Disclaimer: Do not own Torchwood, only my original characters: Alexandria Wells and Tom.
TEN
The group arrived together at the art gala creative waves with the people already present. To the others at the gala this group of people who just entered seemed so beautiful and elegant, the woman is the red dress was simply breath-taking and the woman in the dark purple dress locked quite elegant. The men surrounding them were mouth-wateringly good looking. Every pure blooded male and woman in the room was positively drooling at the mouth.
'Shall we find a table?' asked Ianto.
'You can' replied Lexi, 'I want to look at the artwork first'.
'Ok' said Ianto slightly disappointed.
'I'll join you' said Jack, jumping at the chance.
'No, I wouldn't want Ianto to get lonely' said Lexi, 'John will take me'.
Jack slumped his shoulders in despair as John led Lexi away.
Tosh giggled.
'What?' replied Jack grumpily.
'She's playing you' she replied.
'What do you mean?' added Ianto.
'You both rejected and humiliated her and now you want her. She won't let you win easily' said Owen.
'Do you really want her?' asked Tosh.
They both nodded.
'You'll have a hard time winning her over then, I suggest you get cracking' said Tosh.
MEANWHILE
'You're evil you know that right' said John.
'I don't know what you mean' said Lexi innocently.
'The way you act around those two, you've forgiven them already haven't you' he said.
'Perhaps but they don't have to know that' she replied.
'Again, you're evil' he said.
'What's the harm in making them step up a bit, they have a lot to prove' she said.
'Well there is no harm but you might end up stuck between two hot sexy men' he replied.
'That's what I'm counting on' she replied cheekily.
John laughed, 'come on now, let's actually look at the art work. I noticed you have a blank wall in your apartment that needs filling' he said.
'Fine' she replied, 'but I doubt you'll like what I chose' she added.
The two of them walked around the exhibition for just under an hour. Lexi found two pictures that she really liked, one was a picture of two pigs lying in the grass. The camera had zoomed right up to their faces at ground level. The second picture was of two chub chub lollipops on a table. She thought the lollipop picture would look great in her kitchen and the pig picture on the blank wall in the sitting room/bedroom.
'Did you guys enjoy yourselves?' asked Tosh as they returned to the table.
'Yes, I found two pictures that I really like' said Lexi.
'Oh are they up for auction?' asked Tosh.
'Yes, I think so, I better get my paddle ready for later, I am not missing out on those pieces' she replied determinately.
She took a piece of paper from the table that showed what was on offer for auction and she marked the two items that she was interested in. Then she conveniently placed the paper near Jack and Ianto.
'Oh the music is starting' said Tosh.
'Perfect' replied Lexi.
'Dear Sweets, would you do me the honour of having this dance?' asked John, formally bowing before her.
'I would love to' she replied allowing herself to be swept onto the dance floor.
Soon after Owen asked Tosh to dance and it was just Jack and Ianto left, till the women of the gala couldn't take it any longer and asked them to dance.
While Lexi was dancing with John he started to laugh.
'What are you laughing about?' she asked.
'Your two lover boys are on the dance floor, making their way towards us' he replied.
'What a shame, you mean we'll be interrupted?' she asked in mock sorrow.
'I believe so' replied John, bowing out so Ianto could take his place.
'At last' she heard him breathe.
'Hell Ianto' she said.
'Lexi, I've waited all night to be in your arms' he said.
'And now you are' she replied.
'And now I am' he said.
They danced in silence for a while, 'I miss our friendship' he said.
She raised her eyebrow at him.
'Ok I miss more than our friendship, I miss our flirting, I miss our banter and generally I miss you. I am never going to make the mistake of turning you away again' he said seriously.
'You shouldn't over think things Ianto, you'll make your brain hurt' she replied.
'I just want you to know how sorry I am' he said.
'I don't need your apologies, I need you to prove your words' she replied.
He opened his mouth to talk.
'No, no more talking, just dancing' she replied, leaning further into his embrace.
He agreed, closing his mouth and concentrating on the delectable women within his grasps.
All too soon a new pair of arms reached the couple and Ianto disappeared to be replaced with Jack.
'You're causing lots of women to glare at me you know' she said sarcastically.
'Not as much as the men starring at you' he replied.
'I can't help it if I'm beautiful' she said jokingly.
'Yes you are, so beautiful' he replied quietly.
She blushed, he smirked.
'You're a good dancer' she said.
'I've had years of practice' he replied, 'I'd show you my moves but I don't think you'd want to be the centre of attention here'.
'You're right, people are already staring enough, I wouldn't want to give them more reason to' she replied.
'Well I believe I get you for the rest of this dance at least' he said.
