Fic: Detours (Slash, Janto, MPreg, PG)
May. 29th, 2008 03:31 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
d8rkmessngrTitle: Month 1: Detours
Author: d8rkmessngr
Rating: PG
Pairing: Rhys/Gwen, briefly implied past Jack/OMC
Summary: Because maps are never truly reliable…
Warning: H/C, MPreg, off screen child death mention
Disclaimer: TW is owned by RTD and BBC. Just borrowing custody for a tick.
Author's Note: Many thanks to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
itoshii_chan for the rec. Smooches, darlings! These stories in this 'verse may be written out of order as they come when inspiration hits me with a mallet.
Master Fic List: here
In hindsight, Ianto should have realized something was wrong. Not dreadfully wrong, not the derogatory wrong Jack still sometimes sees himself despite anything Ianto says, or the wrong that makes one run for a very large weapon. Just…wrong.
For example, he had woken up a few mornings ago to find himself alone in his flat, Jack's postnote on his forehead—he'd been enjoying himself finding new places to attach post-its since Ianto brought the variety pack.
In unusually hasty handwriting that was barely legible in the dim morning, Jack explained he needed to get back to Torchwood. The word "now" was left out but clear in the frantic scrawl.
Fearing an emergency, Ianto had driven in only to find a half-asleep Owen waggling a finger at Jack in his office. Both looked surprised to see Ianto—although frankly, the bigger surprise should be Owen—and Jack just smiled at Ianto's concerned questions, kissed his nose, which Owen reacted to with a gagging sound, and told him it was probably nothing.
What was probably nothing?
Jack's been distracted and disturbingly inconsistent for days. Ianto thought he knew his way around Jack Harkness by now, much as Jack knew his way around him. But sometimes the usual teasing bought Jack to odd periods of tantrums, even points when Ianto thought he was going to cry. And while the little packets of M&Ms mysteriously showing up on his desk and little kisses after Ianto had his coffee still made Jack smile, there were moments of melancholy Ianto caught him in. Jack would sit there, staring at the space where that blasted jar used to be, looking very lost, very alone. Ianto hated that look. Jack looked if not but seven, abandoned by a parent, unable to decide what to do next.
The look usually disappears when Jack realizes Ianto was near. Again with a reassuring smile, Jack dismissed it as just a mood swing.
Mood swing?
"I still think we should have taken the left."
Ianto grit his teeth. Owen was not helping. He hasn't been helping the past two hours they were on the road on the way back to Torchwood, in fact. He kept his eyes on the road. It helped him from indulging in the urge to turn around and throttling the medic.
"Christ, why does the countryside have to smell this…smelly?"
"It's called grass, Owen. Be glad there are still places that have it," Gwen grumbled in the back. "And stop fidgeting!" Ianto could see Gwen shoving Owen towards Tosh, who shoved back.
"Oi!" Owen's elbows prodded the girls on both sides. He yelped when they both slapped him on the back of his head in such perfect unison, Ianto wondered if they had practiced.
"Knock it off, you guys." Jack's weary voice halted their antics.
Ianto glanced to his left. Jack had surprisingly opted from driving and sat slouched in the passenger seat next to Ianto. He stared almost sullenly out the windshield, his greatcoat buttoned all the way to this throat, his arms around his middle.
Discretely, Ianto raised the heat. He frowned. Another odd thing; Jack, no matter what the mood, always insist on driving. He kept glancing over, driving carefully, as Jack shifted trying to find a spot to rest.
"Are you healing alright?" Ianto murmured low. He could hear the fidgeting in back stilled with his question. He studied Jack up and down. The creature had escaped the Rift and was slaughtering farm animals by the time they had driven up to the countryside. Jack had cornered it to a quarry before everyone realized these beasts hunt in pairs.
"Any bleeding?" Owen's voice turned sharp from the back.
Ianto frowned. The slashes and bruises were fading from Jack's face and legs. It didn't look like there would be any more blood.
Jack shook his head. It was like he couldn't trust himself to speak. He closed his eyes as if to sleep.
