Previous part of story - Christmas with the Jones Family.

***

With dinner over, Mrs. Jones got the girls to help her clear the table so that the family could begin the tradition of decorating the tree. It was always on the 23rd that they hauled out the fake white pine that they used year after year. It was the boy's job to put it together - had been since they were old enough to figure it out - then Glenda and Ifan would string lights around it as they danced to their traditional Christmas record. This was followed by the girls hanging all the ornaments. Once that was all done, the family would set about decorating the rest of the living room with tinsel and making the cranberry and popcorn strings that they would hang outside for their avian friends.

It took the girls no time to clean, and by the time they had finished, the boys had returned from a trip up to the attic to get the tree and all the decorations. Mrs. Jones had made hot chocolate and was bringing it in as Jack was erupting in a sneezing fit.

"Ifan! You were supposed to get those down before the boys showed up!" Glenda scolded, dusting the tops of the boxes.

"Relax, it's good for the lungs," Ifan said, settling into his usual chair to survey the scene.

"I'm fine," Jack promised, rubbing his hands over his face briskly. "What do we do first?"

Ianto opened the large, battered cardboard box. The tape was old, so it came away in a crumble. "We put this together."

"Wow." Jack was in awe. He had seen Christmas trees before, sure, but he knew he was looking at a piece of history for the Jones family. He wondered to himself how many stories this very tree would tell if only it could talk. "This is beautiful."

"Jeez, Jack, you would think that you'd never seen a tree before," Del snarked, only to be pinched under the arm by Glenda. "Ow, Mam..." He went to sulk on the couch as Ianto and Jack set to work. "What am I supposed to do, then?" He crossed his arms on his chest and poked out his bottom lip.

"Here, Delwyn, you can start stringing the popcorn with the girls." She pushed the bowl closer to him and handed him a length of string. "Keep yourself busy."

Del made a face. "That's a kid's job, Mam."

"But, seeing as none of my children have seen fit to give me any grandchildren, yet again my children will be the only ones doing it." She smiled sweetly at them before turning to her husband. "Ifan, love, don't you think that sounds fair?"

Ifan grunted from behind the paper he was reading. "Yeah. You lot need to have this woman some kind of Grandkids so she'll get off your backs...and mine!"

There was a collective eye roll amongst the siblings. It was Myfanwy who spoke for the group. "Mam. We have all talked about this and decided that until we find someone worthy of bringing into the Jones line that we would never do anything so petty as pollute our perfect genetic material..."

"Ifan, talk some sense into your children." She popped a cranberry she should have been placing on the string in her mouth.

Still behind the paper, "Kids, do as your mother says. Please have children."

"What, right now?" Gwen asked smartly, winking at Jack before blowing him a kiss, which he mimed catching.

"Gwenda." Mrs. Jones addressed the oldest twin. "Don't be silly. But can we maybe make it a goal next year to be closer to that?"

Gwen sighed. "Fine. I'll arrange a marriage if it will get you off my back. Man."

Jack started to laugh as 'Santa Baby' came from the speakers. "I love this song!" He danced around as he helped Ianto put the tree together, sometimes holding them just out of Ianto's reach.

Del had given in and joined his Mam and sisters in the stringing, trying to avoid having to put the lights on when the time came to do so, seeing as it looked as though Ifan were falling asleep in the chair and the task would fall to him.

"Think of all the fun I've missed; think of all the fellows that I haven't kissed...Next year I could be just as good if you check off my Christmas list..." Jack sang aloud, making Ianto cringe.

"Maybe you could *not* do that?" Ianto suggested.

"All goes back to the grandchildren," Glenda remarked. "If I had some of them, they would be the ones dancing around and singing and it wouldn't fall to Jack to entertain us. Don't listen to Ianto, Jack, you dance your heart out..."

Jack smiled at her as the song changed. "You want us to do the lights, Tad?" He asked the man who was starting to get up.

"Go ahead," Ifan said, settling back down. "Saves me having to get up."

"Ianto! Lights!" Jack barked, making Ianto sigh. "Let's do this."

"If you're going to do it right, let me go get the candy canes that go on it." Mrs Jones stood and went to the kitchen.

Ianto knew that Jack never did anything half way and now, his family was about to learn a very important lesson about letting Jack do things - that they should avoid it at all costs.

"Seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying - FIVE GOLD-EN RINGS!" Jack belted out as he passed the lights to Ianto, who rolled his eyes. "Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtledoves, and...what, Yan?"

The reply was flat. "An idiot decorating a tree?"

Jack's face fell, his shoulders followed. "Come on, have fun - 'tis the season and all that..."

The older man tried to pull him into a dance. "Loosen up." Ianto backed away from Jack as he tried to loop tinsel around his neck. "This would look so nice..."

"Don't, Jack," he warned, turning to run, but getting trapped by a wall.

"Red really is your color though." Jack laughed, draping the decorations on him. Ianto forgot where he was and arched an eyebrow playfully. That was all the invitation that Jack needed, and, before Ianto could react, he was being throughly and soundly kissed by an ex-Time Agent.

"You know who would love to have candy canes off the tree? Grandkids. Remind me why I don't have those again..." She was babbling as she came in the room.

Del cleared his throat and touched his mother's arm to quiet her before he spoke. "That would be why."

It was as if the world did not exist to the men who were at the far side of the room. Only Ifan behind his paper was not watching the show going on. The twins were looking from Ianto and Jack, to one another, and back again, their expressions a cross between shock and understanding. It was Mrs. Jones that broke the silence.

"Then what's your excuse, Delwyn Robert?"

He opened and closed his mouth like a fish for a while before being able to answer. "Well, it's because you're so beautiful and no one compares to you. All women in my life have been let-downs."

Jack heard Del's voice and it brought him back to reality. He opened his eyes and saw everyone was watching the show he and Ianto had put on. Smiling, he walked over to Del and placed his hands on either side of Ianto's brother's face. "Liar." Jack drew him close and kissed him as well.

Del was left blinking.

"What?" Jack asked the room. "Had to. Mistletoe." He pointed to the plant hanging above them. "It's the law. True fact." Then the smile.

Ianto was about to say something when his cell rang. "Ianto Jones, pissed off Welshman, how can I help you?"

"Ianto? It's Gwen..."

"How's it going?" Ianto put on his fake enthusiasm for the room's benefit.

"Not great. Janet got out and at the ornaments off the tree."

"Oh, wonderful! Glad to hear you and Rhys' mam decided to put your differences aside for the holiday. Have you heard from Owen or Tosh?"

"Ianto! Did you not hear me? Janet is loose! Owen has her cornered, but I need to know where you keep the Weevil spray. We're out in the kit up here."

"Well, Gwen, I would have expected you to buy extra presents," He held his hand over the mouthpiece and spoke to the people watching him. "It's Gwen, just a little problem with gift shortage. I don't know why she called me."

"Ianto Jones! What the hell are you talking about? She's stuck in Jack's office! We're in real trouble here..."

"Okay, Gwen, you have a nice holiday too. Give my regards to the Williams family." Ianto shut the phone on a screeching Gwen.

"Ianto?" Jack looked at him, hands on his hips. "Something wrong?"

"Nothing. And now, I'm very tired. Goodnight, all." A torn up office would teach Jack.

***

Ianto straightened his tie and walked out of the tiny kitchenette with the tray of steaming mugs. It was the same thing every day – coffee and filing; filing and coffee. Never a break for the dedicated general support officer of Torchwood Three.

First, it was to Tosh's desk. Her favorite celery-hued mug contained the steaming liquid she preferred to start her day with - the very same mug that had the delicate flowers creeping up the side. Ianto thought that maybe she had gotten it as a gift, but maybe not. Next was Owen, down in the med bay, and on to Jack, who gave him a kiss as he took his coffee from the tray.

Ianto looked curiously at the mug Jack had taken. It was a plain ceramic mug except for the "#1 Mom" written on it. That and the broken handle. He briefly wondered why the mug would even be in the Hub, let alone why Jack would use it. He was still thinking about it when he got to Gwen's desk.

"Thank goodness you're here, Ianto!" Gwen squealed theatrically. "There is a dino under my desk that I need you to get out!"

Ianto felt himself go pale. How had Myfanwy gotten herself under Gwen's desk without anyone noticing? He placed the tray on the desktop as quickly as possible and called up to Jack, "Jack! Don't know how, but it seems we have an emergency down here!"

Jack poked his head out the door in what was record speed for the captain. "What is it?"

"Gwen says there is a dino under her desk," Ianto answered back, noticing that the concern that had painted Jack's face disappeared.

"Is that so?" He sauntered down the steps. "Do you need my help?"

Ianto was shocked. "Of course, how else will I get it?"

Jack leaned to look under the desk, but brushed by Ianto's ear as he did to whisper. "You're good..." Ianto frowned at him. What was he saying? "Dinosaur! You come out now!" Jack called, winking at Ianto.

"Sir," Ianto frowned, "I don't think that will work."

His words were slow, as if he talking to a small child. Jack's head snapped back to Ianto. "Sir?" He raised an eyebrow and stood upright. "When did you start with that again?" "The dino?" Gwen reminded the pair. "It's still there."

Jack looked at her before shaking his head at Ianto. "Come on out now. Game's over," The man in suspenders called under the desk.

Ianto wasn't sure how this was supposed to get a giant pterodactyl out from under a desk that was clearly not big enough for it to even get under in the first place, but curiosity got the better of him and he figured he would wait it out to see.

The offending dino came out when called, and the shock that was on Ianto's face was genuine. "What is going on?" Jack put his hand on Ianto's forehead. "Are you okay, Yan? You look confused. Should I get Owen up here?"

Ianto's eyes grew wide. "That's a..." Ianto pointed down to the "dino", "...kid."

Jack grew concerned. "Ianto, sweetheart, that's your kid."

"Not a kid! Dino!" The small boy launched himself at Ianto's knee and bit. Hard.

"Son-of-a-," Ianto grabbed his knee cap and tried to chase the small boy in overalls as he ran toward Tosh's desk. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh, I see." Jack laughed. "He bites you and he's my son?" He walked to where Ianto stood and took his hand. "It doesn't work that way, love." He looked over to the boy. "John Aeron, he didn't mean it. You're just a bit much for him right now."

"Come on now, sweetie," Ianto coaxed, tugging on the boy's hand. "I didn't mean to yell."

Big blue eyes met his and he felt his insides seize. They were too familiar.

"How about we get your trains out?" Jack suggested to the boy, ruffling his hair.

"Trains?" his eyes lit up.

"Yes, Thomas and Bill and James." He was sharing John's enthusiasm.

"And James?" Came the echo with a clap of small hands.

"And Toby," Jack nodded, remembering that he had gotten a new one recently.

"Yay! Toe-bee!" He bounced between the men holding hi hands.

Ianto looked over at Jack to find him looking back. A smile that seemed to ask a question was on his lips. Ianto answered back with his own smile.

"And then, maybe me you and Tad can go get lunch," Jack promised, handing the boy the promised toys as he sat him on the couch.

"Lunch," came the echo. "Toe-bee. Lunch."

Ianto laughed. "Yes, lunch. Jack. Ianto. John. Lunch." He frowned, realizing he had picked up the staccato way the boy spoke, as if he were used to hearing it. "So, you stay here and be a good boy, okay?"

The dark blonde head bobbed in agreement. "'K, Tad."

It was then that Ianto felt his heart melt. It was Christmas and Birthdays and the first time he kissed Jack all rolled into one. It was the universe beginning and ending. It was facing down Lisa and cannibals and the judge when he was 15. And it was all because of Jack.

"You all right?" Gwen was there suddenly, in the place it seemed Jack had just been standing. Ianto nodded, fearing any attempted words would bring tears with them. She rubbed his back. "Seems like he's growing too fast, doesn't it?"

Ianto nodded, watching as John picked up the battered red train and made spaceship noises.

"So, do you have his birthday all planned?" Gwen turned his attention away.

