Prologue

Ianto's worries and fears concerning the Doctor had dissipated when Jack had returned from the year that never was and over time, had told him all the horrors he and the Doctor had faced at the hands of the Master. Jack had been badly shaken and wept as he told Ianto that the worst agony he suffered in that year was towards the end, when the Master had seen deeply into his mind and discovered the one secret he had tried desperately to hide. His love for Ianto.

So the Master had his henchmen search the world until the Torchwood team were discovered hiding out in the Himalayas. They were all captured and systematically tortured ensuring that Jack witnessed these events from his cell via a video link.

Then they were killed, first Owen, then Gwen and followed by Tosh. Ianto was deliberately left until the last and cruelly tortured for many more weeks, the Master bringing him to the brink of death and then reviving him … all in front of a broken and despairing Jack. When Ianto's body could endure no more punishment, the Master had dragged the young Welshman before Jack and had slowly and painfully killed him.

It was during this dark period in his life when Jack endured those terrible months of torture and deprivation, that his heart and mind were filled with one thought. Ianto Jones. Jack was in love with the man.

Through his own tears at Jack's horrific ordeal, Ianto recognised the shine of truth in Jack's eyes and realised all his dreams had come true … Jack loved him! So Ianto responded in the only way he could. By declaring his unconditional love for Jack, his Captain.

Jack told Ianto that Martha Jones had managed to save the world and free the Doctor so he could undo the year that never was and bring Jack home. Rather than accept the Doctor's mercy and forgiveness, the Master chose oblivion rather than regeneration … and broke the sole surviving Time Lord's heart.

Of course, the team had no memory of these events once time had rolled back. Ianto had been extremely shaken by Jack's revelations and completed understood when Jack said he didn't want any of the others to learn of the terrible events that had taken place, until Martha and the Doctor put everything right. Jack preferred to face the hostile reactions he received from Owen, Gwen and Tosh when he refused to divulge any information, rather than let them know the true story.

Ianto knew now that Captain Jack Harkness loved him as strongly, as deeply as he himself loved the immortal man. This knowledge filled him with an inner strength and peace. And when Jack spoke those three special words to him, Ianto saw in the depths of those wondrous blue eyes, felt in the soft touch of Jack's fingers caressing his face, and locked away in his joy filled heart that wondrous declaration … I love you.

At last all Ianto's hopes and dreams had come true. Captain Jack Harkness, the love of his life, had declared himself as belonging, heart, soul and body to the Welshman. Ianto bound himself gladly to the heart of the immortal man. Because Ianto loved Jack with his whole being. And nothing would ever change that.

The three moons of Reegar, Tulshan and Galaxia were climbing into the night sky of Tallex, casting a blush of gold across the planet surface. It's fiery red sun, Tallexorania had long receded from this side of Tallex, it's unique streaks of red and orange marking it's passing.

Night time in Tallex was never black, merely a soft merging of greys and golds due to the three satellites rising in the sky. The planetary system and distant stars were not visible in this light and could only be viewed through a specially designed telescope. But not many people looked through the telescope to view the heavens, this early in the evening. They waited til the moons had reached their highest point in the sky.

Nobody observed the twirling blue box that broke through the atmosphere, seemingly on a collision course with Caspira, the city of the ruling monarchy and seat of power in that solar system. And when it landed without mishap after hurtling it's way down from the heavens to an abandoned alleyway, no-one observed the figure who stepped out of the blue box and cheerfully whistled his way along the busy city streets. Not a single person observed this stranger in their midst stop before a bronze statute mounted on a pedestal in the Central Plaza, a bemused expression on his face. Nor did they see that the man standing looking up at the statue looked exactly the same as the bronze figure.