Title: Marry Me A Little
By: Jessie Blackwood
Pairing: Jack/Ianto
Rating: R
Series: 1) A Matter of Life and Death
Disclaimer: Characters owned by RTD and the BBC. I don't own any of it, except maybe the idea for the story, etc. etc. etc., no infringement of copyright intended, no money being made, etc, etc. Any resemblance to any persons living or dead is purely coincidental.
Warning: M for adult theme. This is the end folks, finis, the final chapter. Apologies this has taken so long to appear. Real Life has thrown it all at me this summer...
Summary: AU version of CoE events, so hated that ending! This is my take on how Ianto and the others are still alive and well...

On a hill overlooking the city of Cardiff a heavily pregnant Gwen hands the vortex manipulator over to a broken man. He has travelled the world, looking for something that doesn't exist, for nothing and no one assuages the guilt he carries deep in his heart. He is mourning his Ianto, his grandson Stephen and his daughter Alice because she has told him she is now dead to him as well. He has lost everything he ever built up on this planet and there is nothing left to hold him to it. Not even the woman standing before him can do that. She represents the last thread that ties him to this place and he severs that almost desperately. He cannot stay, this planet is too small for a man who has seen the edges of the Universe, the past and the future. He won't come back. He says his goodbyes, leaves her tearful and hurt with her husband holding her tightly and protectively. He presses the button on his vortex manipulator and the signal carries into the ether. Moments later, he is beamed away, taken off this sorry excuse for a planet that he has spent too long devoting his life and duty to, waiting for his doctor only to find out there is nothing he can do and finding love only to have it torn from his grasp. His atoms fragmented into light, he is carried up to his waiting ride.

TW

"Jack and Ianto have chosen to pledge themselves to each other by committing to a legally binding contract. Their partnership will enable the love and respect that they have for each other to develop into a deep and lasting relationship. We who are witnessing your civil partnership, hope that despite the stresses inevitable in any life, your love, trust and understanding of each other will increase your contentment and heighten your joy in living. Now, Jack, would you please say your vows to Ianto." The registrar handed over a little card with the words on, so the man in front of him wouldn't forget at the critical moment.

Jack Harkness looked at the Registrar and nodded, turned to Ianto and fixed him with a look from the blue eyes which spoke a thousand words. "Ianto Jones, I choose you above all others to share my life. I promise to honour this pledge as long as I live."

The Registrar smiled and handed the card to Ianto and asked him to do the same.

"Jack Harkness, I choose you above all others to share my life. I promise to honour this pledge as long as I live."

"The giving of a band signifies the promise of a love that is everlasting and is a public affirmation that the contract between Jack and Ianto will be honoured." The Registrar asked for the rings. On cue, Owen produced Ianto's and Ianto's father, Ewan, produced Jack's.

"Ianto," Jack said gently "This ring is a token of my abiding love and a sign of the promise I make to you today." Smiling, Ianto held his hand out and Jack slipped the ring onto the fourth finger of his left hand. He looked at it for a moment and then the smile broadened, he took hold of his ring for Jack and said "Jack, this ring is a token of my abiding love and a sign of the promise I make to you today." He pushed it onto Jack's finger and held it there briefly before giving his hand a little squeeze.

Around them, everybody was smiling. Ianto was leaving Torchwood. Jack had popped the question a month ago and Ianto had accepted immediately, with one condition. He wanted as long as he could have with Jack and the only way to do it was to remove himself from the ever present threat of death. He would remain on the books as a consultant though, in case they had need of his archival and historical expertise, not to mention his coffee making skills. They had a home, a nice big house in Lisvane. Jack had owned it since the 20s and he had recently had it modernised. Ianto was thinking of returning to university to study for a PhD in History. He might even become a teacher…who knew? Sure, he might get run over by a bus, but at the end of the day the life expectancy outside of Torchwood was a damn sight better than it was in it.

Jack had taken more people on too, now both Tosh and Gwen were pregnant and out of the loop. Tosh had found out a couple of weeks after Gwen. The new team members were more combat orientated, in two teams of five, with Jack at the helm, Owen and his new assistant, Tom Milligan, as medical back-up. They had recruited Lois to take over the archives and she was already settling in under Ianto's guidance. All in all it looked very promising. One could still hope for miracles.

"Ianto Jones, body and spirit, heart and mind, I am yours." Jack said the words aloud that he had spent days trying to write. "From this moment, our two paths become one. I go forward with you, together. I'll do my best to shelter you through life's storms. I promise to love and cherish you. I'll do my best to care for you, to support you, to be your refuge when life gets tough." Jack's eyes were sincere and very, very blue as he looked into Ianto's. Ianto stared back, emotions close to the surface.