"Birthday?" Ianto wished he knew what she was talking about. He wished for his date book, patting his pockets as if it were small enough to be there, even though he knew it wasn't.

"Looking for this?" Toshiko was at his other side, holding a book Ianto didn't recognize, but knew was exactly the right one.

"Thank you, Tosh," Ianto went to say, but she wasn't there anymore. He shrugged and opened the book to a marked page. There, in familiar handwriting, were notes on a third birthday party. Words like 'balloon' and 'candles' and 'streamers' and 'cake – white NOT chocolate' swam before his eyes along with a simple one-word question – 'Titan?'

Owen, who was there now instead of Gwen, tapped the page. "Titan? You're getting a giant robot for John's party? You two aren't sparing any expense, are you? I wonder, is this on the company dollar?"

"I…look, Owen, this must be Jack's idea – but why am I answering to you when…" The Welshman looked around, but Owen had wandered off. Ianto sighed, noticing John was no longer on the couch where he had last seen him. He looked over to Gwen's desk as habit and saw him there, talking and laughing with her – looking more than a little bit like Jack when he was in full flirt mode.

A noise and loud curse from Owen brought Ianto's eyes away and into the autopsy room, where John was busily spinning around in the office chair at Owen's computer as Owen dissected a large creature that, to Ianto, resembled the white rabbit from Alice in Wonderland.

Ianto shook the image from his head and walked towards Tosh to find John had beaten him there. The Japanese woman, who was usually so patient with everyone, was all but pleading with the small child who was happily punching buttons and making what could only be described as laser-gun noises.

"Oh, look, there's Tad!" She sighed in relief as she removed his over-all clad body from her work area. "Perhaps he and Dad are ready for lunch now?"

"Sounds like a plan to me." Jack's voice was in his ear. Ianto jumped and found that he was holding Jack's greatcoat.

"Then, lunch it is." Ianto spoke as he helped Jack put on his coat like always, paying special attention to the collar before shrugging on his own jacket.

There was the small sound of someone shorter than him clearing their throat, and Ianto looked down to see John holding out his own coat – a smaller version of Jack's own. "Help?"

Figuring he was probably the cause of this, Ianto took the small woolen coat as the child slid into it, mimicking Jack's familiar motions. With a resigned sigh, Ianto picked up the boy, who immediately reached for Jack. He was passed over without and word and the two of them ran ahead to the lift, not waiting for Ianto. Once outside in the Plass, Jack put John down. But before anyone could take his hand, he was off running as fast as his toddler legs could carry him, eventually climbing on benches that were outside of the Millennium Center.

"John Aeron! You come down here right now!" Ianto yelled, even as he felt a familiar hand on his shoulder.

"Ianto," Jack's voice called. "Ianto, it's okay."

"But it's not," Ianto insisted in a haze. "He's going to get hurt, Jack."

"Who is?" Jack's eyes were sympathetic.

"John Aeron," Ianto frowned, looking around. "Who doesn't seem to exist…" He ran his hand through his hair.

"Were you dreaming?" Jack's voice was morning-deep.

"Must have been," he sat upright, scooting so that Jack could join him. "But it felt so…real."

Jack put an arm around him to draw him close. Ianto let his head fall to Jack's chest. He reached an arm up to snake around Jack's neck when Jack caught his wrist. "Ianto, I thought this was broken."

Ianto looked at his watch. "Uh…it…I don't remember putting that on." He watched, fascinated, as Jack removed it for closer inspection. "I still had yours on when I went to sleep."

***

"Ifan – where are all the stockings? We can't hang them by the chimney with care if we don't have them…" Ianto and Jack came into the kitchen just as Glenda was clearing the breakfast dished. "Oh, hi boys – sleep well?"

Ianto frowned at Jack, stopping him from speaking. "Just fine," he assured her.

"Good, good." She looked over to Jack, who was frowning. "Do you think you boys could go up to the attic to get the stockings? Ifan didn't get that box when he got the others." She looked from one man to the other. "There's pancakes in it for you…"

"Ianto, pancakes," Jack's eyes lit up. Mrs. Jones was quickly learning the way to Jack's heart.

"Yes, Mam, we'll go get them. I'll never hear the end of it if we don't," he turned to his father, who looked over the top of the morning paper. "Any clue as to where that box might be?"

"I suppose it's with the others." Mr. Jones answered. "Though I thought I brought all of those down."

"Well, you clearly didn't." Glenda said, filling the sink with water.

"We're going now, Mam," Ianto yanked on Jack's sleeve. "Go ahead and start making the pancakes."

When they were in the attic, Jack turned to Ianto. "What was that about in the kitchen?"

"I don't know what you mean." Ianto stared at him blankly.

"Nevermind," Jack huffed, looking around the small room with his hands on his hips. "Where would that box be?"

"Your guess is as good as mine." Ianto shrugged, glad to have that conversation behind them, but knowing that Jack would more than likely bring it up later. "I think we should start at the corner and work our way around."

"Is that how you do it in the archives?" Jack asked, starting for a stack of boxes that said 'XMAS' on them. "These look promising."

"What would I do without you?" Ianto laughed, following him.

"Die of boredom and sexual frustration," Jack said simply, opening the first box on the stack.

"BINGO!" Ianto called from the box he was looking in, "They're right here."

"That was easy." Jack went to close the box, but something red caught his eye. Ianto's back was turned, so Jack opened the box back up to see if his eyes were playing tricks on him. They weren't.

"Oh! Look at this," Ianto went for another box. "This has some of my stuff that was in my room growing up. You wanna see?"

Jack smiled back at him, "That would be wonderful, Yan." He closed the box and went to join him on the trip down memory lane.

"You have to promise not to laugh." Ianto said, his mouth slightly smiling.

"I promise. Why would I laugh?" Jack sat in a dusty chair that was covered with a sheet.

"Because you might," Ianto stood over him, holding the box.

Jack pulled Ianto into his lap. "But I wouldn't – not at you." He put his arms around Ianto's waist.

"You say that now." Ianto ran his hand along Jack's cheek. "But you don't know what's in that box."

"Yan, it doesn't matter what's in that box. Only that you wanted to share it with me in the first place." Jack locked eyes with him. "I only wish that I had something of my childhood to share with you."

"Don't worry about that," Ianto leaned to kiss him. "You're here. How you got here isn't important."

"So, I'm forgiven for that 'thing' last night?" Jack smiled against him.

"Well, it wasn't the way I wanted them to find out about us, but, given it was you and I, how else could it have been?" Ianto kissed him again.

"True," Jack sank back in the chair. "Do you think Del's mad at me?"

"No," another voice answered. Ianto jumped, Jack's arms going tighter around him. "He's not mad. Confused, maybe…Mam wanted me to come and help you. But I don't think she knew what you were up to."

"Can it, Del. The box she wants is right over there. You can take it down if you want." Ianto wasn't in the mood for him today. "I found a box of stuff from my bedroom that I wanted to look through."

"Yeah, I'll go so you and your boyfriend can have some time alone," Del snorted. "I'm sure Mam will be okay with that."

"Ass," Ianto stood and pulled Jack to his feet.

Del picked up the box with the stockings and led the way out of the attic. Ianto carried with him the box of memories and Jack was the last out, looking back at the box he had opened.

"What's wrong?" Ianto asked, turning back to him.

"Nothing," Jack answered. "Just hungry."

"Oh, that's right, you haven't had your usual coffee and pastry yet, have you?" He patted the captain's stomach. "Mam's making breakfast, don't worry. I'll make you some coffee."

"You are too good to me."

"You might be right. But it's who I am. You can thank Mam and Tad for that."

"That sounds like a good idea." Jack grinned. "I think I do need to talk to them."

"No, Jack, that was a joke." But it was too late, Jack was already down the stairs for the basement.

"Mr. Jones…Ifan…Tad?" Jack called as he walked down the stairs.

"Down here, Jack." The answer came echoing up the stairs to meet him. "Don't mind the mess."

He looked around the corner to see Ifan Jones at his sewing machine, just finishing something that he was packing into a box. "Pajamas, though I suppose I shouldn't be telling you."

Jack inclined his head, "Why not?"

"They're for you. All the kids get new pajamas on Christmas Eve. That way, the pictures we take in the morning look good." He shut the lid on the box.

"What about the 'bedhead'?" Jack asked, a smile on his face.

"We ignore it." Ifan laughed. "But that isn't what you came down here for, is it, Captain?"

Jack's face fell for a moment. "Captain?"

"Don't play innocent. I know who you are. And I still let you in my house."

"But – how?" Jack crossed his arms on his chest.

"I've been around, Jack. And to be honest, if someone had told me twenty years ago that I would be in my basement having this talk with Jack Harkness, I would have told them that they were crazy. How about you sit?" Ifan kicked a chair towards the standing man.

Jack did as he was told, wondering where this talk was going to go.

"Jack, I know who you are. In fact, I knew who you were before the child of mine that you have taken to was born." Ifan turned his chair to face Jack. "And, as much as I know about you, I am thrilled that my son has found someone that makes him happy."

"Well, sir, he makes me happy as well…" The smile started.

"Don't interrupt me, Harkness." There was a new edge to Mr. Jones' voice, one that Jack hadn't heard from a father in a good, long time. "As much as I like you, I want you to know that if you harm one hair on his head – break his heart in the least little bit – I will hunt you down and make you wish that you could die. Do we have an understanding?"

Jack nodded slowly.

"Good. Welcome to the family." Ifan turned back to the sewing machine and picked up a piece of cut material that was sitting near it. He examined it for a moment before putting it under the foot and making adjustments to the stitch. "Something you need?"

"No sir." Jack stood and went back to the stairs, taking them two at a time to get back to Ianto.

Ianto was waiting for him in the living room, the box sitting on his lap. "Mam wants us to go and get the albums now. Let me put this somewhere Del won't bother it and we can go and get them."

"Where are they?" Jack asked.

"The attic. Tad took them up there, thinking he was helping clear up some of the mess down her about a month ago. Mam is none too happy about it." Jack watched as Ianto walked down the hall.

"You know," Glenda put her arm around Jack's waist as she approached, "I think you're smitten, my boy."

Jack looked down at her. "What do you mean?"

"Like I didn't see that little show you put on. And don't look so shocked." She batted at him. "I can see it in your eyes. Both of you."

"You ready to go back up there?" Ianto dusted his hands off theatrically, and looked at the way Jack and his mother were standing. "What's going on here? Jack – I told you not to hit on my mam…"

"But, honey, she reminds me so much of you…" Jack gave her a quick kiss on the head and went to stand by Ianto. "I'm ready."

Ianto rolled his eyes and took the hand that Jack offered, watching as Glenda smiled at the both of them.

"Ianto, son, just bring all the albums down. Jack hasn't seen any of them," she called after them.

"And he won't if I have anything to say about it…" Ianto called back with a chuckle.

"Spoil-sport," Jack grumbled as they climbed the stairs to the attic for the third time in two days.

"Listen, there is some embarrassing stuff in those pictures. Besides, Mam only wants to be able to put the new pictures of us on Christmas Eve and Christmas in them. She'll only need the Christmas one." Ianto started to root through the box that Jack had opened earlier, and abruptly stopped. "Jack. Come here."

Jack turned from the box he was looking in. "Did you find a spider?" When he saw what Ianto was holding up, he got serious. "What's that?"

"As if you don't know." Ianto was suddenly sick and mad. "Jack, do you know what this means?"

Putting his hands in his pockets, Jack arched an eyebrow, "That I can finally see my sexy man in a UNIT cap?"

Ianto threw the cap at him. "Not the time or place."

"What do you want me to say, Yan? That I planted this? Because I didn't." He twirled the cap on the end of his finger. "Maybe you should ask your father."

"This isn't something that Tad would keep from us – he's…there's no way he could have been in UNIT…"

"Look, let's just get those albums." Jack tried to calm him down.

