#surprising to you.) (ianto has been standing there with his mouth slightly open for a full minute. long enough for crowley to comment on it

[quietwingsinthesky]

if there was a torchwood/spn crossover, jack would get shot in the head so much. i know he already dies a lot, but he’s going to die so many times during this crossover. keeps getting bullets unloaded into him. they stab him with silver and steel and copper and none of it keeps him down. he’s gonna get squirted with borax and that one’s not gonna kill him but it is going to ruin his coat, which is materially worse for him.

[m-feys]

ok heres one of my torchwood wips T-T bc im feeling smth, its about ianto and rhiannon in my ianto lives au

-

Ianto sat down across from her, he’d already taken off his coat and she’d already set a cuppa out for him. This was starting to become routine, and Ianto was beginning to feel intimidated by that fact. It’s more than they’ve ever had between them, more truth and more connection, he doesn’t know what to do with it.

After the 456 he’d vowed to himself to visit her more often, especially being sure to spend time with the kids. Mica was still consumed by the Xbox most afternoons when he entered, but when they went out to the movies, she would chatter on the way back about all her favorite parts, particularly the explosions, and David would threaten to steal her candy but would always give some of his to her instead and Ianto cherished it. He found that those times also made him painfully nostalgic for his own childhood, but it was a minor note in a bigger concert.

On his visits to see Rhiannon, she mostly did the talking. It wasn’t out of the ordinary for them. He gave comment where it was needed to keep her talking and listened as she gossiped about her friends and which of the neighbour’s kids kept climbing through the fence across the street.

And Rhiannon wasn’t subtle, she never, ever, had been. So when she asks about Torchwood it’s always, “Heard everybody was seeing these great, big halos the other night, that one of yours?” And when she tries to nudge him into mentioning Jack, it’s, “that boss of yours, he treatin’ you alright?” Ianto gets the feeling if he said that Jack had /not/ been treating him right she might have offered to beat his face for him. That idea makes him feel ridiculously fond.

“He’s treating me perfectly well, thank you,” he answers each time, she knows better than to think she’s getting more than that. Especially with Johnny sitting in the recliner behind them, mocking the enemies in Mica’s video game.

Johnny’s out today though, and even though he already knows, Ianto refuses to mention anything remotely informative about his life with the man in earshot. He doesn’t hate him, respects him a great deal more after the incident with 456, in fact, but the man is far too loud, about /everything/, for Ianto’s tastes.

Mica, who has her friend with two mums, is still situated on the couch when Rhiannon speaks.

“And how’s that man of yours?”

Ianto falters, because this is a break in the pattern.

“He’s fine…” he answers awkwardly, “he’s not… /mine/,” he points out reluctantly, heartbeat speeding up and cataloging the most logical excuses to leave at any given second.

“Really?” she asks, mouth curling up slightly, “you seein’ other people, then?”

Ianto shrugs, floundering like he always seems to when he’s trying to explain his current life to Rhiannon, to put it in terms she can cope with, ideas that aren’t too outrageous. “He said…” he starts slowly, letting out a breath through his nose, “he said he would stay,” he admits softly. It’s not much of his life, but it’s not nothing, not by a long shot. At least this is /true/.

Her eyebrows go up, lips parting in surprise, still smiling, almost edging into a grin now. “That’s big?”

Ianto doesn’t break his mask of neutrality, but he relaxes it just a bit, “yes,” he breathes.

“So it’s a bit like he /is/ your man, then?” she points out, wrinkling her nose with a smile, teasing.

He sighs, taking care to ensure he sounds supremely put-upon. “If you insist on calling him that, then /yes/.” Inwardly, he’s grinning like a git, hearing people refer to them in romantic terms always sends butterflies through Ianto’s stomach, and hearing it from his sister is making that feeling even more precious. He cares what she thinks of him, even if for a long time he wished he hadn’t.

“Well, seein’ as you haven’t even told me his name, I gotta call him something.”

Ianto hesitated, then he supposed that there couldn’t be any harm in just one name, it was a fairly common one, after all, that was by design on Jack’s part.

“Jack,” he allows.

“Jack,” she repeats, sounding the name out curiously, grinning all the while.

---

The question turns into, “well, how’s Jack?” from then on, and Ianto suddenly regrets everything. He’s crossed lines he can’t uncross and his /sister/ is referring to Jack by name, with the knowledge that he’s his boss, and also maybe his /man/, and all other sorts of euphemisms she could come up with to refer to them. /What/ had he been /thinking/?

“He’s fine,” is all he says. The fifth time after hearing that for an answer, Rhiannon demands more.

“You can’t just say that every time! C’mon, tell me something about him. Just something tiny,” she goads, “something you like about him.”

Ianto contemplates this question, all the multitudes of things he likes about Jack. The way he smells, that coat, his smile, his laugh, his hands, the way they can talk without talking, and the way they could also just talk to each other for hours on end. The way he sleeps, and how he mumbles sometimes as he dreams. How he talks low when they’re alone, just for Ianto. The way his hands always reach to cradle Ianto’s face when they kiss before touching elsewhere. How sometimes Jack is so harsh like the sea in a storm and sometimes he’s as gentle as summer waves lapping at the beach.

Ianto blinks away from these thoughts, focusing back in on the moment. /Everything/, he wants to say. Which is completely ridiculous, and terribly cliche, and not even /remotely/ true, considering how many things about Jack piss him off so acutely.

“He’s funny,” he settles on, because Jack is. He’s a people pleaser, a charmer. “You’d like him,” he adds mildly. Because Ianto is sure Jack could get on Rhiannon’s good side without even blinking.

“You should let me meet him, then,” she responds to that, looking a bit too proud of herself for reaching this point.

“Absolutely not,” he denies instantly, frowning at her. She glares in return.

“Why not?”

Ianto flattens his mouth in displeasure, “we’re not really in the ‘meeting-the-family’ stage of the relationship,” he tells her, he does not imagine they’ll ever be. Considering he learned about Jack’s daughter because of a hostage situation and every other family member he has is either dead, 3000 years in the future, or cryogenically frozen after irrationally blaming Jack for everything that happened to him.

“Have you told him you’ve been coming to see me?” she questions. He stares at her for a moment, bewildered about what she thinks she’s going to gain from this.

“Yes,” he answers, still uncomprehending, “why?”

“Well, will he think you’re hiding him away from me?” she asks him boldly.

Ianto can’t help but roll his eyes, “Rhiannon, we’re not like that, I’ve said.”

She huffs a sigh in frustration, “Ianto, you don’t tell me anything about all your alien business or the guy you're dating-- who’s also your boss! And it doesn’t seem like there's much to ask about otherwise! It’s like I’m talking to a brick wall!”

“Brick wall might be a bit reliable,” he snarks, the words are brittle in his mouth.

She deflates, “just tell me something,” she pleaded, “I wanna be a part of your life, I don’t just wanna sit here all day telling you ‘bout how Bridget’s cookies were burnt and how we had to replace the dryer after Mica’s ‘science experiment.’ I want to hear from you too!” She exclaimed.

He softened at the words, not able to help his smile at the mention of Mica’s latest explosion. “You are a part of my life,” he assured her, “and I like hearing about that stuff,” he adds with a lift of his shoulder.

