The title says it all ...


Minda's Special DaySeptember 4722, Ogmore

The house was quiet as Minda crept from her room and descended the stairs. It was early and she wanted a few moments to herself before everyone else woke up. She peered anxiously at her dad's office and was relieved to find it empty: he was the only one who was consistently up this early in the morning. Getting some juice from the kitchen, she padded out into the garden and sat on the front steps gazing out over the sloping grass down to the sea. The sun was just starting to show above the horizon and it looked like it would be a sunny day. She would like the sun to shine but it wasn't essential, the day would be special no matter what the weather.

Behind her the front door opened and closed and she turned quickly, relieved when she saw it was her brother, Luke. "You're up early," she said, smiling as he joined her on the step.

"You were here first."

They sat together in silence, Minda drinking her juice and Luke sipping the coffee he had made. The sun continued to climb into the sky, sending out rays of light across the ever moving sea and onto the beach. Luke turned his head and studied his sister's profile. She looked younger than her twenty nine years, her skin smooth and unlined despite the passing of the years and all the things she must have seen in her time with Torchwood.

"Stop looking at me," she said without turning her head.

"No second thoughts?" he asked.

"None." She looked at him then with the most brilliant smile he had ever seen. "She's the one for me. It took me a while to realise it but I'm sure now."

"I'm so happy for you. You'll be wonderful together."

"If we can be half as happy as you and Bruce, then we'll be fine." She tucked an arm through his. "He was telling me about your plans. I think it's a great idea."

He groaned. "Please don't say anything to Tad, you know what he's like. We're only just talking about it right now." The suggestion to start a family had come from Bruce and when Luke had got over his shock he liked the idea. But there was much to consider, not least how they would continue to run their business with a child to look after.

"My lips are sealed. Least I can do for my favourite brother." She rested her head on his shoulder.

They stayed on the steps for another ten minutes, speaking occasionally before rising and going indoors. Minda slipped back up to her room but Luke began preparations in the kitchen. Catering for this number of people was second nature to him now and he had no qualms about the day, just taking the opportunity to get ahead while the room was clear. A little while later he was joined by his partner, Bruce, and they settled easily to work alongside one another as they did in their restaurants every day.

Upstairs, the rest of the family was starting to stir. Holly was grappling with her three year old daughter. Sukie was never still and demanded attention all the time. At that moment she was bouncing up and down on her parents' bed and in danger of falling off. Next door, ten year old Newlyn was playing her flute. She played softly but the sound slipped through the air to her father's ears as he lay in his bed listening. Owain thought she played well while admitting he knew nothing about music.

At the other end of the corridor, Minda looked down at Breellan. The woman was still asleep and Minda sat quietly and watched her. They had known one another for over ten years, ever since Breellan had joined Torchwood as a medic, and had dated off and on, breaking up twice before finally realising they could not be happy apart. Their natures were too different for an easy relationship but time and experience had taught them how to adapt to one another's needs. The last couple of years had been the happiest Minda had known since leaving home and now, today, they were going to make their commitment public and permanent.

"Is it really happening?" came a voice from the bed.

"Uh huh. Luke's getting the food ready. No going back." Minda went to the bed and perched on it, running a hand down her lover's face before leaning forward and kissing her. They shared the kiss, neither dominating the other, a token of how they planned to share their lives.

"I love you, Mel."

"Not as much as I love you, Bree."

At the top of the house, Jack was standing on the balcony looking out at the fresh morning. He was in his swimming trunks having been for his morning swim and felt refreshed and energised, ready for this happy day. Ianto was still asleep which was just how Jack wanted him; the man had got het up over this marriage of their youngest daughter. Taking a drink from the bottle of water in his hand, Jack reflected on his children's lives. The two youngest had settled down and found happiness but the others … they were another matter entirely. Holly was married for the second time and to a good man but Jack wondered if this would last any longer than her first marriage, or the more informal relationships in between. She seemed to have inherited Jack's roving eye and did not settle for long with anyone. But she had given him and Ianto two lovely grandchildren in Jonty and Sukie. Jack frowned when he thought of Owain, so successful in his career and with all the material possessions one could wish for but he still had not found a partner. His liaison with Orla had given him Newlyn and Owain seemed content to raise their daughter alone.

"Did you have a good swim?"

"Wonderful. You should join me sometime."

Jack turned and took Ianto into his arms. The Welshman was naked, both men's sleep suits discarded during the night, and he pressed himself against the older man kissing him soundly. This was how he liked to start the day.

"Prefer the trampoline, you know that." Ianto rested his forehead against Jack's. "Will she be happy?" He didn't need to say their daughter's name.

"I think so. They know each other so well now."

Ianto hoped that Minda would find the same contentment in Breellan's arms that he found in Jack's. He wished that for all his children but only one of the others had been lucky so far. He worried for Holly and Owain, the two children he had thought most likely to settle down with ease had found it so hard. But there was nothing to be gained by worrying about them, he had learnt that the hard way. He and Jack were there to support and help them raise the grandchildren; the rest was up to them.

