"Jack… can we talk?" Ianto said, bringing Jack a big mug of fresh coffee.

"Yes…," Jack said, warily looking up from the book he was reading. He wondered what could possibly be so big that Ianto felt the need to offer a bribe.

Jack set his book on the coffee table and reached to turn down the corner of a page to mark his place. Ianto was quicker, however, and the book disappeared from under Jack's hands.

"There is a marker in the back fly-leaf of every book in this house," Ianto said, marking the page properly.

"Really?" Jack said, looking at the shelves.

Ianto gave Jack his pursed-lips-and-squint.

"Ooh," Jack teased with a shiver. "That's the one that says 'behind this cherubic countenance rests a potentially lethal justice for any who violate order, as prescribed by Ianto Jones.'"

Ianto took a long breath and continued. "Now that we're getting settled… I think it's time I talk to Rhi."

Jack nodded seriously, not teasing anymore. "When you're ready, just tell me what you want me to do."

"Just come with me. Help me calm her down when she freaks out," Ianto said with a half-laugh.

"Think it would help if I talk to her first?" Jack asked.

"Well… maybe. It wasn't you who told her in the first place, so…."

"Yeah, and I regretted that. I should have gone to see your family. I just -"

"Jack," Ianto said, putting a hand on Jack's knee and shaking his head slightly.

Jack sighed and nodded.

"Maybe if you ring her, just to talk. Except, I dunno how you'd bring up me being alive and well."

"Bet I've had more awkward conversations in my life."

"Yeah, you probably have. It'll be a first for me, though."

"Well, hey, you already handled the 'coming out' thing. Can it be tougher than that?"

"Probably not," Ianto said after a moment.

"So, how 'bout I call her later and see if she'd be ok having coffee with me sometime this week?"

"Thank you, Jack," Ianto said quietly.

"Hey," Jack said, pulling Ianto over to cuddle.

"Hello, Mrs. Davies?"

It's Rhiannon. Who is this? What are you trying to sell? Whatever it is, I doubt I want it. David! Quiet down, mummy's on the phone.

Jack couldn't help smiling. She clearly shared Ianto's no-nonsense approach. "Rhiannon, then. My name is Jack Harkness, and I promise you I'm not selling a thing or collecting for charity or anything like that. You see, I'm a friend of your brother's, and I was hoping we could talk sometime."

There was silence for a moment on the other end of the line (except for the sound of the video game in the background). You knew Ianto? Rhiannon said quietly.

"Yeah. Pretty well, actually."

Uh huh. That's what the woman who came round to tell me he was dead thought.

"Um, yeah. I'm sorry about that. Truth be told, it should have been me who came to tell you. I was his Captain… his boss. But I… I wasn't very good for much just then." Jack took a deep breath, his mind taking him back to those weeks after losing Ianto. He had been in no state to talk to anybody and it didn't get any better until the day he blew up that planet and got away with the cure that brought his lover back to him.

The sound of the television faded away in the background as Rhiannon walked outside to talk away from the kids. Are you the one he was… um, with, then?

"Yes."

Did he ever find out where things were with you two?

Jack flinched at both her sharp tone and insinuation. "Yes. And I've never regretted anything so much as the fact that I let him doubt it for even a second."

That's good, Rhiannon said much more softly. What was it you wanted again, Mr…?

"It's Jack. And… I was just hoping we could talk, maybe get together for coffee sometime? There's something important I wanted to talk about."

I understand. I'm free while the kids are at school. And it might be good, taking my mind off for a while. Ever since all that happened, I just hate it when they're not home.

"Believe me, I understand. Just a moment, I'll check with… um, my schedule." Jack put his phone down and went outside where Ianto was trying to decide what to do with the straggly rose bushes beside the house. "Yan? I'm talking to your sister… I thought I could meet up with her tomorrow. Is that ok?"

Ianto stopped and looked at Jack for a moment. Then he nodded once and went back to the roses.

Jack looked at him for a moment longer. He knew Ianto going stoic like that. Jack hurried back inside and told Rhiannon he'd meet her the next day at Roald Dahl Plass.