Title: Thrice Blessed
Rating: PG13 (might go up to NC-17 later chapters)
Characters/Pairings: Jack/Ianto, Gwen/Rhys, Toshiko and Owen (remembered), OCs: including new Torchwood Three members: Tabitha Adams and Dr. Shandi McNeil; Iola Jones – Ianto's younger sister, Gladis and Michael Jones – Ianto's parents, Drew Jones - Ianto's nephew.
Spoilers: Not really, but post TW series 2 and DW series 4, but goes AU before CoE (it never happened in this verse). I started to write this before CoE started filming, so Ianto has a different family in this AU.
Warning: MPREG, M/M, Fluff, Angst
Disclaimer: I don't own Jack and Ianto (heavy sigh), I'm pretty sure they own each other. I do know the BBC and RTD owns all things Torchwood. I'm adopting them because they need to be treated right.
Summary: Jack's pregnant – with triplets! Will Ianto survive?
Beta by: Grace_Musica (unless otherwise noted)
Notes: Extra shout outs to thrace_adams and cyberdigi for extra support, hand holding and continuity checks.
Ianto Jones could count the times he had seen Jack Harkness being nervous and uncertain on his hand. The first time was when Jack asked him out on their first date. The second time was when Jack asked if they could live together. The third was when Jack asked Ianto to marry him. That was over the course of five years. Earlier that afternoon was the fourth time when Jack asked Ianto if they could go out for dinner that night, and that he already had reservations.
Ianto followed Jack into the small restaurant. Ianto was dressed sharply in his usual attire for work, a black three piece suit, dark purple shirt and red pinstriped tie. They stopped briefly at their flat to kill time before their reservation, but Ianto remained in his suit he wore for the day. Ianto noticed that Jack slipped into a better quality blue shirt and he actually had a sports jacket under his greatcoat as they entered the restaurant. When Ianto looked surprised, Jack explained that jackets were required where they were going.
Ianto looked around into the dim. Low lighting on the walls and candlelight was the main source of light. The middle of the place had small intimate tables, set with candles and small flower arrangements. Along the walls were partitioned booths. He had never been to this restaurant before, but had noticed the name on restaurant listing leaflets provided in the Information Booth. Ianto figured Jack picked out the place from the leaflet.
They were led to one of the booths in the far corner. Jack ordered wine and a glass of water for drinks, then picked up the menu to look over their selections. Ianto caught Jack looking at him whenever the older man did not think he was looking. The couple of times Jack was caught, he went back to his menu.
"This is very nice," Ianto said, hoping to break the suddenly uncomfortable silence between them. It was coming from Jack, and Ianto was wondering why.
"Yes. It is. Hopefully their food is as good as the décor looks," Jack stated.
"So what's going on, Jack?" Ianto decided to ask.
Jack put down the menu. "Well…" he glanced around. "I'm realizing this was a bad idea." Seeing the frown starting on Ianto's face, Jack immediately added, "Not us having a romantic dinner. That's always a good idea. But… I need to talk to you. And I'm realizing this might not be the best place." He reached to take Ianto's left hand in his, calloused fingers lightly rubbing the platinum band on the finger. "How about we make the best of the romance, and then I'll talk when we get home."
"Only as long as you're not breaking up with me," Ianto said lightly.
"No! I don't want to break up with you. I want us to be together for the rest of your life."
"That's reassuring," Ianto said with a smile. "But you're edgy about something, and that worries me."
Jack lifted Ianto's hand to his lips and kissed it. "I have no intention of ever leaving you. But sometimes I get worried that you'll want to be rid of me."
Ianto laughed. "Never! If I put up with you over these last five years, there is no way I'm letting you go. I love you, Jack. Always."
"Me too. I love you too, Ianto. So let's just have a nice romantic evening. It's been forever since we ate out proper."
Ianto's eyes went to the dark gray jacket Jack wore, grinning. "It's been even longer since I've seen you in a suit."
"I wore a suit for our Civil Partnership," Jack protested.
"That's different. That was our Civil Partnership. But other than that? You didn't wear a suit to my nephew's naming ceremony."
