A/N So this is the end. I am so sorry it took so long but hopefully this answers a few questions.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Torchwood, unfortunately.
Enjoy!
Jack woke and rolled over to watch Ianto sleeping, it always calmed him.
"You know it's rude to stare Jack." Ianto smiled before cocking one eye open to regard his lover. Jack laughed and leaned over for a kiss which Ianto eagerly returned. Jack growled in his throat before flipping them slightly so he was completely over Ianto and thoroughly exploring the inside of Ianto's mouth.
"Ianto can you…oh I'm sorry." Kieran garbled out as he entered the room and then left just as quickly. Ianto broke from the kiss and swung his legs over the side of the bed.
"I'll make you a coffee." He threw over his shoulder as he left Jack in the bed staring after him.
Jack frowned as he started to dress. Ianto had acted weird all last night, barely kissing him and when he did it was only a fleeting kiss. It was like he wanted to distance himself from Jack and the man in question did not understand why. Shaking himself from his thoughts, Jack left Ianto's room and made his way towards the smell of freshly brewed coffee.
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"I want to go home." The words were uttered quietly but the silence that followed was deafening. Every eye turned to Ianto. All of a sudden Ianto hated being part of the team which required full staff meetings.
"Okay." He replied, his voice raspy with suppressed emotion.
"Okay?" Kieran looked up at him. "You're letting me go?" Ianto nodded.
"It's what you want." Kieran stood form his chair and wrapped his arms around Ianto.
"Thank you." He whispered into Ianto's ear. Ianto nodded and pulled the boy closer.
The rest of the team watched, no one wanting to say anything to ruin the moment the two were sharing. Ianto pulled back from the hug and looked into Kieran's face, tears glistened in his eyes.
"Just spend one more night with me, one night…we'll do whatever you want but please wait until tomorrow and I promise I'll find a way to send you back." Kieran nodded.
"I guess I can do that." Kieran smiled before moving away. Ianto nodded before looking to Jack and walking out the room and into the cells.
"Meeting over." Jack said decisively. "Tosh, find readings similar to the ones that were apparent when Kieran came and see if we can replicate them," the Asian woman nodded before hurrying away, hiding her own tears. "Gwen, run around the hub and find anything belonging to Kieran and bag it up for him to take." Gwen nodded and left, glancing at Kieran before doing so. "Owen, play some video games with Kieran to amuse him."
"Oh yes!" Owen cried out. "What do you say Kieran…care to try and beat me at 'The House of the Dead?" Kieran smiled.
"I won't try, I'll succeed." Owen raised his eyebrows.
"Oh it's on." He cried before running from the room to his computer. Kieran went to follow but turned back at the door.
"Jack," He called, the man turned to look at him. "I don't want to hurt him, but I know what happens and my other dad needs me right now." Jack stared after him as Kieran disappeared. Then he shook his head and set off to find Ianto.
He found the man sitting against a wall in the cells of level seven. Sighing, he went and sat by him, rubbing his knee. Ianto grabbed his hand and linked their hands together, kissing Jack's knuckles and laying his head on Jack's shoulder.
"I love him Jack." He said after a few minutes silence.
"I know Yan, but he has to go back." He felt Ianto nod against his shoulder and kissed his hair.
"I know, I just wish it didn't hurt so much." Jack unlinked their fingers and wrapped his arms around Ianto who wrapped his own arms around Jack's waist. It was a few minutes before Jack felt the slim body in his arms rack with sobs which was when he pulled Ianto closer and vowed to himself to find Kieran in the future and beg to be involved in his life.
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The next day the team gathered out by the water tower and waited for Kieran and Ianto to show up. As if knowing they were required, Ianto's car pulled up and Kieran hopped out the front seat with Ianto following suit and stepping from the driver's side.