"We could stop off to eat." Surprisingly, no one protested. Ianto frowned when Jack shook his head. "Are you sure?" Jack had left his breakfast untouched this morning, claiming his stomach was unsettled.
Jack gave another headshake and pressed up against the glass and seat to fit his long legs. Under Ianto's worried eye, Jack fell back asleep again.
Owen poked Ianto from behind. "Turn up the heat, mate," he said quietly, but firmly. "It's drafty in here."
Actually, it was quite warm, but Ianto didn't argue and nudged the dial higher and turned the vents towards their captain. Jack opened his eyes briefly, gave him a smile thanks and closed his eyes again.
The back was a bit subdued and Ianto focused on his driving again, his hands curled tight around the steering wheel. He glanced sideways to Jack.
Wrong. Something was definitely wrong. Ianto remembered standing at the top of the hill before, panting from running top speed after Jack's transmission abruptly cut off that there was not one but two hunting. From the distance, he could see Jack shakily climbing up the slope, blood running down a shredded shirt, his coat streaked with blood. The first thing Jack said as he nearly stumbled into Ianto's waiting arms was that he didn't die.
The echo of wrongwrongwrong escalated when Ianto had caught Jack and Owen, after hauling the body bags into the back of the SUV, arguing. Owen was vibrating where he stood, his face red, as he jabbed a finger in the air towards Jack. Then, he stopped. Even from where Ianto stood, it was clear Jack appeared about ready to breakdown to tears. Owen looked a little freaked, his mouth agape, Ianto hurried towards them, and Jack, he…
Punched Owen.
Well, at least it weren't tears.
Surprisingly, all Owen did was stagger back, his hand on his jaw, then accepted Jack's bracing arm to steady himself. The medic shrugged off Jack's apologies then told Ianto curtly Jack wasn't driving.
Wrongwrongwrong. Ianto hated the word, especially when Jack used it on himself, but there was something wrong.
"You drive like an old lady," Owen complained when Ianto slowed in front of some sheep that were milling about the road. "Christ, just drive right through them!"
"Owen!" Tosh yelped. "They're sheep!"
"Exactly. Ruddy lot will be in meat pies any day now. We'll save them the trou—Stop hitting me!"
Ianto pressed his forehead to the wheel as the slapping back and forth continued. He should be grateful he was driving. He should. He was up front; bruise free, with his increasingly quiet lover. Everything was fine. Everyone was safe. Everyone was—
"We should stop at the next village for a pub," Owen griped. "I'm thirsty."
"Forget it," Gwen snapped. "Rhys and I were planning to see a movie!"
Owen made kissing sounds until it was interrupted by a squawk from Tosh's computer. It began to bleep and hum.
"Tosh!" Gwen and Owen groaned.
"Sorry," Tosh piped up, not sounding sorry at all. "Checking our systems remotely since we're still here."
"Sounds like a bunch of strangled birds, can't it wait?"
"It has to be done regularly. Normally if I was at the Hub, I'll do it there."
"Not for another hour," Ianto apologized to Tosh, who just waved it off. Ianto groaned to himself when one animal stopped to graze. "Maybe two."
"We wouldn't be here if Jonesy drives faster."
"We would be back already if Jack was driving," Gwen pointed out. "But you told him—"
"Like I'm going to have him drive after playing food to a couple of aliens. 'Hi, look at me! Free human blood, come snack!'" Owen mimicked in a high voice, his hands in the air.
"Saved Tosh's life," Gwen reminded him.
Owen grunted.
Ianto glanced over to Jack, but he didn't stir.
"Will you just hit the gas?" Owen complained.
"We're not killing sheep!" Gwen shot back.
"Oh, because that's worse than killing the two aliens we have stowed in the back! Just drive, Ianto!"
"Don't listen to him, he just hates the countryside."
"No, shit! Bloody place is smelly!"
"It's called grass, Owen."
"Shut up, just keep looking at your numbers there—stop poking me!"
