Ever After
An Adventures of Tintin/Torchwood crossover
Written by: RiverSong1984
Disclaimer: Well here is chapter two, fellow readers and writers. Big thanks to Jayfeather and Scarlet Shamrocks for their awesome reviews. This next chapter is dedicated to you two. I only own Helene, Rosamund and the babies. All other characters belong to Steven Moffat, Russell T Davies, Neil Gaiman, Gorges Remi, Peter Jackson, Steven Spielberg, BBC, BBC America and Twentieth Century Fox.
Suggested Soundtrack: When She Loved Me- Sarah McLachlan, Lothlorien- Enya, Binary Sunset- Extended Edition- John Williams
Chapter 2: Awkward Reunion
Inviting her in, Tintin introduced himself and Helene to her. Rhiannon smiled and gratefully sat down on the sofa. Heating up some tea, Helene told her, "Well, Torchwood Europa proper is nearby, it's just not here. Well the files are anyway. Tintin's day job is as an investigative journalist. I am his photographer. Currently, we're on parental leave, but we still cover Torchwood." Just then, the babies began to cry and Tintin crossed behind the two women to check on the babies.
Rhiannon smiled, "Your babies, they sound like newborns! How old are they? Ianto told me that you two were expecting. I have some little ones at home myself. Are you behaving around them?" She asked this at Snowy and he barked cheerfully. Patting his head, she slid onto the chair opposite them as Tintin handed Tobias to Helene. Lynette was cooing as she clung to her father's sweater. Tobias babbled softly as Helene rocked him in her arms.
Tintin told Rhiannon that the twins were not yet a week old, and finally asked what had been on his and Helene's mind, what was she doing in Brussels? Rhiannon explained that her husband had been called overseas for business and had taken the kids for a holiday. She explained that she was worried about Ianto being all alone.
Standing up, she asked Tintin and Helene, "Would you mind taking me to Marlinspike? I want to see my dear brother. He knows I was arriving today, so I was concerned when I didn't see him at the airport." Tintin and Helene explained that he was at church with them for the twins' christening that morning. Rhiannon nodded, happy that her brother's soul was not in danger of damnation.
The rain was pelting everything as they arrived at the train station. They twins were sound asleep as the settled into a private cabin. Tintin and Helene sat across from Rhiannon and Snowy. The Welsh housewife was petting Snowy and talking to him as though he were a baby. The dog was indignant, "Will you quit treating me like a baby? It's okay if you do that to the human puppies, but I am a full grown terrier." He growled slightly and turned away from Rhiannon, who was a bit surprised. Pulling out the remnants of a ham sandwich, she offered it to him as a peace offering.
At that moment, the conductor's voice whined from the intercom, "We have arrived at Marlinspike." Standing up, Tintin helped Helene to her feet. Rhiannon assumed that this was their stop as Snowy and the stroller were moving towards the arrival platform. Outside the train station, the rain had let up and the sun was shining. Good weather for the walk up to Marlinspike. During the trek, Tintin and Helene took turns explaining how Sir Farancis Haddock had been awarded Marlinspike Hall as a reward for defeating the dread pirate Red Rackham. centuries passed before the estate was sold at auction. Later on, the last living Haddock would team up with Tintin to expose the remains of Rackhams's treasure, ever under threat of Rackham's descendant, a one Deidrich Sakarin.
Helene told Rhiannon that after this by about 18 months, she had returned to Belgium after her mother's self-imposed 13 year exile. She and Tintin had immediately rekindled their long simmering relationship and learned that Haddock was her adopted father. She also added that Sakarin learned about this and nearly killed her. By now, they were arriving at Marlinspike's front door.
Knocking on it, who should answer it but Ianto Jones? Before he could a word in, Rhiannon pounced on him in a flood of tears. "Ianto, Ianto, Ianto! How I've missed you! Dear older brother, you look well." Surprised by his sister's emotional outburst, he showed them into the library.
Inside the arm room, Rhiannon observed an older couple playing chess, a handsome tawny-haired male lounging and reading Balzac, and another older gentlemen grading papers. Clearing his throat, Ianto told the gang, "Um... everyone this is my little sister, Rhiannon. Rhia, this is Captain Archibald Haddock and his fiancée, Rosamund Dupont. This is Professor Cuthbert Calculus, and this is Captain Jack Harkness."
Before anyone could a word in, Jack Harkness smiled broadly and shook her hands warmly, "Well hello there, Rhiannon. I am Captain Jack, it is so very nice to meet you. You are stunning, looks like Ianto inherited your good looks." He smiled and Rhiannon flushed dark red.
Haddock scolded, "Stop it, you dolt. She's a married woman." Harkness waved him away and continued to flirt. Rosamund greeted Tintin and Helene, before cooing over the grandchildren. Snowy plopped down in front of the fireplace, happy to be someplace dry and warm. After she had introduced herself to everyone, Rhiannon pulled out a picture and showed it to her brother.
"This is a friend of mine, Rose Tyler. She's an engineering student at the local university. She likes museums, fixing cars, and exploring. She's single and sings in the parish choir. Now, wouldn't you like to go out with her sometime? Her mum runs the town Laundromat, and is hilarious. They both are lovely, please don't shoot her down. How many women that I know are you going to shoot down? Is there any woman who will suit your fancy?"
Annoyed by this, Ianto shouted at his sister, "For the final bloody time, Rhia. Stop trying to hook me up with every woman you meet at the grocer's. For God's sake, I am a grown man and no woman you have ever sent my way tickles my fancy. I have never desired a woman, are you that thick?" Rhiannon stared at her brother, was he seeing some Belgian woman?
"I am HOMOSEXUAL- I love men! I am happily in love with Jack Harkness, you blind prostitute," Ianto ranted angrily before pulling Harkness close and giving him a heated, sensual kiss. Rhiannon stared at her brother, in shock. Her brother, the one person she had loved as much as her husband was a homosexual! At her wits end, she let out a shriek that rattled the windows and ran out of the room.
Perking his head up, Snowy commented, "Well, that was an awkward reunion. Now what?" Tintin glared at Ianto, how could he treat her like? She meant well and Helene said as much. Harkness and the others were at a loss for words, while Ianto had every right to be a homosexual, it was still rather mean the way he broke the news to his sister. Besides, calling your sister a prostitute was taking it too far.
Running past Nestor, Ianto found his sister at the kitchen table weeping her eyes out. She heard somebody behind her, and it was Ianto. Offering her a handkerchief, she grabbed it and cast him a baleful look. Sitting down across from her, Ianto explained softly, "I'm sorry about losing my temper and calling you a prostitute, but you got me really angry, you know that? I did appreciate what you did, but I never felt… connected to them. Some dates were so horrible, I couldn't perform. But then, I got a job offer here in Brussels, and that was where I met Jack. He was so different, for the first time I felt like I could be myself. That first time we kissed … it was the most amazing thing that I had ever experienced. With Jack, I can be myself and not pretend that my life is not a lie. I have been hiding for long, I felt free. I do love you Rhia, you are my sweet baby sister. I also understand if you think I'm a pervert."
Pushing from the table, he left Rhiannon to her thoughts. Staring out the window, she whispered, "Was there something I missed? How could I be so blind? My only brother, a sodomizer! What do I do know?"