Jack's arm around Ianto's chest held him close. He tenderly flattened his hand over Ianto's heart, treasuring its measured beat. Jack knew how strong Ianto was, inside and out, but sometimes… so fragile, so… vulnerable.
At the moment, none of that mattered, though. It was a quiet, warm, safe moment. They were together, and happy. That night, Ianto's smooth, pale flesh, surrounding and completing him; that little smile and those sparkling eyes that had been just for him… Jack would remember those always. And he did mean always.
Jack glanced at the clock on Ianto's nightstand. 11:59… 12:00. Another year.