"You're teasing me now," Jack commented.
"Just calling it as I see it."
The two men paused when their drinks arrived. They gave their orders. Wine was poured for Ianto, and Jack stuck to water. As the waiter walked away, Ianto took a sip of his wine, and then watched as Jack drank some of the water. "Are you planning to ply me with romance and wine, and then take advantage of me drunk to try something horribly kinky?" Ianto asked.
Jack spit his water out, and grabbed for his napkin. "Ianto!" Jack complained, wiping his shirt and table. He started to laugh. "No, but that sounds like an idea for the next time."
"Wonderful," Ianto sighed. "I'm giving you ideas."
Jack glared at Ianto. "I know I'm not the only kinky one here, so don't try it," he warned.
"Okay. So romantic dinner, wine for me, water for you, and then….?"
"We'll cross that when we get here." He grasped Ianto's hand to kiss it again. "Let's just enjoy this."
Dinner was great. More than the food, Ianto enjoyed having a nice meal with Jack in the very intimate style restaurant. The booth gave them more privacy, and they took advantage of it for some snogging between courses.
After they left the restaurant, full on good food, they walked hand in hand through the streets. They did not live far and had walked to the restaurant. It was another dry night in Cardiff. It had been dry for over a month. Ianto could think of all the rainy, chilly days of the past, wishing for drier weather, and now reminded of the old saying. They had been tracking the weather in Torchwood. They were not sure if it was global warming or something caused by the Rift. The team was working on making a final determination. Meanwhile everyone was wishing to once again know of wet days in Cardiff.
They ended up in a small club, much to Ianto's surprise, where they danced for a few songs. Jack's earlier nervousness had disappeared through the course of the evening. The moment they found themselves alone in their flat, Ianto noticed it returning almost immediately.
Ianto sat them down in the lounge, Jack on the couch and Ianto sat on the coffee table so he could face the older man. "Okay Jack, as lovely as tonight was, spill."
Jack sighed as he toyed with the button of the jacket still wore. "Can't we hold it off a while. Tonight was so wonderful."
"And whatever you have to say won't make it so?" Ianto asked, looking concerned.
Jack shrugged. "If it was just up to me, I'd say it was a wonderful thing, but I'm not sure what you are going to say about it."
"About what, Jack?"
Jack took a deep breath and leaned over to caress Ianto's cheek. "I love you. And I meant everything I said tonight. I find myself tempted to find a way to make you immortal like me, just so I can be with you forever."
"I'm confused, Jack. Don't get me wrong. That's lovely. I wish I could find a way to promise you forever. I don't like the idea of one day you'll be alone. I wish I could spend the rest of your life with you. But we can't." He suddenly looked sharply at Jack. "Unless…?"
Jack shook his head sadly. "I wish. That's not it."
"Then tell me Jack."
"I don't know how to start."
"Just say it."
"Ah shit," Jack mumbled under his breath. "Okay. Fine." He held both of Ianto's hands in his. "Remember that I told you I was pregnant before?"
Ianto nodded. "Yes. Don't tell me one of your children showed up through the Rift?" Ianto was certain it wasn't it. He would have known if something came through the Rift. Unless it happened while he was out, and Jack managed to keep it from the team and the logs.
"No," Jack said softly. "That's not likely to happen. Not any past children. And not from the Rift."
"Jack, what are you talking about?"
Jack stared into Ianto's eyes, forcing himself not to look away. He tightened the grip on Ianto's hands. "Ianto, I'm pregnant."
Ianto's jaw dropped.
OoOoOoO
"Ianto," Jack called out. "Ianto!" He snapped his fingers in front of the dazed looking man. "Ianto? Are you okay? Talk to me." Ianto continued to stare wide-eyed at Jack, his mouth open. "Say anything. Even tell me you hate me, you don't want the baby. Just say something." Jack sounded desperate.
Ianto's mouth snapped shut. He shook his head. Reaching out, he touched Jack's hand. "I.. I don't know." He patted Jack's hand. "Stay here. I need to get some air. Then maybe a strong drink. I'll be back, and then we can talk. Okay?" He gave what he hoped was a reassuring smile.
