"You're up early," Jack said rolling onto his side as Ianto got out of bed the next morning. On the other side of the bed Owen grumbled something about being cold and then disappeared beneath the covers.

It was far too early for Ianto's liking really, especially as it had been their first night to themselves since leaving the lake village, and he would have liked to have stayed in bed with them, but he'd already agree to help Pon-Pel.

"I'm helping on one of the fishing boats today. There's a type of really oily fish like creature that they need to catch and a big shoal has been spotted off shore," Ianto replied, as he got dressed in the weak pre-dawn light that was filtering in to the building they'd been told they could stay in.

"I'm getting turned down for fish?" Jack said with an exaggeratedly hurt expression.

"I'll be back later." Laughing, Ianto leant down and kissed him. "It might be quite late, but it should be before it gets dark."

Ianto made his way down to where the fishing boats were beached just above the tideline, their shallowly curved hulls resting in stone-lined depression in the sand. The oars were lined up next to them, while the Star-Chosen who crewed them loaded them with nets for the days fishing.

"I was beginning to think you weren't coming," Pon-Pel said, climbing down from one of the boat. She pointed to one of the larger fishing boats. "We're in that one. It's my uncle's boat, he's been fishing here for years, just follow what he says and you'll do all right."

The sea looked calm and the air was cold and still as they pulled the boats down to the water. It was deceptive though, and Ianto quickly found it to be very different from the smooth journey down the river, the small fishing boats bobbing wildly in the shallows close to the coast. "It will better once we're into deeper water," Pon-Pel said, patting Ianto on the back as the boat lurched forwards.

Grateful that he'd not had time for breakfast, Ianto nodded and tried to concentrate on rowing, rather than the decidedly uncomfortable way his stomach rolled with each pitch and heave of the boat.

It did get better once they reached the open sea, the feeling of nausea receding to just a slight lingering queasiness. It was hard work rowing out to where the shoal had been seen and it was almost noon by the time they actually found it.

The 'fish' were some of the least appealing that Ianto had ever seen. Narrow and about a foot long, they had bulbous eyes, a jutting out jaw full of small sharp teeth and a leathery skin that seemed to be coated with some form of slime. How anyone had looked at it and decided that it would be good to eat was beyond him.

Catching them had been a precarious business as far as Ianto was concerned. Standing on the edge of a rocking boat to throw a net out into the water and then pulling it back in weighed down with fish seemed far from safe.

Nobody fell in though, and eventually with Mos-Pel happy they packed their catch into the narrow storage spaces in the base of the boats. The sky had clouded over and the wind had gradually risen as the day had gone on, and by the time they were ready to return to the village with their catch, the rain had started to fall.

Mos-Pel, looked through the misty drizzle at the slate grey clouds low on the horizon behind them and shook his head.

"Is there a problem?" Ianto asked Pon-Pel, when he saw she looked worried too.

"Maybe," she replied. "There's a storm brewing and he thinks were too far out to reach the village before it hits."

"What do you think?"

"That it's going to be a rough few hours." She nodded towards an oar. "So we should go."

The water got choppier, waves breaking over the boats and drenching them as they fought to keep their course back to shore and safety. The feeling of nausea that had abated came back with a vengeance, and Ianto huddled miserably at the back of the boat, while Mos-Pel took his place on the oars.

Their boat was the largest and most heavily loaded of fishing boat and they soon fell behind the other four, losing sight of them behind the rolling waves and the increasingly torrential rain.

Ianto closed his eyes as another wave broke over the boat, soaking him.

There was a shout and he looked up to see Mos-Pel let go of his oar and lean over the side of the boat, trying to reach Pon-Pel who'd been swept overboard.

With her arm tangled in one of the fishing nets that had washed over with her, she fought to stay above the water, the current dragging her away from the boat.

As sick as he felt, Ianto knew he had to help. Staggering over to the side of the boat, he took a deep breath then dived into the rolling sea.

The water was ice cold and he felt as if all the air was driven from his lungs by it, but he forced himself to swim, knowing that if he didn't he'd drown.

As he reached her, another wave crashed over them and they were both driven under. A moment later they broke the surface together, coughing and choking, but free of the net.

Treading water, Ianto looked wildly around, trying to see the boat over the swell. For a moment he could see nothing, then as the wave dipped again he could see that Mos-Pel had somehow managed to turn the boat and was bringing it closer to them.

Swimming to meet it was exhausting, but eventually they were close enough that when an oar was held out to the them they could both reach it. Clinging to it, they were dragged in until they were close enough to be pulled back on board.

Ianto lay on the deck coughing out water and retching weakly as sat Pon-Pel wearily by his side, a hand resting on his shoulder.

They were still hours from shore and safety and as another wall of icy water crashed over them, he was hit with the sick certainty that they'd never make it. A few more waves the size of the one that had nearly drowned Pon-Pel and they'd all go under.

