New chapter order up! I hope you enjoy this over the next week. I may miss the next update by a few days, as I'm getting an eye surgery done on Tuesday, and having already had the other eye done, I know how long it takes me to shake the anaesthetic now, plus, y'know, eyes and screens are not the best of friends. But hopefully I'll be able to post sometime in the following week.

In the meantime, enjoy!

Chapter 4

(3rd May 2009)

Jack was proud of Ianto. He usually was, but today was particular. He had watched Ianto take the role of supporter for Michaela when she had needed help. He had also watched Ianto's face change from shock to awe as he had looked at the foetus and had seen the moment when Ianto had stopped thinking about the baby as an abstract concept that was affecting his life and really saw it was a baby, a little person, a part of himself. And he had accepted it. He wasn't aware of it, but he had. Jack had seen that face before and knew what it meant.

The other reason Jack was proud of him was because he showed no signs of jealousy or paranoia as Jack danced around with Michaela, he just seemed amused and bemused.

Jack was glad Ianto was letting go of his paranoia over something happening between him and Michaela, because in truth he would not do anything. He had made his decision to be with Ianto and had accepted that Ianto needed him to only be with him, especially now. But that did not mean Jack did not care for Michaela, or disliked her. Indeed, he rather adored her, much in the way he adored Gwen for her human –if occasionally blinkered- perspective on things, the way he adored Toshiko for her quiet determination and intellect, the way he adored Owen for his skill and genuine goodness –not that he would tell him in so many words. Hell he even adored Archie for his gruff protectiveness of Torchwood. As for Ianto himself, he was different, because he was the one who Jack wanted to be with.

Michaela he adored more like he would a child. He was well aware she was not a child, but a part of him wanted to spoil her like one. He wanted to cuddle her, protect her, and make sure she was secure in the knowledge that she was loved. He also sensed that she revelled in his attention, which he kept strictly platonic so she would not be misled. He knew she still held a lingering attraction for him, but she had not made any passes at him since the week she had been released from Providence Park. Jack guessed that as long as he paid her some attention and affection, she would probably not try. He was determined to prove to her that she did not need to offer sex for love.

All these thoughts passed across his mind as he span her around again, holding tight so she did not fall.

"Jack! Jack stop I'm dizzy!" she squealed, "I'm gonna be sick."

Jack slowed down and brought them to a halt, holding her still as she swayed, eyes glazed with dizziness, still giggling breathlessly. Ianto was watching them from the side, smirking indulgently.

"If she throws up in here, you're cleaning it up." he told him, shaking his head.

"Noted." said Jack, tightening his hold as Michaela stumbled.

"Where's the couch?" she asked, still glassy eyed.

It was right behind them. Jack guided her to it and let her plop down, panting.

"Oh… dizzy… so, so dizzy."

Jack gave himself a mental pat on the back. Any nerves or worries that had been bothering her had been forgotten for a few moments. He turned to Ianto with a wide smirk.

"Feel like a spin?" he asked, advancing on the Welshman. Ianto held up his hands and backed away.

"Oh no! Michaela's much more suited to such things."

"Traitor!" muttered Michaela, who now had her head between her knees. Ianto smirked and then scuttled out of Jack's reach as the older man continued to advance.

"I mean it Jack, no!"

"Oh come on!"

"No! You –you -"

"Get Owen?" suggested Michaela.

"Are you that sick?" Jack asked in alarm as he spun around to her.

Michaela shook her head, smirking. "Not what I meant?"

Jack had to think for a minute, then grinned and bounded back to the Autopsy Bay. Ianto sighed with relief.

"Thanks." he sighed to Michaela, who smiled,

"Just have the CCTV ready."

Ianto nodded just as there was a great clatter and Owen barked,

"Harkness get the fuck off me!"

"Oh! The wonderful thing about tiggers…"

Ianto darted to the nearest computer so they could get good angles.

Owen shut the door to his apartment and sighed in relief to hear the TV going. Toshiko was still here.

"You will not believe what Harkness tried to do to me!" he complained as he shrugged off his jacket and went into the living area.

"Oh I think I can." said Toshiko with a knowing smile as she gestured to the TV. Owen glanced at it and flushed with embarrassment as he watched himself trying and failing to fend of Jack as the Captain picked him up by the waist and spun him around.

"I swear I will find a way to keep you and Ianto from texting one another. It always results in my humiliation."

Toshiko chuckled as she swooped in and pecked him on the lips. "So how did everything go?"

"Good. No sign of any defects of any kind. Of course I'll need to keep a close eye on her, but so far so good."

"Does this mean you're coming around to the idea?"

Owen sighed and sat back, "It means I have accepted it as a fact and not one I can change any time soon. The way I figure it, I can either pick a fight with Ianto and Michaela over it, or I can say nothing and do what I can to help."

Toshiko smiled and curled her legs under her as she rested against his side, one of her hands passing through his hair, "I'm really glad to hear you say that."

