A/N: I have never, ever, finished something this quickly in my whole life. I swear, Jack and Ianto stole me! sigh Not like I didn't love it but it's hard to function when two fictional character ahve control of your brain. Here it is, part three! Reviews are cherished and cuddled, please give them a home with me.

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The More Things Change

The task of sending Ianto back had become a bit more complicated than anticipated. Because the device that Ianto had used to get back was not to be uncovered until roughly seven years had passed, the team had to start from scratch. All the relevant artifacts were pulled from the archives and the rift was monitored carefully for any swelling in time travel friendly energy.

For several hours, though, all that came up were blips hardly worthy of a second thought. The energy necessary to send him back was not comparatively much. Any of those blips would have done as a travel aid but there were several complications with utilizing them. Firstly, there was the fact that these hiccups in time energy didn't last nearly long enough to register on the monitor, let alone send out a team to where they were. Second, even if they could find a usable surge, they had no way to harness it and make sure Ianto went back to exactly where he was supposed to.

At present day Ianto's suggestion, Tosh broke out her newly finished rift prediction software and began entering data. This would solve problem one so that they could at least try and focus on problem two. At Jack's command, both Iantos were sent to the archives to search more thoroughly for devices Owen might have missed that might be of use.

The pair went down to the maze of information and began to work. As might be expected, they worked in very comfortable silence. They really didn't have much to discuss, after all. All of the things the present Ianto might be interested in were things that he was better off not knowing. Beyond that, they just had the past, and since they both had the exact same recollection of it, what was there to really say? They were the same bloody person. So comfortable silence was the answer.

They both combed through the files with calm, methodical efficiency that both were very glad to have shorten the workload considerably. The future Ianto chuckled.

"If I could have a second me with me in the archives all the time, I think I'd be much happier."

"Quite. Instead of Owen rooting around in here like some untrained ape."

"Indeed."

Comfortable silence reigned once more. Eventually, after turning up absolutely nothing, the future Ianto sighed and turned to look at the younger version of himself. "So… I should tell you I already know we're not going to find anything. Sorry."

The present day Ianto frowned and turned to face his older self. "What? How do you know?"

"Because this has already happened. This is not the instance that created the time loop, we're already deep within its rotations."

"Oh…" The younger Ianto said softly, falling back against the file cabinet's behind him.

"Yes."

"So… you… seven years ago for you, when you were me, an older you fell on you."

"Yes. And that's exactly what I said when I heard it from the older me… when I was you."

"This is all very complicated."

"Time travel is."

"I'm beginning to see that."

"And you will only see more as time goes on."

Younger Ianto nodded and tried to work it all out in his head. "So, I already know on 21st of July, 2015 that I'm going back?"

"Yes. You'll mark it in the diary tonight so that you don't forget."

"Well, yes I was going to anyway, but thanks for the confirmation."

The older Ianto smiled in understanding. "You're welcome."

"So… do you already know how to get back?"

"Yes." The older version of Ianto loosened his black and purple tie carefully, leaving the two ends hanging parallel to each other down his front. Carefully, he unbuttoned the collar of his dark purple shirt and dug around the base of his neck for what turned out to be a thin silver chain.

He pulled the chain out from under the shirt and revealed the small, flat circular pendant hanging on the end of it. Ianto leaned closer to observe. There were very intricate carvings on the charm; writing around the edge that reminded him of runes and a very beautiful design in the middle rather like a Celtic knot.

"What is it?"

"This is the device you find days before you come back to the past. Well, to be precise you find it in a box that you'll dig up. It… it's quite extraordinary. It doesn't work for everyone, just people it takes a liking to."

"Takes a liking to? It's sentient?"

"Almost. Tosh hasn't quite worked out where it comes from and it worries the hell out of Jack, getting all attached to you… us. But it's nice, it allows you to travel in time."

"This is hardly a nice situation."

"This isn't, no. But I've… decided to give it a try. It's only liked me for a few days, not as though I've experienced everything it has to offer. And I can't really take it off so…"

The younger Ianto looked horrified. "Do you mean it's attached?"

The older, apparently much more artifact friendly Ianto laughed a bit. "No, no, nothing like that. But only I can take it off. If someone else tries to, it's got quite a nasty electric shock in store for them. And when I take it off it's not really happy. I can feel that much from it. It likes having a home, I suppose."

The younger Ianto reached forward and touched the pendant softly. It hummed under his fingertip. "See? It likes you."

"I see. But here's a question: If we already have a time travel device, why are we looking for one in the archives?"

The older Ianto shrugged. "It's how it was done for me too. Mess around, reveal the pendant, it's what you'll have to do too when you're me, for fear of disrupting the timeline. But… don't worry about that now. Now, we get to lie."

"Oh, goody." The Ianto in red said dryly.

"Yes. We get to lie and say we've just found this in the archives and that we're going to use it to send me back."

"Oh… so really you were totally having us on before when you said you had no idea you were going to come into direct contact with your younger self."

"Yes."

"Right then. Will the pendant still be there when the team goes looking for it in six years ten months?"

