Apologies for the delay, but it's exam time, so I'm very distracted.

Enjoy!

Chapter 7

As one the team sat up and gave Ianto their full attention. Ianto took in a deep breath and said

"Since you disappeared, the fact that aliens are real has become public."

Jack's stomach dropped in disappointment. He had been hoping-

"Earth is in a state of panic over it still, it happened seven years ago, but no one is sure what to do about it. Some countries want to open negotiations, some don't. This has led to conflict between some countries, mostly ones that would have been 'developing' when you left –some have since reached 'developed'.

"It's part of the reason why the UK has become even more of a police/nanny state than it was twenty years ago. People are terrified that the end will come from the stars –no matter how many times I say on the News that it won't."

"You're on the News?" blurted Gwen. Ianto rolled his eyes as he nodded,

"God help me but yes. I'm the Head of Torchwood, the first defence for the UK –and the world in general –against alien attacks. And apparently since I'm good looking and a family man, the BBC can't leave me alone."

"What a burden." sneered Owen.

"I would much rather be left alone to do my job." said Ianto at once.

"But if aliens are known, why do we need to change our names?"

"Because the Rift is still secret. If people in Cardiff knew what they were sitting on they'd flee for their lives and cause complete pandemonium."

"So you don't want people to find out that we're displaced." said Jack. Ianto nodded. "Can we still work for Torchwood?"

"Sure, if you want to. You can even work in one of the other branches if you like."

"Other branches?"

"We re-established One in London, and we re-founded Four in Dublin. Two is still around as well, as the Main Archives –our Chief of Security Torin Scully, and our Security Technician Elisa Harmaajärvi have made it more secure than Fort Knox, Cheyenne Mountain and the Death Star put together."

"The Death Star had a weakness." said Toshiko without thinking. Ianto grinned,

"Yeah… don't go see the new re-worked version of Star Wars, you're not gonna like it."

"You re-opened One?" asked Jack sharply. Ianto gave him a narrow-eyed look of condescension.

"Yeah, because everyone in One knew exactly what would happen with the Ghost Shifts –for God's sake Jack, One wasn't a big evil corporation. It was run by people with blinkers on and too much ambition. Don't blame the location or the building for the work of a few people inside."

Jack clenched his fists, he couldn't believe Ianto was talking to him like he was a child. Even if he did have a point.

"So what now?" asked Owen, "We're just supposed to accept this?"

"I'm afraid so." Ianto got up from his chair and went to his desk. He rummaged through a drawer and pulled out four computer pads and four small disks. He inserted the disks into the pads and then brought them over to them. "Now, these pads contain all the history of the world. You can type in the date you were taken and go from there. We keep them updated with the latest records."

"For other displaced people?"

"Of course. We've found the best way to help them adjust is to let them browse as they wish. If you want you can go back to your rooms, or the library, or wherever you like, to read them."

"Where are you going?"

"I took the day off to look after you guys, but that doesn't mean I haven't work to do. Besides, I think you could use a break from me, I can tell by your faces having me around is making this harder for you."

Astute as ever, Jack would give him that.

"If you need me, I'll be around. Either here, or in the kitchen –it's my turn to make dinner."

"You cook?"

"When I can. We do have a cook though –but again, we told her not to come in."

"You didn't have to." said Gwen, picking up a pad and inhaling deeply. Ianto smiled at her gently.

"It's ok. It'll be nice to make a big meal, haven't had the time to do it lately."

Jack realised they were being dismissed without it being said. It occurred to him that Ianto needed a break from them, that he was having just as hard a time dealing with them as they were with him. He decided to give him his time.

"Ok, we'll go and catch up. Twenty years… bet there's been a lot more sex scandals!"

Ianto gave him an awkward smile for the joke. Jack gently guided the other three out of the office and shut the door behind him, glancing back in time to see Ianto sitting behind his desk. He couldn't help but admire how good he looked.

"So what now?"

"Huh?"

"So what now?" repeated Owen irritably. "How're we gonna get out of here?"