"Ow!"
"Don't pick on Tosh just because you're missing your bar—"
"I just want to go back to civilization!"
"Then act like you belong in it, Owen!"
"You just want to go back to your lover boy and—"
"Enough!" Ianto abruptly bellowed. Everyone was shocked into silence. Ianto glared at the rear mirror. "Don't make me go back there and shoot you on the other shoulder, Owen!" He sighed, giving Jack, who was roused by the noise, a rueful grin.
"It's a good thing we don't have children," Ianto joked, nodding towards the back. "They're already enough to drive me mad."
For some reason, Owen groaned. "Brilliant, Jonesy. Fucking brilliant."
Jack gave a strained chuckle. "Good thing," he joked weakly. He sat there, staring at the sheep slowly crossing the road. The aging herder gave them a wave.
Ianto looked over again, frowning at the distant look in Jack's eyes. Carefully, he slid a hand over the closest knee. Jack gave a little start, then slipped his hand over Ianto's to give it a squeeze. His eyes, however, were still dull and listless.
The sheep finally cleared the road. One of the straggling ones bawled at them before moving. Ianto silently agreed with Owen's cheers. He raised his foot off the brake when Jack cleared his throat.
"Hold up," Jack said gruffly.
Before Ianto could ask, Jack left the SUV, took a few steps onto the grass at the rear and threw up.
"See?" Owen piped up. "He thinks the grass is smelly, too."
"Shut up, Owen," Gwen murmured. Ianto could see her exchange a look with Tosh on the mirror.
"Alright." Ianto twisted around. "What's going on?" The three looked back at him with blank expressions. Owen just nodded slightly towards Jack, still bent over, his hands on his knees, his head hanging low.
He wasn't getting answers and he couldn't ignore Jack's distress out of the side mirror any longer. Ianto grabbed a water bottle and exited the SUV in three easy strides. He reached Jack just in time to catch him when Jack straightened, only to sway.
"What's the matter?" Ianto gasped as he struggled to keep them both upright. "Was it the alien?"
Jack stiffened as he tried to lock his knees. He took the water bottle, rinsed his mouth before draining the bottle with a few greedy swallows.
"Jack?" The prolonged silence was unnerving. Ianto stood there, gripping Jack's arm, his face anxious.
Jack straightened and took a deep breath.
"I think I'm pregnant."
"Pardon?" Ianto squeak. The sheep were bawling in the distance. It was the only reason why it sounded like—
"I think I'm pregnant," Jack repeated.
Can't blame the sheep.
Ianto blinked. He stared at Jack, not really sure what to say. He tried to imagine if it were Lisa, but it didn't help because Lisa was dead, he loved Jack and Jack was—
"But you're a man!" Ianto yelped. "H-how…" He lowered his gaze to Jack's belly, the hand hovered over the firm stomach soon to be—Christ.
"Excuse me," Ianto muttered and leaned back to the rear of the SUV. He ran a hand through his hair. He looked at Jack. His chest tightened at the wary look Jack wore. Ianto swore Jack would never have to look at him like that, but here he was—Pregnant! He's pregnant!
"Your time, men are…" Ianto waved towards Jack.
"Some," Jack answered quietly. He considered Ianto. "Surgery. Artificial womb."
Ianto blinked at the word 'womb'. He swallowed.
"You're not going to…um…suddenly grow breasts and…ah…" Ianto flushed.
Jack seemed to relax. "No," Jack assured him with a small smile.
"Good. I was just getting used to sleeping with a man. I really didn't want to readjust my sexual preferences," Ianto muttered. He rubbed his brow wearily. Ianto studied Jack. "There's…I mean how would you…" Ianto gestured helplessly towards Jack.
Jack smiled nervously and thought his words carefully. "I'm not going to suddenly grow a vagina and go around calling myself Jaclyn. Still a man. If it comes to full term, it'll be birthed by Cesarean and—"
"Wait." The words slowly infiltrated. "If?"