She softens too then, giving him a wry smile, “something small?” she requests.

He thinks this over, then, “we caught an acid spitting alien and it melted through all our cells until we realized we should just freeze it.”

The look on her face is priceless, her mouth dropping open in disbelief before barking out a startled laugh. “how big was it?” she asked, raising her brows.

“Not very,” he said, “but it was a nasty little bugger.”

She looked at him, grinning pleased, “anything else you wanna tell me?”

He thought it over, then sighed heavily, “I’ll ask Jack,” he allowed.

Her brows shot up.

“I’m not promising anything,” he tacked on instantly, “he’s probably going to say no, and when I come back and tell you he said no, you leave it at that, alright?” He told her firmly, voice kept low, though still, Mica was the only one in the room. A strange little fly on the wall who he could never quite sense if she was listening or not.

“Alright, alright, I promise,” she agreed, but still, she looked so happy. It would be worth it, he supposed.

“My sister keeps asking after you,” Ianto mentions off-handedly when they’re working idly, Martha is out of earshot and Gwen and Tosh were off setting up scanners around the area of a predicted rift spike. Jack was leaning against his desk flipping through a stack of files when he glanced up.

“Oh?” he started, brows raised and setting aside the files, easily interested when he was the subject of conversation, “what do you tell her about me?” he questioned, his cheek dimpling as he started to smile, “all good things, I hope.”

“I told her you’re funny,” Ianto said, glancing over at him too, still perched on his desk but looking only at Ianto now.

Jack gives him a haughty look, “so, /that’s/ what I’m known for?” he questions, mock-offended but he still smirks at Ianto while he waits for an answer.

“You could be a stand-up comedian,” he suggests dryly.

“We’d have to be a two person show, you’d be my straight-man,” he says grinning, acknowledging their chemistry.

“I’m afraid I may not fit the bill,” Ianto counters flatly and Jack cackles, pushing off the desk now, to approach him.

“Damn,” he curses mildly once he reaches Ianto, shaking his head in faux-disappointment at their lack of compatibility as a comic duo. “Say anything else about me?” he prompts helpfully as he stands just a little too close to Ianto’s side.

Ianto hesitates, licking his lips, “she asked about meeting you,” he admits.

“Really?” Jack said. Ianto couldn’t quite look at him, so he diverged his eyes to the words on the screen, not reading any of them as he scrolled a little further.

“Yes…” he says slowly, trying to look distracted and not at all like he’s sweating, “she’s very insistent, but I already told her it wasn’t--”

“When?” Jack asks, then.

“-- in the cards, I mean, we…” he froze, turning his head now to gape at Jack, “/what/?” he asked sharply.

“When would she wanna meet me?” Jack asked cooly, raising one eyebrow at Ianto’s current expression. He snapped his jaw shut, still staring at Jack, brows pulled low as he studied his face.

“... You’d meet her?” Ianto asked slowly, still looking him over.

“If you let me,” Jack supplied easily, crossing his arms over his chest as he watched Ianto evenly.

He narrowed his eyes at him wondering if somehow this was some strange trick. “You’re /willing/ to meet my sister? As my, um--” He struggled to find the right word.

“Boyfriend?” Jack suggested, teasing sharply.

“I don’t /know/ what to call us,” Ianto countered, staring him down, even as heat rose in his cheeks.

“What do you /want/ us to be called?” Jack challenged him, raising a brow.

‘/Boyfriends/,’ Ianto’s mind instantly supplied but he kept his mouth shut as he watched Jack, trying to puzzle him out.

“I thought you wouldn’t want to meet them…?” he asked him and Jack raised both his eyebrows now.

“Ianto, /you/ were the one who didn’t want me near them and I was respecting that,” Jack pointed out, looking serious now.

“I didn’t--” Ianto started to deny, but then realized Jack was right, for a very long time, Ianto never mentioned a word about them and never wanted anything remotely to do with Torchwood anywhere near the last of his family, /Jack especially/. He pressed his lips together and Jack raised his brows pointedly, mouth pinched.

Ianto glared at him then, “well, what about you?” he asked sharply, “you hate us even being considered a couple and now you’re suddenly fine with meeting my family-- who-- I might remind you, is under that assumption about us. Sorry about that,” Ianto tacks on sarcastically, not intending to sound as bitter about it as he does.

“I never said I hated people thinking we were a couple!” Jack looked taken aback by the assertion.

“Yes you did,” Ianto countered, voice rising, suddenly angry that Jack seemed to think he was the one who was coming out of nowhere with this, “you /told me/ you hated that word!”

“Yes, I /hate/ that /word/,” Jack threw his hands up, experated, “I think it’s stupid and small-minded to refer to a pair of people like they’re one thing! But, Ianto-- by all earth definitions-- /yes/ we do fit under that umbrella. I don’t /care/ if people think of us as a ‘couple!’”

Ianto stared at him, reeling at the confession and trying to ground himself, “what, um, what do /you/ think of us as, then?” he asked cautiously.

Jack stared at him, swallowing, “Partners?” he suggested softly.

“/Partners/?” Ianto repeated in disbelief.

Jack nodded stiffly, squinting at him. “But you don’t seem thrilled with that.”

Ianto was quick to shake his head, “no. Partners, that’s fine, I’m good with partners,” he rushed the words out, not wanting to give Jack time to realize his mistake and take any of this back.

But Jack’s brows creased in concern, “if you have a word you prefer…?” Jack prompted him, raising his eyebrows now in anticipation, surely already knowing what Ianto wanted to say and waiting for him to admit it.

Ianto studied him for a moment. It wasn’t that he didn’t like the word /partners/; it was succinct, simple, made sense in so many situations, and didn’t sound quite as silly as ‘boyfriends’. He could easily see why Jack had chosen it, it was the logical option. But there was something too clinical about it for Ianto’s tastes, something that skipped past the way Ianto would wake up too warm with Jack wrapped around him. That term missed out on the simple truths for Ianto, like how he and Jack had an unfinished puzzle sitting on his coffee table, waiting for them in spare moments when they sat down to talk. Or how Jack knew exactly how to fluster Ianto without fail and Ianto could snark back just as easily. Or how these days he knew exactly how to find his way through Jack’s bunker without needing the light and Jack no longer needed to ask where anything was kept in the kitchen of his flat, both of them perfectly familiar with the other’s spaces. It was all the little intimate things they had become that Ianto never ever wanted to skip over, that got brushed past by that word.

“Boyfriend?” Ianto answered hopefully, heart pounding too loudly in his chest.

“Then we’re boyfriends,” Jack agreed, before dropping a hand to Ianto’s shoulder and drawing him into a hug. Ianto returned it, letting out a breath.

“I think we made that harder than it had to be,” Jack sighed next to his ear.

“Just a bit,” Ianto agreed, mouth pressed into his shoulder, still a little shocked it had been just that easy.

Stepping away, Jack was quick to smile at him again, “alright, back to work,” he chided teasingly, wagging a finger at him and turned to stride back towards his office. He paused though as he reached the door.

“And let me know when I’m going to meet Rhiannon, I want to look my best,” Jack told him, grinning widely.

As happy as Ianto was that Jack was so clearly, explicitly, completely unequivocally willing to commit to him, Jack and Rhiannon actually meeting wasn’t a real possibility he’d considered until just now.

