Note: I don't own anything related to Torchwood (unless you count the books I have)...Enjoy...
I left the gym and headed back to the computer stations. Tosh was working on her time lock system for the Hub and I asked how it was coming. She had it all worked out and it would be operational but she was adjusting it to allow us to get out if we were caught inside the time lock. I nodded since I had been the one to hint at it but didn't push for it. At least being locked in a time bubble was better than ending up dead.
"Martha's been told. She won't leave her post but will be prepared."
"Thanks. I guess for now all we can do is wait. It's not like we can stop it from happening."
"I know when you're from but how do you know so much about what's happening here?" he asked as he motioned me towards the couch.
I sat, tucking my legs underneath me, facing Jack. Gwen and Tosh were eavesdropping while pretending to be doing work.
"Stories. Things like this were bedtime stories for me. You would come over and babysit me even when I was old enough to look after myself. Mum and Tad weren't happy that you treated me like an adult and didn't sugarcoat what happened. Some I learned from Gwen and other people."
"Aren't you worried about changing your future?" Gwen asked.
"I'm technically not even born yet but even if my parents don't have me, it's fine since I'm not really from this reality any longer. The changes that happened that night with Gray broke that reality from its path onto a new one. But the thing with time is that the big events will always find a way of happening. Trust me when I say it's complicated. Sometimes I can't even wrap my head around it when I'm talking to Uncle D."
Ianto came down the stairs with a tray of coffee in his hands. He handed Gwen and Tosh their coffees before making his way over to the couch. He was dressed in a dark gray suit, dark purple shirt and a purple-white striped tie.
"Something hot, sir?"
"I'd never turn you down, Ianto."
"I think he was talking about a hot steamy cup of coffee not his cock."
"Ria!" Gwen chastised.
Jack laughed and Ianto blushed. Tosh shook her head, her black hair swaying almost blocking the smile on her lips. I stood up and glanced at my mobile.
"Well, I'm off. Need to get cleaned up. Sarah Jane should be here this evening so I'll pop back after."
Heading back to my flat, I thought of the changes to my own personal life. Even when in school, I grew up around Torchwood and knew it's what I wanted to do with my life. The mission I helped on when I was 16 was definitely the deciding factor. It had given me a taste of what I'd experience as a member and I wanted nothing more. I closed off my personal life and did what I needed to. It certainly helped that Jack was on my side while my parents were completely against it.
Since I lived and breathed Torchwood, it isn't so far reached that I had my first kiss and then first shag at the Hub. But aside from that only liaison, I never had the time to date, especially after that first attempt when I had to retcon my date. I shuddered at the memory of that disaster.
And now, in this time I was living, living like any 23year old woman should. I had my work life and my personal life. While Gwen tried to separate Rhys from Torchwood, it wasn't working. For me, David was going nowhere near Torchwood or anyone associated with it. I wanted this to be like any other relationship, free from the aliens, life threatening situations, and violence.
Pushing the thoughts of what would be happening the next day, I hurriedly showered before dressing in a plaid pleated skirt, a semi-tight white button up, a choker, and mid calf boots. I applied my makeup and headed out to meet David for lunch. He had had an exam that morning and I wanted to see how it went even though I had a good feeling.
"Brilliantly. The studying you helped me with was spot on even that minor mention of the latest Oxford paper."
"I guess you could say I had a hunch," I replied after he kissed me as a thank you.
Said hunch was the exam that I 'convinced' the professor to give me. I knew he would have done great on it but he was worrying and studying things that weren't even part of the course. I didn't give him the answers, more so the range of topics that the professor was covering so he could focus on just those alone.
Lunch was simple, a quick sandwich sitting under a tree on campus. I was leaning against the tree with David lying with his head in my lap. I was carding my fingers through his messy hair when he suddenly sat up. He turned to face me and I could see he was nervous about something.
"David, is everything alright?"
"I…ah…will…oh, bloody hell. Marry me!" he blurted.
I sat there shocked. He reached into his bag and pulled out a little box. He opened it and turned it around. Nestled inside was a princess cut diamond, at least a full carat, with two smaller diamonds on each side. The band was platinum and must have cost a fortune.
"I was going to wait for our first anniversary next week to propose but with the weight of the exam lifted off my shoulders, I thought now would be better. To show you how much I love you and as a thank you for your help in studying and just being there for me."
It was true that I was always around when he needed me and I did love him but could I agree to marry him when the future could still change? Originally I was going to pop back to my time to see how it changed and try to live then but maybe I should stay here and actually live. But then I'll have to explain everything. If it doesn't work out, I guess there's always retcon.
"Of course. Yes," I smiled.
David slipped the ring onto my finger and kissed me. It looked perfect but yet weird on my finger. I ran my fingers through his hair and held him close as I peppered his face with little kisses. Soon it was nearly time to leave. I had to be back at the Hub to meet Sarah Jane and Luke while David had an evening class.
We walked hand in hand to the classroom and he kissed me before he left. My lips were tingling so I raised my hand to touch them. The sun caught the diamonds and I was staring at the ring when my wristlet beeped and transported me to the Bay. I paced a bit while waiting for our guests. I stopped when I felt someone behind me.
"You better get down there before dinner gets cold, Ianto."
"Is everything alright? You seem frazzled."
I turned to look at him. In all of the pictures that I've seen of Ianto, he was always in a suit and looked much like he does standing in front of me. I clasped my hands behind my back, hiding the ring because I didn't want to explain everything just yet.
"I came back to help, hoping that what I do will change the future for the better but I never imagined the changes I would be making to my own life. I've seen my parents and they're so happy and then I remember hearing about my mum's death. It crushed Tad and while I love him, his sudden need to protect me was wearing me thin. I came back to change things so she lives but now I don't know if I can go back."
"That's why Jack says the Doctor told him to quit playing with time. Now, come before dinner does get too cold."
On our way to the tourist office, I caught sight of Sarah Jane and her son. I motioned for Ianto to continue on while I grabbed them. I headed over and introduced myself.
"Are you sure this will happen?" she asked.
"The signs have been there. Tomorrow morning will be the beginning. Everything will shake, the sun disappears, and other planets will be seen in the sky. Your knowledge of the so called man will be beneficial and your presence will help the Doctor. Let's head in and we'll discuss more."
I led the former companion and her archetype son into the Hub. The cog door opened and their eyes went all over the place, taking in everything. I led them up the stairs towards the boardroom where the others would be waiting. Once in the room, I began the introductions.
"This is Sarah Jane Smith, former companion of the Doctor, and her son Luke. At the head of the table, we have Captain Jack Harkness then Ianto Jones, Gwen Cooper, Toshiko Sato, and lastly Dr. Owen Harper. Please take a seat and enjoy a slice if you're hungry."
"We stopped for dinner on our way here. Ria, if this event does start tomorrow, what are we to do tonight? Can't we do something to stop it?"
"The creatures behind this have a way of manipulating the time line into what they want. The current companion of Uncle D was put into that position by them, or at least by one of them. I'll be sending a signal to the TARDIS so they will be here when it happens. They would have figured it out after a stop off with the Shadow Proclamation but I've gone a bit further and in that signal, I'll leave a message of sorts. I'm hoping that it will cut down on the losses we face.
"Are you going to tell us who we're up against?" Owen asked.
"Would it matter? We can't stop them yet. We each will be playing a role in this event. Jack, Sarah Jane, Martha, and I will be facing off with the creatures. Gwen, Tosh, Ianto, Owen, and Luke will be here, helping us and protecting the Hub."
"As leader of Torchwood and your future boss, I want to know who these creatures are," Jack said, no, more like ordered.