"My true-love hath my heart, and I have his," Jack began, reciting the words to the 16th century poem by Sir Philip Sydney. "By just exchange one for the other given.

I hold his dear, and mine he cannot miss:

There never was a bargain better driven.

His heart in me keeps me and him in one;

My heart in him his thoughts and senses guides:

He loves my heart, for once it was his own;

I cherish his because in me it bides.

My true love hath my heart and I have his." Jack took a deep breath and smiled into Ianto's eyes. Then he began to speak in Welsh. "Yn anad dim, Ianto Jones, rwy'n addo un peth diwethaf. Rwy'n addo byth, erioed i anghofio chi. A bob amser i roi i chi yn gyntaf." Above all, Ianto Jones, I promise one last thing. I promise never, ever to forget you and always to put you first.

Sudden dizziness overcame Ianto then, his senses reeled and he felt himself falling.

He heard voices but could do nothing to communicate with them. Jack was there though, and as long as he was there, Ianto wasn't afraid.

TW

"Jack."

"Ianto? What the hell…?"

"Jack, I don't have long. I want you to listen…"

"I'm in a transmat beam…this cannot be happening…"

"You are, and it is, so that logically means it can happen, because it is doing. But it won't last long, so please shut up and listen?"

"Ianto…you're…"

"Dead, Jack, technically, yes. Ordinarily I would be totally removed from you but like this, you're…well…kind of in spirit yourself. Non-corporeal, like me."

"I'm going mad…"

"Jack, shut up and listen. I'm dead for you, yes, I died where you are. I'm sorry, so sorry. Somehow I ended up in another dimension with another Ianto. He died too, Jack, and I'm with him, in his mind…damn, this is difficult. In this dimension, I died as well, although somehow what was left of both of us bonded to save one of us…does that make sense?"

"Sort of…but why couldn't you bond in this dimension? Ianto, I miss you…"

"I know. My body was damaged, Jack, his wasn't. It was the logical choice for us both to bond and save his. Look, there were two of you who could have lost us, we could only stay with one and it had to be him…I wish it could have been you, my Jack, but it wasn't possible."

"Ianto, I…"

"Just listen, Jack, please. I wanted to tell you, I don't blame you. I love you. I'm sorry I couldn't stay. At least I can help save one of you…"

"I wish with all my heart it could have been me. Is he immortal?"

"Oh yes. He has all your traits, he works for Torchwood, we both do…not much is different…" and the voice sounded exasperated, Jack could almost see the eye roll, "…but he's different somehow. It's the same, but not. I miss you. Love you. You'll be alright, Jack, trust me. Mourn me, but understand I'm not really dead…a bit like Rose really. Remember me, keep me in your heart, okay?"

"Always. Always, Ianto. I'm sorry, I failed you…"

"Jack, you didn't fail me. I chose to stay by your side that day. My choice, my life. Never forget that. Promise me you'll do what you do best, Jack, keep saving people. Go back to Earth sometime. Visit her. Don't stay away too long. Look in on my sister too, and Micha and David for me, yeah?"

"Okay…can't promise when…but I'll try."

"Thank you, Jack. Go travel the stars and when you're tired, just come back to Wales. Stand on a tall building, look at the stars and think of me, okay?"

Jack could have cried, if he'd been corporeal enough to shed tears. "I will, that's a promise. I love you, Ianto." There was a silence. "Ianto?"

"I love you too, Jack, and thank you, for saying it."

"Thank you for…everything. It was good…and for the record…we were a couple. And I will never forget you, Ianto, never…" Something pressed against his lips, which was technically impossible in a transmat beam. Then there was bright light, and the ship solidifying around him. Ianto was gone, but curiously, he didn't feel quite so desperate anymore.

TW

"Ianto? Ianto! Please, no, not now…" Jack's voice, panicking.

"Jack, calm down, he's still breathing." Owen's voice, calm and steady. Ianto opened his eyes, seeing worried faces looking down at him. He was lying on a couch somewhere…

"What happened?"

"You tell us, Tea Boy." Owen smiled. "How do you feel?"

"Not sure. Oh God, our wedding…" Ianto said, remembering. "I ruined our wedding…"

"Easy there, not so fast." Jess was standing nearby. "You collapsed in the middle of it, that's all."

"But our vows…"

"…can wait." Jack finished. "I'm so glad you're okay. I thought…" his voice choked.

"I'm okay, Jack. I'll be fine." He struggled to sit and was helped gently into a more upright position. Jack was solicitous and careful, Owen and Jess were both looking concerned.

