Ok, so here's my first Torchwood fic. I'm quite glad to get round to this, seeing as I mostly write Primeval stuff. I must say, it was my friend Jo who I met on holiday who gave me the idea to write one, seeing as she watches TW and is going to check out my FF account. Well, this is for you Jo!

Ok, so this is a bit out of sync with the series. Owen, Tosh and Ianto are still alive, but Gwen has already had Anwen. Miracle Day or Children of Earth have not happened apart from Gwen's pregnancy.

Torchwood - Why Did I Suggest This?

Ianto was fed up. No, he wasn't fed up, he was bored. Bored. That was not a word he used often. Normally he found something to do, whether it was something interesting with Jack, inventing new coffee blends, sorting his sock drawer (no, not really) or generally organising everyone else's mess. Tosh was alright though. She actually knew the meaning of the word tidy.

Owen was a different matter. Yes, luckily he kept the medical room clean and hygienic (Ianto shuddered at the thought of Jack being in charge of anything that needed to be kept sterile) but if you wanted to find anything, you'd need to think like Owen. That thought also made Ianto very uncomfortable. Owen was currently clattering around downstairs, poking about inside the stomach of a half-fish-half-squirrel creature they had found dead the other day. Ianto didn't envy him. He didn't have the strongest stomach. That time in the Brecon Beacons hadn't helped that either. He swallowed quickly, straightened his tie and thought about Gwen's desk. She was not the tidiest of people either. It was a jumble of old newspapers, paperclips, elastic bands, plastic folders with reports in, photos of Rhys and Anwen. She was the cutest baby Ianto had ever seen, even though she is just a baby after all. He liked them though, but he suspected that would change if one was ever sick on one of his suits. Gwen also had a habit of not returning her mugs after using them, so there was usually a nice collection of dirty ones if ever Ianto fancied doing some washing up.

Jack's office was something else entirely. His filing system was a pile of paper under his desk. Nothing more advanced than that. Not that Ianto didn't enjoy going in there, of course.

But no, Ianto didn't want to sort anything out. He wanted a break! Suddenly, an idea popped into his head. He was surprised by it, but he pulled a little notepad and matching pen out from his pocket and began to write his plans in shorthand. That way, if ever anybody felt like reading it, the secret would be safe. Maybe he should start writing his diary in shorthand too.

….

Gwen was asleep. Emphasis on WAS. Now she was rolling over to reach for her phone which was buzzing non-stop.

"What?" she said groggily as she answered. "Ianto, I was asleep, do you have any idea what time it is?"

Rhys opened his eyes as he heard a quiet voice from the phone, clearly identifiable as Ianto's eye-rolling tone, even at the barely audible volume. "What's he want now Gwen?"

"What?" Gwen exclaimed. "Eleven?" She shot upright and looked for the clock. It was under the bed. "Rhys did you knock the alarm clock off again?" She asked suspiciously

"Huh, what, I don't know!" he was still half asleep. He wasn't used to waking up instantly as Gwen now was. "Just go back to sleep love"

"It's eleven am you daft idiot! I was supposed to be in work three hours ago! It's alright for you, sleepy head, man-who-doesn't-work at the weekend!"

But Rhys was already asleep again.

She rolled her eyes, muttered a quick apology to Ianto down the phone and dragged herself out of bed.

"And where have you been?" Jack asked, raising an eyebrow, clearly trying to sound like a teacher, but not pulling it off very well due to the fact he was trying not to laugh.

Gwen sighed. "I am so sorry Jack! The alarm clock broke again and I slept in, and me and Rhys went out for an Indian last night and then…"

Jack gave up and laughed "It's alright; you need a break once in a while. Where's Anwen then if you've been out gallivanting?"

"She's at my mum's. She'll probably be wearing that horrible pink dress again. Still, she and Dad love her to bits."

Ianto coughed quietly. "Gwen, can I have a word?"

"The BEACH?" Gwen practically screamed.

"SHUSH!" Ianto had to put his hand over her mouth. "Look, it's supposed to be a surprise! I only told you so you could bring Rhys and Anwen!"

