After having one hell of a scary shopping trip (people with masks on doing solemn funeral marches tend to be rather scary) Ianto was greeted by a smiling Gwen, and a smiling Gwen would mean only one thing.

"Rose?"

"She's been moved into a safe house with my mother under the custody of Sergeant Andrew Davidson," Gwen said taking the food supplies off of Ianto and putting them on the desk before hugging him. "We can't make contact just yet but it doesn't matter because Andy will keep them safe."

"Oi Tea-boy, make us a coffee will you?"

It took Ianto's full self-control to not snap something snarky at the American CIA agent who brought them here. Unfortunately – or maybe fortunately? – Owen never had self control. "Make it yourself, what is he, your slave?"

Gwen snorted. "You could talk, Owen," she said.

"Yeah, well Yan makes the best cup of coffee in the world..." Owen said uncomfortably.

"I still don't know how you managed to get hold of a coffee machine," Rex muttered.

"I have my ways," Ianto said mysteriously as he handed out bags of clothes out. Ah this was so much like the 456 again. Ianto does hope this means no one will die. "I only got the essential for you, sir" he added as he handed a small bag to Jack.

Jack pulled out the six packs of cotton boxers causing Esther – a sweet blonde girl who reminded him strongly of Tosh with her computer skilled mind and shyness – and Tosh to blush brightly. "I told you once; I told you twice, I don't wear underwear."

"Urgh," Rex and Owen groaned in unison.

"There is now a new cult, just what America needs, another cult," Ianto said dryly as if Jack had never spoken. "They call themselves The Soulless apparently being immortal has robbed man kind of their souls."

"I traced the number," Tosh said, Ianto immediately knew she was referring to the mission Jack, Esther, Gwen, and Rex were on earlier that evening. To confront one of the CIA bosses and see why exactly he had framed Rex and Esther up. "But once I got to one number I hit a vine-"

"What's a vine?" Gwen asked.

There was a sudden explosion of noise as Tosh, Esther, and Rex all tried to explain it at the same time. It became obvious while Rex had all the subtly of a bull in a china shop he was highly intelligent – Ianto knows that is surprising. Underneath their excited explanations Ianto gave her a quick whispered explanation himself. The excitement died out when Esther noticed Rex wasn't wearing a shirt (great another pretty intelligent woman ready to waste herself on a dickhead like Owen – not that Ianto had anything against Owen...) drawing attention to his wound that made everyone shudder or flinch or wince. Ianto felt nauseated. It reminded him far too much of Owen's wound when he got shot and Jack brought him back with the glove...

"No he can suffer," Gwen's harsh words brought him back to reality, "like the bastard he is."

"Are you going to harp on about your kid?" Rex snapped. "Do you wish she was here right now? She could play in the corner where the lead chips look extra tasty."

"Do us a favour and shut up," Owen growled. "Let me look at the wound," he added gruffly, "I'm sure I can sort it out for you."

Rex looked at Owen with suspicion, obviously doubting that Owen could do anything to help him, it was blatantly obvious that he didn't trust anyone in this room apart from Esther because the moment she sided with Owen Rex allowed him to drag him into the other room to sort out his wound.

Jack shot out some orders for Tosh and Esther to research Oswald Danes who was becoming famous through his survival of the lethal injection. Rex saw Esther adding her sister's number to her new phone and almost sent her into tears. Ianto schooled his face into a neutral mask but he too had his sister's number programmed into his new phone, along with Gwen's mother, and Martha and Mickey. Gwen stood up for Esther causing another little spat before Jack changed the subject to morphic fields once more.

Ianto couldn't help but notice the guilt and slight softening of facial expression when Rex watched a dejected Esther continue on with her work.

Great another Tosh and Owen.

TWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTW

They found a lead leading them to a warehouse.

They stole another car – unfortunately not one as flash as the sports car Jack nicked during the 456 but then again Gwen picked it – and spent the journey clowning around like they usually do. Owen sympathised with Rex when Jack managed to get a picture of him in his underwear that happened to him all the time, Ianto keeps an album of all the embarrassing and very naked pictures of Owen Harper. Once they got to the warehouse they spotted a guard and immediately the men's eyes went onto Gwen.

