AN: Hello! Sorry this has been on hiatus for so long – I kind of forgot what my plan was for this story, and finding time to write is a little tricky with a three month old! For anyone who missed the announcement Alistair was born on the 15th of October – it was all rather dramatic, but we're both fine now.
This chapter is dedicated to 'LadyAnalyn'. A latecomer to our story – everyone say Hello! – but a relentless reader and reviewer who forgot to go to sleep when reading this! Thank you for your brilliant and much appreciated reviews.
Thank you to everyone for holding out for this chapter, and please review x
"Any ideas what he wants yet?" Ianto asked Jack a few days later as they stood in Jack's office overlooking the Hub. Below John was doing his best to torment Owen by peering over his shoulder and pointing to things on his computer screen. "Other than testing out Owen's threat to shoot him that is." He added.
"You don't believe the 'people are after me' spiel?" Jack asked.
"Do you?" Ianto replied.
"Not in the slightest." Jack admitted as he sipped from his coffee. "I mean people are always after him – he's that kind of guy – but no, I don't think that's why he's here. Just wish I knew what he was after."
"Have you considered the traditional reason for his appearances?" Ianto asked.
Jack glanced over his shoulder at Ianto with a raised eyebrow.
"You Jack. Maybe he's come back for you." Ianto suggested before leaving Jack alone with his thoughts. He made his way over to Owen's workstation where the medic was endeavouring to get a report finished with John's "help."
"You misspelled 'autopsy'." John pointed out. "Isn't that kind of a key word for you?" He mocked lightly.
"As is 'bullet to head'. Don't make me write that on your notes." Owen snarked as he hit the delete button on his keyboard and re-entered the word.
"I have notes?" John asked enthusiastically.
"All the residents of our morgue have notes. Company policy." Ianto intervened. "Can I suggest you go and torment someone else for a while?" He suggested polity before John wandered off, muttering under his breath about his boredom.
"I swear to god if he comes near me again I'm going to kill him." Owen seethed.
Ianto smirked as he stood behind Owen and rested his hands firmly on the medic's shoulders before beginning a relaxing massage. "He's just bored. He's practically under house arrest. Can't be easy for him." He pointed out.
"I know." Owen admitted, his eyes flickering closed as he succumbed to Ianto's hands. "I just wish he could be bored somewhere else. Ideally another planet." He said. "God you're good at that." He moaned in satisfaction.
"Time and a place lads." Jack remarked as he bounded down the steps from his office.
Owen sniggered as Ianto blushed lightly.
"And where is our favourite house guest?" Jack asked looking around.
"Terrorising Gwen in the hothouse." Ianto replied.
"Are you going to shoot him yet?" Owen asked hopefully, though in jest.
"No." Jack said. "I'm going to test out Ianto's theory, which means you two get to go home early."
"Don't you have another way of testing my theory than that?" Ianto moaned.
Jack laughed softly. "I need to talk to him. Without an audience. Anyway, don't you two have invitations to pick out or something?"
"We could go and check out a possible venue?" Owen suggested.
Ianto nodded. "Okay. Good luck Jack – I hope you get the answer you're after." He said sincerely before Owen took his hand and guided him out the Hub. Once they'd stepped out onto the Plass the medic spoke again.
"What's your theory?" He asked.
"I think John has come back for Jack. Hoping for third time lucky." Ianto suggested.
"And do you think Jack's interested?" Owen asked as they strolled hand in hand across the Plass.
Ianto shrugged. "I don't know. Guess we'll have to wait and see. Now, where are we going?"
Owen smiled. "Well I was looking online the other night for civil partnership venues in Cardiff, and there's not that many to be honest. And to be fair none of them are really us. Apparently you need to get married within an approved venue, but you can put that venue anywhere you want. Obviously you can't move a building – that would be nuts – though we are Torchwood and we can do most things…"
"Owen you're rambling hideously. What do you have in mind?" Ianto asked with a grin.
Owen laughed a little. "I was wondering if you fancied getting married outdoors? We'd need to erect some kind of structure – a canopy or a pagoda – but we could do it pretty much anywhere. I was thinking the beach, or Bute Park, maybe even the Plass then we're handy for any emergency invasions."
Ianto smiled fondly at Owen.
"What?" Owen asked nervously.
"You." Ianto replied. "Just you." He smiled. "And I think the idea of getting married outside is brilliant, just as long as we avoid the countryside and the Beacons." He shuddered at the memory of the cannibals.
"Naturally." Owen confirmed. "Doing it outside does suggest that summer would be the best time – giving us a vague chance of beating this dodgy Welsh weather. So…" He began slowly before his voice trailed off.
"At what point in this relationship are you going to stop being so scared to ask me anything?" Ianto asked amusedly.
"After the wedding?" Owen offered.
"Do I want to get married this summer? Is that what you're eluding to with that drawn out 'So'?" Ianto asked.
Owen nodded sheepishly.
"Owen, I'd marry you this afternoon if I could." Ianto said, stopping in the street and taking hold of Owen's hands, looking deep into his eyes. "I love you."
Owen smiled. "I love you too." He laughed softly. "And I can't believe we're getting married. Who'd have thought it eh? Me and the teaboy." He mused as he held tight to one of Ianto's hands and they strolled further down the street.
Ianto smiled too as he nodded in agreement. "I think we can safely say nobody saw it coming. Least of all me. I never thought I'd marry anyone after Lisa." He said, a solemn tinge to his voice.
"Not even Jack?" Owen ventured gently.
"Not even Jack." Ianto confirmed. "What about you?"
"I wouldn't marry him either." Owen joked, earning him an eye roll from Ianto. "After Katie… I don't think I'd ruled out marriage all together. I mean it wouldn't have been easy with the job, but I hadn't totally rejected the idea. I guess I just assumed it would be to a girl, and not to you."
"Well life in Torchwood is certainly never dull." Ianto pointed out. "So, to repeat my earlier question – where are we going?" He asked as they arrived in the centre of the city.
"How do you fancy getting married in there?" Owen asked.
"In where?" Ianto said confused, looking around for any obvious venue.
"There." Owen pointed at the largest building nearby – Cardiff Castle.
Ianto's eyes widened and a grin spread on his lips.
"I thought it would be a good idea. I know you're hugely patriotic, and that you're a history geek, so I thought maybe we could do it in the grounds, and then have the reception in one of the rooms they hire out." Owen suggested.
"You may be a genius Owen Harper." Ianto said, his grin beaming.
"I try my best." Owen confirmed. "And the Hilton across the road has a rather swanky Presidential Suite which I thought we could make full use of afterwards." He added.
"When did you research all this?" Ianto asked with a gentle laugh.
"Mainly when I'm meant to be working. I want it to be perfect Ianto. I want you to be so happy, and I want you to be so proud. I don't want to do anything to let you down. Not ever." Owen said emphatically.
Ianto pulled the older man into his arms and held him tightly, successfully blocking most of the pavement in the process but ignoring the tutting passers-by. "I couldn't be happier, or prouder or more in love with you if I tried. Now, how about we go for a sneak preview?" He suggested.
"Haven't you been to the castle like a millions times before?" Owen asked.
"I wasn't suggesting the castle." Ianto said with a cheeky glint in his eyes.
Owen grinned. "Well I guess we better make sure its up to standard right?" He said as he took Ianto's hand again and tugged him keenly in the direction of the Hilton.