Author's Notes: So, they decided to clam up unexpectedly on Lay my Honor in the Dust, and I've turned my attention to The Musketeers until they start talking to me about what comes next. But, Sophia has been begging me to write the story where Ianto, Tosh, and Suzie meet up with Torchwood Tregarth (the meeting mentioned in The Greater Counterpoise to Fear, which this story is a direct sequel to), and this provided the opening. I'm gonna try to avoid spoilers as much as possible (especially since some revelations are coming up in Lay My Honor in the Dust, once the gears on that start grinding again). If you've read the end of Master of the Game and beginning of Lay My Honor in the Dust, you know that Steven Carter is not dead … that he was whisked away by the Mara and placed in the car of Ashildr/Mayor Me and a changeling died in his place (if you didn't, you know now). Writing stories out of order can be a pain in the ass, but sometimes, the characters don't give you any other choice. The title comes from a quote by Arthur Shopenhauer, 'every parting is a foretaste of death, and every reunion a hint of the resurrection.' It seemed to fit on both levels. At this point, I know better than to try to anticipate how long a story will be. The current aim is no more than three chapters (as well as this prologue), but considering how strong-willed these characters are, don't hold me to that (rolls eyes at Jack's, 'but what if I want to?'). So, in this chapter, we have Sophia making an executive decision … and Jack's reaction to said executive decision.

Disclaimer: Jack Harkness, Steven Carter, Ianto Jones, Owen Harper, Toshiko Sato, Suzie Costello, Rex Matheson and Esther Drummond do not belong to me … they belong to the BBC and Starz. Captain Steve Rogers and all things Avengers belong to Stan Lee and Marvel. And finally, Lucas North belongs to Kudos and Spooks/MI-5. Everyone else here does belong to me. As ever, I don't mind if you borrow them, just ask first, give credit where credit is due, and return them to me reasonably intact.

Prologue

Ready or Not

Tregarth Homestead, Oklahoma

Early June 2015

"We are inviting your old team here for a picnic."

It wasn't often that Sophia Tregarth was able to blindside Jack Harkness … but when she did, she always took advantage of his shocked state. And that was exactly what she did now as he stared at her in astonishment. With a determined nod, she continued, "I've already sent an email to Liam Grady … or, more appropriately, Liam Colasanto, to that effect." Annnnd … when did she do this? He didn't even have to ask. Sophia added, sounding both defiant and proud, "I started drafting the email not long after you, Nat, and Luc returned from the helicarrier. Esther and I put our heads together and worked things out. I finally sent the email last week."

There were so many things in those sentences that sent his world rocking, Jack didn't even know where to begin. Although the idea of Sophia and her oldest granddaughter conniving together might be a good start. The only thing more terrifying than Esther and Octavia teaming up was Esther and Sophia teaming up. Sophia smiled at him sweetly, adding, "Esther's helping me to plan the picnic, since Nat has her hands full with reassuring Lucas, planning the baby's nursery, and taking care of Ailsa and Jocelyn." That was true enough … Nat was five months pregnant, and Lucas was fussing over her nonstop. And when Lucas wasn't fussing over her, her sisters were. Jack heard Priscilla wail at least twice, 'my baby sister is having a baby.' Yeah, and she already had a baby, and she had a nine year old daughter. This was not exactly news. Not that Octavia was handling it any better, although that was more because she was wishing she could give Rex a child than anything else. Octavia lamented to him that most of the time she forgot that she was fifteen years older than her husband … until it came to having a child together.

Natalie was sympathetic to Octavia's point of view, and held her tongue about adoption. Priscilla? Not so much. Pregnancy hormones took their toll on her, and she inquired with more than a touch of acid if she should avoid getting pregnant because it made Priscilla feel old. Not especially kind, but it was also true. Of course, coming from her soft-spoken baby sister made the verbal slap even more devastating. Oh, and he couldn't forget about Owen and Adriane, and the dramas in that particular relationship. And Sophia was inviting his Cardiff team to the Tregarth homestead for a picnic … oh, absolutely nothing could go wrong in that scenario!

Sophia's eyes softened and she leaned forward to take his hands, saying, "Jack, it's going to be fine. Your team … they need to see you. They need to know that we're taking proper care of you. And you … you need to see them." All true, and it wasn't that Jack didn't want to see his Cardiff team again. He did … so very much. Not just Ianto (although he was always in Jack's thoughts, even though they talked nearly every evening), but his ladies, too. Yes, even Suzie. It was only … Sophia interrupted his thoughts, saying, "And don't worry about the various dramas around here. I can pretty much guarantee my children and grandchildren can behave themselves for a day." The steely light in her brown eyes pretty much assured that, and Jack could only smile. That wasn't all he was worried about, but that was making a good start.

"I … I've been figuring out what to do about Ianto and Esther," he finally admitted. It was selfish, he knew, but he didn't want to lose Esther … and he'd just gotten Ianto back. He had to say those words in his mind every few days. He had Ianto back. They … honestly, Jack wasn't sure what they were. Neither was Ianto, and it was his counsel that they shouldn't worry about what they were … just take pleasure in each other's company. Jack was more than all right with that. Did he still love Ianto? Without question. But he loved Esther as well, and she deserved better than to be simply kicked to the curb. He didn't want to lose her. And that wasn't taking into account what her family would do to him if he ever did that.

