Smith? You've used that one often enough." He chuckled, "Yes, if you like. It's better than some I have used in jest." He hesitated to ask her, but wanted to know. "You haven't called me Doctor since the wedding. Why not?"

Chapter 19 Time Enough

Rose thought for a moment trying to find the right words. She knew the name Doctor was so important to him, but it just didn't fit anymore. "I was wondering when you would say something." She sighed, "I just can't call you Doctor anymore. We've seen each other naked, and it's just too… clinical. If I used it, it would make me feel like I'm in for my annual checkup.

I like calling you Husband. It's a name for you that no one else can use. Do you mind terribly?" He smiled and shook his head. "No, I don't mind if you call me Husband. It has just as much pride for me now as Doctor ever did. I love you, and you can call me whatever pleases you." Rose kissed him and snuggled in.

She thought for a moment and said quietly, "The Time Lords are gone, the wraiths are gone, there has been no Gallifrey to stand in for 300 years. Why keep up the pretense?" He smiled and looked down at the floor to think and then up at her, "I have been The Doctor for 800 years. It is my name now. It's who I am. Also, my real name would highlight my human half to everyone. That could make me vulnerable, and certainly put the Earth in jeopardy. No, I will remain The Doctor to others until the end."

They sat on the couch, silent. Just staring into the fire thinking. He of his past, and she of their future. It was going to be a quiet evening.

Well, until the baby kicked.

Rose grabbed his arm and held her stomach. Her eyes growing large. "I think the baby just kicked," she said excitedly. It happened again and she jumped slightly in her seat. He looked down in wonder. She took his hand and placed it in the right spot. He wasn't disappointed, as he felt the baby's movement.

He looked up at Rose, his eyes like saucers, grinning from ear to ear. "A baby, we're having a baby." His statement of the obvious was for his benefit. The meaning of it all just sinking in. He held her face in his hands and kissed her gently. "I love you wife." She smiled and said, "Merry Christmas husband. How do you like your gift?"

The months dragged on for Rose. She experienced all the usual problems with carrying a child, human or alien. The morning sickness stopped, the back aches, swollen feet and strange cravings began. They went for a walk when the weather permitted. He devised a daily nutritional supplement for her to drink, blueberry of course, and he and the Tardis kept a close eye on her progress. In the evenings they would listen to music of all kinds from Mozart to the Beatles to this weird band from Alpha Centauri that he loved.

The baby had grown fast and by early April, Rose had swelled to a beach ball. She looked at herself in the mirror as she dressed. Double chin, she hadn't seen her toes in weeks, she walked like a penguin, and her petite jeans were a thing of the past, probably forever. She sighed as she remembered the sleek, sexy figure she had before getting pregnant.

Rose began to get depressed, she couldn't tempt an elephant with this body, nevermind out run a Dahlek. All they would have to do to find her now would be to look for the nearest bathroom. She sighed heavily. Looking up from the mirror she saw the Time Lord standing in the doorway. He was smiling softly at her.

"What?" Rose said rather harshly. "If you've come to feed me peanuts with the rest of the elephants, you can tell I've had my fill." She began to cry. "I'm not sexy anymore! You'll never want me after this." He still just stood there smiling. "What?" Rose demanded.

"You are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. Every day you grow more lovely and I am the luckiest man in the universe." Rose wouldn't have believed him except he had touched her mind with those thoughts. She knew he believed it, but she needed more, "Really? Look at how big I am. You think I'm beautiful?" The Time Lord's smile never wavered. His eyes were locked onto hers. "You know it's true."

He came to her and held her close, putting his hand on the baby. "You are more beautiful to me this minute, than the day I met you. And you will be even more tomorrow, and next week and the next decade, and the next hundred years.

Your beauty to me, comes from your heart and the love we share. It will grow richer and fuller and stronger everyday until the end of time."

He cupped her cheek and kissed her with such passion it made her swoon. Looking up she saw fire in his eyes, "And, Yes, I will want you after this. More than you can know." He traced the line of her jaw with his fingertips, turned and left her alone in the room. She looked in the mirror at the surprised expression on her face. "Ok then," and burst out laughing.

One night at dinner she heard sounds she couldn't quite understand. Like the babble a child makes when trying to learn speech. "Did you hear that?" "Hear what?" He was immediately attentive. "I could have sworn I heard… No, it can't be." Then Rose heard it again. She looked down at her stomach. "It sounds like she's trying to talk! How can she be talking, she's still inside?"

He smiled, "My people are born knowing how to speak, count, read, even sing. You're not really hearing sounds, it's in your head. She has developed telepathy. I'm afraid it's going to be a bit noisy from now on for you. You will hear her cry when she's angry and her first words."

He put a hand on her belly and closed his eyes. "Hello my little one. Can you say daddy?" Rose watched the conversation in disbelief, but heard the child respond. Something like cooing and undefined babble. Rose had to try. "Momma. Can you say momma?" More babble and a raspberry. Rose looked up at him shaking her head. "I can't believe it."

Rose tried all the next day to get her to speak words, then a voice emerged. "Mummma, mummma." "Yes, momma." Rose was delighted, "She has learned so much since yesterday. At this rate we will be having a conversation next week."

"We'll need to start her education when she can make a full sentence." He was so proud. "We better get a name ready for her. Do you have anything in mind?"

"I don't know. How about Alice? I've been living in wonderland the past three years. Seems to fit. Mum's middle name is Evelyn. Alice Evelyn Smith" What do you think?" He smiled "I like it. Maybe we should ask her." Rose looked down and whispered, "Alice. Alice Evelyn." She heard the baby giggle. "I think she likes it!

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