MY SKIN
Owen stood there irritated as Jack and Andy teased a blushing Ianto about him being a bridesmaid and Tosh leaned against him while reading a book. They were in the airport waiting for Gwen's plane to arrive, Owen was dragged there by Jack who insisted everyone had to be there to greet Gwen and Owen couldn't help noting that neither Emma nor Carys were invited. Then again Emma and Carys while good friends, weren't really part of the inner the group the six of them had created in the past few months. Despite the irritation of being in a stuffy airport, Owen was forever grateful that no one had the time to make a cheesy Welcome Home sign because that would have driven him to insanity.
"I told you already! I'm not going to be a bridesmaid, I'm just a guest!" Ianto snapped.
"But you're practically planning the wedding I hear" Jack said wrapping an arm round Ianto's shoulder causing the shy awkward teen to blush heavily. "Picking everything out. You might as well be the Maid of Honour or hell even the bride"
"I'm not" Ianto mumbled. "Rhiannon just keeps asking me things, that's all"
"It's because you're such a girl" Andy teased though his eyes were hard and angry. He pushed Jack off Ianto. "Go, greet your girlfriend and leave poor Ianto to worry about his wedding to Mr John Davis" he said lightly.
Everyone turned to see Gwen walking through the gate with her parents. Her skin slightly darker than normal, her black hair tied up to reveal sparkling earrings and her usual black clothes matched her suitcase she was dragging.
"Gwen!" Jack yelled running up to her.
"Jack!" she squealed running to meet him halfway. Dropping her suitcase to fling her arms round his neck, he picked her up and spun her around before tangling his fingers through her hair and dragging her lips to meet his.
Their kiss became heated quite quickly as Gwen's hands wandered down to squeeze Jack's bum. Tosh dropped her book in shock, Ianto found his feet far more interesting and Andy, Owen and Mr and Mrs Cooper watched on with a mix of disgust and embarrassment.
"Oi! Lovebirds, wait till you get a room" Owen called out. "There's little kids round here, we can't afford to lose their innocence nor my sanity"
Jack and Gwen broke away, Jack grinning smugly while Gwen buried her face into his chest embarrassed. Owen rolled his eyes and merely picked up Tosh's book and passed it back to her.
"Thank you" she whispered.
"No problem" he smiled.
"Ah Jack, so nice to see you again" Mrs Cooper said fondly as she shook Jack's hand.
Jack flipped Mrs Cooper's hand over and kissed it. "Pleasure is all mine" he said charmingly. "I was hoping to steal your daughter away for a spot of karaoke with our friends. They really need to lighten up and Gwen has always been the life of the party"
Both Cooper women blushed; Andy made loud puking noises while Owen simply rolled his eyes.
"Go ahead" Mr Cooper said. "But bring her back before five, she needs to unpack and finish whatever homework she has left"
"Yes sir" Jack said respectably before he picked Gwen's suitcase up. "Shall I help you load the car?"
Owen had now realised why so many parents actually stupidly trusted Jack with their daughters. The smug idiot was charming, flirtatious and respectable. Those three were the perfect mixture to win over any mother and father. The world, Owen decided, was filled with idiots.
TWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTW
"You're so vain. You probably think this song is about you" Jack sang in his beautiful yet sexy voice. "You're so vain. I'll bet you think this song is about you. Don't you? Don't you?"
"If you ask me, someone should be singing this to him not the other way round" Owen muttered causing Tosh and Gwen to giggle. "He better not force me up there. I hate singing"
"Aw, come on Owen, everyone has to sing" Gwen said pouting slightly.
"I haven't been in the singing mood recently"
"I heard" Gwen said sympathetically. "I'm sorry about your Nan, how is she getting along?"
"She's better" Owen said taking a sip of his coke. "Doctors think she needs to stay in for a couple more weeks though. Some complications that they hadn't thought before. But by the time I finished my biology exam she should be home"
"You know we're always here for you, right?"
"Oh don't get all soppy over me Gwen Cooper" Owen growled. "What happened to bitching Gwen? I need someone to tell me my place and argue with me"
Gwen's lips twitched. "Get up and sing" she said.
"No!"
"Oh come on, please, Ianto's going up next and he's the shy one out of you lads! Go and sing, doesn't matter how bad you are, besides Andy is awful"
"Hey!"