Jack's eyes had that same distant look again. "My first one didn't make it up to six months." Jack's eyes were suspiciously bright. He shrugged but Ianto wasn't fooled. "Nearly killed me, too, so it wasn't advised that I try again. No point. My…partner left after that."
Ianto tentatively reached over and wrapped fingers around Jack's cool wrist.
"I'm sorry," Ianto said somberly.
Jack shrugged again.
"Boy or girl?"
Startled, Jack look up. He stared at Ianto before his eyes lowered. "Girl," Jack answered with a sigh.
Ianto rubbed a thumb inside Jack's wrist. "I like girls. Always wanted daughters." He felt Jack twitched and raised his gaze. Jack was staring at him. Ianto cracked a smile, his chest hammering.
"You did want me to have this kind of life," Ianto murmured. "A family?"
Jack's face crumbled a little. "The baby might be like me."
He hoped so. Then Jack wouldn't be alone. Out loud, Ianto mused, "I hope not. I don't want to have to beat off boyfriends from our daughter for the rest of my life."
Jack's hand curled around Ianto's, stilling the calming circles on his wrist.
"You seem pretty sure it's a girl," Jack teased weakly. The tension melted away from his eyes and mouth. Jack pulled Ianto to his chest and rested his forehead to Ianto's. "It's yours, you know."
Ianto slipped his arms around Jack's middle. He wondered how it would feel when the baby stood between them and realized it wouldn't matter. He would want to hold Jack this way for as long as he could.
"I know," Ianto murmured. He rubbed Jack's back with his hands. He smoothed the remaining ridged posture he could feel under Jack's coat. "You're having the child, it's mine." No matter what, Ianto thought.
Jack heard because he lowered his head to Ianto's shoulder. They stood there, heedless of the cool air swirling around them, the faces trying to not see through the back window of their SUV.
After a few minutes, they parted and got back into the SUV. Ianto could feel Owen watching him.
"Well?" Owen finally asked after a few minutes. He grunted when Jack nodded.
"Congratulations, love," Gwen reached over and kissed Ianto on the cheek.
"Wait," Ianto said as it occurred to him. "Everyone knew?"
"I only told Owen," Jack defended.
"And that was only after I found him puking in front of the Weevil cells," Owen added. "The girls found out on their own."
"CCTV," Tosh said smugly.
"Wait, so you've seen me naked?" Jack asked, grinning. Tosh squeaked. Owen sputtered.
"Behave," Ianto warned. "You're going to be a parent."
"If it comes full term," Jack suddenly deflated. He stared at the windshield.
"Oi!" Owen huffed. "You being rude about me? I'm your doctor! Of course it's coming full term!"
Ianto bit back a smile at Jack's relief. He snuck a hand over to Jack's knee and squeezed. Jack rubbed a knuckle over the back of his hand over the knee. He stared out into the road. How funny life turned out to be. All the turns they suffered through, but still eventually back to where they had wanted to go.
"So when's the wedding?" Owen asked brightly.
The screech of the brakes drowned out Owen's smug snicker.
The End
Next --> Month 2: Wednesday Night
Author: d8rkmessngr
Rating: PG
Pairing: Rhys/Gwen, briefly implied past Jack/OMC
Summary: Because maps are never truly reliable…
Warning: H/C, MPreg, off screen child death mention
Disclaimer: TW is owned by RTD and BBC. Just borrowing custody for a tick.
Author's Note: Many thanks to
itoshii_chan for the rec. Smooches, darlings! These stories in this 'verse may be written out of order as they come when inspiration hits me with a mallet.Master Fic List: here
In hindsight, Ianto should have realized something was wrong. Not dreadfully wrong, not the derogatory wrong Jack still sometimes sees himself despite anything Ianto says, or the wrong that makes one run for a very large weapon. Just…wrong.
For example, he had woken up a few mornings ago to find himself alone in his flat, Jack's postnote on his forehead—he'd been enjoying himself finding new places to attach post-its since Ianto brought the variety pack.
