A/N: Well then, here it is: the beginning of the end. I've decided this third arc will be my last for this story, as I think 45 chapters is really enough. Thanks for the amazing response to the last few chapters of arc 2, it really meant a lot and totally made a difference to my decision to continue. I should warn for American readers there are some minor spoilers for Doctor Who, but I think that actually, you already know about this, so nevermind. Anyways, song for this chapter is 'Truth' by Chiddy Bang, ft. Passion Pit. It's a change from the usual music I play when I'm writing this, but I guess what I'm trying to say is that this arc is gonna be happier. I mean, it's still gonna have some difficult bits, but overall it's gonna be happier. Better things are coming, I swear there's truth in that. Enjoy!


He was in Ianto's apartment for the first time in months. He was sleeping in Ianto's bed for the first time in months.

He'd been there before, obviously; to check on Ianto after Lisa, a few times after Ianto's resurrection, and now…now. Somehow this time was different – the lack of sex was welcome, because Jack knew about Charlton, knew Ianto would feel awkward about it.

It was fair. Jack could hardly close his eyes without seeing Ianto and Charlton together. He was sad Charlton was gone, but sadder at the effect he'd had on Ianto in the end. Not just on Ianto – on their whole relationship.

He idly ran a finger along the soft buzz-cut of hair at the back of Ianto's neck. The Welshman huffed slightly in his sleep, but kept snoozing.

The apartment felt different – more lived-in somehow, now that Ianto was actually living there, as opposed to at his desk or in someone else's apartment.

Funny how a home could say so much about a person. Jack's life had been so long that his rooms told very little – after living for such a while, one tended to stop advertising stuff, tended to stop wearing one's heart on their sleeve. They'd seized Charlton's apartment upon his departure, and Jack had spent the day there, scrutinizing the young man's living space with a critical eye.

It was a nice place, for a nice guy. Well-meaning, intelligent. The number of books littering the place were a testament to that.

The bedsheets were still rumpled. Jack had swallowed, and inhaled to keep his composure, only to catch the unmistakable smell of the Doctor. So. This thing with the Basement ran much deeper than I thought.

He found the liquor cabinet, of course, and frowned. Then he shut the door quietly, with a near-silent click, and decided not to tell anyone about it. Seemed as though Charlton had been sad for a long time – and it was an expensive habit, being sad in that way.

Ianto was a deep sleeper, when he got to sleep, and Jack didn't like to sleep generally - from time to time was enough, to avoid his dreams. He propped himself up on his – they felt like his, now – pillows, and picked up a book from the side table, beginning to read while carding one hand through the Welshman's hair.

It was warm, and dark, and very comfortable; to Jack, it almost felt like home.


Now, Andy was not good at relationships. His one with Daria was surprisingly easy, even to him, as there seemed to be a mutual understanding beneath their life together, a nearly tangible sense of kindred spirits.

It was because of this he knew she was unsettled. Sure, on the outside she seemed fine, nestled into his side, his arm draped around her, playing with his hand, but he knew, from the way she wasn't really watching the film, from the way her gaze kept drifting up to him, that something had happened. It'd been like this for a month and a half.

"Daria," he said, and she looked up. He wanted desperately to kiss her, just from the way her lower lip stuck out ever so slightly in thought. He shook himself, "There's something up, isn't there?"

She sighed, pushing herself up but keeping contact with his body, her leg flush against his. Struggling, she pulled the envelope out of her tight jeans, and held it up for his inspection, "A woman gave me this about a month ago. She was dressed all in red, with white hair, and then she vanished. I sound crazy, I know…but I swear."

Andy took the envelope out of her trembling hands, and turned it over in one of his, stroking Daria's hair soothingly, "This is what's been setting you on edge all this time? Well, it's addressed to you - Ms. Daria Morris - there's only one of you in Cardiff, as far as I know. Why don't we open it, see what we've got to worry about before we start fretting, hm?"

Daria smiled, and faltered, "I just feel so unsettled by it. There was something so strange about the woman, like she wasn't really there. She…flickered? I suppose that's the right word."

Andy slid his thumb under the sealed flap of the envelope and slid it along, surprised at how easily and cleanly it came away. He peered inside, "Looks like just a card; a heavy, good quality card. Here." He pulled it out and handed it to Daria, who frowned.

"'Welcome'?" Daria read the front of the card, then opened it, "'It has begun. You will be ours.' God, what could that mean?"

"I dunno." Andy's stomach clenched at the words, the ownership in them, "Let's not worry about it just yet. To be safe, don't tell anyone at work. They'll only get involved, like always, with things that don't concern them. Bloody Torchwood."

She nestled back into his side, leaving the card on the coffee table. His heart pounded just a bit louder at her nearness, the fact this woman trusted – loved? – him bringing colour to his face.

She mumbled, "Yeah. Bloody Torchwood," and Andy felt as though he would burst with this newfound happiness.


She was huge.

There was no other way of describing it. She was bloody massive. Turning with wide eyes to Rhys, she said, "I'm a planet."

"No…" Rhys started, then at the stern look he received, changed tact, "Well, yes, but you are almost nine months pregnant. It's only for a little while longer."

She rubbed her stomach soothingly, feeling a soft kick of response from their child, "Only a little while longer, cariad, and you'll be with us."

Rhys came up behind his wife and wrapped his arms around her, placing his hands over hers on her stomach and resting his chin on her shoulder. He pressed a kiss to her jaw, "I'm so proud of you. Of us."

