Chapter twenty-seven; Silent no more

You'll be all right honey, Jack crooned into the phone. I promise. Jackie let out a moan. Look, I got to go, Owen's calling me.

"Alright. Don't forget to send Ianto with my charger, my phone's almost dead."

I won't. I love you.

I love you too." And it was at that moment that her phone died. Jackie moaned and came out of the bathroom to find Tosh and Gwen preparing to open up the box containing Gwen's new wedding dress. They both looked up questioningly at her.

"You alright?" Tosh asked.

"I am now." She exhaled. "I just needed to call Jack."

"Having withdrawals already?" Gwen teased.

She rolled her eyes. "No, I just needed to hear his voice. And now, I've got to wait until I get back there with him. My cell phone died, but, Ianto's bringing my charger when he gets here, which, should be soon."

"If you updated your phone," Tosh offered. "I could charge it for you."

Jackie sighed. "You've got me when I'm weak and pregnant, I might consider it."

Gwen laughed as she opened up the box to reveal her new wedding dress. "It's beautiful." She held up the simple white gown, hopefully true to her size. It was similar to Gwen's original wedding dress choice.

"And I don't blame you for telling Jack and Owen to stick a postponement." Tosh declared. "I think it's wonderful you're getting married whatever."

"Tosh," Gwen said with a soft smile. "thank you."

"You're very lucky." Jackie said. "Rhys is a wonderful man."

Yes, he is." Gwen smiled. "I now see why you and Jack didn't wait. When you know…you just know, don't you?"

Jackie nodded. "Yes. And I love that idiotic man so much that I fear my heart could burst some times."

"You know, Tosh," Gwen said. "it'll happen for you, one day, you and Owen."

"Hmm," Tosh tilted her head to the side. "maybe."

"If Gwen," Jackie teased. "stops calling in the early morning and interrupting everyone's morning shagging!"

Tosh began laughing as a blush filled her and Gwen's cheeks. "What?" Gwen asked. "I don't understand."

"Well, you interrupted Jack and me, this morning." she explained with a broad smile. "Jack called Owen and Ianto, except, both of them were occupied with Meryl and Tosh."

Gwen began laughing as she blushed. "Oh no."

"Speaking of Ianto," Tosh said as she glanced at her watch. "Ianto's date, Meryl, should be arriving soon and I'd like to meet her."

"So would I, if I could talk." Jackie exhaled. "I haven't decided what I'm going to do yet. Probably find a nice secluded spot in the garden and hide."

"Good luck on that." Gwen said. "But, I don't think it'll work."

"Come on," Tosh said as she looped her arm through Jackie's. "I'll stick with you for a bit. See if we can find Meryl."

Jackie nodded and shuffled towards the door. "Alright."

"Smile," Gwen said. "after all, I'm getting married!"

Jackie groaned as she reached behind the bar, grabbed the bottle of sparkling cider and a glass. where was Tosh? Jackie had gone to the bathroom and found Tosh gone. Jackie downed two glasses and was filling up her third when her father walked up to her. he looked tired and not as angry as he'd appeared hours ago.

He sat down beside her and exhaled. "So….is it a boy or a girl?"

Both. Her skills had started to get rusty as she hadn't used them in a while. A boy and girl.

"Twins?" he exhaled and sat back. "Fancy that." she bit her lip and filled her glass again for the fourth time. "Look, I'm sorry." She looked up at him. "That...was a bit surprising. I wasn't expecting you to just…show up pregnant, you and Gwen both. You, I thought had higher morals, as you claimed. What made you change your mind?"

Jackie chose to keep her answers simple. He did.

"So, was it that American Captain then?" Jackie nodded. "I liked him, because he treated you as if you were normal. Unlike other people, he included you in conversations and seemed to treat you with respect."

He does respect me. Jackie wanted to say that they were married, but couldn't. and he loves me very much.

"Not it he hasn't," Jackie held up the hand with her wedding ring and he paused. "I see. When's the wedding?"

She shrugged. February 24th.

"Hmm, coming up in a few months then?" Jackie nodded. "Alright then, as long as you're happy, I guess that's all that counts. Don't worry about your mother, she'll come around." He stood up and patted her shoulder. "It's almost time to walk Gwen down the aisle. I've got to be going."

