March 1988
Jack walked into a small cosy little country pub in a small town hidden by some mountains in the north of Wales. He scanned the room to see the familiar redhead standing behind the bar leaning against it looking like she was about to fall asleep. He grinned mischievously and sauntered up to bar before smacking down hard, causing Donna to jump.
"I ought to give you a smack for that!" she snarled viciously while glaring at him from under her fringe.
"You wouldn't hurt me, I'm too handsome" Jack said smirking as Donna blushed faintly. "How are you? The babies keeping you up?"
"Not JJ" Donna said. "Alex Rose, she never stops crying. The girl never sleeps unless she's completely exhausted. Rose is at ends trying to keep that baby happy. JJ is good though, he never cries and I mean that literally."
"JJ?" Jack asked. "What happened to Jack John?"
"Too long. JJ is easier to say and he seems to like it. Those babies are so bloody advance in showing their likes and dislikes. I say in a few more months' time they'll be talking and crawling....probably being running before their first birthday"
"My money is on that they'll be running before they learn to talk." Jack said. "Donna be a doll and pour me a pint"
"You better be tipping Harkness" Donna growled as she picked up a clean glass and began to pour a pint out. "These people rarely tip unless it's Friday or a special night."
"Why do you and Rose need more money?" Jack asked looking worried.
"Well yeah a stone cottage is bloody freezing and if you haven't noticed it's bloody snowing outside" Donna groused as she handed him his pint.
"Look they're still looking for you. Once it dies down I swear I'll move you lot to a city where it's easier to keep warm, where the jobs are better"
"I know Jack, I know" Donna said smiling up at him, her eyes sparkling brightly despite the shadows beneath them, she leaned up and pecked him on the cheek. "Half an hour and I'll finish my shift and we'll go over to the cottage"
She walked to the other side to serve an old man when her back was turned Jack slowly and gently touched the spot she kissed, his heart speeded up just a bit, he shook his head and attempted to get a firm grip on reality.
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As they entered the cottage a baby's wail could be heard.
"Oh dear god she's at it again" Donna muttered.
"Poor kid sounds like she's upset" Jack said sympathetically as Donna led him into Rose's bedroom which was small and cramped with the bed, two cots, nappy table and wardrobe. Donna then walked of mumbling about making a cup of tea leaving Jack to talk to Rose privately.
Rose was sitting on her bed bouncing a small pink bundle in her arms. "Shh...Shh...Come on baby....shh...nightmare is gone, you're fed, you're changed and you're burped, please honey sleep" she pleaded quietly to her daughter.
"Here let me try" Jack said quietly holding his arms out. "You look like you could use a break Rosie love"
"No offense Jack but I have to do this myself" Rose said wiping a tear off of her cheek. "If you can manage it she'll depend on you and with you're schedule it wouldn't work"
Jack gave her a sad smile. "If I could quit I would have" he whispered. "I could take very long holidays and they wouldn't care but if I don't do at least one job for them they'll turn nasty"
"S'all right Jack I und-" she gasped and froze, her eyes looked empty and from where he was standing Jack could see Alex Rose's small hand pressing up against Rose's temple. He stared at Rose for a few seconds, silently panicking, he has no idea what was happening and he had no idea if Rose was hurt or not. Rose let out another gasp and fell back onto the bed taking deep breaths. Jack ran to Rose's side.
"Rose are you all right? What happened Rose?" he asked.
"Oh Jack" Rose whispered. "Oh Jack I understand now, I understand so much"
"What? What do you mean? Did Alex Rose do something telepathic with you?" Jack asked. "Stay there; don't move telepathy can be harsh on a human's mind sometimes"
"Jack, you remember when I said one of my babies can see everything?" Rose whispered acting as if Jack hadn't spoken.
"Erm yeah"
"It's Alex Rose, that's why she's crying all the time. She's sees everything, my poor baby. All those nightmares to haunt her" Rose got up off the bed and held Alex Rose away to stare up into her baby's eyes. "But now I understand if I let her into my mind she can relax easier." She kissed Alex Rose's forehead. "Hush now sweetie. Bedtime for you"
Jack let out a chuckle when he saw Alex Rose shake her head. "Donna was right they are advanced. Where is JJ? I can't see nor hear him"
"He's asleep" Rose said.
"You're kidding he can sleep through this one's bellowing?" Jack said sweeping Alex Rose out of Rose's arms and tickling the baby under her chin, Alex Rose giggled and cooed.
"Don't ask me how he does it but he does" Rose said smiling. "He is Alex Rose's opposite I swear it"
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Jack's eyes suddenly shot open. It was well past midnight and he was lying on the lumpy sofa with his shirt off, the soft snores which was either Rose's or Donna's could be heard and small snuffles from either one of the babies could also be heard but neither was what woke him up...no it was the whispering.
He laid there concentrating on the whispering. From what he could tell it was coming from outside, you really would think that a stone wall can block those things. But the most important question was...who would be hanging outside the cottage at this time in the thick snow?
"Are you sure?"
"Positive, Harkness isn't even here. The women and little kiddie winks are all alone"
"Finally now Peterson won't skin us"
Jack held his breath, Torchwood. They have found them though he was sure they wouldn't. However he had the advantage, they didn't know he was here. Quickly and silently he slipped on his shirt, shoes and coat before slipping into Donna's room. He wasn't sure why he went to her first but he knew he had to get her out of there quickly.
Donna was snoring softly, she was curled up to one side buried under duvet upon duvet her red hair curling against the pillow. He reached out and shook her hard; she immediately sat up and punched him.
"Ow" he gasped quietly as he could, putting a hand against his lip.
"Jack?" Donna whispered blinking at him. "What are you doing?"
"We don't have time. Torchwood has us surrounded. We need to get Rose and the twins out of here as fast as we can"
Donna moved quickly, so quickly Jack thought she could beat the Doctor in a race. She now had socks, shoes and a dressing gown on and was out of the room and into Rose's waking her up. Jack followed and scooped up one of the babies that was still sleeping peacefully. He wrapped the baby up in a couple of blankets and accepted a baby bag from Donna who was stuffing essentials in while Rose was picking up the other baby.
"We scatter" Jack hissed. "Go our own ways for a few days. I'll contact you and arrange where we meet. Rose you still have your mobile?" Rose nodded. "Keep it charged, I'll phone you"
Before anyone else could say or do anything the sound of the door breaking down and footsteps could be heard.
"Quick!" Jack hissed "out of the window!"
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It had been roughly three hours since he jumped out of the window just after Donna and Rose. He managed to run across three fields and get beyond the village, making his way down to another. He looked up to see dawn was coming, his breath could bee seen before him and he sighed. He leaned against a wall when someone ran out through the bushes giving him a scare.
"Jack!"
"Donna!"
"Have you seen Rose?" Donna asked.
"No I haven't. We probably won't find her for awhile. Come on there's another village down there. We can get some breakfast and make some plans" Jack said taking Donna's hand firmly in his.
"Oh Jack, you won't believe it" Donna said letting out a small sob. "When I was running, I looked back. They burnt down the cottage, couldn't find us so they burnt it down"
"Figured as much" Jack muttered, tugging Donna along. "Come on we'll get you a nice cuppa and something to-" a baby wail cut him off and he looked down into his arm. There lying in his arms was Alex Rose. "We better find Rose soon" Jack murmured. "This kid is way too young to be separated from her mother"
"Somehow I don't think this will be the last time" Donna said quietly.