Sophia's face softened, and she put her hand on his shoulder, saying softly, "That may be something you need to leave to them. They both love you, Jack, as anyone with a heart and a brain would. Besides, maybe you won't need to choose between the two of them. I've been talking to my granddaughter since you learned Ianto was alive, and I think you'd be surprised by what she has to say. She loves you enough to give you up, if it would make you happy … but there are alternatives." Jack would have asked what she meant by that, but she was continuing, "I've also invited the Avengers, through Cam. Thor has returned to Asgard because of the Infinity Gems or Infinity Stones, or whatever you want to call them, so he won't be able to join us. And according to Cam, Dr. Banner is still God only knows where." There was a slight edge in Sophia's voice as she mentioned Bruce Banner. By now, the entire family knew about how the Battle of Sokovia played out, including Hulk/Banner leaving after the battle. Jack had an uneasy sense that Sophia knew what caused him to leave, but he couldn't figure out how she knew. He hadn't told her … it was between Natasha and Bruce. Did he have an opinion? Of course he did. But it had nothing to do with him, he wasn't affected by it, so until it affected him or his team, he would stay out of this.

He also knew that Natalie hadn't told her, as she didn't know. After a moment, he decided it wasn't really that important how she knew … it was just how Sophia was, and it was one of those things that you didn't question if you wanted to keep your sanity (or even your balls). Instead, he continued, "Okay, so you want to invite the Avengers and … and the team at Safe Haven. You mentioned that you issued an invitation through Cam and Nat … I'm guessing that Nat also issued one to Wanda as well?"

"You would be correct. I'll be honest with you, Jack. I'd feel better if Suzie didn't show up. I'm afraid I'd haul off and punch her. Yes, what she did helped to save you, but in a manner of speaking, she mentally violated my daughter, my youngest daughter, and it doesn't matter that Natalie's pushing forty, she's still my baby girl," Sophia observed with a sigh. Yeah, Jack knew the feeling. And in truth, no one in the family was especially happy with Suzie right now, once they learned of her connection to Natalie. Curiously, Natalie was more embarrassed and worried than she was angry, asking anxiously if Suzie felt when she was shot and other times she was in pain (evidently, the pleasure aspect never entered her mind, but that was Natalie for you). Jack couldn't lie to her; he admitted that she did feel it, but her anger was directed at those who hurt Natalie, rather than Natalie herself, and Owen muttered a few rather interesting invectives regarding those individuals.

No, when all was said and done, he couldn't blame the Tregarths at all for their antipathy toward Suzie. According to Ianto, Suzie had come to love Natalie and in fact often referred to her as her sister. How that went over with Natalie's sisters by blood and by choice remained to be seen. He was distracted from that issue when Sophia squeezed his hand with a small smile, saying, "Do you know that, boy or girl, Natalie and Lucas have decided that their little one won't be named after anyone … don 't want to put any pressure on the little one. No matter who the child is named for, they have a lot to live up to."

Jack offered a mock-pout, but couldn't blame Natalie for that decision. Oh, sure, Lucas had something to do with that as well, of course, but Natalie knew a thing or two about living up to someone's name. Instead, he turned his attention to the reason this was taking place. He observed, "You know, you could wait a few weeks until your annual Fourth of July extravaganza?" Before he even finished speaking, though, Sophia was shaking her head.

And no, with regards to the annual Independence Day celebration, he wasn't exaggerating about it being an extravaganza. Once Sophia awoke and finished acclimating herself to this strange new world that was still so familiar, his long-time friend insisted upon doing the big holidays in a big way. New Years, Easter, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas … she went all out. It was Priscilla's opinion (and Jack was inclined to agree with her) that her mother was trying to make up for all the years she missed. In fact, while the Tregarths were always more than generous with their time, resources and talents within their community, their Fourth of July picnics had become legendary among their neighbors.

And maybe that was the problem, for Sophia again shook her head and answered, "No. This isn't for the community, this is for us. For this family, for this team, because as much as we've lost, we've still got each other. I know I've fallen down on the job … as an operative, as a mother, as a grandmother, as a friend, but I'm back now, and I want everyone to know it. I want the Avengers to know it, too." Jack would have reminded her of how much she'd been through in the last year, but Sophia beat him to it, saying, "I know … I lost my husband. But my children have lost their father, my grandchildren have lost their grandfather … and you've lost your daughter. Steven lost his mother. We've all lost, Jack. This is a reminder of what we still have. All of us. Besides, I think it's time Steven met the rest of his family."

Jack's mind went blank at that, and Sophia grinned, patting his cheek gently as she turned her attention back to what he now recognized as her plans for the big event. His family. Steven. How in the world was he going to handle this? Steven was settling in fairly well … he still missed his mother terribly, but he adored Jocelyn and Ailsa. But to come face to face with the rest of Jack's team … was he ready for this? Was Jack?

TBC