Chapter Five:

Jack's blue eyes fluttered open late that night. He could hear the silence in the house, their children were fast asleep in their respective rooms. Jack closed his eyes, spreading his arms to touch his lover, when he noted the cool sheets beneath his hands—where Ianto usually lay. Rolling over on his back he sat up slowly. "Yan?" he called gently.

Then he spotted the figure standing by the window, dressed in his dark gray sweat pants and no shirt, arms wrapped tightly around his , lanky torso. Jack studied the well-sculpted back and shoulders. He could see the tension lining the younger man's back. The moonlight was illuminating his handsome face, a touch of stubble on his chin. Jack slipped silently from his bed and stood up. Moving behind him, Jack gently wrapped his arms around the thin waist and pulled Ianto back against him.

Ianto gave into the strong arms easily, leaning back against the broad and warm chest behind him. He felt Jack's chin against his shoulder, a soft kiss pressed where his ear and chin met. "What's wrong?" Jack murmured.

Ianto smiled as he entwined his arms with Jacks, linking their fingers together. "Can't sleep."

"Nightmares?"

"No—I'm so scared Jack, terrified that all of this isn't real and that I'll open my eyes tomorrow morning and be back in my flat by myself."

Jack sighed, tightening his hold just slightly. "We've got forever."

"Do we?" Ianto twisted in his lover's arms, looking back at Jack, pressing his lips to Jack's forehead. "I could live here forever, in your arms happy and safe. I don't want to go back to being lonely."

"Ianto you're not going to be lonely again. And if you do wake up tomorrow and I'm not here—if you wake up tomorrow and it's back to ten years ago then please come find me. I was in love with you ten years ago. Ianto, do you want to know a secret?" Blue eyes met blue eyes. "I was in love with you from the moment I met you. I can't imagine my life without you."

Ianto twisted further and pressed his lips to Jack's. Releasing his lips, Ianto threw his arms around Jack's toned body. Jack returned the grip as he pulled his lover closer, remaining cuddled in one another's arms. Ianto leaned his head against Jack's shoulder, breathing in the man's clean smell. "Come back to be love." Jack murmured as he ran his hands through Ianto's hair.

"Okay—first I need to do something." Ianto released his hold on Jack and stepped out of the room. He opened the door to his daughter's room first and gazed at her, still holding onto Jack's hand.

Releasing his lover's hand, Ianto stepped further into the room and leaned down, pressing a kiss to his beautiful daughter's head. He smiled softly as he looked at the innocent face of the little angel on the bed. "Until we meet again my love." He murmured.

"Daddy?" She opened her eyes slightly.

He smiled at the sight of her beautiful eyes. "I love you."

"Love too," she mumbled, turning over she went back to sleep.

He stood up and made his way out of her room, Jack right behind him. He moved over to the twins' room and opened the door. A moment later he stood in between the two cribs where his babies slept. He felt tears welling in his eyes as he smoothed their hair down. "I have never loved three beings more than I love you three. I ache just looking at you." He murmured. Leaning over he pressed a kiss to Johnny's forehead. Then he stood back up and repeated the gesture with Gareth. "My beautiful little boys."

"They'll be here in the morning babe."

Ianto smiled as he caressed Gareth's cheek. "I know." Turning back to Jack he nodded. "Let's go to sleep."

Slipping back into their bed, Jack wrapped his arms around Ianto's waist. Ianto closed his eyes and felt peace fall over him as he allowed sleep to overcome him. Feeling the warm body behind him sending him deeper and deeper into sleep.

o0o

Sun was streaming through the window as Ianto slowly opened his eyes. Heart pounding in his chest, he looked back over his shoulder and felt his heart sink at the sight of his familiar flat. Suddenly looking around he realized it was the day after Gwen's wedding. He and Jack had had an argument he remembered as he raced around his room, realizing it was Friday, meaning that no one had to be in until after lunch. He put on his favorite pair of jeans and sweatshirt, grabbed his keys and raced out of his flat.

