AU: When it all changes: Life, Love and Family in Torchwood.
Title: The Trick Is To Keep Breathing
Author: missthingsplace
Parings/characters: Jack/Ianto, Gwen/Rhys, Andy, My OC's: Caden, Eloise, Dylan, Jenni, Claire, Chloe, Damien, Ianto's family.
Disclaimer: I don't own Torchwood or any of the characters ... unfortunately, just borrowing them for a while.
Summary: The Twins, Caden and Eloise are now 19 and working for Torchwood, a case comes up that would be perfect for them but their parents are reluctant to let them work on the field, especially Jack ... will his fear be founded?
Spoilers: Probably not, but you never know ...
Warnings: Mentions of abuse but no details.
Rating: NC17 for the series.
 

“Caden is working on finding out everything he can about the Hostel,” Ianto told his husband as he made them their last coffee of the day.

“And Eloise, is she working on their disguises?” Jack asked.

“Caden said they were finished and ready for tomorrow,” Ianto answered. “she's gone out but he said his sister promised to be home early.”

“She's been out a lot recently, does she have a new boyfriend?” Jack asked his husband.

“She's as likely to me as you,” Ianto replied. “after the last two I'm guessing that if she has met someone knew she's keeping him to herself for now.”

“Are you insinuating that I had something to do with them splitting up?” Jack asked, trying to look innocent.

“Yep!” Ianto exclaimed with a smirk.

“Well, neither of them were good enough,” Jack huffed. “and she's only nineteen, she has plenty of time to think about boys.”

Ianto chuckled out loud. “And does the same thing apply to Caden?”

“Of course … hey, do you mean you think he likes boys too?” Jack asked curiously.

“To be honest, I have no idea,” Ianto shrugged. “he's go lots of friends of both sexes but I've never noticed an attraction between any of them and him.”

“Perhaps he's attracted to both,” Jack said. “not that it matters, but maybe we should remind him that there is a chance he could could get pregnant!”

“I'll let you deal with that one, it's a long time since we had the birds and bees talk with the twins,” Ianto grinned.

“I'll do it once this mission is done and dusted,” Jack agreed. “speaking of which, we could just go into the hostel guns blazing and see if anything untoward is going on there?”

“Nice idea Jack but if the rumour is wrong and the place is completely innocent we will just end up terrifying innocent young adults and the hostel workers alike,” Ianto replied. “we'll do what we planned and hope we are wrong.”

“Claire is going to have Dylan and Lizzie at hers for a few days so we don't have to worry about them,” Jack informed him. “that we we can focus on Eloise and Caden, make sure that we keep them as safe as possible. She'll pick them up in the morning and take them to school, I said we'd have a bag packed for them when she came.”

“They'll love spending some extra time with Claire, I think they miss having her as a live in nanny,” Ianto said. “and they always get spoilt rotten.”

“Yeah, life is always changing,” Jack said a little wistfully. “I was thinking, maybe we should consider getting another pet or two, I miss having Chewie and Princess around the house too.”

“Now that Claire isn't there all day it wouldn't be fair on a dog to leave it alone all that time,” Ianto replied. “but perhaps we could get something that needs less attention?”

“I did think about a cat, they are more independent,” Jack suggested.

“We're getting a cat? Cool!” Caden stated, hearing only that part of the conversation as he entered the room.

“We're thinking about it, there's a difference,” Ianto told him.

“What have you come up with on the hostel?” Jack asked, spotting all the printed off sheets of paper in his son's hands.

“Not much, just the usual blurb,” Caden admitted. “if something is going on there then the details are buried deep.”

“What do we know then?” Ianto asked.

“That they only take in teenagers and young adults from the age of thirteen to twenty one,” Caden informed them. “no-one can just turn up on their doorstep and expect a place. You have to be homeless and spotted on the streets for them to contemplate them giving you a room.”

“They are selective?” Jack frowned.

“So it would seem,” Caden answered.

“That's a little strange in itself,” Ianto put in. “a homeless teen is a homeless teen. Does it give any more details about how they decide who get a place?”

“No, nothing,” Caden told him. “they are keeping those details to themselves.”

“Then we have to hope that both you and Eloise fit their criteria,” Jack said, the wrinkles of his frown deepening on his forehead.

“Our disguises are perfect,” Caden said. “Eloise did a fantastic job of ageing the clothes and making them look grimy, like we've been living on the streets for weeks.”

“Talking of your sister, any idea where she is this evening?” Jack asked him.

“She told me she was meeting a friend,” Caden shrugged.

“Boyfriend?” Jack pushed gently.

“No idea,” Caden shrugged again. “but she told me she'd be home early. I'm going to try and do a bit more digging on the hostel but I don't think there's anything to find then going to bed.”

“Okay, thanks Caden,” Jack told him with a smile.

Caden bid his parents goodnight and then left the room, heading to his bedroom and sending his sister a message to remind her to be home early.

*~*~*~*

“Dammit,” Eloise muttered under her breath while her boyfriend kissed her neck.

“What's wrong?” Tom asked her, then resumed his previous ministrations.

“I have to go soon,” she sighed, mentally sending her twin a reluctant thanks for the reminder.

“But it's early yet,” Tom mumbled, hand stroking over her denim covered thigh.

“I promised, big day tomorrow,” she told him with a reluctant sigh. “family stuff.”

“Will I get to see you tomorrow then?” Tom asked hopefully, his other hand sliding under the back of her t-shirt and caressing her warm skin.

“I don't know,” she replied, pressing a soft kiss to his lips. “it depends on how late we get back, that's if they don't decide to spend a few days away.”

“Oh Ellie, I'll miss you,” Tom murmured in her ear, pressing himself close to her where they were sat on his sofa.

“It won't be for long, a few days at the most,” she assured him, her lips finding his again and kissing him deeply until they were both left panting.

“How long before you have to go?” Tom asked breathlessly, his hand moving under her t-shirt to find her bra covered breast.

“Now,” she sighed, firmly removing his hand from her body.

“We've been going out for three weeks now,” Tom pouted. “and you won't go any further than kissing, a guy has needs you know?!”

“So do girls, but it's too soon,” she replied. Getting to her feet and straightening her t-shirt. “I'll call you in a couple of days.”

“I'm sorry,” Tom sighed, standing up beside her and brushing his hand lightly over her cheek. “one more kiss before you go?”

“Why can I never stay angry with you?” Eloise smiled and let him do just that.

TBC