For disclaimer information, see prologue.

A/N: Alright, so I'm really not sure how I'm feeling about this story. If I'm handling the Torchwood characters properly. I'm trying, I promise you. Anyway, after how nearing angsty the last chapter got, here's a little light fluff for you. This is shorter than I usually go for, and mostly a transition chapter. I hope you enjoy, and reviews are always welcome.

Chapter Two:

Quiet Moments

Well, this certainly wasn't going well. First Jack didn't show, for reasons no one was talking about, then Ianto had had to go, with a promise to retrieve Rain later. Even then it might have been alright, but though she was certainly polite enough, and made a good show, Rain's mind was clearly elsewhere. This had not been the dinner party that Gwen had envisioned. Something had happened after she'd left the Hub, and no one was telling her what. It was beyond annoying. By the time dinner was over, and they'd started to run out of small talk, Gwen had had enough. She got her chance then, as Rhys excused himself to use the rest room.

"What happened after I left the Hub?" She demanded, turning on Rain. "It's not like Jack to say he's going to be a place and then not be there."

"We talked," Rain said simply. "He didn't seem to like what I told him, I'd rather not speak of it again if that is the way that someone like him responds to it," Rain cocked her head for a moment, and Gwen was put in mind of a little bird examining something. "Perhaps he misunderstood my words or my intent," She shrugged, looking troubled for a moment before that detached mask she was so good at returned. "If that's so, there's nothing can be done at the moment. You said something about movies?" It astounded and bothered Gwen, the way she could keep up that cool formal tone. The way she so neatly shut her out, but Rhys returned then, and she decided not to push. They settled in the living room instead, lights out, and put on the first movie. Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone, it had seemed like a good choice, with how popular it was.

That's when the night took a turn for the better, as Rain was drawn into the magical world portrayed for them. Once or twice she could have sworn she heard her muttering about something or other, but the exact words escaped Gwen's ears. She didn't let it bother her though as Rain laughed at the jokes, and generally acted like a child watching her first movie. Which wasn't inaccurate really, and the setbacks of the night ceased to matter as much. They were well into the second movie when Ianto returned to bring Rain home, and Gwen grinned when the much relaxed girl tugged him down next to her where she'd stationed herself on the floor.

"You missed it, so I'll tell you what's happening," She said, rapt eyes never leaving the screen as she began to explain the story to him. Ianto didn't stop her, for which Gwen was grateful. It was good to see her relax and enjoy herself, and it was obvious that she enjoyed telling the tale. She did a decent job of it too. By the time the end credits were rolling by, she looked to be about half asleep.

"She could stay here tonight," Gwen suggested as the end credits started to roll by. Rain looked almost happy, and that was enough for her to wish for the evening not to end. "I can bring her in with me in the morning. It wouldn't be a hardship at all."

"Jack wants her back tonight," Ianto said softly. "I heard him muttering something about Myfanwy looking lonely."

"She's a pterodactyl, I'm sure she'll be find for one night," Gwen started to tease, sharing their joke, but Rain spoke up then.

"I want to go back. It's better this way, really, it is. Thank you, very much Gwen Cooper for a lovely evening," Rain smiled then, a real smile, and her whole face lit up. "You're wonderful, and it was great fun." She took a deep breath then, mask returning as she turned towards Ianto. "Time to go back then?"

"Yes," Ianto said, while inside Gwen wanted to scream "no". She didn't like the Hub, there was no denying that, and to send her back there when she was only just now starting to smile... But the two said their good nights, and then they were on their way. So she followed Rhys to bed without a word about it, and soon after, she'd quite forgotten.


She was calm now, much calmer than she'd been earlier. Not for the first time, Ianto wondered what exactly had happened between his lover, and the girl beside him. Nothing sordid, that much he could be sure of. Things in the office had looked extremely tense though, and whatever it was, Jack hadn't taken it well at all. Not that Rain had seemed any happier. When he'd found Jack at the pub, he'd been calmer too, but still not himself. They'd talked

"Am I really a monster?" Jack had asked him when he'd reached the bottom of his glass. He'd been lost in thought then, distant and Ianto had assured the other man that he hadn't meant it when he'd said those words. He'd been hurting, that was all. It had only felt him more curious about what had been said between the two, but he knew better than to pry. If he was supposed to know, he would be told. Ultimately, he'd taken Jack back to the Hub no clearer on what he'd seen than he'd started out.

"You care for him a great deal," Rain's soft, sleepy voice pulled Ianto from his contemplations. A glance at his passenger seat showed half slitted eyes peaking though the shadows. She was watching him. For how long? He wondered, but it wasn't really important.

"Yes," He told her simply, and he felt a small hand touch his jacket. He looked back towards her.

"Keep him safe," She whispered, giving his arm a gentle squeeze. "Keep him sane," The last came out on a breath, and he could almost have imagined it. Then her eyes closed, and she fell so swiftly into the grasp of sleep that he was certain he must have.

"I try," He told her anyway. "I try."