A light went on behind Ianto's eyes. "Yeah, that's it! Jack, we need to find all the photo albums."

"I thought you said you didn't want me seeing them…"

"My parents love pictures. There has to be at least one of my tad in uniform…" Ianto began to tear thorough boxes until he found a stack of photo albums. Once they had looked through all of them without finding on picture of The Jones when they were younger, Ianto ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. "I can't even find the one that has their wedding pictures in it, Jack, this is weird."

"Did you try that trunk over there?" He was pointing at a simple wooden trunk that was buried under a few more boxes.

"That's just Mam's Hope Chest." Ianto heard what he was saying and all but ran to it. "Jack, you're a genius! Have I told you how much I love you?"

"Not today." Jack laughed, helping him remove the boxes to open the chest.

They dug together through the tablecloths and linen napkins. There was Glenda's wedding dress and hand-knit baby clothes that were labeled for each of the Jones children. Jack took a moment to unfold the one marked 'Ianto', marveling at the small size. Ianto watched him out of the corner of his eye as he dug further and further, finally wrapping his hand around a bound volume.

"I found it!" Ianto held the book up triumphantly.

"Bring it over here." Jack was sitting in the same chair as before. "We can look at it together."

"Good idea." Ianto took his place on Jack's lap again, flipping the book open. There were a few of his parents when they first met – Ianto had heard the story many times and knew it well. It was on the bus. Tad had given Mam his seat. And it was love at first sight, to hear them tell it. The pictures backed up that story well. None of them showed the both of them looking forward, one was always sneaking a peek at the other.

"Look at them, Yan." Jack pointed out. "I saw Tad looking at her like that yesterday at dinner."

Ianto smiled. "So did I. Even after all these years…" He shook his head. "I could only be so lucky."

"Hey, now," Jack used his mock-hurt voice. "That stings, Ianto Jones."

Ianto's mouth crooked up on one side as he flipped to the next page. Here were the pictures he was most familiar with – the ones of them at their wedding ceremony – Mam in her beautiful cream dress and Tad in his tastefully tailored tuxedo that still hung in their closet. These were followed by the ones of them kissing for the first time as a married couple and the ones of them cutting the cake. Ianto was about to give up when he noticed that two of the pages near the end were stuck together.

Frowning at Jack, he ran a finger between the aged pages. His breath caught in his throat as he looked down at the picture in front of him. The picture of Ifan Jones all decked out in a crisp UNIT uniform, his cap tipped just so. He heard Jack's breath suck in as well.

"Jesus, Yan, you look like your tad! Now I know we have to get you one of those caps…I wonder if we could just have the one we found…" Ianto smacked him on the arm.

"This isn't funny, Jack! My Tad has been keeping this from us. He has to know what Torchwood is then…that explains how he knew who you were…" His hands were running through his hair again. "And who is this man he's standing with? That's an absurdly long scarf…"

"You really need to talk to your tad," Jack said. "I'm sure he'd tell you the truth. Maybe he doesn't want the others to know. Do you think your mam knows?"

"I don't know, Jack. All I know is that I need a drink. A very big drink…"

***

"And this was the year Ianto gave Delwyn a black eye…" Glenda pointed to a picture in the album she held in her lap. "Do you remember that year, Ifan?"

Mr. Jones grunted as he read the magazine in front of him and sipped the eggnog in his hand. Ianto raised his own mug to his father in agreement.

"And here's the year that Del and Ianto gave each other black eyes…" Gwen, who was perched on the arm of the couch, her arm around Jack, pointed out.

Jack bent to look closer, "Do they always fight?"

"For as long as I can remember – yes," Myfanwy clinked glasses with Ianto.

"I'll drink to that," Ianto agreed.

"You're drinking to everything," Gwen observed. "You might want to slow that down." She frowned.

"Lay off," Del stuck up for his brother, raising his own glass to him.

"Here, here!" Ianto raised his glass, as did his father.

"Jack, do you want some eggnog before this lot drinks it all?" Glenda went to stand, but Jack stopped her. "That's all right."

"Jack doesn't drink, Mam," Ianto waved his glass around, leaning as close to her as he could, which was awfully close. "It makes him lose his inhibitions," he giggled out in a breathy stage whisper.

"Ianto, that may be enough for you," Jack said, leaning across Mrs. Jones.

The man let his head roll back to face Jack, smiling broadly. "Nah," Ianto got to his feet. "I can still sing!"

Jack went to stand, but Gwen pushed him back into the couch. "No, this is going to be good. Ianto rarely sings."

Sitting back down, Jack's mouth was a hard line. He'd seen Ianto a little tipsy before, but this was far past that.

With a flourish, Ianto threw his head back and began to sing tunelessly. "I'm a little teaboy, short and stout – but not really that stout, so please don't pout…" He was miming the words as he went, causing Jack to cover his face in shame for his boyfriend.

Del stood up to join his little brother as Ianto continued to sing, not anything near the real song. No one could keep Jack in his seat this time.

"Look, Yan, maybe it's time to go and lie down for a bit, sleep it off…"

Ianto turned to see Jack in his haze and wrapped his fingers around the captain's suspenders. "And kill the buzz? No way – I would rather just go to bed; no sleep." He bit his lip and pulled Jack closer, but Jack turned his head when Ianto went to kiss him.

"Yan, how many fingers do you see?" Jack held two fingers up.

Ianto grinned impossibly, "Jackie, I see all the fingers I look at," a statement which ended in more giggles.

"That's my baby brother – the lightweight." Del held his glass in a toast, not meaning anything by it.

Ianto suddenly turned, "You wanna go?"

Del held up his hands in surrender. " Yan, it's fine, I didn't mean anything.."

Ianto's eyes flashed dark. "No, Del, let's do this. Let's do it right. That little fight with the mop and broom? That was just the first round!" He was getting closer to Del with every word he spoke.

"Yan, don't." Jack warned, a slight growl in his voice, his muscles tensed to separate them.

"No grab-assing near the tree, boys!" Glenda warned, sternly, her focus mainly on the photo album.

"This isn't grab-assing, Mam," Ianto assured her, pushing the sleeves to his shirt up to his elbows. "We're finishing something we should have years ago." His eyes never moved from Del. "You ready for this?" Ianto made the drunken hand motions for fighting.

"Ianto Andras, Delwyn Robert – you heard your mother," Ifan spoke up, finally putting his magazine aside. "She said to calm it down."

"What she said was 'no grab-assing', Tad," Ianto argued. "This is not 'grab-assing' – this is a beat down – or it will be, once I get my hands on him."

"Ianto." Tad rose from the chair and there was a sudden stillness in the air. Any sane, sober man would have stopped right there. But Ianto was neither at that moment.

"Truce," Del said. "You win. Always. I concede." He backed away as Ianto advanced on him.

A cruel chuckle rose from somewhere in Ianto that made Jack shiver. "Yan, sweetie – come on." Jack tugged on his arm and was shrugged aside. "Ianto!"

He couldn't even hear Jack as he flexed his hands. He was thinking of one thing only. Del. Somehow, right now, to Ianto, Del was everything bad that had happened to him. And Ianto aimed to take care of that once and for all. He drew his fist back and swung.

Del anticipated it and did the same. What they did not anticipate was that Jack was going to try to break up the fight.

Jack was caught in the middle of the two brothers, both of them fighting like it was a life-or-death showdown. Fist after fist crashed down on Jack before anyone realized what was happening. The twins were hiding behind the couch squealing and begging their father to stop the fight. Glenda was hitting at Del and Ianto alternately with a rolled up magazine Ifan handed her.

"IANTO!" Jack managed to grab the collar of the shirt he was wearing and swung him wide, away from the possibility of hurting anyone else.

Ianto blinked, seeing for the first time that Jack was covered in his own blood. He looked to his knuckles to see the same and began to sob.

"THAT'S IT!" Glenda grabbed Del in one fist and Ianto in the other. "CORNERS!"

Both boys looked at one another and then her for a moment before running to the corners they had been forced to stand in as children, not daring to move now any more than they had back then.

"YOU!" Glenda was on a roll. "Into the bathroom so I can clean all that up." Jack looked blankly at her as he gingerly touched his face to access the damage. "NOW! HOP TO!"

Jack felt his legs moving before he could say anything to his brain. He found himself, moments later, seated on the edge of the bathtub as Glenda Jones dabbed at his face with a cool cloth. "Thanks, but, you don't have to do that." He knew he couldn't explain why and that she would be a witness to it firsthand in a moment, just as her son had been.

"Shut up." She slapped him on the arm, making him wince. "No more talking from you. I do the talking here." Jack clamped his mouth shut. "Now, I know that you saw something up in the attic that you shouldn't have. I said shut up. Ifan talks to me. It may not seem like we do a lot of that, but I am sure you are aware that we Jones can carry on for days with nothing but looks." She allowed Jack a snorting laugh before continuing, "I know that you saw a UNIT cap, and the two of you more than likely saw the pictures. Don't smile at me like that, Captain Jack Harkness, man of immortality; and don't look so shocked."

"How did you…Ifan told you?" He tried to hold it in, but the words fell out.

"He didn't need to. I had higher clearance than him." She smiled. "You don't remember me, do you?"

For a brief moment, Jack was worried. Was this sweet woman - the mother of the love of his life – a woman he had screwed over in the past? But no, that didn't fit at all. He would have remembered someone as striking as she had been in her youth. Then it hit him. "You – I know who you are."

"Hello, Jackie." She waved playfully at him before snapping back into interrogator mode. "Now, I know you and Ifan had 'the talk', but whatever he said, goes double for me. And if you intend to break that boy's heart like you did so may of my colleagues', you are in for a world of hurt. But you remember that, don't you?"

"Yes, Ma'am." Jack looked at the tile floor to compose himself before looking up, his trademark smirk on his face. "You were the best strong-arm UNIT had back in the day. No one assumed that someone as delicate-looking and unassuming as you could bite the head off a live bear."

"Thanks for the compliment, Jack, but I meant what I said." She was serious. "Now let's get back out there and see the damage, shall we?"

"Can I just say one more thing?" Jack stood and looked himself in the mirror.

"Go ahead," she allowed.

"If your son is anything like you, perhaps I should better guard myself."

"Sweetheart, you better pray my son is exactly like me. Even with your ability, someone has to save your ass." She smiled as she left him looking in the mirror, shouting down the hallway. "Everyone get to bed! I don't care if you are to blame or not! Father Christmas won't come – hell, he might not anyway!"

Jack watched his face as the bruises went back from where they started. This was supposed to be a simple holiday. But,he reflected, when was anything around him simple?

***

Ianto woke to find Jack sitting by his bed, reading a book that had been on the bookcase in his room. "Jack?" He smiled as he rolled over, tucking his arm under the pillow.

"What is it?" He never raised his eyes from the page.

"I think I had another nightmare," he rubbed his head, wondering why it was tender feeling.

Jack continued reading.

"I dreamt that I was hitting you as hard as I could. And Mam put me in the corner…" Ianto rubbed his eyes. "Isn't that crazy?"

Jack looked up for the first time, not changing the angle of his head.

"Isn't it?" Ianto asked again.

Jack shook his head dismissively before going back to reading.

"Oh, Jesus – I hit you – didn't I?" Ianto slipped out of bed and put his arms around Jack, asking for silent forgiveness. Jack wasn't willing to give in.

"Ianto, how long have you had this problem?"

"What do you mean?"

"Don't play ignorant. You know what I mean." Jack closed the book pointedly.

"No, I don't." Ianto tried to change the subject. "Merry Christmas Jack." He brushed soft kisses on his neck.

Even though Jack loved the feeling, he moved away from Ianto. "Don't. Not answering my question."

"Jack, it's not a real problem." Ianto sighed, sitting back.

"Getting drunk to the point of attack isn't a problem?"

"It's not always like that. Must have been the liquor," Ianto shrugged.

"How long, Ianto?" Jack tried again.

"Not long," Ianto looked away as he answered.

