Title: Marry Me A Little 2
By: Jessie Blackwood
Pairing: Jack/Ianto
Rating: R
Series: 1) Role Reversal, 2) Domestic Bliss
Disclaimer: Characters owned by RTD and the BBC. I don't own any of it, except maybe the idea for the story, etc. etc. etc., no infringement of copyright intended, no money being made, etc, etc. Any resemblance to any persons living or dead is purely coincidental.
Warning: M
Summary: AU version of CoE events, so hated that ending! This is my take on how Ianto and the others are still alive and well...

***

Jack paced the floor across the bay window, looking out at the wind blustering through the trees in the garden. The house was cold, not having been lived in for months. They were sitting in what Jack referred to as the television room, because a large flat screen LCD television dominated one wall and soft leather sofas were scattered about. Owen was nursing a beer and contemplating a stack of DVDs on the coffee table, trying to decide which one was safest to watch.

"For Gods sake, you'll wear a track in the carpet!" He looked at Jack who ignored him "Jack!" he repeated and the man stopped and glanced his way, guiltily.

"Sorry…Its just…I'm nervous, OK?"

Owen grinned "This from the man who has faced down some of the worst scum of the Universe." He swigged his beer and looked at Jack where he standing staring out of the window. "Jack, you're allowed to be nervous, this is a life changing event. Why don't you call him? Say goodnight or something?"

"Yeah, right…" Jack flipped out his mobile and hit the speed dial. It went straight to voicemail. "Damn, Ianto, if you get this, please ring. Just wanted to say goodnight before I hit the sack…" Jack paused "Love you…" He shut the phone with a snap.

"Call his home, isn't he with his folks tonight?"

"Yeah, could do…" Jack looked at the time. Then he dialled. There was a momentary pause and Jack paced again before the phone was picked up.

"Ianto?….oh, sorry Rhiannon, is Ianto there?…..right….no, I just…no…I just wanted to hear his voice, that's all….yeah, a bit….thanks…. yes, thank you. Goodnight…." And he shut the phone again. "He's gone out. Johhny's taken him to the Legion…" he sounded disappointed and Owen frowned.

"The Foreign Legion? What's matter, couldn't wait to get away from you?"

Jack laughed despite himself "The Club? Working Men's Club." He sighed and slumped into a sofa and leaned back, staring at the ceiling.

"Jack, its supposed to be the best day of your life mate. What's wrong?"

Jack sighed. He frowned and closed his eyes "I'm nervous and I'm missing him and I'm worried something will happen…"

"Jack, chill. Tom Milligan and the UNIT lads have got our backs. You need to relax mate, have a beer!" and Owen pushed an open bottle towards him. Jack picked it up and took a long pull from it, leaning back and looking at the blank screen.

"So, what are we watching then?"

"Dunno, Blair Witch? 28 Days Later? Pet Cemetery?"

"How about The Great Escape? Misery? Psycho?" Jack grinned. "Escape from Alcatraz? Independence Day? Big Trouble in Little Cardiff…"

Owen laughed. "What's the matter, is this a hint that you want to run away?"

"I want to, hard and fast. Not going to…just…." He shrugged. "Wanna be anywhere but where I am…"

"Don't let Ianto hear that."

"God no, he's nervous enough as it is."

Owen smiled and pulled a DVD out of the stack "Love Actually? Four Weddings and a Funeral?"

"Funny man…" Jack grimaced.

"I know, Brief Encounter."

Jack cuffed him, non too gently on the back of his head. "Ow, what was that for…?"

"As if you didn't know."

"Harvey?"

Jack shuddered "Nope, had enough of 8ft rabbits to last me a lifetime, several lifetimes to be exact…"

Owen frowned and shrugged and decided to ignore that one. "Fair enough. It's a Beautiful Life? Matter of Life and Death? God, Jack, what is this, you stuck in the 1940's with your favourite films as well as your clothes?"

"I like them…" he tailed off.

"How about Flatliners?"

Jack shuddered "A little close to home?"

"How so?"

"Duh, coming back from the dead?"

"Right….here we go. This is a classic…." And Owen flicked the DVD control and placed the disc in the drawer. The opening credits came up and Jack groaned.

"Owen…Highlander?"

"There can be only one…" he intoned and collapsed laughing.

"I am not watching that." Jack complained. "Besides, that song always makes me wanna cry…"

"What song?" Owen paused. "Oh…that one, sorry…" and he switched it off and rummaged through the pile again, eventually coming up with something more forgettable and innocuous.

The phone rang as Jack was dozing in the chair. Owen had passed out on the sofa and Jack had carried him upstairs to one of the bedrooms and rolled him into the large double bed without undressing him. He would call by later and wake him enough to get him settled. So much for being the Best Man. Jack grabbed the phone and hit the call button.

"Jack?"

Jack sat bolt upright and gasped "Ianto?"

"You OK?"

"I am now you've phoned."

"What's wrong?"

"Just missing you, that's all."

"Missing you too. Was thinking about you all evening."

"Nervous?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Me too."

"You? Never."

"Yeah, me too. Look Ianto, I'm not used to this. I just don't want to let anyone down…"

"You won't, Cariad. Look, Jack, I love you. We're doing right with this…aren't we?"

Jack sighed "Yes, yes we are. I want this so badly…"

"Then believe in us Jack, believe in love. Love in any form always beat the dark, isn't that what you're always saying? So believe it Jack, now more than ever. How's Owen, not handcuffed you naked to a tree in Inverary then?"

"I think he doesn't know where that is…not sure I do come to that?"

"Scotland…"

"Hell no, he couldn't handcuff himself at the moment, never mind drive…"

"Good, I want you on time tomorrow or I will die of nervous exhaustion."

"I'll be there. Wouldn't miss it for the world."

"Good…well…" Jack heard a stifled yawn, "I'd better get some sleep anyway…don't want to go…."

"But you have to. Take care of yourself…Sir, for me. Go sleep."

"Yes Jack." he said gently and Jack shivered. "Love you. Rwy'n dy garu di, Cariad. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Ianto, thanks for ringing…I'll sleep better now."

"I know, that's why I rang Sweetheart. Now go to bed…"

"Yes Sir!" Jack replied and blew a kiss down the phone.

Ianto laughed and blew one back, then he said, "Goodnight Jack. Pleasant dreams." And the phone went dead.

Jack went to bed, after rousing Owen enough to make him drink a pint of water and get undressed before ushering him back beneath the covers again. The sheets were cool on his skin as Jack slid into his own bed, lying back and wondering how the hell he had come to this…how the hell had he come to something that he wanted so much it hurt? Smiling, he closed his eyes. Mere moments later, or so it seemed, he was waking up seeing the first rays of sun through the curtains and wondering why he had slept so late…the clock said 5:45am. Which was late for him.

This was the Big Day then…

***

The Wedding Day Arrives ~

Jack looked at the suit he was planning to wear as it hung on the back of the wardrobe door and hoped Ianto would like it. It was a bit Pre-Raphaelite thinking about it. He got changed and stood in front of the mirror. Hmm, not bad. Frilled cream shirt, cravat, purple velvet waistcoat, black Victorian-style frock coat and matching trousers. Rossetti would have approved. Good old Dante Gabriel. Once he had showered and changed he caught sight of himself in the mirror again. Hells Bells. Actually Harkness, you look great, he thought, admiring his reflection, then smiled. Only hope your fiancé thinks the same…

"Jack, car's here!" Owen's shout reached Jack's ears as he was tying his cravat. No more time to think. Jack got outside to find a wonderful cream-coloured 1950s vintage Bentley waiting for them, decked in wedding ribbons. "Tosh, I could kiss you," Jack said "I will, later. This is fantastic…" Jack grinned at Owen who was openly admiring the vehicle and talking to the driver. The car was one of those with the quality of engine that ran almost silently, the cushioned elegance of its interior a testament to the fact that they don't make them like that any more. Well, actually, they do, but Jack knew you had to pay for the privilege these days and go on a six year waiting list or something. Doubtless he could afford one, but why? There was never any need for it in the life he led, although he could maybe afford an SUV of his own. Our own, that should be, he thought, soon anyway.