"Of course. Right now, in this moment in time, and as long as I've been here actually, there are two pendants, just like there are two of me. One is here with me and the other is buried at the sight for you to find in seven years."

"My head hurts a little."

"Yes, mine did too."

Younger Ianto rolled his eyes. "Obviously."

"Yes, obviously."

"This conversation's becoming a little redundant."

"Very much so."

"So should I make up a false report for the pendant?"

"Don't bother, when we come up, there'll be information about a surge of energy in twenty minutes and we'll have to rush over to a warehouse in Gabalfa."

"This has been a very strange day."

"I remember. I promise you tomorrow will be better."

"Yeah?"

"Much better." The older man said, grinning and slipping the pendant over his head to have his younger self hold.

"I won't ask why."

"Neither did I. That's comforting in a way. But there is one more thing that I have told myself in former rotations that you should know."

"And that would be?"

"He gets better. Jack. He does learn." The younger Ianto sighed and rubbed his temples, reluctant to have this conversation. But he figured that if he couldn't at least talk with himself about Jack, he couldn't really talk with anyone.

"Really?"

"Infinitely better."

"Him and… and Gwen?"

The older Ianto laughed suddenly and raucously, buttoning his shirt back up. "God, that seems so long ago. When they were still strange around each other. No, no worries on that front at all! That's all resolved when… er, sorry, I can't say exactly. But it's fine, it all gets sorted out."

The younger Ianto looked stunned. His older self nodded and started doing up his tie. "I'm serious. Gwen gets married, she even… no I won't say that. But it's not a problem, trust me."

"Well I can't exactly not."

"That's a good thing, isn't it?"

The younger Ianto nodded slowly, a small smile playing out on his face. "Actually, it's sort of brilliant. I really don't need to worry about Jack choosing her…"

"Nope. They're very good friends of course. Like brother and sister. Gwen even makes you…" The older Ianto sighed. "Sorry to keep doing that but I keep forgetting what hasn't happened yet."

"Understandable."

"And you'll understand even more as time goes on."

"You're quite enjoying this cryptic mystery man bit, aren't you?"

"It's a lot of fun, you'll find. Usually we, that is you… us… I… me… we don't really get to play that bit. Always Jack or Owen, you know?"

"Yup."

"Well, it's a bit of fun, as a one off sort of deal. I'm glad I won't be doing it again… that I'm aware of."

Both Iantos laughed and the younger one fingered the pendant resting in his palm. It pulsed a little bit with some unknown alien energy that tickled him in a pleasant sort of way. It felt like smiling. It made him smile.

"See? It likes you." His older self said cheekily, straightening his tie into place. The younger man nodded and caught sight of the time by way of the watch on his wrist.

"Time for a charade?"

"Seems that way. It'll be difficult, but try not to be upset that they can't tell you're lying so blatantly. That gets better too, with time. They'll know you better."

"…Thank you."

"Perfectly welcome."

The pair smiled at each other and wandered back out of the maze of archives to complete a loop in time.

---

As foretold, the surge was waiting for them at a warehouse in Gabalfa. The future version of Ianto shook hands with himself, as had been done in many time loops before him, and kissed Jack very gently, which he remembered seeing done.

All very interesting, to be on the other side of it. Watching it come full circle. And of course, getting to skip every bloody mess in the next seven years and go back to his Jack. His Jack. Oh yes. And wallop him right good for being an arrogant sod who knew only too well what answer he would get when he popped the question.

There was a pinkish purple bubble of energy not far away and Ianto did his best to make it seem as though he was heading into it. The energy wasn't actually necessary for the pendant to work, he knew that. What he didn't know was what affect direct contact with the bubble might have. With one last glance back, he grasped the pendant and jumped for the energy but, as he had done to go into the past, Ianto merely clutched the pendant in his hand and thought of where he wanted to go.

In a blink, he was back in the Hub. The cup of tea he had set down just before taking off to the past was still steaming, Jack was still glancing nervously at him as he had been doing all day. No wonder!

"You complete arsehole!" Ianto shouted angrily.

Jack winced. "Look, I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but I couldn't have."

Gwen, Owen, Tosh, and their newest team member, Evangeline, all looked at the pair of them with caution.

"You said you'd been nervous! Nervous! You knew exactly what was going to happen! God, I can't believe you sometimes." Ianto said, marching over and punching Jack in the arm again.

"Ouch! I'm sorry 'Yan, but you know I couldn't tell you what I actually knew. That needed to be…" Jack sighed uncomfortably. "Well, would you have wanted me to spoil it by saying that you'd already told me we would get married? It's not like you told me how to ask or what to say or when or where. It was still… still me and you, right?"

Ianto huffed, still a bit miffed at being played so skillfully by his husband. "Right. Me and you, but you with the unfair advantage of knowing future events."

Jack sighed and reached out to take Ianto's hand. "Well rest assured, love, I have no idea what's going to happen next."

Ianto considered Jack for a very long moment before nodding shortly. "Fine… I… I'm sorry I shouted."

Jack laughed. "You're always sorry you've shouted after you have."

"Fair do."

