Gwen was the last one to leave, her tired footsteps echoing though the Hub as she headed home after what had been one of the busiest days any of the Torchwood team could remember. Jack and Ianto sat at either end of the sofa, simply relishing the peace, until Ianto rolled his head and looked at Jack.

'So, we're done then?'

Jack gave a weary smile, 'yeah, rift predictor says nothing for at least 72 hours'

'Not what I meant'

Jack turned his head to face Ianto and raised a querying eyebrow. Ianto gave a heavy sigh,

'Look at us' he said gesturing at the space between them, 'we have had a terrible day, non-stop danger. I nearly died, you did die, it's now…' he glanced at his watch, '…two thirty in the morning, we are all alone here, and I'm wearing one of your favourite shirts. Six weeks ago, in this situation you would have been fucking my brains out. Instead…' he gestured again at the gap on the sofa that might as well have been a thousand miles wide. 'I think we are done, aren't we'

Jack reached over and took Ianto's hand; 'yeah' he said softly, 'I think we are'

Ianto smiled, 'I thought we would be more dramatic than this y'know.'

Jack gave a small chuckle, 'You leaving me because I'd fucked someone else and me falling apart spectacularly'

'You leaving me for the Doctor, or worse, John Hart!'

'You moving onto to Owen'

'You shagging Gwen'

'You going back to women'

'Dying melodramatically and pointlessly in your arms'

The smile on Jack's face slid away, 'don't say that' he begged, 'not ever, not even as a joke'

'Sorry' said Ianto.

There were a few minutes of silence

'I do love you, you know' said Jack apologetically, 'I always will'

Ianto huffed a tiny laugh, 'a month ago I would have happily sacrificed my life to hear those words from you' he murmured, 'they would have given me so much hope but now they just sound like goodbye' he paused, 'I love you too,' he said, 'funny how it's so easy to say when it doesn't matter any more.'

'Will you stay with us?' asked Jack

'Where else could I go?' replied Ianto

'Good'

'Can I ask you a favour?' queried Ianto after a minute or two

'Sure'

'When you move on to your next shag, if it's Gwen could you keep it off of my radar as much as you can. I don't much fancy walking in on you two fucking in the places we fucked – that might be a bit hard to take'

'I promise'

'Thank you'

Jack was stroking the back of Ianto's hand, 'Can I ask you a favour in return?' he said

'Anything'

'When you find the person who can give you everything you deserve, don't invite me to the wedding or the civil partnership, or whatever. Not sure I would handle that too well'

Ianto closed the gap between them a placed a soft kiss on Jack's mouth, 'I promise'

They rested their foreheads together, until Ianto pulled away and smiled at Jack with a sweet melancholy 'I'd best make a move' he said.

'I'll walk you out'

They rode in silence in the lift to the Tourist Information office; Jack lingered in the doorway to the hub as Ianto opened the door and peered out 'huh raining again' he huffed as he turned his coat collar up against the drizzle. He was about to step outside when Jack's voice stopped him.

'It was good, yeah?'

He couldn't look back, 'yeah'

A long sigh, 'Goodnight, Ianto '

'Goodnight, Sir' and Ianto turned off the light, closed the door behind him and went home.