Jack nodded. "Yeah, sure. I'm going to get comfortable here on the couch. If I'm asleep, wake me. Okay?"
Ianto stood up, looking down to study Jack. More than the nervous Ianto remembered when Jack suggested they have their night out, the immortal looked terrified. He gave Jack a tight grin. "Look, don't get rash and start thinking on your own. When I get back, we'll talk and work things out together. Promise?"
"Yeah."
"Jack," Ianto lifted Jack's head by a finger under his chin. "I'm serious. Don't come to any conclusions and make decisions for me. That would piss me off. I just need to accept…that my… husband…" he gulped, "is pregnant. No big deal."
Jack managed to giggle a little. "Yep. Not a big deal at all. Go. I'll be here, mindlessly watching the telly until you get back."
"Thanks." Ianto leaned over and planted a soft kiss on Jack's lips.
Jack watched as Ianto left the room, and then listened as he went down the hallway. He sighed heavily when he heard the door to their flat open and close. It could have gone worse, Jack thought.
Instinct was to work himself into a state, worrying about what would happen when Ianto returned – if Ianto would return, the thought fluttered through his mind.
Stop right there, Jack chastised himself. Thoughts like that will only cause him to come to conclusions opposite of what he had promised Ianto. It wasn't fair to his partner. Ianto needed time to get used to the thought. Jack had all day once he realized what was going on. Ianto had just found out; he needed time. Jack decided he was able to give Ianto all the time he needed. Then they could sit down and talk things out.
Picking up the remote, he stretched out on the couch, intending to watch TV until Ianto returned, and settled on a programme that caught his attention. When the programme was nearing the end, Ianto had not returned. It went unnoticed to Jack, as his eyes closed and he drifted off to sleep.
One of the signs that tipped him off to being pregnant was in the last few weeks, he had actually been sleeping at nights. In the last week, he found himself also taking short naps. He had been feeling queasy and at times dizzy. His final clue was when he found himself hiding in the toilet down in the bunkroom, hoping Ianto would not come down and catch him hugging the toilet.
That was not the way Jack wanted Ianto to find out that his mother was wrong back when she found out Ianto was planning to spend his life with Jack. Gladis Jones was going to become a grandmother again.
It was a shame she would never know the truth.
OoOoOoO
When Ianto left the flat, he just started to walk. He did not pay attention to where he was going. He did not want to think yet. If he did, he would have to make sense of the chaos in his head. So he walked. He went in the general direction where he had recently come from with Jack. He took another street so he would not have to walk past the restaurant they had dinner in, and kept walking. He hesitated to go into a bar for a drink or two, but decided against it. All he needed was to have one too many and start going into a sad sob story about how his male partner was pregnant.
Nope, won't do. Ianto thought. He was not even sure it was a sad sob story. It most likely wasn't. All he needed was to get his head around what Jack had told him.
He forced himself to stop thinking again, as he continued to walk. He found himself at the water tower by the Wales Millennium Center. He knew where to go from there and continued his way through the Roald Dahl Plass. Soon he found himself unlocking the door to the Information Booth, and then locking it behind him once he was safe inside. He turned on the lights and the radio, opened a magazine he kept to the side from earlier and picked up reading where he left off.
After reading the same two paragraphs for the fourth time, Ianto put the magazine aside. Pushing the button under the counter, Ianto went through the opening door to go down to the Hub. Myfanwy looked over from her nest in curiosity when he entered the main area. He had fed her before he left with Jack for the night, but decided to give her a treat of some dark chocolate.