In unusually hasty handwriting that was barely legible in the dim morning, Jack explained he needed to get back to Torchwood. The word "now" was left out but clear in the frantic scrawl.
Fearing an emergency, Ianto had driven in only to find a half-asleep Owen waggling a finger at Jack in his office. Both looked surprised to see Ianto—although frankly, the bigger surprise should be Owen—and Jack just smiled at Ianto's concerned questions, kissed his nose, which Owen reacted to with a gagging sound, and told him it was probably nothing.
What was probably nothing?
Jack's been distracted and disturbingly inconsistent for days. Ianto thought he knew his way around Jack Harkness by now, much as Jack knew his way around him. But sometimes the usual teasing bought Jack to odd periods of tantrums, even points when Ianto thought he was going to cry. And while the little packets of M&Ms mysteriously showing up on his desk and little kisses after Ianto had his coffee still made Jack smile, there were moments of melancholy Ianto caught him in. Jack would sit there, staring at the space where that blasted jar used to be, looking very lost, very alone. Ianto hated that look. Jack looked if not but seven, abandoned by a parent, unable to decide what to do next.
The look usually disappears when Jack realizes Ianto was near. Again with a reassuring smile, Jack dismissed it as just a mood swing.
Mood swing?
"I still think we should have taken the left."
Ianto grit his teeth. Owen was not helping. He hasn't been helping the past two hours they were on the road on the way back to Torchwood, in fact. He kept his eyes on the road. It helped him from indulging in the urge to turn around and throttling the medic.
"Christ, why does the countryside have to smell this…smelly?"
"It's called grass, Owen. Be glad there are still places that have it," Gwen grumbled in the back. "And stop fidgeting!" Ianto could see Gwen shoving Owen towards Tosh, who shoved back.
"Oi!" Owen's elbows prodded the girls on both sides. He yelped when they both slapped him on the back of his head in such perfect unison, Ianto wondered if they had practiced.
"Knock it off, you guys." Jack's weary voice halted their antics.
Ianto glanced to his left. Jack had surprisingly opted from driving and sat slouched in the passenger seat next to Ianto. He stared almost sullenly out the windshield, his greatcoat buttoned all the way to this throat, his arms around his middle.
Discretely, Ianto raised the heat. He frowned. Another odd thing; Jack, no matter what the mood, always insist on driving. He kept glancing over, driving carefully, as Jack shifted trying to find a spot to rest.
"Are you healing alright?" Ianto murmured low. He could hear the fidgeting in back stilled with his question. He studied Jack up and down. The creature had escaped the Rift and was slaughtering farm animals by the time they had driven up to the countryside. Jack had cornered it to a quarry before everyone realized these beasts hunt in pairs.
"Any bleeding?" Owen's voice turned sharp from the back.
Ianto frowned. The slashes and bruises were fading from Jack's face and legs. It didn't look like there would be any more blood.
Jack shook his head. It was like he couldn't trust himself to speak. He closed his eyes as if to sleep.
"We could stop off to eat." Surprisingly, no one protested. Ianto frowned when Jack shook his head. "Are you sure?" Jack had left his breakfast untouched this morning, claiming his stomach was unsettled.
Jack gave another headshake and pressed up against the glass and seat to fit his long legs. Under Ianto's worried eye, Jack fell back asleep again.
Owen poked Ianto from behind. "Turn up the heat, mate," he said quietly, but firmly. "It's drafty in here."
Actually, it was quite warm, but Ianto didn't argue and nudged the dial higher and turned the vents towards their captain. Jack opened his eyes briefly, gave him a smile thanks and closed his eyes again.
The back was a bit subdued and Ianto focused on his driving again, his hands curled tight around the steering wheel. He glanced sideways to Jack.
Wrong. Something was definitely wrong. Ianto remembered standing at the top of the hill before, panting from running top speed after Jack's transmission abruptly cut off that there was not one but two hunting. From the distance, he could see Jack shakily climbing up the slope, blood running down a shredded shirt, his coat streaked with blood. The first thing Jack said as he nearly stumbled into Ianto's waiting arms was that he didn't die.