"You really think this place isn't real?" asked Gwen hopefully.

"C'mon! This is utter bullshit. Aliens are openly acknowledged by the world? Ianto's got fifteen kids, and he's the BBC golden boy?"

"Life is surprising." said Jack.

"You're not seriously getting taken in by all this?" demanded Owen.

"We shouldn't be talking about this here." said Toshiko quietly. Her eyes were fixed on the office door. Jack nodded, resting his hand on the small of her back. They moved together back to the room Jack had slept in. Toshiko sat down in the armchair near the window and looked out with sad eyes. "It's so beautiful here…"

"Too beautiful." sneered Owen. Toshiko's eyes became steely as she looked at him.

"Are you just so cynical you can't imagine anyone being happy!"

Jack clapped a hand on Owen's shoulder, cutting off his nasty retort. "Look, if this is real, then we can't go back. But if it is a hoax or something, we need to figure out how it was done, and what they want… whoever they are."

"You think Ianto and Michaela are aliens?"

"Aliens, projections designed to mislead us… anything is possible."

"What might they want?"

"Information probably. If we think our knowledge is outdated, then we might be freer with sharing it. So… try to watch what you say."

Gwen nodded, perched on the edge of Jack's bed, her feet resting on the ottoman at the foot of the bed, holding the pad she'd been given like it was a lifeline on her knees. She looked like a little girl and Jack moved from Owen to sit down on the ottoman, by her feet and touched her shoe, covering the laces and feeling grounded by the connection.

"Why don't we all split up and read up on the history? We might be able to find inconsistencies in it to back up Owen's belief."

"What, you don't think I'm right?" asked Owen, hands tapping irritably at the pad in his grip.

"I… I don't know." admitted Jack. "I don't want to believe it. But there is… something about it that makes me think that they're hiding something. But that doesn't mean they're completely fake."

Owen gave a snort of disgust. He opened his mouth to say something, but there was a thump against the door. Jack jumped to his feet and reached for his Webley, which was not there. There was another thump against the door, but this time Jack heard it for what it really was. He sighed, a reluctant smile pulling at his lips as he went to the door and turned the handle. Quinn, who had been leaning against the door as he tried to reach the handle, stumbled into the room and looked up at Jack in surprise. His eyes were wide, as if he had not expected to be caught.

"Hey there Quinn." said Jack cheerfully, "Whatcha doing?"

Quinn dug one hand into his side while the other reached up and played with his hair. It always amused Jack how toddlers rarely stopped exploring the world and themselves with their hands, even when they stood still. It was how they gained their mobility, but it made Jack smile because it was the purest form of wide eyed fascination.

"Not spying on us were you?" asked Jack, joking when he spoke, but chilled a little that there might be a truth to it. Quinn shook his head, curls bouncing. "Then what is it?"

Quinn didn't say a thing. Instead he walked into the room, making his way over to Toshiko. Toshiko didn't say anything as Quinn clambered in to her lap, sitting happily with his back against her chest and cuddling close. Toshiko looked caught between being touched and being uncomfortable.

"Quinn!" Michaela's voice called for him, as she hurried past the door, then doubled-back. "Oh! Jack, have you seen-"

Jack pointed at Quinn, cutting her off. Michaela relaxed, smiling as she crossed the room, and reaching for Quinn.

"Sorry lads, Quinn likes new faces. Not shy at all, are you leanbh?"

Quinn smiled up at his mother and let her pick him and set him on her hip.

"It's ok," said Jack carefully, "He didn't bother us."

"Oh, just give him a few minutes, he'll find a way. This one has tried the Doctor's patience. Haven't you leanbh?" Michaela chucked at Quinn's cheek, making him giggle, "Drove him up the wall, didn't you?"

She looked around the room, seeming to notice that she was somewhat surrounded by them. She focused on Jack, her smile becoming a little fixed, "Are you lot hungry? I was going to start making lunch."

"We were actually going to browse through the history we've missed."

