"Any luck ladies?" Jack asked as he walked through the door, accompanied by an unknown woman. For wont of money and ideas, they'd returned to Torchwood Three, where at least it was warm.

"Oh yes. Absolutely. We've got the dragon tied up in the cellar." Jenny bit at him.

He tried to raise his hands placatingly but they were full of thin brown boxes. "I bring food? We haven't had any luck either." He nodded towards his companion. "This is Karen by the way." he placed the boxes down on the desk and opened the top one. Jenny's nose twitched. It smelt strange but delicious. "I say we give in for the night. Try again tomorrow." He took something out the box and bit into it. "I think that Marquis fellow must've been having us on about it not going beyond Cardiff." He gestured for Jenny to help herself as she edged over. Whatever it was, was round and steaming slightly. It seemed to shimmer with a thin veneer of grease. The colours were bright, almost artificial. It was hot in her fingers and it tasted gorgeous and she wolfed down three triangles as Vastra explained their research and inevitable return.

"Yes. I did wonder how you got back in. Should've known better. Eagle-eyed Jenny." He grinned at her and gave her a thumbs-up.

"Don't s'pose you know of any hovels around here?" Jenny asked despondently through a mouthful.

"Not recent like." Karen answered her. "There'd be maybe back a hundred more years ago. What does he mean, the main road? Away from the mountains? We're already away from the mountains. Much further away will see us in the water."

"We were in Cardiff centre at the time, maybe that's what he meant."

"The Marquis said it couldn't go outside of Cardiff. Probably."

"That's still a big area, Jack." Karen waved a crust at him.

"Well it doesn't have to be a specific hovel. Just a hovel. On the main road. Away from the mountains. So, if we go say a little up…what is it?"

"North Road?"

"Right! North Road. Then start walking back towards here. Then find a hovel."

"In the middle of Cardiff…" Karen sounded doubtful. "Besides is the North Road main enough? What about the A48?"

"That's more across than…"

Vastra decided to leave them bickering and join Jenny in her silent and dedicated attack on the boxes. There wasn't much she could find to like, but Jenny waved a slice covered in what she took to be meat at her and she delicately snicked it off with her tongue, leaving the base, sauce and cheese for Jenny to polish off. Which she did. With alacrity.

"Look!" Jack's raised voice brought them back to the argument at hand. "It's been a long day. Why don't we all go out somewhere?"

"Oh if we're clockin' out then I'm off home. To have a proper dinner. But have fun Jack."

"I always do!" he blew an air kiss at Karen's departing back. "We'll sort out this riddle tomorrow. I…" he looked down. "…see you've finished the pizza. Fancy a night out to that place I told you about?" he clapped his hands together.

Jenny's temper having been abated by food, she was now a little more curious about the waning years of the 20th century, having not yet officially arrived in it yet herself. She shrugged at Vastra's expression. "S'not like we can really do anything more tonight."

"Besides, the King's Cross is technically immediately down and away and directly south of the mountains. Sort of. Maybe we'll strike lucky and find a hovel there!" Jack grinned at Vastra who shrugged.

"Lead on then."

It was a small comfort to Jenny that pubs had not changed that much in the intervening century. It was smoky and not well lit, with a low-slung ceiling. People sat around wobbly looking tables on spindly chairs and bench seating along the walls. Pints seemed to be the order of the day. Jack waltzed his way to the bar, winked and ordered three. Jenny stared at the gilt lettering, inscribing the names of drinks above the bar. Her sister would like this place. Vastra and Jack moved away to find a table but Jenny lingered by the bar, happy to just find a little spot of familiarity.

Someone was playing what she assumed counted as music. She must've looked a little lost for a young woman came over to ask if she was all right.

"First time out ey?" The woman blew a cloud of smoke out the corner of her mouth.

"Somethin' like that."

"You're not from around here. Not with that accent."

"I'm from London." Jenny told her, entirely accurately.

"Surprise you come to Cardiff. Surely there's a much bigger scene there."

"I'm visiting a friend."

"A friend, is it?"

"Yeah." Jenny pointed over at the table where Vastra and Jack were sitting.