"It's going to be a lovely day," remarked Ianto, looking behind Jack to the sun shining on the sea.

"Of course it is. Our little girl is getting married."

-ooOoo-

The guests had arrived and were gathered on the lawn chatting. It was just the two families with a few close friends. Neither bride had wanted a large occasion, just the people who were most important in their lives. Everyone was mixing well. Jack and Ianto made a point of talking to Breellan's family, especially her parents and half brothers and sisters, before going on to chat to the remainder of the guests. As well as Minda's siblings and their children, Annese was here. Carillys and Hummel had not been able to attend, they were off-world again, but their children - Toto and his wife Weska and Harriet with her boyfriend - had made it. Family friends Glonnix, Konni and Olly Grandew and Giovanni, Christina and Lucia Petrelli bridged the gap between family and Minda and Breellan's friends who mostly also worked for Torchwood and were, of course, well known to Jack.

Ianto had been worrying about this event since told of it, getting more and more stressed by the brides' laid-back attitude. He had wanted to plan it to the last detail, to make it perfect for them, and only the concerted efforts of Holly and Jack had kept him from alienating Minda and making an ass of himself by insisting. Finally, he had had to accept that this was Minda and Breellan's day and that he should let them arrange it as they wished. It had been hard for him to let go – this was his last child and he would never have another chance to plan a wedding - but Ianto had just about managed it.

"Ladies and gentlemen, if I could have your attention." Bruce was at the top of the steps by the front door. "The brides will be with us shortly, if you would take your places please." The man was well used to events of this sort having catered for hundreds of weddings and carried off his maitre'd role with ease.

The guests obediently moved into a rough semi-circle around the Registrar. The parents of the brides went to the foot of the steps from where they would escort their daughters. The front door opened and three girls appeared: Newlyn and Tara, Breellan's half sister, both ten, and little Sukie. They were dressed identically in cream shimmery dresses with green bolero jackets and carried small baskets of rose petals which they scattered as they walked forward to stand in front of the Registrar. Behind them, on Bruce's arm, came Breellan in a simple cream gown with a green jacket. She was escorted up the petal strewn route by her mother and father. Then it was Minda's turn. She appeared on Luke's arm and was also wearing a cream gown and a green jacket but of a slightly different design. Threading her arms through her fathers', they walked forward.

"I am so proud of you, cariad," whispered Ianto to his daughter.

"Me too, petal," agreed Jack. They both kissed her and stood to one side.

The ceremony was brief but moving and Ianto shed a tear or two as his little girl said her vows. Her voice was firm and clear and there was no trace of nervousness or doubt. It was over within fifteen minutes and there was much happiness and laughter as the newly united couple received the guests' best wishes. Then it was into the house for the wonderful spread prepared by Luke and Bruce.

"You must be very proud," said Konni, standing by Jack. "She looks so happy."

"I am and she is. But you have this delight to come," he went on, smiling down at the former nanny who was now a firm friend. "How long now before Jyl's big day?"

"Just over six weeks," she grimaced. "It's hell at the moment, frayed tempers and lots of tears."

"It'll get better."

"I hope so, I really do." She looked around at the crowd of people. "All the children I looked after are grown up and starting families of their own. Toto and Weska's baby is due soon."

"Don't remind me! You do realise that his child will be my great, great, great grandchild? There are times when I feel very old."

"If it's any consolation, you don't look it." They laughed and separated to speak to other people.

"No, Sukie, you can't have it."

Holly despaired of her daughter ever becoming easy to raise. She loved the girl and had been happy when she had come along but at thirty eight Holly had less patience for the childish tantrums. Jonty, now sixteen and a business intern with his grandtad, had never been this hard, or so she believed. Truth to tell, she could not remember much about raising him, a lot of it had fallen to her fathers and they had done a wonderful job. She was tempted to ask them to take on Sukie too.

"What does she want?" asked Ianto, coming up behind the two of them.

"The figures from the top of the cake. And no, Tad, she's not to have them."

"Grandtad, I want them!" The little girl stamped her foot and pulled a ferocious face.

"Too bad, they're not yours. They belong to your Aunt Minda." He bent down and picked up the girl before she could start crying or screaming, both of which were highly likely. "But you may have some ice cream. How about that?"

"No!"

"With sprinkles?" He could feel the girl's resistance waning as the promise of the treat diverted her. "Come on, we'll get you some." He whisked her over to the table and had her organised in minutes, tantrum successfully diverted.

"Thanks, Tad. You have a way with small children." Holly beamed at him, reaching to remove a piece of lint from the shoulder of his suit.

"Lots of practice. How the business going?" Six months previously, she had started up a publishing house with her husband, Gilles. This was her third career having started as a theatre designer before becoming a perfumer. Ianto hoped that she would stick at this one.

"Good. We have a selection of titles coming out soon. That reminds me, I want to talk to Owain. It's about time he wrote his autobiography." She flashed a grin at him. "Keep an eye on the little madam for me." She pecked his cheek and was off.