That earned a glare from Jack. He looked thoughtfully at the cover of the book he was holding. "Not what I read."

Ianto's eyes widened as he realized what it was that Jack was holding. "Where did you get that?" He reached for the book.

"Off your bookcase," Jack pointed behind him. "It's a very interesting read." He raised his eyebrows. "But I wonder why some entries are yours and others seem to be a girl's handwriting."

"Gwen and Myfanwy 'helped' me," Ianto sighed, defeated.

"Hmmmm…interesting," Jack opened the book again. "So one of them must have been the ones to write: 'Ianto went out again tonight. He didn't get back until after midnight – and it was a school night! And then, when he did, he had a split lip and smelled like the man down by the docks when we went on holiday.' Right?"

"Yes," Ianto had the sense to be ashamed. "But that was a long time ago. I'm not like that anymore."

"Was this the same Ianto that stole?" Jack's leer appeared.

"And smoked," Ianto mumbled, looking at the floor.

"Wow - you really have changed."

"You not so much, huh, Jack?"

"Touché." He glared at Ianto for a moment. "We'll talk about this later; right now – presents?"

"Yours is right over here," Ianto got up and stood on tip-toe to reach in his closet.

"When did you sneak that in?" Jack leaned against the bed. "I thought I saw you bring everything in."

"Easy," Ianto smiled. "I had it sent here."

"Sneaky." Jack agreed. "I hope you'll forgive the fact that I didn't have time to wrap it more than putting it in a box."

"If you'll forgive me for the same." He sat, the box in his lap. "How do you want to do this?"

"I dunno, switch?" Jack took a small box from his pocket. "You first." He tossed the box to Ianto, and took the box from his lap.

"No, you." Ianto motioned to the wrapped parcel Jack held. "I hope you like it."

"I'm sure I will. As long as it isn't fruitcake. I hate fruitcake. In fact, I still have one left that I got in 1878. Tastes the same as the day I got it, I bet." Jack mused, popping the tape off and starting to lift the lid.

Ianto stopped him. "It's not a fruitcake. And I really do hope you like it. It took quite a while."

Jack put his hand atop Ianto's, no words passing between them. There was a silence as Jack looked down at the box. "I'm sure I will." Ianto watched as Jack lifted the lid, his eyes growing wide. "Where did you get this?"

"Tosh helped me – do you like it?" Ianto bit his lip in uncertainty.

Jack peered into the box at the picture looking up at him. It was one of him and Ianto, sitting beside one another at the conference table. Ianto had his ever-present napkin tucked in at his neck and Jack was laughing about something, head thrown back. "I love it." He lifted it to look closer, noticing that there was a stack under it.

Jack drew in a breath and looked up. "How did…where…oh, Yan…" He looked back down next picture from the box.

It was one of Jack and Estelle, of them standing on a pier. Jack remembered that day well; remembered the reason for the guarded smile he wore rather than his usual wide-mouthed grin. How he had been trying to hide the fact that he was leaving for good. How sweet her kisses had been – Jack handed it to Ianto and whispered, "Estelle," before going on to the next one.

Jack was seated, two small girls to either side of him. They were on a concrete porch, smiling broadly – the youngest ones hand was a blur as she waved. Ianto watched Jack's smile fill his face. "Annabelle and Katherine," Jack explained. "I was dating their mother." He smiled to himself. "Watched those two grow up. Drove the boys away for a while, then it got to be too hard. Anna married a banker. They have three kids and seven grandkids.

"And Katherine?" Ianto looked back down at the picture. Jack had really not aged one day.

"Ahhh, dear Kate," Jack mused. "She's a member of staff over at Cardiff A&E. Ever wonder how I get all the information from them?" He winked.

"Kate Swift? You know her?" Ianto was shocked. "She won't even return any of the messages I've left." He pouted a bit.

"I'll talk to her," Jack patted Ianto's hand as he went to the next picture.

This one was of a man and a woman. The man had Jack's eyes, and the woman had his smile. They appeared to be wearing wedding attire, but Ianto couldn't be sure.

"Where did you find this?" Jack looked out of the corner of his eye, not wanting to look away from the photo for too long, afraid it might disappear.

"I work in the archives, Jack," Ianto felt the need to remind him. "I can find anything."

"I didn't even know they still existed…"

"It was in bad need of repair. They did a really great job."

"My mom looks just like I remember her," Jack carefully touched the woman's face.

"Your mam?" Ianto asked. "I had no idea…so, that would be…"

"My dad."

Ianto felt the need to put his arms around Jack and moved to do so. Jack pulled him as close as he could, trying to hide the fact that he was crying. Ianto wasn't fooled, but know better than to mention the stuttering shake he could fell Jack making. "Maybe save the rest for later?" He suggested.

The only reply Jack could manage came out amidst choked sobs. "Hold me."

***

Jack wiped at his eyes as he finally pulled away from Ianto. "And now I've ruined Christmas-" he laughed out.

Ianto smiled gently. "No, Jack – if anyone is guilty of ruining Christmas, it's me. I'm the one that made you cry."

"Open your present," Jack's voice returned to its normal forceful timber.

Ianto looked down at the box in his lap. It was a simple, solid, wooden box. He turned it over a few times, but found no trick to how it opened. Noticing Jack looking at him impatiently, he snapped the box open and smiled. "Jack, I already have a watch with a chain."

"But this one is special," Jack grinned as Ianto picked it up. "It's broken"

Ianto frowned up at Jack, "Broken? How is that special?"

Jack sighed, taking the watch from him. "Yan, it's not the actual present, it's the reason I bought it."

"And that would be?"

"To show you how long I'll…" Jack's voice dropped off and he looked at Ianto, really looked at him.

"To show me what, Jack?" Ianto challenged, leaning closer.

Jack was forced to look down as he answered. "Well, I thought that the watch, being broken, was, well, a bit like me."

"Go on," Ianto urged, smiling inwardly.

"But, still, it shows how long I'll-" Jack looked up here. "How long I'll love you – our love is endless."

As hard as he tried not to, Ianto's eyes filled with tears as he reached for the timepiece. "It's perfect."

"Now you're crying," Jack pulled him close, kissing his forehead.

"Dirt in my eye," Ianto assured him with a sniff.

"Liar; And a bad one at that, Ianto Jones," Jack pronounced with a tighter hug.

Del, who had been watching from the doorway, turned to leave, but Jack called him back by reaching his arm out wordlessly. Del brushed fingers with Jack before being surprised by being pulled into the sitting hug between his little brother and the man the family had recently met.

"You know, little brother, Mam is still mad about last night," Del said after a moment.

"How do you know?" Ianto asked.

Del smiled his devious smile. "We woke them up in traditional Christmas morning style. I got pinched." He rubbed his arm in memory.

"Serves you right!" Ianto stood, brushing himself off. "Thanks for the warning though. Jack can go ahead out – I need to brush my teeth before facing Mam & Tad."

"Ooh – I get to have the arm candy this morning?" Del stood and offered a hand to Jack who looked at it as if it were poisoned.

"I'm no ones 'arm candy'," Jack informed him as he got to his feet with Ianto's offered hand.

"Keep telling yourself that," the Jones boys chorused.

"Spooky," Jack said, pointing a finger at each of them. "I'm going out there where your mother is less scary…" He backed out of the room with a smirk.

"Is she really still mad?" Ianto asked Del as he ran a hand through his hair.

"Ianto," Del leveled his eyes, "You got pissed and punched your boyfriend repeatedly. We both ended up with our noses in corners – What do you think?"

Ianto grimaced. "Yeah – it was pretty bad then?"

"Brawd, when Mam yelled, I almost wet myself," Delwyn confided.

Ianto sighed, looking at the floor and placing his hands on his hips. "I screwed up."

"That goes without saying. Go brush your teeth – I'll try to divert Mam's attention," Del ruffled his brother's hair and followed after Jack.

Ianto dragged his feet into the bathroom and looked into the mirror. He didn't expect what greeted him. Any member of Torchwood that saw him now wouldn't know him.

"Jesus," he muttered, rubbing the stubble that had sprouted overnight. He had hangover bags under his eyes, and his hair, well, it was best described as 'willy-nilly'. He hastily brushed his teeth and gave up on his hairbrush when it couldn't tame his hair. A quick splash of water over Ianto's face made him feel human enough to walk into the room the laughter was coming from.

"Morning, Yan," Myfanwy's voice greeted, pushing a coffee mug into his hands with a kiss to the check.

"You are an angel," Ianto breathed before inhaling deeply.

"How are you this morning?" Ifan grunted from behind his morning reading.

"Good Tad," Ianto sat, cross-legged beside Jack on the floor. "Thank you."

"Well, are we going to open presents or what?" Del asked rubbing his hands together in anticipation.

"I'll hand out presents!" Gwen began to get up, but was pulled back down by Del.

"I'll do it!" He hollered, but was pulled by Myfanwy.

"I wanna!" She laughed, tackling him.

In no time the Jones children were wrestling. Despite trying to stay out of it, Jack and Ianto were soon right in the middle.

Glenda came in the room at that moment, "I thought I said not to grab-ass near the tree!" she called, sitting on the couch with her own mug.

"They aren't going to stop, Glen," Ifan said, not even looking.

"Well, then, Ifan, how about making them? They're your kids too." Mrs. Jones sighed, her hand on her forehead.

Mr. Jones popped the newspaper as he tried to read lower. "Not the Harkness one…"

"Nice, Ifan." Glenda rolled her eyes, watching as the moving mass got closer to the Christmas tree. "But they better not knock over the tree-"

Mrs. Jones hadn't finished the last word when there was a loud crash. "Ifan – do something or I may kill them…"

Ifan very carefully closed the paper and sat still. As the Jones children heard the rustle, they stopped in mid 'ass-grab'. A look passed around the four of them, missing Jack.

Quietly, the boys stood and righted the tree. The twins, however, began to pick up balls and ornaments that had fallen, careful to sweep up the ones that had broken. Once the tree looked like it had before the tussle, Ifan smiled and leaned back opening his newspaper once again.

"Jack," He called from behind the newsprint, "could you pass out the presents?"

"Yes, sir," Jack began to root around under the leaning, but redecorated tree, casting a confused look back at the four Jones siblings, only to see them smiling back.

***

Glenda Jones surveyed the large pile of wrapping paper with a sigh. Finally, it was like Christmas to her – the presents were unwrapped and everyone was tinkering with what they had received.

Ifan was trying to tune in a station on the antique radio Jack had given him – the one he declared his favorite gift.

Del was trying to get a feel for the controls on his remote-controlled helicopter, buzzing the girls occasionally – if only to hear them squeal.

"Delwyn Robert!" Mrs. Jones scolded, "Stop that or you aren't getting any lunch!" She shook her head, musing on the fact that things never really changed.

"Mam," Del whined, "Jack's doing the same thing!" He pointed to where Jack and the girls were messing with the plane he had gotten – Jack pointing out parts of the plane and telling the twins stories of when he got to fly one just like it.

"He's not trying to attack Myfanwy and Gwen with it," Glenda observed, taking the remote from her oldest son, trying not to spill her cup of coffee as she did so.

"Let's hope it stays that way," Ianto muttered under his breath, earning a confused frown from his mother. "What?" He looked up from the French Press and grinder his parents gifted him. "This is great by the way. The grinder at work is starting to get dull..."

"Your father wasn't sure if you had one or not," Mrs. Jones looked down at the antique locket Jack had given her. "Does this thing open?" She handed it over to Ianto.

He popped it open and an accordion of frames fell out. "There's pictures." He looked, even as he passed the locket over, "And they're of us."

"How did you -" She looked down at the pictures encased in tiny patina-ed frames. The first one was of her and Ifan on their wedding day, followed by her favorite pictures of Delwyn, Ianto, Myfanwy, and Gwenda – ending at the other side of the locket with a small engraved 'Merry Xmas – Love, Jack'.