With Myfanwy happily enjoying her unexpected snack, Ianto found himself going into Jack's office. With a heavy sigh, he sat behind the desk in Jack's chair. The first thing he noticed were the framed photos Jack kept on his desk: Jack and Ianto leaning against a rail on Mermaid Quay, taken by Toshiko; a photo of the team before they lost Owen and Toshiko; Jack, Ianto and Ianto's younger sister, Iola in the garden of Ianto's parents' garden, a larger photo composite that Iola had made and given to Jack of various Jones family photos that included Ianto and Jack. He found himself smiling as he looked at the photos included on the compilation. Jack adored Ianto's sister from the moment they were introduced. Iola loved Jack to pieces, was their biggest fan, next to Gwen. Ianto remembered times he would catch Jack staring at that photo. The older man never said anything, but Ianto could tell by the look on Jack's face when looking at the photos, and whenever they were together with Ianto's family – Jack enjoying 'belonging' somewhere. Even if Gladis Jones would sometimes get weird about him, but when it mattered the most, she cared deeply for her son-in-law – once she got used to the idea that her son decided to spend his life with another man. Next to the composite was a photo of Jack and Ianto taken during their Civil Partnership.
Still smiling, Ianto's eyes rested on the last photo on Jack's desk: Jack and Ianto holding Iola's infant son at the baby's naming ceremony. Iola was 23, single and still living at home when she found out she was pregnant. Iola learned the hard way that birth control was not 100% safe, but now his sister could not see her life without Drew in it.
Ianto wondered if that was how he would feel one day. He remembered his sister being shocked, scared and confused, when she showed up at Jack and Ianto's flat, they were the first ones she went to after finding out the news. She had to wait for a couple of hours in their flat alone, waiting, while Jack and Ianto returned from hunting alien tech. They found his younger sister in quite the state when they arrived. Ianto was glad they had stopped for takeaway, already knowing she would be there. She had called them earlier, saying she was coming into Cardiff, and needed to speak to them.
At first she contemplated not going through with it, but it was just her fears talking. The two men managed to calm her down enough to start talking. Ianto's smile grew as he remembered that evening.
"How am I supposed to do this alone?" Iola sobbed leaning against Ianto. He had his arm protectively around his younger sister. "You won't be totally alone," Jack said as he crossed the living room, bringing them tea. He had taken on tea duty while Ianto comforted his distraught sister. He set the tray on the coffee table and sat on the table's edge, across from the Jones siblings. Ianto nodded. "That's right. Mam and Tad will be there," he started. "Mam is going to kill me!" Iola exclaimed, pulling away from Ianto. "And Tad is going to be so disappointed. I broke up with David three weeks ago." Both men nodded, since Ianto's sister found her way to their flat when she was upset over some dealings she suspected David to be into. They had encouraged her that she was strong enough to leave him. Since then he had disappeared – David Brockner was into more than she suspected, and Jack and Ianto realized Torchwood had to become involved. If only Iola knew her boyfriend was a time traveler who was using the Rift while he sold alien drugs to teenagers, with plans of controlling them for his employers, and use as soldiers in taking over the Earth. "Not going to lie," Ianto admitted. "Mam will have a fit, much like when she found out about me and Jack, but once she realizes she's going to be a grandmother, she's going to be so excited." Jack smirked, handing Iola her tea. "And knowing your Tad, he'll be more likely to find David and kill him before he touches you. I know he's going to love being a grandfather." Ianto noticed the biscuit tin also on the tray, and raised an eyebrow. "I figured some chocolate biscuits would help soothe La-La's mood," Jack explained. "Oh you!" Iola turned and hit Ianto in the arm. "I told you to stop calling me that! Now you have Jack doing it!" "Hey!" Ianto protested while Jack laughed. "He's the one who called you La-La just now. Hit him." "I can't," Iola sniffed, then smiled at Jack. "He got me chocolate biscuits." Ianto groaned, while Jack laughed. Ianto and Jack talked later that evening when Iola was asleep on their couch. David was human, but like Jack, from an Earth colony in the future. The baby would have some of its father's advanced genetic make-up. Jack and Ianto vowed to be close to Iola and the baby, and be able to handle anything that might not be normal for a child of the 21st century. They got more than they bargained for, but happily accepted when Iola asked them to be Drew's godparents. The Jones family were not particularly a religious lot, but had always been open to what Gladis called "the old religion'. Iola planned a Druid naming ceremony. She had asked Ianto and Jack to be godparents, because if anything should happen to her, she trusted only Ianto and Jack enough to handle the raising of their nephew. Ianto and Jack hoped it would never come to that, but once Drew was born, they played up the proud and loving uncles as much as Torchwood would allow.
