Disclaimer: I unfortunately do not own Torchwood or any of its characters, the legend that is Russell T Davies does.
Pairings: Gwen/Owen, Jack/Ianto, Tosh/OC.
Summary: Will Gwen survive her tragic fall? Will everyone get their happy ending?
Rated: K , slightly lower than the other parts because there is no strong swearing but there is still some scenes that may affect very young readers.
A/N: AU, Not beta'd, reviews will make my day . And I am truly sorry that this chapter took so long; I re-wrote it so many times! I didn't know whether it was going to have a happy ending or not…you'll just have to read to find out! Thanks to Ladydalek, StarGirl995, Ithilian and –Ivy-Parker- for their encouraging reviews! I hope you enjoy…
"Mr Harper?"
Owen stood up, snapping out of his trance as a nurse called his name.
"You may see your wife now. Follow me." The nurse walked away, Owen quickly following.
They stepped through white double doors, into a private room. Owen found Gwen lying in a bed, with an IV drip attached to her, including lots of other wires. He scanned the room, and went up to one of the monitors, analysing its results.
"I'd be careful with those if I were you." stated the nurse, standing in the doorway.
"Don't worry, I'm a doctor." replied Owen, with a wave of his hand.
"Oh I see, well, your wife is going to be Ok, Dr Harper."
"And our baby?" he asked, looking intently at Gwen.
"Hopefully it will be fine. There may be some complications at the birth and her doctor is recommending a c-section, if that is what you both wish."
Owen felt his heart start beating at a normal pace again and he let go of a breath he didn't know he was holding. He was so much in his own little world that he didn't realise the nurse leaving.
For weeks Gwen's fall had plagued his day dreams and his nightmares. He kept replying the scene over and over in his head, and sometimes the following hours too.
He remembers Gwen falling, hitting every part of her body as she went. He remembers her pain, his pain. He remembers the ambulance pulling up, two paramedics trying to help Gwen and calm him at the same time. He remembers the look on his team mates faces; Jack crying, Ianto pale with tears streaking his cheeks and Toshiko offering him comfort as she fought back her own tears. He remembers the long five minute ride in the ambulance. He remembers Gwen being taken away from him, into one of the wards. He remembers waiting hours just to hear any news.
He sat on the side of her bed and started to stroke her hair. She was so beautiful, he thought to himself. One of her eyes very slowly flickered open.
"Owen?"
He pulled her into a tight embrace whilst whispering that she was going to be OK.
"What about our baby?"
"The baby is going to be fine"
"Oh thank God" she muttered, almost inaudibly as she hugged Owen tighter and tears started to stream down her cheeks.
"How are you feeling though?" he asked sincerely.
"Hmm, headache, rib ache and I can feel at least twenty bruises."
"Aww baby" Owen cooed as suddenly Jack, Ianto and Tosh appeared at the doorway with flowers, grapes and chocolates.
Gwen looked at the three of them and laughed. They were all standing there, smiling with relief but an anxious worry plagued their expressions. They all had red eyes, with huge bags underneath, and were looking rather scruffy and dishevelled. They obviously hadn't been home since the weevil hunt and her accident.
"Aw guys, you didn't have to do this for me" she said as they handed her their gifts.
"We're just glad that everything is OK" smiled Tosh.
Each of her team mates gave her a hug before she insisted that they go home and get some sleep.
"How long do I have to stay here Owen?"
"Just overnight, but don't worry, I'll stay with you. And Tosh got some stuff from the flat earlier; toothbrush etc, so you'll be fine."
"You are a sweetheart" Gwen replied as she leant over and gave him a kiss, before stifling a yawn.
"You should get some sleep. I'm just going to get some coffee and I'll be right back." And with that he walked out and Gwen fell to sleep.
Nurse Sara Valentine looks up at the clock. She hates the night shifts, as much as she loves her job. Being a nurse on the maternity ward is all she's ever wanted to do, but the night shifts when she is on reception can be deathly boring. Just as she starts to day dream the large double doors open and in stroll three very strange looking people.
Striding in first is a stereotypically handsome man wearing a long blue coat, with old fashioned style buttons and detail. He looks like he's stepped right out of a 1940's war film- with out all the blood of course.
On his left is s a small Asian woman wearing a light purple jumper and a black leather jacket with dark blue jeans. She has dark cropped hair and a small smile on her lips.
But the one that intrigues her most is the man on the left of the other 1940's style bloke. This other guy is just a tad shorter than Mr 1940's and has light brown hair. He is wearing a grey pinstriped suit with a delicious red shirt underneath. He has sparkling blue eyes and looks to die for. He is certainly her type. Mr Handsome is having a conversation with Mr 1940's and they both seem to be laughing and joking. Mr Handsome approaches the desk and she quickly regains her normal composure.
"Hello there." he starts in a gorgeously husky Welsh accent. Sara thinks she might melt. That's half the reason she moved to Cardiff. "We're looking for Gwen Harper, can you help us?"
"I can indeed…erm, I mean, let me just check." Sara turns to her computer, blushing. She finds the room number for a Mrs Gwen Harper and worries that it might be Mr Handsome's wife. "Is she a…relative?"