"I would have preferred to drive myself, you know." Jack muttered as they set off. He knew Ianto would have had a fit had he suggested it though.

"It isn't traditional." Owen said. "Besides, it's a means to ensure the groom makes it safely to church. Ianto would kill you if you didn't arrive on time, let alone in one piece. Worse, he would kill me."

One of the main reasons why Jack would have preferred to drive himself was simple. Driving would have taken his mind off thinking about the ceremony ahead. He tried not to think about the Rift or the Hub either and figured this was one day the universe could do without him saving it. The sun was shining and the sky was blue. He tried to convince himself that other people were quite as competent, the UNIT team Ianto had commandeered to stand in for them would manage and Ianto would kill him if real life intervened.

"Oh, my God," Ianto said as he stood on the doorstep looking at the car that had pulled up in front of his sister's house. It was a 1920's Rolls, in blue. The chauffeur stepped out and walked round to greet them, holding the car door open. Ianto waited while Rhiannon locked the house and then he and his sister both got into the rear of the vehicle. Johnny and the kids had gone on ahead, thankfully. Rhiannon was secretly relieved that the gorgeous car wouldn't be subjected to the attentions of her kids. Tosh, Gwen and Rhys were already on their way too; they'd called ahead of their departure to wish both Ianto and Jack a safe journey.

The interior of the car was luxurious; cream leather, walnut panelling, ivory trimmings. Ianto settled back and breathed a sigh of relief. He was finally on his way to becoming a husband. Rhiannon was gazing out of the window. The neighbours were all gawping at the car. There could be no doubt in their minds, the Jones boy was getting married, and judging by the cars he was marrying into money. Either that or he had won the lottery and hadn't told any of them about it.

The driver introduced himself as Barry and took the time to explain where all the comfort gadgets were and how they worked. He told them how the company had adapted the vehicles they hired to make them extra special; he was obviously proud of working for what he claimed was "the premier wedding car hire service of South Wales". He was also very relaxed and informal, using his comedic patter to relax them both. Ianto didn't doubt his claims about the company, Tosh had done them proud finding the firm. Ianto suspected she'd even selected the driver especially for him. Knowing her she might even have interviewed them all personally.

Rhi' settled back for the ride, she was in her element and was going to enjoy the luxury. Barry made sure the departure from their neighbourhood was slow enough for all the bystanders to get a good look at the car and the well-dressed passengers in it. Rhi' revelled in the attention and Ianto smiled as he watched his sister. She got little enough chance to do this and he made his mind up to see she got more opportunities in the future.

The Bentley wound its way through the narrow Welsh lanes towards St Briavels (pronounced Brevels for some reason, lazy people probably, Jack thought) and Jack checked and rechecked his pockets for the words and asked Owen for the sixth time if he had the ring. Owen told Jack to shut up on the fifth because he'd shown him four times already. The Bentley finally rolled to a halt outside the enormous gate house of the 12th century edifice and they got out into the cold air of the beautiful autumn day, the driver holding the door open for them.

Tosh was suddenly there to meet them with two button holes, a white rose for each of them. She smiled radiantly and Jack saw Owen grin back with an admiring glance. She fussed with the flowers until they were just right, then hugged them both. "You both look fine," she said, with a wistful smile. She was dressed in a beautifully tailored lilac suit and a rather fetching feather fascinator in her hair. She had organised the whole shebang, everything right down to the cars and the flowers and the cake, the music and the venue. Jack kissed her warmly and asked if Ianto had arrived but she shook her head and said not. After reassuring Jack that he must be on his way, she shooed them inside and they were met with Mickey acting as Usher. He showed them both to the room that had been set aside for the ceremony and introduced them to the registrar and Jack set about confirming the details that were needed about their full names and their parents' names and god knew what else.

Tosh had worked her magic and given Jack a full family tree, so the Harknesses were an old English family from Hackness, which was apparently somewhere near Scarborough—Jack had never been to Yorkshire and no way was he adopting a Yorkshire accent for anyone but he couldn't deny it was a good paper trail. "This is good, Tosh," he had praised her. "Apparently my parents moved to America in the 1960's which explains my accent and I'm from Chicago?" Jack had laughed and said it sounded sufficiently good as a history to fool anyone anyway.

The guests were still arriving so Jack and Owen took their places in the front seats and waited. Jack was anxiously risking looks back over his shoulder to see if Ianto was there yet and wondering if he was going to get there unscathed. They had decided on no entrance music because that would imply Ianto was the wife and they'd decided not to go there. Jack appreciated how hard it would be to avoid that epithet anyway and he didn't want anyone labelling either of them that way. He hated labels.

Martha arrived, waved at Jack and took her seat, looking good in her pale grey suit. Johnny and the kids were there, the little ones looking smart (which would last for as long as it took to start eating). But Jack didn't register the sea of faces, the only one he was surprised at was the Doctor, who was sitting directly behind him.

"Looking good, Jack," he murmured and grinned. "Mr Jones is a lucky man…"

"So am I…" Jack heard himself respond and was about to ask who had invited him when suddenly he was there and Jack couldn't see anybody else but him. He found his heart was almost literally in his mouth, Ianto looked so gorgeous. That suit, Victorian in style, a frock coat in very dark purple? Dark red waistcoat and cravat; Jack's mouth watered at the sight of him. Then Ianto locked eyes on Jack and his gaze raked up and down, surprised, openly admiring. Jack smiled and so did Ianto and Jack's heart melted. Rhiannon was walking with him, he had asked his sister to be his companion, like Owen was Jack's. Tosh and Gwen stood behind …attendants, or flower girls, or whatever title they had eventually come up with.

Jack watched Ianto and his sister as they walked down the aisle between the chairs and stood on his left, Tosh and Gwen falling in behind them, then the Registrar asked Ianto to confirm his name and he stepped up to do so. Jack looked at the wonderful man beside him and wondered at the fact that they were there at last. He was also aware that if it wasn't for good friends they wouldn't be there at all. Then the Registrar asked them to step forward and suddenly it was all real and they were saying the words and were actually going through with it all. For Jack, reality set in with a bang. It's funny how it catches you, Jack thought, all of a sudden it's real, it's happening and there's no going back, it's as if you never realised before this moment that this would actually happen. And now it is. And it's terrifying and exhilarating and elating all at once.

The Registrar faced the men and welcomed them both. Then he addressed everyone else. "I would like to welcome you all here today on this very special occasion of deep significance for Jack and Ianto. Today they will affirm their love and publicly declare their commitment to each other. This place in which you are now met has been duly sanctioned according to law for the registration of civil partnerships. You are here to witness the formation of a civil partnership by Jack Harkness and Ianto Jones. If any person here present knows of any impediment to this civil partnership, he or she should declare it now."

Jack held his breath. He wasn't completely sure nothing would happen. This was a Torchwood wedding after all, no matter what Ianto said about it. Jack was pleased to see the Doctor there—Martha had obviously managed to contact him—but trouble followed him like a magnet. There was a pause that seemed to go on for hours, then Jack let the breath go as the Registrar opened his mouth to continue.

A voice chose that moment to ring across the gathering, a strident accusing voice that Jack had hoped never to hear again.

"Actually, I do. I'm hurt, Jack, you haven't called me in months!"

Jack froze, looked at Ianto in horror, and turned as John Hart came striding own the aisle towards them.

***

One Wedding, with nearly a funeral…

"Damn it, John, what the hell are you doing here?" Jack was horrified. So far as Jack knew, nobody knew about John Hart, never mind what he meant to Jack. Correction. What he had meant to Jack. That was too long ago…

"Jack, Jack…" Hart drawled, stepping up close to him, "calm down, lover. I'm not here to cause trouble." He grinned at the confused Registrar and shrugged. "We've not seen each other in such a long time," he explained to the puzzled man and to Jack he murmured "I cannot believe you didn't tell me you were getting hitched, that's all." Without preamble, John leaned in and kissed Jack soundly, wrapping his arms round his ex-lover and hugging tightly. "Goddess, I've missed you," he whispered in Jack's ear.