Coming out of his musing, he remembered his sister's distraught state that evening. It was an unexpected pregnancy. So far, it appeared as if surprise pregnancies was a family tradition for the Jones siblings. Unlike his sister's unexpected pregnancy, for him, surprise was an understatement. Ianto had always assumed he did not have to worry about anything like birth control. While Jack had made comments about being pregnant before, Ianto never gave thought that it could happen again. Jack would constantly talk about natural birth control in the air.
Just like Iola found out that the pill was not 100%, apparently Jack's 'natural birth' control was not either.
With his mind on his sister the night she found out she was pregnant, it finally occurred to Ianto that Jack might not be taking it as well as he appeared. He was glad he had made Jack promise not to make any rash decisions and to wait for him. Ianto still had issues to work through, but he knew that he did not want anything to happen to the life that Jack and he had created.
Quickly Ianto left the Hub, taking the Invisible Lift to cut off the time going through the Information Booth. As he rushed along the streets in the direction of his flat, he realized that his mother was wrong.
"No!" Gladis Jones denied in her kitchen. "I am not allowing you to commit yourself to another man." Ianto had been prepared for his mother's tirade when he entered the kitchen alone. He had called her that morning, telling her that he wanted to talk to her. Being it was a Saturday, Gladis invited her and Jack to come over for the day, and stay for dinner. Ianto politely declined, saying he would be over for lunch if it was okay with her. He noticed his mother looked smug when he arrived without Jack, and then later the hopeful look on her face when once the family was gathered, that he had something to tell them. He knew she was hoping he was going to say he had broken up with Jack. Instead he had told his family that Jack proposed to him the night before, and they were planning a Civil Partnership ceremony. Gladis has smiled tightly and stood up, asking if anyone would want tea, and then went into the kitchen. Iola squealed excitedly, exclaiming that she would have the best brother-in-law in all of Wales, as she hugged Ianto. Michael gave his congratulations to Ianto, and said that he was planning to go down to "Mam, I love you, you know that, but I hardly need your permission to get married." "Married? That's not a marriage," Gladis scoffed. "Why do you think they call it a Civil Partnership? Because it's not a marriage. I want more for you, Ianto. I want you to find a woman that you can have a good marriage with. I want you to be able to have children." Ianto immediately caught onto his mother's issues. She had already worked through Jack being too old for Ianto, since they allowed her to believe Jack was 44, the age on his public records. To her, Jack was four years younger then her. If she only knew the truth, Ianto thought as he considered Jack's true age of 2181 years. She got past Jack originally being his boss, and suspicions of sexual harassment. Ianto told his mother that he went after Jack, wanting to work for Torchwood Cardiff, and he had contributed to what became mutual attraction between the two men. Long before Gladis had met Jack, Ianto went through what felt like an interrogation with his mother on why would he want to still work for Torchwood after Gladis Jones had come to terms with a lot when it came to her elder child and only son. She had accepted Ianto moving in with Jack, and treated him like family whenever he would come over with Ianto. Ianto realized her acceptance of Jack was based on hope – hope that one day Ianto would come to his senses and leave Jack, and leave Torchwood. She did not know exactly what Torchwood was, except that it would step in on police investigations and takeover if they felt they had the right. She knew what her son did was potentially dangerous, and had long hours. Many times Ianto would cancel a visit because of work, and there were other times when he would get a call while visiting, and having to leave quickly. She wanted a normal life for her son. More importantly, she wanted to be a grandmother. Ianto sighed. "Mam, I know you were hoping I would have children someday, but there's still always Iola. She'll find someone good for her one day, and give you lots of grandchildren." "And I hope she does," Gladis stated. "But I also expected you to carry on the family line, the family name." Ianto raised his eyebrows. "I'm quite sure the name Jones will go on long into the future." He smirked as if thinking of a private