galadriel1010: (Default)
galadriel1010 ([personal profile] galadriel1010) wrote2010-09-30 12:10 pm

A Time For Family: A Friendly Warning

Title: A Time for Family (2/8)
Chapter Title: A Friendly Warning
Challenge/Fest: Schmoop_Bingo (second card)
Prompt: Holiday: Meeting the Extended Family
Rating: T overall
Dedication:To[livejournal.com profile] anduria_trianys, for being awesome.
Summary: Christmas is a time for family, and Jack and Ianto have let their families slip for too long. After losing Tosh and Owen, they're going to take any opportunity they can to hold onto the people who are important to them.
Contains: Scary levels of fluff, references to real estate investment, snow, a far from veiled reference to waxplay, family dynamics and four exciteable children (Mica, David, Steven and Jack)


Jack let them into the house rather than ringing the bell, which would surely have woken Steven up, and led Ianto down the corridor to the kitchen at the back of the house. Alice looked up at their entrance and smiled tiredly. “Did you flip the latch?”

“Merry Christmas to you too,” Jack smiled, although it didn't quite meet his eyes. “Yes, I did, and I shot the bolt. Thanks for having us.”

“No, I'm glad you've come,” she shook her head. “Sorry, it's late.”

“It really is, you didn't have to stay up,” Jack chided. He shoved his hands in his pockets, leaning in the doorway as casually as he could, whilst Ianto put the bag of presents they'd brought down against the wall. “We could have come over in the morning.”

She waved it away and yawned. “Sorry, I just...”

“Really, it's okay,” Ianto assured her. “It's two in the morning. Hi, by the way.”

“Hi,” she smiled at him sheepishly. “Right. As you're here, you can help me finish decorating. The boxes are in the living room; I'm nearly done. You can put the gifts under the tree, too.”

“End of the corridor?” he checked, picking up the bag again.

“Yeah, on the right. Can I get you a drink? Tea, coffee, hot chocolate, squash...”

“Hot chocolate would be lovely, thanks,” Ianto smiled gratefully. “I don't think caffeine is quite what we need at this hour. Do you want a hand?”

“Oh...” she blinked and nodded. “Erm, yes please. Dad, can you take the gifts through? We'll come and join you.”

Jack chuckled and took the bag from Ianto. “My ears are burning already.”

“Moron,” Ianto muttered affectionately as soon as Jack was out of earshot. He went to the fridge and got the milk out for Alice. “Really, thank you for having us. It means so much to him.”

“I know,” she agreed quietly. She accepted the milk from him and got a tin of hot chocolate powder from the cupboard, whilst he fetched mugs from the mug tree. “Thank you for giving me that talking to. I've been so scared of getting hurt...”

“That you hadn't noticed you were already getting hurt,” Ianto finished for her. “I know, he did it to me too.”

“It's a Harkness trait,” she joked. “He needs you, Ianto. So... Thanks,” she set the mugs on the counter and started the microwave for the milk. “It is my solemn duty to inform you that if you hurt him, and I know I'm a fine one to talk... I'll castrate you.”

“Lucky for me that I have no intention of hurting him,” Ianto smiled sidelong at her. “You've missed him really, haven't you?”

She was silent for a while, but nodded when the microwave beeped to signal that it had finished. “I think I blamed him for Mum's death. Which was stupid, because if she'd stayed at Torchwood she would have died decades ago... How can you stay there?”

“Because I don't know any other way to be,” he said quietly.

“But you say that you want to protect him, and then you stay there in a job that's going to get you killed sooner rather than later... I feel like I should be forcing you out of Torchwood,” she sighed, “It's the only way to keep you from hurting him.”

He swallowed hard. “At least he knows that I'll never leave him by choice. My place is by his side, both personally and professionally. I can't leave Torchwood with half a captain.”

“He'd follow you anyway... and go mad, can you imagine Dad retired?” she laughed quietly. “He'd have to take up gardening or something...”

“We'd probably travel the world. We've thought about it, actually,” he confessed. “I'm still young enough to get student flights.”

“How old are you?” she asked cautiously.

“Twenty five.”

“Crap,” she passed him a mug and ruffled his hair. “You're too young for me! Mind you, I think he's still sixteen in his head.”

“Sixteen?” Ianto snorted. “I'd have gone with six. Shall we?”

“We'd better,” she agreed. “Let's get today put to bed.”

Next chapter

[identity profile] beesandbrews.livejournal.com 2010-09-30 03:29 am (UTC)(link)
What a sweet moment. :)

[identity profile] fiwen1010.livejournal.com 2010-10-01 12:38 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you :)
Gxxx

[identity profile] aviv-b.livejournal.com 2010-09-30 03:39 am (UTC)(link)
Its nice to see a more accepting Alice.

[identity profile] fiwen1010.livejournal.com 2010-10-01 12:39 am (UTC)(link)
Alice had so much potential as a character, I wish they'd brought her in earlier and used her more
Gxxx

[identity profile] zazajb.livejournal.com 2010-09-30 05:46 am (UTC)(link)
*snuggles into the fluff with a hot chocolate and a happy sigh* xxx

[identity profile] fiwen1010.livejournal.com 2010-10-01 12:39 am (UTC)(link)
*Offers you the pink fuzzy blanket as well* Glad you liked :D
Gxxx

[identity profile] zazajb.livejournal.com 2010-10-01 05:14 am (UTC)(link)
*beams and snuggles under blanket* xxx
ext_3966: (Default)

[identity profile] lone-star-woman.livejournal.com 2010-09-30 06:32 am (UTC)(link)
I really like your Alice. It seems like she's still struggling with the idea of an immortal father and all the baggage that comes with it, but she's trying to build a relationship with Jack. The conversation with Ianto is just wonderful and what I would have loved to have seen on the show.

[identity profile] fiwen1010.livejournal.com 2010-10-01 12:45 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you :) I'm glad you like her. They really did miss a trick with her on the show, she's such an amazing character with a really complex story
Gxxx
bk_forever: (It Happened One Day)

[personal profile] bk_forever 2010-09-30 10:36 am (UTC)(link)
Lovely banter, I like Alice a lot here. Must have missed the first meeting somewhere - I know I only caught a few of the previous prompts!

[identity profile] fiwen1010.livejournal.com 2010-10-01 12:59 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks! I've not actually written the previous one yet :S It's another of the prompts in this set, though, so it should be up soon-ish
Gxxx
bk_forever: (Laughing Jack)

[personal profile] bk_forever 2010-10-01 08:42 am (UTC)(link)
Ah, that explains it!

[identity profile] stargazer60.livejournal.com 2010-09-30 11:17 am (UTC)(link)
Loved this moment between Ianto and Alice.... *sigh*

[identity profile] fiwen1010.livejournal.com 2010-10-01 12:59 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you :D
Nice icon
Gxxx

[identity profile] milady-dragon.livejournal.com 2010-09-30 11:19 am (UTC)(link)
Loved that! Just enjoyed Alice giving Ianto "the speech" and how they connected so well.

[identity profile] fiwen1010.livejournal.com 2010-10-01 01:01 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you :D Glad you liked it
Gxxx

[identity profile] nancybrown.livejournal.com 2010-09-30 11:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Yay Alice!

[identity profile] fiwen1010.livejournal.com 2010-10-01 01:02 am (UTC)(link)
Alice is made of awesome, and your icon is most excellent
Gxxx

[identity profile] sariagray.livejournal.com 2010-10-06 12:09 am (UTC)(link)
More awwww! I love this. So much. :) Brilliantly written and giving me fluffy cuddly happy feelings. Also, I want Christmas here. Now. :)