Gwen pulled away from his hand. "Yeah, sorry, just a bit shocked that's all. Ianto Jones, planning a team trip to the beach? Who would have thought it? Won't you get sand on your suit?"

"I won't be sitting on any actual sand. I'll bring a deckchair."

Gwen laughed "You are NOT wearing your suit to the beach tomorrow."

"Well of course not. But I'm still bringing my deckchair"

….

The next day Jack was sitting in his office staring at the wall. He was bored. He just wished something would happen. Not anything in the 'death and destruction' category, but a friendly visit from another world or even a Weevil hunt. As if his mind had just been read, Ianto came into the office with a smile on his face. "Get your coat Harkness, you've pulled."

"Mr Jones, what are you talking about?"

"We're going somewhere. All of us. Go and get in the SUV. More information later" Ianto winked and walked out the room, a grin on his face. Jack would not be able to resist a mystery tour, he was sure of that.

Owen groaned. What on Earth was in this alien's stomach? It seemed like a rubber tyre! All of a sudden Ianto appeared behind him and said "Boo" He jumped, blood flying onto his white scrubs and onto his face.

"What the bloody hell are youDOING Ianto?" he asked angrily, wiping alien innards off his eyebrow, feeling it get smeared over his forehead.

"Well I am here to inform you that we are all going somewhere. And it's a surprise."

"I'm not in the mood for a surprise. I'm busy." Owen said grumpily.

"It's not optional."

"Fine, whatever you say."

"You might want to have a wash first" Ianto added as he dodged a flying bit of red gunk. He popped his head back around the corner and said "Missed me!" Owen lobbed another bit of alien fish-squirrel at him, again missing. Ianto didn't feel quite himself, but he was oddly ok with that. He was having fun!

As Owen scrubbed his face and changed his clothes, Gwen approached Toshiko who was studying the computer screen very seriously, as usual. She noticed Gwen waiting to talk to her and saved her work. "Are you ok Gwen? You look a little worried."

"Worried? No! I just wanted to say… we're going somewhere today!"

"Where?" Tosh asked warily. She remembered the last time they had gone on a trip together. It ended up with her and Ianto almost getting butchered by a family of mentalists.

"It's a surprise." Gwen noticed the apprehensive look on her friend's face. "No, it's all good, no alien chasing, no mystery investigating; we're off duty for the day, so to speak."

Tosh brightened. "Ok! I'm in!" She smiled. She hoped she would be sitting next to Owen in the SUV.

…..

"Ready to go?" Ianto asked everyone, turning around in the driving seat, Jack sitting next to him. Gwen grinned, Tosh nodded, and Owen stared irritably out of the window. Tosh glanced over at Owen, and Gwen caught Ianto's eye. They both knew Owen liked sitting next to the window, so Gwen sat next to the other one, putting Tosh in the middle. Tosh certainly wouldn't complain, they both highly suspected she was in love with Owen. Owen was oblivious, as usual. This was going to be an interesting journey.

….

"Are we there yet?" Jack whined. Everyone stared at him. "What? Somebody had to say it!"

"And it was you, oh wise leader. Surprise surprise!"

"Careful Owen, you're starting to sound like Cilla Black." Ianto said, completely deadpan. Owen sat back in his seat and said something to Tosh, who tutted and rolled her eyes but smiled anyway.

Gwen thought Ianto had got it right. The beach looked like a great one when she looked at it on the internet. Sure, it was quite far away, but Ianto had apparently been there as a kid or something. Rhys and Anwen were coming as well, but in their car. The others didn't know they were coming, so it would have been a bit suspicious for her to not come in the SUV. Plus Owen would probably have said something like 'If Gwen doesn't have to go then neither do I!'. He was cheering up a bit though, it seemed like it anyway. Gwen hoped he wasn't going to be miserable all day. She settled back in her seat and imagined her beautiful daughter having her first ice cream on the beach.

To be continued…

I hope you liked it so far! And please click that little button down there and review, make my day and make this time writing worth it!

Ratty xxxxxx