She rolled her head against his shoulder, "I know. We've finally got our little family. Torchwood's settled on my maternity leave, by the way."

"Hm?" He looked up, and met her smile, "Is it good?"

"I am allowed to work from home for them, for regular pay. Means I'll still be bringing in money but I'll be able to take care of our little bundle of joy."

"Wow, that's very generous. How long for?"

"As long as we need, apparently. We'll need to find a permanent way of balancing work and baby but in the interim…we're sorted."

Rhys smiled, turning Gwen around, and kissed her softly. She returned the kiss, stroking the back of his neck. Pulling away, Rhys mumbled, "Love you."

"Love you too, Rhys. Always have, always will."


The woman in red waited under the lamppost, her image flitting in and out of reality. She didn't have long, but she needed to speak to…him.

He walked towards her, and she smiled; he looked different to how she'd last seen him. Then again, that had been quite a while ago, when she'd picked up Blue. He'd been bald then, with a broad Northern accent and a leather jacket. She noted that his nose and ears were still as prominent, but in a different way.

"Red," he said, with a broad smile, holding out his arms. She slid into his embrace easily, returning the hug with a diminutive smile, "Doctor. It's been a while. I like the new body."

He laughed, a warm, pleasant laugh, and said, "I'm rather enjoying it too. Now, what's this about? You need to make it quick. I'm having some…problems. Well, not problems, but well yes, problems. Cracks. In space. Space-cracks."

Red placed a hand over the Doctor's mouth, "Shh. Calm down. All I wanted to say is that we need another person. Green passed away, we need someone to replace him."

"And you've chosen…? Ah. Don't tell me. I think I know," the Doctor studied Red's face intently, cupping her cheeks in his hands, fingers on her temples, gaze lingering a fraction on hers, "Ah. You know it's going to be difficult. This one's more settled than Green ever was."

"I'm sure I can work something out. I am ever faithful to you, after all. This is the best for the group."

The Doctor stepped back cupping his hands behind his head and studying Red intently. It always struck him how everyone like her understood him so much better, met his gaze unfalteringly, no fear, no irritation. Made him wonder.

"You humans," he said, "You humans always surprise me. Thanks for letting me know, Red. I hope it goes well for you."

"Until next time, Doctor."

He sighed, lowering his arms and turning to walk back to the TARDIS, a few metres away, "Until next time."


Well, this was a problem.

"You know I can't work for you anymore, Learner. In between my mortality and Iris," she gestured to their baby in her arms, "I'm no use to you. You've got Charlton now, at least, but I think…"

The look in her eyes was unbearable as they filled up with tears. He heard her mind say, I think I need to move out. Start a normal life.

Do you still love me? he thought.

With all my heart. I just can't live in this place and expect her to grow up healthy.

"Okay," Learner said, running a hand down the side of his face. He was in his Umbreyta form, letting his daughter see his real body and his human one so she knew he was one and the same. She blinked at him from her place in her mother's arms.

Cath looked normal, now. Her bright red hair had loosened in texture, falling in soft waves around her shoulders. She didn't look fragile; she looked strong, agile. He realized belatedly that this was generally what healthy human women looked like, outside of his Basement world.

"Okay, I'll find you an apartment. I'll contact Torchwood to let them know – hell, maybe you can spend some time with that lot. They're fairly normal, and their female – sorry, I mean Gwen Cooper – is in her final weeks with child. Cath, can I still come and visit you?"

Cath stood, placing Iris in her cot, and hugged Learner, suppressing a shiver at his cold skin, "Whenever you want. My heart beats for you, Learner, never forget that."

She turned, and added, "I'd better start packing, then."

Learner sighed, wondering why it felt like all he was living for was slipping out of his reach.


"Mmm? Right. Right. Okay then. I'll let them all know. Okay, goodbye." Ianto put the phone down, dusting off his hands, and turned to Jack. They were in his office, and as per usual, Ianto had answered the phone as soon as he'd seen 'Basement' on the caller ID.

"That was Learner."

"Hm?"

"Cath is moving out of the Basement with Iris. She's…she's going to visit us. She can't work for the Basement anymore because…"

"Because what?"

"When she gave birth, Jack, I didn't tell you something. She…she became human again."

Ianto noticed the spark of interest in Jack's startling blue eyes, "As in, Official-human or Gwen-human?"

"Gwen-human. Learner said the Umbreyta bled the injection right out of her. Along with her tattoos."

Jack swallowed, and Ianto studied his neck intently, watching the blood thrum under the surface peacefully, barely daring to look up to Jack's face, lest he see the lurch of hope in his eyes. "Oh. Well, she's welcome, obviously, her experience at the Basement puts her in good stead for being allowed in."

"Also, Jack," Ianto said, glancing in the mirror and adjusting his tie by a fraction, "I think we ought to help her out. She's going to be looking for a normal job now and we need to look out for her. Especially with the baby."

"Oh. Well, sure. I'm great with kids," Jack grinned, getting up and hugging Ianto around the waist, "I love you, by the way. Dunno if you'd heard."

Ianto turned with a beatific smile, and kissed him, before mumbling against his lips, "We're getting there, Jack. We're getting there."


"Blue?"

Out of the darkness, a tall, broad man, with dark, short hair and darker eyes emerged. Red smiled. Blue – he was named so for his entirely blue ensemble, inherited from the Blue before him – nodded in recognition.

"Blue, I met with the Doctor. All stations are go."

Blue nodded again, and retreated back into the darkness.


A/N: Hee hee. Space-cracks.