The doctor was dancing. He twirled River around the control room with ease as she laughed musically at his antics.

"Darling, you look so grown up with this face. I can't believe you would still be this childish," she whispered in his ear before she softly kissed its shell.

"What do you mean?" he frowned stopping in mid swirl.

"Jack. You practically kidnapped him. That welsh girl seemed quite put out about it." She flounced to the console and started looking at the lights.

"Well," the doctor pulled it out as long as he could but she didn't budge. "Yeah well that Rex fellow didn't seem to mind the break from him, hm?'

"You have to admit wifey dear," his hands were now on her hips as he leaned to lick the back of her neck, "he was looking a bit run down."

Whatever response river was about to give was lost in the sudden alarms and dip in reality as the Tardis literally fell out of flight.

The landing was less that graceful and the Doctor quickly raced outside to see if "sexy" was ok. River followed at a more sedate pace having grown used to his previous personality sometimes seeping through.

ooOoo

Jack came to on the floor. OK, nothing new there. He was still in his room. His head was killing him and when he reached up and touched his temple his fingers came away bloody. Damn.

With a lurch he staggered down the corridor into the control room. Empty. Of course it was. With a bloody cloth clutched in his hand he stumbled and then fell out into the sunlight where a pair of strong arms caught him deftly and he was lowered gently to the ground.

He could hear voices and recognised the doctor's excited laughter. OK, they were somewhere safe. He felt safe that's for sure. His soft pillow was allowing him to snuggle into him and he sighed with pleasure at the gentle caresses as the hand on his face wiped away the blood.

"You poor love," a familiar voice said to the other side of him and he opened his eyes to look straight into the face of Jackie Tyler.

"Jacks?" he said with a lot less strength than he had hoped.

"Hello Captain Hot-stuff," she answered reaching up to apply a butterfly plaster to his forehead.

Jack finally recognised Rose's laugher joined by the rambling tones of the Sim and he settled further into the lovely embrace. With a deep breath he closed his eyes … and froze.

He knew that smell. Knew it well. He slowly opened his eyes and looked up at his companion on the ground and found a pair of blue-grey eyes twinkling with merriment.

"So, this is the infamous Captain Jack you keep telling us about then is it ma'am?" those deep vowels floored Jack and before he knew what he was doing he had ensnared the young man in a kiss.

It grew quiet as everyone watched Jack accosting the young man who struggled briefly then gave in to Jack's strength as Jack plastered him to the ground beneath him. After a few moments Jack reared back gasping for air.

Are we quite done Sir?" came the question from below him.

Jack knew that tone. That's the "you'll be sorry" tone that most people missed before the stun gun came out. Taking a good long look he noticed several things he hadn't the first time.

A small scar above his left eyebrow. His hair was cropped short, military style which explained the uniform and the left hand that was still holding his forearm had a wedding band.

Shit. Rose's world. Not his.

"Sorry," Jack tried his best smile, "You caught me off guard there."

Ianto's laugh bellowed out and Jack had to hold back a sob at the beauty of it.

"Really?" non-Ianto finally said with his eyes still laughing, "I caught YOU off guard?"

Well yeah," Jack chuckled, "Still got me actually."

"Oh! Bollocks!" Ianto stuttered, finally releasing Jack and helping him to his feet.

"How long have you been ... er …"Jack pointed to the ring.

"Ah. Four years. Well, no three I suppose …er ….Widower. She … well the cyber men had a stronghold and she was with me when we tried to …" Ianto shrugged then looked away.

"Oh. Sorry. You didn't pop her in the basement and try to reverse the conversion then?" Jack was bushing off his pants and his brain caught up to his mouth as Ianto shoved him back.

"Well, you seem fine now, eh?" Ianto growled stalking off.

"Shit!" Jack exclaimed watching his leave. That pert lovely arse looked so nice in that uniform ya know.

"Commander Jones was the one in a conversion unit Captain," Peter Tyler admonished, "She died trying to get him out. Her final act was to throw herself into their power grid, shutting down the machines."

Jack stared at him in horror.

"Took us over three hours to unhook him. Poor bastard didn't speak for nearly two weeks." Pet shook his head, "I thought we had lost him."

"How long ago?" Jack asked face palming.

"It'll be the first anniversary next week" Rose finally approached and gave him a hug.

"Why did you snogg him like that?" she asked seriously, "You usually at least give them a fight or flight option before attack of the Captain Lip lock."

"It's Ianto," Jack shrugged.

"Yeah? Of course it is, but we don't usually call him by his first name." Jackie smiled, "Seems funny but he is so … well standoffish. You got the first laugh I've heard since …"

"Lisa?" Jack said.

"How do you know what her name was?" Pete stepped closer.

"Ianto. Lisa. Then it was Ianto. Me. Then Ianto dies and I was left behind," Jack took a deep breath and looked at his boots, "now it's Jack and not-Ianto."

"Oh god. Your lover who died when … oh. He's him?" River gasped pulling him into a hug.

"Yeah. How do I fix this," Jack became handsey and River smacked him playfully.

"How's about we go inside before the rain starts hmm?" Sim said and Jack smiled fondly at the familiar face.

As they entered the living room Jackie was replacing a phone in its cradle. She smiled and motioned for people to choose seats.

"I've just sent for some tea and sammies," she smiled settling next to Pete.

A small giggle got Jack's attention and he bent to look behind River's char next to him. Small chocolate brown eyes stared back from a gorgeous little coffee coloured face.

Jack smiled back at the imp and slid to the floor, joining the small child. Her smile was gorgeous and Jack could see several little white pearly teeth. He picked up one of the dollies she has been playing with and bonked her softly on the head with it.

She giggled and picked her own dolly, bonking him on the nose.

He pretended to fall over and she shrieked with laughter.

"Help!" he yelled pretending to crawl away, "she's got me. Argh!"

He could feel little lands on him as she pulled herself closer for another assault and soon everyone was laughing as she st on his chest defiantly slapping his face with her tiny hands.

Jack was still laughing as he pretended to bite at her fingers when a voice boomed across the room.

"Lillian Rose! Where have you been?" Ianto called out skidding to a halt by the writhing bodies on the floor. "God, I've been going out of my mind you little bug!"

Ianto reached down to snatch the child and Jack rose, pulling the child back towards his own chest.

"Don't speak to her like that!" he admonished.

"Bug!" a little voice yelled reaching for Ianto.

"No you're the bug!" Ianto's face changed as he looked at the baby and reached for her again.

"You are a big slimy, smelly bug monster" he growled cuddling her tight.

"Tadda a Bug slime man!" she squealed happily placing a wet smooch on his cheek.

"Oh no you don't. No bug slime on me" Ianto growled and then he lifted her up and wiped his face on her belly making disgusted noises while she screamed with pleasure.

Jack groaned as Ianto spun and left the room with a backward glance of warning at Jack. Damn, he'd done it again.