"No, just a friend." he replies with a smile. Now she has melted; his smile is mouth wateringly sexy.
Sara flashes him her sexiest smile in return and flutters her eyelashes a little. "Well Mrs Harper has just gone in for her c-section. If none of you are relatives I'm afraid you'll have to wait here until she's done."
"Thank you very much, erm, I didn't catch your name…" he asks with that smile.
"Sara Valentine. You?"
"Ianto Jones. Well thank you for your help Sara."
"My pleasure." she replies. "Don't hesitate to ask me if you need anything." She adds as he walks off to sit down.
For the next few minutes Sara cannot take her eyes of the hunky Welshman. Mr 1940's walks away, presumably for refreshments and she watches the Asian woman and Ianto have a conversation before she goes back to her typing.
Mr 1940's walks back in with three coffees and hands one to the Asian woman before setting one down on the side, most likely for himself. He then hands one to Ianto. And that's when she realises that she probably isn't Ianto Jones' type. He leans over to kiss Mr 1940's on the cheek. Something which might be fairly innocent until Mr 1940's grins cheekily and goes in for a snog with Ianto. Sara groans. She is just glad that she didn't flirt with him too much.
Jack breaks apart the kiss with Ianto before saying with that smile of his; "I think she's stopped looking now. That's a shame really. I quite fancied a threesome tonight."
"Poor girl Jack, I think she thought she was in with a chance there!"
"Don't be big headed about it…"
"She was flirting with me Jack. You're just jealous 'cos she doesn't fancy you!"
Jack, Ianto and Tosh made their way apprehensively to Gwen's room. They saw her lying in bed, flushed red and tired looking, but also with a huge smile on her face. But if they thought Gwen's smile was big, they hadn't seen Owen's.
Owen was cradling a little bundle of pink blankets in his arms, his joy evident on his grinning face. Not that any of them doubted Owen's parenting skills but they never expected him to be this…paternal.
"I've got a baby!" he says, his excited voice just above a whisper, which lets them know the baby's asleep.
"Boy or girl?" asks Tosh equally as quietly.
"Girl. We've called her Anwen." replies Gwen happily.
"Anwen" repeats Ianto. "Good choice. She certainly is you know."
"Is what?" asks Jack, confused.
"Anwen means beautiful in Welsh." explains Ianto.
"Ahhh, she's definitely beautiful." says Jack leaning over to take a look at her.
Anwen gets passed round the group and 'Oohed' and 'Ahhed' at by everyone. But Gwen looks tired and the three head off home but not before offering their congratulations to Gwen and Owen.
Annie loves play grounds. She loves the slides and the swings and the climbing frames, but most of all she loves the monkey bars. Her daddy always tells her to be careful in case she falls off. Her daddy is just over protective. It's not daddy who has brought her to the playground today. Her playgroup has come for a little outing. It took them five whole minutes to walk here and they had to have permission slips from their parents. Her mummy had signed hers. She is nearing the monkey bars and she can feel her heart beat faster with excitement as she stretches out her hand.
Rhys Williams is sitting on a bench in the park playground watching a group of nursery children laugh and play. His girlfriend, Gwyneth, is the playgroup leader and he said he'd meet her here for lunch. His is waiting for her to finish having a chat with one of her colleagues when he spots one beautiful little girl. She is making her way across the monkey bars when he sees her. She has dark brown hair and looks exactly like his ex Gwen. She has the same eyes, same face shape, same hair…same everything really. She clambers off the bars and notices Rhys looking at her. He quickly looks away, embarrassed. Just then he feels a light tap on his leg.
"Hello Mister" the little girl who looks like Gwen says. Rhys notices that she has a strange accent. It's definitely Welsh but with a mix of something else in there too. A bit cockney with a dash of American perhaps?
"Hello" he replies.
"Could you do my shoelace up for me please?" she asks pointing at her shoe.
"Of course." he says as he leans down. "What's your name then?"
"Annie is what my friends call me. But my proper name is Anwen. What's yours?"
"That's a very pretty name. And my name is Rhys."
"Anwen means beautiful in Welsh." Annie states proudly.
"I know. I'm Welsh, are you Welsh then?" he asks, wanting to know where her accent is from.
"My mummy and Uncle Ianto are Welsh but daddy is from London and Uncle Jack is from America and Aunty Tosh is from Japan. That's in Asia."
Rhys giggles. "Well that would explain your accent then." he leans back, having finished tying her lace.
"Thanks Mister Rhys" she says as she bounds away back to the monkey bars.
Rhys feels very happy having met little Annie, but forgets about her as his Gwyneth walks up to him and they go off for lunch.
Annie has her daddy's hand in her hand on her left and her mummy's hand in her right hand. They were taking a walk along Cardiff bay. It was one of Annie's favourite places not including her playgroup and the playground. It was quite windy and her mummy had wrapped a pretty pink scarf around her neck. Her long dark hair was moving in the wind from beneath a matching pink bobble hat. She lets go of her mummy and daddy's hands and skips along just in front of them. Not looking where she is going she bumps into someone and falls over.
