And so we reach the final chapter, for this story and for the Five Go Mad series. The 'kids' have grown into the Torchwood team we know (with a few changes to canon) and it's time to leave them to get on with their lives. This epilogue takes place four years on, in September 1973.

Five Go Mad in 1969

Chapter Forty

It was a familiar Saturday afternoon scene. A boy, toy car clutched in one hand, crouched watching ants march across the garden path. He looked across at the two men standing by the back door and grinned.

"He's getting into bad habits."

"It's warm, no need for clothes. Loosen up, Ianto." Jack clapped him on the shoulder and called to the naked little boy. "Charlie, come here."

"No!" The curly-haired moppet ran away giggling. He stopped and looked back, just to make sure, then started running again. His three-year-old legs pumped fast but he was soon caught. He squealed when Jack caught him and threw him in the air. "Whee! More!"

"No. Tad's got to get you dressed ... for the party!"

Charlie stopped wriggling and settled comfortably in Jack's arms. "There be sweeties?" Fingers found his mouth and he sucked on them, big green eyes wide and expectant.

"Maybe." Jack looked across to his partner who was strolling towards them. "Now, be good for Tad. Promise?" Jack looked at the boy seriously. "Cross your heart and …"

"Hope 'a die." Matching the serious expression, he sketched a cross on his bare chest. Holding out both arms, he leant towards Ianto who had joined them. "Hurry up, Tad. Gotta go party."

"Bad habits," said Ianto with a sigh. "He's learning all your bad habits." He mock-scowled at Jack as he hefted his son in his arms and held him close. He was very precious, so very precious.

"I'll clear up here. You get party-boy ready."

Jack watched as Ianto turned and went back into the house. His family. Ianto had been right yet again; having a child made a difference. He surveyed the garden: Myfanwy was stretched out on a chair; the paddling pool held toys as well as water; more small toys were scattered around; a trike lay on its side under the pear tree; a swing, caught up at one side, hung from one large branch. Jack went there first and pulled the swing straight. He sat on it and surveyed the house. They had moved in ten months ago, two months after Charlie came into their lives.

Charlie.

Orphaned in a Honbilwuan attack, he had been in Torchwood's charge while being treated for his injuries. Cared for by Ianto, he had formed a strong bond with the Welshman who had persuaded first Jack and then Mr Sato that Charlie – who had no surviving family – should not go into the child care system. Instead, Jack and Ianto would raise him. It had worked out well. Toshiko had doctored the records and Charles Ian Murray became Charles Franklin Emlyn Jones. The wider family had accepted him immediately, not questioning too closely how Ianto had managed to adopt, merely pleased for him and Jack. Both grandmothers were especially delighted. Enid Jones cared for Charlie during the week. Eleanor Harkness had flown over to see Charlie three times already and when in America sent clothes and toys regularly. Jack and Ianto's close friends had been a constant support, especially in those first weeks when the new family had to do a lot of adjusting.

"Hey!"

Jack looked up, shielding his eyes against the sun to see Ianto at Charlie's bedroom window. There was no mistaking the 'get cracking' gesture. Standing up, Jack emptied the paddling pool and deflated it. Ianto had taken to fatherhood like a duck to water, fitting the extra work around shorter hours at Torchwood. It had taken Jack a bit longer to get used to sharing Ianto. However, seeing him happy and content was sufficient reward for minor inconveniences. Now Jack loved Charlie as if he was his own and wouldn't be without him. He put the trike in the shed and carried the toys indoors.

Upstairs he could hear Charlie's high-pitched voice. The boy was excited. Ianto's deeper tones were trying to keep him calm as he got the boy dressed. Jack went upstairs but stayed on the landing, out of sight of Charlie so as not to excite him even more. Jack knew he had that effect, Ianto told him often enough.

"Stamp down, sweetheart. Get your toes all the way in." Ianto helped the foot into the awkward shoe. "That's right."

"Gonna see David?" asked Charlie.

"No. We're going to Auntie Gwen's. Other foot." A slight pause. "What are you doing out there, Jack?" Nothing got past Ianto.

"Keeping out of the way. What are you putting him in?"

"Unca Jack?" Charlie looked round. He could hear Uncle Jack but where was he? In the cupboard? Under the bed? He had to look.

"No, Charlie, stay still. Uncle Jack's outside."

"In garden." The boy nodded sagely. He let Ianto put on the other shoe.

"Be nice if you used some of the stuff Mom sent," said Jack hopefully. He adored the little clothes that arrived most months. Unfortunately Ianto thought the majority were impractical.