The echo of wrongwrongwrong escalated when Ianto had caught Jack and Owen, after hauling the body bags into the back of the SUV, arguing. Owen was vibrating where he stood, his face red, as he jabbed a finger in the air towards Jack. Then, he stopped. Even from where Ianto stood, it was clear Jack appeared about ready to breakdown to tears. Owen looked a little freaked, his mouth agape, Ianto hurried towards them, and Jack, he…
Punched Owen.
Well, at least it weren't tears.
Surprisingly, all Owen did was stagger back, his hand on his jaw, then accepted Jack's bracing arm to steady himself. The medic shrugged off Jack's apologies then told Ianto curtly Jack wasn't driving.
Wrongwrongwrong. Ianto hated the word, especially when Jack used it on himself, but there was something wrong.
"You drive like an old lady," Owen complained when Ianto slowed in front of some sheep that were milling about the road. "Christ, just drive right through them!"
"Owen!" Tosh yelped. "They're sheep!"
"Exactly. Ruddy lot will be in meat pies any day now. We'll save them the trou—Stop hitting me!"
Ianto pressed his forehead to the wheel as the slapping back and forth continued. He should be grateful he was driving. He should. He was up front; bruise free, with his increasingly quiet lover. Everything was fine. Everyone was safe. Everyone was—
"We should stop at the next village for a pub," Owen griped. "I'm thirsty."
"Forget it," Gwen snapped. "Rhys and I were planning to see a movie!"
Owen made kissing sounds until it was interrupted by a squawk from Tosh's computer. It began to bleep and hum.
"Tosh!" Gwen and Owen groaned.
"Sorry," Tosh piped up, not sounding sorry at all. "Checking our systems remotely since we're still here."
"Sounds like a bunch of strangled birds, can't it wait?"
"It has to be done regularly. Normally if I was at the Hub, I'll do it there."
"Not for another hour," Ianto apologized to Tosh, who just waved it off. Ianto groaned to himself when one animal stopped to graze. "Maybe two."
"We wouldn't be here if Jonesy drives faster."
"We would be back already if Jack was driving," Gwen pointed out. "But you told him—"
"Like I'm going to have him drive after playing food to a couple of aliens. 'Hi, look at me! Free human blood, come snack!'" Owen mimicked in a high voice, his hands in the air.
"Saved Tosh's life," Gwen reminded him.
Owen grunted.
Ianto glanced over to Jack, but he didn't stir.
"Will you just hit the gas?" Owen complained.
"We're not killing sheep!" Gwen shot back.
"Oh, because that's worse than killing the two aliens we have stowed in the back! Just drive, Ianto!"
"Don't listen to him, he just hates the countryside."
"No, shit! Bloody place is smelly!"
"It's called grass, Owen."
"Shut up, just keep looking at your numbers there—stop poking me!"
"Ow!"
"Don't pick on Tosh just because you're missing your bar—"
"I just want to go back to civilization!"
"Then act like you belong in it, Owen!"
"You just want to go back to your lover boy and—"
"Enough!" Ianto abruptly bellowed. Everyone was shocked into silence. Ianto glared at the rear mirror. "Don't make me go back there and shoot you on the other shoulder, Owen!" He sighed, giving Jack, who was roused by the noise, a rueful grin.
"It's a good thing we don't have children," Ianto joked, nodding towards the back. "They're already enough to drive me mad."
For some reason, Owen groaned. "Brilliant, Jonesy. Fucking brilliant."
Jack gave a strained chuckle. "Good thing," he joked weakly. He sat there, staring at the sheep slowly crossing the road. The aging herder gave them a wave.
Ianto looked over again, frowning at the distant look in Jack's eyes. Carefully, he slid a hand over the closest knee. Jack gave a little start, then slipped his hand over Ianto's to give it a squeeze. His eyes, however, were still dull and listless.
The sheep finally cleared the road. One of the straggling ones bawled at them before moving. Ianto silently agreed with Owen's cheers. He raised his foot off the brake when Jack cleared his throat.
