The sins of the father don't always get noticed.

Sitting on the couch, Mark started that spiraling descent into over thinking. It started with John; what would three and a half years apart do to their relationship? It wasn't like they had major decisions in their astral world to contend with. Outside of John wanting to stop existing, it was about bringing the kids there so John could get to know them somewhat. For Mark it was the need to connect to his lover sexually. That fantasy was amazing when it had first started. Sex on the virtual level could be greater than in reality. But unlike entering your lover's mind when you're together in reality, this lacked the actual physical contact that would have made it lasting. In the reality of the mind, it was nothing more then a super enhanced fantasy. Mark was in need of a physical connection. John was at best just going through the motions of nothing more than a cyber doll.

Not something dreams are made of. Not something to build a relationship on and a stable home for two small children. Oh and then there was Torchwood and the fact the children were the products of two 51st century males living in the 21st century. It was not a great reality to come back to. The children alone made for a lot of stress by themselves, being telepathic.

Mark loved his job with Torchwood. He was good at it, for the first time he was using his abilities for himself. Jack and Ianto's support allowed him to continue his art. He was even able to get a rundown room in a warehouse as a studio. The company was more than happy to make a little extra for the place. Mark fixed it up; it even had its own bathroom. It was his home away from home. He would go there to create and forget all of it, or let the canvas be his punching bag. His best works he soon discovered were when he let that little space in his mind just take off and drop something on the canvas in gobs of paint and frustration. Mark for the most part, was happy. But not as happy as he had being in John's arms had found him in the real world.

It was in this little room that he would wander into his mind and go off on trips. Sometimes to see his Master, more often it was the shores of Boeshane. He went to look for the children they all had been so long ago. Sometimes, he would see himself with Blue and Grey running the shoreline with a ball playing Andy in the middle. It made him long to warn those kids of the future but what good would it do? After all, he wouldn't be where he was if they didn't do exactly what they had to do.

Andy in the middle, he felt like that again with Jack's request to help Grey. He wasn't so sure that Grey maybe better off where he was. It was then that Mark tried to find the future with the revived Grey. All he saw was a burned out land coupled with a lot of screaming. He ran back to his body not sure if the cause of the horror that was Grey or something else.

His Master's words hit him like a ton of bricks as he sat between his son and daughter on the couch. All this Andy in the middle images, the words, "There are things happening. They may show up at your door. I will do my best to protect you." His master left him and the recent strange sightings of skeleton-like creatures large than life ghost images made the hairs on his neck stand up.

Jolein interrupted the pieces of the puzzle as they were starting to come together with her simple little voice. "Papa, what do we call Papa2? Will he like us? I mean now that we are in the 'real' to him?" She cuddled closer to Mark who pulled her to him in a hug.

"He will love both of you, I know that. You called him Daddy in our little world. So Daddy should be fine. What do you think, Leon?"

Leon didn't answer. Mark watched his son just stare at the same picture in the children's book he was flipping through. "Hey Leon, what's wrong?"

"Is he really my Daddy, that man in there? He just seems wrong." Leon looked at Mark with liquid eyes, trying so hard to be brave as the tears slid down his chunky little cheeks. His soft eyes were all Mark's. Gwen once remarked that these kids had old souls; he understood her words by the look in his son's soft brown eyes. They had aged far beyond their years because of the situation they had been born into.

Mark pulled his little boy tighter to him has he kissed the top of his head. "He is the same man, just he is here with us now, forever. He loves you so much." Mark couldn't put these complex emotions into words for a little boy to understand. So he tried to relay them to Leon with images.

Leon blocked his father's intrusion into his mind and wiggled out of his protective hold. He stood before Mark frustrated tiny hands on little hips he shook his head no.

"Hello, lovely." The voice spoke making Mark turn his attention from the upset child. John stood there dressed and looking like a vision before him. Leon turned to look at the man. Jolein didn't hesitate to run to her Daddy. She squealed with delight as he bent to hug her.

Mark just stood there, unsure what to do. He let his daughter have her moment with John. Then he became aware of the walls closing around him putting him in a little box known as fear.