"Bit old for you isn't she?" Jenny gave a fixed polite smile, trying not to laugh. They had no idea.

"Is that what the fashion is then in London?" the lady pointed at her trousers. Jack had insisted they all change into something "slightly less country" for the night and had given her a pair of baggy cargo trousers and another tight stomach revealing top. She'd insisted on retaining her flannel shirt and denim jacket. "I'm Lowri by the way." The lady held out her hand.

"Jenny." She shook it.

"Well, Jenny, I see you've finished your pint already. Another?"

Jenny glanced over to where Jack and Vastra were sat. Jack looked highly amused. Vastra was staring intently at them but looked away when she caught Jenny's eye.

"C'mon." Lowri dragged her over to a table. "This is Caitrin and Luned. Meet Jenny."

They welcomed her and Lowri disappeared back to the bar for another pint.

"First time out?"

Jenny felt suspicious as to why she was continually being asked that but settled for nodding again, grateful for when her pint arrived and she could busy herself drinking it.

"Jenny's from London." Lowri informed them, plopping down on the bench seat next to Jenny. "Come here to visit a friend."

"Oh London! The scene is a lot bigger there ey?"

"Couldn't really say." Jenny shrugged. She amused herself answering their questions as truthfully as possible but without giving away the truth. When they asked her what her and her friend were doing, she replied they were here for a job, involving research into mythological creatures and the legends of Wales. When they asked her what she thought of Cardiff, she told them she hadn't seen much of it yet. When they asked her things like favourite movies and tv shows, she had to shrug. "I prefer books." To which they nodded wisely.

"Literary types." Luned shook her head.

"How'd you meet your "friend" then?"

"I was bein' attacked by a gang and she rescued me. I was homeless at the time and she took me in."

"Very Tippin' The Velvet." Lowri snorted.

"What?" even Luned and Caitrin didn't seem to understand that reference.

"S'a new book out." Lowri waved them away. "You read it Jenny?"

"No." Jenny was getting annoyed at Lowri's attitude.

"Thought you preferred book! You can borrow it if you like." Lowri suggested hopefully.

"Hopefully I won't be around long enough to read it." Jenny got up, rescued her pint, and made her way back over to Jack and Vastra.

"Hey! Don't be like that." Lowri followed her, tugging her back round.

Jenny hadn't noticed Vastra get up but the Silurian was suddenly stood beside her. "Vastra…" Jenny warned but she wasn't paying attention, staring very pointedly at Lowri's hand.

"I'd watch out for her if I was you." Lowri nodded towards Vastra, releasing Jenny and making a show of raising her hands in the air. "The older ones can be like hawks. Offer you a place to stay and then take advantage of you. Make you do all sorts."

Vastra stepped forward but was stopped by Jenny's arm. Lowri smirked. So Jenny moved her arm, swinging it up, balling her hand into a fist. Her knuckles cracked against Lowri's jaw and Jenny hissed, grasping her hand. Vastra didn't wait for Lowri to recover but hastily dragged Jenny out the bar door and into the street, not stopping until they'd found a suitable alley.

"Really!"

"Like you was about to do anythin' different!" Jenny snapped, shaking her hand.

"I was about to ask her to remove her hand from you." Vastra said loftily, amused at how irate Jenny got when anyone accused Vastra of taking advantage of her. Jenny swore in pain and disbelief. Vastra snorted softly and took Jenny's hand in her own, deftly checking for damage. Jenny still wasn't used to seeing a human face when she looked at Vastra but the expression was one she recognised, a touching mix of concentration and concern. She pulled Vastra close with her bad hand, reaching up with the other to cup Vastra's cheek. There was a small dissonance, seeing skin but feeling scales. She kissed Vastra. No amount of cloaking device could change the way that felt.

Vastra looked mildly stunned, when Jenny stopped. "What?" Jenny stepped back. "Jack said things had changed. An' once Queen Victoria's walked in on you…"

Vastra smiled and reached out to embrace Jenny.

"Didn't you say…" Jenny murmured, after a few more kisses. "That you'd seen apes do all sorts down alleys?"