joke. "You know what I mean, Ianto Cerdic Jones." Gladis turned to face him, hands on her ample hips. "Yes, I know what you mean. But don't you think that should be my decision to make? Is that why you didn't like Lisa, Mam? When she told you she was sterile? That meant if she lived and we got married, there would not be children. I'm with Jack now. Mam, I love him. I love him like I've never loved anyone, and yes, sometimes that scares me, when I think back to how much I had loved Lisa. I love him more. I'd find a way to move the Earth for Jack. Just be happy that I found someone I love that much. That I found someone to spend my life with. Please, Mam." Gladis studied Ianto. "Does he feel the same for you?" Ianto nodded. "Yes. He does. I don't have to explain anything, but trust me when I say I know without a doubt he feels the same for me." Gladis shook her head, then sighed. Finally she gave Ianto a smile. "Come here." When Ianto moved close to his mother, she hugged him. "Okay, go have your Civil Partnership. But if Jack ever decides to hurt you, Torchwood would not be able to save him from me. Understood?" Once again Ianto gave that smirk which warned Gladis of another private joke. She already knew not to press him when he smiled like that. He never explained in the past, he never would. That bloody Torchwood and all their secrets. "Of course, Mam. I know Jack would not be insulted if you told him that, instead of me." Ianto ended up returning to
Ianto reached the corner of the block they lived on, realizing that had suddenly changed. Somehow, some way, they would have to find a way to combine Torchwood and children, and make it work. If Jack was pregnant, getting rid of the baby was not an option that appealed to Ianto.
He stood outside the building, looking up to the top floor. The lights were still on. With a determined stride, he went into the building.
It was time to sit down with Jack and work things out.
OoOoOoO
Ianto entered the lounge to find the lights on and the TV playing. On the couch was Jack, his head turned toward the TV, and one of his legs dangling off the couch, foot resting on the floor. He was asleep and softly snoring.
The sight of Jack sleeping so soundly – the snoring was the tip off that he was deeply asleep – told Ianto that he should have been warned of something going on with Jack. His partner hardly slept. Most times when the immortal did close his eyes, he would usually be awake an hour later, no more than two. There were many times Ianto would wake up in the morning to find Jack in the bed, watching him sleep. Long ago, when Jack first started to stay over Ianto's flat, he had admitted that he would get up while the younger man slept and do things about the flat. Sometimes he would leave to and stalk the rooftops, but would always find his way back before Ianto woke up. Ianto had gotten used to waking up in the middle of the night alone; after he used the loo, he'd go back to sleep. When he woke up in the morning, if Jack wasn't there watching him, he would hear sound of the older man making their breakfast.
It occurred to Ianto then that in the last few weeks, Jack did not move from the bed, except to use the loo himself.
Not having the heart to disturb his sleeping partner, Ianto went into the kitchen to make them coffee. As he reached for the coffee beans, he realized that Jack shouldn't really be drinking coffee. He frowned, realizing the amount of coffee Jack had that day, which was the same amount he had everyday for as long as Ianto had known Jack. He put the coffee beans away, filled the kettle with water, and took out some decaf chai tea.
By the time he was pouring the tea into teacups, he heard Jack start to move around in the lounge. He took out a tin of chocolate biscuits to set on the tray, along with their tea.
~/~ ~/~ ~/~
The first thing Jack noticed when he woke up was Ianto's jacket on the arm of the easy chair. As he sat up, he heard movement in the kitchen. Jack stood up, intending to go into the kitchen, but at the last minute back tracked through the living room and into the hallway, heading for the loo.
He returned to the living room in time to find Ianto placing a tray on the coffee table. Ianto straightened up, noticing Jack standing in the doorway. Jack gave him a nervous smile.
Ianto found he was able to return Jack's smile. "I figured we could use some tea and biscuits while we talk," he said, going around the coffee table to sit on the couch. Jack remained still hovering in the doorway. Ianto patted the space next to him. "Well come over here, Jack. It's much too late to convince me you can be shy. I know you too well." He gave Jack a knowing smile.
