"Owen. Owen wake up," said Jack shaking the man senselessly.

Owen shot up taking in his surroundings. He was lying on an unfamiliar couch in an unfamiliar place.

"What happened?" he asked Jack.

It was just a nightmare, he kept telling himself, just a dream.

"You fainted just when you found out you were a dad," said Jack.

Owen fell against the couch again. So, it wasn't a dream. The name Erika Lelly came to mind as he tried to focus. He remembered a hot night in the back of a van with the one of the most popular girls in school. She had flaming red hair, gorgeous brown eyes and a body that the boys at school worshipped. She was very sweet and like all red heads, hot tempered and easily angered, but feisty and exciting nonetheless. They had spent graduation night together. They were best friends at a time and she was leaving the next day for Wales. Her accent had changed since the last he saw her that much he knew.

"I had a son," whispered Owen still quite shocked at the news.

"How's he doing?" asked Gwen coming over to Jack.

"He's coming back to us, but he's still in shock," said Jack.

"Could you blame him?"

"Alright if you two are going to talk about me, at least have the decency to do so without my hearing," said Owen putting a hand to his head where he could feel another headache coming on. Today was not a good day for Owen Harper.

"Relax, we're done," said Jack handing him some water as Owen tried to sit up.

"Where is she? Where is he?"

"She, if you're referring to Ms. Lelly, is upstairs with her son, Gabe," Gwen answered.

"Gabe?"

"That's his name," said Gwen softly.

"Can I see him," he asked suddenly and unexpectedly.

Gwen and Jack looked at each other. It was not only the fact that this child had something to do with the friendly alien monsters, but it was also the fact that this child was without a father for almost twelve years and seeing him now could bring about emotional conflicts. Owen knew this too, but nonetheless, he just wanted to catch a glimpse of this boy's face. This boy who was his son. The shock still hitting home.

Gwen went to speak again when Erika interrupted wearing a shirt and trousers rather than the robe she had on before.

"You alright?" she asked Owen.

"Fine," he muttered.

"Look, I'm sorry. I just assumed you knew when I saw you at the door and it made me angry that after so long you decided to finally see him."

"Why would you assume I knew?" he asked hurt in his voice.

"Your parents. I couldn't get in touch with you and they told me they would tell you the news soon enough and I never heard from you again. I just assumed you didn't want him."

"Want him? If I knew I'd have been there the day he was born."

Owen put his hand over his mouth. Just how much had he missed and did the boy hate him for it. He would if his father had abandoned him for eleven years. The boy must've been all grown up and the last thing he would want was a drunken father who hunted aliens as a job.

"We're here about your son, believe it or not Ms. Lelly, but not because Owen is a father. Strange 'beings' have been appearing about Cardiff and your son was there with them in all our photographs. We think he may know something about them," said Jack.

"What do you mean 'strange being'."

"Alien like life forms," stated Gwen plainly, "Do you mind if we have a chat with your son?"

"You two?"

They nodded their heads. Ms.Lelly tried to grasp the concept of alien like life forms, but other things were on her mind not to care as much.

"Fine, fine. I need to talk with Owen anyways. You know personal stuff and such," said Erika.

"Of course," Jack said looking at Owen who looked as though the rift had splinted across time all over again.

Gwen and Jack headed towards the boy's room when she grabbed his arm stopping him just outside the door.

"Jack, what are we going to do?" she whispered.

He looked at her knowingly trying to ignore the tingling sensation he felt from her hand on his arm. Now was not the time to indulge in pleasure at her touch. It was a serious matter. If this boy had something to do with the monsters appearing around Cardiff then how would Owen take it.

"I don't know, but we'll think of something. We always do."

"Jack, its Owen's son."

"I know," he whispered back thinking for a moment.

She frowned at the ground. Jack took her by the shoulders and grinned at her.

"Hey, have I ever let you down?"

She grinned back and they continued for Gabe's room. She knocked, but received no answer. The door was locked.

"Hello? Hello Gabe my name is Gwen Cooper. You have no reason to be frightened, but can you please open the door?" she asked.

They waited for a moment and still received no answer.

"Just when I thought today was going to be a good day," said Jack kicking the door down.

