Chapter twenty-seven: And there it is

Three months later,

"Jack, Jack, Jack!" Jackie's cries filled their bedroom as she and Jack came together in unbridled satisfaction. "Oh God!" She clung to his shoulders as she buried her face in his shoulder, breathing deeply as she came off her high. She kissed his shoulder as she struggled to regain her breath. Jack chuckled and then kissed her neck, causing her to smile. Then, her phone went off, causing her to jump, due to the jaws theme playing loudly on her nightstand. "Oh, my phone."

"Ignore it." he ordered as he continued moving his body against hers, being careful to avoid her obviously pregnant 20-week stomach. She reached for it, but he caught a hold of her wrist and shook his head firmly. "No more interruptions."

"But," she protested weakly as she shoved on his chest. "it's Gwen."

"Oh it is?" Jack sat up, grabbed the phone from her hand and answered it. "Gwen," Jack roared into the phone, causing her to smile. "if you don't stop interrupting Jackie and I," Jack suddenly went silent and sat up. "what do you mean you're pregnant?"

Jackie sat up, her stomach bumping Jack's chest. "What? How can she be-

"Seriously? All right, calm down. I'll be there in a minute." Jack hung up and turned to Jackie. "Your sister woke up and she says that appears to be pregnant."

Jackie shook her head. "Oh, she can't do that to me! Both of us can't show up on her wedding day pregnant!"

Jack laughed at her. "It's not your wedding. What's the big idea?"

Jackie grumbled as she sat up, swinging her feet off the edge of the bed. "You wouldn't understand. You're a man." she carefully sat up on the bed, giving her stomach a rub as she carefully stepped into her slippers before hauling herself up. "I'm going with you."

He shrugged. "Alright." He reached for his phone on his nightstand and dialed Owen. "I'll go make us some coffee then…unless you're feeling nauseous."

"Not at this moment, but, it could be later." She groaned. "My alien biology is making this very difficult for me."

"Owen," Jack said cheerfully before clearing his throat. "oh, sorry Tosh. Listen, can you ask Owen to head on over to Gwen's right now? Gwen is pregnant. Not sure how, but we'll meet him there. Bye." Jack hung up and turned to her. "Well, Gwen certainly likes to make it impossible for anyone to sleep together! I should get Ianto down here."

"And what if he and Meryl are occupied?" She asks slyly as Jack dials Ianto. "You'll have interrupted everyone's good morning shag just because my sister somehow managed to wind up pregnant on her wedding day!"

Try as Jackie might, she couldn't stop laughing. Sure enough, Jack had interrupted Meryl and Ianto. Every time she looked at Jack, she kept laughing. The thought how just one call from Gwen, managed to interrupt the sex life of every single torchwood member! They came around the corner of Gwen's bedroom to find her being examined by Owen. Sure enough, Gwen was pregnant, very pregnant.

"How are you doing, Gwen?" Jack asked.

"Jack, will you tell me what's going on?" Gwen questioned rapidly. "Owen says I'm pregnant."

"What, you think?" Jack asked with a grin.

Gwen's eyes widened as she stared down at her stomach in horror. "Jesus Christ. What with?"

"Exo-biological insemination." Owen mutters.

"That alien last night." Jack said quietly.

"Oh, get off." Gwen snapped as she pushed Owen off her. Jack moved out of Gwen's way, holding her hands up. "It bit me, Jack, that's all."

Jack rolled his eyes as Gwen exclaimed loudly. Jackie followed Gwen into the kitchen with Jack and Owen behind her. Gwen was pouring herself a cup of water. "It passed the eggs on in the bite." Jack explained rationally. "Some species do that. A kind of sneaky way of keeping the bloodline going. Boy, would Darwin have a field day if he'd made it to space."

"Yeah," Gwen said sarcastically. "great."

"Listen, Gwen, you are going to be fine, I promise, okay." Owen stated. "If there was any biological incompatibility you would be dead." Gwen goes over to the refrigerator and pulls out a bottle of gherkins. "Now, according to this scan, you are carrying a non-sentient blastopheric mass."

"A what?" she gasps out.

