missthingsplace | Idée fixe 8/14+ Epilogue

Title: Idée fixe
Author:

missthingsplace
Parings/characters: Jack/Ianto, Gwen/Rhys, Owen, Toshiko, John Hart
Disclaimer: I don't own Torchwood or any of the characters ... unfortunately, just borrowing them for a while.
Summary: Jack's office gets a new temp; Gwen and he has no idea of the impact she will have on his and his families lives.
Warnings: Character Death. This fic is completely AU ... no Torchwood.
Spoilers: Anything is fair game
Rating: NC17 for series

The door bell ringing wasn't something Ianto was expecting, it was early evening and far too late for the likes of the postman and unless Jack had forgotten his keys he had no idea who it could be.

“Now who on earth is that?” Ianto asked his daughter, picking the infant up from the floor where she was laying in her baby changing mat while he caught up with the days papers and carried her with him to answer the door.

Opening it he found himself looking at a young blonde woman wearing faded jeans, a t-shirt with a Union Jack on the front and a huge smile on her face.

“Hi, I've just moved in next door but one with my mum,” she told him. “I was wondering if you had a bowl of sugar we could borrow, we've found everything but to make a cup of tea.”

Ianto laughed softly. “That's the oldest excuse in the book.”

“I know, but I couldn't think up anything more original on the spot,” she grinned at him. “I'm Rose.”

“Good to meet you Rose, I'm Ianto and this is Alice,” Ianto answered. “would you like to come in for a minute?”

“I thought you'd never ask, I've been trying to think of an excuse to escape for the last hour,” Rose explained, following Ianto through the house. “my mum is driving me insane.”

“Moving house can do that to people.” Ianto agreed. “Tea? Coffee?”

“I'd love a cuppa tea,” Rose answered. “can I hold her?”

“Sure,” Ianto smiled, handing the infant to her and watching her hold her rather expertly.

“I used to baby sit a lot on the estate where I lived before, kids seem to take to me and it's a great way to make some extra money,” Rose informed him. “so if you ever need a willing babysitter, just ask.”

“We've not left her with anyone else yet, but I'll keep that in mind,” Ianto told her with a smile while pouring the hot water from the kettle into the teapot. “you just live with your mother?”

Rose nodded. “My father died when I was a baby, he was hit by a car.”

“I'm sorry,” Ianto told her sympathetically.

“It's okay, I never really knew him,” she told him, accepting the mug of tea he offered her with her free hand. “so tell me, are you a house husband while your wife goes off to some high powered job?”

“No wife,” Ianto told her with a grin. “my partner is a solicitor, he's one of the three company partners and yes, we decided I would stay home with little Alice while I wrote my novel.”

“You're an author?” Rose gasped.

“Not yet?” Ianto replied, unable to stop the laugh that escaped at the expression on her face.

“Well, when you are I'll be able to say I knew you before you were famous,” Rose chuckled. “so, this partner of yours, he has a name?”

“Jack,” Ianto replied, trying to sneak a look at the kitchen clock without her noticing.

“Always late home is he?” Rose asked.”Sorry, none of my business.”

“It's okay,” Ianto sighed, thinking of the last evening they had actually got to spend some time together almost two weeks earlier when Jack had surprised him with the French meal. “and for the last couple of weeks yes, he's got a case on that's keeping him busy.”

“Weekends too?” Rose asked gently and Ianto nodded. “It must be hard, being home alone so much with a small baby,”

“It can be, but she's worth it,” Ianto said, giving a small smile at the sight of his daughter now sleeping in the young woman's arms.

“Well, any time you feel the need for company you can just come and knock on our door,” Rose said, genuinely offering the invitation. “my mum won't mind.”

“Thank you,” Ianto smiled, taking the sleeping infant as she passed her carefully back to her father. “I might just take you up on that.”

“Great, now I better get back before mum sends out a search party,” Rose grinned.

“Did you need any sugar?” Ianto asked, following her back through the house to the front door.

“Nope!” Rose grinned.

“Just thought I'd double check,” Ianto smiled back. “bye.”

“Bye, nice to meet you,” Rose replied and then hurried off down the drive at a jog.

Ianto waited until she was out of sight before closing the door and then carried Alice up to her room, leaving her to sleep in her cot while he began to think about what he could make for dinner that wouldn't spoil badly if left to keep warm in the oven.

*~*~*

Jack let out a low growl at the late hour as he looked at his watch, closed the file on his desk decisively and shoved it into a drawer, he'd had no idea just how late it had gotten.

Leaving his office he turned off the light and made his way across the empty reception area to the lift, turning off more lights as he went and headed down to the car park.

There was only three cars parked there along with his own, cars that he knew belonged to the security guards that roamed the place during the night and with a press of the button on his key fob he unlocked the car as he strode towards it.

With a weary sigh he threw his briefcase onto the back seat and then got in the front, pushing the key in the ignition he jumped in surprise when the passenger door was opened and he found Gwen sliding into the passenger seat beside him.

TBC