The little lounge area was filled with the members of Torchwood. Sally and Dan walked in hand and hand, waiting to greet their friend. Gwen with Anna and Rhys were walking down the stairs from Jack's office. Jack had just entered from the cog door and Ianto walked down from the hot house. They stood near the family awaiting an opportunity to welcome John home.

Leon just stared at John. His little face was full of hate. "You are not my Daddy!" He yelled, causing a spark of strong emotion to hit all those gathered.

"Leon, I am. Please come here and let me hug you baby. I'm not that scary am I?" He smiled at his son who looked so much like Mark.

"No, I won't! Uncle Jack!" He ran straight into Jack's arms, crying. Jack scooped up the hysterical child, trying to soothe him.

John stood up and turned to look at the boy sobbing in Jack's arms. He grew pale and there was something else in his face. The unmistakable look of pain from the rejection of a loved one. John felt like he was commended to death by the reaction of his little son.

Mark was beside him in moments. Whatever thoughts of uncertainty over John's returned he had before left briefly as the little boy ran to the arms of another man. He had John in a warm caring hug. Smiling, he whispered. "Hey, give him time, we have that now. He is very close to Jack so he trusts him. It is all right, my love. Welcome home."

"Oh Lovely, how I missed you." John clung to Mark's scent, breathing it in as he rubbed his cheek into the silky skin of Mark's neck.

Some heat never grows cold. The real contact gave John all the reassurance he needed that Mark had never stopped loving him for a moment. It was like a switch went on as the two bodies connected instantly wanting more contact.

"Well at least after three and a half years on ice, we know something still works." With a genuine laugh Mark led John into his first lover's kiss back home. The friction from the two overwhelmed their needy bodies. Mark moaned as John pressed into him. But like all things, the magic was broken with the voice of a little girl.

"Daddy and Papa kissing in the Hub!" Jolein screamed out the beginning of child's songs.

"I guess we can save this for later lovely, we are in mixed company." John looked down to the growing passion that was between them and stole a quick kiss before returning to the group.

Jack was beside himself trying to get Leon to go over to his father. "Leon, I'll be with you, please baby, he just wants to meet you. He is your Daddy." The boy wanted none of it. "Since you don't want to meet him, why don't we get some ice cream for everyone, okay?" The boy nodded into Jack's neck, sniffing slightly.

"I'll go with you Jack, you'll need some one to carry the bags for you." Gwen got her coat to follow Jack. "I need some air." She smiled leaving Ianto free to continue his work with Dan on the recent rift activities that have plaguing the citizens of Cardiff. The three made their way to the invisible lift earning a giggle from Leon. It was his favorite. Jack's wisdom brought him to the conclusion that little boys loved rides. Leon loved to go on the lift with Jack. Therefore, by the time they got to the ice cream shop, Leon may be ready to talk or at least be in a better state of mind to listen.

Mark was thankful that Jack was taking Leon. He might be able to shed some light to the little boy. The pain in John's face was in plain sight for those around. Not only by the rejection but also in the knowledge he had a lot catching up to do with his friends.

"John, give me a moment. I have to say something to Leon." Kissing John, he ran after the trio.

Jack was walking away when Mark's voice stopped him. He jogged up to them and instantly took Leon into his arms. "I'm so sorry baby, Papa didn't mean to seem forceful. But remember we both love you. Your Daddy loves you so much. I know this isn't easy, I understand how you feel. I feel the same. But I've known him longer than you. He must seem so unreal here in front of you." He pressed a kiss in the warmth of his son's hair.

"Papa, you are afraid too?" A hoarse little voice asked.

"Oh yes, I'm scared as well. We all are; even Uncle Jack." Mark's eyes met Jack's. They shared a look of silent communication. Mark knew that Jack had the situation under control by the wink he returned.

"Of course I'm scared, Leon. But your Daddy is more scared than the rest of us. Right now he thinks he hurt you. He is new to this world with you in it. Just the same as you feel about him being here.

The boy frowned as he looked at Jack. "But what about you, does that mean you and Uncle Ianto are leaving us now that he is here?" Mark saw where this was heading.

Jack laughed. "Oh dear, my little man, you're afraid that you and I wouldn't spend time together? Well I don't see that happening since I love you too much for that."