Ianto was pretty sure he'd broken nearly every speed limit between his flat and the Hub. He pulled his car to a halt and raced inside. He was downstairs in moments, standing at the cog door, looking towards Jack's office. Stepping forward he spotted the man he'd fallen in love with—the man who may be in love with him.

Jack was fast asleep on his desk—at least he appeared to be—a photo gripped in his hand. Moving forward Ianto saw the picture in Jack's hand, a wedding photo of Jack and his wife Anne. She'd died less than a year later. Ianto reached out ever so carefully and ran his fingers through Jack's hair.

Bleary, blue eyes slowly opened and Jack turned his head and glanced up at Ianto. "Yan?" he murmured.

"I'm here Jack."

"I'm sorry—I didn't mean…you're not just—"

Ianto reached out and pressed his hand to Jack's lips. "I know Jack. I'm sorry I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions. Yes, I was upset and probably had some right to be. But Jack—" It was now or never. He couldn't risk every thing he'd just dreamt; even if it might not really come true he couldn't risk it. "I love you Jack."

Jack stood up slowly, his eyes glistening suspiciously as he reached out and grabbed Ianto's face, pulling him in for a kiss. "I'm sorry Yan, I do love Gwen—I love her for the innocence and memories that come with her. But she's not who I'm in love with. I'm in love with you. You're changing me Ianto Jones, and you'll never just be some shag. I don't know if I can be the man you want me to be, but I'm willing to try."

Ianto nodded as he held his lover in a hug. "We've got forever." He pressed his lips to Jack's neck.

Jack smiled softly as he wound his arms tighter around Ianto's body and pressed himself closer. "I love you too."

o0o

Twenty Years Later
2028

"Gareth! John! Aeryn! Let's go you three; we're going to be late!" Ianto sighed shaking his head as he grabbed his coat and threw it over his suit. He glared up the stairs, feeling antsy he couldn't wait to leave, what on earth was taking them so long.

He was getting impatient and their daughter would never forgive them if they were late. Suddenly he heard the familiar sound of thudding upstairs, seconds later their youngest came running down the stairs screeching. "Wegettingherflowers! Iwannagetherflowers!" the girl exclaimed.

Ianto lent down and lifted his eight year old into his arms, pressing a kiss to her cheek. "Let's try that in English my love."

"Can we get Rosie flowers!?"

He chuckled and nodded. "Absolutely! Only, however, if you go put your jacket on."

"Kay!" without another word he placed her on her feet and she was off to the closet. Ianto shook his head, she was by far the most exuberant and energized child he knew.

Jack stepped out from the kitchen, pulling his own suit jacket on and smiled at his husband. "I feel like a proud daddy!" he grinned.

Ianto shook his head, meeting Jack with a familiar kiss. "You are a proud father, where are those two? Gareth! John! Don't make me come up there!"

Moments later two boys came down the stairs. John, with his short spiky hair was looking excited to be going to see his sister. Gareth on the other hand, looking a little bored. However both were dressed and standing there waiting. "Finally, okay everyone into the SUV."

Rose had the lead role in her Freshman Musical at high school; she was playing Annie, in Annie, Get Your Gun. Ianto would never forget the day she came to the hub crying. He and Jack had nearly been worried sick, when she broke out sobbing that she'd gotten the lead role. That had been nearly two months ago, and tonight was opening night.

As promised, they stopped and Jack ran in with Aeryn to get roses for their beautiful star. Ianto pulled the SUV into a parking spot at the high school. Ianto smiled as Tosh, Henry, Martha, Tommy, Rhys, Gwen, and Owen all met them there, as well as Ianto's parents.

They were half way through the first act when Jack reached over and gripped his lover's hand. Turning to glance at the love of his life, Ianto smiled and squeezed the hand in response. This was what they waited for, all that they had worked for over the past seventeen years. And this was just the beginning, Ianto had the feeling this girl would go far. She had no trouble keeping everyone's eye on her.

Ianto felt tears burn in his eyes as he watched his little daughter do one of her many numbers, singing at the top of her voice as if she were a complete professional. He couldn't imagine being anywhere else then right here in this very moment. Living his dream, children, a wonderful significant other and completely happy.

The End