Just Imagine...

Forever Torchwood

Alexa Ryder-Barone was the second daughter of Sam and Jay. She had Sam's build, tall and skinny, but with less muscle. Her hair was pale blonde with the occasional streak of cherry blossom pink, her eyes were emerald green, and she wore black-rimmed glasses. Her skin was a light tan color, like Jack's, and she had light freckles on her cheekbones. She liked science, specifically astronomy and biology, and math, but her one true desire was to become a member of Torchwood Saint Lucia like Jack and Sam.
Alexa had never told anyone about her goal besides Jack - who was ecstatic at the prospect of working with his little sister - and her girlfriend, Maarit, who supported her in every way. She'd also mentioned it to Ianto once, in passing, and he'd seemed to think it was a good idea. Torchwood always needed new members.
She was in her brother's office right now, discussing the possibility of finally fulfilling her dream with him.
"I hate to say it, but you'll have to ask Mom first," Jack said with a slight sigh, "she has more authority in this situation than me. But I'm sure she'll let you join, you'd be great working here!"
"Of course I would," Alexa said with a laugh, "I'll talk to Mom about it tonight." She stood up and pranced to the door. "I'm gonna work at Torchwood!" She exclaimed in a sing songy voice.
She shouldn't have been so certain.

"What? Why not?" Alexa demanded, glaring up at Sam.
"Because I said so." Sam replied.
"That's not a valid argument!"
"Whether it is or not, my answer is NO, you're not working at Torchwood! I am the adult and I am in charge!"
"I'm an adult too! I'm twenty years old! I'll be twenty-one in two days! What's your problem?"
"Alexa," Sam said seriously, "you don't want to work at Torchwood."
"Yes I do!" Alexa exclaimed.
"No you don't," Sam said sternly, "or you wouldn't if you'd been there as long as I have."
"I know it's dangerous, Mom! But I can handle it! I've known it was dangerous since I was five years old, when we were living in Cardiff and Uncle Owen drove you home with a bandage on your stomach, after that warehouse exploded."
"Well the fact that it took you that long to realize it was dangerous proves you're not meant for the job."
Sam turned to walk away from Alexa as she said it.
"Why are you being like this?!" Alexa demanded, following her.
"I am just trying to protect you," Sam murmured, turning back to face her, "it's my job, you're my daughter. It's exactly what your Bisabuelo would've done."
"NO HE WOULDN'T!" Alexa hollered, "HE WOULD'VE SUPPORTED ME AND BELIEVED IN ME! YOU WILL NEVER BE HIM!"
She turned on her heel and ran to her room.
"Alexa!" Sam called after her, but Alexa ignored her. She slammed her bedroom door shut, jumped onto her bed, and cried herself to sleep under the blankets.

"Why did you do it?"
Sam glanced away from the view from the hub's big window to see Gwen beside her.
"Do what?" Sam asked, following a school of fish by running her finger along the glass.
"Jack told me everything, Sam." Gwen murmured.  
"Funny, he'll talk to you but he won't say a word to me. Neither will Alexa."
"They're mad at you."
"Duh."
"Well, why'd you do it?"
Sam looked at Gwen for a long moment, then sighed.
"I've seen what this job does to people," she said sadly, "I've seen how it changes people. I've seen it in all of you, and even in myself. I'm afraid of that change, Gwen. I'm afraid of seeing that change in Alexa - she's my little girl and I don't need the stress of watching over both her and Jack all day!"
"You're afraid you're going to lose her?" Gwen filled in.
Sam nodded.
"Yes," she choked, "if not physically than on some other, spiritual level."
"But that won't happen!" Gwen exclaimed firmly, placing her hands on Sam's broad, golden brown shoulders, "and you know why? Because she's just like you and Jay. Strong, smart, creative, open-minded, kind - she's got all she needs to work here. And sure, Torchwood changes you, but it's not always a bad change! In some ways, we changed for the better just for knowing each other and what's out there."
Sam huffed, turning her gaze back to the sandy bottom of the bay, cast in blue-green light that danced in patterns created by the waves above.
"Sam, Alexa is a wonderful young woman," Gwen murmured, "and I've known her almost as long as you have. I'm her aunt. And I remember a time when I didn't want her calling me that because you aren't really my sibling. Another way knowing you has changed me for the better."
Sam looked back at her out of the corner of her eye.
"Give her a chance, Sam," Gwen urged, "you owe the poor sweet that much."

