House sighed as he downed yet another drink. Wilson had moved out and so far things hadn't gotten any better. Ok, so they were on speaking terms now, but it was short awkward conversations were neither really knew what to say to the other.

He felt so lonely without someone else at the apartment. He just wanted Wilson to come home. He was more than willing to talk. About anything. He'd do anything just to have Wilson back and talking to him properly.

Pulling out his mobile House flipped it open and found Wilson's name, dialling quickly before he lost the courage. He wasn't quite sure whether it was Wilson or the answer phone he was talking to. His senses were impaired by the drink.

"Hey, it's me..." House hesitated. "Look... I really miss you... please... come home and we can talk about it... I'm sorry I told Thirteen about us... I didn't mean for it to sound like there was one rule for you and another for me... I'm just... I'm not the easiest person to live with... you know that... it's not an excuse but-"

"House, where are you?" Wilson's voice startled House.

"I... I'm in a bar... it's called Sharries, it's just across town," House said. "I meant what I said."

"I know," Wilson replied. "I miss you too. Look... I can't promise that things will be ok... but we'll talk yeah? I'll come and pick you up. See you in a minute."

House stared at his phone for a moment before putting it back in his pocket and ordering another drink. Wilson walked through the door after House's third 'last shot'.

"Hey," Wilson sat down beside him. "How many have you had?"

"Don't start," House rolled his eyes. "I called you to make up not have another argument."

"I'm not talking to you like this," Wilson said. "Come on, I'm taking you home."

House sighed and stood up shakily, grabbing his cane. He allowed Wilson to lead him outside.

"Hey, where are we going?" House frowned slightly.

"I wasn't sure where the bar was," Wilson replied. "So I came by bus and asked for directions."

"Oh right..." House nodded. "We're taking the bus home then?"

"Well... you are..." Wilson hesitated. "I don't think I should stay."

House felt his heart sink. Wilson still hadn't forgiven him then.

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"Have you told Ianto?" Martha asked in an undertone as she sat down next to Jack. He was watching the trainee's playing a 'team-building' game and was particularly struck by several people.

"No," Jack replied. "There's no point anyway."

"Jack, it's a baby," Martha said in an undertone. "Don't you think he deserves to know he's going to become a father?"

"He's not going to," Jack shook his head. "Because it's not a baby. It's a foetus and it won't live past five and a half months."

"What do you mean?" Martha frowned slightly, shifting closer as Jack's voice dipped.

~~

After being released from the medical hospital Jack and Levlin were sent back home. It was hard to adjust to normal life after nearly a whole solstice away. Those kids that had been taken for the EBP were labelled and ridiculed, bullied to the point where some killed themselves.

Jack and Levlin had it tough for a time, but being holders of their Peleck goggles and graduating from the academy with such high marks meant that they still held a certain amount of respect.

Jack's mother slowly shut down and towards the end it was her son who did most of the mothering. When she finally died Jack had moved past sad. He'd lost his mother the same day he'd lost his Dad and Gray. It was just her shell that died.

After everything that happened, Jack and Levlin decided to sign up to fight. It was somewhat expected of them and if they were totally honest with themselves, there wasn't much left for them on the Peninsula.

After snapping out of the spell of the men in black coats Levlin's parents had deemed him an abomination and disowned him. This had hit Levlin hard, who had tried desperately to explain that they had signed the form, but they wouldn't listen.

So Jack and Levlin decided to make their own way in the world. They moved away from the Peninsula and into the cities. It was the solstice they turned twenty that it happened. They'd always been careful, especially after the operations both had suffered, but somehow, Jack ended up pregnant.

They discussed it and in the end decided to have and keep the child. So for four blissful months they were happy and planning a family. Then month five rolled around and Jack began to get stomach cramps.

They went to the EBP members and tried to get help. But nothing could be done. They claimed that it wasn't the womb; that Jack was just one of the unfortunate few whose body reacted badly to the first pregnancy, but it was still devastating to lose their baby.

That wasn't the last though. Twice more with Levlin and then three more times with other partners and still Jack couldn't make it past five and a half months with the child. In the end he vowed never to go through the pain again. Not after the last one. His partner killed himself when the baby died, leaving Jack not only to keep it together after miscarrying, but after losing his lover as well.

~~

Martha's hand had ended up clutching Jack's at some point during his recollection and he squeezed it gently when he caught the look of horror and upset on her face.

"It's fine," he said quietly. "I just... it's going to be the same this time and I don't want Ianto to have to go through that. We... we've only had sex twice since getting back together... I don't think he'd be able to cope if I revealed this... his confidence is already shot..."

"What about you though?" Martha asked. "You can't go through this alone Jack."

"I'll be alright," Jack smiled weakly. "Tough as old-"

"ELVIS! FOR GOODNESS SAKE!"

The cry cut through Jack and Martha's conversation and they turned to look at the trainee's surrounding two people who looked like they were about to go three rounds with each other.

"What?" 'Elvis' tried to look innocent as a sandy brown haired girl glared at him.

"You know full well what! Every time I come close to catching the ball you keep coughing to put me off!" The girl growled. "It's annoying and it's cheating. Do you really think that UNIT are going to want cheaters?"

"Do you really think they're going to want people who get annoyed over the tiniest things?" Elvis shot back. "Besides, you know they won't hire one of us without the other."

"You know when people argue that much," Jack began but was cut across.

"Just because I had to spend nine months sharing a womb with you does not mean that we can't have separate lives!" The girl turned on her heel and disappeared with a few of the others in tow.

"Whatever," Elvis went back to the game.

"They're twins," Martha smiled. "Elvis and Melody Reven, twenty seven years old, she's a medic, he's a techie... in fact, they're pretty much what you're looking for. Plus they're so unorthodox that you'll love them and there's no way UNIT will hire them."

"But if they argue-"

"They don't," Martha shook her head. "Usually they get on. Elvis is just showing off because he's got a crush on you."

"Me?" Jack looked at her surprised.

"No," Martha laughed. "I just wanted to see that look on your face."

Jack rolled his eyes, shaking his head. Trust Martha.

"And to see you smile," she added as an afterthought.