The boy wiped his nose on his shirt and looked at Jack with Mark's eyes. He perked up a little with a smile when he realized that Jack would always be there. He wiggled to be put down. His Papa resisted a little urge to hold on but put the young boy down to stand on his own feet.

Looking up at Mark, Leon asked. "Papa if I bring back Cherry Vanilla for Daddy will he be happy?" It was a simple solution that only a child's mind would see as the right thing to do.

"That's his favorite!" Mark blinked back the tears. "He will be very happy!"

Leon lit up with a light that comes from understanding. He skipped over to Jack, grabbing both his and Gwen's hands he hummed as they walked to the lift and headed up get his Daddy a Cherry Vanilla ice cream.

Mark wiped his eyes and headed back to the group.

John's growling stomach startled the group of well wishes and it was Anna that suggested that Mark take Jolein to make a sandwich. Mark was noticing something in the doctor he didn't like. She was being overly nice to John, almost flirtatious. And John, being John and a man who had not had any real sex in a while was putting it on rather thick with her. Like so many things that Mark thought of today he filed it away to talk it over with Nick and he would mention it at some point to John. John for the most part seemed to love the attention. He even called her beautiful at one point. Mark just glared at the pair as he walked up to the kitchen his daughter skipping ahead of him.

Mark didn't dislike the doctor. She after all, was an amazing find. Jack really knew how to add people to their group. It was like he was a bloodhound that could sniff out potential. Anna had lived up to Jack's expectations many times over in the two weeks she had been here. It was just that she was overly anxious over meeting John. She asked the most personal questions. Mark just felt like he was a part in the test tube of the great John experiment, something wasn't quite right with the whole thing.

Jolein was waiting for Papa, giggling with a little girl's happiness to help make her Daddy something to eat. Mark put her up on the counter and together they made a ham and cheese sandwich placed onto a plate. She was laughing as Papa tickled her while arranging the pickles and crisps around the sandwich.

"A present for Daddy!" As if reading his closed off thoughts she said. "Papa, don't worry about Leon. He is such a baby!" She scrunched up her face in a pout after her statement.

"I know sweetheart. Your brother will come around. I just want you to promise not to mention Ramanh around Daddy yet. Give me a chance to explain it all. He needs some time to catch up." He put his finger under his daughter's chin, meeting those hazel green eyes of John's. She looked at him while trying to finish the presentation on the plate. "Do you understand?"

"Yes Papa, it is a secret between us. Would he be angry at us if he knew?" She asked in her scarily adult child voice.

"I think he needs to take his time getting used to things. So let's just not say anything that you feel may hurt him." Like Ben may not be a great thing for the child to say to her Daddy yet. John knew about it, just not that Jolein had found out. God, Mark thought, this was really making that box he built for himself seem smaller and smaller every minute.

"Here Jolein, why don't you carefully bring Daddy his plate?" Setting his daughter down on the floor, Mark gingerly handed his daughter the plate with the sandwich.

She beamed up at her Papa for giving her such an adult task. "I could take him his drink too!" She was hoping she could show off by not spilling a drop.

"I'll take it for you. You are such a big girl for bringing your Daddy his lunch. It is a big job." Sally chimed in from behind, taking the glass off the counter. "Besides, I didn't get a shot at welcoming him home yet. Dan started filling him in on Torchwood things and with Nick explaining about James and his eyes I was kind shoved aside." She winked, realizing that Mark may need a moment to come down to Earth. She didn't know that a moment might not be enough.

"Thank you," he mouthed as she walked slowly behind the steady but sure moving Jolein. Mark leaned back against the counter absentmindedly reaching and picking at a piece of bread.

"I guess it didn't go as planned. I didn't expect that from Leon. It was like something with John spooked him." As if he had materialized next to him suddenly Nick was there.

"I didn't hear you; I guess I just wasn't paying attention to my surroundings. Not a good thing for someone in this line of work." Mark managed a weak smile. "It seems like you can run these events over in your head a million times. Each time it becomes better in your mind. The dream takes over and it becomes perfect. Then it happens and it is nothing like you thought it would be. I'm disappointed Nick, not with Leon, but with me. I feel like John and I are strangers. Have I changed that much in these last years that I can't put a finger around my feelings? I don't think I can lie to him and say I don't love him. I know I do, deep down, past these walls I've built up. But I just can't say I still love him, I just don't know. I mean I do and all…I don't know what I mean." He looked down at the tiled floor looking to see if it held an answer or two. Of course it didn't, but Nick tried to help.

