Title: Sins of the Weevil

Summary: After returning to Torchwood Gwen has a lot to deal with. From her adult daughter and the team’s suspicions to the threat of a new outbreak.

Disclaimer: Torchwood doesn’t belong to me. All I own is my imagination and Lacey (OFC)

Rating: T - (Not really for now, but will be needed later)

A/N: This is a sequel to Tears of the Weevil, if you haven’t read it you will be very confused. Also it’s pretty much a mixed bag of het and femslash, with hints of slash in. Gwen/Owen, Tosh/Lacey, Jack/Ianto.

“Lacey! Hurry your arse up!” Owen grumbled as the mattress he had leaning against his back began to lurch forward, threatening to crush him. The grinning blonde bounced to the bottom of the stairs and pushed past him, brazenly taking the mattress and pulling it up the stairs like it was a pillow. Owen shook his head as Toshiko handed him a mug of coffee.

“What the hell do you feed her?” He scoffed as a few moments later she ran down the stairs again to collect more things from the rental van outside.

Toshiko smiled as she watched the blonde wrestle with a duvet. “She’s certainly energetic.”

“Energetic? She never bloody stops!” The young woman had appeared in their lives only a few days earlier, returning from the future with Gwen, and they had soon learnt it was hard to keep her still for very long.

As Gwen seemed to be cutting herself off from all but the blonde it had been strange when she had asked Toshiko to let Lacey have her spare room until they found something more permanent. Lacey had been happy enough though, especially when Jack had given her a Torchwood credit card to buy furniture and clothes with. They laughed as she stumbled up the stairs with her duvet, one pillow jammed between her teeth and another pinned under her arm.

“Careful.” Toshiko lifted up the trailing duvet and tucked it back securely in Lacey’s hands.

Owen frowned as he watched the blonde’s gaze avert Toshiko’s smiling face and mumble a quick ’thanks’ before darting up the stairs. “There’s somick not right about her.” He whispered, catching Toshiko’s attention.

“She’s been pulled from her own time Owen, she obviously needs time to settle in.” He made a noncommittal grunt to keep her from lecturing him but made a note to find out what he could about the girl. He had to make sure Toshiko was safe living with her. And of course his motives had nothing to do with the way Gwen looked at the younger girl, or the way she fiercely protected her.

“Lacey!” They were barely through the door when Gwen called for the younger girl. “You settling in to Tosh’s ok?” She forced herself to smile, but Owen could see through the façade. It was killing her not having the girl in her sight.

“Yip. I’m still trying to convince her to let me have a house warming though-”

“Not happening.” Toshiko’s voice travelled from her desk where she was buried in a mixture of papers and alien technology.

“Ooo, shiny!” The blonde skilfully escaped Gwen by scampering off to see what Toshiko was working on.

“She’s a big girl Gwen.” Owen teased as he watched her anxiously watch the younger girl. Big mistake. She rounded on him, her eyes dark and her brow furrowed.

“Stay the hell away from her Owen. I mean it!”

“Whoa!” He held his hands up in mock surrender. “I’m not interested in blondey. I’m just saying, she’s an adult, she can look after herself.” He made his exit before Gwen’s piercing glare could actually cause him physical damage.

She knew she was fussing too much, after all Lacey had gone her whole life without Gwen watching over her and she’d turned out alright. After the death of her adoptive family she had raised herself and later not only taken care of herself but a mentally unstable Toshiko too.

She occasionally glanced over at the two of them throughout the morning. Toshiko eagerly taught the blonde about all of the devices around them, things Lacey could use in her sleep, while the younger girl pretended to be amazed by technology that was obsolete when compared to her own time. Gwen would often catch her eye and smile reassuringly, as though it came naturally. She’d smile back and return to being content with Toshiko as her guide. Neither let on to the other, nor anyone else, that inside the grief they felt was slowly killing them.

Pleeeaaase! Lacey emphasised the word like a teenager rather than the twenty-one year old she was. After living with Toshiko for two days she had become set on having a party.

Lacey. Toshiko sighed as she ran a hand through her loose hair and pushed her book away. No party. I dont want my house full of

Children? Toshiko had been going to say drunken people but the end of her sentence died in her throat. Something in Laceys voice, and the way she looked at her with such intensity told her shed expected to be called a child.

Youre an adult Lacey, I respect that. Im just not big on parties.

As quickly as the awkwardness had come it disappeared, leaving the blonde as bubbly as ever. Cmon Tosh! I dont even know anybody yet! Just have the guys over for pizza or something? Pleeeaaaase? A white pearly grin, that strongly reminded her of Jack, was flashed at her and Toshiko found herself giving in.

Alright. Ill invite them over tonight. The younger girl had a way of getting under her skin. Even though shed been opposed to a party she found herself looking forward to the evening and once immersed in planning she had completely forgotten her worries about inviting the team over. After what theyd been through with Gwens disappearance she supposed they deserved a celebration of some sort to welcome their newest member.

Hey Tosh, what do you think? Toshiko dropped the bag of pretzels shed been holding at around the same time her jaw dropped. The blonde grinned, obviously pleased with the reaction. She stood, at almost six foot tall, dressed in a black dress that cut off above her knee, exposing strips of tanned skin that escaped the reach of her knee high boots. In the four or so days shed known the girl Toshiko had never seen her in anything but jeans. She grinned as she bounced in to the kitchen and took a seat on one of the benchs. Even in heels she moved with the grace and speed of a lion. Toshiko swallowed a lump she didnt even realise she had in her throat and picked up the discarded bag.

You look lovely. She ducked her head as she poured the pretzels in to two bowels and tried to ignore the way the younger girls hair tickled her as she leant over to steal a pretzel.

You look awesome. Lacey complemented before shoving another pretzel in to her mouth. Toshiko blushed, compared to the younger girl she looked like she was going to some student bar, dressed in dark jeans and a new shirt shed bought a few days earlier.

When the doorbell rang out in the quiet house Lacey jumped down from the bench, landing with ease on her feet and rushed to the door. Toshiko shook her head, although she was almost twenty-two sometimes the blonde did in-fact seem like a child.