AN: In this Alice is Jack's big sister. Gray's name is Ethan in this because of the actor that played him on the serial. I think Gray would not be such a great name for a person this century. Then again, maybe?

19th December 2006 7.45 PM

Jack finished up his last bit of Christmas shopping. He wanted to get it done early so he could avoid the frantic last minute rush. That and he really thought he had better things to do than sporting all over to town to find presents. Besides, his family would get a kick out of their gifts coming from London. He was most pleased with the model Spitfire he bought his nephew Steven. The kid loved planes and it pleased him. Jack was hoping one day he would become a pilot or an engineer designing them like his old Uncle Jack. He got Alice a new digital camera. She had been complaining about her old one finally giving out. For Ethan or Gray, he never got the nick name, he picked out a top-of-the-line shave kit. It came with a nice black leather carrying case. He really didn't understand his brother to get him anything better. He was this dark figure of angst and anger. They never really got along anywawys, the 20 year age difference didn't really help. One time, one fuckin' time he lost track of him on a beach in the Gower Peninsular and the 5 year old Ethan was alone for an hour. Really, the boy should get over it already. He had felt bad for the traumatising the young boy but still. Then most importantly be bought for his Mam a digital picture frame to display several photos of the family he had put onto a memory card.

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

His last night in London shouldn't be wasted by turning in early, he thought. He ought to take avantage of this wonderful chance to spend a night away from the incessant chatter of Gwen and her not so subtle attempt to hint at marriage. He was ready to go out and enjoy himself for the first time in years alone. A quick caffine break would do just the trick to keep him going a while longer. Dropping his purchases off in his black Range Rover, he walked across the road to a small little coffee shop. It was perhaps the name that caught his attention directing him there instead of the Starbucks next to the tube station. "Happenstance Cafe" did have a nice ring to it.

He entered the quaint little corner shop into a brightly lit room with wood panals. It was filled with the most amazing smells of baked pasteries and roasting coffee beans. Jack unbuttoned his coat to allow for breathing room. Behind the counter, the pretty ginger teen was reading the latest copy of the Sun, clearly not interested in the material. He cleared his throat as he approached. She started. Looking at Jack, she smiled brightly. She was very polite as he struggled to order a regular cup of coffee: black to go. He really wasn't one for anything special. What happened to coffee flavoured coffee? After paying for it, she quickly fixed up the cup, topping it off with a lid. He instantly brought it to his face to take in the pleasant aroma. He'd wait until it cooled down to taste it.

As he turned to head out the door, he collided into a swiftly moving mass. Instinctively, he reached out to steady the person as he toppled back forgetting the coffee as it dropped out of his hand spilling down the front of his shirt. He let out an embarassing yelp as the liquid cooled.

"I'm so sorry sir," a familiar Welsh accent apoligised as a hand produced a flannel dabbing ineffectively at his ruined shirt.

"It's alright." He sighed stilling the frantic hands with his own. The soft blue eyes met his own blue-grey ones.

"You." The Welshman replied quietly. The moment was broken by a loud laugh from somewhere in the vicinity. "I should get you a new one."

"No, you don't. I should have been watching where I was going."

"I should have seen you and moved out of the way."

"Clearly it was your fault." he deadpanned.

"Clearly." He smirked. "Find a seat and I'll bring you a new cup. What did you have?"

********

He found a small table in the back next to a wide storefront window, slightly secluded from the other patrons. It was partly hidden by a wooden divider that held a row of potted plants. He took his seat the same time his mobile vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out and checked the text from Suzie stating he needed to come back to work before she went psychotic and murdered thier boss. He smiled as he texted his reply.

Shortly after parting with the younger man, he returned with two cups placing one in front of Jack and keeping the other as he sat down across from him. He removed his coat to reveal a fine-tailored black suit with white pinstripes over a white shirt and waistcoat hiding a black tie. It really worked for him.

"I'm sorry about that, really..."

"Me too." He wasn't really. He hadn't actually had a lot of time to go out with male companions outside of work. With the engagment of John and Rose, he hadn't really been around his one true male friend. Besides, this man was cute and looked good in a suit.

"...and earlier about Lance. He can be a bit of an arse."

"A bit?" he chuckled.

"Lisa says he's always been like that."

"Lisa?"

"My girlfriend. Mr. Bennett is her uncle."

"Oh wow." Those were the only words Jack could form after taking a sip of his coffee. It was amazing.

"If you think that's good, you should try mine."

"Was that an offer?" The older man meant for it to be playful banter with his new acquaintance but it came out sounding much more sincere.

"Maybe." The younger man blushed slightly as he averted his eyes. Now, that was an intriguing result. Jack was expected anything else. He wondered about what else he could elicit of the young Welshman.

"So, I take it you're not from around these parts?" He gave his best southern United States drawl.

The young man jerked his head to face him once again giving a slight grin. "I could say the same about you."

"Touché." He leaned back in his chair, downing more of his drink. "So, Wales?"

