And thank you once again to my lovely reviewers: L.A.H.H., TV-a-holic, Little Sweet Pea, milady dragon, NikkieSheepie, brionyjae and thedeejay!

As an answer to all your questions – no, I don't know how romantic you can safely get while writing when two of your main characters are rats. I'll give it a good try though. You should be able to see most suggested pairings (along with some that weren't brought up) in here, but you might have to squint a bit.

Jealousy

Tosh woke to feel something warm and furry against her neck. Gwen, she assumed, as she lay there trying to muster the will-power to drag herself out from under the warm covers. She opened her eyes.

Owen blinked, and yawned in her face.

"And good morning to you too." Tosh muttered.

There was a scrabbling by her head and then something was tickling her ear. Tosh used her spare hand to grab Gwen and dump her unceremoniously on her bedside table. She pulled herself out of bed to the sound of indignant squeaks on two fronts. It was almost tempting to leave them locked in there all day, but just thinking of the mess she'd find when she got back… No. It wasn't worth it.

"How did it go?"

Tosh looked up at Ianto blearily. "You can have Owen tonight."

"That bad?"

"Not really… Just when you put both of them together, I think." She looked across at the table where Owen was sat. "I'm starting to miss the time when they could make their own breakfast."

"Judging from the way Owen behaves here I doubt he's ever been able to cook for himself. Did the box work?"

"The box?"

"The deluxe king-size rat bed."

"Oh. No, not really."

"You mean they slept with you?" Jack asked with a characteristic grin, having chosen precisely the wrong moment to turn up. As usual.

"Look, I didn't ask them too! They crept in while I was asleep!"

Jack looked at Owen thoughtfully. Owen gave him an innocent look back, then started gnawing at the stapler again.

"Have you thought of leaving him with Ianto tonight?"

Tosh nodded.

"Actually, sir, I don't really want to share a room with Owen for the night either, whatever state he's in."

"We could leave him here." Tosh suggested, fervently hoping that the problem in question couldn't understand what they were saying.

"What? With me?"

"Jack, you have to get used to them sometime." Ianto said patiently. "How about we try today, if nothing much is going on?"

"That was a very neatly disguised order, Ianto."

Ianto gave him a look. It was a very particular look, and it made Jack feel quite uncomfortable.

"Alright, alright. Just not with Owen."

"I'm sure Gwen will be obliging. And then maybe Tosh can get some work done for once. Shall we start now, before you have time to find something else to do?"

Jack tried to remember when Ianto had become so manipulative.

Ianto settled himself in the chair on the other side of Jack's desk. "Say hello to Gwen."

"Hello Gwen." Jack echoed dutifully. He was looking noticeably edgy.

"She won't hurt you. It's just Gwen, remember?"

Jack looked back down at the rat. It was true that there were some similarities, but on the whole… It looked back at him unblinkingly, as though it was waiting patiently for him to get the right answer. In this respect in seemed to have teamed up with Ianto.

"She's giving me that 'why don't you understand, Jack?' look." He said, somewhat disgruntledly.

"That's because it's still Gwen, sir."

"So if you're ever missing and I find a rat that rolls its eyes…"

"Then it'll most likely be me, sir. Just try stroking her or something."

"You know, that aspect is easier if you try and forget it's Gwen." Jack reached out tentatively anyway, eyes closed, and let his fingers brush her back. No teeth met his fingers.

"Not so bad, is it?"

"Well I don't know how she feels about it…" Jack risked a glance. Gwen was still looking at him.

"Do they never stop that?"

"Does Gwen ever stop anything until she gets what she wants? Try picking her up."

Jack did so, and found it was easier than he expected. He held his cupped palms up to eye level.

"Huh. They're quite cute actually, aren't they?"

Ianto wasn't sure, but he almost thought he half-heard a small squeak of approval.

"Where's Jack?" Tosh asked, looking up from her screen.

"I left him with Gwen."

"They're getting along?"

"Famously. I wish you hadn't told him all about last night."

Tosh screwed up her forehead. "They're rats."

"Yes, but they're also Gwen and Owen. And I swear they're taking advantage."

"What, Owen…?"

"No, no. But you should see Gwen in there, cuddling up to Jack like she was in some sort of heaven."

"Ianto, she does that with everyone. She does that with you."

"Not the same way she does it with Jack." Ianto replied heatedly.

"They haven't got amorous motives, they're just…"

"Tosh, this morning you said you woke up with Owen on your chest."

"Yes, and he also sneezed in my porridge!"

Ianto sighed. He still felt uncomfortable about all this. And, if he admitted it to himself, he was jealous. Of a rat. He was already wishing he hadn't persuaded Jack to try and overcome his rodent-phobia…

"What's up, Ianto?"

"Oh, nothing, sir. Where's Gwen?"

Jack shrugged. "In the coat somewhere."

Yep, definitely jealousy.

"Why's Owen making that sound? He sounds like he's swallowed a generator."

Tosh glanced over at Owen's spot on her desk before replying to Jack's question. "I think he's got a cold. He keeps sneezing too."

Obligingly, Owen demonstrated.

"Rat flu." Ianto diagnosed.

"I've never seen an animal look that miserable before." Jack mused. "I don't know how Owen pulls it off."

Owen gave them a grumpy look and retreated into the tissue box. Ianto mentally added a new one to his shopping list.

"How's Gwen?" Tosh asked.

"Oh, she's fine. Maybe we should keep them separated, in case it isn't just a cold."

"He bullies her anyway." Ianto added.

Jack looked shocked. "Does he?"

"Well, no more than he does normally. Have you not seen them fighting yet?"

Jack grinned. "Now that would be something… We should be filming them so that we can show them what they got up to when we get them back." He frowned suddenly. "How are things going on that front, Tosh?"

"Maybe another day or so. It's hard to tell. But we should be able to get them back, I think."

"Good. How about me and Ianto look after them for the night, so that you can get some decent sleep this time?"

"That would be wonderful." Tosh replied gratefully.

So… any good? Any suggestions?