Jack chuckled and entered the room. As he sat down, Ianto handed Jack a cup of tea. Jack looked at the cup, sniffing it. "Chai tea?" he asked.
"Decaf," Ianto remarked. "And we still have those chocolate biscuits you like."
Jack took a sip of the tea, feeling uncomfortable. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Ianto also drink his tea. He reached out to grab a biscuit, nibbling on it, knowing he was only delaying what needed to be done. He had another sip, noticing that Ianto was now eating a biscuit. When Jack was finished with his biscuit, he had another sip of the tea and put the cup on the coffee table. He cleared his throat. "Ianto, about this situation…."
"How do you know for sure?" Ianto cut in, still holding his teacup.
Jack sighed heavily. "Been there, done that," he replied. "Okay, I'm not one hundred percent certain, but I'm pretty sure I am."
Ianto nodded and glanced at Jack, waiting for him to elaborate.
Jack grabbed another biscuit and started to eat it while he started to speak again. "It's pretty much the same thing you'd expect. I've been getting nauseous lately." Jack shrugged. "In the last week, I've been throwing up. At first I thought maybe it was something I ate, then I thought I got a stomach virus."
"You hardly get sick," Ianto pointed out.
"Rare, but not never." Jack gazed at Ianto, raising his eyebrow. "You've just been lucky so far."
"Me?"
Jack nodded. "You don't want to deal with me being sick."
Ianto shook his head. "You tell me this now. Right after you tell me you're pregnant. Great."
"Right." Jack looked uncomfortable again. He paused to drink more of the tea. "Look, Ianto, before we go any further than this, I need to know how you feel about this. I don't want you to go through anything you're uncomfortable with." He dared to reach out to take Ianto's hand in his. "I don't want to force you through anything that could mean losing you."
Ianto smiled at Jack. "I needed to get away for a while, because I had to get used to what you said," Ianto admitted. "But I never intended to stay away."
"I'm glad to hear that," Jack said, relief obvious in his voice. "But I'm still not going to make you go through something that you're going to be uncomfortable with."
"Are you trying to ask me what I want?" Ianto asked.
Jack nodded. "Yeah. I am."
Ianto covered the hand holding his with his other. "Jack, I'm not the pregnant one. What do you want to do? This is your body."
Jack squeezed Ianto's hand, and then pulled it away. Ianto watched as Jack stood up and went over to the window. Staring out to the lights of Cardiff from their top floor flat, he put his hands behind his back. "I wasn't lying when I would say I'd never do that again. I meant it. You have to know that."
Ianto nodded. He remained sitting where he was, sipping his tea, but turned so he could watch Jack.
Jack took Ianto's silence as to continue. "I also once had kids the normal way. You know, I was married, my wife had two kids. When I had to bury all of them, I also swore I wasn't doing that again. That included settling down with someone and getting married." Jack shrugged, and turned to face Ianto. "I really did mean that. Then came you, and now…." He held up his left hand, indicating his ring finger and the simple titanium band on it. It matched the one on Ianto's left hand. "We signed the papers to buy this place, then a Civil Partnership. You're an exception to everything I once swore off, just so I could protect myself from losing, while I continued on. You made me realize it's better to have and lose, than not have at all. After we started dating, one day I realized that I felt… alive. I mean really alive, not just living."
He paused, glad to see the smile on Ianto's face. It was a warm, loving smile.
He left the window to go back to the couch, and sat on the arm. "Only one vow remained, and I really honestly did mean it. Besides, I was certain I was protected. It was so natural, I stopped thinking about it. So I didn't give any thought when we went through this dry summer."
Ianto's mouth dropped. "Oestrogen," he muttered. He studied Jack. "As long as we had regular rain, you were protected."
"Yeah. I should have considered being careful while going through a dry season," Jack said.
"So?" Ianto put his hand on Jack. "Tell me, Jack. The truth. Now that you're pregnant, what is it that you want to do?"