They entered with their guns raised and looked around the room. It was fairly clean save for a few clothing items thrown about the floor. There was a breeze coming from an open window and no one in sight. Gwen looked out the window noting a fence by it that was easily climbable.

"Jack, he's gone. Climbed out the window."

"We must have frightened him off," Jack stated turning to walk back in the hallway. He pressed a few buttons on his watch as Gwen followed behind.

"This way," he suddenly said running out the door unexpectedly passing Owen and Erika.

Gwen ran keeping pace with him. They ran down three blocks before they could see it. A little boy with shaggy black hair and a discontent expression much like his father's sitting in the park as three clown aliens entertained him.

"Gabe? Gabe Lelly?" came Gwen's soft tender voice.

The boy stood up immediately and looked at the couple. His face was pale with fright.

"We're not here to hurt you-"

"-look I don't know how and I don't have it anymore anyways," the boy interrupted.

"What do you mean 'don't have it anymore'?" Gwen asked.

"The thing that makes pictures come to life. I don't have it and I'm not doing this anymore. These are my characters, but the other mean ones belong to someone else."

"Who?"Jack asked.

The boy looked at his feet and remained quiet. Jack was growing agitated. He knelt down by the boy and shook his shoulders lightly.

"Who? We need to know."

"He'll kill me if I tell. He said he would."

"We have to know."

"I can't."

"Yes, you can," he yelled.

"Jack," Gwen intervened moving Jack away from the little boy. Tears were now forming in Gabe's eyes, "Jack that is not how you get answers especially from a child who doesn't understand the situation."

"Gwen thousands of lives could be in danger because of him. We need a name."

"I understand, but you don't go around scaring little boys to get them."

They were face to face, staring at each other fighting an unspoken battle. He just wanted to grab her and pull her to him at this instant. The passion in her eyes was driving him mad with both love and determination to hold his ground in this argument, but as the staring continued he had found out that he was losing terribly.

"I'll talk to him," she finally said.

Jack went to protest, but stopped at the sight before him. Gwen knelt down next to Gabe pulling out a tissue she wiped his eyes and spoke comforting words. She smiled at him and joked about the big bad Jack.

"What you have to understand sweetheart is that it's important for us to find out who has the object otherwise a lot of people could die."

"He'll kill me if I tell. He said he would," he had begun to raise his voice but Gwen calmed him before speaking again

"I know, but it's important that we know and we, Jack, I and Owen can protect you from anyone or anything that tries to hurt you."

"Oh, you mean my apparent reappearing father!"

"Yes, that would be Owen," she said.

"Why would he care after all this time? I'm nothing to him."

"No who told you that bull- I mean rubbish," she said quickly.

"No one, but it's the truth," he protested.

"Owen didn't know sweetheart and if he would have been there, but he didn't."

Gabe tried to consider all of this and Gwen gave him a reassuring smile.

"How about we take you back to your house and you and your-Owen could get to know each other over a cuppa cocoa. I'm sure Owen is anxious to meet you officially."

"I don't think he does."

"Gabe, I know he does. And maybe if you get to know us and see that we're not as crazy as we look and Jack over there is actually sweet maybe you can tell us what's going on. We really do need answers Gabe. It's urgent."

Gabe held out his pinky and Gwen looked at him confused.

"Pinky swear that you're not lying."

Gwen grinned and hooked her pinky in his.

"I pinky swear," she said.

Gwen then took his hand and led him down the street with

Jack following behind amazed at what she had just accomplished, but they still had no answers, only more questions and confusion. It didn't take long for Erika to go into hysterics after seeing the two run out and her little boy missing. As soon as she saw them she hugged Gabe so tight that he was gasping for air.

"Don't you ever do that again? Do you understand?",she scolded.

Jack and Gwen entered the house and found Owen sitting staring at the floor

"Owen is he really-"Gwen started but was interrupted by his reply.

"-yeah. He's really mine. I don't need a blood test to prove it either."

"What are you going to do?" she asked.

"He probably hates me," he said ignoring her question.

"After Gwen's little talk, he might be more open, but the question Owen is whether you're open to it. Owen, do you want to know your son?" Jack asked very seriously.

Owen continued to stare at the floor taking in everything and nothing.

"Yes," he said finally," More than anything…"