Owen sat at the kitchen table of Erika's house. He gripped his cup of coffee firmly and stared the remarkable little boy who just sat across him. It had never occurred that he'd be in an awkward situation like this, but he wanted to try even though all of this was still hitting home. He was a father. That was it, end of story. He had a son who was eleven years old and was sitting just across him at this very moment sipping hot cocoa.

"Hi," was all he managed to say.

The boy played with his spoon not daring to make eye contact with the physical form that was his dad.

"Look I know this is all unexpected and to be frank I've never been good at this, but I want to try. You probably hate me," said Owen sighing.

"I don't hate you," he said quietly, but Owen heard and his eyes lighted up at the sentence.

Jack had been filling Tosh and Ianto in on the current events. He could have sworn he heard something break when he told Tosh about Owen's son, but he wasn't about to ask. It was agreed that Owen would try and get some information out of Gabe about the object whilst getting to know him and making future plans of visitation. Gwen sat quietly on the couch while Erika made Jack and her a cup of coffee. After giving final instruction to Tosh and Ianto he settled himself next to Gwen who was deep in thought.

There was a piece of hair hanging in front of her face that he itched to feel and push back to reveal her pale skin. It amazed him how his thoughts were becoming more and more distracted by Gwen Cooper lately and if he didn't do something about it soon he was sure he would wind up like one of those obsessed crazed psychos like in the movies and considering that he couldn't die, it wouldn't be good for anyone.

"What's on your mind," he asked casually. It was only too easy for him to hide his feelings.

"I just still can't believe that Owen's a dad and he didn't know about it for so long," she said softly her eyes staring at the ground.

"Yeah, I never saw Owen as the fathering type either, but the one thing you learn after being with humans for so long is that they tend to surprise you."

"And at the most inconvenient times," she added grinning.

He grinned back knowing the truth only too well. He was staring at her and didn't realize. She looked at him aware of it and shrugged.

"What?" she smiled.

He slipped a cocky smile on to hide his true feelings, "You think I'm sweet Gwen?"

He recalled her conversation with Gabe and grinned. She rolled her eyes at his amusement.

"Yeah Jack your sweet like sour tarts are sweet," she said.

"Liar. You think I'm Hershey chocolate kisses sweet."

"Sour tart, Harkness. Sour tart."

"Chocolate kiss."

"Sour tart."

"Are you disagreeing with the boss?"

"No, I'm disagreeing with a sour tart," she grinned folding her arms and relaxing back

"Well I'll just have to prove to you that I'm as sweet as a kiss," he said softly to her leaning in close.

Gwen became very aware of how close he was and couldn't stop the butterflies from forming or her increased heart rate. His blues eyes gazed into hers promising the world. The sparkle in them was almost too much to bear. They were breathing heavy. His hands were placed on each side of her as he came closer. The temptation was almost too much. Just as their lips were moments apart and grunt in the background caught their attention. Jack reluctantly pulled away from Gwen who was still dazed from his spell. Erika placed the coffee mugs on the table and sat in a chair opposite them.

"Sorry, but I prefer to the keep the setting G-rated in my home," she said taking a mug for herself and sipping it.

"Sorry," said Gwen coming to her senses, "Won't happen again."

"It won't?" he questioned apparently still playing with her, but she gave him a look that told him that now was not the time.

This snapped him back to reality. What had he been thinking? He couldn't allow himself to get involved with Gwen no matter how much he cared. A bit of harmless flirting okay, but we had just pulled had just stepped a little over the line. It wouldn't happen again no matter how much he wanted to.

Just once he wanted to know what it would like to hold Gwen and not because she was upset, but just hold her because they both felt the same way about each other. Just because they could. But they couldn't. They both had been through so much this year, both physically and emotionally. They were both alone since he and Ianto had ended and she and Rhys had broken it off. They were alone together, but not together.

"Good. Didn't know how you liked your coffee so it's just milk," Erika stated.

"This is just fine dear," Gwen said taking her mug from the table, " So have you noticed anything weird going on with your son lately Ms. Lelly?"

"Erika, please and no he seemed just fine until you lot showed up."

"He didn't act strange around you or say something?"

"No, he was perfectly normal although…just a few nights ago as soon as he got home from school his face was pale. I asked what was wrong, but he just said nothing and ran off to his

room. How was I supposed to think-wait a minute this just occurred to me did you say something about aliens earlier?"

"You're asking now?" Jack said.

"Well I was so preoccupied with Owen…did you say alien?"

Jack explained the situation to Erika as best he could trying not to reveal too much about Torchwood's whereabouts and so on. Erika was startled when he began about her son picking up an alien object being about to bring pictures to life and from the way Jack talked, Gwen could hardly believe it herself. Erika told Jack and Gwen how her son had a passion for drawing and art which would explain why he got a kick out of seeing his pictures come to life.

"Picasso's his favorite. He likes distorted figures and the emotion in the lines or so he said," said Erika. Jack and Gwen listened intently showing complete understanding, "He liked monsters. I never knew why, but the monsters he made were always innocent. I asked him once why he liked monsters. He only answered that they reminded him of someone he'd never meet. How this person was a monster themselves, but they were innocent and ignorant of it."

An half an hour or so later Owen soon came out of the kitchen. He grinned at Erika though it didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Gabe's waiting in the kitchen," he said, "We have to go, but I'll call about visitation and everything."

"Owen, are you sure," Erika asked.

"Yes. I'm going to make things right. I've never been more sure about anything else in my life. I'll call all right."

She nodded and made to leave for the kitchen.

"Oh and Erika," Jack called out," Can we keep this all hush hush. You know we're a top secret organization and the last thing we need is it getting out."

"I'm not even sure I believe half the things you told me, but I'll stay quiet."

"Thank you and we'll let ourselves out," he said.

She nodded again and continued on her way to the kitchen. Jack and Gwen stared at Owen.

"Are you alright Owen?" Gwen asked.

"Of course. I'll be fine just after we make a stop."

"To where?"

"A drug store. I don't think liquor is going to do anything for me."

"Owen," Gwen said warningly.

"Can we just go please," Owen said as calm as ever.

Jack put a consoling hand on Owen who just shrugged him off. Gwen took Jack's hand silently telling him he needed to be left alone. It was something Owen wanted to deal with on his own. Jack understood and squeezed her hand. They headed towards the SUV in silence. Gwen sat next to Jack in the front while Owen was trying to figure out his life in the back.

"Did he say anything?"

"No, just that it was an old man, but that doesn't get us very far does it?"Owen snapped.

"Owen what happened?" Gwen asked softly.

Owen muttered something incomprehensible and kept his head down the rest of the way. It was quiet. Gwen looked out the window at the passing streets and children out on a nice day like this. Jack occasionally stole a few glances at her out of the corner of his eye. She had a tired yet dreamy look on her face.

Suddenly she jumped back startling Jack who had began to get caught up in his own thoughts. The SUV skidded to a halt and Jack looked at her desperately seeking out what had made her jump like that. Her face was paler then usual and she was breathing heavily. She held her hand over her chest steadying herself.

"What? What happened?" asked Owen.

"Gwen?" asked Jack concerned.

"I could have sworn…" she couldn't go on.

"What?"

"I'm sorry, but I thought…it was like…"

"Gwen, what did you see?"

"Not what. Who."

"Who did you see," he asked demanding almost now.

She stared at him her eyes wide. She frowned as the words spilled out slowly, but surely, "Suzie. Suzie Costello."