A/N Thanks to all who have continued with this story, the reviews, alerts and favorites really keep the Muses on board. Special thanks as always to my beta Orion, and to Helen, for the encouragement.

"Will you and your mates be staying 'til morning?" the Matron asked them politely as they came back together. The music had ended and the last few people were slipping away, obviously for more privacy.

"Thought we might, yeah," the Doctor said, ignoring the looks from Jack and Rose.

"Please feel free to make use of the Pavilion, then. It can be quite comfortable."

"We would be honoured," he said, making all the correct and polite noises until the Matron left, walking towards two gentlemen waiting for her at the edge of the square.

"Not letting any grass grow on her then," Rose commented. "Doctor, why are we stayin' here then?"

"Mates?" Jack asked. The Doctors ears reddened in what could almost be mistaken for embarrassment. That got Rose's attention as well, and suddenly the time lord found himself the object of intense scrutiny, the kind he avoided, the kind he wished right now he could ignore.

"Apparently the Matron's special powers include telling 'er that we aren't interested because we're mates. Probably just our countermeasures," he said trying to dismiss the whole thing.

"Wow," said Jack. "That's a big deal around here. I was wondering why she backed off of you so fast. I was dancing with this kid earlier, cute but too young for my tastes, anyway, even if I wasn't already taken. He was saying that he was just going through the motions 'til his partner was ready to go before the Matron. Explained the whole thing, didn't want me getting the wrong idea."

"That was those couples, yeah? The ones they were carrying around? She thinks we're like that? Well, I'm just as glad she did," Rose said, stepping into the pavilion.

"Enough then, we need to make some plans, busy night. Somehow I just can't see a few dozen people getting out of comfortable friendly beds and leaving before the end of the festival they've come this far for."

"Yeah, just a little weird. Want me to take the first watch?" Jack said. He was volunteering but they both knew why. Jack was offering the Doctor and Rose a chance to be alone, offering the out again, as if there was any doubt.

"Don't be any dafter than nature made you, lad. I don't sleep much anyway. Think we can make something…"

"Come help me move these, yeah?" Rose said, already turned to the practical, pulling the big pillows out of the corner and propping them up against the settee. "Well, come on," she said. The two men looked at each other and followed her pointing finger. "An' you can get those curtains shut and all. I don't need to be giving a show like some in this neighbourhood," she said, looking pointedly towards another pavilion, where the curtains were not pulled, only some kind of netting, and the light inside meant that everyone who looked had a pretty good idea of what was going on. Not that anyone else was paying attention. The night was quiet accept for the odd sound of pleasure, floating on the pleasant breeze. The men did as she requested, not only because there was no way of getting around her, but in some respects she was her mother's daughter, and the Doctor had told Jack enough about her to know that they both wanted to stay off that side. Meanwhile, Rose had found a couple of coverings and was laying them down to make a nest for the three of them.

"Doctor, found your jacket," Rose said as she continued snooping in the cabinet under the drinks tray in the corner.

"I was wondering where that had got to, might need it later."

"Yep, this too," she said, holding up the neatly folded jumper.

"She could've kept that," Jack said, reflecting her earlier statement.

"Nothing wrong wit' that jumper," he said indignantly to his companions.

"Nothing right with it either," Jack said. "Doesn't exactly show you off now, does it?"

"Hasn't exactly been important before," he said. "An' this does, does it?" Jack nodded to Rose, almost as if they'd coordinated.

"There are advantages," Rose said as she slide one hand down the deep V where the shirt crossed in front. It was a bold move and she looked up to see both shock and pleasure on his face. His skin was cool but pleasant under her hand and she could feel his hearts speed up, before he took it in his larger one.

"Later," he promised. "Got a feeling it's going to be a busy night and the sooner we get done, sooner we will be back on the TARDIS."

"He's right," Jack said, though obviously reluctant as she was. They were both afraid that he would change his mind, regardless of what he had said. "I'd hate to be interrupted."