"Well, I haven't missed you!" Jack hissed, extricating himself from John's arms, indignation radiating from him. "What's more, I don't recall having your number…" he snapped, "Now will you please get out of here? We're through, done with. I told you years ago…"

"Jack, please…" John's tone turned serious, pleading. If there was one thing John Hart did not do, it was plead. Something was off...

"No, John, not now, not like this." Jack's hackles were raised, his alarm bells ringing. John's behaviour was certainly not typical of the conman he used to know. "This is my wedding day and you are not about to ruin it! You hear me?" he growled softly. "You are not going to be allowed to ruin this for me like you ruined everything else." Jack was angry, on so many levels. He saw Ianto make a small gesture with one hand and realised with a shock that several people in the audience had been poised to draw weapons. They backed down, but remained on alert.

"You have no idea how close you just came to being shot," Ianto murmured to John, low enough not to be heard by anyone. He turned smoothly and said "Sorry, everyone," and to the Registrar he said "So sorry, emotional reunion, might we have a moment?" The man nodded and asked if they would like to step outside. They did, Ianto apologising adroitly to the audience who were left to wait patiently. Jack noticed that Owen, Gwen and Tosh stepped close to the door even though they didn't follow. The Doctor had a puzzled look on his face and calmly rose from his seat as Jack and Ianto lead the way outside. Martha looked positively livid.

"Introduce me?" Ianto said calmly as they stepped outside. Jack whirled on John and would have punched him, but Ianto caught his arm. "Jack, not today." He smiled reassuringly and let his future husband go. Then he turned calmly to John and smiled, "I'll perform the introductions then, shall I? John Hart, rogue Time Agent, one time partner to Jack Harkness, psychotic and unstable, approach with caution. Am I correct?"

John grinned at him and stuck out a hand. "And what's your name, Eye Candy?"

Ianto shook the offered hand formally and said quietly "Ianto Jones, Head of Torchwood Three."

Jack just looked on incredulously. "How do you…?"

"Torchwood 1 and John Hart have a history," Ianto said, a cold edge to his voice, although he was keeping it reasonable, "You never mentioned him, the records stated any relationship you once had was well and truly over, so I didn't pry. You've never asked me about previous relationships so I never saw a reason to quiz you in return. However, like you, I thought he was hopefully in some distant galaxy far, far away…"

"Well, Obi Wan Kenobi or whatever your name is, I'm not."

"As I can see." There was a tension between the three men that could probably have been sliced with a knife.

"John, please. Ianto and I are getting married," Jack pleaded with him. Trouble was, Jack wasn't certain that there was a better nature to plead with.

"I think I can see that!" John retorted. "It's a little obvious!"

"It's what we both want and I am not going to let you ruin it. How the hell did you find out? Come to that, how the hell did you get in here?"

"Perception filter." He waggled his wrist with its vortex manipulator. "As to how I knew, The Shadow Proclamation intercepted a rather interesting temporal message to the doctor. Couldn't believe it when I heard…Jack, I'm hurt you didn't even try to tell me."

"And how was I going to do that? It's not like I've got your number…"

"You might have tried your vortex manipulator…"

"It's no good for long distance, you ought to know that…"

"You could have sent something…bounced it out there and asked for it to be forwarded…?"

"And have the scum of the universe turn up on my doorstep? I don't think so, thank you. The Proclamation isn't the only group who can intercept messages. After all, I'm still wanted by the Agency, or had that slipped your notice?"

"The Agency's disbanded, Jack, there are only seven of us left. Next to useless."

"Disbanded?"

"Oh yes, The Shadow Proclamation gave them an ultimatum. Stop meddling or suffer the consequences. And you and I both know what they were going to say to that." Jack paused, trying to assimilate what he had just been told. "You said…you said the Shadow Proclamation had intercepted the message…How in hell did you find out?"

"Ah…knew you were going to ask me about that…"

"He works for them." The familiar voice interjected and they all turned to see the Doctor standing at the door, Martha just behind him. He murmured to her and she nodded, tight lipped, and then vanished from sight.

"Me? I'm a trader now…" John began.

"Con-man you mean…" Jack interrupted.

"Actually, he's been working as a freelance agent for the Shadow Proclamation for a while now. Haven't you, Captain?" John shrugged, then sighed heavily and nodded once. "Quite the law abiding citizen now, aren't we?"

"Okay, okay, you got me. I'm a changed man, Jack, and it's all your fault."

"My fault? You were always a loose cannon, John. I had nothing to do with that."

"No, Jack, you didn't, but you had a lot to do with how I turned out. I'm legit now, well, when I'm not undercover for the Proclamation, that is."

"You, undercover? The only covers you like getting under are bed covers," Jack scoffed.

"Strange as it may sound, he's telling the truth , Jack." The Doctor ratified John's statement and shrugged as Jack glared at him. "Sorry, but the man isn't lying to you. Of course, I still wouldn't trust him, wouldn't touch him with a barge pole. Wouldn't touch him with somebody else's barge pole either, for that matter, but the point is—," he ignored John's glare "—he isn't lying."

"Thank you for nothing, Mr Timelord…" John retorted.

"Hey, that's "Doctor" to you, Captain…"

"Alright People…" Ianto cut across their arguing abruptly. "Let's keep it civil, shall we? Might I remind you, we're in the middle of a very important ceremony? Our very important ceremony."

"And we are going to go back in there and continue and you—," Jack fumed at John, "—are going to keep your mouth shut, or so help me, I'll…"

"Jack, please, get a hold of yourself, cariad. Now is not the time." Ianto laid a comforting hand on Jack's shoulder and turned to John. "How did you get here? Are you working for them right now?"

"No, as it happens. I've… been here a while. Earth's a great place for that if you know where to go. There are loads of places that don't ask questions." John's voice was suspiciously cagey.

"Your VM is broken, isn't it?" Jack guessed. "Otherwise you wouldn't choose to stay on this mudball. That's always been your opinion of earth and I doubt it's changed very much so I surmise that you can't leave." He punctuated the last three words by poking John's chest with his finger.

"Holmes and Watson is it now?" John said dryly. Then he sighed heavily. "Okay, okay. I admit it, it's broken…burnt out actually. I'm waiting for a Proclamation transport to give me a lift but they keep putting me off, telling me they don't have the available man power to come all the way out here to pick me up." He sounded bitter. "I know one of the people in communications and they told me about the message the last time I called in to see why they hadn't sent me the transport."

"So, why d'you never try to get in touch earlier? We could have helped you."

"Because, you and me, we were….not in the best of places with each other, were we? Why would you have even bothered to help me? We hated each other, didn't we? Not sure if we still don't. And Torchwood and I don't have the best of histories. Look, Jack, I came because I heard you two were…you know…I just wanted to see you for old times' sake…I mean, I really have missed you." There was a wistful expression in the man's eyes. "Sorry, Jack…I'll take myself off. My apologies, Ianto…" He gave a little formal bow.

"Bullshit, John, you're manipulating again…" Jack said gently.

"Ouch, that's harsh, coming from you."

"I'm right!" Jack snapped. "You always do this. You manipulate people's feelings and then you take advantage. I was a con-man remember? Takes one to know one."

"You were a hard act to follow, I'll give you that," John grinned. "Okay, okay, maybe I…use the situation to my advantage…sometimes, but I'm a changed man, Jack. I'm not the man I used to be. I told you…"

"Bullshit, John, you can't help yourself…"

"So you're saying a person can't change? Look at you, Jack, you're a changed man. From con-man to devoted lover?" John glared at him. "You're so damn sure nobody else can change but you, aren't you? That's not fair, Harkness, and you know it!" The two men faced each other angrily, neither willing to back down.

"Captain Hart," Ianto broke into the confrontation, his voice calm, his manner authoritative. "I'd like to suggest a solution. Jack, let's give the man a chance, eh?"

"What? You have to be joking? He'll cause mayhem, first chance he gets…"

"Jack, this is our day, we can afford to be a little generous. And if he doesn't behave—," Ianto's voice dropped menacingly "—I'll kill him myself. However, if we talk nicely…and you behave...we might persuade the Doctor here to give you a lift somewhere." The Doctor nodded.

"Don't see why not. I'll drop you off with the proclamation if you like. Could drop you off anywhere else for that matter, you name it."