"You ready?" Ianto asked Kieran when they stood by the team. Kieran shook his head. Swallowing thickly, Kieran made his way to Tosh and wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her tight. Tosh, hugged him back just as tightly before stepping back to wipe her tears. Kieran also hugged Gwen briefly before stepping back to shake hands with Owen. Owen rolled his eyes and pulled Kieran into a hug also.
"What?" He asked his team when they broke apart to receive weird glances from the rest of the team. "He's the only one who can beat me at video games, of course I'm going to miss him." They all chuckled before Kieran hugged Jack who squeezed him tight before stepping back and clapping him on the shoulders.
"Good luck." He said shortly, though his eyes said a lot more. Kieran nodded and saluted him before Jack saluted back. Kieran turned around to face Ianto before throwing himself into the man's arms.
Ianto squeezed him tightly, reluctant to let go and lose his son. Kieran hugged him tightly, a few tears leaking from his eyes.
"I love you father." He whispered in Ianto's ear. Ianto squeezed him tighter before whispering "I love you too" back into Kieran's ear. After a while, they separated and Kieran stepped back to take the device from his bag that Gwen passed him.
"Don't worry about re-creating the rift, I can find my own way home." Kieran said as he looked to Tosh. He looked over the team once more before looking to Ianto. "Goodbye Father." He called before activating the machine and fading away.
"No!" Ianto cried and reached forwards but Jack pulled him back as Kieran disappeared. Ianto slumped in his arms when Kieran disappeared completely. "He's gone." He whispered.
"I'm sorry." Jack said softly. Ianto cried out again before turning in Jack's arms to kiss him forcefully. Jack kissed him back just as strongly before pulling away to glance to the team. "Have the day off, I'm taking Ianto home." He said shortly before pulling Ianto over to the car and settling him into the passenger seat. As he pulled away, he looked back to the team briefly to see Gwen walking away and Owen placing his arm around Tosh's shoulders.
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When Jack got Ianto through the door, he found himself being pushed against it with a mouthful of Ianto. Growling, he kissed him back firmly and walked him back to Ianto's room. Toppling on the bed, Jack broke off the kiss to stare at Ianto.
"Please." Ianto called, holding out his hand. Jack felt his heart crack before taking the hand and kissing Ianto again. He kissed along Ianto's jaw line and down his neck, unbuttoning the younger man's shirt as he did so. Once the buttons were undone, Jack swept the shirt off Ianto, before taking his own off and lying along Ianto, aligning their bodies so Ianto could feel his erection pressing into his hip. Ianto growled before flipping them so Jack was below him and took a nipple into his mouth.
Jack cried out and buried a hand in Ianto's hair, urging him on and encouraging him. Ianto slipped a hand between them to palm Jack's erection through his trousers roughly before unzipping Jack's trousers. Jack cried out again when Ianto's hand closed around his aching cock, firmly and surely stroking him. Jack arched into the touch and Ianto raised his head to kiss him deeply.
"Can I…can I…?" He tried to choke out when he'd thoroughly kissed Jack. Jack smiled and nodded, knowing exactly what Ianto wanted. Arching again Jack gasped when Ianto squeezed his cock in appreciation.
Ianto stood from Jack's body and digested himself of his trousers, allowing Jack to openly appreciate him before reaching down and taking Jack's own trousers off. Reaching into the bed-side drawer, Ianto pulled out the tub of lubricant and unscrewed the lid to dip his fingers in the oily substance. Reaching down, he circled Jack's entrance, watching Jack carefully as he arched off the bed when Ianto pressed his finger in slightly. Grinning, Ianto pushed his finger in and rhythmically thrust it in and out before adding another one and another one. Jack bucked down on the fingers, drawing them even deeper into his body as he gasped for air.
Chuckling lowly, Ianto withdrew his fingers before reaching for a condom and tearing it open to slide it down the length of his cock. Coating it in lubricant, he placed Jack's legs on his shoulders and poised at the older man's entrance. He looked up at Jack, waiting for the nod.