“Oh, god,” he murmured in horror, turning away from Jack laughing at him.

Which is how he ended up standing at the door to his sister’s house, with Jack at his side, steeling himself to knock.

“Want me to ring the doorbell?” Jack offered unhelpfully beside him.

“Doesn’t work,” Ianto responded instantly.

“/Soooo/, are we just gonna stare at the door, then? Until it falls off the hinges… or?” Jack whispered, teasing him.

“I’m /going/ to knock,” Ianto told him firmly, before glancing over at Jack. Despite what he’d said about looking his best, he was wearing what he always wore. A blue button-up, slacks and his signature coat. With a black vest added to the ensemble, he /occasionally/ branched out in his fashion choices.

“Be on your best behavior,” Ianto instructed him sternly, catching his eye and Jack just grinned at him.

“Aren’t I always?”

Ianto let out a drawn-out sigh.

“I can go sit in the car if you want,” Jack suggested then, voice wry. “You can just crack the window for me so I won’t die from heatstroke.”

Ianto’s lips twitched at that, “I hate that we have the same sense of humor,” he muttered, smirking.

“Good thing you told her I was so /funny/, then,” Jack responded sarcastically.

Ianto knocked, without further preamble, cutting off any more banter Jack could spout, which was an infinite amount, because he was /Jack/.

A moment later, Rhiannon was opening the door, beaming at them.

“Come in, come in,” she spoke, stepping back and waving both of them inside, Jack smiled back at her charmingly all the while.

The only conditions Ianto had agreed to their meeting was it being between solely Rhiannon, Jack and himself. They could have gone out to meet somewhere, but it had been decided, by Rhiannon, that they would be more comfortable in her house. Ianto suspected she also wanted to give him less room to evade her.

The only time the kids and Johnny were all out of the house was on a weekday, but so long as the rift wasn’t predicted to get out of hand, he and Jack could find free-time on any day of the week, just as well as a weekend. Better even, cause none of the others tended to have plans.

“You /and/ your boss can get off in the middle of the week?” She sounded doubtful.

“This job isn’t exactly nine-to-five,” Ianto responded, “we’ll leave if we get called in.”

“You’d better not get called in,” she warned him and he couldn’t help but snort in response.

Now as he stepped out of the entryway and stared at the completely rearranged living room he couldn’t help but sort of wish Mica were there playing games as always, it was strangely disconcerting with her gone. The couch was pushed forward, bean bag chairs were nowhere in sight, but probably fit to burst from being stuffed in the hallway closet. In front of the couch was the coffee table, which had long since been pushed against the wall after David fell onto it when he and Mica were running through the house and cracked the glass with his head. His head had been fine, thankfully. And at an off angle to the couch was Johnny’s recliner, all situated so they could comfortably look at one another while they talked.

Ianto was starting to regret that he hadn’t just lied, telling Rhiannon instead that Jack said no, but they were here now, no turning back.

“Tea for you?” she asked, lifting the electric kettle and already pouring water for herself and Ianto as she always did, but now there was a third cup to join theirs.

“You got any coffee?” Jack answered and Rhiannon looked up at him in surprise when he spoke. The accent, Ianto realized, must have caught her off guard.

“Sorry, no,” she smiled apologetically with a shake of her head, recovering well enough.

“Tea’s good then,” Jack agreed with an ever-pleasant smile.

“Ianto didn’t mention you were American?” she said curiously, staring at Jack while Ianto reached for all of their teacups to move them to the coffee table.

“I’m sure there’s plenty Ianto didn’t mention about me,” Jack replied easily, “he’s quiet, this one.”

Rhiannon laughed, and Ianto was sure to give Jack a withering look as soon as he caught his eye, which was received with a demure smile.

She ushered them to the couch then and settled into the recliner herself, squishing into the worn cushions. Jack looked perfectly at ease next to him while Ianto was stiff as a board. It was sort of funny, considering he wasn’t the one in an unfamiliar house meeting his partner’s family for the first time.

“Captain Jack Harkness,” he introduced himself, and shook her hand before taking his seat, “pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Davies.”

She stared at him for a moment with eyes pulled wide, grinning wildly. “Oh please, call me, Rhiannon,” she corrected him.

“Call me Jack,” he said, grinning in kind.

“So, tell me about yourself, then,” Rhiannon invited him, smiling winningly.

“Well, I think Ianto’s mentioned that we work together,” Jack began.

“Said you’re his boss,” Rhiannon agreed, “how much older are you, exactly?” She wondered, eyes narrowing sharply.

Jack didn’t look at all perturbed by the question, just opened his mouth to answer, but Ianto spoke first, “he’s in his thirties,” he supplied.

“Thirty-six,” Jack agreed, not missing a beat. Ten-year age difference, it was accurate /physically/, at least.

“How’d you two come about then, after working together?”

Jack glanced at him, smiling easily. He was letting Ianto take the lead here, he realized, and he would follow up to however much or little Ianto wanted to tell her.

“It was…” Ianto started to speak, “I came back to Cardiff for work, when I met Jack,” he said carefully.

“Transferred facilities and came to work under me instead,” Jack looked at him again, smiling affectionately, “and I’m grateful he did.” Ianto really was losing track of exactly how much of this was a show Jack was putting on for her, but he’d still managed to slip a double entendre in there.

“Was it hard?” she asked curiously, “being the first man Ianto was with?” It was a bold question, a bit tactless, but Jack wasn’t one to shy away from these topics, and neither was Rhiannon, clearly.

Jack glanced at him. He knew it was a blatant lie on Ianto’s part, that Jack was the only man he’d been with, but Ianto knew he wouldn’t say anything. It was just easier, telling Rhiannon the things she would prefer to hear than actually trying to explain himself to her.

“Not at all,” Jack answered, looking at his sister again, smiling warmly, “I know how to take things slow.”

Ianto rolled his eyes /hard/ at that. Completely ridiculous.

“Ianto, ‘ave you got something to add?” Rhiannon wondered sharply, and of course, then of all moments she had to be watching him.

He gave her a sardonic smile, “nothing at all, Rhi. It’s just funny! Why Jack just might just be the most /polite/ man you’ll ever meet,” he said, his sarcasm was impossible to miss.

“You told me /‘best behavior,’/” Jack hissed at him.

“Well, you sound completely ridiculous,” he pointed out in return.

“I’m just going off what /you/ said! What /exactly/ would you like me to tell her, Ianto?” He invited him sharply.

He frowned, glancing from Jack staring at him intently to Rhiannon watching them with a confused smile pulling at her mouth. At least she didn’t seem as mortified as Ianto was feeling right at this moment.

He crossed his arms and faced his sister, looking her dead in the eye.

“Jack is the strangest man I’ve ever met, and he’s not polite at all, he makes lewd jokes and chews with his mouth open. If you’re going to meet him, I at least want you to /actually/ meet him,” he says, sighing with finality and knowing his face has gone completely red.

“Well, there you go,” Jack agrees with a sweeping gesture, an amused smile playing on his lips.

Ianto has realized as comfortable as it is to lie to her about this, he wants her approval, and that really means nothing if he’s not at least a little bit honest. He’s been trying to be that with Rhiannon for a while now, but he didn’t know how to explain that to Jack.