"Ifan," she turned to her husband, "Did you give him these?"

"Might have," Ifan answered, his smile hidden.

"Jack, these are my favorites," she got up and went to stand over him. "But there's a picture missing." Jack looked up from the controls he was fiddling with.

"What do you mean?" He reached for the locket, popping it open once it was in his hand, "No, they're all there."

Mrs. Jones ruffled his hair. "Yours isn't..."

"Why would you want my ugly face in there?" Jack laughed, handing it back.

"It's going in there, whether you want it to or not. You can give me a good one, or I can take one. Your choice." She patted him on the head maternally.

"Be sure to get my good side, Mam," he smiled up at her once again.

"I think I may have a good one," Ianto said from the couch. "You can have it if you want."

"Not helping," Jack looked at the man.

"Yes, Ianto, that would be lovely, thank you." Mrs Jones gave her own brand of smile to her son.

"Traitor," Jack mumbled and looked over to see Ianto grinning. "Did I also mention 'kiss ass'?" He talked to the girls as he worried with the controller again.

"Always has been," Del remarked, getting his helicopter to fly dangerously close to Myfanwy's hair and making her squeal.

"Son, take it outside," Ifan instructed in an even tone. "You too, Harkness."

Delwyn and Jack took their presents to the door, the girls close behind. "You coming?" Jack turned to ask Ianto before following the herd.

"Yeah, just let me get the camera." Ianto stopped himself from blowing Jack a kiss, not sure where the impulse had even come from.

Jack disappeared out the door and Ianto turned to his mother. "I'm sorry about last night."

"It's in the past, son, leave it," Mrs. Jones patted him on the head before running her hand through his hair. "You could do with a trim."

"Jack likes it like this," Ianto answered automatically, feeling his ears starting to turn red even as it was leaving his mouth.

His mother's warm smile almost brought him to tears. "So, you're happy, then?" Ianto nodded. "Do you plan on going to service with us tonight?"

"Oh, Mam, it wouldn't be Christmas without it." He hugged her and then pulled back, taking his wallet from his pocket. "I think this picture may be small enough for your locket."

Taking the picture, Glenda remarked, "It's perfect, But I don't want to take your picture, son -" She tried to press it back into his hand.

"Mam, I have another of that one. Take it." He pushed it back to her and watched as a look crossed his mother's face – one Ianto couldn't read.

"Go outside with the other kids, Ianto," Ifan forcefully suggested. "Your Mam has lunch ready."

"Yes, sir." Ianto picked up his camera and went out into the backyard.

Jack and Del were racing their flying machines and Myfanwy and Gwen were taking bets as to who was going to crash theirs first. Ianto stood back and watched for a moment, snapping a few pictures of his brother and Jack running after one another, remotes in hand.

"Ianto! Watch this!" Jack dipped the plane toward him, making Ianto duck as the wing dipped to low and touched the top of his head.

"You watch it," Ianto mumbled, looking sideways at the now-laughing Jack.

"Come on, Yan," Del called out, "Don't be angry that Mam and Tad didn't get you something fun."

"I got something fun," Ianto defended in a pout, his hands on his hips. "With what they got me and Myfanwy and Gwen's thoughtful gift of 'Coffees of the Month', I'm going to have plenty of fun..."

"Oh, so my gift wasn't good enough to make the cut?" Del stopped what he was doing to look at his brother.

"Del," Ianto was trying to stay calm, not start anything before lunch, "A 'Sarcastic Ball' is not something I had on my wishlist..."

"Thought you could use it. Sorr-ee." He rolled his eyes and went back to the remote. "Is he always this boring, Jack?" Jack nodded, his smirk appearing as he looked over at the man in question. "And you still fell for him?"

"You wanna know a secret, Del?" He flew his own plane toward the helicopter again. "I think that may be why I fell for him. Too much drama in my past." Jack glanced over to see that Ianto's frown of thought had changed to a goofy smile. "And there it is..."

"Awww..." Gwen cooed, smacking Myfanwy on the arm when she made a huffing noise.

"What?" Myfanwy asked. "Like you aren't jealous?"

"I'm happy for our brother," she smiled back at her twin.

"Bullshit."

"You challenging me?" Gwen puffed up, he smile turning fierce.

"I know how your mind works, you forget-" Myfanwy put on the same look.

"Hey," Ianto called, moving to stand between his sisters.

Jack ran to stop him. "Wait a minute. Girl fight. Not to mention Jones sibling fight. Please, Yan, if you love me..." He held his hands together in beg.

Ianto rolled his eyes and settled back, his arms crossed. "Fine. Whatever. Not like they were going to listen to me anyway."

"What? You aren't getting pictures?" Jack reached for the digital, but only got his hand slapped for the effort.

Del came to stand beside them, his helicopter now forgotten. "He's right about that, Yan. Mam would love to have these for her scrapbook."

"No, Del, she wouldn't," Ianto said, now snatching the camera from Delwyn.

"Dearest Fanny," Gwen was saying in her 'trying-to-stay-calm' voice. "I know how your pretty little head works."

"Gwenda, love," the reply came back, "I know how yours works as well..."

"I saw you looking at him!"

"Oh, really? Must have been hard to look two ways at once." Myfanwy drew in a shocked breath. "Oh wait – you have that one funny eye – maybe that's how you do it-"

Gwen's eyes grew wide. "Oh. You. Are. So dead." She leapt at her sister, grabbing a chunk of hair as she came at her.

Jack leaned over and whispered to Ianto. "Please, please, please – let me have the camera?"

Ianto merely looked at Jack, his face blank.

"Should I go get the mop and broom?" Del asked, earning him the same look from his brother, but a small giggle from Jack.

"Lunch is ready!" Glenda called from the door before seeing her daughters fighting. "Ah, Jesus H. Christ on a crutch!"

Having not heard their mother, Gwen and Myfanwy continued the hair-pulling and insults.

"Can we just go one day without somebody fighting?" Mrs. Jones marched out the door, not bothering to stop to put anything on her feet. "Stop it!" Taking each girl by an arm, she marched them toward the house. "Why are you fighting?"

"She started it!" Myfanwy pointed angrily at Gwen.

"She started it by being in my head!" Gwen shot back, struggling against their mother.

"Gwenda! Knock it off. No one is in anyone's head," Glenda pinched her on the underside of the arm.

"Ouch! Mam!"

"Maybe you'll stop fighting," she said, still hauling each girl by the arm. "Or you can deal with your Tad."

Myfanwy halted, digging her heels into the ground. "Were we fighting, Gwen?"

"I don't think we were, Fan," Gwen stopped on her mother's other side.

"Good – now go on and set the table for lunch," she pushed them both toward the door before turning to the three men and pointing her first finger at them purposefully, "I'll deal with you lot later."

"What did we do?" Del asked, picking up his toy and walking toward his mother.

"You could have broken that up," she cuffed the back of his head. "And you two-" She looked over to Ianto and Jack.

"What?" Ianto was genuinely shocked, "I told them no pictures!"

"You took pictures?"

"No ma'am," Jack answered truthfully, careful to withhold the information that it was his idea to do so in the first place.

"Good," Mrs Jones pointed a finger in turn at the boys, "Or you would have had a problem. Now get inside."

Jack picked up his plane from where it had landed before going back to Ianto. "She meant that, didn't she?"

Ianto nodded, eyes wide, before accepting Jack's hand and walking back to the house for lunch.

***

"Jack, come on!" Ianto took one last look in the mirror before going to check on him.

"I don't know, Ianto," Jack's voice met him before he actually laid eyes on him.

Shrugging on his new suit jacket, Ianto looked up to see what Jack may be unsure of. The sight he was met with almost took his breath away.

Though the material of the suit that Jack was wearing was identical to his own – thanks to Mr. Jones – Jack's fit very different. Somehow, Ifan Jones had managed to capture Jack's style, and yet, updated it.

"What do you think?" Jack turned around slowly in question.

"I...it's...there are no words," he stood, motionless, waiting for his vocabulary to come back to him.

Jack faced him, "Is that good or bad?" He looked down at his attire again.

Ianto closed the space between them. "It's wonderful. Tad did a great job." He reached for Jack's hand. "I never thought I'd see the day Jack Harkness would doubt himself."

"Ianto," Jack turned serious, "we're going to church, I need to let you know that there is a very real chance that the walls will begin to ooze blood..."

"Oh, stop it." Ianto punched him in the arm. "I thought you were being serious."

Jack kissed him in response. "You look nice."

"I said to be serious," Ianto warned.

"I am serious." He looked from Ianto's suit to his own. "We match. Do you do this every year?"

"It's tradition." Ianto gave his familiar nod. "We all match to go greet God."

Jack held in a laugh. "We all match? You mean the whole family?"

"Yes, that's the best part about having a Tad who is a master tailor." Ianto reached to fix Jack's tie. "Seems funny to see you out of your usual clothes."

"You've seen me out of my clothes plenty," Jack moved to put his hands on Ianto's hips, drawing him closer.

"That's not what I meant and you know it." Ianto scolded, leaning in to kiss Jack one time before they had to go out and join the others. "Now, we have to go to church. The walls will neither cave in nor bleed – please don't say anything like that in the car. It's going to be cramped enough will all of us in there."

"We can't take a separate car?" Jack asked, running his hand through Ianto's hair. "By the way, I like your hair like this – don't cut it."

Ianto rolled his eyes. "No, Jack, another tradition is that we all arrive in the one car. If we tried to take another one, I might get Mam's version of the evil eye. And, to tell you the truth, I would much rather slow-dance with a Weevil than make my Mam mad on the actual day of Christmas."

Jack smiled knowingly, wondering if Ianto really knew everything there was to know about his mother – how she herself had been the one to teach Jack scare-tactics that proved to be more than effective on many the occasion, yet still managed to scare Jack himself witless. "Okay then, the whole family squished into the back of the family car it is. I suppose it can't be that bad."

Ianto just looked at him. The last time they had done this, Delwyn hadn't been home and Lisa was the one going to church with the family. That was the year that Tad had made the suit that Jack liked so much on him. The one he had worn when there were no others clean and Jack had commented on. The one that he swore he would never wear again after Lisa. Dear God, they were going to ask about Lisa...

"...to the church?" Jack was finishing up when Ianto snapped out of his thoughts.

"What?" Ianto frowned at himself. "What were you saying?"

Jack cast a side-glance at him. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, fine," Ianto lied. "What were you saying?" he tried again.

"I was asking when we needed to get going to get to the church; are you sure you're alright?" Jack touched Ianto's cheek tenderly.

"Fine, fine," Ianto pulled away. "And we need to get going now. Are you ready?"

Jack checked his pockets and reached for his coat. "As ready as I am ever going to be."

Ianto stopped him, taking the coat. "Nope."

"What?" Jack reached for his security blanket.

"Can't wear the coat. Mam will go spare." Ianto placed it on the lower bunk, just out of Jack's reach.

"I have to freeze?" Jack whined, resisting the urge to stomp his feet.

"You can wear my coat if you want," Ianto offered.

Jack merely stared at him. They had been through this one time before when they had decided to dress as one another for a fancy dress party Gwen had thrown. He had to admit, Ianto had looked damned sexy in Jack's usual dress, full to the braces and coat, but Jack had been so pinched by the shoulders of the suit jacket he was wearing that he had abandoned it halfway through the night in favor of only the dress shirt, tie and waistcoat combo he also favored Ianto in. His shoulders were simply too narrow for Jack to wear any coat that fit the Welshman in a complimentary way. "I can't."

"Jack, not now." Ianto set his hands on his hips and looked at the ceiling as if saying a silent prayer. "Can't you go anywhere without it?"

"It's not that I can't, Yan, it's that I will freeze my gorgeous ass off without it. And, you don't want that now, do you?" He tried puppy-dog eyes.

Ianto was having none of it. "Listen, I can see if Del has something here. His shoulders are a bit wider than mine."