Tosh giggled at them and smiled warmly at Ianto. "You're one to talk." She groused good naturedly. "You went back seven years and didn't even tell me Owen and I eventually got together! I remember that year, I was miserable with how often he was cruel to me."

Ianto shrugged. "Hey, I set you up with the Billy Idol and Madonna conversation piece. 80s music brought you together! So in effect, I brought you together."

"You still could have told me to stop being a prick." Owen muttered.

"Well, what's the use in that?" Gwen put in, struggling with the three year old, Uwain, squirming on her lap. "I tell you that everyday as is, do you listen? No."

"He could have pulled a whole Jacob Marley vibe, d'ya know? All mysterious and 'if you don't change your ways now… terrible things will happen' sort of tripe."

"God help us if you ever fall through time, Owen." Evangeline said, hunched over a pile of paperwork.

"Oi, teagirl, kindly quit your whinging and scurry to get me a cup of coffee." He said back to the newest member of the team. She flipped him the bird but went to go get his drink anyway.

Owen looked offended and huffed petulantly. "I miss the days when Ianto was getting our tea and coffee. So much more respect."

Jack laughed. "He still makes my coffee." The captain replied haughtily.

"Unfair! You're shagging, of course he makes your coffee. Hell, I'd shag Ianto for one last decent cup of coffee."

"No." Tosh said flatly.

Everyone laughed in response, even Owen. The Doctor hid his smile in a smirk and shook his head. "Only kidding, love."

Tosh laughed. "Oh really? I thought you were serious." She went on sarcastically. "Never took you for a pillow biter but whatever floats your boat…"

The laughter continued at Owen's expense. "Oi, I would not be on bottom."

"Mmm, you don't know what you're missing." Jack said loudly, wrapping his arms around Ianto's waist from behind and resting his cheek against Ianto's. His husband let out a tired laugh.

"You've never understood propriety, have you?"

"Nope."

"Well you might do well to learn, Jack." Gwen said pointedly, covering her son's ears. "For god's sake, he'll end up fruitier than you are."

"Highly unlikely for that to ever happen to anyone." Ianto said, sharing a smile with her.

Jack pinched Ianto's waist in retribution. "Uwain would be lucky to turn out half so fruity as me."

"Fruity." Uwain said, giggling.

Gwen groaned. "It never ends!"

Owen and Evangeline snickered quite a bit while Tosh frowned at Jack. "Really Jack, you ought to learn to try and be a little more subdued around the baby, there's another on the way. Its first word should not be Weevil, like Uwain's."

Ianto laughed and went over to Gwen, holding out his arms to Uwain, who scrambled happily into his embrace. "Now, now, let's not be too harsh on my God Son. I'm sure he'll turn out fine."

"Well he'll have nothing on the next one, who's gonna be my God Son or Daughter, right Gwen?" Jack said, walking over to rub her five month along belly. Gwen slapped his hands away.

"No chance." She said, crossing her arms over her stomach. "You're never getting god parent privileges back, Jack."

"Why?" He said, pouting.

"You actually need to be told?" Tosh said incredulously.

"It wasn't that bad…" Jack said flippantly.

"You dropped Bleddyn through the bloody rift!" Gwen shouted harshly. "He was 11 months when he went in, he came back 11 years! Rhys would never forgive me for giving you to another son or daughter of his. Bledd is Tosh's now and for two years not a blessed thing's gone wrong for him. Next one out is Ianto's and god forbid there's another after that, they go to Tosh."

Tosh beamed at Gwen. Jack pouted and glanced forlornly at Uwain in Ianto's arms. "Ianto gets two, that's not even fair."

Gwen pinched Jack's leg, which was what happened to be within easy reach of her arm, roughly. "My kids are not a competition for you and the rest for the team to have."

Jack sighed. "I know that. I just want one."

Gwen rolled her eyes. "Don't hold your breathe."

Ianto laughed quietly to himself as he bounced Uwain on his hip. The young boy with Gwen's large, hopeful eyes and Rhys' sandy brown hair laughed delightedly. "It's not so bad, being Uncle Jack. They'll come to you for sex advice, that we know."

Everyone but Gwen found this very amusing. "Jack you are not to talk to my children about sex!" This sparked a debate that went on for quite some time.

Ianto tuned a large portion of it out and focused on making Uawin squeal with laughter. As he stared down at he small boy clinging to his suit jacket and smiling blissfully, Ianto thought about how different things were now. How sure he was. He hugged Uwain tightly as he realized how much things changed. Seven years.

He didn't know what lay ahead, there was no future version of himself to swoop down like a guardian angel. There would be thousands of alternate realities springing up from the exact moment of his arrival back. But he shook those thoughts away and stroked his god son's hair, soothing the boy into an early nap. Gwen would be grateful.

After seven years of a set reality, of knowing that if he just did his job and told no one what he knew, Jack would still love him, and Gwen would cease to be a point of worry, and that he would still work for Torchwood and know all these amazing friends of his. Now, none of that was certain anymore.

But something about that was exciting. Something about this whole new chapter of him and Jack. New and familiar at once. And he was sure, he was sure, that the next seven years would be more wonderful than the last.