"Of course, any sign of misbehaving and I'll have our UNIT lads tie you up so tight you won't know what day it is," Ianto growled.

Inevitably, John grinned and waggled his eyebrows suggestively. "Promises, promises…" he looked at Ianto, "Eye Candy there looks like he could administer punishment very…inventively. You're a lucky man, Jack… Okay, I promise, I'll behave." He held up his hands in a gesture of peace.

"I'm not taking any chances. I'm assigning you a minder," Ianto said, coolly. He ducked back inside, coming back a few moments later with a uniformed UNIT sergeant. "This is Mr Hart," Ianto said, indicating John to the man, who nodded in acknowledgement. "I want you to baby sit him for the rest of the ceremony, do not let him out of your sight, not even to pee. He's manipulative, mentally unstable and sexually irrepressible. Do not let him kiss you,"—Jack noticed the man's askance expression at that suggestion and smirked—"one of his tricks is wearing paralysing lip gloss, if I remember the files correctly. So, do not let him touch you or otherwise manipulate you, got that? If he tries, you have my permission to use a stun gun on him." He turned to John, smiling. "If you want a ticket off this planet, I suggest you stay well-behaved or you'll find out just how good I can be at administering punishment. And I promise you, it won't be of the pleasurable variety…" he grabbed the man by his collar and drew close. "If you behave, you can stay, dance the night away, stuff yourself at our expense and we'll even find you a bed for the night, assuming you don't manage that all by yourself. However, if you do anything out of order, you step over the line by as much as a millimetre and you will find yourself lost in UNIT's very capable hands, one of their detention facilities ought to do it. Small cells, no amenities, throw away the key and if they remember to feed you, you'll be lucky… You get the picture?" John nodded, unusually subdued, trying to look convinced. The Doctor had a smirk on his face. Jack was positively in awe of Ianto's assertiveness. "Now, we've wasted enough time." Ianto declared. "We go back in there as though you were the best person Jack's ever seen, long lost relative time…okay?"

Jack had to admit he was more than a little turned on by his future husband's assertiveness. He was a gorgeous force to be reckoned with, that was for sure. John and Jack made it look like a tearful reunion of long lost brothers and they pulled it off well. After all, they both had experience of being con-men. If they couldn't pull off an Academy award winning performance, there was something very wrong with the Universe. The Sergeant discreetly escorted John to the back of the room and the ceremony resumed, with Ianto making very eloquent apologies for keeping everybody waiting. The Registrar took a moment to remember where he was, then continued, professional demeanour back in place.

"Jack and Ianto have chosen to pledge themselves to each other by committing to a legally binding contract. Their Partnership will enable the love and respect that they have for each other to develop into a deep and lasting relationship. The giving of a band signifies the promise of a love that is everlasting and is a public affirmation that the contract between Jack and Ianto will be honoured." The Registrar asked for the rings. On cue, Owen produced Ianto's and Rhiannon produced Jack's. The registrar handed a card over to Jack and said "Now, Jack, will you place the ring on Ianto's finger and say your vows to him?"

"Ianto," Jack said gently, taking the ring, "I choose you above all others, to share my life. I promise to honour this pledge as long as I live. This ring is a token of my abiding love and a sign of the promise I make to you today." Ianto held his hand out and Jack slipped the ring onto the fourth finger of his left hand. He looked at it for a moment and then smiled, taking his ring for Jack and reciting the same words as he pushed the ring onto Jack's finger and held it there briefly before giving his hand a little squeeze.

"Jack," the registrar said, "would you now like to say your promises to Ianto?" and Jack fumbled his paper from his pocket and looked Ianto in the eye. He unfolded the paper and kept hold of Ianto's hand and read it as clearly as he could, so everyone could hear. He'd modified it somewhat from the words he said to Ianto in private a few days ago, but it wasn't changed too much. They had already run through the private version of their vows together. With the stuff they had wanted to say they knew they'd have to retcon the relatives later if they witnessed them.

"Ianto Jones," Jack said and took heart as Ianto smiled encouragingly. "Body and spirit, heart and mind, I am yours. From this day forward, our two paths become one. I go forward with you, hand in hand, together. For as long as it is within my power to do so, I promise to be the best I can be for you, to do right by you. I'll do my best to shelter you through life's storms. I promise to love and cherish you. I'll do my best to care for you through life's ups and downs. I'll do my best to be your refuge when life gets tough."

Even although he had heard it before Jack saw the emotion in Ianto's eyes. He carried on, knowing which bit he had left in which would probably get to him. Jack launched off into John Donne's poem, written over 500 years ago and still holding true.

"My true-love hath my heart, and I have his,
By just exchange one for the other given.
I hold his dear, and mine he cannot miss.
There never was a bargain better driven.
His heart in me keeps me and him in one.
My heart in him his thoughts and senses guides.
He loves my heart, for once it was his own.
I cherish his because in me it bides.
My true love hath my heart and I have his."

Jack smiled and added "If two people could love each other more, show them to me." Jack gazed at Ianto, seeing the smile on his lips, the love in the man's eyes. He had to try not to mangle his husband's beloved language as he said the words that meant the most to him in the whole darned thing. "Yn anad dim, Ianto Jones, rwy'n addo un peth diwethaf. Rwy'n addo byth, erioed i anghofio chi. A bob amser i roi i chi yn gyntaf. Above all, Ianto Jones, I promise one last thing. I promise never, ever to forget you and always to put you first." Jack conceded defeat then as he felt his own eyes get wet. Ianto was smiling broadly and then the Registrar asked him to say his words to Jack. Ianto reached out and took Jack's hands in his then, reassuring and comforting and supporting them both by the gesture.

"Jack, I'm marrying you for Love, with a capital L, and I really, truly, wholeheartedly believe in 'love conquers all'. Everything I am or will become is yours from this day forward, unreservedly. We are each other's now. We are husbands and lovers, maybe even fathers too, someday. We are friends and partners. Even amidst the bitter parts of life we'll look for and discover the better parts of life. We, together, are unshakeable. Rattle us, yes, but break us? Never ! I am reflected in your eyes and given shelter in your heart, as you are in mine. Rwy'n dy garu di, Cariad. For evermore."

He grinned the biggest grin Jack had ever seen then. He would see that grin again, often, Jack knew, now they were married and mated. After that the Registrar turned to them both and said "Every day you live, learn how to receive love with as much understanding as you give it. Find things within yourself, then you can share them with each other. Do not fear this love. Have an open heart and a sincere mind. Be concerned with each other's happiness. Be constant and consistent in your love. From this will come security and strength." Damn, Jack thought, we're nearly there.

"We now come to the signing of the schedule," the Registrar said (Jack figured he really had to find out the guy's real name, otherwise he'd end up calling him Reg' which he also figured wouldn't go down well). "This will bind Jack and Ianto Harkness-Jones together in law."

They then had to declare that they knew of no legal reason why they couldn't be civil partners and Jack glared at John, warning him off saying anything crass, then they put their signatures into the book. Mercifully John stayed quiet. He had obviously taken Ianto's warnings to heart and was sitting there quiescent. Tosh and Owen stood forward to write their names as witnesses and then the Registrar presented the happy couple with the certificate to say they were legally partnered. "Now that the ceremony is over and the experience of living day by day as legal partners is about to begin, go and meet it gladly," the Registrar said to them, smiling with sincerity. "Please join with Jack and Ianto as they celebrate their partnership."

Suddenly everybody was clapping and cheering. Jack turned to Ianto and the same thought crossed both their minds. They leaned in and kissed, passionate and unashamed. There were whistles and cheers as they did so. Jack could also have sworn one of the loudest whistlers was Martha. She and Rhiannon seemed to be vying for the title.

Jack missed the Doctor's wistful expression as he stood there applauding them but Martha saw it and smiled a little sadly. She linked an arm through his and his gaze met hers. They shared a moment of understanding and then they were drawn into the circle of friends as everyone moved out of the room so it could be made ready for the reception. Suddenly there was no more time for regret. He was dragged into Jack's arms as the man hugged him tight, thanking him for coming. He then found himself shaking Ianto's hand. Unexpectedly, a fierce charge of…something passed between them, leaving the Doctor's hand tingling and Ianto with an extremely odd look on his face…

"What in the…?" Ianto stared at the Doctor in horror before quietly collapsing to the floor, unconscious.