But Rhiannon was laughing then, giggling, really. “Well, the only other things you told me ‘bout him were that he’s handsome and funny, so I think maybe I’m starting to get something outta you, for once,” she looks happy now smiling at Ianto and he tries to smile back.

“So, I’m /also/ known for being handsome, then?” Jack intercuts, his voice turning sly.

Ianto turns a flat look on him, resolutely ignoring the way his face is still flushed, “I was only confirming the rumors.”

“And who exactly was starting rumors about how handsome I am?”

“/Her/ nosey friends who don’t know how to mind their own business,” Ianto shot back.

“Oi!” Rhiannon objected. Ianto turned his deadpan stare on her instead now, inviting her to argue with his statement. They both knew he was right.

“Not like I ever would have heard about this from you,” she argued back, gesturing towards him.

Ianto scowled at her, before scrubbing a hand down his face, “I don’t know, Rhi, maybe, maybe if you’d given me time I could’ve explained it better,” he said, giving her a pained look now.

“Well, how would you explain it now, if you told me?” she asked insistently.

He froze up at that, his eyes strayed to Jack then, who was simply watching him calmly, a solid presence by his side. He looked back towards her then, swallowing thickly.

“I... fell in love with a man, Rhi,” he admitted slowly, and it wasn’t something he hadn’t said to Jack already, but telling her so plainly should be completely unimaginable, yet here he was, doing just that. “As much as you might doubt it, I do /actually/ care how you think of me.”

Her brows drew up in concern, “that would never change how I think of you,” she said, and she sounded so earnest.

“Rhiannon,” he sighed, smiling sadly now, “it /always/ changes how people think of you.”

She stared at him for a long moment, looking like she couldn’t comprehend what he was telling her. “You’re my /brother/ Ianto, nothing will change that.”

“What about Johnny?” he countered sharply, “do talk about me with him? What does he say, I wonder?”

She glared at him furiously at those words, “Johnny doesn’t hate you, Ianto! He likes you just as well as he always has,” she objected.

“It’s not just about /hating/ people, Rhiannon. It’s about all those little things. About how /strange/ it is, and how you’re just now thinking I’ve always been a little too over-emotional, that I cried just too much, or that I was always too /weak/,” he bit out the word. “I can’t /stand/ it. If you just hated me Rhiannon, it’d be easier,” he said, the truths just pouring out of him now as he stared her down, “Then I wouldn’t have to be here right now.”

Her face had gone slack with surprise and Jack wasn’t watching him anymore, only staring cooly out into the room, looking completely unfazed.

Ianto’s heart was racing like he’d just run a marathon and he waited. Waited for her to say something.

“If you don’t want to come ‘round, Ianto, all you had to do was say,” she spoke finally, her voice was soft and filled with solemn resolve. He wanted to tear his hair out in frustration.

“I /do/ want to be around you, Rhiannon,” he rushed to correct her, “but I’m just,” he floundered for the words looking for the right thing to say.

He took a shaky breath and when he glanced at Jack, this time the man was looking at him with that steady gaze, expectant.

“I’m just /scared/,” he admitted finally and the corners of Jack’s lips lifted ever so slightly for him, a small comfort just for Ianto to see. He looked back at Rhiannon, meeting her gaze.

“Well, you don’t have to be,” She suggested quietly.

He let out a breath, lowering his eyes again. In a way, she was right, but she still didn’t understand. She never would, not really.

“Well,” Jack broke the moment suddenly, “I’m just glad I was here to serve as a catalyst for this heartwarming breakthrough between brother and sister,” he spoke, smirking between them. Though Ianto got the sense Jack knew he was saving Ianto from having to come up with another answer to Rhiannon’s assurances.

Rhiannon gave the man a wide-eyed look, a confused grin pulling at her lips now, she shot Ianto a questioning look.

“Yes,” he answered, being sure to sound spectacularly put-upon as he said it, though in truth he just felt ridiculously fond, “he’s always like this.”

“And he /loves/ me for it, you heard the man,” Jack teased.

Rhiannon laughed and Ianto let himself relax, just for a moment.

[leabharlannkay]

A Peculiar Unfathomable Combination (12/?)

Title: A Peculiar Unfathomable Combination

Pairing: Nine x Rose

Rating: Adult

Warnings: Sexy times

Summary:  Nathan and Rose are colleagues, not friends. Certainly not lovers. Nathan isn’t even her type. So when his family misunderstands their relationship, she’s more surprised than anyone to find herself in no hurry to set them straight.

Note: This chapter contains discussion of PTSD and the events that caused it. There’s some strong war imagery, though it’s not overly graphic. If that bothers you, I suggest skipping to the second section of the chapter. 

Previously on APUC

Chapter 12

“How long were you in the Royal Army?” Vanessa, Nathan’s new therapist, asked. She leaned forward, her elbows propped on the notepad settled across her knees, and stared at him. It was unnerving, and Nathan wished he was anywhere else, but he made a promise and he would see it through.

“Twelve years.”

“And your rank?”

“Why does it matter?” Nathan snapped. Vanessa simply raised an eyebrow. Nathan sighed. “Captain Nathan Noble, at your service.”

“Did you enjoy serving Queen and Country?”

“I felt it my duty,” Nathan said. His father and grandfather before him had served in the Royal Army as well. Though Nathan had hated the idea of going to war, of ever seeing a moment’s combat, he felt compelled to join up.

“Twelve years is a long time to stay in if you joined out of a sense of duty. You could’ve got out after your first enlistment, duty fulfilled. Why did you stay?” Vanessa scrawled quickly on her notepad. Nathan took a deep breath and held it as he counted to ten. Talking about his time in service was not something he did. In fact, Rose was one of the only people outside of his immediate family who’d heard stories.

Nathan shook his head. No use thinking about…her.

“Nathan, I can’t help you if you won’t talk to me.”

Nathan sighed. “I could have left. But by then I felt a duty to my fellow soldiers, and later to my subordinates. I couldn’t leave them.”

“It sounds as though you cared greatly for them.”

“I did.” Visions of the men under his command flashed through his mind. Some of the memories were happy, but others…

“Tell me what your nightmares are about,” Vanessa urged softly. Nathan’s teeth clenched as he tried to banish the images from his mind.

“We were conducting a mine sweep.”

Laughter, joy, comradery. The skittering of stones as a young soldier tripped. The breathless moment of tension. The blast that knocked them off their feet. A second blast. A third.

“It was a chain reaction,” Nathan gasped, his heart racing. Sweat beaded on his brow.

The deafening whomp whomp of the helicopter’s blades as it hovered, trying to reach the wounded. The harsh bark of his voice as he called orders to his men, trying to minimize casualties. The galloping beat of his heart as he prayed that the vibrations from the helicopter wouldn’t set off another mine.

“They couldn’t…the helicopter couldn’t reach us.”

The coppery tang of blood in the air as he and the other unwounded men attempted to carry the wounded to safety. The heavy burden of six dead men across his shoulders. The dying boy he’d carried to safety, to live what kind of life?

“You feel guilty,” Vanessa said, her voice barely a whisper.

“Yes.”

“It was your job to keep them from harm.”

“Yes.”

“It’s your fault they’re dead.”

“Yes!” The roar that ripped itself from Nathan’s chest surprised even him. Vanessa reared back, but her open, warm expression never changed.