Jackie nodded and watched as he left the bar and headed upstairs to get Gwen. Jackie exhaled and down the fourth glass before pouring her fifth glass. Well, what else was she supposed to do until Tosh came back? Everyone kept staring at her only to duck their heads in shame when she returned their stares.

"Jackie?" at the sound of her mother's voice, she looked up to see her mother there with Alex Batsperson. Her mother had thought that Jackie would marry him once upon a time, but that was years ago. Alex was a rotten apple and was always eying her in a way that made her uneasy. "You remember Alex, don't you?" Alex's gaze went towards her stomach and she placed her hand on it. "Well, he doesn't' have a date, so I've arranged for him to be your escort."

Her mother walked off without a word. "So," Jackie rolled her eyes as she realized that Alex was somewhat drunk. "what bastard knocked you up?" she exhaled deeply and walked away, ignoring him. "Had to be blind, what other man would dare to touch you?"

I'm going to have Jack kill you if he ever gets the chance. Jackie thought to herself as she hurried towards her seat in the reception area. Alex followed closed beside her, eyes riveted to the almost empty bottle of cider in her hand. Jackie sat down, raised the bottle to her lips and drained it. Alex moved to sit down beside her, but she gave his shoulder a good jab with the empty bottle.

"Ow!" He whined loudly, drawing everyone's attention. "Hey!" Jackie gave him another shove with the bottle and shook her head at him. "Move over, you little-

"Alex," Rhys said cheerfully, causing her to exhale with relief. she shot him a grateful smile. "what are you doing over here mate? Your seat's over there."

"I'm her escort." He explained. "Her mother asked me."

Rhys shook his head. "I'm afraid I can't allow that, her er, uhm, boyfriend, asked me to keep an eye on her tonight."

Jackie jumped up and asked. Did he really?

Rhys nodded. "He did, I swear."

Jackie sat down with a huff shaking her head. Alex wouldn't take a hint. "Well, he ain't here, now is he?"

"Come on," Rhys said as he prodded Alex to another seat. "I can't break my word." Alex wrenched away from Rhys and turned back to Jackie, prompting her to stand up, raise the bottle and bring it back to smash over his head. Alex stumbled backwards in surprise and Rhys guided him to his seat. "I think the lady doesn't want you there."

Jackie drew her finger across her throat and glowered at Alex as she sank back down into her seat. The moment she did, she realized that she needed to go to the bathroom. So she stood up and went to the bathroom. After relieving herself, she took another look around the area for Tosh, but couldn't find her. she frowned, it wasn't like Tosh to be tardy, but maybe banana had cornered her again.

"Jackie?" she looked up to see Gwen heading towards her. "hurry, the ceremony is about to start."

I can't find Tosh or banana. He was bothering her earlier.

Gwen laughed somewhat nervously. "Heaven help Banana if he decides to bother her. she's probably heading this way now."

Jackie shrugged, not totally convinced and headed back into the hall for the ceremony. Everyone started whispering amongst himself or herself as she sashayed down the aisle to her seat and sat down. Then her mother stood icily beside her while Gwen and her father walked her down the aisle to give her to Rhys. Jackie smiled as she took in Gwen and Rhys's happiness. They were the perfect couple and would have many years of happiness together.

Jackie listened as the registrar's voice drone on. "But first, the law requires me to ask of you all, if there is anyone here who knows of any reason why these two may not marry?"

Jackie smiled cynically to herself. As if, anyone ever says that at a wedding? The thought was ludicrous!

"Stop!" Jackie exhaled and rolled her eyes as she heard Jack's voice. She stood up shaking her head and watched in amusement as he ran up the aisle. "Stop it! Stop the wedding!" Jackie couldn't help but grin madly at the picture Jack was creating. "Hold on!"

"Jack?" Gwen gasped out in disbelief.

"Gwen, believe me, I'm sorry." He inhaled. "But this has to stop now."

"I just knew that baby wasn't Rhys's." Brenda sneered as she stood up. Jackie was sorely tempted to make an obscene gesture at Brenda, but decided that it wasn't worth it.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Rhys asked, his voice low, prompting Jackie to move towards Jack, in case Rhys decided to take a poke at him.