***

Ianto could hear muffled voices from somewhere. He cracked open one eye and saw only darkness. He heard a subdued hum all around him and couldn't make out anything in the gloom. The voices were getting louder and then a door opened suddenly and he groaned as the light hit his open eye and sent a stab of pain through his skull.

"Ianto!" Jack was there by his side, Owen leaning over to check his pulse, Martha and the Doctor standing back out of the way, trying not to crowd him. It was clear they had been discussing him from the looks they were exchanging. His vision wasn't that screwed.

"How do you feel, boss?" Owen asked, shining his penlight into Ianto's eyes and ignoring his complaint as the light hit his retina.

"What the hell happened?" His voice was terse, demanding answers.

"You fai… you collapsed." Owen said, correcting himself. He knew the boss would not appreciate being told he had fainted.

"Probably the excitement," Martha added reassuringly.

"Actually, it was more than that," the Doctor said softly, looking the Torchwood leader in the eye. Everybody stopped, momentarily floored by the quiet admission. All eyes turned to the man who stood there with a slightly embarrassed look in his dark eyes.

"More? How?" Ianto sat up, ignoring Owen's injunction stay lying down on the bed. He realised that someone had loosened his belt, taken off his cravat and undone the top button of his shirt then covered him with a quilt but it was still a mystery where they had put him. There were no windows in the room and the décor was distinctly odd. It could have been English 18th Century—lots of gilding and scrollwork—bar for the carvings of aliens with tentacles.

"When we shook hands, I felt it." The Doctor was looking down at him with an odd sadness in his eyes.

"What was that exactly?" Ianto demanded. "I saw blue sparks between our hands…felt an energy surge…"

"You felt something? What was it? What did you do to him, Doctor?" Jack was accusatory.

"Nothing, I did nothing at all. I only felt what's already been done, Jack. I'm sorry…" Jack began to panic. What the hell had happened and what did he mean, already done? Why was he sorry?

"Doctor, what is wrong with Ianto? What's happened to him?" Jack grabbed Ianto's hand, worry etched in his face. "Not now, not him. Finally I find something, somebody, worth being with—," words failed him. He looked into his husband's eyes. "I can't lose you, not so soon."

"Jack, you're not going to. That's the point," the doctor said, irritated. "You're not going to lose him any time soon…" Ianto suddenly had a horrible feeling he knew where this was going. Jack looked nonplussed and Owen was simply confused.

"This is about Jack," Ianto suggested. "Isn't it?" The Doctor nodded, a little mournfully.

"I'm sorry, but when Rose did what she did to you, Jack, she infused you with Vortex energy, the energy at the heart of the TARDIS."

"That's your ship, isn't it?" Ianto asked and the Doctor nodded, reaching out a hand to the wall and stroking it, almost reassuringly. Ianto realised he must he inside the TARDIS somewhere. The way the Doctor looked up and around as if he were looking at someone confirmed it.

"Artron energy powers the TARDIS. Jack knows he's immortal because Rose channelled it, sent too much of it through him, left a massive amount of it inside him, infused it into every cell of his body," the doctor explained. "Travelling with me, Jack would have absorbed some of it anyway as background radiation. It's what gives him a connection to the old girl." He patted the wall almost as if he were reassuring someone. "It has no side effects, usually, apart from maybe a boosted immune system but Jack absorbed so much of it that it changed him, made him an impossible thing, a fixed point in time." The Doctor's voice was melancholic, regretful. "That's why he always comes back, why he cannot die forever. Thing is, Jack, you're bleeding some of that energy off. You've got the odd grey hair, but you'll take hundreds, maybe thousands of years to look older by twenty. You can also transfer that energy to other people, though, to anyone near you. You've already brought people back from the dead. You've infused your energy into them, willed them to live, to heal…" His eyes slid to Ianto. "When you…come together with someone…you're doing it then too…"

"You mean…?"

"Sorry, Jack. Truly." The Doctor sighed heavily. "There's nothing I can do to change you and now there's nothing I can do to change Mr Jones…"

Jack looked horrified at the Doctor's words. His immortality had been unique, something he wouldn't wish on his worst enemy. Living so long and losing everyone he ever loved, he sometimes wondered how he didn't go stark raving mad. He loved because he could, and because it took the edge off the pain for a while, the pain of being alone and lonely, the pain of grief, of loss. He loved people because they were easy to love and he needed them too, needed them to keep him sane. Up until now Jack had never told any of his lovers about his unique ability but Ianto was different. He already knew, he was Torchwood, and had accepted Jack from the beginning for himself, immortality included.

"Am I immortal too, then?" Ianto asked. He wasn't sure he wanted to know the answer, but he couldn't not find out either. Jack shrugged and looked at the Doctor for confirmation.

"You'll live a long time. Who knows, maybe as long as you two are together. I'm not actually sure. It's the Artron energy, you see. It isn't predictable in what it'll do. Different people react in different ways. Jack is transferring it every time you two are… well, intimate. Every time you kiss, every time you shag like rabbits…What?" He looked at their shocked expressions. "Well, you do. Jack is one big Artron battery now, able to recharge people. Artron energy is what allows Time Lords to regenerate when they die, it's the heart of the TARDIS, in the circuitry and the machinery. A human shouldn't be able to channel as much as Rose did, but she did it anyway. Jack is not entirely human, he's 51st century, and there are other things in there that make him more resilient anyway." The Doctor chuckled, his mercurial mood altering swiftly, his expressive voice revealing his enthusiasm. "You humans, you're brilliant. You adapt and change, you evolve, you just get stronger. You're inventive, brave," he shrugged, scratching the back of his head, "not to mention being downright idiotic sometimes." He said it with a grin to take the sting out of the words and sat down on the end of the bed, fixing Jack with an amused stare.

"So, are you saying that Jack has given me some of this energy every time he…and I…every time we…?"

"Jesus," Owen couldn't believe it. "Sexually transmitted immortality? You have got to be kidding me." He looked at the two of them for a moment, and then shook his head in disbelief. "Only you, Jack, only you…"

Everyone left Jack and Ianto alone for a while after that little reveal. It was decided they needed some space and if they couldn't get that in the TARDIS, they wouldn't get it anywhere. TARDIS had space and to spare. Jack certainly needed to be alone but Ianto wouldn't leave him. The man was deeply disturbed at what he had inadvertently done. The concept that he might never die was a little hard for Ianto to cope with, but he couldn't, in all conscience, blame Jack. It wasn't his fault, even if it was his actions. The man hadn't known that would happen. In a way it was entirely typical. Jack wasn't your think-things-through kind of guy. He never knew what would happen and he didn't think twice about a situation. It was at once one of his greatest strengths and one of his biggest weaknesses.

They were in need of one of those conversations and now didn't seem the time, but Ianto tried anyway.

"Stop beating yourself up, Jack."

"But it's my fault…"

"You didn't know it would happen. You didn't intend for it to happen, did you?"

"NO! Of course not, but… I'm not sorry, Ianto, and that is so selfish of me. Of course I wanted this. To have you with me, forever?" He looked bleak. "Do you have any concept of what it is like, leaving my lovers behind because I can't tell them what I am? Or worse, turning up at their funerals still looking like I'm not much older than 35?" Up until now, Jack had never stayed with any of his lovers long enough to have to tell them. He stared into the distance. "I couldn't tell them. Eventually the resentment would set in, and I never wanted to see that in someone I loved. You have no idea how lonely it is. How much I really want to give it up and lie down and die…I want to live a mortal life, Ianto. I wanted to grow old and die with you, not have you live forever with me!" His voice was anguished. "I just don't understand how this could happen now. I've had other lovers. How come it didn't happen to them? Why you?"

"You told me once that Estelle was the one who lived longest. She was killed. You don't know how long she might have lived, and after all, her medical records prove it, she was fit and healthy for someone of her age, very active too. You must have done that for her, Jack, even though you didn't stay with her. But you loved her, didn't you, even though you left her? You thought you were doing the right thing there. Can you truly say you loved the others as much?"