"Fine." Jack openly pouted, scuffing his shoe on the floor. "But I won't like it."

"You don't have to, Captain; you only have to do it." Ianto went out the door to find his brother, Jack close on his heels.

"Del!" Ianto called, his hands in his pockets as he walked down the hallway to the sitting room, "Do you have a coat Jack could borrow?"

"Sure, no problem," Del called back from his own bedroom. "I'll get it and meet you in the kitchen."

"See?" Ianto reached for Jack's hand. "Problem solved."

Jack smiled at him, still missing the weight of his coat. But he forgot all of that by the time they reached the sitting room, where the others were gathered. Ifan was standing with his back to them, Glenda fixing his tie and collar for him. Jack couldn't help but notice that Ianto's father was built very much like his sons. His mind flashed back to a time when he was younger, though he didn't look any different than he did right that moment.

A young woman who looked very much like one of the twins was leaning, the upper half of her body on the table in front of her. She was smiling at a man who had his hands tied behind his back, but the smile was not so much calming as it was terrifying. "I'm going to ask you one more time, Harkness. And this time, let's try to give the right answer, shall we?"

Jack had just smiled at her, the very smile that caused her son to come undone. He had said no words, uttered no sound at all. Just stared at her, memorizing the curve of her mouth; looking at her face and thinking that under different circumstances, he would like to be smothering that tiny nose with impossibly light kisses. That very action had made her mad.

"Harkness," she purred, taking another tact, "Why don't you tell me what you were doing out on the docks so that we can get out of here?"

Jack's interest had been piqued. "Me and you?"

She had sighed, rolling her eyes in a way that Jack now thought he should have recognized. "No, out of this room – you and I separately."

"Then I am going to have to decline the offer, thank you anyway, Miss..." He fished for her name.

She had shaken her head at him. And smiled. Dear God, she had smiled. Smiled even as she had pinned his hand to the table with that sharp-ass knife. Right in the middle of his upturned palm. "Now. Again. What were you doing there?"

Jack had gritted his teeth through the pain. "Picking up dock-workers," he had answered coolly, his eyes never once leaving hers.

"Wrong again." She had come around to him and pulled him by the lapel, not caring about the pain from twisting his arm. "You can't be that desperate. Just tell me. End all of this."

"You know," Jack gritted his teeth, "All you have to do is say you'll go out with me, and I'll tell you whatever you want to know over a meal, maybe a nightcap?"

"Now, now, none of that. I am only interested in hearing the truth – right here, right now." She held her spot, never taking her hands off him. "Are you going to tell me?"

Against all he had been taught by his own mother about respecting females, Jack's Time Agent training had kicked in and he acted on autopilot. He leered at her just one moment before letting loose and spitting in her face.

And that's when it had all gone wrong. The woman had just smiled at him – a smile that, had it been directed at anyone else, might have been amusing – and delivered a headbutt that had knocked Jack from the chair and torn his hand from the table. "Bastard!" She had left him in that room, not knowing whether he should hold his head or his hand. Then, he had blacked out.

"...ready?" Ianto's voice broke Jack out of the vision he was wrapped up in.

Jack shook his head and rubbed it in memory, nodding to Ianto. "Yeah, how are we going to work this again?"

"I was thinking that maybe we could take two cars this year," Mam spoke up. "What?"

"We never take two cars," Myfanwy said, casting a sideways glance at Ianto to see what he thought of that.

"Well, we need to now." Glenda shot back. "Where is Delwyn Robert?"

"Right here, Mam," he called, tossing the leather jacket at Jack as he came into the room, looking for all the world like a carbon copy of his little brother. Jack tried not to think of that as he slipped the coat on.

"Okay then," Mrs. Jones was putting her own coat on. "Ifan, you, Delwyn and the girls go in our car. Ianto and Jack will give me a ride in their car – won't you?"

"Yeah," the two of them answered automatically, afraid to say no.

"Good, Ianto put on your coat and quit holding it. You too, Delwyn." She pulled her own on. "This family would fall apart without me."

Ianto did as she said and offered her his arm on the way out the door. Mrs. Jones accepted it, and turned to her husband once they were both outside, "We'll meet you there. Wait for us outside."

"Yes, Glen-," Ifan said, unlocking the doors. "Be careful." He walked over to kiss her before he got into the vehicle.

Jack sighed watched them, they were so perfectly fit together. Mrs. Jones caught him and smiled. "Can I have front seat, dear?"

"No other way," Jack agreed, running to get the door for her. Once she was inside, he went back to the driver's side to get into the back seat. "Well, here we go." He smiled at Ianto as he fastened his seatbelt.

"Oh," Glenda said, turning in her seat to look at Jack. "You should know that we are going to show you off."

"Oh, Mam," Ianto begged as he started the SUV. "Don't."

"You're embarrassed of your boyfriend, then?" She made a clucking noise with her tongue before turning back to Jack. "Our church is very open. I don't know what his problem is."

Ianto rolled his eyes. "It's not that, Mam, it's just..." He let out a soft sigh, knowing it was useless to even try arguing with her. "Okay. Introduce him around."

"I was going to anyway, Ianto Andras." She shifted in her seat. "I don't need your approval. I am your mother."

Jack held in a laugh and noticed that Ianto had his left hand sandwiched beside the seat, held out for the other man to take. He grabbed it and gave it a little squeeze, noting the small smile Ianto gave him in the rearview mirror. Jack was glad that he was being accepted into the family, if not a little nervous at the same time.

"We're here," Ianto announced after a bit and Jack looked out the window to see that the rest of their group was already there, the twins leaning against the car in boredom as Del was busy watching the people going by. With one last squeeze of Jack's hand, he let it go.

They joined the others, Glenda beaming at Ifan as he took her hand. Del offered an arm to each of the girls, leaving Jack and Ianto to look at one another before making the choice to merely walk behind everyone. On the inside, it was cozy, and it was clear to Jack that families had their own sections that they usually sat in. Mrs. Jones led them to one right in the middle – not too close, but not so close to the exit either.

"Hey there, stranger," A voice called to Ianto before putting a hand on his shoulder.

"Becca!" Ianto sighed in relief. "I am so glad to see you."

"And this is Kyle." She gestured to the man standing beside her. "Kyle, this is Ianto Jones."

"Pleased to meet you, Ianto," Kyle offered a hand that Ianto took. "Becca was telling me that she saw you at the mall the other day. Hoped I'd get to meet you."

"Nice to meet you as well," Ianto gave a short nod. "Heard a lot about you from her."

There was a chuckle from the two of them as they realized that they had run out of things to say. Jack stepped in with a greeting.

"Hi, Becca," He offered a hug before looking over to Kyle. "This must be Kyle." She nodded and he continued. "Pleased to meet you, Jack Harkness."

Kyle took the hand he was offered and shook it. "Nice to meet you as well."

More silence followed and then Glenda was there. "Oh, hello – Becca, Kyle – nice to see you again. Doing well?" She watched them nod before turning to the boys. "You two go ahead and sit here."

Everyone seemed to be settling into their seats, so Jack and Ianto followed suit. Mr. Jones smiled as he took his seat next to Ianto; he had sat on the end since the kids were small in the event they needed to leave the room for a moment. Jack was next in the line, with Mrs. Jones beside him. She patted his leg after he sat - a small reassurance, but one that he needed. "It will be fine, dear," She told him in her church whisper.

"We're going to sing," Ianto leaned in to warn Jack, thinking it might put him more at ease. But, somehow, he felt him go more rigid. "Don't worry, we don't have to stand or anything. Just sit here." Ianto laughed on the inside. Something about Jack being afraid of churches and the activities that went on inside them struck him as extremely funny.

After singing, a verse was said, and then, that was when it all got very confusing. The congregation was asked to greet the newcomers - and Jack had felt Mrs Jones pushing on him to stand while Ianto held him to the seat by a hidden hand pulling on the back of his coat. This resulted in a mad whisper across him between mother and son that had Jack holding in a laugh. Finally, it was decided that Ianto and Jack would stand together and nod, nothing more.

They stood and looked around, seeing other couples standing, thinking that would be it, but then someone began calling names of the members of the church who were standing and asking who they had brought along. Ianto tensed beside Jack. All the other couples were male-female. He tried to drag Jack back down to sitting, but found that his mother had slung her leg over the seat of the pew. Sighing, he introduced Jack when called on to do so, hoping that it didn't sound like he didn't want to be there. Judging from the looks on the rest of the congregation's faces, he was fine. Shooting his mother a hateful look, they sat once again.

Ianto didn't hear the rest of the service, for all of the thoughts going on in his head. Twice he looked over at Jack, only to find him listening so intently that his look wasn't returned. But Del noticed him.

"Ianto, calm down," he whispered roughly. "You knew it was going to be like that. Mam wasn't going to let you get away with just standing."

"I know," Ianto hissed back, ignoring the look he was getting from Glenda as he talked behind her and Jack. "Shut it, will you?"

Glenda caught Ifan's eye and nodded almost imperceptibly. Ifan thumped Ianto in the back of the head with a quick movement, his eyes facing front.

"Owww..." Ianto groaned, bringing a hand to the spot he had been hit in.

"Look forward, boy," Ifan growled, bringing Ianto right back into his childhood.

Ianto grunted and crossed his arms on his chest until it was all over, at which point Glenda pulled him away from Jack and into a group of her friends. Ianto stood as she bragged on how well he was doing working for the Cardiff Tourism Board, wishing he could just go out back and have a cigarette like he used to after Christmas service.

Across the room, he spotted Jack with his sisters, talking animated to a group of their friends, hoping he wasn't telling too many tales out of school. He was still watching, a smile on his face when he felt himself being pulled again. Spinning, he found Becca.

"Ianto? I have someone I want you to meet," She said, more addressing Mrs. Jones than Ianto himself. "Is that okay?"

"You go on, son," Glenda urged, as if he had been the one to stand there on his own. "Becca will take care of you."

Becca smiled at her as she dragged him further into the crowd. "You looked like you needed to be rescued," she explained. "You can breathe now."

"Thanks." Ianto smiled down at her before searching once again for Jack.

"He's perfect for you, you know," Becca's voice was saying.

"What?" Ianto looked down. "Who?"

Becca gave him a look he knew well. Tosh had the same look, he thought off-handedly. Maybe that was why he felt so close to her. "Jack." Ianto went to protest, but she continued. "Don't try to play like it's something it's not." Ianto nodded, not really knowing what else there was to say. "Oh, there's Rosemary. Ianto, you remember my cousin? She used to come over during the summers?" She didn't wait for an answer. "Oh well, she's coming this way."

"Hello, Becca – is that Ianto Jones?" A blonde girl that reminded Ianto a bit of Gwen Cooper asked, shifting the baby she was carrying on her hip.

"It is," Ianto answered. "Rosemary?" He vaguely remembered her, but with the help of a supplied name, he figured he could play it off.

"Oh my gosh, you remember me. That's so funny!" She laughed in a more nervous than amused way and turned to Becca. "Can you hold Oliver for me? I'll only be a minute."

"Sure." Ianto heard Becca's response, but was busy watching Jack. If he wasn't so secure in the way he knew Jack felt about him, he might have been more than a little jealous of his little sisters and the attention they were getting from the Captain. Even without the coat, the man made the same movement that would cause the fabric to move just so. His thoughts were interrupted by something being pushed into his arms. It wasn't until he was already holding the object that he registered it as Oliver.

"I can't-" he began, but Becca was already threading back through the crowd, for a reason Ianto hadn't actually heard. Looking down at the small boy, he smiled and put him to his shoulder, noticing the way the little boy molded to fit him. The child let out a small sigh and Ianto felt him get heavier. He managed to find Jack again, this time catching his eye. Jack's face softened when he realized who was staring at him, frowning a bit at the scene he was witnessing. Ianto shrugged and smiled back. Their eyes locked for a moment and something – Ianto wasn't sure what – passed between them.

