Author's Notes: I've gotten a heck of a lot alerts for this story, however, it would be nice to have some reviews to see how people are responding to this story, and any suggestions to make it better. To those who alerted me: thanks so much.

To those who reviewed: your words were greatly appreciated.

Anyway, let's get on with it.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Torchwood, which makes me sad.

Gwen sipped the white wine in her hand as she leaned against the kitchen counter. It tasted rather awful: a gift from Rhys' mum, who always seemed to like everything extremely bitter. Gwen thought it was so she could match her sordid personality but Rhys didn't take kindly to her comments. He said once they were married she could make fun of his mother as much as she wanted. Gwen didn't necessarily like where those types of conversations headed and tended to make a quick change of subject to distract Rhys.

"Gwen, luv, where's the saucepan?" Rhys asked from the kitchen.

"Cupboard underneath the sink." She said back. She could hear him searching from the clattering of metal on metal and winced at the sound.

"Are you sure I can't help?" Gwen asked for the third time as she heard something shatter.

"Positive, manage on my own, thanks." Rhys said, turning around to look at her.

"If you're sure," Gwen said in disbelief. The pot was bubbling and red liquid was splashing all over the stove and floor. Rhys caught her gaze and gleefully returned to stirring the pot.

"No need to lift a finger, Gwen." He assured her as he started chopping up green bell peppers.

Gwen couldn't help but smile. Rhys did look adorable in her flowered apron. He was positively aglow as he cooked, obviously enjoying himself. She laughed as Rhys wiggled his butt playfully, catching her staring. She could definitely get used to this: pissing around with Rhys, sitting down to dinner with him, falling asleep beside him and waking up to his face.

She didn't really understand how happy the simple things could make her. Torchwood was fine. It gave her a rush of adrenaline and the job came with an expiration date but Gwen didn't entirely believe that. The only one who died was Jack, who always came back, and Suzie, who Gwen wasn't that sad to lose. Except Jack didn't come back this time, well, he wasn't dead and Gwen took comfort in that but at work…she missed Jack's lecherous grin, nearly blinding white. He had really shiny teeth. Rhys' teeth were always an off-white and his breath tended to smell. Jack smelled like chocolate and spice and something desirable. His own unique scent.

She loved Rhys, she really did. She loved the way he made her breakfast in bed. Owen's idea of breakfast in bed didn't involve any food at all and was messier than cooking.

Gwen peeked at the pile of plates in the sink, the food dropping on the floor and the splash patterns on her wall.

Alright, so cooking wasn't exactly cleaner, she amended.

Then there was Rhys' lips, pouty and soft, though sometimes Gwen felt like he was trying to swallow her mouth rather than kiss it. Owen's were hard and unyielding much like his kiss, it was forceful and he was in complete control. Gwen didn't understand her attraction to Owen, thin and sharp, always lashing out like a whip. Kinky Owen, all thrusting and force with none of Rhys' romantic notions. No 'love you' or sweet kisses down her neck. With Rhys, it was gentle and sweet, with Owen, hard and fast, leaving her aching and begging for more.

Then there was Jack. Gwen spent many hours at work staring at Jack's lips, which were full but not too full, and -she imagined- soft. She imagined Jack's big hands on her shoulders, straying on her neck, caressing her hair. She could feel his kisses and bites on her neck. Imagined being with him, Jack being sweet and amazing and everything she wanted. She watched his arse wiggle around in his pants, caught his winks and glances at her and could just imagine being Jack's.

Gwen gulped down the rest of her wine in one go. God, this was so messed up. Jack was with Ianto, or at least shagging him and Gwen was in a happy relationship with Rhys. This was beyond wrong.

But there could be a way, once Jack got back; maybe she could try it out with him. He wasn't exclusive with Ianto; in fact she suspected Jack had shagged Owen once or twice. It was Torchwood policy to sleep with the boss, or at least snog him senseless. No, that wasn't right. She was happy, Jack was happy- when he came back he'd go running back to Ianto and she would fantasize about his lips and his arse, just like usual.

"Ta-da!" Rhys said with a flourish as he grinned up at Gwen. She walked over to him and pressed their lips firmly together. When she pulled away, he was breathless and there was a dopey grin on his face.

"If I get a reaction like that, may cook more often." He said. She forced a smile on her face and they sat down across from each other. They even held hands over the table, just like cheesy romantic couples on the telly.

"Absolutely delicious, Rhys." Gwen said, finishing off her third glass of wine.

"Really? Not too much garlic, then?" He asked.

Actually there was too much garlic; Gwen had to keep drinking the wine to weaken the taste. It made her eyes water if she didn't. But she simply smiled at Rhys instead, best not to hurt his feelings.

"I'll clean up, since you cooked." She grabbed her plate and made to stand up.

"Gwen, it's fine, luv. Leave them for a moment." Rhys said, shuffling through his pocket. Gwen caught the sight of a black box and her heart dropped into her stomach.

"It's fine, really no trouble." She said again, desperate to postpone this conversation.

"Gwen, leave it." Rhys said, putting his hand on top of hers. She reluctantly sat back down and Rhys produced a small velvet box and placed it in front of her.

"I have something to ask you," he said, finally. His voice wavered slightly, a sure sign he was nervous. Gwen began to sweat and her face felt like it was on fire. Rhys opened up the case and pulled out an engagement ring. It was really ugly with large purple stones covering a tarnished gold band and the whole thing looked rather dirty, even though Gwen had found the receipt for the polishers when she was doing the laundry. She remembered that it was his grandmother's from the 1930's.

"Gwen, we've been together for a few years now, and we're not exactly getting any younger. Not in our twenties anymore, eh?" Rhys smiled. Gwen winced, not the best opening for a proposal.

"I remember when you first kissed me in the supermarket, and I looked at you and I don't know how, but I knew I was going to marry you. Living together has been one of the best times of my life, and I don't want it to end." Rhys took her hand ('the wrong one', Gwen thought but didn't correct him) and put the ring on her second to last finger.

"So, I'm asking you, Gwen Cooper, if you'd marry me." He looked up at her with a shy smile and Gwen couldn't speak. Her mouth was open but nothing was coming out. God, what could she say? She loved Rhys, she did but, she was shagging Owen. If she married Rhys and shagged Owen it would be the most horrible thing she could do to him. But she couldn't stop, Owen understood her and understands Torchwood, something that Rhys didn't and probably never would.

"Rhys-I, uh, I don't know." She admitted, feeling her heart clench at the crushed look on his face.

"Oh."

"Rhys, look-" Gwen felt the need to explain but her cellphone interrupted them. Gwen grabbed it from her bag, seeing a text message from Tosh and sighed in relief.

Thank you, Torchwood.

She turned back to Rhys, grabbing her leather jacket off the coat peg. He was still waiting, heartbroken. Gwen couldn't stand that look on his face. She walked over to him.

"I have to go, there's an emergency at work." She said, putting her jacket on and pulling her hair out of the back of her coat. "Look, I just-I need some time to think, can you give me that?"

He didn't take his eyes off her, "Gwen-" He started, preparing to go into a long tirade but he stopped and sighed, "alright, but will-will you wear the ring at least?" His eager eyes were too much and Gwen found herself nodding. She bent down and kissed his cheek. She pulled away before he could reciprocate.

"See you tonight then," she said to him. "Don't wait up, and thanks for dinner." She gave him a look and all but ran out of the flat, eager to get away from Rhys and the question that would define the rest of her life.

The end, there's no Gwen-bashing, I generally like Gwen but I think she's really petty and that's the dilemma she faced when Rhys popped the question. If you liked it, please review and I'll see you all (hopefully) next chapter.