Feeling too weak and dizzy to keep his eyes open any longer, Ianto closed them. Freezing cold and wet, he curled up as tightly as he could. He wanted to be back with Jack and Owen in their bed, warm and safe and loved. Unable to stay awake, his last conscious thought was, at least Jack and Owen would still have each other after he was gone.

Ianto blinked awake to bright sunlight and somebody trying to rub some warmth back into his hands. Colder than he'd ever thought it was possible to be, Ianto tried to sit up, but was pushed back down by Pon-Pel.

"Rest a bit longer," she said, "we don't need to get back on the boat yet."

Looking round, Ianto could see that they were on a small sandy beach, sheltered on all sides by towering cliffs, the access to the sea just a thin stretch of water between the massive rocks. The boat was partially beached at the side of them, Mos-Pel and the rest of the inspecting it for damage.

"It's morning, the storm is over," she reassured him. "And thank you for what you did. I told you you were very brave."

He still didn't particularly believe it, all there had been at the time was fear, but he nodded anyway.

Ianto still felt cold and weak as he climbed unsteadily back into the boat, but the relief of knowing that he'd see Jack and Owen again in just a couple of hours helped to push him on.

The sea was calm, almost glass smooth as Mos-Pel guided them back out the narrow inlet and into the open water.

He hoped that the other boats had made it safely back, although he worried what their crews might have told Jack and Owen. He hated the idea that they might have spent the night fearing the worst.

Their boat was sighted long before they reached the village and there was a crowd on the beach waiting for them, ready to help them get ashore if they needed it. He could see Jack and Owen standing with Rila-Bek on the shore.

Ianto stumbled as he got out of the boat and by the time he got his footing again, Owen was next to him, pulling him into a near bruising hug. "Don't you ever fucking scare us like that again."

"Still need to breath," Ianto said, hoping that he didn't sound too shaken. There was no point worrying them now that he was back. "It wasn't that bad," he lied unconvincingly, feeling sick and shaky now that he was safely back on land and able to think about just how close they'd come not making it back at all.

"We thought you were dead. They said your boat sank," Owen said raw pain in his eyes. "Jack was in pieces, and I..."

"Owen..."

"No, you listen, 'cause I got to say this. I know, I said it was just sex and that was all I could give you." Owen stopped and scrubbed a hand across his eyes. "Only you had to go and make me love you. And I don't let myself do that, because it always ends badly and..."

"That's enough," Jack said finally reaching them. Then, dropping his stick and trusting them not to let him fall, he put his arms round them both and held them tight.

Owen supported them both until it became too much and then he allowed them to sink slowly to the ground. Kneeling in the wet sand, the sea lapping around them they stayed locked together until some of the Star-Chosen helped them back to the village.

X0X0X0X0X

They hadn't been back at the village on the lake long before winter began to bite. Light frosts at first that were gone soon after the sun rose, but all too soon the frosts seem to linger well into late morning, while flurries of snow fell in the night. The days grew shorter as well, night taking up more than half the hours in a day.

Clothing became a problem, as the Star-Chosen didn't wear any apart from on the bitterest of days when those that did venture outside for any length of time wore a hooded cloak. They'd made what they could, but staying indoors wrapped in blankets was the only reliable way not to feel frozen all the time.

Sitting round the fire, talking to Jack and Owen, and to Pon-Pel and Rila-Bek when they came to visit soon became one of the only ways to fill up the days, the weather having become too cold and snowy to work outside.

"It won't last forever," Pon-Pel said as they sat round, late on a bitterly cold afternoon. "A few more weeks and it will start to warm again. A few more months and it will be spring again."

Sitting by the fire, a blanket over his leg and his greatcoat round his shoulders, Jack shivered.

"Does anyone want a hot drink?" Ianto asked, knowing that Jack wouldn't appreciate or answer any direct questions about how he was coping with the cold making his leg ache.

Before any of them could answer a young Star-Chosen ran in and started talking excitedly to Pon-Pel and Rila-Bek.

Ianto could only catch a few fragments. Visitors, something that was very bright, not dressed for the cold. Then, before he could listen in any further, the door opened.

The beaker he was holding fell from his hand as he stared in surprise. Standing in the doorway, snow swirling in around them, were Gwen and Tosh.

Older than the last time he'd seen them, a few streak of grey showing in Tosh's hairs, while there were a few fine lines on Gwen's face that hadn't been there the last time he'd seen her.

"You're all here," Gwen said rushing forward to hug Jack. "I knew Jack would be and I'd hoped..."
She stopped as Jack stood, leaning on his stick, and limped forward.

Shocked and worried, she stared for a moment before asking, "What happened? Why hasn't it healed?"

"Long story," Jack said smiling at her and putting an arm around her shoulder. "Anyway look at you, how long has been?"

"Nearly ten years," Gwen replied, sounding like she could barely believe it herself.

"You really looked for us for that long?" Owen said sounding surprised. "So how'd you find us?"

