Author's Note:

I felt like this tale grew too big to include with the rest of Cocktail Hour, so I'm posting it as its own story instead. It should be about 4-5 chapters, rotating through various viewpoints. I hope you enjoy another take on 'Something Borrowed.'

I.

"Champagne?" Tosh asks, holding out a flute filled with bubbles. Jack is sitting alone, looking almost morose, and she is determined to shake some sense into him. He's been a sullen prat since they arrived, and it's clearly not because of the Nostrovite. She watched him dance with Gwen, after all, and she saw the looks and touches and general mooning. If she saw it, and even Owen noticed it enough make a snarky remark about it, then it's a sure bet that Ianto did as well, and that he didn't interrupt them for any other reason than to put a stop to it.

And knowing Ianto, he stopped it for Gwen and Rhys, not because of his own feelings. He's been somewhat dry and distant all day, and she half wonders if she should be sitting with Ianto, offering him a drink with words of support. Only she's too irritated with Jack and needs to let him know first before she finds Ianto and offers him a ride home so he doesn't have to drive back with Jack and Owen.

"Thanks," says Jack. "Drink up now before we have to lace it all with Retcon." He raises the glass in a toast, his gaze still distant, his demeanor still pensive and brooding.

She plays with the stem of her flute before sipping at it, unsure what to say when all she wants to do is let loose on his insensitive behavior. Not that it's any of her business, and she's aware that she could be misinterpreting everything—Jack and Gwen and Ianto, the whole sordid triangle. Maybe none of it is what it seems. She hopes so, for all of them, including Rhys now.

"Will Gwen and Rhys remember?" she asks. Jack smiles crookedly, spinning the glass between his fingers.

"They'd prefer to not forget," he said.

"I don't blame them," Tosh says firmly. "It's their wedding. Aliens aside, it was lovely. They deserve to remember their special day."

Jack simply tilts his head in acknowledgement. She continues.

"Rhys was amazing. I can't think of many men who would be so accepting of their fiancé waking up with an alien baby the morning of their wedding. And in the end, he saved her life. He's her hero, and he deserves to remember that more than anything."

Jack shrugs this time. His lack of response confirms her thoughts, that Jack is acting like a royal jerk on what should be a happy occasion for Gwen and Rhys.

"She deserves someone who would do anything for her. He loves her, he supports her, he even took a bullet for her. He's good for her."

"Yes, he is," Jack says with a nod and a small smile.

"Then let her go, Jack," Tosh replies, lowering her voice. She's unable to hide her irritation any longer, earning a surprised look from Jack. "She's married now, and obviously happy. She deserves to have a normal life. Don't take that away from her."

"I'm not sure what you mean," says Jack. "I'm not trying to take anything. She choose Torchwood a long time ago."

"And she chose Rhys," Tosh replies. "I thought you made your choice too, although sometimes I wonder if you only think you did. You had your chance a long time ago. Don't hurt her or Rhys or anyone else because you can't get over it."

Jack drinks his entire glass in one quick gulp. "Anyone else?" he asks, his gaze moving around the room as if looking for the subject of their discussion, though she's not sure which one. Tosh points her finger at him to emphasize her words.

"You know who I mean. I don't know what's going on between you and Ianto anymore, but make sure that he does. You may be my boss, but he's my friend, and I don't want to see him hurt."

"And I don't want to hurt him," Jack murmurs, tracing circles on the tablecloth. "Has it occurred to you that you might, in fact, be wrong about me? About today, about all of this?" He sweeps his hand out, indicating the wedding.

"Yes," she said. "Maybe I'm completely wrong, and Ianto's fine with everything you've said and done today. Or maybe deep down he's hurting, only he's too proud to ever let anyone know. He deserves a normal life too, Jack. Don't keep him from that if you don't mean it."

She stands up to find another glass of champagne and bring it to Ianto, only to turn around and see him standing by the music table, laughing with a young woman in a pink dress that by some coincidence matches his shirt perfectly. "Oh." It slips out, along with a satisfied smile.

Jack stands up beside her, also watching Ianto. The woman is short and pretty, and they are standing close and talking animatedly, each of them sipping a champagne flute. When the music stops, Ianto sets up some more, and the young woman motions toward the dance floor. Ianto smiles, his face free of the pinched tension she saw earlier. He offers her his elbow, and they sweep out onto the dance floor together.