"Oh, the Recession, the Alien revelation and whatnot." Michaela nodded, hefting Quinn up. "Well, I'll leave some stuff for you to eat, how about that?"

"That'd be nice, thanks."

Michaela gave him a tense smile, "No bother." She left the room, Quinn letting out a whine of protest, peering over her shoulder at the four. Jack narrowed his eyes after her, then turned back to the others,

"C'mon. Let's catch up with what we've missed."

Catching up on twenty years of history took a lot longer than Jack had expected. By the time he was satisfied with what he had read, it was late enough to be getting dark. He only noticed because he heard a car outside the house and glanced up in time to see a mini-bus pull up and the younger kids come running up the driveway.

"Looks like school's out." said Gwen, watching them too.

"Will we go out and meet them?" asked Jack, straightening up and hearing his back crack.

"Why?" grunted Owen.

"Because if I have to stay in the same room as you any longer I may kill you." said Jack acidly. Owen looked up at him, scowling, then said,

"Fair point." He got to his feet, "C'mon, I'm starving anyway."

"I think I'll stay here." said Toshiko quietly, "I want to keep reading."

Jack nodded, understanding that she needed some time alone. Owen and Gwen went with him as they wandered down into the kitchen. Guinevere skipped around them, ducking her head to avoid their gaze as she past them in the hall. They could hear a crying child, it sounded like a young one. It was Christoffer, who was clinging onto Michaela's neck, as she crouched down in front of him and held him.

"It's ok Christoffer, it wasn't so bad, was it?" she cooed. Aiden, Deva and Taran were opening their school bags and setting their books on the kitchen table. Aiden spotted them first and hopped off his chair, running up to them.

"Can I help you Captain?" he asked, grinning up at him. Jack smiled and ruffled Aiden's hair,

"We just wanted to stretch our legs, maybe get something to eat."

"Is he ok?" asked Gwen, looking at Christoffer, who seemed inconsolable as Michaela tried to sooth him, although she wouldn't pick him up. Aiden glanced at them, then said in a soft whisper,

"Christoffer doesn't like nursery school. He misses mum and dad."

"Oh." Jack could tell Gwen didn't understand why Michaela wasn't picking Christoffer up and giving him the comfort he wanted. But Jack knew she was trying to teach him some independence without denying him love. It was a hard lesson to teach.

"Deva says he cries all day." said Aiden, shaking his head.

"Poor thing." said Gwen.

"Deva was the same." said Aiden. "The fridge is over there. I can get you something if you want."

"We can take a look ourselves, it's ok."

"Ok, solid." Aiden shrugged, then went back to the table. Deva was placing her colouring pencils in a particular order, making them lie in the colour spectrum. Jack made his way over to the fridge and pulled it open.

"Holy…"

The fridge was bigger on the inside! No… actually it was just much bigger than Jack had expected, but he supposed fifteen kids, plus servants, parents and God knows who else probably required a very well filled fridge.

"Stuff on the sixth shelf is for you guys." said Michaela absently as she unlocked Christoffer's arms from around her neck and held his upper body with her hands. "C'mon leanbh, no more tears, yeah? I know you miss us, and we miss you, but nursery is fun! You've got all the games… don't you like the games?"

Christoffer shook his head, sniffling, his nose running and his cheeks bright red. Michaela mirrored him, "No? You don't like the games?"

"He doesn't play with them." said Deva accusingly. "He just sits and cries all day."

Jack half wished he could bury his head in the vegetable tray and ignore the domestic situation. It was slightly easier to ignore when Ianto wasn't around, but Jack had known Michaela relatively well before, she and Ianto used to tag-team to browbeat Jack and Archie into doing their paperwork. She had been reserved, blunt and pragmatic, all of which meant that she and Ianto had gotten along very well.

Thinking about the cheerful, long conversations the two had had over the phone while they worked in Cardiff and Glasgow, Jack wondered how he had missed the attraction between them, because it had to be strong enough to explain the fifteen kids –Jack really did not care that it was fourteen pregnancies. But he had always thought they were just friends, as 21st century men and women considered friendship.