"All done, sweetheart." Ianto had finally got Charlie dressed. "Jack, come and brush his hair."

Entering the room, Jack grinned. "My, don't you look cute!" He stood the boy on the bed and admired the white baseball uniform. Ianto had already chosen it; he should have more faith in his partner.

"It'll be filthy by this evening," said Ianto. Sometimes practicality had to be sacrificed to keep Jack happy - and their son did look adorable. "Keep him quiet for ten minutes while I get ready."

"Will do. Come on, hair brushing time." There was a cap that went with the outfit and Jack aimed to find it.

-ooOoo-

The baby lay in her pram in a patch of shade. She had recently been fed and changed and was content to look at the blurry outline of the row of ducks strung above her head. She was too young to focus on the man beyond the ducks and had no idea he was smiling at her.

"I could do with a hand, Rhys."

"Umm …"

"Now! They'll be here soon." Gwen shook her head in loving exasperation. Her husband was in thrall to the baby. "Anwen's fine for the moment."

"She likes the ducks." He had bought them, one of his many presents for his newborn daughter. "Don't you, lovely?"

The peal of a doorbell rang through the house.

"I told you they'd be here. Get the drinks out," said Gwen. She waited until Rhys moved then went to answer the front door. The bell rang again when she was in the hall. "I'm coming!" She opened the door.

"Sorry, didn't know if you'd heard." Owen stood on the doorstep.

"I did. Come in." She stepped aside. "Rhys is in the garden with the drinks."

"Right oh."

Back in the kitchen, Gwen checked the sausage rolls in the oven – not quite ready – and went back to making sandwiches. Having a party to welcome Anwen home was a good idea but also a lot of work. Having a baby had not been on her agenda but a mistake with the pill at Christmas, just over nine months ago, had scuppered their plans. Not that Gwen minded, not now anyway. Anwen had been no trouble to carry or deliver and was as good as gold since coming home from the hospital a week before.

Home.

Gwen looked round the kitchen and smiled. They couldn't have managed a baby in the flat, it had barely been big enough for her and Rhys back in the early days of their marriage. Of course, they could have moved sooner if they'd accepted her father's offer of help but Rhys had stalled and prevaricated. She hadn't understood at the time but she did now. This was their home, bought with their own money; they were beholden to no one – except the building society. Rhys had taught her a lot in the past four years. He didn't indulge her whims, made her face the difficult choices and had earnt her respect. Somewhat surprisingly, marriage and motherhood agreed with Gwen but she couldn't do it full-time; she was going back to work soon. Leaving Anwen would be hard but the baby would be in safe hands; her mam and Mrs Jones were lined up to look after her when the time came.

"Want a drink, love?" Rhys stood at the open door.

"Beer, please."

"Okay. Something smells good."

"Oh, the sausage rolls!" She quickly opened the oven and took them out. "No!" She batted away Rhys's hand he reached to take one. "They're hot."

"I don't mind."

"Well, I do! Take these into the garden." She handed him two bowls of crisps.

Owen sat in the sun and took another pull on his beer. Rhys and Gwen were putting food on the tables, stopping to look into the pram every other moment. Babies! They sent perfectly sane people gaga. He didn't understand it. He certainly wasn't having any. Once upon a time it might have been different, with Katie or Toshiko, but not now. None of his girlfriends stuck around long enough. Diane had lasted longest, over eight months, before flying off to Canada. He had asked her to stay, even half-heartedly offered marriage, but she had said no. Perhaps he should have put up more of a fight but in the end he hadn't though she was worth it. She married a Canadian barely six months after landing in the country.

After her, Owen had kept his private life uncomplicated, picking up girls for a week or two then moving on. Being unattached suited him and left plenty of time for work. He loved his job with Torchwood, finding great satisfaction in understanding alien physiology and countering biological threats. In recent months he'd been studying the Weevils, their behaviour and social interaction. They were fascinating and he sometimes felt he understood them better than humans, though not their communal living. He needed privacy for his love affairs and had taken on Jack and Ianto's old flat when they moved out. He liked having a home of his own but missed his Auntie Enid and visited two or three times a week. He also saw a lot of Ianto, had a lot of respect for him and Jack. He took another drink.

"Hey, Rhys," said Jack coming out of the house. "Got something suitable for Charlie?" He was carrying the boy, giving him a chance to get reacquainted with the adults before putting him down.

"Lemonade do?"

"Perfect. You like lemonade, don't you, Charlie?" Jack said coaxingly.

"Umm." Charlie ducked his head shyly. The baseball cap hid his face from view.

