Nothing Changes like Time

Disclaimer: I don't own them. Seriously, I don't. Period, end of sentence, dissertations and post-modern diatribe.

Rating: PG-13 for the moment. likely to increase with later chapters

A/N: I know, I've been a very lazy girl. Very lazy. And I've been kicking myself to get this done because the source of my genius dried up and I think this is the only way to help it. So....I hope you like it and FEED BACK FEED BACK FEED BACK!!!

"You get the icecream and I'll get the papers and we'll meet back here in 7 minutes," Doug said checking his watch.

It was the end of a beautiful summer, the end of one of the last nice day's that would be for a long time as the winter was being predicted as one of the coldest in 25 years. Jack and Doug had decided to enjoy it and to take the one and a half year old Amy out for one last stroll before she would be bundled up in blankets before a roaring fire.

"7 minutes? That's too precise, I'm not sure if I can mange that," Jack replied, but veered into the icecream shop anyway and smiled as Doug continued walking down the path way.

Jack ordered their two favourites; cherry ripe swirl for Doug, cookies and cream for Amy and chocolate fudge for himself. He handed over the money and pushed the pram out of the shop to the chairs set out the front and waited for Doug who arrived at exactly when he was supposed to.

"You're late," Jack said with a deadly serious expression and handed Doug his icecream.

Doug looked down at his watch. "No I'm not," he said, inspecting his watch with great interest.

"Yeah, you are," Jack said again and sat Amy up higher in the pram and handed her the ice cream. "There you go sweetie," he cooed and glanced up at Doug who sat down looking confused.

"It's not possible," he muttered shaking his head. Jack sighed then chuckled softly.

"I'm just stirring you," he said.

Doug lent across the table and licked Jack's ice cream. "That's pay back," he said with a finality that they both knew the conversation was over.

"Joey called yesterday," Doug said, suddenly remembering. "She wanted you to call her back when you got a chance."

"Oh, ok," he paused and rubbed his eyes.

"Maybe you should have a night off. You've been killing yourself with all the work recently," Doug suggested noticing his boyfriends fatigue and getting increasingly worried, especially since Jack kept coming to bed hours after Doug did.

"I can't Doug, it's exam time...and reports and I have to get them all done by tomorrow," he said then smiled and reached over to squeeze Doug's hand.

"Well, at least come to bed before dawn tonight, ok? It feels like I'm single again."

Jack laughed. "You're not single," he leaned across the table and brushed his lips lightly against Doug's and sank his free hand into his soft light brown hair.

There was a sudden rush of cold air that made the boys shiver and break away.

"Jack?"

Jack turned and felt his heart stop for a nanosecond before it started again and moisture returned to his mouth.

"Tobey." It wasn't a question as his name had been. It was definitive. It was Tobey. The way he stood, the blond hair, the glasses. The same smell.

"God, I wasn't sure if it was you—"he gushed taking an extra step towards Jack and Doug's table. "Are you visiting here?"

"No, we live here," Jack said motioning to Doug and Amy, his family. "This is my partner Doug and our daughter Amy," he paused, "sort of."

Dou cleared his throat as he knew how this would go—he ended up explaining it—it was still too difficult for Jack to manage yet, but he was getting better. Tobey knelt down beside the pram and smiled gently at the blonde girl with an ice cream covered face.

"What do you mean?" he ran a finger over her smooth cheek.

"She's Jen's daughter, biologically," Doug explained. Tobey looked up with a smile.

"How is Jen?"

"She's been better," Jack said darkly. Tobey seemed confused and he glanced at Doug openly.

"Jen passed away three months ago, Jack was Amy's godfather and she left her to him."

Tobey stood. "How? How did she—"

He cut off there—he was shocked, he had owed a lot to Jen, for getting him and Jack together, for being a friend to him when he was being forgotten by the latter...

"Decreased left ventricular systolic function," Jack said and looked up at Tobey and smiled weakly.

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry Jack,"

"Don't be. Talk about starting off on a bad note. Sit down, how have you been? I haven't seen you since—"

"Since you stood me up for your fraternity."

Jack blushed and bit into his ice cream cone, "Hmmm....yes," he said slowly. "Do you remember Pacey?" Jack asked, changing the subject.

Tobey laughed. "How could I forget? Hired the crappy limo at the prom. He was such a nutcase. A charming nutcase. A bit away with the fairies. Witter, right?"

Jack and Doug exchanged glances and raised eyebrows.

"He's not dead too, is he?" Tobey asked suddenly.

Jack and Doug laughed. "No, he's fine and enjoying the good life with Joey in New York. But, Doug's actually his older brother, Doug Witter."

Doug smiled.

"I see a resemblance. But—what are the chances?"

"Uncanny," Doug said. Amy gurgled and Jack took the slobbery remains of the discarded ice cream away from her lap where she placed it and leaned over the pram and took out a wet one and wiped down her face and hands. "Messy child," he muttered and handed Doug the ice cream and he threw it in the nearby bin.

"You look like a natural," Tobey commented in awe, how different was Jack?

"So, what brings you back to Capeside, Tobey," asked Doug.

Tobey played with his hands. "The usual sort of stuff—dealing with out of hand domestics, or, not dealing with them, since I'm here."

"Boyfriend troubles?" Jack asked concern written on his face.

"No—husband troubles."

A/N: well..........? Review please! If it's terrible, I fully accept flamers. And I also accept nice ones wink wink. That little button down the bottom of the screen is calling your name...

Cheers, Phoenix

xxx