Across the room, Jack was chatting with the brides' friends from Torchwood. There was a lot of good natured joking and laughter going on and Minda looked across and smiled. Her dad was incorrigible. She was crossing the room towards Owain where he was sitting in a corner eating a pastry.

"Why are you hiding yourself away here?" she demanded, sitting beside him. She picked up a small cake from the side and popped in her mouth.

"Honestly? I was tired of standing and wanted to rest my weary bones." He grinned and looked even more like their dad. Now coming up to thirty five, Owain had been mistaken for his dad more than once which irritated him. Of course, it also worked the other way round and his dad had been highly amused to be mistaken for the ex-soccer star turned successful manager.

Minda poked her brother in the ribs and was pleased when he winced. "Why are you here on your own? Why didn't you bring someone with you?"

"I brought Newlyn. She's the only woman for me." He smiled again but it did not reach his eyes.

Owain had had a few relationships in the last decade but none of them came close to meaning as much as his lost love, Orla Orlabovitch. He believed that there was probably someone out there who would be right for him but until he found her Owain was content to dedicate his time to his work, managing a new youth club, Geordies, based in Newcastle, and in raising his daughter. Newlyn had lived with him permanently since the age of two and they were very close to one another. They spent every other weekend at Ogmore when he shared the delights of the place with her and she maintained her close bond with her grandfathers.

"Not good enough. I could introduce you to a few people," Minda offered, looking over at the group of her friends with a calculating eye.

"No thank you, miss. I want no one matchmaking on my behalf." He frowned at her.

"All right, I won't." She did not mean this; finding happiness herself had made her keen to find it for other people too. Perhaps she could arrange a chance meeting for Owain. She determined to work something out along those lines, as soon as she and Bree were settled into married life.

"Come here," said Owain, pulling his little sister into a hug. "I am very happy for you, little Minda. Make the most of your happiness, never let a day go by without telling Breellan how you feel about her."

"I won't." Minda felt tears pricking her eyes and blinked them back. Owain was not a demonstrative brother but his words had come from the heart, she could tell.

Across the room, Ianto was chatting with Annese, now past her hundredth birthday not that she looked it. She had rediscovered her passion for life after deciding to stay in Cardiff and, with Glonnix as her housekeeper and companion, she had a full life. The two women rubbed along well together living independent lives and saw a lot of their respective families. Their grandchildren had stayed with them, first Toto during his internship while his parents were on their first off-world assignment to the Gemini Cluster. Then two of Glonnix's brood and now, with Carillys and Hummel off again, it was Harriet sharing the older women's apartment and keeping them young.

The party continued with the guests meeting in different groupings until it was time for the happy couple to depart. Breellan and Minda had changed into tunics and trousers and were in the middle of a group of well-wishers at the landing pad when the latter broke away to join her fathers who were off to one side.

"Tad, Dad, thank you so much for this." She kissed and hugged them both.

"You've made us very proud and very happy today, cariad." Ianto stroked her short, straight hair. "Be good to Breellan, she's worth hanging on to."

"I'm not letting her go, don't you worry."

"Come here, love, I want another hug." Jack held her tight. "Don't be a stranger, you hear, petal?"

"I'll see you at work on Monday," she laughed. She and Bree had decided against a honeymoon now, they were planning a longer break early the following year.

"Not the same, and you know it. Be happy," he whispered, kissing her cheek.

She blinked back tears, had final hugs with the rest of the family, and then climbed aboard the flivver where Breellan, having said goodbye to her own family, was waiting for her. Minda took the pilot's seat and the craft rose into the air and was gone taking the pair on the next stage of their life.

"Let's have a walk," suggested Holly to anyone who would listen and led the way down to the beach.

Some of the guests joined her, others drifted back to the house including Luke and Bruce who started to clear up with Toto and Jonty's help. The younger children went on the walk, Newlyn and Tara enjoying a giggly discussion. Sukie walked between her grandparents, talking about all that had happened and what she wanted when she got married. In the pocket of her dress the figures from the top of the cake could just been seen. Ianto and Jack listened to her chatter but were lost in their own thoughts, mostly memories of their little girl now married and truly independent of them. Sukie ran off when they got near the sea and Holly chased after her but failed to stop her entering the water. Ianto made to help but Jack put a hand on his arm to hold him back.

"Let Holly deal with her," he said, wrapping an arm round the other man's waist. He steered him off to one side, slightly apart from the others. "How would you like to have a holiday? Just you and me."

"Sounds wonderful. When and where?"

"Soon and anywhere you want. I want to get you all on my own so I can ravish you morning, noon and night." He smiled at his partner who looked little different than he had done when he had cloned him nearly forty years earlier.

"Sounding better and better." Ianto kissed Jack. "Going to let me plan it or am I banned from that too?" He pulled a face.

"If you want. Check with me about dates but otherwise I give you a free hand."

"I love you, Jack Harkness."

"Not as much as I love you, Jones, Ianto Jones."


I wanted to get Minda happily settled so jumped ahead again. Will probably be back with them all as youngsters again next time.