"Take your time, I'll go tell the guests the wedding is still on," Owen said gently. "The Registrar is waiting for you both." Owen departed and Jack leaned in to kiss him gently.

"Gods, I thought I'd lost you…again!"

Ianto smiled. "Not so easily. I…he…had something to say."

"Who? The other Ianto?" Jess asked.

"I thought you two had…well, you know, merged or something…" Jack was clearly concerned that things were still uncertain.

"We did, but his Jack was…" Ianto thought about it. "He was incorporeal enough that the other one could speak to him…or something. I don't understand it fully, just that he took an opportunity."

"He picks his times." Jack muttered, then held Ianto close. "Come on, we have a civil ceremony to finish."

TW

"I promise to love and cherish you for as long as I can. I will be your port in a storm and your haven in times of strife." Ianto recited his vows, gazing into Jack's eyes until he had finished, then he smiled and they leaned in for a kiss. The registrar pronounced them partners in the eyes of all present and then it was done, they were married. For better or worse, to have and to hold. The audience erupted into applause. Everybody was happy for them, crowding round offering congratulations. Ianto spied Jessie and smiled. She smiled back as Tosh and Gwen jostled for hugs and kisses.

Later that night, lying in the hotel bed, exhausted but happy, Jack and Ianto were both content to lie quietly together, doing nothing more than holding each other close. The night sounds reached their ears, the occasional hoot of a car horn, a police siren, the ever present background roar of the city competing with the hotel air conditioning. Like white noise, their ears were used to it. Too much silence was eerie.

"I love you," Jack said into the quiet. Footsteps passed their door. Supressed giggles reached their ears. Somewhere down the corridor a door opened and closed on the late night revellers. Everything went quiet again. It was getting easier to say with every time Jack said the words. Smiling, head against Jack's chest, Ianto listened to his husband's heartbeat before forming a brief reply. "I know…" he murmured and listened to the rumble of laughter in Jack's chest.

"Goodnight, Han Solo," Jack chuckled.

"Sorry but I'm having problems picturing you as Princess Leia."

"Good. I hate that skimpy costume, although I did know a slug like Jabba once." Ianto had long ago ceased to be surprised by anything Jack said and besides, there was a good chance that he had known a slug like Jabba once.

"Did he say what he needed to say?" Jack asked.

"Yes, think so. Things feel—I dunno—complete, I guess. Like he had something needed to be done, you know?"

"No more messages to deliver, no more decisions to make?"

"Nope, looks like everything is finished and done."

"Good. This is telling on my nerves." Jack admitted, then grinned. "No more dreams lately?"

"Actually, yes. Just the one." Ianto thought back to the encounter in Jack's office, the night of Tommy's return. Tommy had been a first world war soldier, shot for cowardice—wrongly, he was suffering shell shock—caught up in a temporal anomaly of some kind. Tosh had seemingly been rather attached to him. Better not tell Owen that one.

Jack was sitting at his desk, sorting through old reports and various bits of paper. Ianto walked in on him, hands in pockets, watching him.

"This time tomorrow he'll be back in 1918." Jack had said, somewhat wistfully. Ianto had stepped closer, eyes never leaving Jack.

"His own time." Ianto said softly. "Would you go back to yours, if you could?" He was almost afraid of the answer. Jack looked thoughtful. Then a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

"Why, would you miss me?" he asked, slightly amused.

"Yup." Ianto answered quickly, without hesitation.

Jack took a breath. "I left home a long time ago. Don't know where I really belong. Maybe that doesn't matter anymore."

"I..uh…" Ianto sat on the corner of Jack's desk. "Don't you get lonely?" he asked.

Jack clasped his hands in front of him and shook his head. "Going home wouldn't fix that. Being here, I've seen things I never dreamed I'd see, loved people I never would have known if I'd just stayed where I was." He paused, fixing his gaze on Ianto's. His voice grew soft and sincere as he said "I wouldn't change that for the world." Suddenly, on impulse, Ianto leaned in, a hand finding Jack's neck as his mouth locked on Jack's. They kissed, deeply, passionately, losing themselves in each other, cradling each other's faces as they enjoyed the closeness.

Jack smiled. "Now that's a dream I can relate to," he said as Ianto finished the tale. "Come here, Gwr." He captured Ianto face in his hands and kissed him passionately. Ianto smiled at his use of the Welsh word for husband and melted into the kiss. At least, Ianto thought, he was bothering to learn the language. Only 130 years late. Better late than never, Ianto smiled and melted into the kiss. He ought to be thankful really. At least Jack had realised he couldn't wait that long to propose.

Finis

Well folks, that's the ending. This one is now properly complete. Any reviews are welcome. (I just hope I have the Welsh right...please tell me if I haven't.)