“No.”

“What?” Nathan asked, breathing heavy.

“What should you have done differently? According to the official procedures, what should you have done differently? What rules did you break?”

Nathan sat back, running through every bit of policy and procedures stored in his brain. There was very little of it he’d forgotten, despite being a civilian for years.

“I should have…”

“Actual policy, Nathan. Remember.”

He bit back the self-flagellation waiting on his tongue. “None.”

Vanessa let the word ring through the silence for a moment, let it sink into Nathan’s mind. She waited as Nathan cried, for the first time since his reentry into civilian life, for the young men who died that day and for the men still alive to remember it.

“This was a big break-through, Nathan,” she said quietly after he’d had a moment to compose himself. “I’ll see you at our next appointment.”

Nathan left feeling like he’d been hit by a lorry. He wanted nothing more than to climb into bed and sleep for the rest of the day, but Noble House was waiting.

#

Rose couldn’t concentrate. She was typing up notes from her latest home visit with Graham, who’d transitioned out to his own flat, but her eyes kept straying towards Nathan’s office. He’d trudged in an hour ago, looking like he’d been on a bender. She was worried.

“Rooooosie!” Jack sang from the doorway. She jumped and frowned at him.

“What?”

“I’ve been saying your name for five minutes. I brought you some lunch. Jackie said you’ve been looking a bit worse for wear lately.”

Jack invited himself into her office and sprawled in the chair opposite her desk. He dropped a bag of chips on the corner, the smell of fried potato and salt and vinegar making her mouth water. She’d hardly had an appetite since the mess with Nathan started.

“Thanks, Jack.”

“Still on the outs with the boss?” Jack asked.

“I don’t think you can even call it on the outs. We barely speak, and when we do it’s about Noble House. I wish…I just wish he would talk to me,” Rose said, swallowing past the lump in her throat.

“He’s an idiot, Rose,” Jack said gently. Rose sighed. She didn’t want to discuss Nathan with her cousin, even if he was just trying to be helpful.

“How’s Ianto?” She asked, hoping to distract him.

It worked. Jack launched into tales of his latest adventures, both with Ianto and without, and had Rose in stitches after just a few minutes. She could barely catch her breath from laughing. Finally, when the chips were devoured and Jack was out of stories, or new ones anyway, Rose stood and went around her desk to hug him.

“Thank you, Jack.”

He held her tightly for a long minute, and then pulled back just enough to cup her cheeks in his hands.

“You’re incredible, Rosie,” he said softly. Then he pressed a kiss to her forehead.

When Rose stepped away, she saw Nathan standing in the doorway, his eyes dark. Jack followed her gaze, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

“Jack don’t,” Rose muttered. He winked at her.

“Hello! You must be Rose’s boss. I’m Jack.” He held out his hand to shake and Nathan grabbed it, squeezing tightly. Rose watched the two former soldiers staring each other down and pitied anyone who managed to cross them both.

“Are you finished? Rose has actual work to attend to,” Nathan said tightly. Rose rolled her eyes.

“Yep! Just bringing Rosie some lunch. Gotta get the quality time with her where I can, you know.” Jack winked again and Nathan’s fists clenched.

“Did you need something?” Rose asked.

“Thomas would like to speak with us,” Nathan growled. Rose nodded, and turned to Jack.

“Thank you for lunch,” she said. Jack smiled and brushed a kiss against her cheek.

“My pleasure. Ring me when you get home, would you?”

Rose rolled her eyes but laughed. “Sure.”

Jack left and Rose followed Nathan to his office, where Thomas was waiting. Rose tried to steel herself against whatever news he might have. If Lou was pregnant, they would deal with it. Rose wasn’t going to let his entire future, all the progress they’d made at Noble House, be wiped away by a baby. She would help them with whatever they needed.

Nathan slumped into his chair as Rose took the seat next to Thomas. “Thomas?”

“Lou’s not pregnant.”

“Oh thank God,” Nathan groaned. He ignored Rose’s harsh glare.

“Are you okay?” Rose asked. Thomas nodded, his knee bouncing slightly.

“Yeah. I mean, it’s for the best, yeah? And Lou’s happy. So yeah, m’fine.”

“I don’t want a repeat of this situation, do you understand, Thomas?” Nathan demanded. Thomas nodded. “You’ve got chores to do, I’d imagine?”

Thomas rose to his feet and shuffled out of the office. Rose shook her head. “I know you think a child is the worst thing in the world that could happen to someone, but you didn’t have to be so harsh with him.”

Nathan didn’t meet her gaze. “That’s not what I think.”

“You did a fine job of acting like it.”

Nathan opened his mouth to say something, but Rose was done. She’d had enough. She stomped back to her office and slammed the door behind her.

#

Nathan wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed and sleep for a week. His therapy session had taken more out of him than he’d realized, and coupled with arguing with Rose…he was knackered. He pushed open the door to his flat and groaned when he realized the light was on.

“Oi, you.”

He winced at the sound of Donna’s voice. He hadn’t spoken to her recently, but she must have known about Rose.

“Donna,” he greeted, trying for nonchalance. “Still letting yourself into my flat, I see.”

“Don’t get smart with me, Nathan. You lied to me. And you hurt Rose!”

“Rose lied too, aren’t you cross with her?” Nathan wanted to take the words back the moment he said them. Donna’s eyes blazed in fury and she smacked him sharply on the back of his head. “Ow!”

“I don’t know what the devil is wrong with you right now, but I don’t like it one bit. You’re better than this, Nathan. Yes, Rose lied, but she’s not my brother. But I really don’t care about that. I care about what happened between you and Rose!”

Nathan hung his head and scrubbed a hand over his face. He didn’t want to relive the experience again. Not when he was torturing himself over it every time he looked at her. “I don’t want to talk about it, Donna.”

“I don’t care. That girl is miserable, you git. She was heartbroken when we talked. Not because you hit her, but because you’ve completely shut her out! What, exactly, is the problem?”

“I’m a danger to her!” Nathan shouted. Donna threw her hands in the air.

“You are not! Nathan, everyone makes mistakes! You made a mistake not getting help right away, and she made a mistake waking you from a nightmare. That doesn’t mean you give up the best thing that ever happened to you! You can learn from this, you can fix it and do better next time. I don’t know if you remember or not, but relationships take work, Nathan. If Lee and I split every time we fought, we’d never have gotten married! You mess up, and you learn, and you fight for each other. Do you love her?”

Nathan stared at his sister. His emotions were choking him, a tight band around his chest. He regretted everything about that night with Rose, and his reaction later. He shook his head.

“It doesn’t matter now, Donna. It’s too late.”

“It’s only too late if you let it be. Fight for her, Nathan.”

Donna opened her mouth to say more, but took a breath and shook her head. There was nothing left to say that hadn’t been said a hundred times before, and her brother was nothing if not hard headed. Instead, she kissed his cheek and left.

[doctor-who-hears-a-horton]

These Grey Stars Above Us (Ten x Rose)

Rating: Teen

Chapter: 9/?

Rose Tyler is a young lady of standing in society, and thinks little of marriage. She meets Dr. Johnathan Smith, a former soldier with taste for little else besides whiskey and reading. She finds herself intrigued by him and wonders if she can draw him out and bring him back into society

HISTORICAL NOTE**************** I made up the war for the purposes of plot, so there was no war like the one I describe in Victorian times.

