Title: A Torchwood Christmas
By: Inara
Pairing: Jack/Ianto
Rating: PG
Summary: Just a silly bit of fluff for Christmas.

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Christmas Eve, and the clock on the Pierhead Building was about to strike midnight. Outside the bars on Mermaid Quay the party was still continuing, parties of revellers wearing Santa hats, singing carols in the way that only people who have downed several glasses of vodka can, fell over themselves on the way to find taxis home. Christmas Day would start with a hangover, but the party was worth it.

The Torchwood Hub was quiet, with only the soft background hum of the machinery. Everyone had gone, glad to have even the shortest of breaks over Christmas, a chance to be with family of just to chill out and watch the Great Escape for the umpteenth time before disappearing into a bottle of Jamesons.

Then, in the shadows, a movement. Tosh crept quietly through the Hub, knowing that Jack was asleep in his bunker and not wanting to wake him. She should be on the M4 driving to London to spend Christmas with her family, but there was something she had to see first. Something that would make everything that had happened throughout the year worthwhile. Sitting down at her workstation she turned on her screens, bathing her face in soft blue light. Not long now.

The outer door opened with a shuddering groan. Ianto really needed to give it a squirt of WD40 Gwen thought as she slipped into the Hub. Either that or it was the best burglar alarm in Cardiff.

'What are you doing here?' Tosh hissed. Gwen jumped, startled.

'Bloody hell Tosh, are you trying to give me a heart attack?'

'I thought you would be at home with Rhys.' Tosh tried not to sound jealous of her friend's repaired relationship with her boyfriend, but wasn't entirely sure that she'd succeeded.

'He's out on the raz with the lads. It's a tradition.' She grinned. 'He'll fall into bed in the small hours, try to get ….well, you know, and then snore for hours. Mind you, he'll suffer in the morning. And will I be sympathetic?' Tosh smiled back, Gwen's humour infectious.

'Then we'll watch together.'

'Is this a private party or can anyone join in?' Tosh and Gwen could smell the alcohol on Owen's breath before he reached them. Dressed in his customary dark jeans and leather jacket, a sprig of mistletoe hung from his belt loop. Owen saw the look that they exchanged. 'Either of you want to try it out?' Gwen was about to say something impolite when a voice came out of the darkness:

'Now, now boys and girls, no fighting, not tonight.'

'Jack, we didn't want to wake you.'

'Like that's going to happen, with you guys bickering like a group of school kids.' He looked over at Tosh's screen. 'Soon be time.'

Ianto appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, carrying a bottle of champagne and five glasses on a tray. At first glance, Gwen thought, he looked as immaculate as usual, but, when she looked closer she noticed that the top two buttons of his shirt were undone, and his tie was wonky. Turning round, she caught Jack's eye and they shared a secret smile. 'I'm glad you're happy,' she whispered softly.

'So,' Owen interrupted loudly, 'What's going on then?'

'We are talking about one of the most powerful creatures in the universe,' Jack stated, settling back onto the sofa. 'So powerful that he can bend time and space. Every year he comes through the Rift, but no-one accept us will ever see him.'

Ianto opened the champagne with a loud pop, and poured it, foaming in to the glasses. 'Drink sir?' He asked softly.

'You know Ianto, I think I will.' Jack took a glass of champagne as Ianto handed them round to the others.

'What now?'

'Just wait Owen. He's completed the whole of the Southern hemisphere already, so he'll be here soon.'

'What will happen?' asked Gwen, suddenly unsure.

'To everyone outside, nothing at all. Because we're near the Rift, time will slow, a minute will seem like an hour, then, it will be back to normal and no-one will ever know. Get ready….now!'

Outside the last chime of the clock sounded, and it was Christmas Day. Inside the Hub, time had slowed, as each of the team clutched a glass of champagne and thought about the past and future. On the screens a sensor picked up an object travelling through the sky at an impossible speed, a trail of starlight in its wake.

Then, it was over. The champagne fizzed and Tosh laughed as the bubbles went up her nose. Gwen leaned over, looking at the screen, unable to stop grinning as she saw a last fleeting glimpse of the red clad figure disappearing into the ether. 'Merry Christmas everyone!' She laughed, as she and Tosh exchanged hugs.

'What about you sir?' Ianto asked softly. 'What do you want to for Christmas?' Jack ran his finger tenderly along Inato's cheek, and tilted his head upwards. As Ianto's breath caught in his throat, Jack kissed him tenderly.

'I already have everything I want.'

The End

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