"I don't know. I thought I did, but Estelle, and you, you're both the closest I've ever come to anyone… I always regretted leaving her, I wish I could have stayed…"

"Times were different then, you did what you had to do and you tried to make sure she was alright, after…" Ianto smiled at Jack's troubled expression. "I read the file, your file. Suzie detailed the outcome with the so-called fairies. It can't have been easy for you."

"I loved her, Ianto, I really did. Estelle was a sweet, kind person and we fell hopelessly in love." Jack's sigh was dragged up from his boots. "I guess we each needed what the other gave at the time. I needed normality, domesticity, space to breath before I went nuts. She needed a knight in shining armour, someone to support her and make her believe in herself. I'm glad I managed to do that for her."

"You did, she was an independent lady who lived a good life because of you. Don't think I don't know that you made sure she was secure. Even if you did pretend you were your own grandson, you made sure she had no money worries, that she was safe. I may think that you underestimated her in not telling her about your immortality but you made that decision based on your knowledge at the time. That's all we ever do. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, as they say."

"Yeah, but they are never around when the decisions are made, are they?" Jack said gently.

"Not usually, no." Ianto agreed.

"But I couldn't protect her in the end…."

"Because she didn't want that protection. She was independent, Jack. She was her own woman and there was nothing you could have done to change that about her. You have to accept that she was going to be that, especially as you chose not to stay with her."

"I'll still have her death on my conscience. Estelle died because I didn't make her believe how dangerous those things were."

"Jack, this isn't the time for this. You're immortal so you've had more time than the rest of us put together to make mistakes, very human mistakes, mistakes you will keep on making, however hard you try, because you're not perfect. No matter how long you live, you'll never be that. Try to learn from life. That's all you can do, so stop it with the regrets and the recriminations."

"I've not exactly given you the best day of your life, have I? First John and now this?" Jack huddled into himself, arms hugging round his body, anguish in his eyes.

"Bollocks, Jack. Do not do this, not today," Ianto said gently. He allowed a hand to sooth his lover's back, stroking soft circles across the broad shoulders. "This is our day, our partnership, our wedding… now you won't ever have to lose me. Shouldn't that be a cause for celebration?" Ianto swallowed the implications of what had happened. He would try dealing with it later. He still loved the man and this was their wedding day. He had wanted it to be perfect and now he wasn't sure if it was still salvageable. Jack looked stricken.

"Am I interrupting?" Jack groaned and buried his head in his hands as Ianto turned to see John swaggering into the room. He stopped and looked at them both, then smiled. "He's doing what he's good at, I see," John observed, gently.

"Oh, like you'd know?" Jack snapped, jerking his head up and glaring at the intruder.

"Jack, stop it." John was unrepentant. "I heard about the immortality gaff. If I know you, you're now self-flagellating—get your minds out of the gutter, both of you, I don't mean it like that—because you think you screwed up." John turned to Ianto and shook his head in exasperation. "Does this a lot, you'll find that out soon enough." He turned back to Jack and grinned. "Jackie-boy, you need to learn that you can't keep doing this. The world turns as it will. Shit happens. The Goddess flings you a curve ball. Catch it, throw it back and move on." John squeezed his shoulder. "Remember our survival training? Well, it has been longer for you I guess, the old memory might not be what it was?"

"Cheeky bastard! I'm immortal, not over the hill!" John skipped out of the way of Jack's swipe and shrugged, chuckling.

"I'll refresh your memory then. You make the best of it, you use what you have to hand. Banish negative thoughts, they'll kill you faster than anything. If you lose hope, you lose the fight. Play the game, Jack, like you always do. You and Ianto are made for each other, so stop bemoaning the truth and think! Most people would kill for what you have now." John was entirely serious as he looked them up and down, a smirk on his sensuous lips. "Remember your responsibilities, Jack. That's all I ask. You've got him for life now, not just for Christmas. You need to think about what is important and thank your lucky stars you're not going to lose him just yet. Ianto, you'll have to learn that this bastard can be a gloomy son-of-a-narg when he wants to be, so you'll have to kick him out of it."

"Like you'd know me inside out?" Jack retorted.

"I do, of course I do, we didn't spend five years in a time loop without me learning something about you and believe me, you don't seem to have changed much where some things are concerned."

"Five years? Time loop?" Ianto looked at John uncertainly. Was the man joking?

"Yup. Five years. He made a great wife, though, you'll not regret getting married."

"It was only two years and I was not the wife!" Jack snapped.

"You were too."

"Was not, you were the wife…"

"I was not. You did the cooking and the cleaning."

"Because you were too fucking lazy…"

"Because I was doing the rest of the work…"

"Gentlemen! Time and place," Ianto reminded them, firmly. Jack settled into a sullen sulk and John just grinned. "Please, John, thank you for your…insights, but we ought to get back on track. Jack, we can talk this through later…"

"Yeah, we'll have plenty of time…"

"Stop it, Jack, stop beating yourself up and that's now an order!" Ianto finally asserted his authority and called a halt.

"Ooo, forceful," John was openly admiring. "I envy you, Jackie-boy, he can dominate me any time…" Ianto rolled his eyes at that and didn't dignify it with a response. "Jack," John fixed his former lover with a stare and for once his eyes were entirely serious. "Jack, stop this. You and me, we had our moments, yeah?" Jack regarded him intently.

"Yeah," he replied. "You're right, we did. A few…"

"One thing I learned about you back then, you're not a quitter and you're not stupid. But you do lie to yourself sometimes. And you make the worst sushi…" he flashed a grin. Jack choked a laugh, but it was a laugh never-the-less. "There, that's more like it, this is your wedding day. Seriously, cohana'a litsche, take your opportunities. The on-coming storm may take tomorrow away." John leaned in and captured Jack's lips in a kiss, but it was gentle, loving. "For old times' sake, eh?" He stood up and trotted to the door. "I'll see you guys later, I'm losing good drinking time here." Jack laughed again and waved him away.

"You're going to tell me what all that was about, I suppose?" Ianto said staring after the rogue Time Agent.

Jack smiled. "Just John being John."

"That much I gathered, what was with the foreign language?"

"His own. Cohana'a litsche, it means the same as cariad, I guess. A little more than beloved, maybe. Literally, heart stealer. He called me that all the time when we were together, his joke because his name is Hart." Jack sighed and smiled, shakily, but he was slowly coming out of the angst-ridden funk he had been thrown into.

"What was with the on-coming storm thing?"

"Oh that, it's a line from a poem, some guy from the agency penned it," Jack said and recited the words as if he hadn't heard them last over 130 years before.

"Regret not what you do this day,

The on-coming storm may take tomorrow away,

Then there will remain no more time for regret,

So lay your demons, make your peace, and pay all your debts."

He finished with a small smile. "It was very popular in wartime," he explained. "When you had no clue if people would be alive by tomorrow, you tried not to say things you wouldn't be able to apologise for later."

"In other words, remember what is important, eh?" Ianto smiled. "Well, like it or not, Jack, we are now married, you and me, both of us, yeah?" Ianto flashed his ring. "That's what is important. We're more than the sum of our parts, cariad. We will get through this. I am not letting go of you now. So come on, take me back to the celebrations. We're missing the best bit."

As they came back in, they were met with a dozen UNIT men in dress uniform forming an arch of swords into the room. The place erupted in applause, everyone clapping and whistling as they walked down the line, a photographer snapping away as they did so. When they emerged, a scattering of confetti showering down over them, it was to see Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart standing with his wife not far away, a large grin on his face. He and Jack embraced as old friends and comrades and Jack dragged Ianto forward to introduce him.

"Oh, I know all about young Mr Jones." The Brigadier was smiling. "It's an honour to meet you, sir." He extended a hand and shook Ianto's warmly. "A survivor of Canary Wharf, Leader of Torchwood Three and now you've bagged Harkness. I'm not sure if you're lucky or if fate has it in for you, young man." Ianto laughed and Jack had the good grace to look a little embarrassed.