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8

Read it on AO3 Here!

The days were long before Jonathan wrote to her again.  It was only four, but every day she did not have to speak to him was dreadfully painful, and she floated on air until the paper from him was actually settled in her hands.  Because when he did write, there was a tone of desperation it, and it made her a bit nervous, as she skimmed the letter before even daring to read it fully.  The scratches of his pen on the paper looked urgent and frustrated.

Dearest Rose,

When I arrived home today my mother had already arranged for the French woman to come to the estate. Donna and I are both equally furious about it, as the woman is staying in our house. Neither of us can bear to speak to her, so she sits alone in her room. I am told she is very beautiful, but I can hardly be bothered to care.  I told my mother about my intentions towards you, and she said that we must try to honor the contract with her family first. I have not seen her. I need you here. Donna said she was going to invite you to our home, but she allowed me to write to you.  Please come.  As soon as possible.  Please.

I rushed this letter as quickly as I could to get it to you as soon as possible. I need you to come here.  I need you.  I need you to be here, so we can both go to my mother.  I have thought of nothing but you since you left.  Please, hurry to me.  

Love,

Jonathan Noble.

Rose finished the letter and was already headed for Ianto.  “Ianto!” She called out, when she saw him near the parlor, about to head inside.  “I need you to come with me, please escort me to the Noble estate.”

“Is everything alright?” Ianto asked.  “What’s happened?”

“His mother has arranged a marriage for him, and it is not with me.  I have to go to him, he wrote to me.  It is the most unprofessional letter I have ever received from him, something is wrong.”

“Are you sure he has not just been on the drink, Miss Tyler?” Ianto suggested gently, furrowing his brows at her.

She frowned. “I am sure that he has,” she said, “But I am also sure that he would not make any of it up. Please, Ianto.  Take me there.”

Ianto looked like he knew that he should not do anything about it, but he sighed and turned over over his shoulder, glancing into the parlor. “Mr. Harkness is here.  Perhaps he should come with us.”

“Fine,” Rose nodded, “Yes, bring him with us.”

It only took about two minutes to get Mr. Harkness away from her parents to go to the Noble establishment, with a brief explanation to her parents, who were strangely accepting of Rose going to the Noble’s.  Rose had a feeling that it was just because her parents were so desperate for her to marry that she must be either traveling to visit with Donna or to seduce Dr. Noble.  At the moment, her parents would probably be satisfied with that.

“Will there be chaperones?”  Lord Tyler asked.

“Yes sir,” Mr. Harkness said smoothly, “Including myself, Miss Donna Noble seldom leaves the house, for all her duties.  Your daughter will be surrounded by people, I am sure.”

“I will stay as well, if you would like,” Ianto said.

“Oh, no, Ianto, I am sure you have better things to do,” Lady Tyler replied, “But if Mr. Harkness and Donna will be there, I should feel so much better about the whole thing. Is she planning to court Dr. Noble?”

There was silence, and Rose almost stormed into the room, but thought better of it.  If she let her temper control her, they might not let her go at all.  Finally, Ianto spoke, quietly, and with all the fondness of an older brother.

“Yes, Lady Tyler, I believe she is.”

“Oh, then go on, take her.  We will have to meet with the Nobles of course.”

“Of course,” Mr. Harkness rushed out, “But not today.  Today is not the time for official ceremony.  Come, now, Ianto, let us make haste and get to the Noble’s estate, shall we?”

Mr. Harkness had the last word in it, then, and the two of them came out to where Rose was wringing her arms.  Mr. Harkness extended his arm to her, which she gratefully took, sagging against him.

“Does one of you want to tell me what, exactly, is going on?” he asked finally, as they neared the carriage.  Ianto shook his head and ran off to the stables to fetch the horses.

“Dr. Noble has been set up with another woman, another courtship.”  She pulled the letter from her dress and handed it to Jack.  “He said I needed to come to him,and I fear that I must, or they will set the agreement in stone.”

Mr. Harkness’s eyes scanned the letter and he nodded.  “Yes,” he said, “We must get you to him.”

Ianto had the horses hitched to the carriage in what Rose supposed would be the quickest he had ever done it, and the ride to the Noble’s was completely silent.  Mr. Harkness was quiet because he sensed that Rose wanted it so.  Her mouth was set in a grim line, as though she did not dare open her mouth, or she would surely begin crying.  She stared out the window of the carriage, watching as the world passed her by.

When they arrived, she barely waited for Mr. Harkness to help her out of the carriage. Donna had heard them approaching and was standing at the top of the stairs to their home, her brows furrowed in worry.

“Rose,” She rushed to her friend, enveloping her in an embrace. “He is in the library and will not let any of us in. I told him that you would come as soon as you received the letter.”

“I want to speak with her first,” Rose said over Donna’s shoulder. “I need to speak to the woman they have promised John to.”

“Well… Jonathan and I, neither of us have spoken to her yet. She’s been here for a few days, but-”

“I wish to speak with her,” Rose said, “She should know me, know how I feel for him before she decides to take him from me.”

Donna finally nodded. “I shall accompany you.”  She looked over her shoulder. “Mr. Harkness, Ianto, perhaps you would like to come inside for some tea?” Unfortunately, there were several minutes of pleasantries, with Lady Noble, who Rose did not want to speak to, and Lord Mott, whose jolly charms were more difficult to refuse.  She offered him all her politeness, and the same to Lady Noble, though with less enthusiasm.

“Do you know how to get Jonathan to talk to us?” Lady Noble asked, exasperated, “He has been quite a fool these past few days.”

Rose nodded slightly, looking to Donna for support. “I think… It must be because we discussed a courtship. I think he expected to be entering one with me.”  She fought to not wring her hands, instead maintaining a ladylike stature. “I should like to speak with the woman he is arranged with now, to see if some sort of agreement can be met.  If, of course, that is agreeable to you.”

“It is certainly agreeable to me,” Lord Mott said, for he had seen the way Jonathan had looked at this young woman.  “Donna, will you escort her there?  Perhaps you could talk with Lady Reinette with her.”

Donna bobbed a curtsy and Rose followed. “Thank you,” She said, before Donna began leading her towards the staircase.

“Reinette,” Rose said, testing the name out, “She is the one who is taking him from me?”

“Not of our will!” Donna protested, taking her friend’s arm. “This is terribly ridiculous, all of it.  You should have seen Jonathan when he came home from his outing with you.  Do not look so surprised, he told me all about it.  When Mother told him what happened, his face turned as white as the curtains in the ballroom. He protested, spoke of you, but of course, she would not hear.  Lady Reinette was already here.”

“And he did not have a say in any of this?” Rose asked, growing to be more furious.

“No,” Donna shook her head, “And nor did I, or I would have said something about it.”

“I am sure you would have,” Rose said, smiling at her friend for the first time.  Donna grinned back, and Rose felt a bit of ease in her heart, that perhaps all of this was going to be alright.  

The two of them reached a closed door at the top of the stairs, and Donna knocked. “Lady Reinette, you have someone here to see you.”

The woman who opened the door almost made Rose sink back in fear. She was tall and beautiful and dressed in extravagance.  She looked between Rose and Donna. “What can I do for you, Miss Noble?” She asked, addressing Donna.