"It's a kind of alien egg." Gwen opens the bottle of gherkins and begins to eat them. "But don't worry, I'm going to look after you, I promise." Jackie reached into the jar, pulled one out for her, and began to chew on one as well. "We've got procedures in place for this situation."

Gwen stopped chewing, amazement stretching across her features. "You mean this has happened before?"

"You've heard of immaculate conception," Jack asked in that flippant tone of his. "haven't you?"

"Don't you dare go there," Jackie shouted. "Captain Jack Harkness!"

"I'm sorry," he said quickly. "it just slipped out. I'm sorry."

"Right," Owen said, attempting to calm everyone in the room. "we take you back to the Hub. You lie back, I run a bio-xenic microtron, a couple of days off your feet and you'll be right as rain."

"Whoa, a couple of days?" Gwen came around the corner, her mouth still full. "In five hours I'm walking down the aisle, Owen."

"No, you're not." Jack said firmly.

Gwen and Jackie stared at him in amazement. "Gwen, I hate to say this, but you're going to have to postpone the wedding."

"No!" Gwen shrieked to Owen. "No way. Have you any idea how much a wedding costs?"

"Listen, Gwen," Jack stated firmly. "you are not carrying the baby Jesus in there." at Jackie's glare he added. "I didn't mean anything by it."

"But you still said it."

"I don't care, all right?" Gwen said in a muffled shout. "I can't put Rhys through this. He's had to put up with enough as it is, okay? So I'm not postponing the wedding."

Jackie nodded in agreement. "She's right."

You are not thinking straight!" Jack snapped at her.

"Do not bring my bloody hormones into this," Gwen roared, eyes flashing with fury. "Mister Jack Harkness!"

"Okay, calm down." Jack lowered his voice as he turned towards Jackie. "Is this a sneak peak of what I have to look forward to when you're almost full term?"

"Pretty much." Jackie stated as she grabbed another gherkin and took a bite. "But I'm probably going to be much worse."

"Well," he shrugged. "at least I got a sneak preview. How many other father's have that honor?"

"Owen has said if this wasn't safe," Gwen reasoned, while Owen smirks at Jack's discomfort. "I would know about it by now. Right?"

Owen decided to just humor the bride. "As far as I know, yeah."

"Okay. So I am good until after the wedding. And then I'll do whatever I have too. Once I'm Mrs. Williams." She took another gherkin. "Not before."

Jackie applauded. "Good for you, but you need to tell Rhys first." Jackie hugged her. "Alright. See you later."

Jack stared down at her. "Seriously Jackie? You're supposed to be the voice of reason!"

"Come on Jack, if the same thing had happened to me, would you have wanted to postpone the wedding?"

"No, but-

"Ha!" she stretched up and gave him a quick peck on the mouth. "That settles it. We'll leave you be Gwen. See you at the hotel later today. Be sure you prepare mom and dad!" she called over her shoulder. "This is going to shock them."

"Well," Gwen called after her. "you're not your typical size 10!"

"Jackie wears a 6," Jack supplied. "and she looks great no matter what size she wears."

"I hate compliments Jack!" she snipped. "Especially when you fib."

He frowned. "Since when did you start hating compliments?"

"Since I got pregnant!"

Owen spent most of the ride back to hub, hunkered down in his seat while Jack and Jackie swapped barbs the entire time. They weren't furious, just teasingly angry with each other. Jack squeezed her behind as she moved carefully up the stairs in the hub, causing her to shriek. "You are such-

Tosh spun around as Jack moved past her. "How is she?" she questioned.

"She's," Owen stepped towards Tosh, eyeing Jack and Jackie out of the corner of his eye. "going ahead with the wedding."

"Which is fine," Jack turned towards them, business stance ready. "as long as she doesn't go into labor at the altar. Rhys might forgive her going down the aisle pregnant," he shot her a pointed look. "but not giving birth to a razor-toothed monster that eats half his family."

Jackie snorted and rolled her eyes. "Don't be ridiculous."

"Could that happen?" Ianto asked, magically appearing from behind Jack's shoulder, causing her to start.

"Well, look," Owen pointed out reasonably. "the pregnancy's advanced and we're not familiar with the species."