"Hold up," Jack said gruffly.
Before Ianto could ask, Jack left the SUV, took a few steps onto the grass at the rear and threw up.
"See?" Owen piped up. "He thinks the grass is smelly, too."
"Shut up, Owen," Gwen murmured. Ianto could see her exchange a look with Tosh on the mirror.
"Alright." Ianto twisted around. "What's going on?" The three looked back at him with blank expressions. Owen just nodded slightly towards Jack, still bent over, his hands on his knees, his head hanging low.
He wasn't getting answers and he couldn't ignore Jack's distress out of the side mirror any longer. Ianto grabbed a water bottle and exited the SUV in three easy strides. He reached Jack just in time to catch him when Jack straightened, only to sway.
"What's the matter?" Ianto gasped as he struggled to keep them both upright. "Was it the alien?"
Jack stiffened as he tried to lock his knees. He took the water bottle, rinsed his mouth before draining the bottle with a few greedy swallows.
"Jack?" The prolonged silence was unnerving. Ianto stood there, gripping Jack's arm, his face anxious.
Jack straightened and took a deep breath.
"I think I'm pregnant."
"Pardon?" Ianto squeak. The sheep were bawling in the distance. It was the only reason why it sounded like—
"I think I'm pregnant," Jack repeated.
Can't blame the sheep.
Ianto blinked. He stared at Jack, not really sure what to say. He tried to imagine if it were Lisa, but it didn't help because Lisa was dead, he loved Jack and Jack was—
"But you're a man!" Ianto yelped. "H-how…" He lowered his gaze to Jack's belly, the hand hovered over the firm stomach soon to be—Christ.
"Excuse me," Ianto muttered and leaned back to the rear of the SUV. He ran a hand through his hair. He looked at Jack. His chest tightened at the wary look Jack wore. Ianto swore Jack would never have to look at him like that, but here he was—Pregnant! He's pregnant!
"Your time, men are…" Ianto waved towards Jack.
"Some," Jack answered quietly. He considered Ianto. "Surgery. Artificial womb."
Ianto blinked at the word 'womb'. He swallowed.
"You're not going to…um…suddenly grow breasts and…ah…" Ianto flushed.
Jack seemed to relax. "No," Jack assured him with a small smile.
"Good. I was just getting used to sleeping with a man. I really didn't want to readjust my sexual preferences," Ianto muttered. He rubbed his brow wearily. Ianto studied Jack. "There's…I mean how would you…" Ianto gestured helplessly towards Jack.
Jack smiled nervously and thought his words carefully. "I'm not going to suddenly grow a vagina and go around calling myself Jaclyn. Still a man. If it comes to full term, it'll be birthed by Cesarean and—"
"Wait." The words slowly infiltrated. "If?"
Jack's eyes had that same distant look again. "My first one didn't make it up to six months." Jack's eyes were suspiciously bright. He shrugged but Ianto wasn't fooled. "Nearly killed me, too, so it wasn't advised that I try again. No point. My…partner left after that."
Ianto tentatively reached over and wrapped fingers around Jack's cool wrist.
"I'm sorry," Ianto said somberly.
Jack shrugged again.
"Boy or girl?"
Startled, Jack look up. He stared at Ianto before his eyes lowered. "Girl," Jack answered with a sigh.
Ianto rubbed a thumb inside Jack's wrist. "I like girls. Always wanted daughters." He felt Jack twitched and raised his gaze. Jack was staring at him. Ianto cracked a smile, his chest hammering.
"You did want me to have this kind of life," Ianto murmured. "A family?"
Jack's face crumbled a little. "The baby might be like me."
He hoped so. Then Jack wouldn't be alone. Out loud, Ianto mused, "I hope not. I don't want to have to beat off boyfriends from our daughter for the rest of my life."
Jack's hand curled around Ianto's, stilling the calming circles on his wrist.
