Fandomweekly Challenge 19 - Modern parenting

[m_findlow]

Title: Modern parenting
Fandom: Torchwood
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG (MPreg implied)
Length: 1,000 words
Content notes: none
Author notes: Written for Challenge 19 - Stereotype at fandomweekly
Summary: The average family is not so average anymore.

Monica zipped her jacket up tighter around her neck. The morning was proving to be crisper expected, but it wasn't going to deter her. She was a journalist after all, a bloodhound for the facts, and she had a story she wanted to tell. All she needed was the right voice to tell it.

As she rounded the bend in the pathway, the park's playground came into view, framed in a sea of burnished reds and golds from the leaves on the trees, tumbling ever gently to the ground. There, sat on one of the wooden benches, with a black labrador at his feet, watching the children play, was exactly what she was after. Mayor's Modern Writing Award, here I come, she thought, feet purposefully crunching along the gravel path towards him.

'Gorgeous dog,' she greeted, giving him her friendliest smile. 'Would it be okay if I petted it?'

The man in his late thirties smiled back. 'Sure. Buddy wouldn't hurt a fly, but he's not a fan of being out on these cold mornings. Summer is much more his speed.'

She knelt and scratched the dog's ears. He lifted his head at her ministrations. A squeal rang out across the playground and Buddy barked back in reply.

'Not so fast, Tom!' the man called out, asking the little boy to stop spinning the carousel quite so hard. The two girls riding it were clinging on for dear life, squealing out their delight.

'Looks like he's made a few friends there,' the journalist observed.

'His sisters,' he replied, watching as one jumped off mid-spin and ran for the slide.

'Well, you've certainly got your hands full, then,' she remarked.

He chuckled. 'Don't I know it? I'm Jack,' he said, extending a friendly hand.

'Monica.'

'So, what brings you out here on this chilly autumn day, Monica? No office job tying you down?'

She stood up and sat down next to him on the bench. 'I'm a journalist with the Cardiff Metro. I'm out on research duties, but I think I've found exactly what I'm looking for.'

'Oh?' Jack raised a curious eyebrow at her. 'And what is it you've found?'

She crossed one leg over the other and pulled out a small notepad, turning slightly to face him. 'I'm working on an article showcasing the stigma that still surrounds men in their role as caregivers, specifically, fighting back against the stereotypical view that men who take an interest in children have pedophile tendencies. A male au pair such as yourself would make a great centerpiece to the story. I mean, what it's like to look after someone else's children, whether you yourself have faced any negative attitudes. Not that I think you look like a pedophile.' She smiled. 'Quite the opposite, in fact. You could be the face of the new wave of social acceptance towards men working with children.'

Jack leaned back, continuing to watch the children play. 'I'm flattered that you think so, Monica, but I have to be honest with you. Those three are actually mine.'

'Oh! My apologies. A bit of a case of working Mum syndrome, eh? Leaving Dad at home to look after the kids?'

'We share duties fifty-fifty,' Jack replied. 'When it comes to my husband and I, it's more like working Dads syndrome.'

'I see,' she added, scribbling this down on her notepad, the tenet of her story seemingly forgotten. 'I'm looking to do a piece on gender fluid families in the future, if you'd like to get in touch with me again.'

'Daddy!' One heavily parkered girl came bounding up to to him. The dog at his feet barely blinked an eye at the onslaught as two more followed. Jack stood, hefting her into his arms and kissing her. 'Did you have fun, baby?'

'Who's she?' the curious toddler asked.

'Just a nice lady that likes to write stories.'

Monica beamed at the girl. 'The emotions that go with surrogacy and how it impacts family bonds and identity,' she mused. 'I could give you my card. It would be great to get both your perspectives. I assume you and your husband would both be amenable to that?'

Jack set his daughter back down and untied Buddy's leash. He quickly rose to his feet, sensing they were on the move. 'Actually, my husband gave birth naturally.' Jack smirked as the congenial smile fell from her face, taking in this new information.

'But... But that's...'

Jack leaned in close. 'There's your real story, but my husband isn't much of a talker. Okay, guys, race to the car,' Jack declared. 'Last one there buys the ice cream!' He turned to face, Monica. 'Nice chatting, but we have a date with a vanilla sundae. Hope that male au pair story works out for you.'