"Jack, unless you can feed by snorting food molecules, get your head out of the fridge and let us have a look!" snapped Owen, jolting him out of his musings. Jack took out the plate of cold chicken sandwiches and offered them to Gwen, who accepted two. Owen went for the tuna and sweetcorn sandwiches. They stood by the fridge and ate, reluctant to go and sit at the table, where the kids were doing homework. It was… too much like they were just accepting things.

Guinevere came skipping in, dressed in a pink princess costume, a plastic crown on her head, and fluffy mini-heels on her sock covered feet.

"Guinevere…" Michaela started, then she sighed and shook her head, "Ok, but you'd better get all your work done."

Guinevere nodded, tossed her long black hair over her shoulder and sat down at the desk. Michaela shook her head and said something about "If she marries an Arthur I will have Ianto's head."

As if summoned by magic, Ianto walked into the room, Quinn in his arms.

"Dydd da everyone." he said, setting Quinn on the floor. Quinn immediately ran over to Christoffer who was still sniffling and whimpering, although the crying had subsided, and bumped him, arms out. A slightly uncoordinated attempt at a bear hug.

"'Offer no cry." said Quinn. Christoffer looked at him, lower lip stuck out, face blotchy as Quinn tried again for a bear hug, "'Offer no cry!" said Quinn again. Michaela straightened up and edged away, taking advantage of the distraction. Christoffer noticed at once and burst into tears all over again. "'Offer no cry!" shouted Quinn, almost insulted by Christoffer's ignoring of him. Michaela threw Ianto a plaintive look, catching Jack's eye as she looked to her husband. She flushed pink at the cheeks and went to Christoffer, crouching down and putting her arms around him.

"Maybe I should go into nursery with him tomorrow." she said rubbing his back. Ianto shook his head, ruffling Aiden's hair as he moved to the table.

"It might make things worse."

"Well what else do you wanna do?" demanded Michaela, forcing her voice to stay calm, even though she was clearly frustrated. "It's been seven weeks."

"I'm aware of that." said Ianto calmly, the skin around his eyes pinching. "But if you go with him he'll expect you to go with him again."

"Well… maybe I will!"

Gwen coughed, making both parents look at her, as if remembering they were there. Michaela's blush deepened and she gave up, lifting Christoffer into her arms and holding him close. Christoffer quickly stopped crying and snuggled into her, dirty face pressed into her neck, arms forming a vice-like grip on her. Quinn stamped his foot, looking outraged at the situation.

"Daddy, look, I got a gold star in Welsh today!" said Guinevere, holding up her copybook. Ianto took the copybook from her, and his eyes flicked over the work. He smiled,

"Mae hyn yn dda iawn, merch. Yr wyf yn falch ohonoch chi. Llongyfarchiadau."

"Diolch yn fawr, daddy." Guinevere preened as Ianto pressed a kiss to her head. Aiden narrowed his eyes and then looked at Michaela.

"Mum! Chríochnaigh mé mo obair bhaile a thug tú dom." He held out some sheets to his mother.

"Maith an buachaill." said Michaela, smiling and taking the sheets. "Déanfaidh mé iad a cheartú i ndiaidh dinnéar."

Aiden grinned and then stuck his tongue out at Guinevere, who pulled at her face with her fingers in retaliation.

"Oi! Enough you two." said Ianto, resting a hand on each of their heads. "No competing for culture."

They nodded at their father, then glared at each other as Ianto moved around the table and bent over Deva.

"Whatcha up to, merch?"

Deva poked a finger at her colouring book. "Oh! Is that Princess Gretel from the Disney movie?" asked Ianto. His hands looked huge on her five year old shoulders. Deva nodded. "Deva, use words please." said Ianto.

"Yes." said Deva in a whisper.

"And that's her brother, is it?"

"Yes."

"What's his name?"

"Hansel?"

Deva's voice never rose above a whisper as she spoke. Ianto rubbed her shoulders and dropped a kiss on her head.

"Have you other homework?"

"Handwriting."

"Do you need help with it?"