"Come on, then, you two, time we all got some rest." Then, much to their surprise, he flopped down in the nest that Rose had made and stretched his hands out to each of them. They joined him and he gathered the two humans into his arms. Rose settled easily, the Doctor's arm around her and her blond head buried in his shoulder. Jack was more tentative. "Come on, lad, plenty of room. I know it's not what any of us want right now, but it's all that's on offer at the moment. Here." He reached an arm around the reluctant young man and drew him close. His breath just rustled the hair at Jack's temple before he pressed a gentle kiss there. "You two sleep. I'll wake you if and when the excitement starts." He kissed Rose as well and then settled them close to him. It had been a long time since he had been this close to anyone, nor had he wanted to be. Now, looking at these two beautiful humans trying to settle after everything that had happened, he realised how much he had missed it.

Rose settled down pretty easily, probably exhausted after the excitement, but Jack was more restless. He could have done something, just a little suggestion, but he wouldn't. It wouldn't be fair to either of them, not without asking. Rose hadn't been keen on the TARDIS transition at first, and Jack had already had his head mucked with enough, but as it was, in spite of their resistance, the day was obviously too much for them. Rose was already drifting off, while he could feel the tiny changes that showed Jack too was on his way to sleep. That's the thing about soldiers, he though, can sleep anywhere when they have to.

The Doctor remained in the dark, his eyes adjusting as the last of the lanterns around the pavilion guttered. The noises from outside, the sighs and giggles of couples, hints of conversations held sleepily in the dark, slowly faded to nothing. He wasn't sure how he got to this place, comfortably nested between these two humans, watching them sleep. Rose's head was buried in his shoulder. All that was visible was her tousled blond head, but her breath was warm against the fabric on his shoulder. Jack, he looked so young like this, all the care and the worry that he tried to hide beneath a flirtatious exterior gone. He could see the pain that was in him, the life that made him who he was slowly slipping away as he drifted deeper into sleep. His hand had drifted over and was resting on Rose's arm, even subconsciously making sure they were both there. Was the Matron right? Was this really meant to be more? Surely not, they were both human, no matter what he wanted, one day they would grow old and die, leaving him behind. Or they would all get killed, his life was not exactly safe on any day. But he found that, as much as he wanted to, he couldn't send them away now. A life without them wouldn't be worth living, and at least when they were gone he would have his memories, of quiet nights like this, maybe, of all the things they wanted together, the promises he had made and couldn't regret.

"Come on now, need you to wake up." Jack Harkness awoke to the insistent voice. He had been having this great dream, the Doctor holding him, promising that… He opened his eyes, to find the dream was real. He had been sleeping curled up with the Doctor and Rose.

"Wha'…" Rose started, a yawn interrupting what she was saying.

"Got voices outside, and some other noises, sounds like at least three people, maybe four. Come on, sleepy head, Showtime." Jack was on his feet almost immediately, with Rose lagging only slightly behind him.

"What's the plan?" he asked the Doctor, as he stood, sleep retreating to a memory.

"Thought we would go out there and see what's what. The Matron said that people are disappearing in the middle of the night. Now, if they're leaving on their own, it's not a problem, but I'm thinking they have some help," he whispered quietly.

"I'll go around the back of the pavilions, see what I can find," Jack said. He knew all about recon, and that would leave the Doctor and Rose within sight of each other.

"Not by yourself," Rose cried, lowering her voice instantly in the quiet.

"Rose," he started.

"She's right, lad. Rose, go with him, but both of you go round toward where the buffet was, I'll go round the other way, see if we can't find something." There was another sound, this time further away. "We'd best move. If they're looking for off-worlders, then we are prime targets, and I don't like being anyone's target." Rose nodded reluctantly, making it clear that she wasn't keen on the 'splitting up' plan. Jack opened the curtain in the back cautiously, motioning the all clear. He took Rose's hand and they slipped off to the left, while the Doctor went to the right. He wasn't all that thrilled with them splitting up either, but there was nothing for it unless they lay in ambush, which would put one of them in jeopardy. No, not going to chance anything. Jack would take care of Rose. He slipped around the outside of the pavilion and made toward the sounds.

The Doctor crept along the side, pausing only long enough to ascertain that the occupants were sleeping and not in distress, before creeping on to the next. It would not help with anyone but the people sleeping in the square, but at least it would give him an idea. He had just rounded the side of the square when he heard a commotion and a shout. The Doctor was already racing toward the sound trying to keep his footing in the dark on unfamiliar ground, when he heard Rose scream.