"Oops there, are you…" Rhys stops, looking at the little girl who has just bumped into him. "Hello there Annie!" he continues, gleefully happy to see this little girl again.
"Mister Rhys!" she shouts and she throws her arms around him.
Suddenly Rhys can see the little girl's parents' making their way towards him, but his view was obscured by Annie.
"Rhys?" asks a familiar voice.
Rhys lets go of Annie and looks up. "Gwen?" he asks bemused. His ex girlfriend Gwen was standing two feet in front of him with her husband.
"You know Annie?" asks Gwen, clearly confused.
"We met once, at the playground the other day."
"Mister Rhys tied my shoelace for me mummy." chirps Annie by way of explanation.
"Oh" is all Gwen can say in turn.
"You're her parents then?" he asks nodding at Gwen and Owen.
"Yeah" Gwen replies.
"Listen pumpkin, why don't we go and look at the water, eh?" asks Owen to Annie, knowing that Gwen may need to speak to Rhys.
"Ok daddy. Bye Mister Rhys!" she calls as she bounds away with her father.
There is an awkward silence between the pair before Rhys speaks.
"So, how've you been?"
"Good, yeah fine, you?"
"Better thanks. I err, went to rehab. Sober for two and a half years now."
"That's brilliant" she smiles softly.
"I'm sorry…about everything…"
"Please, don't apologise. I understand."
"Thanks. Annie is just beautiful. You've done ok haven't you?"
"I'm the happiest I've ever been."
"That's all I ever wanted."
"Have you...got anyone?" she asks, slightly embarrassed.
"Yeah, funny actually, she's Annie's playgroup leader; Gwyneth Fields?"
"Oh yes I know her, lovely woman." They both fall silent. "Well, I better be off, but it was lovely to see you."
"You too."
Gwen joins Owen and Annie as Rhys walks away, giving a wave to Anwen as he does so.
Ethan has lots of friends. There's Michael and Francine and Gemma and Freddie who are all very nice. But his best friend is Annie. Annie is very pretty. He likes to play games with Annie. Their favourite is to climb on the monkey bars at the playground. Ethan's not very good at that though. At the moment Ethan is playing with his toy cars in his bedroom by himself.
"Ethan?" calls his dad from downstairs.
"Yes dad?"
"Tea's ready!"
"Just coming dad!" and he drops his cars and races downstairs.
Today his dad is making him tea. Normally he doesn't. He likes it when his dad makes him tea. When his dad makes him tea he gets cool stuff like cheese on toast or beans on toast or jam sandwiches. Today he's got chocolate spread sandwiches.
"Here you go sonny" says his dad as he places a plate in front of him.
"Thanks dad" he says, wasting no time and munching into his sandwiches.
His dad giggles and ruffles his hair affectionately. Then he hears the front door open. His daddy must be home.
"Daddy?" he calls through a muffled mouthful.
"Yes it's me" his daddy replies.
He gets up from his chair and runs into the living room, throwing his arms around his daddy. They embrace silently for a moment before his dad strides into the room.
"Hey Yan" he says and kisses the top of his daddy's head.
"Guess what dad made me for tea?!" Ethan asks, excitedly.
"Oh no, what did dad make you for tea this time?"
"Chocolate spread sandwiches!" Ethan says before speeding back to the kitchen to finish them off.
Jack looks at Ianto with guilt. "It's what he wanted!" he protested.
"He's five!" retorts Ianto before giggling. "Have you got any spare ones going Jack? I'm starving."
"Of course" Jack smiles before taking Ianto's hand and wandering into the kitchen to make more sandwiches.
Toshiko Sato and Jennifer White are standing in the pet shop.
"I like the black and white one" states Tosh.
Jenni peers at it for another moment before turning back to her girlfriend. "You know what?" Tosh looks away from the kitten and back at her. "I do too."
"Really?"
"Yeah!"
Tosh hugs Jenni tightly before going to purchase their new kitten.
"I think we should call it Cleo" Tosh says getting into the car.
"Cleo, Cleo, Cleo…" Jenni repeats. "Sounds good, very cat-like."
They both smile as they whiz away towards their new flat.
Gwen looked round at the people she loved most in the world. She saw Tosh and Jenni smiling at her, both holding hands. She saw her mum, dad and Owen's brother Rich, all with glasses of champagne in their hands. On her left there was Jack and Ianto, with their arms around each others waists and Ethan standing in front, snuggled into both of them with his gap-toothed grin on his face. On her right were the two people she loved more than anyone. Owen was holding Anwen on his hip; looking out at the people he loved the most too.
"Well, I can hardly believe that Owen and I have been married for six years today." Gwen begins. "Through that time we have had lots of ups and downs but definitely more of the ups" she laughs and continues, "There is no one I would rather share this special day with than you; my family and closest friends. And before I bore you, I just want to say, however clichéd," she turns to Owen, "I love you Owen and thank you for everything. Especially Annie." She kisses Owen and then her daughter before raising her glass.
"Cheers!" the eleven people in the room chorused, clinking their glasses together.
Yes, Gwen had never been happier. And it was just beautiful.
THE END
I hope you weren't disappointed with the ending! I may do a sequel about their life later...what do you think? Reviews are LOVE.