"Which is why you, Owen," Jack's brows rose. "need to open up the guy with the teeth and make sure there's no surprises." Owen nodded and move towards the autopsy room. "Tosh, you've got an early pass to the wedding." Tosh's smile brightened. "Keep an eye on Gwen. Ianto," Jack spun on his heel to face Ianto. "Gwen's going to need a new wedding dress. Bigger."

"See if you can get Meryl to come with you," Jackie called after him. "it'll help to have a woman's opinion. And if she asks…say the tailors gave the wrong dress to the wrong woman."

Ianto nodded. "Great idea."

"And you," Jack said as he turned, walking slowly towards her. "my darling wife, are going to go along with Tosh and help keep your sister from freaking out."

"Who cares about Gwen, what do you think my parents are going to do?" she shook her head, backing up with each step Jack took towards her. "Both of their daughter's showing up at a wedding pregnant and I'm obviously showing up without a husband." Jackie tripped over some steps behind her and shrieked as she fell backwards! Jack caught her instantly and helped into a sitting position against the steps. She exhaled. "Thank you."

"My pleasure. Jack chuckled as he loomed over her, his hand stroking her stomach. "I'll have to get you in this position sometime."

She shook her head. "Not comfortable." She shifted into a better position as she exhaled deeply. "I'm not sure what I'm going to do. Showing up at Gwen's wedding as a single mother. I could tell them we're married, but…that's too much and I haven't seen them for months now. God knows what they must think of me."

"Hey," he said as he nestled against her. "it doesn't matter what anyone thinks about you." He brushed a strand of hair back from her face. "I promised you that when we married, your life, happiness and welfare will be cherished and placed above my own for all time." She smiled at those words. "That I'd always be the person that you can trust, talk to and always understand. With a love like that…who cares about that anyone else says or thinks about us? We know the truth…and that's all that matters."

Jackie brought her hand up to Jack's neck and pulled him down so she could kiss him. he placed his hands on either side of her body, careful not to lay on her. after a few moments, she pulled away from him, running her hand across the back of his neck. "I love you so much Jack. I still don't rightly know how someone like you fell in love with someone like me."

Jack exhaled as he kissed her hand before removing her wedding ring and slid it over to the ring finger on her right hand. "I'll tell you about it tonight."

She smiled. "I'll be sure to tell my daughter when she's pregnant, how I told you. you made love to me so gently and tenderly that we both started crying." Se gripped his hand, forcing him to keep his hand over her ring. "I do wish that my parents could know. Then everyone would see that even though I couldn't speak, that some man was able to look beyond that fact and fall enough in love with me to want to marry me. not because of what I was physically, but because of what I am as a person."

Jack leaned over her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. She exhaled and clung to him. "And I'm honored, that such a woman would put everything on the line for me, especially since I can't stay with her for all eternity."

"I'll always be with you Jack, and I'll always love you." Jack kissed her deeply causing her to moan as his hands firmly gripped her waist. after a few moment indulgence, she pulled away from him. "I should go."

"Yes." He said as he got up off her. he picked her up in his arms and moved towards his office. "I'll help you with your dress."

Jackie arched her brow. "Jack, you know full well you're looking for another opportunity to shag me and not help me into my dress."

"Actually, I'll shag you later tonight." He stopped where he was walking. "And believe me," his voice dropped low and seductive. "I'll be thinking of what I'm going to do to you."

"Jack."

"That'll give you something to look forward to tonight."

Her eyes widened. "Jack, you are coming to the wedding aren't you?"

He exhaled. "I've got to stay here." She looked downwards, not wanting him to see her disappointment. "Jackie, I'm sorry."

She nodded. "I know and I understand, but…I can't keep my selfish heart from wanting you to be there with me."

"I know. I wish I could be with you too, but I can't. I know it'll be hard facing your parents when you're heavy with my children. But I know that I married a strong woman and I know you can handle this."

She smiled. "Why do you always have to know everything that's on my mind?"

"Well, you can read mine, literally, so I better know what's going on in yours!"

Jackie smoothed her hands over her silk dress. It was similar to the pale pink one Natalie Portman had worn years ago for some movie premiere. Except instead of hers being pink, Jackie had picked a beautiful, shade of azure with a white rose. Jack had helped her into the dress without any issues. However, once he saw her with her makeup and hair done up like Angelina Jolie's in the 1993 Cleopatra movie, he'd immediately tried to talk her into finding a corner somewhere. it would have worked to, had Tosh not come up the stairs ready to go.