So here he was, laying the floor on top of Ianto (he better not be enjoying this), while Esther, Tosh, and Gwen flirted with the guard briefly before Gwen grabbed him by the tie and knocked him out against the car.

"You've done this before," Esther said impressed.

"So many times," Gwen said irritated.

"That's because you're sex on legs, Freckles," Owen said. Gwen stomped on his leg hard causing him to let out a yelp of pain. "What was that for?"

"Oh stop complaining before you turn me deaf," Ianto mumbled as a bit of carpet went into his mouth.

"Can someone get me out of this boot?" Jack called out from the back of the car.

Rex sat up in the front and grinned maliciously, "we should just leave him there," he said.

"Oh, so tempting, but then he'd fire us," Owen said sitting up and rubbing his shin. "And I need the money if I ever want to eat pizza again."

"I can hear you, you know!"

"We know," Everyone chorused.

TWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTW

The warehouse had been gigantic.

There was so many drugs around that it was blatantly obvious that PhiCorp had known about the Miracle long before it happened and prepared themselves for it. As they walked down a busy street discussing possibilities and theories they were distracted by a loud party coming out from one of the bars. It was rather disgusting, in Tosh's opinion, that people would allow themselves to get this drunk when they could be in severe agony later due to liver failure.

It barely surprised her that Jack ran to the party. It didn't surprise her at all when Gwen and Ianto followed him (with a little pushing from Owen, "go and keep an eye on him, I don't need him catching AIDS when he's mortal"). But it did surprise her that Rex decided to disappear himself leaving Tosh, Owen, and Esther by themselves. Taking the advantage of the peace without Rex, Gwen, and Jack bickering, Tosh slipped her arm through Esther's and took Owen's hand.

"Tell me about your sister," she said gently. She remembered the argument between Esther and Rex earlier that evening and knew it was a topic that needed to be handled. Family is always a weak point for a person. At least it had been for Tosh, Gwen, and Ianto. Jack was better at hiding it and knew when to make the sacrifice while Owen just didn't care about his neglectful family. "Is she ill or something?"

"No, she's fine, and even if she was, she will be," Esther looked anxious, "she just can't...cope. I mean she's my big sister but I always had to look after her..."

"I understand," Tosh said softly, "but you must be careful. Rex is right, the CIA is bound to be watching our every move, and I know they would use your sister as bait."

Esther looked terrified. "I don't know what I would do if that ever happened."

"I know what you will do," Tosh said calmly despite her heart picking a quicker pace, "you will betray us to keep her safe and even if the others don't understand I will. I promise you Esther if they use your family as bait I will never judge you."

Owen was pretending to not listen into this conversation but he gave Tosh's hand a comforting squeeze to let her know he heard every word. He and Jack were the only ones that knew the details on how she really came to Torchwood and for some strange reason Tosh knew that Esther could be trusted with this knowledge. Perhaps it is because the petite blonde reminded her of herself.

"Why?" Esther whispered.

"I'm Jack's prisoner," Tosh confessed, "I used to work for UNIT but an enemy government had kidnapped my mother and blackmailed me into stealing plans for a weapon and make it. I obeyed and got myself arrested. I spent a long time in one of the worst prisons before Jack brought my freedom."

"But why would Jack do that?" Esther asked.

"Because Tosh here is a sexy genius," Owen said before Tosh could answer. He slung his arm round her shoulders and kissed her forehead. "The plans were flawed and yet she made them work. Pure genius. Torchwood only consisted of Jack at the time and he needed a new tech support and here Tosh was for the taking."

"It was better for me," Tosh said, "I suddenly went from a cell to a nice expensive apartment, orange jumpsuits to nice designer clothes, my assets frozen to a hefty pay check, boredom to a constant puzzle of technology and mystery. Jack kept me in good food, living space, and clothes, I had nothing to complain."

"And the government didn't make a complaint about your good conditions?" Esther asked sceptically.

"Torchwood is outside the government. We could do whatever the hell we like," Owen said smugly.

"Didn't they close you down?"

"Not completely, I believe the Scottish branch is still open," Tosh said trying to hide the smile as her husband's smug face disappeared. She loved Owen with all her heart but he can have the biggest ego in the world if someone doesn't knock him down a peg or two once in a while. "But yes after the 456 incident we were considered too dangerous to keep around, but that's mostly because we blackmailed the Prime Minister."