"What about you, Jack? Beer? It's cold," said Rhys.

"Please. Perfect day for a get together." He looked round the small, pristine garden. It was clinically tidy in comparison with his own cluttered one. When Anwen was a bit older this would be full of toys too. "See Owen's here."

"Yeah. First to arrive." Rhys had forgiven Owen for sleeping with Gwen but he couldn't forget. The two men kept their socialising to a minimum, and always as part of the gang.

"We'll go join him. Let's see Uncle Owen, eh Charlie?" Juggling boy and drinks, Jack walked to the table and chairs. "Okay, Owen?"

"Yeah. Nipper all right?" It was Owen who had rescued Charlie from the demolished house and saved his life. He liked the boy and was pleased Ianto and Jack had taken him on.

"Fine. Have some lemonade, Charlie."

Holding the plastic mug in both hands the boy took a drink, his gaze fixed on Owen from under the peaked cap. He liked the doctor, a frequent visitor to his home. "'Lo, Unca Howen."

"Hello, kid. What are you wearing?" Owen leant across and pulled the shirt so he could read the legend printed on it. "Texas Rangers? Who are they?"

"Baseball team. Were the Senators until a couple of years back." Jack took another drink of beer. "Mom sent it over."

Owen rolled his eyes. "You surprise me."

"Down." Charlie wriggled and almost overturned his mug. Jack saved it and let the boy off his knee.

"Everything quiet at the Hub?" asked Jack, sitting back in the chair. He kept an eye on Charlie who was standing looking round curiously.

"Yeah. Tosh and Mac were clearing up when I left. Expect they'll be along soon."

"Kerry and Lance in?"

Owen nodded. "No need to worry, Cardiff's in good hands."

"I know."

Jack looked after Charlie who was running towards Ianto. It was because of the little boy that the Torchwood team had been expanded. Before he came along they had managed one down after Suzie's death - caused by the Resurrection Gauntlet. With both Ianto and Jack wanting regular time off to raise Charlie, and later Gwen's pregnancy, more operatives had been recruited. Kerry Danvers and Lance Witherspoon had fitted in well to the close-knit team. Mr Sato was still in charge but concentrated on the political side and long-term planning and left everything else to Jack. Accordingly, Jack had a lot of responsibility which he took seriously; Captain Jack protected his team.

Charlie raced back. "Drink!"

"Here. Don't spill it." Jack kept a hand on the mug as the boy drank.

"The outfit is lovely," said Gwen, coming to join them. "He's a little American."

"With a Welsh accent!" Jack stood up. "Come on, show me Anwen."

-ooOoo-

The change was subtle but Mac heard it. There had been a definite intake of breath, a long sigh; she was waking up. With his head propped on one arm, Mac watched as Toshiko's eyelids fluttered then opened with another little sigh.

"Did I drop off? What's the time?"

"Does nae matter." He kissed her gently, preventing her looking at the bedside clock.

"It does. Don't want to be late." She reached up and cupped Mac's face, bringing it down for another lingering kiss. "That was good."

"The kiss or the sex?"

"Both." She lay back, one arm under her head. "You?" They had been together for four years but she still asked.

"Aye." He bent lower and kissed her breast, hand stroking her belly.

She shivered under his touch and ran a hand through his tousled, sweaty, light brown hair. Looking sideways, she saw the time: 4.24. They were late for the party otherwise she'd have responded to Mac's overtures. Instead, she pulled his head off her breast. "Sorry. We have to go."

He didn't protest. With a final kiss, he got out of the bed in one fluid movement. "I'll hae a shower."

She watched his departing back view. Firm buttocks on shapely legs. Broad back and wide shoulders. Unruly hair which needed a cut. Her man. She stretched, wondering how she got to be so lucky. Their courtship had been smooth and uneventful. He had slotted into her life and she into his as easily as hands into gloves. Her parents had been unhappy when she had moved in with Mac - it wasn't the Japanese way - but the wedding six months later had mollified them. After more than two years of marriage they were still passionately in love, relishing every moment they were alone together. Like this afternoon; coming home to change for the party had seamlessly morphed into sex.

Finally leaving the bed, Toshiko pulled the covers straight and sorted out the discarded clothing. With both of them working for Torchwood, their private time was limited and mostly spent together. They dined with her parents most weeks and took Bunmei out for treats at weekends and during the school holidays. Occasional evenings were spent with Jack and Ianto or Gwen and Rhys but they had few other friends. Even Owen had become more of a work colleague than a friend; they saw him rarely outside the Hub. She and Mac were content with one another and their home, which now reflected Toshiko's tastes. They had no plans to start a family. The accident that had resulted in Anwen's arrival made Toshiko even more vigilant.