"Slowly." Jack said softly before nodding. Ianto grinned before fully sheathing himself in one thrust. "Fuck Ianto, I said slo…" Jack lost his breath as Ianto pulled out to thrust in again "-ly"
It was after the fourth thrust that Jack realised what Ianto was doing, he was trying to make Jack feel the pain that he himself was feeling. Jack growled before raking his finger nails down Ianto's arms, leaving angry red marks in their wake. Ianto responded by thrusting in again and hitting Jack's prostrate making Jack scream. Anger was lost when Ianto succumbed to the tight heat around his cock and Jack thrust down with his hips, making sure Ianto hit his spot every time.
The pace set was a frantic one, as if the two men were trying to chase something that always seemed out of their reach. When their orgasms crashed over them, they both cried out together and Jack spurted his seed over his stomach, ignoring it's stickiness in favour of basking in the joy the orgasm gave to him. Ianto slumped on him before pulling out and removing the condom and throwing it into the waste bin.
He climbed into Jack's arms and kissed the chest below his cheek. Jack ran his hands through Ianto's hair, sending the man off to sleep despite it being late morning. Jack kissed Ianto's temple before settling down and joining his lover in the land of unconsciousness.
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When Ianto awoke, he was in his left side with Jack's arm draped over his waist. Rubbing the arm absent-mindedly, he spied the two bits of paper that he kept in his pocket peeking over the top of said pocket. Pulling the arm away, he reached for clean boxers before sliding into them and tucking the paper further into the pocket. Taking a breath, he looked back to Jack before smiling and leaving the room to put some coffee on.
Jack woke to find the bed empty but a smell of coffee drifting down the hall. Rolling his eyes he slipped into a pair of Ianto's boxers before leaving the room in search of Ianto. He found him in the living room, staring at the box set of 'Pirates of the Caribbean' and crying silently. Standing behind him, Jack wrapped his arms around him and kissed the back of his neck.
"Why did he go?" Ianto asked, voice hoarse from crying. Jack closed his eyes tight against his own tears before answering.
"He had to, this wasn't his place. It wasn't his time." Ianto turned in his arms.
"We could have made it so…his mother's dead Jack, he's got nothing to go back to, nothing."
"He's got nothing here either." Jack bit out.
"He's got me!" Ianto cried. "I love him, I'll care for him." Jack shook his head.
"He knows things Ianto, he couldn't stay here even if he wanted to, he's from the future…it's where he belongs." Ianto snorted.
"You're from the future Jack and you've got no problem staying." Jack sighed.
"It's different."
"Bullshit!" Ianto stepped back angrily. "It's the same! You had nothing left to live for and neither does he, you came here and found something to live for as did he…it's the same fucking thing Jack."
"No Ianto it's not. He has another father figure back where he comes." Ianto opened his mouth but Jack carried on. "That's what he went home for. He went home to be with his dad…he needed him so he returned. He can't be here and he knows that and he also realised that he doesn't need to be here, he doesn't want to be here." Ianto cried and punched Jack, flooring him with one blow. Jack looked up at Ianto, tonguing his split lip.
"Oh God Jack!" Ianto knelt down and examined the cut he'd made. "I'm sorry…I'm so sorry." Jack shook his head before pressing his lips to Ianto's wincing at the pain. Pulling back he stood shakily and offered a hand to Ianto.
"It's okay, I've got worse from shaving." Both men smiled weakly at the remembrance of their first meeting. Ianto nodded knowing Jack didn't hold him completely responsible for punching him.
"I just don't know what to do anymore." He whispered. Jack smiled sadly.
"You keep living, live and enjoy life." Ianto shook his head.
"I can't." Jack cupped his face.
"You can and you will. Kieran would have wanted you to." At the mention of his son's name, Ianto looked up and was surprised to see the amount of love and respect shining in Jack's. He nodded determinedly and kissed Jack gently before Jack pushed for more pressure and Ianto realised the cut had healed itself. Moaning he placed a hand on the back of Jack's neck and added a pressure to the kiss, deepening it as he walked Jack back in the direction of the bedroom.
