Cassie shook her head. 'You really think he's going to say yes?'

Jack nodded. 'I've got it all planned out, if you don't mind having Gareth for the weekend.'

She snorted. 'It's not me you have to convince.'

Carys joined the conversation. 'What's Jack up to this time?'

'He's going to take Ianto away for the weekend.'

Jack watched the two young women exchange a look as they burst into laughter. He stood there, arms folded while he waited for them to stop.

Carys groaned. 'Oh no, please say you aren't going camping again.' Dissolving into more laughter.

'He still goes on about the last trip you took him on.' Cassie tried to catch her breath.

'That was three years ago.' Jack knew he was sounding exasperated but he couldn't help it, their constant laughter was getting to him.

'Only three?'

Jack sighed softly as he looked from Cassie to Carys. Sometimes he regretted these two women had ever became such close friends, they seemed to have this silent language they could speak between them. Secret women's words where entire sentences were exchanged in a single look. 'No camping this time.' His voice quiet. 'I learnt that lesson already.' Ianto had him on decaf for over a week.

Cassie took a few breaths to calm down from the laughter. 'So what is the plan this time then?'

'The South of France.'

'Wilson took me there when he proposed.'

'I keep telling Andy we need a break.' Rubbing her belly. 'Before this one pops into the world would be nice. The South of France always looks so lovely. What are the details then?'

'I found a lovely little hotel online, it's on the coast.'

'Sounds okay so far.'

'We fly to Marseille and pick up a rental car, I even arranged a private vineyard tour and tasting.'

'What about room service?' Cassie looked at Carys. 'He is still obsessed with room service, you get to hang out in your office, I'm on the counter with him.' She looked at Jack. 'I swear, I love the guy, you know that, but if this weekend doesn't work out like you planned, I'm never going to hear the end of it.'

Jack rolled his eyes. 'You think I'd make that mistake a second time?'

'I didn't think you'd make it the first time.'

'Cassie I assure you, everything will be perfect.'

'Don't say it Jack.' She warned.

'I've got it all covered.'

'Ah ha.'

'You people forget, I used to run a secret organisation.'

'What, you did the paperwork and everything?'

'Fine, so I had help with some of the details. But I run a very successful business now.'

Carys nodded, a smile in her eyes. 'Well one of us does.' She patted him on the arm. 'I should get back to that paperwork.'

'I'm starting to see a pattern.' Cassie grinned.

'Oh shut up, it's going to be romantic and lovely and perfect.' He stalked off leaving the two women giggling in his wake.

Cassie shook her head as she made coffee. 'Why do I get the feeling he has this about as well covered as an Essex girl's bikini.'

Carys shrugged. 'Because it's Jack.' She took the coffee Cassie handed to her. 'I best check on his empire, least he try to run things while no one's looking.'

Ianto walked though door and frowned as he saw two suitcases at the foot of the stairs, along with his son's backpack. 'Jack?'

'Oh, there you are, have a good day?'

'What's going on?'

'I thought we could get away for a few days.'

'I'm not going camping.'

'Yeah, I sort of worked that one out, after last time.'

'What are you up to?'

'Cassie will take Gareth and I thought we could head to the South of France.'

'France?' Ianto stood there, arms folded, not sounding convinced.

'I've got it all worked out.'

'I've heard that before.'

'We fly into Marsielle and pick up a car and drive up the coast to a lovely little family run hotel. I've booked us a suite and they have a fantastic view of the ocean.'

'Room service?'

'Of course.' Kissing Ianto as he nodded.

'Cell phone reception?'

'Yes.' He handed Ianto their son's bag. 'Gareth's packed, Cassie has all the numbers and it's all sorted.' Jack looked around and grinned when he saw his son looked at them from the top of the stairs. 'Come on you.'

Gareth grinned as he bounded down the stairs and leapt into Ianto's arms. 'Hi tad.'

'Hello, did you have fun today visiting the school with your dad?'

Serious blue eyes nodded. 'I'm looking forward to seeing Mitch again, I've missed him and Sally.'

Ianto nodded understandingly, he knew their son had been pained by the absence of his friends from the preschool he attended. 'And are you looking forward to staying with Andy and Cassie and Alwyn?'

'Yep, although Alwyn is still a bit of a baby.'

Ianto took the backpack Jack handed him and followed his husband, he still wasn't convinced as he spoke softly with his son.

Andy took the bag from Ianto. 'Hi ya Jack, Ianto.'

'You sure you will be okay with him?'

Cassie laughed softly. 'Relax Ianto, we will be fine, and it's not like we haven't hung out with him before.'

'Yeah, and it will be good practice for when our little guy joins the team.'

Cassie rubbed her belly again. 'Girl.'

Jack laughed. 'I said the same thing with Gareth.' Smiling as his eyes followed Cassie's hand. 'Six months?'

She nodded. 'I know I'm looking forward to meeting her.'