"Mark, I'm not going to lie and say it is easy to just be a couple again. You two barely had 10 months together and then it all changed. I think you have handled this well. Recently I know John was difficult to you, but you fought so hard to make sure those feelings didn't fall away. The shock of seeing him right in front of you after having three and a half years in the astral world is a never easy to hide from. I think you are just nervous that you've changed, grown up more, and gotten older. It is only normal to believe that you may chase him away. Judging by the way you two locked eyes and lips, I'd say whatever you two had, if you want to call it love, it is still there. Seeing the way John looks at you and holding both Jolein and you, he loves you every bit as much as the day he left you."

"You're getting good with your inner sight if you can see all that! Okay, maybe you're right. I think once he adjusts and I work on my self-loathing over Ben we should be fine. But Allarhe wasn't built in a day. Okay, take that look off your face. Ask Jack, it is a really a place and it wasn't built in a day, it was built in 20 minutes." Mark smirked as he left Nick laughing out loud. It was time to just be with his family a bit, especially the man he still loved.

"Oh wait Mark, one more thing." Mark turned to listen. "Is it me or does Anna seem to be putting a protective cocoon around John? I was just there and she seems a little bit overwhelming in her attentions towards John." He didn't want to seem like he was adding onto Mark's already large list of things to deal with, but as a friend he needed to have this out in the open.

"Yeah she is, I think it is his pheromones. Didn't you smell him? He is emitting like crazy!" Mark breathed inwards out of habit. He smiled and went to join the group, leaving Nick lost in his own thoughts of Anna and 51st century pheromones.


The sound of multiple car crashes on the busy downtown road in Cardiff at around 2 pm alerted Jack to the trouble. "Gwen, take hold of Leon. I'm just going to see if they need any help."

"I'll call Andy and let the police and emergency vehicles know." Gwen took out her mobile.

Jack got in the middle of the 7-car collision and was going from car to car when he realized that nothing was serious. He helped a middle aged woman out of the passenger side of the car her husband was driving when she started rambling on about how it was right in front of them.

"What was?" He asked.

"Bloody giant skeletons, that's what! They showed up for a moment and then all hell broke loose. It was like a giant metal ghost and that car up front, the red little thing swerved to miss it. But it vanished. The rest of us responded in a kind of a chain reaction. But it was there!" She shouted at Jack

Jack's eyes went wide. He felt sweat creep down the back of his neck as the blood drained out of his face. "Impossible!" He shouted.

"She is right, she is. I saw it; damn near smashed the car into it before the lead car spun out. I swear it was huge, some kind of wings as well, blackish, folded at its side. I never seen a demon before, but if I were asked what I thought one looked like, I would say that was it." As the older man with wild silver hair finished his tale, Jack turned to run in the direction of Gwen and Leon.

"Hey wait, son, aren't you going to help? We could use a hand…" The old man's voice faded, as he grew closer to the pair.

It was then that the cry of death sounded as if he stood on the shores of Boeshane with Grey so long ago. He ran faster to Gwen screaming for her to pick up Leon and to start running. She blinked at him for a split second before the fear hit her and she began to shake. Leon was crying and tugging at her to move. The metal monster stood right next to them making the little boy tilted his head up and let out a scream.

Jack stopped in his tracks watching his past sneak up on him again. Leon and Gwen were frozen in their spot just staring up at the Skull with its blue almost green machine eyes looking down at them. The Mechanoid cried out its death summons one more time and vanished.

Jack shook off the image and ran towards the two. He grabbed for Leon and held the boy tight to his body, hoping to soothe the fear in the little boy. Gwen dropped the bag of ice cream and fell into Jack's hold for a brief moment.

"What the hell was that? Jack, I think I peed myself." Her tears crept down her cheeks as she steadied her breath. Taken deeper gulps of air she got it under control and let Jack take her hand as they ran back to the Hub.