"The actual mechanics are rather complicated, but basically I rebuilt the Rift manipulator so it would work as it was originally designed to. Create and sustain a temporary portal using Rift energy," Tosh said, taking out a small tablet computer from her coat pocket. She turned to Jack. "I know you said we shouldn't do anything with the Rift, but after reviewing the calculations from the Ritz ballroom I realised what they problem had been. The final section of the equation had been lost."

"That's great. How long is open for?" Owen asked, already looking around for what they'd need to take with them. "We can go home now, can't we?"

"It will stay open for about another fifteen minutes. So you'd better collect anything you want to take with you quickly." Tosh looked at Pon-Pel and Rila-Bek who were watching them. "And say your goodbyes. I'm sorry there isn't longer, but we are about the maximum range so far supportable. Although I think with a few adjustments I'll be able to improve on it."

"I understand," Ianto said, feeling shaken by how fast everything was moving. Rescue had seemed so improbable that he'd barely given it any thought. It would be a wrench to leave behind the life they'd built for themselves here. To know that they'd most likely never see Pon-Pel, Rila-Bek or any of their friends here again. Yet they couldn't stay. The bitter cold hurt Jack's leg and Ianto worried that it would only get worse as he got older. And since they'd had to stay indoors Owen had been getting more and more headaches, the dim light from the lanterns and lack of glasses straining his eyes.

"You are going home," Pon-Pel said as he walked over to her and Rila-Bek. She smiled at him. "I told you to never give up hope."

Crouching down he put his arms around them both. "I'm going to miss you."

"So will we," Pon-Pel replied, hugging him back. "Will you ever come back here?"

"I don't know," Ianto said, realising as he said it that the answer would almost certainly be no.

Pon-Pel smiled and then sniffed. "Then there is still hope. Just like I told you before. Now you should go. I will tell Cisca-Mar what has happened."

There wasn't much they needed to take with them, just the few items that remained from when they'd first arrived. Everything else they left, knowing it could be used by whichever Star-Chosen moved into the house after they had left or shared out amongst the village if that was more useful.

It was freezing outside as they left the warmth of the house and Ianto heard Jack gasp as he nearly slipped on the icy ground, only Owen's grip on his arm stopping him from falling.

Between two of the houses there was a golden light shimmering amongst the swirling snow. It was too cold to stand around, even for one last look at the place that had been their home for so many months, and with Gwen and Tosh behind them, they stepped into the light.

And out into the Hub.

A young man who seemed vaguely familiar, but Ianto couldn't put a name to, stood by one of the computers, ready to shut down the connection once they'd all got back through. While a woman he didn't know at all was working at what had once been Owen's workstation.

The Hub looked little different. The old sofa behind Tosh's workstation had been replaced with something that looked more comfortable, and all the monitors had been upgraded to touch screen versions. But the rest, the half-finished dragon mural, the pool at the base of the water tower and the Torchwood tiles that looked more like they should have been part of an underground station than a top secret base remained.

"I've kept your office mostly the same," Gwen said to Jack after they'd had a few minutes to look around. "There's a new computer, and we finally got the hole in the brickwork fixed, but I knew you'd want it back."

"I'm not ready to be back in charge yet," Jack said, looking over at what had been office. "So if it's all right with you, you just keep doing what you were doing."

There was going to be so much to talk about and to sort out. Where they were going to live, how they would fit back into Torchwood, what had changed while they were away. He was sure Gwen and Tosh would have questions about what had happened to them and Jack would need to tell them about his new found mortality. For the moment though it all seemed too much to answer and Ianto turned away from them, trying to collect his thoughts.

"Does it still work?" Ianto asked, looking up at small section of sky visible high above his head where the invisible lift would exit onto the Plass.

"Of course," Tosh said, sounding like she understood why he was asking. "Do you want to go up?"

Ianto nodded. It was probably stupid on some level he decided, to feel like he needed to see the city again, but somehow seeing what was outside would make being back feel more real.

"That sounds like my kind of idea," Jack said joining Ianto on the lift.

Owen shrugged and then followed them. "Might as well."

The Plass was bathed in bright spring sunshine and filled with people, a craft market and a small funfair having set up outside the Millennium Centre.

It was so bright and loud and there were so many people that Ianto was glad nobody could see that he was staring at them in amazement. He looked at Jack and Owen's expressions mirroring his own and smiled. "We're home."

The End.

Notes:

Thank you to everybody who has commented, favourited, followed or even just read. It's always nice to know that somebody like the the story.

I know the last couple of parts feel rather more rushed than the rest, this is because I was writing for a big bang with a posting date that I needed to meet. So it was this or miss the deadline for posting.

Owen needing glasses comes from what we saw in the episode Adam, where geeky!Owen wears them, presumably meaning that ordinary Owen wears contact lenses.

The Ianto and Tosh knowing about a protocol to open the Rift to release a build up of energy comes from an extra scene on the DVD of series one for the End of Days episode, where Ianto talks to Jack about opening the Rift. It's a shame it didn't make the final cut of the episode at it made a lot more sense as to why Ianto and Tosh would go along with Owen and Gwen and open the Rift.