Just Imagine...

The Last Time I Saw Sam

Generally speaking, Rhys regarded Sam Ryder as a very strange person. Gwen had mentioned before that she was related to Jack Harkness, which made sense when they both had on those cocky grins of theirs and dragged your fiancé away from you at random and often undesirable moments. But the first time Rhys actually got to meet Sam face-to-face was... interesting, to say the least. Jack was going around the room introducing his little team when he got to Sam.
"And this is my Mom, Sam Ryder." He concluded.
"Hey, Rhys." Sam murmured in a sing-songy tone, smiling and winking at him. She was wearing a white hoodie with the words GISS Class of '96 written on it in big, bold, blue letters, black and white Harem pants with elephants on them, and white sneakers with rainbow stripes and purple, white, and green shoelaces. Her short, golden hair was done up in a tiny ponytail that looked like a desperate cry for her hair to grow longer again, and a heavy golden chain with a Leo astrology symbol on it hung around her neck. Most surprisingly, Rhys noticed the rose gold and diamond ring on her left ring finger. Sam Ryder was married?!
"So if Gwen can bring in Rhys," Sam went on, "can I bring in Jay?"
"You say it like it's a bloody show-and-tell." Owen Harper muttered.
"Well Jay can play an excellent trophy wusband at times." Sam mused with a smirk.
"Sam, you're sick!" Gwen laughed beside Rhys. If what Sam said was supposed to be a joke, then Rhys didn't get it.
"Dada wouldn't like the hub anyway," Jack spoke up, "too dirty and weird."
"Hey, I'm the one who cleans this place," Ianto Jones cut in harshly, "and I think I do a good job." He stood practically nose-to-nose with Jack and Rhys couldn't help but think they looked like himself and Gwen when they had a row. What really sold it was the way Ianto's stern expression shattered when Jack reached for the back of his knee. "Don't! Not in front of the guest and when I'm trying to be frustrated with you!" He exclaimed, hopping away with a smile.
"GUEST?" Sam echoed, bursting into laughter, "Ianto, you sound like you and Jack invited us all over for tea and crumpets on the patio!"
"Shut up." Ianto growled at her.
"Certainly, Mr Harkness-Jones." Sam drawled, hand under her chin.
"MOM!" Jack exclaimed, "you're embarrassing me!"
"I never get tired of making him say that," Sam chuckled, addressing Gwen and Rhys, "this is what you two are missing out on. Are you planning on having kids?"
"Do you have an off switch?" Gwen demanded, though she was smiling.
"It's broken." Sam responded curtly.

"Uhh... hey, Rhys?"
Rhys turned from admiring the view of Sam's property in Saint Lucia to see Sam standing behind him, looking awkward.
"Mx Ryder." Rhys murmured.
"You don't have to call me that," Sam said with a slight laugh, then grew serious again, "I... wanted to have a little chat with you."
"About?"
"How willing you were to drop everything and move across the Atlantic. That's commendable, especially since it was me inviting you, I mean, you must hate my guts, right?"
"No... I don't."
"Really? I practically destroyed your life, took you away from everything you've ever known. Plus there was that one time I was undercover and pointed a gun right at your forehead - NOT THAT I WOULD EVER SHOOT YOU, but I was trying to be convincing and got carried away, so I'm... sorry."
Sam's shoulders slouched in remorse and suddenly she didn't look that big anymore. Rhys blinked at her.
"And, uh..." Sam went on, not looking at him, "if you want to, I have a little proposal in mind. Not, like, a marriage proposal, a different kind." She slapped her hand over her face. "God I'm such a fucking idiot!" She hissed at herself.
"What's your proposal?" Rhys asked, beyond confused at this point but willing to hear Sam out, for Gwen's sake if nothing else.
"Well, you can't work at Harwood's anymore," Sam said, scratching the back of her neck, "my fault again, haha! But I was thinking... Saint Lucia has always been shit for lorry services. And from what I've seen, you truly won't be sorry with a Harwood's- no, I'm sorry, I can't say it. If we do partner up together you have to change the jingle."
"Partner up together?" Rhys echoed. Sam's eyes widened.
"Oh shit, I didn't even ask you about that!" She exclaimed, "I was gonna suggest that you start a new branch of Harwood's here in Saint Lucia, and I'll provide any necessary funding, give you ideas for people to hire, I'll even do advertising if you want. Th-this is a business proposal."
"You're serious?" Rhys asked, unsure how to feel.
"Yeah!" Sam said, regaining her bravado and putting her arm around his shoulders, "I can see it now; down by Rodney Bay where the ships come into port, a shiny new warehouse and a big sign out front with our faces on it; 'Harwood's Lorry Company'! Whaddya say?"
Rhys stared at her excited face for a moment.
"You're serious?" He repeated.
"Of course! C'mon, it'll be fun!"
"We're talking about a place of business here. It's not supposed to be fun."
"There's no reason it can't be both."
Rhys chuckled.
"I'm starting to see why Gwen likes you so much." He said.
"Does that mean you're in?" Sam asked, offering him her hand.
"It does," Rhys answered, shaking hands with her, "I look forward to doing business with you."
"YES!" Sam exclaimed, jumping into the air, "AWESOME! - I-I mean, indeed. Uhh... good talk."
She backed away slowly before turning and dashing through the glass patio doors.
"HONEY, GWEN'S HUBBY IS COOL!" Rhys heard her shout to Jay.