A/N – Nope... not the song by that title you're thinking of. :-D I've been on a massive John Barrowman and Daniel Boys kick lately. I had this song stuck in my head for days

One Day More

Ianto lounged on his couch, socked feet up on the coffee table, beer resting loosely in his hand, watching television. Well… looking in the general direction of the television. He glanced to his right and there was Jack in a similar position. It was something that had once been unthinkable but was now weirdly not uncommon. Jack had been spending more and more time at Ianto's flat – shagging, sleeping, or like now… just being there.

"This is nice." Ianto murmured taking a sip from his beer.

"What is?" Jack turned away from the tv, which he had apparently been watching intently.

"This." Ianto gestured to the living room. "Just us… watching tv like a normal coup… like normal people." He corrected himself. Jack didn't like *that* word.

The older man tensed almost imperceptibly, but Ianto caught it.

"But we're not normal people." Jack quipped, turning back to the tv.

And there goes the moment, Ianto thought. He took the final gulp of lager from the bottle and heaved himself up from the couch. He stepped over Jack's legs and crossed to the kitchen. After rinsing out the bottle and dropping it gently into the recycling bin, he stood for a moment in the kitchen doorway watching Jack. For a brief moment, Torchwood and the rift ceased to exist. Ianto loved his job and he'd follow Jack to the end of the universe, but sometimes it was nice to just be two blokes enjoying an evening together watching mindless tv.

Ianto sighed. Stepping out of the kitchen, he headed away from the living room and towards the hall leading to the bedrooms. "It's getting late. I'm heading to bed. Stay up as late as you want."

Before Jack could react, Ianto was gone.

TWTWTW

It was a while before Ianto heard the tv being turned off and things being put away in the kitchen. He had already changed and brushed his teeth and was now teetering on the edge of sleep. He heard the creek of the loose floorboard right outside the bedroom door. Then the light in the bathroom went on and he heard water running as Jack brushed his teeth, followed by soft rustling in the dark of the bedroom as Jack changed and finally got into bed.

"What the hell was that all about?" Jack huffed. Then when he got no response, he added. "Ianto, I know you're not sleeping."

Ianto took a deep breath and let it out. Not long ago, Jack would have left to go brood on top of a building somewhere, but now here he was lying in Ianto's (their?) bed wanting to talk.

"Nothing. Just made a comment that it's sometimes nice to have a night in." The younger man rolled onto his back to stare at the empty ceiling. He watched as the lights from a passing car flashed a glow on the white expanse.

"Is that what you want?" Jack grumbled. "You know I can't give you 'normal' and 'cozy nights in'"

Okay, here we go. Ianto thought. Jack is playing his 'I'm an immortal time travelling spaceman' card.

"Jesus, Jack." He didn't do anything to disguise his annoyance. "You can't do what? What do you think tonight was? Certainly, appeared to be a normal night in to me." He paused for a moment, determined not to turn this into a full-blown argument. "Don't give me that crap, Jack. I'm not asking for your hand in marriage. I just would like you to acknowledge what already exists."

"There's nothing to acknowledge." Jack snapped. "I've told you I can't give that to you."

"Can't or won't." Ianto snapped back without thinking. Then after a moment, he spoke more gently. "Jack," he turned onto his side to face the older man. "I'm not asking for forever. I know you're afraid of the future… of me… not being here." He saw Jack close his eyes and visible tense. "I know you think that by ignoring it, that it won't hurt. So just give me one day."

Jack turned his head to face Ianto. "What?"

"One day." Ianto smiled softly. He put his hand on Jack's chest over his heart. "Let me love you for one day."

The captain nodded, placing his hand over Ianto's. "One day."

Twenty-four hours later

Ianto stepped out of his shower, glad to finally get whatever that slime was out of his hair. He made a mental note to put shampoo on the shopping list. As he dried himself off, he stood in the doorway of the en suite watching Jack get into bed. The captain's movements were slow and stiff, even after a very long hot shower. It had been a hard day. Jack had died twice and was still recovering.

Ianto hung the towel on the rack and crossed to the bed, not bothering to put on pajamas. He helped Jack pull back the duvet and they both climbed in and settled. Ianto lay with his head on the older man's chest, listening to the steady heartbeat.

"Jack?"

"Yeah?"

"Can I ask you something?"

"Anything."

"Can I have one day more?" Ianto felt Jack's heart quicken at the question.

Jack hesitated a moment, then answered. "Yes."

Ianto smiled against Jack's chest. "And another?"

Jack chucked softly sending vibrations through Ianto's body. "And another… and another…"

End

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