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Six months later
"Ianto DUCK!" Jack yelled. Ianto listened and dropped to the floor as a wedge of concrete flew above him. Ianto blew out the breath he'd unconsciously been holding and darted back up to see where everyone else was.
Gwen was crouching behind a broken wall regaining her breath, Owen was doing the same but further down the street, Tosh was crouching behind the SUV at the end of the street and Jack was making his way towards the enemy. Ianto swore when the alien that had caused all this sent Jack to the ground with a chunk of concrete.
Thirty minutes ago the rift had alerted them to an alien that could shape shift and was determined to take over Cardiff in time for its species to arrive once he set off the beacon. They had precisely twenty six minutes left until the beacon activated and the species arrived and they were no closer to achieving their goal of stopping the alien and disconnecting the beacon. Ianto swore again before coming from his cover and shooting constantly at the alien until he ran out of ammo. Ducking behind another wall, Ianto reloaded before setting off again.
He made it to the front steps of the building when the alien came out. It looked to Ianto as a normal man but when he looked closer, the man-alien was shimmering like a surface of water so Ianto shook his head and continued to shoot. The alien laughed when none of the bullets Ianto fired hit him but then Jack, Owen and Gwen were at his side and the alien fell.
Once he was on the ground, Tosh came running over and Jack gave orders to Owen and Tosh to clear it up. When they were all catching their breath, Ianto looked at the alien to see it aiming an arm at Gwen.
"Gwen!" He cried, throwing himself forwards to shield her. The alien's arm embedded itself in his back making Ianto cry out in pain as it twisted its arm and withdrew. Jack yelled and he and Owen pumped the alien with another load of bullets. The alien gargled and fell still but no one paid it any attention as they were all focusing on Ianto.
Jack knelt down and pulled Ianto's head into his lap. The others stepped back and Owen raced back to the SUV to fetch the med-kit. Ianto gasped in pain, and gripped Jack's arm to stop himself crying out. Defeated, he shook his head.
"Don't you dare." Jack growled. "Don't give up." Ianto smiled weakly.
"It's no use…this has…to happen." Jack frowned. "My…pocket has two…notes…entry 56 and…a letter…read them."
"No, you read them to me when we get you better."
"I'm not…going to Jack, this…is it."
"No…" Jack gasped, blinking furiously against the tears.
"Find Kieran, raise him…please?" Jack nodded and Ianto smiled before giving one last gasp of pain and went limp, a small smile still in place.
"Ianto?" Jack shook him, "Ianto? Ianto, please…don't leave me. Not now." Jack shook the form in his arms again but it just shook like a rag doll, completely lifeless. Jack bowed his head and let his tears fall, his shoulders shaking with the force of the sobs coming through his body. Gwen placed a hand on his shoulder but he shook it off violently and kissed Ianto's forehead. With a tricky bit of manoeuvring, Jack managed to stand with Ianto in his arms and made his way back to the SUV. Settling into the backseat, he kept Ianto in his lap and stroked his hair, tears still falling down his cheeks.
Back at the Hub, Jack once again carried Ianto's lifeless body and placed it in one of the white bags in one of the caskets in the morgue. Biting his lip, he placed a kiss on Ianto's non-responsive lips and let another tear fall. He reached into his own pocket and drew out the pocket watch he had bought for Ianto. 'For the man who keeps me running like clockwork' was the inscription on the back and Jack shook his head at the missed opportunity of giving it to him as he slid it into Ianto's pocket. He bent so his lips were level with Ianto's ear.