Tosh is speechless. Ianto can dance. And he looks years younger, with his tie loose, his eyes bright, smiling and laughing as he twirls the woman and dips her. Across the dance floor, Owen is standing with Gwen, and they are staring as well. Owen looks smug, like he wants to congratulate Ianto for pulling a hot bird, and there is a small but confused smile on Gwen's face. Tosh wonders what she will see on Jack's face. Surprise? Jealousy? Stormy anger? What for? Jack is an incorrigible flirt who just danced far too intimately with the new bride to be throwing stones at glass houses.

When she turns around, it is to find Jack watching Ianto with a look of sadness touched with longing and clear affection. It is not what she was expecting. She considers pointing out the hypocrisy, but Jack places a hand on her shoulder.

"I do mean it, Tosh," he says softly. "But you're right. He deserves a normal life too." He turns with a sigh and leaves the room. She's not sure whether to go after him or leave him to wallow in his own guilt. In the end, she watches Ianto, enjoying her friend's happiness on the dance floor. She catches Owen's eye and they exchange a "Who knows?" shrug. With a sigh, she goes to find another glass of champagne, wondering if Ianto will need a ride home after all.

"Hi," says a voice from beside him, one he doesn't recognize but which is clearly speaking to him. He glances up and sees a woman standing alongside the table where he's been setting up the music. She's short and pretty, about his age, a beautiful pink dress complimenting her blue eyes and curly brown hair, and she's holding two flutes of champagne.

"Hello," says Ianto, starting the next song before giving her his full attention. She holds out one of the flutes for him.

"I thought you might like a drink," she said. "Since you've been doing the music for a while now."

"Thanks," he says, taking the flute and trying not to stare. She reminds him of someone he knew in university, one of the girls in the flat next to his during his last year of studies. It's a memory from another life, when he was young and didn't know anything about aliens and immortal time travelers, when his biggest worries were his studies and having a good time. He'd slept with her a few times, the girl next door, and finds himself staring at the woman before him, wondering…

"It's Ianto, right?" she asks, sipping at her drink. She smiles at his surprise. "Rhys told me. He said you work with Gwen."

"That's right." He awkwardly holds out his hand. "Ianto Jones. And you are?"

"Catrin Williams," she says. "I'm Rhys's cousin. My friends call me Catie, though, so please call me Catie."

It's a bit of an obvious line, but sincere, and he's charmed none the less. "Nice to meet you, Catie."

"So if you work with Gwen, does that mean you're part of her special ops team?" she asks, and he nods.

"More of an admin than anything—general support," he tells her. "I tend to run things behind the scenes."

She smiles broadly at him. "That's me too, then! I'm a PA at Axiom. I swear I know more about what's going on than my boss some days!"

"I feel the same," Ianto laughs. "We are a much-needed but under-appreciated segment of the work force, no doubt."

"Gwen never talks about her job, she says she can't," Catrin says. "I suppose you're going to tell me the same? Even with what happened today?"

"Afraid so," Ianto replies. "Comes with the territory and the Official Secrets Act."

She narrows her eyes at him. "Official Secrets Act? Are you a spy, then?"

"I have done some undercover work," he tells her, lowering his voice. "Right now I'm undercover as a DJ."

She laughs, and he finds it warm and genuine. To his surprise, his mood has considerably improved over the last five minutes, compared to the last five hours. It's been a stressful day for more reasons than the obvious, and perhaps Catrin is exactly the distraction he needs as Jack sits at their table and broods some more.

"Would you like to dance?" she asks. "Next song, if you can step away for a few minutes?"

He finishes his champagne—liquid courage, he tells himself—and turns back to the music. "Absolutely. What would you like to hear?"

She smiles and asks what he has available, and they set up the next three songs. Offering his arm, he leads her out to the dance floor. He sees no reason why he shouldn't enjoy himself. He's worked hard to make sure Gwen's wedding actually happened, and if the person he'd rather be enjoying it with is too busy mourning instead of celebrating, then Ianto decides he has every right to dance with someone else. It's not like he's tied to Jack anyway, especially since it's become increasingly clear that all Jack can think about is Gwen, and not because of her alien baby.

So he loosens his tie some more, smiles, and dances with Catrin. She won't remember him the next day anyway, so he may as well enjoy her company while he can.