“This is Miss Tyler, she would like to speak with you, and I am accompanying her,” Donna replied.  Lady Reinette nodded, accepting, and invited them into her chambers.   There was a small table with two chairs, and Donna opted to stand, wanting the two to be able to talk without her sitting level with them.

“What can I do for you, Miss Tyler?” Lady Reinette asked.

“I know you are scheduled to be courting Dr. Noble,” Rose said, “But you should know that initially he planned to enter into courtship with me.  I see no reason to make small talk before discussing such a serious manner.”

“I have never met Dr. Noble,” Lady Reinette replied, “I have only heard him arguing with his mother. He was going to enter into courtship with you, you said. I wonder if Lady Noble knew?”

“She suspected,” Rose replied, nodding, “And I- well, I should very much like to court Dr. Noble, and I was a bit struck to hear about your courtship with him.”

Lady Reinette laughed a little at that, but before Rose could feel defensive over it, the woman reached out and took Rose’s hand across the table. “Miss Tyler, I have no interest whatsoever in marrying Dr. Noble. None at all!”

Rose and Donna both blinked in shock.  “What?”

Lady Reinette shook her head. “I am quite in love with a Frenchman back in my own city.  I should like very much to marry him. My parents arranged this courtship and shipped me off here before I could even look over my shoulder. I did not want to do it.”

“So you would be… Amiable, to terminating the courtship?” Donna asked.

“I would very much like to do so,” Lady Reinette said, “I wish to return home.”  

Rose winced. “I am sorry, I fear I suspected you were already halfway to seducing him,” she pulled her hands back from the young woman. “Forgive me.”

“Do not be sorry,” Lady Reinette said. “You care for him, I can see it in your eyes, the fire in you.  It is the fire I feel for my Louis.  I think that both of us deserve to get exactly what we wish for.  I have been in a very lovely prison here,” she winced and looked to Donna. “With no offense to you, of course, this is a very lovely home, of course.”

“I take no offense,” Donna replied, “I should not like to stay in a place I did not want to be in, no matter how lovely.  I think we should take this conversation to my mother.  Perhaps we could pry my brother out of the library to join us.”

“Whatever you wish,” Lady Reinette said. “Am I to assume that I can pack my things?” She asked, hope in her eyes.

Rose felt guilty for hating the woman so before she met her. This woman just wanted to be with the man she loved, and she had been trapped here, with a man that did not want her, and who she did not want.  There was no way any of that was anything but unfair.

Without even thinking, Rose nodded. “I think you can,” she said, “I will ensure that you can return home, Lady Reinette, to your true intended.”

“If my parents will let me marry him.”

Donna settled her hands on her hips.  “I shall take care of that,” She said, “I have more power in society than you should think.  We will sort this out, Lady Reinette. Here, you and I shall go down to my mother, Rose, you shall go and fetch Jonathan from the library.  I expect he would like very much to see you anyway.” Rose nodded, her heart rate calming, and nodded to Lady Reinette. “I am dreadfully sorry,” she said to the young woman, “And I do so hope that we can sort all of this out.”

Lady Reinette offered her a watery smile. “So do I.”

Rose left the room, following her memory to where she knew the library to be.  She was stopped by Mr. Harkness running to her, his face red like he had been running for quite a while indeed.  “Miss Rose, you need to help us, he might- for you, he might-”

‘What’s going on, Mr. Harkness?” ‘Ianto and I, we were hoping to get Dr. Noble from the library, but he is absolutely furious, and he won’t speak to anyone but you.”

“There is more to it, why are you not telling me more?  Where is Ianto?” Rose asked, fear creeping into her bones, for she was afraid that she already knew why Jonathan was in such a state. The only reason he would ever truly lose his temper. Her heart sank when Mr. Harkness’s face fell.

“Miss Tyler, Ianto is restraining him, and I will be there the whole time you speak with Dr. Noble. He is very drunk.”

[doctor-who-hears-a-horton]

These Grey Stars Above Us (Ten x Rose)

Rating: Teen

Chapter: 4/?

Rose Tyler is a young lady of standing in society, and thinks little of marriage. She meets Dr. Johnathan Smith, a former soldier with taste for little else besides whiskey and reading. She finds herself intrigued by him and wonders if she can draw him out and bring him back into society

HISTORICAL NOTE**************** I made up the war for the purposes of plot, so there was no war like the one I describe in Victorian times.

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3

Read it on AO3 Here! 

It was a few days later when Rose received correspondence from Donna.  Rose had not expected to hear from her so quickly after the celebration.  When her father passed her the letter over breakfast, she was more than slightly confused.  

“Why should she write to you so soon?” Lady Tyler asked, her puzzlement written all over her face.

“I can not pretend to know,” Rose admitted. “I shall read it later.”

As much as Lady Tyler loved to be privy to gossip, she had to admit to herself that it was probably a private letter, and she hoped it included a list of men who were vying for Rose’s hand after the celebration, because certainly there were more than one.  Rose had received many admirers, not that she knew so, as her parents did not tell her, since it was clear Rose was not going to be pursuing marriage for a long while.

The letter seemed to burn in Rose’s lap, as she wondered what could possibly be the contents of it.  Once breakfast was finished, she excused herself with a shallow curtsy before fleeing up the stairs to her bedchambers.

Amelia jumped when her mistress came into the room, nearly tossing an armful of laundry up in the air.  “Heavens!” She shouted, then placed her hand over her mouth as Rose shut the door behind her, giggling.

“I’ve received a letter from Donna,” Rose said, settling herself in the arm chair she possessed.  “I have no idea what she could write to me about.”

“You said you danced with Dr. Noble all night, perhaps it is about him, or perhaps not really from Donna at all.”

“I do not think he would do something dishonest,” Rose said thoughtfully, and smiled at her friend. “But it does sound rather thrilling.

Amelia sat next to Rose’s chair at her feet, not in subservience, but because she knew that Rose would not mind if she read the letter over her shoulder, and that Rose would most likely read it out loud anyway.  Rose broke the seal on the letter and pulled out the pages inside.  As Amelia had thought, Rose read aloud what was in the letter, trying to understand every word and lock it away.

Dearest Rose,

I am sending this letter (Or attempting to) on the very night of the celebration at my home.  You should know, that since you departed, my brother not not stopped speaking of you. He says you read to him in the library, and his cheeks have turned delightfully pink because of it.  I think he is very taken with you, my friend.  Perhaps tread carefully, as he can be, in fact, a dangerous man, but he can also be a kind one.

He did not drink for the rest of the night, after you left.  I think that did have something to do with you, whether you do, in fact, know it or not.  I have never seen him this way. Though he did depart from the party shortly after you left, he came to see me in the sitting room and he had a very worried look upon his face.

Jonathan told me that he fears he has ruined everything with you by drinking tonight, but I told him if he sorted himself out I am sure the two of you could be good friends.  He was very worried about it, though, and I do hope that he finds a bit of comfort in the fact that you are a very kind woman.

In addition to this, my brother was present when a few men approached me asking about your marital status.  You have many admirers, my friend!  I think my brother was very displeased with this fact, as his face was quite grim, and he asked if you were seeking a courtship with one of those men.  He is already terribly besotted with you, but it is clear he thinks he does not deserve you.  And in reality, I do not think he does, but of course, he can dream.