"For you" he whispered before drawing back. Tears kept falling as he zipped up the bag, stole one last kiss from the man he loved and pushed the casket back into storage. The rest of the team kept their distance, having taken an unsaid hint from Jack when Tosh had passed him a cup of coffee and he had let it fall from his grip before walking into the morgue to sit with Ianto's body. They all heard his sobs and his cries of anguish, no matter how he tried to conceal them but, because he had tried to conceal them, they kept away and let him deal with his grief with Ianto…like he wanted.
When it had come to storing Ianto's things away, Jack had refused help from anyone else, spending days boxing Ianto's belongings up and sealing them in a locker. He told no one the code to the lock on the door, wanting to keep it to himself so only he could remain connected to Ianto; he was rarely selfish but this time he wanted to be. He didn't blame Gwen for Ianto's death, nor resentment towards her…he just didn't want to see her. He dismissed her with a month's holiday, paid of course, and she had taken it knowing Jack needed her to. Jack took down the last suit Ianto had worn, the one he had died in. Jack had stored him in the Armani suit he adored so much but couldn't bear to store the one he had last lived in. For a week Jack left it hanging in his quarters in the Hub and for a week he had spoken to the suit, telling it all the things he had never told Ianto. But the time had come to store it away, move on and keep living…as he had told Ianto that night six months ago. When Jack picked up the suit jacket, some paper rustled inside and he remembered the message Ianto had left him with. There were notes for him to read. Sitting on his bed with the suit, Jack extracted the two notes from the inside pocket and read them through, pain going through him once more.
Diary Entry No. 56 Jack's heart stopped but he took a deep breath and read on.
Sometimes I wish Ianto never died. Most of the time I wish he didn't. Maybe then Jack wouldn't resent me so much and I would be able to enjoy being a mother instead of feeling like I'm going to remind Jack of everything he's lost. Life's not fair to Jack, I know that and he knows that but if this is the case why does he blame me? Does he even blame me? When Ianto came to me that night, I thought he was such a clever man – I knew he was a clever man…so why did he have to go and sacrifice himself for Gwen? I never liked that woman. Jack let out a chuckle before reading on…
How can I tell Jack I got pregnant by his dead lover? How could I tell him I did it so that part of Ianto remained in the world. That Ianto wanted to have children but couldn't with Jack so I did it for them. That I too loved part for Ianto and wanted to have something to remember him by? How could I tell him it was so that Jack would remember that there were good things in the world?
The thing is I think Jack knows. Even without me telling him I think he knows. I don't know how this is possible but I think he has an inkling of exactly what I'm going through. I just wish Ianto was here to explain to him that I'm not trying to trap him in a duty he can't escape…that I'm doing it all for Jack so that he can have something to look forward to. Something to love that is so much like Ianto that it will be almost like having the same thing. Almost.
Sometimes I wish Ianto never died. Most times I really wished he hadn't and the only times I do wish he died is so he can't see what a mess I made out of something that was supposed to be wonderful.
Jack's eyes welled up again. Ianto knew he was going to die. He knew he was going to die and he kept it form Jack. "It has to happen" he had said…now Jack knew why. Pride flooded through him for a fleeting moment when he realised Ianto knew he was going to die and he wasn't afraid. Then the anger came. Why didn't he tell Jack? They told each other everything…well at least Jack thought they did. Clearly they did not! Jack would have stopped it, Kieran re-wrote the time lines and Jack could do that too, it wasn't impossible. Now he was all alone in the cruel world that required him to save it every day. Sometimes he wished he could also die, then at least he'd be with Ianto. Jack looked down to the remaining piece of paper and carefully unfolded it.
Jack,
This is what Kieran was showing me the day in the boardroom when you walked in
Ianto x
My Dearest Kieran,
In order for you to be reading this, I must be gone – I am so sorry son. I want you to know that there was nothing you could do and I would have died eventually, just know that I am no longer in pain. As a mother, I have kept certain things from you that I was wrong to do. The most important thing I kept secret was your father's identity.
Your father was an extraordinary man. He was brave, handsome, clever and willing to do anything that helped another person. Your father was a Welshman by the name of Ianto Jones. I know you have heard that name because your dad has often spoken of him.
