"Are we there yet?" Ianto repeated for the fifth time from the back of the SUV.
"If you say that one more time…" threatened Gwen from the front seat.
"Knock it off kids, or Daddy's gonna turn this car around and take you straight home" said Jack jokingly.
"Yeah like that's going to work" Ianto muttered. "Now she'll probably start hitting me, thanks Jack."
Surprising Gwen slapped Jack on the arm. "Enough" she said sternly.
Ianto couldn't control his laughter.
Gwen turned around and smacked Ianto's thigh. "You too" she said.
"Yes Mam" replied Ianto.
"You know we really shouldn't be fighting in front of Ianto" Jack played along.
Gwen sighed defeated and looked out the window at the countryside. "I'm surrounded by idiots" she murmured, but on the inside she was the happiest she had been in a long time.
They arrived at the property late that afternoon. "Poley's Place" read Ianto aloud.
Jack drove up to a small farm house and got out. "Wait here, I'll be back in just a minute" he said to Gwen and Ianto.
He walked up to the door of the house, which was already open and called out. "Hello, Rosemary. It's Jack Harkness."
A minute later the sixty-year-old woman appeared in the doorway. "Jack?"
Jack smiled and they embraced each other. "You look fantastic" he whispered.
As they pulled apart, she slapped him hard on the arm. "You should have called" she said.
"I'm sorry. I know it's been a while since I've visited."
"So you're staying?" she asked.
"If it's alright with you."
"Don't be stupid. Of course it's alright and I won't even charge you, as long as you promise to come back soon this time" she said. "Come in, have a cup of tea."
"No I'm sorry I can't. My friends are waiting" he said.
"Oh lovely, can I meet them?"
"Yeah sure" he said and they walked over to the car.
Gwen and Ianto had been watching them, speculating how Jack knew her, and got out of the car as they saw them coming.
"Rosemary, this is Gwen" he said gesturing to Gwen, who smiled politely and nodded her head. "And Ianto" he finished.
"Hello" said Ianto cheerily.
"So you're going camping are you?" Rosemary asked. "Down by the river is the best this time of year."
"Many people down there?" Jack asked.
"There's a couple in the paddock, um…might be a few along the river. Some friends of mine are staying in the cabin, I would have offered you that otherwise" she said.
"That's alright, I want these two to get the full camping experience" Jack said to Rosemary. "They don't get out much" he whispered, but not quietly enough that they heard.
"Yeah that's true" agreed Gwen. "You see our boss keeps us working at all hours, cooped up in a base-ment" she punctuated.
"He sounds awful" said Rosemary.
"Oh he is" said Ianto.
"So how do you lot know each other then?" asked Rosemary.
"Sorry Rose, we better get a move on. There's a lot to do before it gets dark" said Jack, glaring at Gwen and Ianto.
"Of course, sorry Jack" said Rosemary.
"It was lovely to meet you" said Gwen shaking her hand, and got back into the SUV with Ianto.
"Hey Rose, is Jeff and Annie-Rie still here?" asked Jack.
"Yeah of course they are Jack. Jeff just left to take her up to the doctor's. Nothing serious, she hurt her foot yesterday and can't walk on it so-"
"Just…say hi for me yeah?" Jack cut in.
"Ok, oh and Jack" she called out just as Jack was climbing into the SUV. "You'll visit him won't you. Promise?"
Jack nodded knowing exactly who she meant. "I promise" he said and got into the car.
They drove over to a gate and Ianto got out to open it.
"So what was that all about" asked Gwen.
"You'll find out tomorrow" he said.
"How do you know Rosemary? Did you use to date or something?" Gwen asked, her mind bursting with questions.
Jack laughed. "No. I was friends with her husband."
"Was?"
"Rosemary's a widow. She runs this place all by herself. She's one of the strongest women I know, well except for…" he paused.
"Except for…" Gwen pushed, eager for answers.
"Well, except for you" Jack finished.
Gwen didn't know what to say.
Jack drove though the gate that Ianto held open and waited for him to close it.
A few seconds later, Ianto appeared at Jack's window. "I can't figure out how to close it" he said.
Jack put the handbrake on and stepped out. As soon as Jack was clear of the car, Ianto slid into the driver's seat.
"Ianto…what are you doing?" asked Gwen.
"Oh just a little joke to wind him up" said Ianto and started to drive away.
Jack closed the gate with ease and had started walking back to the car when it starting driving away. "Nice one Ianto" he said to himself. "But I know this place like the back of my hand."
"Slow down" said Gwen. "The sign said 5 km/hr. There could be children about."
They drove around a bend and Ianto quickly braked as he saw a person up ahead. As they stopped the car, they realised that it was Jack. Gwen laughed at the surprised look on Ianto's face. Jack walked up to the driver's door and opened it. "Since you don't know where we're going, you mind if I drive?" he said to Ianto.
"Sure" was all Ianto managed as he climbed into the back.
Jack drove down a dirt road, passing lush green paddocks with horses, duck ponds and scarecrows.
"I hate scarecrows" mumbled Ianto.
"What's that?" asked Gwen, pointing to an old wooden building.
"Oh, that's the stage. They host a small country music festival here at Easter. Those paddocks you see now get filled up with campers in April, unlike now it's very quiet. I like it better this way" said Jack.
"Oh God that's it isn't it" said Ianto suddenly. "You were into country music."
"I was undercover Ianto" Jack snapped.
"Did you sing?" Gwen asked shyly.
Jack smiled. "Wouldn't you like to know."
Please review, your opinion does actually matter. Coming up we have Jack and Gwen swimming in the river while Ianto rides an air mattress down the rapids, Jack and Gwen exploring, Ianto cooking (sorry but this is not a Janto fic), Jack singing perhaps, Ianto getting chased by a bull, and there could possibly be the sharing of sleeping bags (depending on what Jack ACTUALLY packed). So if there is anything else you would like me to add to this list, please, let me know. xox