Everyone patted Ianto on the back as he walked beside Jack to the high table. Rhiannon and Johnny and the kids followed, plus Owen and Tosh, Gwen and Rhys. They ate without really remembering what it was, although it was delicious and Tosh kept a menu for the scrap book she was making for them so they would remember later. Owen's speech was suitably earthy but quite restrained (for him) and Johnny replied for Rhiannon because she hated doing public speaking, which, as Johnny pointed out, was a lie because she wasn't afraid to give him her opinion in public. Very soon they were stepping outside again so the room could be cleared and the disco set up.

Ianto watched John and Jack talking quietly as they stood outside in the gathering darkness. Everyone had gathered around the tall patio heaters that had been set up on the terrace outside the room. Knots of people were conversing, the kids were playing and a few of the catering staff were moving between them, balancing drinks trays. Ianto snagged a glass of champagne and stood a little way off, trying to hear what the two men were saying.

"You picked a good one there." John's words were unexpected.

"I know. He's a pain the arse sometimes, but in a good way."

"You'd know all about that…"

"Fuck off, John…" the retort lacked any real heat.

"Look, Jack, you really should stop it with the guilt tripping. After you found Grey, you were never the same. You were a kid when it happened, you should never have had the responsibility…"

"There was no one else and I failed him."

"I looked in on him a little while ago, you know. He asked for you…"

Ianto watched Jack stiffen. "How was he?"

"Okay, kind of. He wanted you to know, if I ever saw you again, that he doesn't blame you…" Jack sighed.

"That's bollocks and you know it. Stop lying to me. I know you're trying to make me feel better, but…"

"Jack, I'm not lying, not about this. Grey really is okay. The treatment was working. He said he didn't mean those things he said to you, he was out of his head. He wanted me to tell you that he doesn't blame you."

"Wonderfully convenient change of heart."

"Jack, one day, I swear you'll realise I'm not lying. You can see him for yourself, you can learn the truth from him."

"And how could I? Don't you think if I could have gotten off this mudball before now, I would? My vortex manipulator is fried and the doctor won't repair it."

"You could ask him to take you?"

"Why should he?"

"What are friends for?"

"It's too late." Jack said gently. "I don't want to see Grey again. It would be too painful for us both."

Ianto remained frozen to the spot. This was new… Who the hell was Grey? He was shocked by Jack's comments. Don't you think, if I could have gotten off this mudball before now, I would? Was that what he really felt? Would he still go, given chance? What if this doctor would take him? Would he, Ianto, be left alone? Yet again, in the space of a half hour, his infant marriage was being threatened. Ianto quietly despaired. If this was what living with Jack was going to be like, he wondered if he had made an almighty mistake. He turned too fast, too eager to leave the scene and a chair clattered to the floor as he bumped into it, making everyone turn. Jack realised how close Ianto must have been to them and swore as he watched his husband leaving. He ran everything he had just said back through his mind. What had Ianto heard? Abandoning John, Jack followed Ianto at a run.

This was too much, his tired mind complained. He stood outside in the shadows of the gatehouse, willing his emotions to calm down. He was on a roller coaster and he couldn't get off. He was so sick of having to talk Jack down or placate his lunatic ex-lovers and talk to his eccentric friends as well as try to cope with his new found eternity and now all Jack wanted to do was leave the planet? Well, fuck him… he slid down the wall, too tired to even grieve.

"Ianto?" Jacks voice was quiet, small.

"Fuck off." He said softly. The order lacked bite but the sentiment was there.

"Ianto, I'm sorry."

"Stop apologizing."

"But…"

"Just stop, Jack. This was a mistake."

"Don't say that."

"Jack…" Ianto did not know what else to say.

"Ianto…"

"Sorry, Jack. I can't deal with any more."

"Ianto, let's get out of here. We can talk. We—,"

"No! If we talk any more, my head will explode. It's past time for that. Fucking hell, I'm immortal…well nigh, anyway. Give me a decade or so, then we'll talk."

Jack looked down at Ianto where he had slid to sit on the stone step. "I really am sorry about this, this is not the day I wanted to give you. I should have known…" Jack sank down to sit beside him.

"Jack, this is Torchwood, remember? If today had gone off without a hitch, I would have been worried." Jack barked a laugh, then choked, burying his head in his arms and giving in to the grief. A hand eventually settled on his shoulders, warm and comforting.

"Who is Grey?"

"My younger brother," Jack admitted. "When we were kids, the planet we lived on was attacked. Our colony was destroyed, my father killed. We'd been out with dad for the day when they came. He was hit when the fighters flew over, he told me to get Grey home and shoved me away, so we left him behind. They came again, and I lost hold of Grey's hand and they…they took him. I never saw him again. Mum was distraught, blamed me, hardly spoke to me again. As soon as I could, I signed for the Time Agency. They eventually found Grey but he had been brainwashed, turned into a killing machine. The Agency had good medical care and techniques; I had no choice but to trust that they could do something. He nearly killed me, blamed me for running away and leaving him. Oh, it was the line he had been fed by our attackers, his conditioning, but it hurt me, none-the-less. I just had to hope… Now John tells me Grey wants to see me…"

"Maybe he does, maybe the treatment worked." Jack sighed and slumped.

"Maybe, but I don't trust John. Never did. That five years thing was only two but he never realized it. He was very disturbed by the experience; the Agency had to treat him as a psyche case too, after we got out. He went independent not long after being discharged. I don't know what to believe any more."

"In us, that would be a good start. I would also like for you to trust me more…"

"I do trust you, with my heart and my sanity, both of which I have to say are worth more to me than my life at the moment." Their eyes met. Ianto saw a world of hurt within Jack's. Jack saw how tired Ianto looked. "Just so you know, when I first arrived here, after my VM burned out, all I wanted was to get off this mudball and get home. But its not the same now. It ceased being a mudball when I started to realize that my home is here. This is my mudball..."

"I'm sorry," they both said simultaneously, and wrapped their arms round each other, seeking to hold each other as close as possible.

"We'll get through this," Jack promised, holding on. "As you said, more than the sum?"

"Yeah, more than the sum," Ianto agreed. They sat back and breathed the clear cold air for a moment. "I'm knackered," Ianto stated quietly.

"Not far behind you," Jack agreed. "We'd best cut this short? I have no idea how long I can keep going."

"Neither have I. Come on." Ianto stood and offered a hand to Jack who allowed himself to be pulled to his feet. "The sooner we get back, the sooner we can leave." He yawned and grabbed his husband for another hug. They kissed, gently.

"Are we okay, Ianto?" Jack asked, uncertainly, and received a nod of reassurance.

"Yes, Jack, I guess we are okay. At least, as okay as we'll ever get, I suspect."

Jack and Ianto went back inside to the sound of Glenn Miller's Moonlight Serenade. Jack grinned and grabbed his husband for the first dance, blessing Tosh's choice of music. Memories of a blond girl in his arms and the search lights over London, barrage balloons and a rather cute RAF officer came to mind, and were banished by the sight and smell and feel of the man who leaned against him, swaying in the lights from the dance floor. This was real, the rest was just history, and Jack did what he did best, he lived for the moment, all thoughts of the future gone, the only real thing the living breathing vitally alive human being in his arms.

Much later, Jack was talking to a small knot of Ianto's relatives, Ianto having closeted himself with the Brigadier, when he spotted Martha coming back in holding hands with Tom Milligan. Jack grinned and looked about for Ianto, but there was no sign of him. Martha was making a bee-line for him, a rather satisfied smile on her face.

"If you're looking for Ianto, he asked me to tell you to meet him in the car park?" she smirked.

"The car park?"

Martha nodded and wandered off to go talk to Gwen and Jack slipped outside, walking beneath the large gatehouse and into the car park outside. Sure enough, Martha had been right, Ianto was lying across the bonnet of the big Bentley Jack had arrived in, seemingly staring at the sky. God, he looked gorgeous…and available. For a moment Jack marvelled that Ianto was also now virtually immortal and would be for as long as they stayed together; someone who would be there to love him eternally. Jack tried to walk softly but the damn car park was gravelled, but even if he heard Ianto didn't look up. Jack leaned in to breath softly in his ear and he purred.

"Stars are out tonight." He murmured, focusing on Jack who pressed a soft kiss to his lips and smiled. "Isn't it a bit chilly out here for this kind of thing?" For answer he held up the keys and dangled them in front of Jack's eyes.

"Apparently, special people get to borrow the roller."

