"Do you have everything? Clothes, books, underthings, the photos I gave you?"

"Yes, mum."

"What about your mobile?"

"Right here in my pocket, mum."

**************

As the trees and houses whirled by, Sarah Jane kept talking. She had been going on non-stop about 'things to remember,' like how to use the corner laundry — separating out whites from colors — and how to pick out ripe produce at the market. She hadn't stopped once since they had left the house. Luke tried to listen to these life lessons, knowing they would come in handy soon, but Clyde kept distracting him in the back seat with his wicked hands. They were roaming up under the back of his t-shirt to that ticklish spot in the small of his back - the one they discovered a few years ago. Luckily, Sarah Jane wasn't paying attention to her rear view mirror; she was too busy checking off her mental list of last minute parenting items.

"So I think that is all I wanted to tell you. Oh, but what about house cleaning. I know Ianto is such a perfectionist. You must be very careful to keep everything tidy. It is so nice of him to loan out his spare room to you. I know I feel much better with you staying somewhere safe — and with such a nice young man like Ianto. Even though I know you won't be there much — you will be working all the time. That Captain Harkness, from what it seems, doesn't like for his staff to have much of a personal life. But you tell him when it gets to be too much. Don't back down. Everyone needs a vacation every now and again. Seriously, Luke. Let me know if he is too rough on you and working you to the bone. I won't hesitate in driving back over here if he so much as--"

"Really, Sarah Jane," Clyde interjected, "you've been over this ten times already. I have heard you give this same speech to Jack three times, and warn Ianto, Gwen, and Mickey about how you 'are going to drive back over here.' I think Luke — and everyone else — gets it."

Luke suppressed a little giggle, not sure if it was seeing his mum get a bit embarrassed, having his boyfriend be responsible, or the fingers that were trailing along the inside of his right thigh.

"I know you are both practically grown now. But I just don't understand why you didn't choose to go to University like Maria, Luke." Sarah Jane had watched as they all left the Jackson home last weekend — Clyde, Luke, Chrissy, Alan, and Maria — to move Maria into her new place at Uni. Her heart ached a little watching them all pull out of the drive. She kept telling herself it was because Luke had decided against attending along side her. He was opting for something 'more exciting,' as he put it.

"Mum, you know it wouldn't do me any good. I already know more than everyone there. I want to go out and see the world. I want to have adventures, learn about alien technology," Luke explained once more. He glanced over to see Clyde looking out the window now. When Luke had told him about Captain Jack's job offer, Clyde hadn't spoken to him for a week. He wouldn't even respond to his text messages. But eventually he came around.

Clyde really did understand why Luke wanted to do this. And he couldn't tell him no. He just hoped with all of his heart that it wouldn't change how Luke felt about him. He didn't think it would, but there was this little piece of him that couldn't help but wonder if he could compete with the life Cardiff and Torchwood offered.

Luke squeezed Clyde's hand, bringing him back to the present. Clyde saw the worry now in Luke's eyes and squeezed back with a genuine smile. That was all it took for them.

**************

About 30 minutes later, they were pulled up into the hidden drive near Millenium Centre along side several black SUVs. Sarah Jane hesitated in the driver's seat as Luke and Clyde jumped out. They unloaded Luke's two bags of belongings and walked briskly towards the visitor's entrance when suddenly Luke stopped. He dropped his bag and went running back to the car.

"Mum. Really. You know I love you. But I have to do this," he said to Sarah Jane, who was still sitting in the car.

"I know, Luke. It is just hard. But I am coming."
They made their way to back to Clyde, who looked rather impatient. "Let's go! I want to hang out a bit before we head back home," he urged.

All smiling, each hiding their own fears of loss, anxiety, and sadness, the three of them made their way to the entrance and pushed through the door.

To be continued . . . .