"It's the truth Andy and you know it" Gwen said quickly to Andy. "Come on, Owen lighten up a little and have fun"
"I said no, goddamnit!" Owen shouted, smacking a fist against the table causing the other customers at the pub to go quiet and look round. Tosh flinched and Owen stiffened, he glared at Gwen before patting Tosh's shoulder comfortingly. "I have to go, I promised to visit Nana at three" he mumbled as he got up.
"You're so vain. I'll bet you think this song is about you. Don't you? Don't you?" Jack hurriedly finished the song, before stuffing the microphone back into his stand and running after Owen. "Hey Owen, wait up!"
"Go away Jack" Owen shouted. "You stay and have fun. I need to be by myself"
"You'll be back by dinner, yeah?"
"Yeah"
Jack nodded, satisfied with Owen's answer and went back just in time to see Gwen and Andy pushing Ianto onto the stage for his turn.
TWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTW
Owen muttered darkly under his breath. He shouldn't have snapped at Gwen but honestly he was irritated and stressed and worried. The exam was in two weeks and Jack and Alice's pestering for him to play has made it difficult to revise, he has taken to hiding in the library or at Tosh's (which he found not only awkward but too cold and quiet. He wonders how Tosh can cope living in such an empty place). He had little sleep recently and not because of his worries but because Alice keeps waking him up at six o'clock in the morning with her crying. Also he has no idea who is following him in that car, which by the way was following him right now!
"All right, that's it!" Owen snapped whirling round. "Who the fuck are you and why are you following me?"
The back door opened and a well manicured, tanned male hand came out, making a gesture for him to come in. Sighing and ignoring his grandmother's warnings of getting into strange cars, Owen marched over and slid into the car. The seats were made of expensive leather and the carpets were incredibly clean and fluffy. The man sitting beside him was rather tall, dressed in an expensive suit, with greying brown hair and dark eyes.
"Who are you?" Owen demanded to know.
"I'm rather surprised your grandmother never taught you manners" the man said calmly. "She always insisted upon them whenever I visit"
"How do you know Nana?" Owen asked suspiciously.
"Ellen Harper, widower, mother to several children, one including your mother? The only family that acknowledges you"
"I repeat" Owen said between gritted teeth. "Who the fuck are you?"
"I'm Dr Eugene Green, the head of the board of governors of your school" Owen's eyes widened. "I also own many businesses and have a very busy life. I hadn't had the chance to watch you properly till now"
"Stalk me, you mean?" Owen spat out. "Why are you so bloody interested in me? I'm just a troublemaker"
"Ah but you're my troublemaker. I remember the days before I ended my relationship with your mother, you were always running about and putting your grimy hands on everything you could get hold off" he smiled fondly at the memory. "I would have taken you with me if it wasn't for the fact my life was not one for a child. But I'm glad to see you face to face after all these years, son"
TWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTW
Gwen had left the others not long ago, hugging her friends tightly who all reassured her that Owen will be fine and giving Jack a loving peck on the lips who also reassured her that Owen will be fine, she had walked alone back to hers. The air was cold and it was beginning to get dark, she hummed the song she sang with Jack not so long ago while smiling fondly at the memories after Owen left.
Ianto was a brilliant and passionate singer and left chills down everyone's spine. Andy was god awful and had people yell at him to get off the stage, Tosh was forced on and was cheered by everyone, then they all did a group one and separate duets. It was a fun afternoon and Gwen wished Owen had stayed. She felt rather guilty that she pushed him to the point of leaving; she only wanted to hear him sing and see him enjoy himself.
A man grabbed her by the wrist. "Excuse me Miss" he said politely. "Someone wanted me to tell you something"
"Oh" she blinked.
"Yes, they wanted me to tell you that you sung like an angel and you suit your tan. Also something about Jack Harkness doesn't deserve to be near you and ruined your lovely voice" The man looked quite confused at the message he had to deliver. "They also said, I can't wait to watch you in school"
She inhaled sharply. "Who was this person? What did they look like?" she asked.
"I'm sorry, they asked me not to tell you" the man said. "You ok sweetheart? You look a little pale"
"Yeah, I'm fine" Gwen muttered. "Excuse me"
Gwen immediately began running back home. Her heart pounding furiously. She barely been in the country for a few hours and already her stalker had been watching her. Who could it be? One of her friends? No impossible! It must be someone they know, but not close to, someone who read Jack's or Andy's status on Facebook and knew where to find them...
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