"Give me that baby," Mrs Jones demanded, pulling on Ianto and breaking his eye contact. "Oh, he's getting so big!" She cuddled the baby to her and Oliver sighed, contented once again. "Go over there with Jack, I've got this." Ianto smiled, grateful to her. "Not like I have any grandchildren to cuddle..." she smiled as he rolled his eyes and went to join Jack.

"I need some fresh air," Ianto told Jack as he neared him, running a hand up the back of his neck as a nervous habit. "How about you?"

Jack nodded, turning to the young women surrounding him. "Ladies, it has been nice meeting all of you." He then let Ianto lead him outside with a sigh. "Well, that went well." He reached for Ianto's hand and found it waiting for him.

"If, by 'well' you mean that it was a fucking train wreck then, yes, it went well." He pulled himself closer to Jack. "I wish I had a cigarette..." he mused, half-talking to himself.

"Yan?"

"Yes, Jack?"

"They're your family," He reminded him.

Ianto laughed in the back of his throat. "I know." He looked at Jack. "They're not perfect, but that's why I love them."

"Hmmm," Jack mused.

"What?"

"Must be a 'Jones' thing."

"What? What are you on about?"

"It's the same reason I love you."

***

Ianto rolled out of bed, dragging himself to his feet. He was sure that he and Jack had both fallen asleep on the bottom bunk, curled together, but he was nowhere to be found this morning. Sighing, he realized where Jack was – he could hear the laughter coming from all the way down the hall. Shaking his head and heading for the bathroom, he wondered if that man ever stopped.

"Hey there, Yan," Del said, just finishing up brushing his teeth. "I can hear your boyfriend in there with Mam."

Ianto rolled his eyes and looked into the mirror, into his brother's eyes. "Everyone can hear Jack."

"So, you guys are leaving today?" Del didn't move from his place in front of the sink.

"Yeah, work to get back to," Ianto answered, running a hand through his hair to fix it.

"Must be rough, being in the tourism business," Del smirked. "Sounds thrilling."

Ianto fixed his gaze. "Not now, Del. It's too early."

"What?"

"Is it always going to be like this?" Ianto reached for his toothbrush.

"Like what?" Del combed his own hair. "Us meeting in the bathroom? We've always done this – for as long as I can remember. Chalk it up to Mam getting us on the same waking schedule."

"No, Del, I mean this," he pointed back and forth between him and his brother. "The part where you strike out at me with words. The part where you try to make me feel small with simple units of language."

"What? I mean, it is a boring job. After all, tourism is showing other people the world - not seeing it for yourself. How is that a dream job?"

"I don't give you crap for your boring desk job - staring at the same four walls day after day. How is that more exciting?" Ianto looked smugly at his brother. "You really don't know as much as you think you do."

"I know that Mam and Tad wish you had managed to marry Lisa."

Ianto was silent for a moment. "She died. How was that my fault?" Ianto could feel his temper building, but resolved not to let mere words get to him. He didn't want to fall into that trap yet again. "Besides, Del, it must suck to be hiding from everyone, even yourself."

"What does that mean?" Del knew he was similarly on dangerous territory. One word could turn this all very bad. He hoped, if it was said, that he wouldn't be the one to say it.

They were saved by the presence of the girls, running in and pushing them out. "It's our turn!" they chorused.

"You've been in here long enough!" Myfanwy whined, shutting the door, leaving the brothers to stare at one another and wonder what had just happened.

"I suppose that I should go and rescue Mam," Ianto said at last.

"You should," Del agreed. "But you might want to change first. Nice pajamas, but you're a bit underdressed." He looked down at his own jeans.

"Right." Ianto agreed, grateful for the disturbance; grateful that he no longer had to finish a conversation he saw getting wildly out of hand. "Meet you in the kitchen."

"Yeah," Del agreed. "Oh, and you can just leave my coat on my bed. Didn't get it back last night."

"Sure. It's just in here." Ianto opened the door to his room and looked around. Suddenly, faced with the fact that he would be leaving today and hoping to return in a year - but not really knowing what would happen – he really looked at the space before him.

Their half-packed bags were sitting on the top bunk, piles of things to be packed were next to them. A pair of Jack's socks - he knew they were Jack's because they had a gold toe – were lying in the middle of the floor. Ianto's jacket was hung neatly on the back of the desk chair; his pants from the night before slung over one of the arms. In contrast, Jack's suit was hung neatly on a hanger that dangled from the knob on the wardrobe that had been in the room forever. Ianto marveled at the fact that he had managed not to leave it lying where it was taken off - unlike the dark slacks he found next, braces still attached. Shaking his head, he went to the wardrobe to get out the suit that he had hung in there for the trip back. Fearing that the Rift would begin to act up the second they were within the city's boundaries, Ianto had planned to be in full work attire. He knew, based on what was left in the room, that Jack was back to his usual mode of dress as well.

Once he had finished knotting his tie, he grabbed the leather Jack had worn to church the night before and tossed it in Del's room before going to the kitchen to find out what Jack was up to. He stood in the doorway observing for a moment. Jack was leaning on the counter, his arms crossed on his chest, talking to Mrs. Jones. She was laughing the lilting laugh that Ianto remembered from his childhood.

Seeing Ianto in the doorway, Jack's face lit up. "Good morning, sleepyhead." Jack held out a welcoming arm to him.

Ianto smiled and accepted the arm, letting Jack wrap it around him.

"None of that in the kitchen, son," Ifan called out from his usual spot at the table. Ianto wondered briefly how he could see through newsprint in the first place.

"You have packing left to do," Ianto reminded Jack, ignoring his father's comment the best he could.

Jack went a bit boneless in tantrum form before giving Ianto his 'please-do-it-for-me' look. "But I was helping Mam."

"What were you helping her do? Eat this wonderful breakfast she made?" He reached over for a piece of bacon.

"Something like that," Jack opened his mouth for the remaining bite Ianto held. Ianto sighed and fed it to him. Jack's smile grew as he chewed.

"Do you have to go today?" Glenda asked, the disappointment clear in her voice. "Couldn't you just take one more day?"

"We've been gone too long as it is, Mam," Ianto answered for Jack. "We'll come for a visit as soon as we can, I promise."

"You better." She pointed a finger at him. "You'll make him, right, Jack?"

"Yes, Mam." He was serious about the oath, and the both of them knew it.

"Did you put my coat in my room?" Del asked from the table.

"Yes." Ianto turned to look at him, thankful for a distraction for the second time that morning. "It's on your bed."

"Go and pack, Ianto. Jack can help me get the rest of breakfast on the table," Mrs. Jones instructed, pushing a plate into each of Jack's hands.

"O-kay," Ianto frowned. He felt like he was being pushed out of the kitchen, but anything was preferable to having one last confrontation before they left.

"Yan-toe!" The girls chorused as they ran by him in the hall.

"Where are you going all dressed up?" Myfanwy pulled on his lapels.

"We're leaving today," Ianto reminded her.

"Oh." Her face fell. "We liked you being here."

"Yeah," Gwen agreed. "It was like when we were growing up again."

"But it's not." Ianto said suddenly. "It's not like when we grew up anymore. There's something else. Listen, I can't tell you much, but I can tell you this. If you ever see anything you are unsure of, call me. Please."

Gwen and Myfanwy arched their eyebrows at him, unsure what to make of that statement, but supposed it was just their brother and agreed. Ianto was aware they were watching him as he continued on to his room to pack. He cursed himself as he pulled the bags down from the top bunk. He had no idea why he had said that to them, it just seemed right at the time. He picked up the clothes that were scattered around the room, not bothering to see whose bag he shoved them in; he know he would be the one to wash them all anyway. Once he had zipped the suits into the garment bag, he found his sneakers and shoved them into his duffle. Satisfied that he had collected everything, he took one last look around the room. He set the bags, the box they had collected from the attic and the box that he had given Jack for Christmas near the door. Looking back, he went to the shelf and scooped up the journals that were there and put them in his bag. He was sure that that was everything, as Jack had already taken the other presents out to the SUV last night in an attempt to help out. He took one last look and smiled a sad smile, before picking up one of the duffle bags and swinging the garment bag over his shoulder. "Goodbye, Pastry King; until next time."

Making his reappearance to the kitchen, he noticed that Jack was eating with the others and his mother was packing a basket.

"What are you doing, Mam?" He asked, shifting the weight he carried. "Please don't tell me that's for us."

"Ianto Jones, you are going to break your dear mother's heart talking like that," she scolded. "Of course it's for you and Jack. Can't send you boys home empty handed."

"Mam, we'll be fine. It's only a four hour trip," he reminded her, moving to open the door. "Despite what Jack may say, he will not perish in that short amount of time from lack of food."

"Don't sass your Mam," Ifan said from somewhere, Ianto wasn't even sure where. He didn't bother to look as he walked out the door, closing it behind him.

Ianto popped the locks on the SUV and began to load it up. He moved aside the Wii that Del had given Jack in an attempt to give the best gift this year, knowing that Jack would want to try it out later. He was pretty sure that the only one that would be a real match for Jack, however, would be Owen. He laughed at the thought of the snarky doctor putting Jack in his place before shutting the back and going in for the rest.

"You going to help me, Jack?" Ianto asked, coming back in the door, the smell of bacon really hitting him this time and causing his stomach to growl.

"Sit and eat," Mrs. Jones bossed from her seat.

"Can't, Mam," Ianto looked at his watch, but remembered he had taken it off. "We need to get on the road soon. We're running late as it is." He looked pointedly at Jack, who was oblivious. "Once I get the rest of the stuff in the SUV, we'll need to head out. Not that it hasn't been fun..."

Del snorted. Mam gave him a glare that caused him to fix his eyes on his plate. The twins laughed, trying not to look directly at their mother, for fear they would get the same look.

"I'll go get it," Jack jumped up. "You sit and eat."

"No, if we both get the rest, we can get going sooner," Ianto was eager to get back to their normal life, as abnormal as it was to everyone else.

Jack shook his head in a way to indicate that this was just Ianto's way and followed him out of the room. "What's going on?" he asked once they were out of earshot.

"Eager to get back to the job is all," Ianto answered, picking up the two boxes and leaving the remaining two bags for Jack.

"Right," Jack was skeptical. He knew there was something more, but he knew not to push. "Let's get the SUV loaded and say our goodbyes then."

Ianto walked out the door before turning back to Jack. "If I forgot to tell you today, thank you." He smiled.

"You're welcome," Jack sighed, knowing he was beaten. "Now come on. We have road to burn."

They walked the last of the luggage out and, after rearranging it three times, they went back into the house to say their farewells.

"Del, you'll have to come visit," Ianto offered, but Jack could hear the hollowness in the invitation.

"Be careful, little brother, I could take you up on that. And then where would you be?" Del laughed, punching him playfully in the arms before Ianto shocked everyone and drew him into an embrace.

"And you two," Ianto addressed the girls, who stood near Jack, "Behave for Mam and Tad." He cracked a smile. "And you are always welcome to visit as well."

"Ooooo," Jack added, suddenly excited into talking with his hands, "Maybe next time, you'll get in a fight – and you can dress like cheerleaders – no! Flight attendants – no! Nurses..." Jack was surprised by the smack on the arm he got from Mrs. Jones – it was surprisingly hard.

"Watch it, son," Ifan cautioned, no longer behind his paper, but standing with the group. "She has quite the arm on her."

Jack rubbed the spot she had hit and frowned. "I was only joking, Mam."

"You had better have been," She warned, a look familiar to Jack in her eyes. "Ianto, keep an eye on him. Jack can get himself into trouble." She hugged the both of them and turned to hand Jack the basket she had packed. "There's a few snacks – Ianto quit making that face – and a thermos of coffee. Never know what you will need."

"Mam, we won't need it," Ianto assured her, but didn't try to take it from Jack.

"Be careful," Ifan said, patting his son on the arm before looping an arm around his wife. "Call us when you get there."