Owen threw her a grateful glance, "I just… I don't want either of them to get into something they can't handle."

"I know. But we can handle it. Plus, with the changes Jack wants to implement in Torchwood they won't be as at risk as they would have been, so there's a chance that they'll get to really raise their child."

Owen made a noise, neither agreement nor disagreement. Toshiko dropped her hand and rested her head on his shoulder, relaxing against him. Owen took one of her hands into his two and held it there, just enjoying the feel of her with him. Then she said quietly,

"And maybe you'll get the chance to be a proper uncle."

Owen felt himself stiffen and his gaze unfocused as he let the words sink in. Then he let out a slightly shaky sigh and said,

"Does have a nice ring to it. 'Uncle Owen'."

He couldn't see her face, but he knew Toshiko was smiling.

Gwen awoke to the sound of a voice floating into the bedroom. Rhys' voice. Only he was doing some sort of impersonation. She frowned in confusion for a moment as she lifted her head, glancing at the clock and noting that it was 12 in the afternoon –her weekends had become sleeping in days to an extreme degree since joining Torchwood –and then she heard him say,

"Expelliarmus!"

Ah, of course. Rhys was still reading the Harry Potter books to Michaela. He had started when she had been catatonic months ago and had resumed the practise when she had started accepting visitors in Providence Park, and then later back at Ianto's. They now limited themselves to a few chapters a week, either here or in Ianto's. Both seemed to enjoy it, and wanted to extend it. Rhys had even given her the box set of the books.

As she clambered out of bed and made a face at herself in the mirror, Gwen admitted that at first she had been uneasy about it. Her mind had hissed that if she could cheat on Rhys, Rhys could cheat on her. But she had realised that she was not giving her fiancé the credit he deserved. She could, and had, cheated on Rhys, much to her lasting shame. But Rhys was not like that.

If nothing else, Michaela had been very vulnerable and Rhys would never have dreamed to take advantage of someone like that. So Gwen had found herself relaxing and rather enjoying seeing Rhys' daft face full of pride when he came home or after he had seen Michaela out. He enjoyed his time with her, he enjoyed the books –not the kind Gwen would have expected him to enjoy but there you go –and he enjoyed that she just let him talk and listened. Gwen knew he got annoyed when she started to tune him out. She did try to listen, but sometimes he would go on and on about something boring and she just could not keep her focus on it.

Not wanting to bother the two, Gwen quietly slipped into the bathroom for a warm shower, taking her time and reminding herself that she wanted to go to the spa soon for a facial and a leg wax. She wondered if inviting Toshiko and Michaela would be an idea. A kind of girls' relaxation day. Maybe they could order the whole day deluxe treatment –they could all afford it thanks to Torchwood. Probably something to be done before any… 'bumps' could get in the way.

Gwen was still trying to wrap her head around the situation in Ianto's house. Ianto was with Jack, who had been with Michaela who had been with Ianto before and after Jack and was now having Ianto's baby and Ianto and Michaela were dealing with depression and… Gwen's head started to hurt. She worried that the addition of the baby would make things difficult for all of them.

Then again maybe they would all end up in some bizarre three-way relationship.

Except… didn't Michaela fancy Andy? Wasn't she hoping to date him?

Gwen had tactfully kept her mouth shut about Andy, because she did not want to cause upset, but a small part of her burned with protective insult on Andy's part. Whichever way things went, Andy was in for a very unpleasant surprise.

Gwen shoved that thought out of her head before she went into the living room, not wanting to disturb the cheery, escapist atmosphere Rhys was able to create for these reading sessions. Neither Rhys or Michaela looked up, and she went to make herself some toast, trying to be quiet.

"'I believe you, Potter,' said Professor McGonagall curtly. 'Put on your dressing gown –we're going to see the Headmaster.'" Rhys said quietly and then he fell quiet. Gwen glanced up to see him setting down the book on the coffee table. "So, until next week then."

Michaela nodded, curled up next to him on the couch. She seemed utterly relaxed. Gwen smiled with pride at her fiancé's skill with people. They were all quiet for a bit, the only noise was Gwen making some tea.

"Owen gave me a scan today." said Michaela quietly. Gwen's head snapped up at once.

"Oh?" asked Rhys encouragingly. Michaela made a noise of affirmation,

"Mmhm! He said it looks healthy. I was worried the antidepressants might have… hurt it."

"Well that's great."

"Jack thinks it's a girl. It doesn't even have eyes yet, or proper fingers."

Gwen smiled, easily able to imagine Jack saying that.

"And then he made Owen dance to the Tigger song."

Gwen nearly dropped the kettle, "Say again?"

Michaela peered over the couch and grinned at her, "Ianto save the CCTV, fear not."

Gwen beamed, "Brilliant! Tea, pet?"

Chapter 5 coming soon…

Remember, all reviews and concrit are really, really encouraging and uplifting, even if you're commenting on an issue.

Night's Darkness