DISCLAIMER: Don't own, highly doubt I ever will – the characters. Except the ones based on the peeps I know. It should be clear who those are – but, just in case, you'll need to know that I don't work for Torchwood. At least not Torchwood Three. I am having so much fun playing with these characters that I may decide not to give them back - EVER! That's right, I'm writing the story that never ends! Mwah-hah-hah (insert evil laughter here)
The light of morning came through the blinds, and along with it, the sound of happy laughter on the baby monitor next to the bed. Jack rolled over and saw that Susan had burrowed her head into the pillow in an attempt to get away from the sound. "I'll get him," he volunteered, giving her a kiss on the cheek and swinging his legs over the side of the bed.
"You are a prince among men," she muttered, rolling over to the side he had been laying on and bunching the pillow he had been sleeping on closer to her, if only to smell him.
"That's a new one," he chuckled, running his hand through his hair, casing it to stick up in places. He had been spending more and more nights at Susan's flat now, and figured it was time he started pulling his own weight, help her out a little.
He padded out into the hall and across to the nursery, where Joey sat in his crib, playing with his stuffed koala and laughing at some private joke the stuffed animal seemed to be telling him still. Jack stood in the doorway for a moment, remembering when he had peeked in on his own son having his morning play. Thomas had been a happy boy, hair as dark as Jack's – and every bit as unruly. But this wasn't Thomas – he was gone now. Something seized his heart and he had to go in and get the boy. Joey reached a chubby hand to Jack's face, nudging a tear the man hadn't even realized had been there. "Okay, little man – let's go get some grub going."
He carried the toddler down the hall to the kitchen, finding the aroma of coffee there to meet him. Along with one Ianto Jones. Ianto Jones wearing only a pair of pajama bottoms with little bunnies on them. And they were pink. His hair was also rumpled and it made Jack laugh. Ianto had not seen or heard him until this point and turned to look at him. The sight of Jack holding the child made him smile. Here was another sight he never thought he would see – Jack Harkness, leader of Torchwood, wearing his own pajama bottoms and toting a kid. A kid that was smiling at Ianto and clapping.
"'Fraid not, Joe, no coffee for you this morning." Jack told him, putting him in his high chair and going to the cupboard where Susan kept the cereal.
Leaning over where Ianto was, he produced a box of Cheerios and smiled at the younger man. Joey clapped again and started to chant "Hun-gee" as Jack got closer and closer. He then spilled some of it on the tray for the boy before going back for a mug.
"Here, let me," Ianto took the mug from him and began to fix it for Jack, just how he liked it. For one brief moment, it was like old times, the two of them standing barefoot in the kitchen in front of the coffeepot, both in their pajamas, hair unkempt. Jack went to speak to Ianto when he heard the footfalls behind him.
Erin wrapped her arms around Ianto as Jack turned away. "He gets before me?" She mock pouted. "You like him more, Ianto Jones!" Her tone was teasing as she looked at Jack.
"Not true," Jack answered, almost too quickly. "I sign his checks."
They shared a laugh as the Welshman handed the steaming drink to the other man and started to pour one for Erin. She tightened her grip on him and he turned to give her a quick kiss before adding the sugar. "As long as that's all," she teased, taking the mug from him and going to the table. "Hey, JoeDog, how's it going?"
"Bloody hell, I am never drinking again!" The voice called up the stairs. "I feel like a ate a washrag!" Taryn appeared, pushing her dark hair off her face and yawning as she made for the kitchen. "Did I smell coffee? I would sell my left kidney for a cup right now." She slumped into a chair and put her head on the table, hoping the room would stop spinning.
Jack looked at Ianto and shrugged. There was plenty of coffee left, so Ianto poured Taryn some and set it in front of her, black. Erin noticed and got up to get her roommate the sugar and creamer. Taryn smiled up at everyone as she fixed her drink and took a hearty gulp. "Thanks – I owe you a kidney…"
Ianto laughed poured his own mug before sitting. "That's okay, I was standing there. Glad to be of service."
"Erin? He's hired. When can you start, Ianto?" She propped her head on her hand.
"Taryn, no stealing my staff," Jack warned in fun, seeing Tallulah slog in and pour her own cup of coffee before joining the others at the table.
"You want sugar?" Ianto raised an eyebrow in her direction.
"No, take it black," Tallulah sipped carefully, smiling when it hit her stomach.
"I'm going to make pancakes, who wants one?" Jack turned back to look in the cupboards for the mix he knew Susan kept there.
There was a general consensus that it would be good to have pancakes and Jack rambled around in the kitchen making them as Tallulah got the rest of the things they would need on the table. Susan came out to find the rest of the people in the house sitting around the table, save for Jack, who had heard her and was now standing at the griddle, no shirt on, kitchen towel slung over his shoulder, hair still mussed, flipping her portion of pancakes.
