Ianto sighed as he looked at himself in the mirror, smoothing down his black suit and running his fingers through his hair.

"You look fine," Jack said for the millionth time that morning.

"I know!" Ianto snapped. He regretted it instantly. "I'm sorry… I just…"

Jack nodded and went to stand next to him, wearing a similar suit. Ianto threaded his fingers through Jack's, squeezing gently.

"It'll be ok," he said.

"Yeah," Ianto sounded unconvinced though.

"Come here," Jack pulled him into his arms, hugging him. "It'll be easier after today."

"No it won't," Ianto replied sadly. "It's always going to hurt."

"I didn't say it would heal completely," Jack pulled back to look at him. "Just that it gets easier."

"We better get going," Ianto said finally, pulling away from Jack and picking up a small blue blanket and soft toy rabbit.

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Jack pulled up outside a small church quite a way from the centre of Cardiff. Ianto got out first still clutching the blanket, and Jack followed behind him, holding the rabbit. Tosh, Owen and Gwen were already waiting outside. Jack and Ianto approached slowly and they turned to greet their friends.

"Hey," Gwen gave Jack a hug. "How are you?"

"As good as could be expected," Jack replied. Ianto's grip on his hand tightened. The Welshman was so glad Gwen hadn't asked him such a stupid question. He wasn't sure he'd have been able to contain his anger.

"It's a lovely church," Tosh said awkwardly. Torchwood had never been very good with the whole death thing.

"Thanks," Ianto managed to say. Owen didn't say anything, just looked between Jack and Ianto mournfully.

When they finally went in Jack pulled Ianto to one side. Ianto frowned slightly, watching as the other three took their seats.

"Just bear with her for a few more hours," Jack said gently. "I know that she drives you insane, but… please…"

"Ok, ok," Ianto pulled the blanket up to his face breathing in Gabe's scent. He suddenly found himself close to tears. "I don't know if I can do this Jack… I'm not ready to say goodbye…"

Jack pulled him for another hug.

"We have to, Ianto," he said gently.

Ianto let Jack lead him down the isle to sit with the others, clutching the blanket like it was the only thing stopping him from breaking down completely.

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They all clustered round the grave. It was freezing cold and there was a frost on the ground but it didn't seem to matter. Neither Jack nor Ianto could feel anything anyway. They were both numb. Hollow.

"Gabriel Harkness-Jones. You will be dearly missed little angel," Gwen read quietly, sounding close to tears.

Ianto was resisting the urge to glare at her. If she cried now he didn't know what he would do. How dare she break down when neither he nor Jack where crying? It was supposed to be them that were upset, not her.

Tosh suddenly grabbed them both and pulled them in for a hug, surprising not only them, but herself, Gwen and Owen as well.

"I'm so sorry," she said. "You were both fantastic parents."

"Thanks Tosh," Ianto said mellowing a little.

She let go of them, her eyes shinning behind her glasses as she too tried not to cry. Ianto found it a little easier to forgive Tosh for being so emotional. It was just Gwen that… oh he didn't know why she infuriated him.

"Listen, we're gonna head off," Owen said, clearing his throat awkwardly. "Maybe go for a drink before going home. Do you want to come?"

"We might catch you guys up," Jack replied.

Owen nodded and began gently leading the girls away to give Jack and Ianto the space they'd been waiting so patiently for.

Ianto sank to his knees in front of the grave. Jack sat beside him, the cold wet ground soaking through his trousers.

"I miss him so much," Ianto whispered. "I can't believe how much it hurts."

Jack fingered the rabbit in his hands, tracing the soft fur ears. Ianto had bought it for Gabe a few days before he was born. He sat it against the grave. It looked so forlorn with its floppy ears slumped against the cold marble.

Ianto rubbed the blanket against his face again, his heart aching. It was still too hard to think about the fact that Gabe was never coming back; that their baby, their little angel was alone somewhere in the darkness.

Ianto shuddered. He'd tried hard not to think about death. It was bad enough to lose a child, but to know where they went afterwards…

"I miss him too," Jack said just as quietly, fresh tears running down his face. "I can still hear him laugh… and cry… and see his face with those big blue eyes…"

Ianto wrapped his cold stiff fingers around Jack's hand. There were large black clouds hanging overhead and somewhere in the distance the first rumble of thunder sounded.

"We should get back," Jack said finally. "Try and get some sleep."

"We'll fail," Ianto replied wiping his face.

"Yeah, but we've got to make an effort," Jack sighed. "Or you have at least. I don't want you to get ill."

He stood up shakily and helped Ianto to his feet.

"Goodbye baby," Jack muttered quietly as he passed the grave.

"Bye angel," Ianto said, his fingers ghosting over the marble as he followed Jack.