Deva lifted her big green eyes up to her father, looking at him upside down and then she said,

"I'm alright."

Ianto gave her a small smile and kissed her brow, "Well if you need me, let me know."

"Quinn I see you!" said Michaela, chasing after him, Christoffer still clinging on to her body, as Quinn tried to sneak into garage. Quinn let out a pouty noise and leaned back against his mother's hand as she took his arm. Christoffer giggled at him as Quinn went limp, his weight pulling his mother into bending forward, which forced her to hold on tighter to Christoffer so he wouldn't fall. "Quinn, stop it!"

"No!"

Jack knew an oncoming tantrum when he saw it. So did Ianto apparently, because he moved across the kitchen, picked Quinn up and said,

"Quinn, behave, or you're going to the corner."

"Taran! You almost spilled on my homework!" complained Guinevere as Quinn tried to wriggle free from Ianto's grip.

"I did not!" shouted Taran.

"Yes you did!"

Michaela walked to the table, picked up the plastic cup and said, "Taran finish the drink and there'll be no more issues. You know there's no drinks at the table during homework hours."

"I was thirsty." complained Taran.

"Quinn, stop it!" said Ianto as Quinn kicked at him. Quinn's face was going red, and he was on the verge of a tantrum. "Right, that's it. The corner for you."

Quinn let out a bellow of displeasure. Christoffer hid his face in Michaela's neck again unlocking one hand to cover an ear. Deva's eyes followed Ianto as he carried Quinn out of the room. Aiden threw Jack, Gwen and Owen a mortified look, as if he was embarrassed at his brother's behaviour in their presence. Guinevere was smiling in triumph as Taran grudgingly finished his drink. Michaela took the cup, transferred it to the hand that was holding Christoffer up and then rested her hand on Taran's head for a few seconds, which seemed to soothe his ire somewhat. But when Michaela turned away to put the cup in the dishwasher, Guinevere and Taran pulled faces at each other.

"C'mon, lets get out of here." said Owen quietly.

Jack and Gwen put their now empty plates in the dishwasher and followed him. They wandered around the house, exploring the various rooms. In a sitting room with a giant flat screen TV embedded in the wall, Ianto was sitting on the couch, reading a book. Quinn was sitting on a small stool, facing the wall, sniffling and hiccupping. Ianto's old stopwatch was next to Ianto on the arm of the couch, ticking away the seconds. As they stuck their heads into the room, Ianto glanced up at them, smiled, then glanced down at the stopwatch. He picked it up and clicked it off, getting to his feet and walking across the room to Quinn, crouching down behind him.

"Two minutes are up Quinn, you can turn around now."

Quinn did so, sniffling loudly in the room. Ianto lifted him off the stool and held him by the arms as he said, "Ok?"

Quinn nodded, hiccupping. Ianto nodded, straightened up and walked across the room with Quinn, sat back down and lifted Quinn onto his lap, letting Quinn cuddle into his chest. He clicked the stopwatch again and sat back, arms around Quinn. Jack nudged the others into a retreat and shut the door.

"Poor baby." said Gwen sympathetically.

"Good method." said Owen reluctantly. "Two minutes on the stool, two minutes of hugging as a reassurance afterwards."

Jack nodded. His head was beginning to ache from all the domestic around him. He usually liked kids, but this was different. These were Ianto's kids, and there was a lot of them. It was disconcerting enough to have been thrown twenty years into the future, but all these kids was especially off putting.

And if this wasn't real, maybe that was the point. The kids could be a deliberate distraction, there to keep them so distracted they missed the attempts to extract information from them.

Taran came running out of the kitchen, clutching himself and dancing a little as he ran into a downstairs bathroom. Jack glanced into the kitchen at the kids doing their homework, and was surprised to find himself hoping that they weren't in on this. Even if there was a deception, they were rather sweet.

I'm not a parent, and I have little hands on experience with kids, so I'm guessing at what's a good parenting technique and what isn't.

So, do you believe it's real or not any more or less now?

Night's Darkness