  Sam knew Alexa would be in her room. She also knew she might not exactly be welcome there but she had to talk to her. She knocked lightly on the door, which was already slightly open.
"Who is it?" Alexa asked boredly from the bed, where she was lying stomach-down with her feet in the air, texting Maarit.
Sam gingerly pushed the door open a bit further, only to be met with a furious glare.
"What do you want?" Alexa demanded.
"I just wanted to say happy birthday," Sam murmured, "and to ask if you're gonna come out of your room. Your Dada made cake, and if you don't eat your extra big piece Jack probably will."
"I already told you I don't want a party." Alexa sniffed, dropping her gaze and wiping away what might've been a tear.
"No party?" Sam echoed, "but then I wouldn't be able to give you this." She held out a birthday card from behind her back. Alexa frowned, reaching out to take it.
"What is it?" She asked.
"Open it." Sam encouraged. Alexa gave her a questioning look but tore away the envelope.
"To a special daughter," she read off the card, "the light of my life, my pride and joy, I'm so proud to call you mine - Mom, this is a nice try, but-"
"Keep reading," Sam urged, "look inside, there's more!"
Alexa stared at her for a moment, then sighed and opened the card. A bundle of papers fell out.
"But recently I did something that maybe wasn't fair, so let me try and fix it," Alexa continued reading, "I got you a special gift I hope can make it right. You wrote this yourself, didn't you?"
"Maybe."
"What're these papers for?"
"Take a look for yourself."
Sam could barely contain her excitement as Alexa slowly unfolded the papers. She stared at them in confusion for a second, then looked up at Sam with a gasp.
"No way!" She exclaimed, beaming.
"Yup," Sam said, nodding and grinning back, "Ianto and I took care of it yesterday. That's all your paperwork. Alexa Chrysanthemum Ryder-Barone, welcome to Torchwood."
"Oh my God!" Alexa cried, leaping off the bed and into Sam's arms with so much force they nearly fell over, "thank you! Thank you so much!! When do I start?"
"Tomorrow," Sam answered, "your Uncle Owen's gonna be your mentor."
"What?"
Sam turned, still holding Alexa, to see Jay behind them.
"Dada!" Alexa said, letting Sam go, grabbing her paperwork, and running to show them to Jay, "look what Mom gave me!"
"Actually, that's from both of us," Sam murmured, ignoring Jay's look, "happy birthday, honey."
"This is awesome! I'm gonna go show Jack and Ianto!" Alexa cheered, "you guys are the best!" She kissed Jay's cheek before darting out of the room and down the hall.
"Careful!" Sam called after her.
"I cannot believe you." Jay laughed angrily.
"You can't?" Sam asked nervously.
"I was really starting to think I was stupid for thinking you were wrong about Alexa working for Torchwood, thinking maybe I shouldn't be for it at all, but the moment you think your kids are mad at you you turn into a puddle of goo!"
"I did not."
"Then what do you call that?"
"A nice birthday present for my lovely daughter."
"Uh-huh. Sure."
"Shut up."
"Idiot."
Meanwhile, Alexa had sprinted into the kitchen and stopped just before colliding with Jack.
"Jack! Jack!" She exclaimed, "Mom said yes! She said yes! I can work at Torchwood with you!"
"Really?" Jack demanded, "Mom said yes??"
"Yes!!"
"YES!!"
Alexa laughed hysterically as Jack picked her up in a massive hug and swung her around.
"Easy!" Ianto exclaimed, grinning as he took a step back from them, "it was hard for me to keep the secret from you, Alexa, but Sam couldn't do the paperwork by herself and I was the person she could trust most."
"Oh Ianto, thank you!" Alexa said, leaping into his arms as well. Ianto let out a startled laugh and almost fell over before regaining his footing.
"You're welcome." He murmured as Sam and Jay walked in.
"Mom, I'm sorry," Jack said, "I've been giving you the silent treatment for the last few days."
"You have?" Sam asked in a teasing voice, "I didn't notice at all."
Jay gave her a hard nudge in the ribs with his elbow.
"OW!" Sam hissed.
"You're-" Jay began.
"I know, I know, I'm an idiot." Sam sighed. Jay giggled.
"You're my idiot." He cooed, standing on his toes to kiss her cheek. Sam blushed but tried not to show it.
"Ew! Mom, Dada, quit it!" Lucas exclaimed.
"Get a room!" Hanna laughed, flicking frosting from the cake at them with her spoon.
"Hey, leave the cake!" Jay said, "that's for your sister!"
Alexa watched with her arms still around Ianto's shoulders as Sam lit the candles. She didn't know what she could possibly wish for when she blew them out.
Her dreams had already come true.