She smiled as he bought her closer to him, his mouth next to her ear, his hot breath making her shiver.
They danced like that for a while.
'I'm so sorry' he whispered into her ear as he held her tighter.
'I know' she replied.
You'll forgive me?' he asked.
'Do you want me?' she countered.
'So much' he replied.
'Prove it' she whispered.
Removing herself from his embrace, she suddenly felt cold but she didn't show it, she just walked away leaving him alone on the dance floor.
It wasn't long before other men were asking her to dance, she declined of course but there were some that were persistent and wouldn't take no for an answer, one such man all but dragged her to the dance floor, squeezing her wrist enough to bruise. Until a man in a crisp black suit and red tie saved her.
'Thank you' she murmured.
'It was no trouble' he replied, 'I couldn't very well leave a damsel in distress' he added with a grin.
She laughed, 'indeed not' she said, allowing him to lead her into a dance.
'So what's a girl like you doing at a place like this' he asked.
'Well this girl so happens to like art so she came here to see the art and have a good evening with good company' she said.
'Any artwork catch your eye?' he asked.
'Yes actually' she replied.
'Are you going to tell me what or?' he said.
She laughed, 'I really like the picture of the two pigs' she said.
'Oh really' he said.
'Yes really' she replied.
'You know I know the artist of that picture' he said.
'Really?' she asked.
'Yeah I think you know him too' he added.
'I do? Is he here tonight?' she asked.
'You're looking at him actually' he replied.
'No! Get out! You're the artist?!' she asked.
'In the flesh' he replied.
'Oh my gosh that's so unreal, well I hope you know I'll be bidding for your picture, I really want it' she said.
'Well I hope you win' he replied.
MEANWHILE BACK AT THE TABLE
'Who does he think he is?' growled Jack glaring at Lexi dancing with the strange man.
'I suspect he thinks he's a very lucky man' replied John sarcastically.
'I mean did you see him, just waltz up and 'saved' her then dragged her for a dance himself' said Ianto.
'I bet he rigged it. He probably paid that guy to act that way so he could save her. He's so transparent' said Jack.
Tosh looked at them in despair, 'you two are both jealous. Get over yourselves, it's just a dance'.
'Just a dance! JUST A DANCE!' cried Jack.
'That's not a dance, that's flirting with eyes' said Ianto.
'Idiots' muttered Tosh.
LEXI AND THE ARTIST
'I think I should get you back to your table now' he said.
'Why?' she asked.
'Well there are two men glaring daggers at me for dancing with you and I don't think I'd survive if they actually decided to fight' he said.
'Are they that bad?' she asked.
'I'm scared' he replied cheekily, 'what's the story there?' he added.
'Oh I was interested but they rejected and humiliated me, now they want me so I'm making them work for it' she replied.
'A lot of people would hate you for your choice of two men' he said seriously but with a wink.
'I don't care for most people' she replied.
'Me neither. You know I should introduce you to my boyfriend sometime – he's not from this planet either' he said with a wink. The then bowed before her, 'I hope you win my picture' he said, then he was gone disappearing into the crowd of dancers.
Lexi returned to the table alone.
'What was that?' asked Jack.
'I was just dancing with a man who happens to be the artist of one of the pieces I'm interested in' she replied.
'But you were dancing so close' said Ianto pouting.
'I think I've made a good new friend there' she replied with a roll of her eyes.
It was nearly eleven pm when the group left the gala. Lexi had secured the two pieces she was interested in but not by her own paddle but the paddle of Jack and Ianto. She shouldn't have been surprised after all that was the way she had planned it, but she was surprised, it was a nice surprise.
Tosh and Owen had since gone home, no down to do something kinky – Owen's words.
So it was just Jack, Ianto, Lexi and John that returned to the hub.
After putting up the pictures in her room, Lexi returned to the main part of the hub.
'You're leaving aren't you' she said looking at John.
'Well Sweets, I'm not needed her at the moment' he replied.
'You'll always be needed' she replied, 'you're my brother and my best friend' she added sadly.
'I won't be gone forever, I'll pop in more now you've settled in one place. Besides I'll have to come back for the wedding' he said winking.
She slapped his arm, giggling along with his chuckling, 'shh you' she said.
'What? I'm only speaking of the future' he said.
'I'm going to hurt you if you don't stop' she replied.
'Alright, alright!' he said, 'I'd like to keep my testicles thanks'.
'Good you're learning' she replied.
'I know, one day I may actually become a man' he replied jokingly.
'Ha Ha' she said.
'Just promise me one thing' he said.
'What?' she asked.
'Before you give in' he said.
'Yes?' she replied.
'Give them hell!' he shouted.