"Jack, I told you," Gwen said firmly. "I am marrying Rhys."

"Not now." Jack said quietly, with a shake of his head. "You can't."

Jackie walked over to Jack and placed a hand on his shoulder to catch his attention. You might want to explain this a bit better. Because people are so full of such stupid ideas. Everyone is now thinking that you and Gwen are having an affair!

"An affair!" He looked at Gwen and her stomach. "With her?" He didn't even bother hiding the disdain in his voice. "No way!"

"Oi!" Gwen snapped.

"Sorry Gwen," he said with a shrug. "but, as you know, Jackie's really more my type."

Jackie elbowed him. Save the flirting for later!

"You've screwed things up enough between me and Gwen." Rhys said tightly, his fury barely under control. "You're not going to mess up our wedding."

"Listen, I am trying to save Gwen's life." Jack stated vehemently. "Yours, too."

"What's going on, Jack?" Gwen questioned, finally sensing that something was wrong.

Maybe, Jackie suggested. we should discuss this in private.

"Good point." Jack turned to her, his brows rising. "You, with me."

She smirked. Always.

"Good for you." He planted a quick kiss on her mouth, causing everyone to start gasping and murmuring amongst themselves. "Everyone, there will be a slight delay," Jack announced. "there is a bit of a situation which needs to be resolved. Gwen's marriage to Rhys, will resume momentarily. No, I'm not the father of Gwen's baby, but I am the father of Jackie's!" that caused the whole room to go into an uproar. Jackie shook her head in dismay as he tugged on her arm. "Come on!" she nodded and trotted after him. Jack held onto her arm tightly as they headed up to Gwen's suite. "And here," he said as he reached into his pocket. "is your charger." Jackie smiled as she 'floated' up the stairs as there was no one in sight. "That's cheating!"

Jackie rolled her eyes and headed towards the bridal suit. "My phone needs to charge and let Owen and Ianto know that Tosh is missing. And your two children are fidgety right now, so I don't want to climb the stairs right now!"

"Not surprising," Rhys says. "seeing as how you downed that bottle of cider."

Jackie headed forward towards the bridal suite while Jack explained everything to Gwen and Rhys behind her. once inside, she immediately plugged her phone into the wall. of all the worst times to have a dead cell phone, when communication was essential!

"There were two of them?" Gwen questioned.

"Ma and Pa Nostrovite, They hunt in pairs, but childbirth is more of a three way." Jack explains. "He finds and impregnates a host. She then comes in like the midwife from hell, hanging around, watching, waiting, until the time is right. Then it gets messy."

"He rips her open, I'm guessing?" Jack nods in confirmation.

"So," Rhys asks. "you think it's near?"

"She's a shape shifter, Rhys. She could be out there making small talk with your mom and dad."

"It could be Alex," Jackie supplied, turning to Rhys for confirmation. "he was slobbering all over me earlier before the ceremony." At Jack's curious gaze, she added. "And if it wasn't Alex, Jack, please hit him once for me."

He nodded. "As you wish. Now, we've got to stop this wedding. It's not safe."

Gwen sat down on the bed, explaining patiently to Jack. "We're not stopping the wedding."

"Gwen, there isn't a choice here." Jack turned to her. "You're pregnant, see if you can talk some sense into her head!"

"Ever since I've met you, Jack, all Rhys has had to put up with, with me, is crap. The lies, the danger, the complications. But he's stood by me." Jackie couldn't say anything, nor could Jack. they were both right and both wrong. "Who else would do that?" she stood up and stepped towards Jack. "Who else would marry me knowing that I am carrying some kind of monster inside me? I love him, and I'm going to marry him, today. Jackie didn't wait to marry you. She knew what she was doing and no matter what happened, she was going to marry you. and that's what I want to do today, I want to marry Rhys."

Rhys stepped towards Gwen, humbled by her stalwart defense of him. "Thanks, but it is my wedding, too. Don't I get a say?"

Before anyone could answer, a woman began screaming. Jackie shook her head. "I guess that means no." She hurried out of the room behind Jack, clutching onto her belly with Gwen and Rhys behind her.