Jack gave Ianto a lopsided smile. "I found I could love you, that I wanted us to share life together. I want to spend the rest of your life with you, Ianto. And now that this is a possibility, I don't think I can do anything but go through with this." Jack's eyes met Ianto's. "But not if you can't handle it."
Ianto gave Jack one of his shy, nervous smiles. "Honestly?" he asked. When Jack nodded his head, Ianto noticed that his partner was holding his breath. "It's going to take some time to get used to this. I mean, you're a man, Jack. When I decided I wanted to be with you, Torchwood or no, I thought I gave up all hope of ever having my own children. It didn't matter to me, Jack. I wanted you. Now you tell me we're going to be parents. It's going to be strange to me at times." Ianto paused, squeezing Jack's hand and smiled. "But knowing that there's this tiny life created by you and me, there's no way I'm gong to make you give it up. Just be patient with me at times if I act weird."
"Tell you what?" Jack replied. "I'll be patient with you being weird, if you do the same when I get weird from pregnancy."
Ianto managed to pull a mock surprised look. "You mean you can be weirder?"
Jack laughed. "Unfortunately, yes. I can. I'm sorry, Ianto."
Ianto got up from the couch to stand before Jack. He pulled him into a hug. "We have more talking to do, but not tonight. It's late, and despite the nap you had, you still look tired. I'm sure you need your rest now in your condition."
"I should have known weeks before I got sick," Jack admitted.
"I already thought about that, too. You have been sleeping through the night lately." He nuzzled Jack's cheek. "And you snore."
"Do not," Jack protested.
"Nothing loud, but yes, you snore. I just hope the volume doesn't increase as the pregnancy progresses."
"I don't know. I've never been told that before."
"That's one of the things we need to talk about. But starting tomorrow." Ianto pulled back, staring at Jack. "Don't you need a doctor or something? What are we going to do, Jack? We can't just walk you into an obstetrics office exclaiming that you're pregnant."
"No. I'm thinking of grabbing Shandi sometime tomorrow and do an ultrasound. I just wanted you to be the first I told." Jack gave Ianto an encouraging smile. "Relax. I've been through this before. Somewhere in the archives there must be documentation on a race where the males get pregnant. We'll work on it tomorrow. Then we'll talk some more, and after that… we tell the others." When he saw the surprised look on Ianto's face, Jack shook his head. "Are you planning on me spending the entire pregnancy here? Don't you think the others are going to notice?"
"Shit. You're right." Ianto looked thoughtful. "Jack, can I ask a favor please?"
"Sure. I'm taking your acceptance as we're going through this together. So you have your say in everything."
"Good. I know why we need to grab Shandi first thing tomorrow, but I think I would feel better if maybe we spoke to Gwen first, let her know what we suspect."
Jack smiled at Ianto. "You're right. As much as I adore Shandi and Tabitha, they are a new team."
"And Gwen is all we have left from the old team. I want her to know before anyone else on the team."
Jack understood what Ianto meant. The three of them were survivors of a close team. Since Tosh and Owen's deaths, they had become closer. Jack also knew that he could depend on Tabitha Adams, who was their current general admin person, and Shandi McNeil, who was Torchwood's medic for the past year, it was not the same. They all got along, but the newcomers still remained on the outside. "All right. We can do that," he agreed.
"Thank you." Ianto leaned in to softly kiss Jack. "I love you, Jack. And once I get over the shock, I know I'm going to be thrilled to raise a child with you."
"I'm looking forward to it already."
"Now let's go to bed." He held his hand out for Jack to take it.
Smiling brightly, Jack took Ianto's hand and allowed his partner to pull him up to his feet. Ianto placed the teacups with the remains of their cooled tea on the tray, and went into the kitchen, Jack following.
As he helped Ianto clean up for the night, he knew everything was not going to be perfect. It was still far from okay yet. Ianto would still have to get used to having his male partner carry their child. They would have to figure out a way to balance children and Torchwood. That was something they were yet to discuss, among many other things.
For now, it was good enough for Jack. Ianto was still there, tugging him toward their bedroom once the kitchen was cleaned, and willing to go through the pregnancy with him.
At the moment, Jack could not ask for more.