"And are we? Special, I mean?"

"Jack, how much more special could we get?"

Jack smiled and ran a hand down Ianto's ribs to his groin, touching him through the fabric. He was already hard. Jack leaned in for another kiss, this one slightly more passionate and Ianto opened his mouth to it, hand snaking round Jack's neck and pulling him in. He groaned into it and Jack melted, a jolt of desire pounding through his body straight to his groin. Jack moaned into Ianto's mouth and pressed closer, hoping to hell none of the Briavels' residents were passing at this hour. What the hell…

The car was wonderful. Jack had driven one before (many years ago) which was partly why Ianto let him drive, although he made Jack promise to let him drive back. He knew Jack was as much of a petrol head as Owen anyway so it was a double treat for him. They drove out of the village and along the dark lanes, enjoying being alone. The party would still be in full swing when they got back, Jack wasn't intending to be out for hours, just long enough to enjoy the car and his husband. They drove for ten minutes along the country roads, the car's warm interior smelling intoxicatingly of leather and polish. "They don't make 'em like this anymore, Ianto," Jack said appreciatively "which is a shame really." Ianto was dozing, eyes closed. Jack drove along a way he knew, heading for a lane that he was somewhat embarrassed to admit that he was quite familiar with. He didn't mention to Ianto how he knew it. It was a long time a go and in another life as far as Jack was concerned. He parked the car and turned to Ianto, laying a gentle hand to wake him, watching as he opened gorgeously drowsy eyes and smiled.

"Where are we?"

"Lover's Lane." Jack said with a grin. He smiled and shook his head slightly.

"Somewhere we shouldn't be disturbed, at least for a few minutes. This lane leads to an abandoned house, been in ruins for thirty odd years. Nobody comes here." Jack got out and stretched, opened the rear door and held it while Ianto got in. "If you're too tired, Carwr…"

"Nonsense, and miss this?" Ianto brightened as soon as he took a few deep breaths of cold valley air. "I just found out I'm going to live forever," he declared, then he got in the back and settled into the upholstery. "Last time I sat here I was single…" he grinned at Jack, showing white teeth in the darkness.

"Why, Mr Harkness-Jones, I declare your smile can rival mine when you want it to." Jack sat down and pulled the door shut, locking them both in, just in case. Then he leaned in to claim a deep kiss.

"I have to say…" Jack murmured into his ear "…you looked very sexy draped over the bonnet back there."

"Thank you…you just look sexy, no matter what." Jack knelt and unfastened Ianto's trousers, peeling back the fabric and unzipping him. He moaned softly as Jack slipped his hand inside and began to massage his length, looking down at Jack as he sat there, leaning back against the leather, his face a picture.

"I'm gonna have you, then you can have me…no need to take our gear off, no need to look dishevelled and no need to get cold." The heater in the car wasn't bad but Jack was aware the warmth wouldn't last long. He unbuttoned Ianto's boxers and eased him out of the fabric. His eyes were lustful and wanting and so, so loving. Jack swept his tongue out and lapped the soft skin on the head of his cock, heard his in-drawn breath and smiled as he took the head into his mouth. He sucked, his hand working Ianto's balls through the fabric. Jack let him slide almost completely in, hollowing his cheeks as he sucked hard. He was making the most wonderful sounds, huskily muttering welsh as Jack lavished attention on him, including a liberal smattering of 'cariad' and 'gwr'. His hips began to move, lifting up to meet Jack's mouth. Jack let him fuck his mouth for a while, hands roaming under Ianto's shirt, sliding along his smooth back. Ianto grunted, hands fisting in Jack's hair. Jack swallowed him whole, sucked even harder and then he was spurting into Jack's mouth, all control lost. His husband swallowed it all, an appreciative look on his face.

Once he was done Jack leaned in to claim his mouth again, letting him taste himself, then Jack tidied him up and tucked his shirt back in, then changed places. Ianto had Jack lie along the seat and knelt beside him, his mouth taking its turn to do amazing things to Jack's body. The Captain's clothes were easier to undo than Ianto's and he made the most of it. Jack arched into Ianto's touch and felt his new husband's hands holding him down. Ooo, that was always a turn on. Ianto made short work of Jack, his tongue swirling and his fingers teasing and massaging Jack's balls, he simply couldn't hold out. Sex in the back of a car had always turned the Captain on and now he was engaged in doing it with his husband, it was a double turn-on. He came hard, exploding into Ianto's mouth and down his throat and the man drank it down like it was the best thing on earth, like it was ambrosia. Jack watched through heavy lidded eyes as Ianto licked his lips. Oh, so sexy, Ianto, Jack thought, lying there in post-coital bliss, his thoughts a haze. He was spaced out and lay there quietly for a while trying to recover. Ianto kissed him, letting Jack take his turn to taste himself on his tongue.

They drove back in companionable silence, Jack letting Ianto him drive a ways but he was happy to give it up again, it was one of the reasons he'd 'borrowed' the vehicle in the first place, to let Jack drive it. I love this man, Jack thought, overwhelmed with the implications of his immortality again. Ianto was always thinking of others. It was about time someone thought about him. Well, my turn to think of him for once, Jack thought silently. They arrived back and rejoined the Party with a few jokes as to where they'd been but it was inevitable and although Ianto blushed a little he was too happy to care. Jack pulled him in for another dance and they enjoyed the rest of the evening without a care. Hells bells, the world could have ended right then but they would have been happy.

"So, that bullet wouldn't have killed me then?" Ianto was firing questions at the doctor over a couple of cold beers and the remains of his buffet supper. It was very late. Jack was dancing somewhere, with Gwen or Martha or Tosh or maybe even Owen, Ianto wasn't sure. He had questions and he wanted them answered.

"Don't push your luck, Mr Jones." The doctor was looking at him intently. "You probably wouldn't have died, but you didn't bounce back from it immediately, like Jack has a tendency to do, did you? Besides, as I understand it, you and Jack hadn't been—how shall we say? Intimate?—you hadn't been intimate for long then, had you? "

"No, we hadn't and it took me a few weeks to recover, yes."

"You've not had the same intense blast of Artron energy through you like the one Rose hit Jack with. Healing will not be significantly altered for you, even if you find you can return from the dead. I really wouldn't push my luck if I were you. We none of us know exactly what might happen. Unmolested, uninjured and disease free, you'll probably live as long as he will. As long as you both continue to… you know… co-habit? Jack has to be able to transmit the energy somehow."

"So if we parted…"

"The effects wouldn't just disappear," the Doctor explained, "although they would eventually fade. Jack will need to bleed off his energy into you on a regular basis."

"Oh, I guess I'll manage that, Doctor." Jack slid onto a chair next to Ianto and sighed.

"How's John?" Ianto ventured to ask, neatly deflecting the topic.

"Dancing with Owen…" Ianto had to stop and consider that pairing for a moment.

"And how are you?" Ianto asked Jack.

"I'm good." The reply was soft, reassuring. Ianto reached out and took his hand. They sat together like that for a while and eventually realised the Doctor had gone off and was dancing with Martha. Lost in each other's company, they were oblivious to anything going on around them. More than the sum of their parts? Jack smiled. They would deal with this, one way or the other. Not like it could be altered now anyway.

"Come on, you two." The doctor was grinning, heaving them to their feet and guiding them outside to where the blue box sat patiently.

"Where we going?" Ianto asked , shivering in the autumn cold.

"Anywhere you want to. Your bags are already on board. I'm taking you on an all-expenses paid honeymoon. You'll be back before you know it. So come on, where do you want to visit? The High Temple of the eternal flame of Shivanka on Kiriktua VI? A burning desire to visit Pompeii, maybe? 17th Century Japan? Outer Mongolia? London, 1964, Carnaby Street, the Beatles? You name it, I'll get you there."

"Rhrysiah Seven," Jack said firmly, "The honeymoon suite."

"Rhrysiah Seven? Isn't that a bit over-priced?" He watched Jack's expression, then grinned. "Okay, Rhysiah Seven it is then." He began to flick switches and pull levers.

"Hang on, we didn't say goodbye…"

"You'll be back soon…"

"Heard that one before."

***

Next story in series - Back To Work….