"Never voting for that bastard again," Owen muttered.

"Owen you never vote," Tosh reminded him patiently.

They turned the corner and was now nearing the apartment they were all sharing. Tosh repressed a little shudder, this apartment made the warehouse they stayed in during the 456 seem clean. Yes Ianto had made it better with quilts and covers and old sofas and air fresheners but that didn't cover the fact it was grungy, filled with rats and cockroaches, and creaked ominously. Tosh's thoughts drifted from the apartment to Myfanwy. Talking about joining Torchwood had made her wonder about the dinosaur that came through the rift years ago. The government had contained her and Martha reassured her that she would make sure Myfanwy would be taken care of properly. It was probably for the best after all dinosaurs and babies just don't mix no matter what Ianto thinks...

"How did you join Torchwood?" Esther's voice broke into Tosh's thoughts. She turned to see Esther staring at Owen with curiosity.

"I rather not talk about it," Owen said bluntly. "But if you like I'll tell you about Gwen's first day and how it resulted into her snogging a woman."

Esther's eyes widened comically and it took a lot of restraint to not burst out into laughter. Owen has been offering to tell this story to everything especially Gwen's parents and it always resulted in the same – Gwen throwing something hard at Owen's head.

"Just don't leave out how you ended up in the cells naked," Tosh reminded him causing her husband to glare at her.

Esther was immediately distracted from Owen's past and was eager to know about Gwen's first day. It reminded Tosh a lot of Gwen asking eagerly about Jack...

Oh the good old days.

TWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTW

It was more sensual than sexual.

At least it was for Ianto. He didn't think it was for Jack. He wasn't sure if it was for Gwen. Jack was all about lust and Gwen just seemed to be in the middle of it. In all honesty he wasn't sure how they ended up in this tangled position. He and Gwen were supposed to keep Jack alive not drink, dance, and dance.

It started with Jack being his usual charming persuasive self and convinced them to have a drink. A drink turned into another and then another. Then they ended up with that up-beat adrenalin feeling that they usually feel when chasing something dangerous. They danced. Then Jack kissed him and made some sort of witty comment about what a good kisser he was.

To which Gwen replied, "I bet Ianto is better."

That sparked off some sort of kissing contest that Gwen won. Then it just turned into snogging one another and at some point someone showed them to a small bedroom with a double bed and...

The clothes were flung off, every bit of skin was touched or kissed, there was a clash of noise filled with gasps, moans, panting, and some screams. Ianto laid there next to Jack who was looking up at the ceiling as he always did in the past. Obviously he was thinking about being mortal and what that meant for him. As usual Ianto pretended to be asleep while he was really watching Jack...and Gwen.

Gwen was curled up on the other side of Jack. Her head was resting on his naked chest, her dark hair covering her face so Ianto couldn't tell if she was asleep or not, and her arm slung over Jack's stomach.

Jack moved slowly shifting his hand to cup Gwen's head and began to stroke her hair. Ianto couldn't quite catch what he was murmuring to her but he felt a small spike of irritation. As loving as Jack was he had never been this tender or attentive to him as he was to Gwen. He felt his irritation melt away when Gwen's hand moved to take his and she lifted her head up enough to grin at him and mouth 'I love you' without Jack even realising what she was doing.

He loves Jack with a strange mad passion that he had never felt but he has never really felt comfortable telling him so. He loves Gwen in a different way, a strong friendship had been their foundation and this romantic turn has only made them stronger. She was comfortable to be around with and to talk to.

It was easier to tell her he loved her back which he did as silently as she had been.

Jack might love them or he might just enjoy their company.

Jack might be back for good or he might be gone once they solve this Miracle Day.

Either way Ianto knows he loves Jack but he knows he can live without him too.

After all he has Gwen, and Tosh and Owen to rely on.

And that was more of a miracle than whatever immortality that the human race was cursed with.

Author's Note: I'm putting this on a little hiatus. I need to find scripts or something as a resource for the following chapters. I can't really remember what happens in detail enough and what I should change. I do know however that I'm changing a big part of the series finale so there would be even more AU stuff if they ever write a fifth series.