Ianto first came to me just over thirteen years ago. The machine he used that brought him here broke and I offered to fix it if he helped me in return. He agreed. This is how you came to be Kieran and I am so sorry I lied about it before. I had you so that one part of Ianto Jones remained in the world when he had gone and I do not regret it.
I love you Kieran and I know he would too. Jack agreed to help me raise you and I know you view him as your dad. Please do not change this view as Jack loves you. However, I also want you to know your real father.
In my chest there is a turquoise box and within that is a grey machine. It's copy of the one Ianto used. It will give you a trip back to a point in the past and one back here. Don't come and try to save me son, use it to see your father – as my dying wish. To activate, say "Ianto Jones 2009" while pressing the two circular buttons and it will take you there.
My time with you Kieran has been my happiest and I am so proud of you. One more wish, don't blame Jack; I asked him to keep the truth from you. I love you son and am so so proud of you.
Love
Your Mother
xxx
You see Jack, I could never tell you, and I could never burden you with the fact of my death. I've accepted it and I want you to too. Keep moving forward and keep saving the Earth – you have a Kieran to raise when you're older and he's quite the handful. Just remember, plenty of Pirates of the Caribbean and NO green peppers.
Farwell Cariad.
Ianto
xxx
P.S I love you. xx
Jack cried openly then and kissed the letter where Ianto had written the kisses on before looking at the suit.
"You always knew what you were doing you brilliant Welshman." He said softly before taking the suit and placing it in storage with a sad smile on his face and tears in his eyes.
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Seven years later
Jack looked up as the Hub filled with a bright light. Standing swiftly he made his way out to the main area where he saw Kieran standing breathlessly at the bottom of the stairs. With a cry, Kieran hurtled up the stairs and threw himself into Jack's waiting arms. Jack pulled him tight and stroked his hair. After a while, Kieran pulled back and looked at Jack with bright eyes.
"I met him dad. I met Ianto and he was so cool." Jack smiled at Ianto being called 'cool' and ruffled his son's hair.
"That he was." He said softly. "Do you want to visit him?" He asked after a moment's pause. Kieran looked at him before nodded unsurely then he nodded firmly. Jack nodded shortly in reply and reached for his coat.
Strolling along the rows of stones, Jack felt his heart contract…he hadn't been here for a while.
"This is it" He whispered as they drew up to Ianto's grave.
Here Lies
Ianto Jones
1982 – 2009
Friend, Lover, Father
P.S I love you too.
Kieran ran his hands over the top of it.
"Hey father," he whispered. "You were so great. Don't worry about me, Jack's taking good care of me…just like he promised. You can go now…we're alright. Really."
Jack started when he felt the wind caress his cheek as a lover would and his eyes widened as he saw some dust form the outline of a man smiling before blowing away in the direction of the sky. Jack felt a sense of peace wash over him and he realised Ianto had gone, gone forever but instead of feeling sad, Jack just felt relaxed.
"Kieran." He called and beckoned the kid over. The boy came, smiling up at Jack; Jack felt his heart swell with love and slung his arm around the boy's shoulders. "How about we go learn some more about your father?" Kieran's eyes widened as he looked to the man he had come to call 'dad' and slid his arm around Jack's waist.
"No offense and everything but I've heard all your stories." Jack chuckled.
"17-05-09" He said as they began to walk away. "The date we had our food fight with Ianto and the code to his belongings in the Torchwood storage. So what do you say kiddo? Want to go learn some more about 'cool' Ianto?" Kieran smiled up at Jack.
"Sure Dad, I'd like that." Jack beamed down at him before looking to the sky with a smile that only one man had received. But that man had gone and no one would see him again, except maybe in his son…the boy who Jack knew would do Ianto proud.
A/N So it's all over!
I hope you all enjoyed it and thank you to all my reviewers, alerters and favouriters :D
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