Ianto yawned expansively and glanced at his watch. 2am, of course it was, this was Torchwood and what else could he expect? He took a moment to glance around the Hub. Tosh was still bent over her terminal, intent on whatever it was she was doing, Gwen was up in Jack's office sitting back in a chair with a glass in her hand and a blanket over her shoulders. Jack was sitting opposite but not looking in her direction. He met Ianto's look with a smile and Ianto smiled back. Owen was nowhere to be seen but Ianto could hear him in the autopsy bay, whistling to himself as he worked. Ianto stretched back in his chair and was somewhat disconcerted by the loud crunching of his spine which made him wince. He rubbed at his neck, realising he had been working at his computer for far too long and what the hell were they still doing here at this hour? Oh yes, saving the world from overdue filing.

In truth it had been a bad day, a cold wet then snowy day with nasty weevils and small children. Never a good combination, topped with Gwen being thrown into the bay by one such weevil and Ianto, being the only decent swimmer having to go in after her. Gwen had been in the water some time and the cold and wet had made for a potential for hypothermia, but she was ok in the end, more shaken than anything. Ianto was just glad that there were no new bodies to consign to the morgue.

He got up deciding a hot drink was in order, not that coffee was such a good idea so early in the day...... Oh yes, Christmas Eve, shouldn't they be going home about now? He stretched again, arching his back, catlike and enjoyed the satisfying crack of everything settling back into place. Hot chocolate then with marshmallows and jammy cream biscuits. He half wondered if he was going to end up killing his colleagues with kindness and cholesterol. Ianto could think of worse ways to go, death by Jack's spaghetti bolognase sprung to mind and it brought the flash of a private smile to his face.

"What you looking so happy about?"

Owen's sharp voice was almost right in his left ear and Ianto wondered how he had got there so quietly, stealth was not something Owen did well.

Ianto chose to ignore the question. "Hot chocolate?"

Owen was clearly confused and then he just leered. "You're thinking about hot chocolate? I suppose it's better than thinking about Harkness or coffee, careful tea boy you're brain might just go into over load."

Ianto could only roll his eyes. "Did you want some hot chocolate?"

Owen shook his head. "Nah, thanks mate I'm off home.... It's bloody Christmas tomorrow, sods law there'll be another alien invasion and I want to get in a cat nap before the end of the world is upon us."

Ianto couldn't argue the point.

They turned as Gwen and Jack emerged from his office. She was looking considerably better and had a faint smile on her face.

"Owen, can you go home and drop Gwen off on the way, Tosh home now!" Jack shouted as he clapped his hands as if herding his team like cattle. Ianto arched his eyebrows as he considered the metaphor. He liked cows, they had cute faces. Before he realised what was happening Gwen's arms were around his shoulders and her face was buried against the £400 waistcoat he was wearing. Hesitantly Ianto awkwardly hugged her for a moment.

"Thank you Ianto."

He smiled easing her away and smoothing the blanket over shoulders.

"You feeling ok now?"

Gwen nodded, marvelling at the fact that he was asking, but then Ianto always did. She wondered if he had anyone to go home to over Christmas and then dismissed it, he'd be here with Jack, like always.

"I'm fine, all warmed up. That whiskey of Jack's is very nice."

Ianto smiled at her, he knew all about that and many other things of Jack's..... He snapped away from the day dream and stepped back. "Have a good Christmas Gwen."

"You too, don't do anything I wouldn't."

It took twenty minutes to pack the gang off out of the Hub, Owen promising to deliver both the girls home.

Ianto started the night time lockdown, quietly going round the terminals switching off desk lights and monitors and collecting mugs ready for the dishwasher. He moved about the Hub in contented silence and Jack stood on the upper gantry watching with his arms folded across his chest. He was happy to watch, it was rare enough to see the look of peace on Ianto's young face as it was, but this evening there was something more profound written across Ianto's brow and Jack could not decipher what it was. Ianto continued on, oblivious to the fact that he was being observed so closely. It was then his mobile started to vibrate in his pocket and Ianto pulled out his Nokia and took the call. Jack was somewhat startled when he realised that Ianto was talking to his caller in Welsh and happily chatting away as he tidied Gwen's desk, the phone jammed between his ear and shoulder in a well practiced move. Jack delighted at the broad grin on Ianto's face and the blush that dusted his cheeks. The blush, Jack held his breath for a moment as a pang of jealousy twinged in his gut. The call was ended and the phone returned to his trouser pocket. Ianto looked up, the smile dropping from his face.

"Jack? Are you alright?"

Jack gripped the rail and nodded, smiling far too cheesily for it to be convincing.

"Of course. You should head home Ianto."

Ianto frowned at him. "You're good at keeping secrets Jack, but you are the worst liar on the planet, how the hell did you manage as a con man?"

Jack had the decency to look a little sheepish. "Who was that on the phone?"

Ah.... the crux of the matter. "Mam, she wanted to know if I was visiting, and I was going pop round to see her tomorrow evening on my way into work."

"It's Christmas day tomorrow Ianto, I do not expect you to be at work."

Ianto sagged his shoulders. "Where will you be?"

Jack grinned at him. "Here."

"Exactly. I don't want you spending Christmas on your own."

"Who says I'll be on my own?"

Ianto narrowed his eyes and turned away, hurt. "Fine, I'll see you on Boxing Day then." He headed for the kitchen with dirty mugs.

Jack huffed out a breath and clattered down the steps and joined Ianto in the kitchenette. He hovered by the door, leaning on the jamb.

"So..... er..... you have plans?"

Ianto washed the cups his gaze steadfastly fixed on the cheap china in his hands.

"I did have."

"Oh."

"Yes, oh." Ianto dried the cups and put them away before turning to face Jack. Jack sighed at the look of defeat on Ianto's face and stepped forwards grasping Ianto's arms gently.

"I'm an idiot, aren't I?"

Ianto nodded. "That's fine, your over evolutionised physiology can't manage everything. I just don't know why this is so hard....... Come home with me Jack, we can take the remote alert. It would just be nice not to be here in this dank pit for a day. My flat is nice and cosy and warm and I have a fridge full of food. I just want Christmas at home........ with you. Is that too much to ask?"

Jack's hands dropped away and he stepped back his eyes properly meeting Ianto's.

"Why would you want me there? You've got your family and everything."

Ianto rolled his eyes. "Can you not have some entitlement to some good memories Jack? I just want to do something nice for you, so that one day you can recall it or me with some affection and take comfort from it. It's the only thing I can give you that will mean anything."

Jack just opened his mouth and closed it again. How did Ianto know so much? How could he possibly understand so well? He finally smiled, a proper heartfelt, warm, dimple cheeked smile.

"I'll just get my coat."

Ianto huffed out a steadying breath as Jack turned away. He placed the tea towel on the bench and went to set the remote alert to his phone.......

AN: MERRY CHRISTMAS..TO EVERYONE.....THANKS ONCE AGAIN ANOTHER YEAR OF READING WONDERFUL FICS AND HAVING YOUR REVIEWS TO SPUR ME ON AS WELL.... BE SAFE, WARM AND WELL AND HAVE A FANTASTIC 2010.....

DEETA