Chapter 6

The Coffee Incident

Over the next two and a half weeks, Lily grew used to life in the twenty-first century, and to life involved with Torchwood.

She didn't do much with the institute, except when she was there; Ianto educated her when he had a free moment from making coffee, about all the different things. That day they planned on introducing her to the internet. She was nervous about it.

Although she was growing used to it, life did not prove any easier. She missed her family terribly and thought about them constantly. The last few nights now she had taken to crying herself to sleep. It was December, close to Christmas time. It was her favourite time of the year, and it had always been special to her and her family.

Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents, and distant cousins always came in to visit. Any other time of the year, everyone was busy, but they always made time for the holiday and the family.

Ever morning since the Sixteenth, she went to the little café in the city centre for breakfast. Lily didn't like staying in the house much, because the other couple was constantly bickering, and they were always in the kitchen in the morning.

The people at the café quickly came to first name terms with Lily, and every morning they would ask the girl how she was and she would always respond with the casual yet cheerful, 'fine.'

Jack would come to get her once she had finished eating and they would walk around for an hour or two (much to the annoyance of his team), talking and exchanging stories.

The Captain quickly discovered he could tell Lily almost anything, he felt very comfortable around her. There were still many things that Lily didn't know about him, but for now she was completely contented with that, after all…he knew a lot about her, but not every thing.

That day started out the same, Lily awoke, showered, dressed in her usual dress, applied a little bit of makeup and once she was confident that her hair looked lovely and her makeup wasn't applied weird, she slipped on her shoes, grabbed her new wool coat, and left for the café.

A few minutes later, she arrived at the eatery.

"Hiya Lily!" the woman behind the counter said.

"Hello Carys, how are you this morning?" Lily asked as she took her coat off and put it on the stool beside the one she was now situating herself on.

"Oh I'm lovely, as always darling. How are you today?" Carys asked.

Lily smiled, "Fine."

"So what can I get you this morning?" Carys asked.

"Can I have the usual cup of tea, beans on toast and some eggs please?" Lily replied.

"Of course, dear, coming right up!" Carys then disappeared into the kitchen.

While Lily waited she pulled out her cell phone and called Jack, "Good morning Miss Ainsworth," the Captain's voice said into her ear.

"I'm across the street," Lily said, smiling slightly.

"Alright, I'll see you in a minute. Do me a favor and order me a coffee, the coffee maker broke last night and I'm going into a caffeine withdrawal," Jack said with a laugh.

"Alright, I'll see you in a minute," Lily was grinning by the time she was ending the call.

Carys raised an eyebrow as she set a cup of steaming hot tea down in front of Lily, "You and that Captain what's his name sure do seem to be getting serious," she said.

"What do you mean? We're just friends," Lily replied as she began to put some sugar in her tea.

"Well you two have been in here together every morning for two and a half weeks, and you are constantly smiling when he's around. You two just give me the couple vibe, with the way you behave around each other," Carys went on to explain.

Lily was silent for a moment as she thought about it, "I do care for Jack…he and the people he works with have taken wonderful care of me ever since I," she paused, "Became an orphan, and especially Jack. He's such a good friend and a very good listener," Lily finished explaining, some of the sparkle had left her eyes now.

"Oh I'm sorry love," Carys said.

"It's alright; anyways…could I also get a cup of coffee?" Lily asked.

"Course love," Carys then went in the back to get the coffee. Just as she was brining it out, Jack came in.

"Hi," Lily said the sparkle returning.

Hi Lily, how are you this morning?" he asked.

"I'm alright…and you? I mean besides the fact that the coffee maker broke?" Lily answered with a laugh.

"Don't laugh! With my job, coffee is important!"

"That's true…it's not easy being Jack Harkness, right?"

"Right."

The two made brief eye contact and began to laugh, "Can I get you anything to eat love?" Carys asked Jack.

"Um…I'm fine with the coffee, thanks," he answered.

Carys smiled and then went to talk to some of the other customers.

"So how did the coffee maker break exactly?" Lily asked.

"You'll not believe this. I was in my office reading and I heard the tea kettle go off. So I went to get it and not paying attention I somehow got tangled in the cord and fell, bring the coffee maker down with me. The pot broke, spilling coffee all over and some things broke off the maker. I thought Ianto was going to cry when I told him," Jack finished explaining.

"Oh my goodness! Did you get burned by the coffee? Or cut by the glass?" Lily cried.

Jack laughed, "I was fine, thank you for your concern though."

Lily and Jack looked at each other, smiling for a moment. Then Lily looked down at her tea. She finished it off and then ate her food when it came out a moment later, making idle chatter with Jack. Once she was done eating and done with her second cup of tea she looked at Jack, "To the Hub?" she asked.

He nodded, "To the Hub."

Then Jack and Lily stood up, paid Carys and left the café…

XX

A/N- Alright chapter is super short, and kind of the same stuff from the last chapter…at least I think so…I haven't fussed with this story in a while. I'm hoping to have some alien action in the next chapter…and then getting to some other stuff. Thank you for the reviews, and keep them coming.

Also I want to apologize in advance if the story becomes less…I dunno what word I'm looking for but anyways, I've had what we'll call a falling out with the beta of this story…so long story short I'm out of a beta. I welcome on some help and if no one wants to step up to the bat then at least tell me what you like in the story, what should change and what you would like to see happen. I want to make this as easy a process for me and for you, my readers. I'd be happy to put something in the story…within reason of course ;)

What keep's me updating is the reviewers, so if you want more of the story then please review. Sorry it's taken me so long to get this up, I've been busy with loads of stuff and I had two other holiday fanfics I wrote. Which if you haven't read them…go and check them out if you please?

Hope to have the next chapter for this story up soon…and the next chapter of The Lost Daughter. Love you loads, Beccs! ^_^