Try as Jack might, he failed to get a hold of the Hub. Jack's earpiece being temporary out of service, somehow he needed to know what had just happened. Right now running through the semi panicked streets seemed the best option. It was a good thing they weren't far either. For the crowds were thickening and it was harder to get back to base through all the masses. They pushed and shouted Torchwood as voices filled with questions drowned them out in bystander chatter. Leon was in tears crying for his Papa. It was then that Jack had an idea.

With the crowds getting worse Jack took a turn down an alley and decided to try something. He paused, putting the scared child on a trashcan. He gently rubbed the tears off the boy's face and smiling spoke in a low and calm voice. "Leon, I need you to be a big boy for Uncle Jack for a moment and I promise you we will get you back to your Papa. Please try to find him and ask him if they know what is going on. Please, tell him we are okay." He kissed the little boy who smiled up at his Uncle.

"Okay." He sniffed replying softly. " I'll try." He closed his eyes and traveled to his Papa.


John was enjoying just being around the warmth of real people. He missed the sounds of their breathing, the smell of their various odors and most of all just the touch of a human hand. If you had asked him if he needed anyone a long time ago, the answer would have been no. But now seeing these faces, comrades in arms, friends, and most of importantly his entirely amazing lover as he walked down the stairs, he knew that humans needed to connect. That it wasn't just about talking it was also about touching. Though in the distant past his blood and DNA like most of the species had mixed with alien blood and DNA, he was still human with in his needs. And right now a certain shaggy haired brunette that made his blood pump was what he needed. Without thinking he stood up at Mark's approach.

"I forgot how beautiful you really are, so stunning." John said as he walked towards Mark. They embraced in front of the others, soon it led to lips meeting in pent up longing.

Anna watched the couple meld together. She was still finding John to be an enigma of a man, his file left so much out. Something in the way the two connected made Anna sad. Maybe because John was so much like someone she lost once. It was time to let that connection go, she should have done that a long time ago.

John ran his hand through Mark's hair as he broke the kiss. Pushing it out of Mark's eyes to stare into his deep brown pools, John let a warm smile linger on the one that completed him. "God, you are still gorgeous. I think you get better with age." He continued the smile as he caressed Mark's cheek.

"I found a gray hair, more from the stress of raising the twins without you. I take that back." He leaned into John's neck and purred. "I think it was from just plain not having you around. I'm so happy right now."

It didn't last as the Rift Alarm broke the spell, putting all members of Torchwood into action.

"Massive spike, around, hey it is right were Jack and Gwen are! Isn't that convenient?" Dan said as he typed away at a keyboard. Ianto went to call Jack.

"Jack, there is a massive spike right where you are at the moment. Jack, can you hear me? Jack? Gwen? The line is down." Ianto looked at Dan for confirmation.

"They're still there." Dan was shaking his head. "But whatever was there is gone now. It played havoc with the phones and the CCTV connections. I can't get a visual."

Sally went to her terminal and began to follow the news leads. "There's a seven car pileup; no major injuries. Gwen called the police before the phones went dead. It is almost like the Rift monitor was on a delay. This spike happened about a half an hour ago. And yet, it was like it just happened here. I'm confused." She looked at Dan, who smiled his confidence that an answer would be found.

"Well whatever it is, the streets are in a panic." Mark was at his console with John in tow. "This massive energy spike was amazing." It was then that Mark heard it. A hideous noise that has been following him around since he was a baby, he grabbed at the side of his head and began to shake. " Oh god, no, not here, please not here! Leon!" He swayed into John's awaiting arms.

"Easy Mark, I'm sure Leon is fine. He is with Jack. What happened, Lovely?" John saw the fear in Mark's eyes as the blood drained from his face and knew this was not good.

Mark straighten himself up, grateful that John was home. They would need all the help they could get if what Leon had just told him was indeed true. With a turn of his head he searched his partner's eyes. The truth was never easy. "Sally, Dan, the Rift monitor is behind on the spikes. We are going to have to bump that ahead a bit and recalibrate. Jack Gwen and Leon are on their way. The cowards in the streets are growing, they all want a look." He went back to typing.

John rubbing his shoulders waited for Mark to finish. With a lump of dread in his throat Ianto asked. " A look at what?"

Surprising the whole room it was Jolein that replied aware of what her brother just said to her Papa. "Monsters."

End Part 5 TBC