Vastra's eyes glittered and her tongue flickered out, her hand moving to the waist of Jenny's cargo trousers.

"Ahem! Much as I hate to interrupt…"

"Jeezus!" Jenny swore again.

"Might I suggest we move away from the general vicinity? Torchwood isn't that big that I can pull rank with the local police. And I suspect they might be arriving shortly, judging by the sirens." Jack gestured to the alley's entrance. There was a strange wailing sound in the distance.

"What?" Jenny folded her arms.

"Can't take you anywhere, Jenny Flint." Jack shook his head with a grin. "Come on."

"Where are we stayin' anyway?" Jenny's mind being on bed related activities, the thought of where they were going to sleep tonight occurred to her.

"Well, I have a very nice spare bedroom, or I believe there's a fold down bed in the Torchwood bunker." Jenny and Vastra looked at each other. "I can take the fold down bed if you two want some privacy?" Jack winked at them.

They set off for Jack's, Jenny still debating internally whether to take him up on the offer. The orange glow of street lamps reminded her of gas lamps, the roar of the occasional car recalling the clatter of a late-night cab driving home. The world hadn't changed that much. There were still drunk people, shouting. A hundred years, she contemplated, wasn't that long a time at all. Not compared to the millions Vastra had spent sleeping. The urge to take Vastra's hand came upon her again. And as it was night, and no-one seemed to be paying attention, Jenny obeyed it. She received a grateful squeeze. Bravado aside, Jenny's heart still beat a little faster at how brazen they were being. Was the world changed that much after all? The freedom made her giddy and she glanced up at Vastra. The sight of a human face brought her back down. It would probably take another hundred years in the future before Vastra could enjoy the same sensation of freedom. Vastra squeezed her hand again, as if guessing her thoughts. For now, the pleasure of walking hand in hand with Vastra, underneath stars dimmed by orange lamps, was enough.

Jack's apartment when they arrived ten minutes later was bare, bright and modern. It looked unlived in, apart from the kitchen. Looking around, Jenny missed the warmth of 13 Paternoster Row, where there were books and wood panelling and cosy fireplaces. There were strange appliances everywhere in Jack's place. Jenny didn't bother to enquire what they were all for.

On the brief tour of the place, Jenny noted, toilets hadn't changed much. Nor had baths. She took one, Jack saying he preferred showers in the morning, before he left them to go to bed. Vastra sat below something mounted on the wall that was blowing out hot air, watching Jenny as she took Jack's advice and used the bubble bath, delighting in the fragrant smelling foam. There were a lot of things she would miss about the future and she'd only been there a day. She briefly daydreamed about staying but found herself missing home more. The urchins and Parker, her sister. Thinking about them, they would all be dead by now. She stood up suddenly, water and bubbles cascading off her, reaching for the towels that sat folded on the toilet seat. Vastra jerked her head in surprise.

"Are you all right?"

"Yeah. Just…strange bein' in a different time, thas all."

Vastra stared at her, amused. "Yes. Yes, it is." She got up off the floor, grinning wryly as Jenny realised what she'd just said, to Vastra of all people, her face screwing up in embarrassment.

"Yeah well. It's a first for me." Jenny mumbled, walking through to the spare bedroom, sitting on the bed to dry her hair. Vastra curled up around her, enjoying the residual warmth.

"The question is, which do you prefer? You can stay here, or return to your own time. That is a choice available to you." She stated solemnly.

"You din't have a choice."

"The Doctor offered me a different time. I could have gone forward. The world was already strange, what would have been the harm in making it stranger? But it was the still time I had surfaced in. The time my sisters had died in. I had a connection to it. I felt a sense of being where I belonged, in time. We are all but transient guests, but we are still tied, by the times and the places we are meant to be. Even the Doctor, who falls through and across and up and down time, is guided by where he is meant to be. And we…are meant to be asleep." Vastra nudged Jenny gently.

Jenny quickly finished drying herself, dressing in the pyjamas Jack had given them and curling up beside Vastra. She felt reassured, with the comforting weight of Vastra's arm flung over her, that this was where she belonged, here and now.

An: No alley sex just yet I'm afraid.