Summary: I was thinking of the song "These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You) and these stories came out of it. Just ways that Jack remembers Ianto.

Characters: Jack H, Ianto J.

Pairing: Jack/Ianto

Rating: T

Spoiler: COE

Setting: Post-COE

Warnings: none

Disclaimer: I don't own Torchwood or any of its characters or plotlines, nor do I receive money from stories. Any similarity of OC's to persons living or dead are purely coincidental. Thanks as always to my muse, my friend and my talented beta, Triquetralin.

A/N: I'll be posting these together as chapters, but they can each be taken as separate stories.

These Foolish Things- Sunset

The phone beeped softly in Jack's ear. He ignored it and kept writing. The Hub was finally quiet after 10 days of manic energy. The rift had been unusually active, spewing anomalies of time and space into Cardiff like a tap on full-blast. The entire Torchwood team had been run ragged. With everything finally quiet, Captain Jack Harkness had sent everyone home, chuckling as nearly all of them had run each other over getting out. Like kids being let out early from school they didn't want to give their captain time to change his mind.

Ianto Jones, general dogsbody, Hub manager and more, had been the last to go, unwilling to leave his boss and lover working while everyone else relaxed. He protested and argued, but Jack pushed him out and was finally able to sit down and start on the reports the past days had generated.

The ear-piece beeped again. Groaning in frustration, Jack reluctantly tapped the receiver on. "What is it?"

"Sir, could you come out here, please?"

Ianto again. He was the only one to call him "sir". Despite their budding relationship, he still kept things formal in public.

"I'm up to my elbows in paperwork, Ianto. I don't need another alien disaster added to it."

"It's important, sir. You have to see this."

Ianto's warm furry accent tickled Jack's ear. He was sorely tempted. He thought of asking him to describe what was happening, just to listen to him, but the young Welshman was frustratingly laconic. Besides his curiosity was perked.

He gave a long, heavy, reluctant sigh even as he smiled, shrugging into his long coat. "All right, I'm on my way."

He took the long way out, up the elevator and through the dark stone hallways leading to the small, shabby tourist information office that was the Torchwood cover. The tiny office led out to the most inconspicuous corner of the Cardiff Bay docks.

A soft breeze met him as he came out onto the pier. It was a lovely spring evening. Everything was tinged with orange and peach as the sun set. He saw Ianto, graceful limbs lolling against the railings at the edge of the pier, eyes far away. He strode across, slowly, enjoying the view, but with an eye to what might be happening. Nothing was instantly apparent, but maybe he had missed the action.

"What's up?" He tucked his long military coat back, hands thrust into his pockets, but he relaxed enough to let his hip brush against the tall man.

Ianto glanced up, eyes squinting against the low sun, and smiled. He gestured across the city, westward into the sunset.

Jack looked. The soft clouds were sparkling, a trick of the setting sun; purple, orange and red running together like a spilled palette. He blinked against the light, but could see nothing in the sky except a few screaming seagulls.

"What am I supposed to be seeing?" He let a touch of irritation slip into his voice.

"The sunset." Ianto's face was still turned towards the sky, but Jack caught a glimpse of a smug smile.

"You brought me out here for the sunset?"

"Yep."

One thing about Captain Jack, he knew when he was beat. Laughing, he matched Ianto's pose, leaning on the railings, letting more of his body slide closer. "Bastard," he murmured, rewarded by Ianto's deep chuckle.

They stood there, in silence, as darkness slowly enfolded them. As the city lights came up, sparkling in the deepening plum sky, Jack sighed again, this time with a sense of satisfaction. He had needed a moment of peace and beauty. Trust Ianto to help him find it. He turned and placed his lips briefly against his lover's shoulder.

"Thanks, Ianto. I needed that." He stretched reluctantly and looked towards the Hub entrance, not making a start towards the door just yet.

"Want to get some dinner before you start again?" Ianto suggested. "We could go to Bassam's..."

"No, I need to get back to it." He gave Ianto a warm smile to take the sting out of his refusal. Letting his eyes fill once more with the beautiful man, he turned back towards the Hub.

Ianto stayed at the railing, a grin starting. He seemed to be waiting for something and was quickly satisfied as he heard a muffled shout coming from the Tourist office.

Jack burst out the door. Even at this distance, Ianto could see the anger building on his face. He held his ground as Jack stormed over.

"What did you do? I can't get in."

"I locked down the Hub."

"Wha-? Why?"

"How's dinner sound? As I said, Bassam is expecting us." He watched his usually unflappable boss turn in circles as he tried to comprehend how neatly he had been flummoxed. "Then ... whatever catches our fancy." The eyebrow waggle was most definitely smug.

Finally the captain caught the humour of the situation and surrendered to his fate.

"Bassam's? It's been weeks. He's going to fuss. Maybe even cry." He threw his arm around Ianto's shoulders as they headed up the pier.

"I was there with Tosh a week ago. He's going to fuss at you."

And Ianto was right.

TWTWTW

Spring twilight greeted Jack as he stepped outside. Glancing at the sky he felt a pang. He promised Ianto he would remember – it was not a difficult promise to make, but some days the remembering cut deep. The colours were as sharp as they had been that day. He could still see Ianto's hair tickled by the breeze, his brow in that permanent worried squint. He had kissed the lines away later. They'd had nothing but time that night, more than they'd ever had.

He fumbled for his handkerchief, feeling like a sentimental old man, touched to tears with his long-lost memories. He gave himself a mental shake and strode off, letting his head slowly fill with mundane trivialities, the memory of Ianto drifting into the peach-tinged clouds.