Author's Notes: So, it's been ten months since I posted the prologue, and as they like to do sometimes, the muses scarpered off to play in another playground. I've not abandoned this, but got stuck on the first chapter. So, since even a tiny update is better than no update at all, I decided to tease y'all with this little nugget, hoping that with Dite's Favor wrapped up, I could focus on this for a while. It's worth a shot, at least.

Review responses:

ImmortalsDoItForever: First, cool name! And no, it's not been abandoned. I sometimes go for years without updating (as the readers of my James Bond and Lord of the Rings stories can attest to). I'm heading to Fayetteville Comic Con in a few hours, hopefully that'll trigger something for the muses to grab onto.

Chapter One

Seeds Before the Wind

Cardiff, Wales

May 2011

His baby girl was sleeping on his chest when her mother swept into the room, features reflecting a quiet fury. Captain Jack Harkness raised his head and put a finger to his lips, indicating the sleeping child. Esther Drummond merely stuck her tongue out at him (real mature, Esther) and said in a low voice, "Suzie just sent me an email. She's hearing chatter about a so-called miracle in China." Jack went very still and Esther went on, "She thinks that this may be the first attempt by the Families to unleash that Miracle Day that you were telling us about." Jack eased himself upright, keeping Alyssa's head and neck supported. Esther stepped forward to take the baby, but Jack shook his head. He had her.

"Uncle Jack, can I hold the baby now?" Steven asked, trailing along behind Esther. Jack looked at the petite blonde, raising an eyebrow. Esther merely smirked. He shouldn't have been really surprised. With an exaggerated sigh, Jack placed Alyssa in her nephew's arms, and Steven folded her carefully against his chest. He really was very good with her … he would have made one helluva big brother. Although, when he thought about it, Jack realized that Steven and Alyssa would grow up as brother and sister, rather than nephew and aunt.

He looked past the two children at the mother of his youngest child, asking, "You did that deliberately, didn't you?" Esther merely offered him a sweet smile. She knew as well as anyone that there was very little that Jack could deny his grandson. That was the case even before Alice … even before the 456 returned to claim more children. Steven trotted out of the room, cradling Alyssa protectively and Jack picked up his shirt, sliding it over his shoulders. For some reason, 'Lyssa was more likely to settle if she rested against bare skin. That was true of whoever was holding her, whether it was Jack, Ianto, or Esther. He asked, switching gears effortlessly from the father to the captain, "So, the first reports have come in?" Esther nodded, her dark eyes flickering from his face to the tablet in her hand.

"Yes. Suzie also says that she thinks it's time to institute 'Operation Seeds in the Wind.' I'm not sure if I want to know where that came from, much less what it really means," Esther said with a tiny frown and Jack grinned as he pulled his braces up over his shoulders. Esther added, the frown turning slowly into an equally small smile, "Okay, now I'm sure that I don't want to know what that means. I worry when you smile like that." Jack laughed at that as he leaned forward to kiss Esther's forehead and take the tablet from her hand.

"It's short for 'scatter like seeds before the wind.' You'd never know it to talk to her, but Suzie loves cheesy eighties movies, and that line is lifted directly from one of those movies. A musical, to be exact. I don't know if it's time to institute that … I haven't heard from Lucas in several days, but just to be safe, make sure that your bags are packed and you're ready to go. Have you decided if you're taking Alyssa with you?" Jack asked as he read over the email from his second in command.

"Are you asking me as Alyssa's mother or as a Torchwood operative?" Esther asked wryly. Jack responded with a Look, and Esther added, "Not that it matters … as a mother, I don't want her anywhere near the Families, in any way, shape, or form; and as a Torchwood operative, I'd be too busy worrying about her to be a good mother or an effective operative. What's that old saying about serving two masters? So, I need to check with Suzie, and see if Alyssa can stay with whoever Anwen will be with. And there is no way I'm leaving our princess with Sarah. I can't even trust my sister to take care of her own daughters, much less mine."

Jack very carefully avoided the topic of his sort-of sister-in-law. There was no way he could win in that situation, especially if Esther was in a particular mood. And unfortunately, he was never sure if she was in that kind of mood until it was too late. Instead, he chose instead to observe, "You might want to check with Ianto as well, see if Rhiannon would mind taking her. Mica seems to enjoy playing big sister with her." However, Esther was already shaking her head. Interesting. Ianto seemed to think that his sister couldn't get enough of 'Lyssa. However, he had his explanation a few minutes later … and, it was quite a good one, as well.

"Rhiannon can't do it; Johnny is having surgery sometime in the next few months. Any suggestions, based on your memories?" Esther asked. Jack would have told her that anyone other than Geraint and Mary Cooper would work, but the last he heard, Geraint Cooper couldn't stand the sight of Rhys (especially after it was announced that Rhys and Suzie would be getting married). Suzie's father was dead, and while Brenda Williams was still uncomfortable around Suzie, she utterly adored her granddaughter. Although, to be honest, Jack would have been hard-pressed to say who had more adorers … Alyssa or Anwen.

In the end, he could only shake his head and tell her, "Not really. Wish I could be more helpful, but we've managed to change a lot so far." Esther nodded and turned to go, but Jack added, "But, Esther … finish up your cover story. Just to be safe." She nodded and smiled, before heading out. Jack watched her go, hoping that he was wrong. He didn't think he was, though. Too much happened during the last few years, since Gray dug him up … too many things that fit the memories from the other Jack. Which reminded him … he needed to double-check with Ianto, see what he could learn about Oswald Danes and twelve year old Susie. He had a feeling that would become even more important than he realize right now.

TBC