'Him.' Andy cut in as he pulled Gareth into his arms. 'Opfh, what are they feeding you? You get bigger all the time.'

'It's cos I eat my greens, my nan says they'll make me tall like tad.' He whispered loudly in Andy's ear. 'I don't like the sprouts though.'

'Me either.' Andy winked. 'So you going to have fun hanging out with us?'

'Ah ha, dad and tad are going on holiday and next week I'm this many.' Holding his hand up. 'I'll be five and go to school and everything.'

'I'm sure a smart guy like you will have loads of fun at school.'

Gareth nodded seriously. 'Ah ha, I can even write my name.'

Andy grinned. 'Come on then, lets get you settled and see if there's anything in the tin for us.'

Cassie smiled at Jack and Ianto as Andy took Gareth upstairs. 'So, you two, planning on adding to the family while you're away?'

'What?'

'No.'

'Ah ha.' Cassie had seen the look in Jack's eyes as she'd rubbed her pregnant belly, it was a kind of longing she'd seen reflected in her own. Now both she and Tosh were pregnant with their second child each, Jack was starting to look, wistful. She waved the two men goodbye and headed back upstairs to see what mischief Andy and Gareth were into.

Jack relaxed as they sipped their drinks on the plane. They had made good time and the plane had taken off on schedule, everything was going according to plan and it was perfect. The slight possibility of turbulence from a storm the pilot was hoping to skirt was the only drama they were facing. Even a bumpy landing did nothing to dull Jack's enthusiasm for the weekend he had planned.

Bags collected they approached the car rental counter and Jack flashed his standard Captain Jack smile at the young woman muttering at her computer in French that made Ianto blush.

She looked up and tried to smile. 'Bonjour.'

'Yes, hello, I'm Captain Jack Harkness, I have a car booked for the weekend.'

She shrugged in that way only the French can as she indicated her computer. 'I am sure you do but I can not access the computer to check.'

'But you must have cars.'

'Oui, we are a car rental agency, of course we have cars.'

'Then I'm sure we can work something out.'

'Unless you have a computer technician in your matching luggage, I do not see how we can do that.'

'Isn't there someone you can call?'

'To check your luggage?'

Jack didn't want to look at Ianto, he could feel the Welshman's eyes rolling behind him. 'I would like to hire a car.'

She shrugged. 'And I would like to marry Johnny Depp but I am quite certain he is not in your luggage either. Perhaps you could try the next counter.'

Jack looked at the sign she was pointing to and tried to think happy thoughts. 'Budget rental cars?'

She nodded. 'Oui.' And put the closed sign up on her counter.

Jack sighed softly and wheeled his bag to the next counter.

'Bonjour.'

Jack nodded at the young man. 'Is your computer working?'

'Oui, of course.'

'Fantastic, I need to hire a car.'

'I shall check to see what we have available.'

Jack watched as fingers flew across the keyboard and the friendly face looked up from the glow of the monitor.

'I have a Renult I can let you have.'

Jack stared at him. 'A what?'

'Renult, they are an excellent car.'

'Says who? Four out of five Russians?'

The man's lower lip began to wobble. 'Do you want the car?'

Jack sighed as he pulled his wallet out and reached for his credit card. 'It will do.'

Walking around the car Jack tried not to make eye contact with Ianto. He couldn't survive any disappointment, it just wasn't in the plan. Bags stowed Jack checked his directions before starting the engine. He pulled out of the parking lot and nosed the car into traffic. They weren't too far behind the plan, there was time to catch up. Dark clouds rolling in were ominous but able to be discounted. Until fat drops of rain pouted the car and swerving to miss branches thrown at them the car wobbled and pulled to a dramatic stop.

Jack took a deep breath and looked to Ianto. 'Flat tyre.'

'Yep.'

'We need to change it.'

'Ah ha.'

'Don't suppose your roadside auto assist insurance covers France?'

'Nope.'

'I guess one of us is going to get wet.'

Ianto nodded. 'Looks like you will. I suppose I could hold the umbrella for you.'

'It's not the umbrella I'd like you to hold.' Jack muttered.

'You did pack an umbrella didn't you?'

Jack shook his head. 'Holiday is in the south of France, not England or Wales, didn't think I'd need one.'

'Right. And I suppose the spare tyre is under our luggage.'

'Of course.'

Ianto sighed as he reached for his cell phone. 'Best we call the hotel and let them know we will be late checking in.'

Jack pulled his own phone out for the number and frowned.

Ianto shook his head. 'Phone flat?'

Jack nodded. 'You?'

Checking the bars Ianto sighed. 'Yep, but you brought our chargers.' He watched as Jack's eyes darkened.

'I might have forgotten to pack them.' Angry at himself for forgetting something so simple.

'Hmm.' Ianto nodded. 'Best we get this tyre changed and hope they hold the
reservation then.'

Jack knew his voice was soft, barely audible in the rain hitting the car. 'Don't even joke about that.'