However, that is not why I am writing to you. I would like for your family to come for tea on the 15th of September, so that we can speak more. I have missed you dearly, friend, though I know we are both busy, but I would like to see you again.  Please do let me know if you can attend.  

Sincerely,

Donna Noble

Rose looked to Amelia and raised her eyebrows. “What do you think?” She asked.

“I think we should go.”

“So you can see Rory?” Rose teased

Amelia waved her hand and shook her head good naturedly.  “Oh, he will not be there.  He is not related to the Nobles.”

Rose tapped her fingers on the arm of the chair, thinking for a moment.  “Amelia, I could ask Donna to invite him. She is quite the matchmaker, you know, and I am sure that you would be able to come along and see him.”  She turned to her friend. “You spoke with him at the celebration, did you not?”

“I did!” Amelia said, smiling, “And he was wonderful, but of course you know that.  But he has a title, Rose.”

“Did he speak to you about his title or did he speak to you about other things?” Amelia blinked.  “He… He wished to speak about me, for the most part,” she admitted quietly.  “It was lovely, and I still learned about him as well. He is a truly wonderful man.” Rose smiled and got up to walk to her desk.  She sat down and removed her stationary and the very old ink and quill that she used.  She looked at Amelia and smiled when she saw the surprised look on her friend’s face.

“You are going to write to her right now?”

“Of course,” Rose said.  “You may go about your duties, Amelia, I will take this down myself,” she said, turning back to the paper.

“You just do not want me to read it.”

“Yes,” Rose said in a chipper tone.  “But it will be very good, I promise,” she said.  

Amelia huffed a little and left, a little bit embarrassed.  Rose, however, knew that Amelia would be more than a bit delighted that Rose was writing about Rory.  She settled in and began to write.

Dearest Donna,

I shall speak to my parents, but I am sure that they will say yes to tea.  If they do not, expect just me, as I will come regardless.  Your brother is welcome to join us, if he so desires.  He did not ‘ruin’ anything, though I hardly know what he expects of me.

     Regardless of what happened between your brother and me, I shall see you on the fifteenth, and I look forward to it immensely.

    (By the way, dear friend, my friend Amelia, a lovely young servant girl, quite fancies Mr. Rory Williams. Would it be possible to invite him? I know you do so enjoy playing matchmaker)

      Best regards,

Rose

      Rose read over the letter many times, to make sure she said enough without saying too much. She knew that women had the art of being coy on their sides, something that men often did not have. No doubt Jonathan would be waiting for this correspondence to see what she had said about him. She smiled a bit at the thought. It was a bit nice, this game of cat and mouse that they were already playing. The trouble was, she could not tell which was the cat and which was the mouse.

She took the letter down to the entryway, hoping to catch one of the servants.  A young man by the name of Ianto stood there, who had worked for the Tylers for a very long time, and he and Rose were quite close.

“Hello, Miss Tyler,” Ianto nodded to her, smiling.

“Ianto,” she nodded back, “Could you see to it that this is delivered to the Noble estate today?”

“With pleasure, Miss,” Ianto said, taking the letter from her hands.  “Oh, and your presence is requested in the parlor. Mr. Harkness has come to visit.” “Is he?” Rose said, delighted.  “Did he say why he was not at the celebration at the Noble’s?” Ianto shook his head, a wry smile gracing his lips.  “Does Mr. Harkness ever explain anything that he does?”

Rose had to acknowledge that he was correct.  Mr. Harkness, while terribly friendly and lovely to be around, was also a bit mysterious. Rose knew that he engaged in some pursuits that were less than proper, but Rose thought of him as a brother, so it did not bother her in the slightest.  

“I shall go to the parlor then,” Rose said with a light curtsy, and set off in that direction, lifting her skirts up to go at a light run.  “Thank you, Ianto!” Ianto chuckled but bid her goodbye, already turning to the front door to deliver Rose’s letter to the Nobles.

Rose straightened herself, smoothing down her ruffled hair  before opening the parlor door.  Jack Harkness sat there, across from her mother and father, looking every bit as charming as he had ever been.  He glanced up when Rose entered and a broad smile lit his face.

“Miss Rose Tyler,” he said, getting to his feet.  “What an absolute pleasure.”

“Ianto told me you were here.  I would like to know why you were not at the Nobles’ celebration just a few days ago.”

Jack chuckled and pressed a kiss to the back of her hand in greeting.  “You did not need me, Miss Rose, I heard you spent the whole night with Dr. Noble,” he winked at her and led her to sit next to him on the couch.

Rose blushed. “Well, yes, but that hardly means anything.”

“Jack knows Dr. Noble,” Lady Tyler piped up, “He was going to tell us about him.”  She looked quite excited to hear about the man, and of course, Jack was happy to indulge.  

“Yes, I have known Jonathan for many years,” he said, scratching his jaw. “He is a good man, if not a bit damaged.  I have heard he’s taken quite a liking to you, Rose.”

Rose nodded. “We did spend the majority of the evening together,” she said, “I told him that he should read less about war and more about happiness.”

“Rose, I do believe you would be terribly good for him, even as a simple friend,” Jack said, his voice suddenly serious. “You and him will see each other again, no?” “We were… Invited to tea at the Noble estate,” Rose said, nodding to her parents. “I received correspondence from Donna this morning, and it appears that Dr. Noble will be in attendance as well.”

“Of course we will go!” Lady Tyler said excitedly.

Lord Tyler laughed lightly, “You grow very excited over the prospect of tea,” he said cheerfully.

Jack smiled, “Does your mother wish for you to enter into a courtship with Dr. Noble?”

“It would appear so,” Rose said, “I think we are both in a place where we should not consider a courtship, though.  He is kind, but his love of the drink is quite strong,” she looked at Jack with sadness in her eyes. “But I do not think it is unwarranted.”

Jack shook his head. “No, it is not. Jonathan has been through much, and it is very difficult for him to get past it all.  Someday I think he will be a repaired man.  Shall I speak to him about you?”

Rose blushed. “No, I doubt he will have anything to say about me, Jack.”

“I doubt that,” Lady Tyler said with a scoff.  “He danced with you all night, and sat next to you at dinner.  I think he is rather taken with you already.”

“Of course he is!” Jack said.  “Lord and Lady Tyler, any man would be lucky to receive your daughter’s hand in marriage.  I have often said that her many admirers were very warranted.  I think perhaps it would be worth pursuing a friendship with Dr. Noble.”

“I cannot fix him, Jack,” Rose said softly.

“No one expects you to, Rose,” Lord Tyler said gently, “But of course, he would be a good friend to you, I believe, and he is related to Donna as well.  You are still close with her, it would be very nice to be friends with them both.”

“I have to agree,” Jack said, “And if you happen to fall in love with Dr. Noble over tea, than what is the harm?” He smiled happily at her and winked, making her giggle.

“Well, Jack,” Rose said slowly, “I think that is something I should decide for myself.”

Jack left a few hours later, after he had taken lunch with them and telling them about his adventures and journey home. Rose invested in the conversation, but her thoughts were plagued by Dr. Noble, and she was beginning to wonder what his thoughts on her were.

However, she was also very certain that she also might already know.