"You ok?" Tosh asked they drove towards the entrance of the venue for Gwen's wedding. "You look scared."

Jackie nodded. "I am. I can fight alien, handle it when Jack dies, but I can't face my own parents."

Tosh stopped the car and squeezed her hand comfortingly. "It'll be fine. look, I'll let you out here and you can wait for me in the lobby."

Jackie nodded and carefully got out of the car. Her babies jumped nervously about in her stomach as she accepted the hand of the door attendant to help her up the stairs. Upon entering, she realized that her parents and Rhys's parents were in the lobby talking, presumably about Gwen's condition.

"Oh my God," Brenda's voice caused her to jump. "Jackie's pregnant to her?" everyone looked towards her and Jackie protectively placed a hand over her stomach, as if she could shield her children from the looks. "Who knocked her up?"

Jackie walked towards her parents and smiled as best as she could. Hello.

"Jackie," her mother demanded in a controlled voice. "what…happened to you?"

I'm pregnant. She said with a smile.

"I can see that?" her father demanded, struggling to keep his voice even. She knew he was upset because she'd disappointed both of them. "Who's the father?"

She shrugged. Look, this is Gwen's day, not mine. can we deal with this later?

"Later! It's a little bit late for that!" Her mother spat. "You've always been dying for attention, but this is the worst! Showing up pregnant on your sister's wedding day!"

Jackie stared at her. it's not as if I purposefully planned to show up pregnant on Gwen's wedding day!

"Is it that American soldier you brought over during Christmas?" Jackie stepped away and moved towards the stairs. "That Captain Jack Harkness was it? I bet it was!"

"Jackie," her father snapped. "your mother is talking to you!"

She ignored them and continued walking for the stairs. "So, that American Captain, got you pregnant and then abandoned you!" Jackie froze, digging her hands into the banister in fury. "I bet it was! I told you to stay away from that yank! They're nothing but trouble!" her mother gasped. "Is that why we haven't seen you in ages?"

Jackie spun around, releasing the banister, which had her finger indentations and signed in fury. I work with Jack! I moved away because I was tired of you hounding me! Had she not been furious, the look on their faces would have been priceless. I have work to do and I want to live my own life out from under your shadow as much as possible!

"Jackie!" Her father snapped. "Don't talk to us like that!"

What give you the right to talk to me like that? I'm a grown adult and I make my own decisions now! When Gwen moved in with Rhys and you all were so happy! So, why would you even care about me? If she wasn't a married woman, she would have been more submissive, but Jack's ring, even though it was on the wrong finger served as a reminder that she knew that she was in the right and she wasn't going to roll over while they walked over her. Or is it the thought that someone out there loves me enough to actually want to have sex with me that's so offensive? As to who the father is, that's my business because it's my life. but I assure you, he knows that I'm pregnant, he's very active in my life and he loves me!

At that moment, Tosh arrived with Gwen's new dress. Her parents, could say nothing, they could only stare at her in shock. She had changed. Rhys's friend, Banana Boat, spotted Tosh and headed straight for her. "All right, love? You've got a big box. Do you want a hand with that?"

"No, thank you," Tosh said as she turned sideways in the door to get through. "I'm fine."

"Are you going to the wedding?" he questioned.

"I'm a friend of Jackie and Gwen's."

"I'm Banana. I suppose you can tell why."

"You come up in spots and go soft quickly?" Jackie chuckled and clapped her hands, catching Tosh's attention.

"Actually," Banana stammered out in surprise. "I'm the best man."

"Evolution is full of surprises." Tosh said sarcastically as she turned and headed towards the stairs.

"So," Banana asks, not taking a hint that Tosh isn't interested. "do you fancy a little drink later?"

"Sorry," Tosh says as she climbs up the stairs. "I'm intolerant to vasoactive amines." As if sensing Banana's confusion, she adds for good measure. "Bananas make me vomit." She hissed at Jackie. "Why didn't you say something?"

"Because," she whispered back. "you looked so funny. Besides, they don't know I can talk at all, so I've got to be silent. Oh, I'm going mad! Let's find Gwen so I can scream!"