23

They were in the food court, seated with Ianto quietly reminding Alice that bums go on seats, not knees. Rose and Gray watched with silent horror as he scolded the little one and they waited for the tantrum. They did not expect what she did.

"Sowwy, I know that" she nodded as she rearranged herself to sit politely, looking up at him for prise.

"Ah, there we are. A true princess sits like that. Bet everyone can see how lovely you are, just like we know you are" Ianto crooned while stroking her hair, "Now does my princess want a cupcake or piece of chocolate first?"

"Chocky please Yan" she said gleefully and he placed two pieces of chocolate on her plate and she cooed, "Yummy."

"And?"

"Thank you" she said eagerly then waited as she looked at him expectantly.

"Now I shall have the same, you always make such yummy choices darling" he said as he placed a piece on his own plate. "OK"

She seized a piece and shoved it in her mouth, humming as she jiggled and Ianto laughed as he leaned in to kiss her and another piece joined the remaining piece, "Such lovely manners. I am so proud as people walk past and see our perfect little girl. I bet they all want a little girl like you."

She shone with delight as she looked up adoringly at him, then turned to her Daddy, "Daddy? You're perfect too right?"

"All Harkness-Jones' are perfect, it's a rule" Jack said with a straight face and she hummed some more.

Ianto was watching the crowd, his people watching pastime now engaged as the others spoke and he was the first to be aware of the woman approaching slowly, as if unintentionally, if not for the furtive glances in their direction. Ianto thought she looked familiar and was trying to work out how he knew her when she turned her face more to apologise to someone she had bumped into.

Alice's wee tooth gap flashed as the woman smiled and Ianto made a small nose of alarm that made Jack look at him and then follow his gaze.

"Shit, what the hell" Jack rose to intercept her as Ianto swung around and leaned over the table to take Alice's attention as he asked her if she was having a nice time but to his dismay she had noticed the change in atmosphere, leaning around him to see what was wrong.

"Get away from us" Jack said with his hands splayed out, "I am not touching you, you cannot touch me. Get away."

"This is Old Earth motherfucker" she snarled, "The laws of Boeshane don't extend to this place, I can do whatever I want."

"It was a Shadow Ruling and you know it was, now please go before I call a guard over" Jack continued to speak softly as Gray rose to join his brother.

"Come on darling" Ianto said as he lifted her onto his hip, glad to see Rose following suit with the baby "Let's go get drinks. Want a chockie milk? Lets see if they make it fresh, yeah? With bubbles?"

Alice looked over his shoulder at the woman who was trying to get around her Daddy and she frowned, "That's my Mama, isn't it. The lady who hurt me."

"Hurt you?" Ianto asked with confusion.

"I was a baby and got this, see?" she drew back her sleeve so Ianto could see the small burn on her arm he had seen before and dismissed, "She did that. She threw me in the fire and Daddy pulled me back out. She hurt Daddy too, the scar on his neck is where she cut him with a knife. She had to go to a hospital for people who hurt people."

Ianto looked at Rose who nodded silently, the little one was telling the truth.

"They said it was a psychotic break" she whispered to him, "She could not stand Boeshane and snapped."

"She burned her?" Ianto asked as he watched Alice smile at the nice lady who was making her a gigantic milkshake.

"Jack tried to protect her, even after what she did he still loved her but the security camera set up after a series of break-ins caught her doing it. It was not an accident she didn't drop her. She threw her into the hearth. Thank Pete the fire was almost out and just embers. After it all went up she turned on Jack, made allegations against him that thankfully the security cameras could disprove, horrible. Slamming her head against the floor and calling security to say he had attacked her, one time she even broke into the house and got hold of Alice, dropped her out a window that time. Jack has never forgiven himself for trying to defend her and was so upset. I think if Alice had not survived he would not have either. Turns out she was like that with her previous relationship and that poor sod wound up in hospital too. Her family always covered up her violent tendancies. Mental break my arse!" she replied, then cooed as Alice turned with a look of triumph, Ianto rushing to help with the larger glass.

Ianto glanced over in time to see security move the woman away, his skin crawling at the way she had so easily approached them and he saw Jack's open fear.

Gwen.

He had called her Gwen.

Ianto took a mental picture of her in every detail.

She would not get near his children again.

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Thank you to all who have reviewed and are enjoying this story, I know over the last couple of years I have improved with my writing and it is due to those of you who encourage and guide me. I read my early stuff and cringe at how simple some of it seems, others I still love.

My Walter Verse will always continue, I hope … and this one seems to have a life of it's own, part II already under construction and I've not even given you all of this first part. Oh Lords!

I have recently lost another friend, this time a commercial fisherman whose boat went down in rough seas. As always I have immersed myself in stories to hide from the realities of life, such a harsh place sometimes. A funeral every month or so this year is too many, I am so tired. I love all of you, my Torchwood family and thank you from the bottom of my heart for always being there for me.

Although we have never met, you are part of my world and have helped my sanity at times.

Jo Awatere-Jones xxx