A few rooms down, they found Megan screaming her head off. And frankly, no wonder, the monster had eaten Meryvn and his corpse was not a pretty sight. Megan ran out of the room and Jackie spun around and headed after her. "Ianto, after the girl," Jack shouted. "I need this contained."

Jackie hurried after the hysterical Megan, sorely tempted to use her powers on Megan, but she couldn't, not in front of all these people. Ianto passed her, heading straight for Megan. He almost had her, but she was too fast. "Call the police!" she screamed loudly as she ran into the hall. "Mervyn's been murdered!"

"Jack," Ianto announced. "I'm afraid the situation is uncontained." Ianto nodded his head a few times, at what Jack said before running out of the room. Jackie sat back and surveyed everyone's reactions closely. A woman, dressed in black, drew her attention. There was something that was wrong with her. she was sitting there calmly in the midst of all the panic. She mentally gave Jack a prod in the back.

Everyone was scrambling on their hones, trying to get them to move. Jack and Tosh came running up the aisle. "Move! I need everyone to stay calm and do exactly as I tell you."

"And who the hell are you?" Rhys's father, Barry, demands.

"Torchwood." Jack snaps at him.

"Gwen's Torchwood?" her father asks. "You mean you're real?"

"Jack, there she is." Tosh shouts.

"Everybody down!" Jack bellows and everyone obeys. The woman jumps up and hisses at Tosh and Jack. they fire at her, but the woman turns and runs, undaunted. Jackie reaches out and grabs her in a bubble. The creature is temporarily stunned, but a sudden burst of energy causes her to run at the bubble wall and it hit it hard enough to knock Jackie on her back! "Jackie?"

"Get it Jack!" She shouts as she sits up. "I'm fine. go! Go get it!"

Tosh and Jack hurry after the creature through the broken window. Everyone stands up cautiously from behind the chairs. Jackie clears her throat as she hikes her long skirt up to her knee to pull her gun free.

"Right! Everyone, pay attention here!" Everyone turned and looked at her in amazement as she put the bullet clip in her gun. "Now, everyone needs to play close attention as to what's going on here. No one can call the police because the telephone lines are blocked. Besides, the police are out of their depth here; they're not used to handling aliens. If you all want to get out of here alive, you'll listen to everyone who's carrying a gun and you'll be wise to do as they say!"

"You're…talking." Her mother gasped out in amazement as she sank into a chair.

She hadn't even thought about what she'd say to her parents if she even were to tell them about this, but in this situation, she spoke in a calm, controlled and clear voice. "Yes, Jack, bought me a necklace which healed my damaged vocal chords." She added for good measure. "And for the record,. I married Captain Jack Harkness on the 24th of February. And to those with dirty minds," she snapped. "no, I wasn't pregnant when we married, I got pregnant afterwards, as you're supposed to do!"

"And you didn't tell us," her father asked, his voice breaking. "that you got married?"

She paused before saying. "How could I tell you? Jack is over one thousand years old," everyone gasped in horror r those words. "but, he looks good for his age. He isn't going to age, I'm going to, it's going to be very hard for you to know and accept that. it's going to be hard for me when that day arrives as well." Jackie cleared her throat. "Everyone, sit down, stay calm and don't wander about! The alien is a shape shifter and dangerous. It feasts on human flesh." Everyone screamed and Jackie groaned. "God, being around my husband is rubbing off on me. If you must go somewhere, stay together in a group. I've got to go check up on Gwen."

Jackie grabbed her purse, reached in, pulled out her earpiece and put it on. she couldn't believe this was actually happening on Gwen's wedding day! When she married Jack, nothing had happened that day, nothing at all! why did everything happen to Gwen?

"Jack," she questioned. "did you get it?"

Jackie, he shouted. the shape shifter is up in Gwen's room, as Rhys's mother! If you can get there, stop her!

Hi everybody. So sorry about the delay. I had a bit of a health scare. I thought I had breast cancer and I've had to go to a few doctors and I'm cancer free. They're not sure what it is yet, they have to run a few tests. I've been so upset that I couldn't write. Once I'm stress free, my writing should flow much easier. Again, I am so sorry about the delay.