"Bathroom's yours." Mac padded into the room.

"Okay. Wear a decent shirt."

He went to the wardrobe and selected a striped shirt she had bought. Mac adored Toshiko and had proudly introduced her to his family when they visited Scotland for the first time. Their wedding day was the happiest of his life but every day spent with this beautiful, intelligent woman was a delight. The changes she had made to his wardrobe and the house – to his life - suited him.

-ooOoo-

More than an hour late, Toshiko rang Gwen and Rhys's doorbell. It was answered by Ianto.

"Hello."

"Och, you their butler too?" said Mac with a smile. Ianto was known as 'the butler' in the Hub, the result of one of Jack's jokes.

"I was closest. Everyone's out the back."

Reaching the garden, Toshiko was attacked by Charlie. He hugged her legs before running back to Jack. Laughing, she said, "Sorry we're late, Gwen. Something came up."

"Work?" asked Jack quickly. He hoped he wasn't going to be called in. It was rare all the friends got together socially and he didn't want to break up the party. On the other hand, he wasn't going to let others take risks without him.

"No. Something at home," said Mac smoothly. He exchanged a smile with Toshiko. Beer in hand, he joined Rhys.

Stifling a giggle, Toshiko asked, "Where's the baby?" She and Gwen went to the pram. Toshiko may not want children of her own but she liked other people's and generally they liked her.

Ianto helped himself to another beer and stayed slightly apart from the rest. Jack was sitting on the grass with Charlie on his knee. Their dark heads were together at the moment, concocting some mischief no doubt. As predicted the baseball uniform was grubby with grass stains especially on the knees. Jack's jeans were stained too. Bad habits indeed! But it didn't matter. Ianto loved his partner and son so much he could forgive them anything; he had the family he had craved for so long. His only regret was that Jack couldn't be acknowledged as Charlie's father. Legally Ianto alone had adopted him and Jack merely shared their home. It bothered Ianto but Jack didn't seem to mind, content to take the lesser role in public. As he pointed out, things would be tricky for Charlie as he grew up if he was known to have two fathers; this way was best for them all.

There was no doubting the beneficial effect Charlie had had on him and Jack. Being together at home and work got a bit much even for soul mates and they often argued. With Charlie to raise, Ianto especially felt confident that these disagreements would never drive them apart. The benefits had gone wider. Relations with Rhiannon had been transformed. When Ianto was overwhelmed with the responsibility of raising a child, she was there with advice and reassurance. David played with Charlie regularly and Jack was godfather to her daughter, Mica. The Harknesses were closer too, visiting as often as possible. They were spending Christmas in Cardiff this year and might return permanently; Franklin had applied for a Visiting Professorship at the university.

"You going to join us?" asked Owen. He opened a can of beer. "Or you standing here for a reason?"

"Taking a breather, that's all. Coming over tomorrow?" The bond forged between the cousins while Jack had been missing had been further strengthened when Owen saved Charlie. He was a welcome visitor at the Harkness-Jones house.

"Could do. Jack's working, isn't he?"

"Yeah. Come for lunch with Charlie and me."

"Okay."

"Tad, need cake." Charlie leant against his father's legs looking up hopefully.

Ianto smiled and ran a hand through the curly hair. "I think you've eaten quite a lot already."

"Not cake!" protested Charlie. "Need big bit. Unca Jack said."

"Did he?" Ianto glanced at Jack who grinned back, holding out a plate like Oliver wanting more. Who could resist?

Carrying a large slice of cake, Ianto sat beside Jack. Charlie snuggled between them contentedly. On Jack's other side, Rhys and Gwen were also eating. With heaped plates of food - sex made them hungry - Toshiko and Mac were opposite. Owen joined them, stealing crisps from Mac's plate. Everyone was quiet, enjoying the moment and the plentiful food and drink.

Jack glanced round. It was unusual for all the friends to be together; Torchwood and families conspired to keep them apart. The original five had met ten years ago, brought together by chance and forged a friendship through shared danger. They had had arguments and fallings out over the years but the essential bond survived. Even the addition of Rhys and Mac to the group hadn't broken the ties that bound them. And they all worked for Torchwood protecting Cardiff from aliens, even Rhys did his bit maintaining the vehicles.

Strange how life turned out.

Have just realised that I started with the Famous Five are ended with the Secret Seven! I hope you enjoyed this and the other stories in the series. I appreciate your support - Jay