She shuffled her way over to him and went to the coffee pot to get the last cup waiting there. Jack bent to kiss her as she passed, having to push her glasses up her nose before he did so. She sighed and fixed her cup before taking a seat at the table. Jack brought her a stack of pancakes and a kiss moments later and took his own seat again.
Anyone who had been at that house that day would have thought that this was any other normal family enjoying a Sunday morning breakfast. Everyone was cracking jokes and having a good time. Erin looked over at her roommates in turn and smiled to them. Then, she caught Ianto's eyes and the smile between them could have fueled a power plant for half a year. A quick look over at Jack found him looking at Susan with a look she had never seen him give her before. One that almost bordered on love.
"What are your plans for today?" Susan asked Taryn, who was looking better now that she had eaten.
"Well, there's that thing with the theater today. And I saw that guy again." She dipped her finger in the remaining syrup on her plate and licked it.
"What guy?" Jack asked, watching her. "You got some hot Englishman on your plate?"
"No," she went for another taste of the syrup. "He's this guy that I keep seeing. I think he may be stalking me – but he may work for the police, so I might just be acting paranoid."
"Really? What makes you think that?" Jack picked up the cup that Joey threw on the floor.
"Well, for starters, I usually see him getting in a big blue box with the word Police on the side…" She looked at him like he already knew this information.
Jack choked on the coffee he was drinking, making Susan thump him on the back. "He what?!" He quickly looked at the man at the other end of the table.
Ianto looked at him, trying to read his mind, but failing miserably. He was sure that Jack would tell them later and made a mental note to ask him if he didn't.
"Have you heard about him?" Taryn leaned forward on the table, giving Jack a great view right down her tank top.
Jack tried to avert his eyes, but with no luck. "Maybe. Listen, Taryn, two things – one – Call me next time you see him – I'll give you my number and two – please don't lean on the table like that – I can see right down your shirt." He gave her a weak smile as he said the last part.
"Is Taryn in trouble?" Tallulah was concerned for the woman who may as well be her aunt.
Picking up on her distress at this thought, Jack reached for her hand. "No, Lu, honey, but you can never be too careful. I'll make sure Taryn is safe. Believe me?"
"Yes." Tallulah's face showed that she was serious and telling the truth, something that almost broke Jack's heart as he sat there. He was suddenly reminded of others he had promised that, only to be proven wrong.
Jack tried to shake all the things that were going on in his head, wondering why all of sudden these things were coming to him in a flood. Susan saw him blink for too long before shaking his head and took his free hand. That one action brought him back to the here and now and he was grateful to her. Now there was the issue of the TARDIS. And why the Doctor would be following Taryn. And whether he should tell them who it was. Jack decided that he'd wait to hear from Taryn before going any further with that. But he and Ianto did need to get into work if any of this was going to be resolved at all. He looked down at the end of the table and, still holding the girls' hands, he talked to Ianto. "We should be getting into work. Gwen will wonder where we are."
"No need, sir. Called her this morning. She said she would call us if it got busy." Ianto smiled back at Jack, and then at Erin. Jack smiled to himself at the way they looked at one another. Ianto was really getting on with his life, so, why did he feel a little jealous? He had Susan, after all.
"Good work, Ianto Jones!" Susan said. "That means we can all have a relaxing day. Well, except Taryn, sorry…"
"No, that's fine." Taryn admitted. "In fact, I'll take Tallulah and Joey with me. I only have that one meeting today and Lu always likes going to the theater – right, Lu?"
Tallulah brightened at the thought of being able to go and play with the lights again. "Yes!"
"See? All fixed," Taryn was pleased with herself. "With the added bonus of being able to spend the day with my best man!" Joey gave her a full-dimple grin.
"If you're sure," Susan said, making certain she didn't feel like she had to do this. "Then that would be wonderful."
"What are friends for?" Taryn smiled at Susan, "Besides, last time I took Joey, this guy hit on me – I told him I was the nanny. Works wonders." She got up and started to collect the plates on the table.
Tallulah excused herself and went to get dressed, taking coffee mugs as she went and putting those in the sink to be dealt with later. "How long before we go?"
"Be ready in ten minutes. I mean it, Lu. Don't put a ton and a half of eyeliner on." She was pushing the younger girl down the hall to her room. "Not going to a beauty contest."
She walked back to the stairs to the downstairs and waved at everyone before starting down. She had taken two steps when they heard "Bugger!" and a crash noise. "I'm okay, just missed a step!" She assured everyone.
Thanks to my faithful readership! You guys are the ones who are making me continue with a project that I most certainly would have scrapped a few days ago. Give yourselves a pat on the back! Job well done, crew! And who likes Domestic!Jack? Hands up out there, don't be shy...