Ianto nodded. "I will." He let Jack take his hand and they walked out to the vehicle.

"So, that's the family," Jack said as he settled into the passenger seat, basket safely stowed in the backseat.

"Afraid so," Ianto was tugging on the seatbelt as he got into the driver's seat. "What do you think?"

Jack thought for a moment. "I like them. I like them a lot."

"They like you too," Ianto admitted.

"So much that one of them is trying to go with us." Jack pointed to the girl running out to the SUV.

Ianto rolled down his window. "What is it, Myfanwy?"

She shoved a piece of toast in his mouth as soon as the window was down far enough. "Mam said to make you eat this – she didn't want you leaving on an empty stomach."

Ianto growled a bit and took the bread dangling from his mouth and placed it on the dash. It was hardly out of his hand when Jack snatched it up and devoured it.

"And I forgot to give you this - to put at work." She handed him an apple with three stick legs and almond stuck in it, finished off with an evergreen sprig on top. "It's for luck."

"Thanks," Ianto was touched, knowing that this was something that the girls insisted on giving to the most important of people. "I meant what I said. You should come visit. We could give you a tour of the city. We get a discount, you know."

"Right, get on before Mam comes out and drags you back in." Myfanwy kissed Ianto on the cheek before sprinting back into the house.

Making sure there was nothing behind him, Ianto pulled out of the driveway and onto the road. They were traveling for about half an hour when Jack turned to him.

"What is this?" He was holding the apple, trying to figure it out.

Ianto chuckled. "You can tell what an alien device is, but don't know what that is about? Sometimes you amaze me, Jack."

"No, really – tell me." Jack's head lolled on the seat.

"A Calenigg."

"Oh, well then, that explains it." Jack tossed it from hand to hand, rolling his eyes.

"You want the long story or the short one?" Ianto figured this was as good a way as any to pass the time.

"Short, please."

"We used to make them as kids and take them around the neighborhood and sing carols. People would give us a few pennies or candy in exchange for the luck the Calenigg would bring them. That good?"

"Perfect," Jack told him. "I can see wee Ianto going around and singing, his cheeks all rosy..."

"Hey now!" Ianto playful slapped at Jack, taking his eyes of the road for a moment to make sure he hit his mark. Not only did he hit Jack, but he managed to hit something in the road – something that blew a tire.

"Shit!" Ianto turned the wheel to pull of the road. "Jack, we have to fix this."

"How?" Jack frowned at Ianto.

"With the spare in the boot," Ianto spoke slowly, wondering why Jack had asked that question.

"Can't." Jack was looking everywhere but at Ianto.

"And why not?" Ianto's mouth went into a hard line.

Jack bit his lip and put his hand over his mouth, still looking at the floor. "'..."

"What was that?" Ianto hoped he hadn't heard what he thought, but, knowing Jack, he prepared for the worst.

"I said," Jack repeated, clearer this time, "I got a flat last week and didn't have time to replace the spare before we left so the spare is flat too." He flashed his smile, hoping his charm would get him out of it.

Ianto smacked his forehead. "Wonderful. I'll just call Owen." He punched the number into his cell, but got the doctor's voicemail. Ianto looked over at Jack with a searing look and left a message for Owen. "Owen – Ianto. Call me when you get this. We're broken down and need you to come out."

"Wasn't there?" Jack asked, innocent.

Ianto was losing his cool. "I'm calling Gwen." He pressed her number in speed dial and got her voice mail as well. "Gwen!" He emoted after the beep. "It's Ianto. Please call me when you get this. Our brilliant leader and I are sitting with a flat tire and no replacement. We need your help."

"Two for two?" Jack had his own cell out. "I'll call Tosh." He highlighted her name and dialed. Same thing – voice mail. "Tosh, sweetheart, most beautiful woman I know. I am stuck on the side of the road with a gorgeous Welshman. Please call me and tell me you can help."

"Well, that's that then," Ianto slumped in his seat. "Now what?"

"You hungry?" Jack asked him. "You are awfully cranky – you get that way when you don't eat."

"Shut up, Jack." Ianto shot back. "I'm going to take this time to switch out the front panel on the SUV that identifies us as Torchwood."

"Right." Jack said, "Brilliant idea, by the way."

Ianto opened his door. "Well, I couldn't have Mam and Tad asking what 'Torchwood' was, now can I? They don't know that I work for them."

Jack wanted to tell him the truth right there, remind him that his father had been in UNIT, but thought it wasn't exactly the best time for that – so, he kept quiet. "Still a good idea."

Ianto huffed as he walked around and got the tools he would need, silently cursing Jack in every curse word in every language he knew. Once he was finished, he dumped everything back in the boot and went back to the warmth of the car.

"You still mad?" Jack asked once he was seated.

"No," Ianto admitted. "Just wondering how you could forget something like that."

"I was excited about the trip." He was rooting in the basket. "Are you sure you don't want something? Mam packed Welsh taffy and some of the sugar cookies and bacon sandwiches and..." Jack stopped when he saw the look on Ianto's face.

"I'll take some coffee. But that's it." He was holding to the belief that they wouldn't need the basket of goodies.

"Come on. One bacon sandwich. You know you want one." Jack was waving it in front of him, foil unwrapped.

Ianto tried, he really did. But, as soon as the smell hit him, his stomach growled. He let Jack feed him the first bite before ripping it from the man's hand. "This doesn't mean I condone goody baskets on trips," he tried to say around the crumbs that were flying from his mouth.

"No, I wouldn't think that," Jack laughed, pulling out the thermos and taking a drink before passing it to Ianto. "And don't backwash. Crumbs in coffee are icky." Ianto glared at him and Jack shrank in the seat. "Nevermind..."

It would be another five hours before they would be 'rescued'. When Gwen had shown up with Owen and Tosh, they had laughed and shared a buffet from the basket in the SUV before changing the tire and heading back to the Hub.

"Not that I didn't enjoy myself, but I sure am glad to be back," Jack said, running up the stairs to his office.

Gwen covered her face as she heard the shouting begin. Owen and Tosh froze in place.

"WHAT THE BLOODY BLUE BLAZES HAPPENED IN HERE? DID SOMEONE LET A WEEVIL LOOSE IN MY OFFICE!" Jack was standing in the middle of what used to be his office, but was now a very lose interpretation of that. "IANTO!"

Ianto tried to hold a smirk in as he turned to his co-workers to explain. "That will teach him to kiss my brother..." Ignoring the questioning looks, he turned to the open door. "COMING, JACK!"

***

"What's this, then?" Owen threw his coat on the couch as he looked at the projector screen Jack had set up. "A slide show of you and the Teaboy on holiday?"

"No, it isn't." Ianto narrowed his eyes at the medic as he fell on the couch. "Jack got a Wii for Christmas from my brother."

"Do you have a black eye?" Gwen came over to Ianto.

"Don't wanna talk about it..." The Welshman grumbled, taking a drink of the beer he was holding.

"Rough night in?" Owen asked.

"Don't wanna talk 'bout it, I said." If looks could have killed, Owen would have dropped.

"Who wants a game?" Jack clapped his hands together as he came down from the conference room. "Owen? Tosh?"

"What games do you have?" Gwen asked, stashing her things at her desk.

"Well, he bloody well has Wii Sports..." Ianto grumbled.

"I said I was sorry." Jack looked down at the man. "How many times do I have to apologize?"

Ianto just shot him an icy glare and took another drink, his eyes never moving from the man.

"I'll bowl a game with you," Gwen offered, picking up the Wii-mote.

"You know I hate to wear the wrist strap," Jack offered up as an apology, before taking Gwen up on her offer.

"I believe your term was 'sissified wrist strap'..."

"Yan," he turned back to him. "I'm sorry. I didn't know it was going to slip."

"Of course not, how could you? Not like they warn you about it on a separate screen or anything." Sarcasm was one of Ianto's many fluencies. "Gwen, stand back when he throws the ball."

"The mystery is solved!" Owen exclaimed, falling on the couch beside Ianto. "You want me to look at that?"

"No."

"Fine, then, you can pout in pain." He tugged on Gwen's pant leg. "Set me up. I'll play a frame."

"How about you, Tosh?" Jack was putting in the players he had created earlier for each team member.

"I'm not really good with bowling." She looked up from her computer screen. "I'll sit this one out, if you don't mind."

"Right." Jack put himself, Gwen, and Owen in and they bowled a few rounds, Gwen always making sure that Jack had the strap on, as Ianto was sitting right behind him and she didn't think that he needed the other eye blacked.

"If Gwen makes this spare, it will be a miracle!" Ianto observed. "7-10 split is hard to pick up."

"Oh, hush you." She batted back at him, but, despite all her care in making sure Jack had his secure, she hadn't put her safety strap on yet.

Ianto watched as the controller came at him in what seemed like slow motion and he could do nothing to dodge it. It struck him in the other eye with as much force, if not more, than the other one had earlier in the day. "Bloody wank!" He clutched his eye.

Jack leapt over the coffee table and was on him in seconds. Owen was trying to pry Ianto's hand from his eye. Gwen stood covering her mouth in horror.

"What happened?" Tosh asked, raising her head from whatever she was working on.

"That devil machine attacked me! Again!" Ianto was kicking at anyone who tried to get near him.

"Dammit! Ianto, let me look at it." Owen pulled his hand roughly away to see it was already starting to bruise. "You got lucky twice. It didn't get your actual eye at all, did it?"

"Leave me alone, Owen," Ianto shrugged him off.

"Are you okay?" Jack asked bending to look at him. "Do you want ice for it?"

"I have something better." Tosh was coming back from the small refrigerator she kept near her desk with something in her hand. She pressed it to Ianto's face and he sighed. "There."

"Thank you." Ianto cooed. "You alone are my real friend."

"Oi! I was going to help you!" Owen looked over at Ianto for the first time. "But, you know, I think Zorro can do his own battles..."

"Enough," Tosh smacked at Owen. "It makes sense – both his eyes needed it. Besides, it will reduce the bags under his eyes."

"Hey!" Ianto corrected.

"Don't act like you don't have them. Why do you think I keep that in there?" Tosh hugged him and secured the mask in the back so he could move his head around. "Now, I think I do want to play,Jack."

"I think this game is over anyway." Jack looked to his colleagues for a nod, which he got. "What do you want to play?"

"Boxing." She held her chin up proudly.

"Are you sure, Tosh?" Ianto asked from where he was now reclined. "That's how this whole thing started."

"You were boxing with Jack?" Gwen sounded shocked.

"Don't sound so surprised. It's a great workout." Jack told them. "I'll go if you will."

"I'll take that challenge." Tosh took the other Wii-mote in hand and made a big show of tightening it.

"I got fifty on the plucky one." Ianto called, eyes closed.

"I'll take that," Owen countered.

"Hey! No bets!" Jack turned around and showed them he was also tightening the wrist strap.

Tosh and Jack were near the end of the game when Tosh landed a particularly good punch that K.O.'ed Jack. She smiled at him and he went to bow to her. Somehow, it went wrong and she ended up actually punching him. With the hand holding the controller.

"Son of a-" Jack yelled, grabbing his own eye.

Ianto fell into the couch and almost burst a gut laughing. "Looks like you'll need this, sir." He took the cooling mask off and pressed it to Jack's face.

"I'm sorry," Tosh said through what almost sounded like giggles.

"THAT'S IT!" Jack yelled, yanking the console from the table and pushing it roughly into Ianto's lap. "Lock this thing in the secure archives! It's now considered alien tech!"

"You owe me fifty, Owen," he declared with a smirk as he stood and went to Jack's office to do as he was told. He placed it in it's own box and locked it away for future Torchwood teams to find. But not before he smiled and muttered, "Obscene Machine."

 

• Main Torchwood slash page
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• Amazon.com - Torchwood: Children of Earth
• Amazon.co.uk - Torchwood - Children of Earth [DVD] [2009]
• Amazon.ca link - Torchwood - The Complete First Season (7DVD)