Oh, wow. Just wow. The writing here is gorgeous, and the emotions ring so true. I am pondering printing out this story and sticking a copy in the DVD box of CoE so I'll remember to read it afterwards if I ever rewatch. I've got tears in my eyes, but they're the cathartic sort rather than the bitter tears of despair and doom that CoE left me with.

I loved all the things from canon that you wove in: the leather coat that Jack seems to have nicked from Nine, the Doctor, Martha, the appearance by the Face and the cat nurse, shagging Ianto in the alley (LOL at Alice's embarrassment at parental sex), and especially the fact that Alice's real middle name is Rose.

Canon gave Alice a fair amount of development given her limited screen time, but you have really brought her to life, full of contradictions and change. Jack broke my heart, but that was necessary.

The pacing and structure throughout were really well done. In short, fantastic!