"You seem pretty sure it's a girl," Jack teased weakly. The tension melted away from his eyes and mouth. Jack pulled Ianto to his chest and rested his forehead to Ianto's. "It's yours, you know."
Ianto slipped his arms around Jack's middle. He wondered how it would feel when the baby stood between them and realized it wouldn't matter. He would want to hold Jack this way for as long as he could.
"I know," Ianto murmured. He rubbed Jack's back with his hands. He smoothed the remaining ridged posture he could feel under Jack's coat. "You're having the child, it's mine." No matter what, Ianto thought.
Jack heard because he lowered his head to Ianto's shoulder. They stood there, heedless of the cool air swirling around them, the faces trying to not see through the back window of their SUV.
After a few minutes, they parted and got back into the SUV. Ianto could feel Owen watching him.
"Well?" Owen finally asked after a few minutes. He grunted when Jack nodded.
"Congratulations, love," Gwen reached over and kissed Ianto on the cheek.
"Wait," Ianto said as it occurred to him. "Everyone knew?"
"I only told Owen," Jack defended.
"And that was only after I found him puking in front of the Weevil cells," Owen added. "The girls found out on their own."
"CCTV," Tosh said smugly.
"Wait, so you've seen me naked?" Jack asked, grinning. Tosh squeaked. Owen sputtered.
"Behave," Ianto warned. "You're going to be a parent."
"If it comes full term," Jack suddenly deflated. He stared at the windshield.
"Oi!" Owen huffed. "You being rude about me? I'm your doctor! Of course it's coming full term!"
Ianto bit back a smile at Jack's relief. He snuck a hand over to Jack's knee and squeezed. Jack rubbed a knuckle over the back of his hand over the knee. He stared out into the road. How funny life turned out to be. All the turns they suffered through, but still eventually back to where they had wanted to go.
"So when's the wedding?" Owen asked brightly.
The screech of the brakes drowned out Owen's smug snicker.
The End
Next --> Month 2: Wednesday Night
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no subject
Date: 2008-05-29 07:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-29 08:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-29 08:07 pm (UTC)*_______________________________________*
I absolutely ADORE mpreg, especially when it's Jack and since I adore your Jack, this makes it all the more exciting!!
YAY!!
Any plans of continuing? *hopeful look* Another series, maybe... *pointed look*
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Date: 2008-05-29 08:14 pm (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2008-05-29 08:09 pm (UTC)Sad about the other mis-carriage, I almost cried
Very nice, just the distraction I needed :D
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Date: 2008-05-29 08:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-29 08:30 pm (UTC)this is soooooo cute!!
That last line just topped it all off :D
Fantastic! :)
xx
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Date: 2008-05-29 08:35 pm (UTC)And yes, I've been reading Oncoming Storm and never commented. I'm very, very bad. Mea Culpa. I started reading late and wanted to comment as I got finished what you'd written, so I thought I might as well tell you how much I am enjoying your fics and will wait somewhat patiently for you to finish the next chapter.
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Date: 2008-05-29 08:38 pm (UTC)>________________<~~~~!!!!!!
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Date: 2008-05-29 09:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-29 09:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-30 07:58 pm (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2008-05-29 09:36 pm (UTC)Otherwise, great dialogue and discribtions like always, really looking forward to the next chapters. <3
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Date: 2008-05-29 09:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-29 10:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-29 10:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-29 10:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-29 10:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-29 11:15 pm (UTC)Though I'm sad about Jack's first baby.
Are you...err...are we...can we expect another chapter of this?
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Date: 2008-05-30 12:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-30 12:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-30 01:09 am (UTC)Seriously, that was absolutely beautiful. Put a smile on my face. :D
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Date: 2008-05-30 02:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-30 07:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-30 04:18 am (UTC)Thank you!
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Date: 2008-05-30 07:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-30 05:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-30 07:56 pm (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2008-05-30 06:21 am (UTC)I really like the way you handled this. Very good :)
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Date: 2008-05-30 08:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-30 08:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-30 07:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-30 09:44 am (UTC)