"Cardiff, more specifically. I moved here to be closer to my job. and you?"

"Chicago, Boston, Cambridge, and Baltimore back in the States. In Wales it was Swansea, and now Cardiff actually."

"Really?" That revelation really piked his interest. His brow furrowed. "How did you end up in Cardiff?"

The young man nodded. "My family moved again to Swansea. It was literally throwing a dart at a map to land there. I doubt they picked it on purpose but they liked to move around a lot. Mom didn't want to leave after dad died. I went to Uni here though. Then a few years ago I got a job in Cardiff and I just commuted for a while. Eventually I met a girl and we got a flat in Cardiff. It's where she wanted to be so that's where we've been for the last year." He shrugged to write off the saddness that was building up at the memory of his father. He really had never felt the urge to talk so candidly to anyone other than a very select few people and even then, he had to work on his trust issues. Somehow this pretty stranger was tearing down his defenses.

"I'm sorry about your dad. I understand. Both of my parents are gone." Jack felt the tiny strings tug at his heart.

"What happened?"

"My mam got sick when I was 14. She went to stay in Providence Park and died 3 years later." The younger man's voice hitched. The older man unconsciously reached across the table to clasp the younger man's hand in his. He squeezed back in responce. " And Tad died a week before I left for London. We really didn't get on so well. I suppose that was the main reason I left."

The Welshman composed himself. Jack didn't let go and neither did he. The hand in his was smooth, soft and warm and the feel of it left a tingling sensation. They sat in silence hand-in-hand with eyes locked. For that breif moment, Jack felt content with this stranger and nothing else mattered.

The young ginger teen strode up to the table with the jug her voice startling them, both hands recoiling back to their side of the table. "Would either of you like a topper to go before I empty the jug? It's time to close up shop."

"Sure" They answered simultaneously. They removed the lids to their cups proceeding the young girl filling them back up. She started back carefully. "There ya go. Now I need to close up."

"We'll be going then," Jack stated standing, the Welshman following suit. Bundling up in their coats and taking their cups, they strolled out into the street together after waving goodbye and tipping the young girl. They made their way a couple of blocks occasionally uttering a word or two to keep up the banter before the other man slowed falling behind. The older man realising the other wasn't beside him, turned around. The Welshman looked conflicted. Not wanting them to go their seperate ways quite yet, Jack spoke up. "I was thinking of finding something else to do, probably just a walk around the park. Care to join me?"

He thought he saw a flash of pleasant surprise cross the youthful features. "I..I should go."

"Okay, well, it's be fun." He kept the disappointment from his tone.

"It was."

"Strange too, meeting you twice in the same day in this city." Jack was so drawn to this man. It felt oddly comfortable to be with him. The banter, the small touches of elbows walking through the city came easily.

"It..happens."

"Not like this." He really hoped he conveyed the meaning, he was enthralled with this man he didn't even know. He didn't even really know if he was interested in men though he had not shied away from his flirting.

"But it does." With that he started cross the street.

Jack followed to the end of the paving stone. Having to raise his voice slightly, he called out, "Wait, I didn't get a name. Mine's Jack."

He stopped at the edge of the paving stone on the opposite side and turned back, "It doesn't matter. It's most likely that we'll never see each other again. Bye Jack."

Jack watched until the man disappeared in the frigid night air. With a sigh, he took a look around. He really wasn't aware of his surroundings 'til now. He had no idea where he was. Thinking rationally, he realised he hadn't really thought about Gwen at all, even as he mentioned her. To ease his guilt, he decided to call her as he walked back to the car. He reached into his coat pocket for his mobile but found it empty. Oh Hell! He couldn't remember the last place he seen it. He guessed he could backtrack to see if he dropped it along the way.

He made to the cafe, still not able to find his mobile. The lights were dimmed but he could still see the young giger girl still there, wiping down tables. He knocked on the glass. She didn't seem to hear. He tried again. She turned slightly and he could see the tiny pink ear bud. When he started to think that he could stop by here in the morning before crossing the bridge, she caught his eye. Sheepishly she smiled and took the bud out of her ear walking the distance to the door. He quickly joined her as she unlocked it opening it only a crack.

"Yeah?"

"I think I left my mobile."

"Oh, come in. I haven't got to your table yet."

"Thank you."

At the table he found his mobile. It sat at the edge close to the wall. He picked it up about to check his alerts when a flash of red caught his eye. In the floor, on the Welshman's side was a red box, the same size as his own that was back in the Range Rover. He picked it up, rolling it in his hands. It must have fell out of his pocket. It was hit by the urge to see what it was. Opening it slowly, he saw it didn't have the usual cushion that protected the jewlery. Inside, laying freely in the case was a pair of small black diamond teardrop earrings and a silver ring, an engagment ring.

He closed the box quickly. Of course he'd meet someone so endearing when they both were in relationships. He was obviously serious about it buying the ring.

"I suppose a third time might be beyond chance."

Jack spun on his heel to come face to face with his attractive stranger.

.