"Wow," Jack breathed, flopping back against the pillows. "I haven't done that since I was…. Well, never mind how old I was."

"That young?" Ianto snickered, snuggling into the crook of Jack's arm.

"That old."

"I'm fairly certain age really is just a number with you, you know."

"Yeah, but it still sounds creepy to say 'when I was 90.' I avoid thinking about it."

Ianto shrugged. "I don't really even know when that was, so, makes little difference to me."

"To be honest, I don't think I could give you an accurate answer. I never really did figure out what my 'birthday' would be in this solar system and this century. Our measure of years is kinda not compatible."

"How old were you before… uh… the whatever it was?"

"Before I was 'turned'?" Jack grinned, somewhat ruefully. "30-something."

Ianto rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I sort of reckoned that."

"Well, you'll just have to stick to your reckoning, then. I'll never tell."

"Vain," Ianto accused.

"You know that song?"

"What? Carly Simon?"

"Uh huh. Well… it is."

"I'm not even remotely surprised. Apricot ascot?"

Jack cringed. "It was the 70s and I was trying to blend in."

"Jack, you couldn't blend in at a sci-fi anoraks convention."

Jack pouted. "Just because I mixed up Star Wars and Star Trek when we were looking for that Xigian transport charger thingy."

Ianto just shook his head and hoped there would never again be an occasion that involved him and Jack at one of those conventions. "Well, it may have been since you were 90, but it was my first go."

"Really?"

"I'm a lot less experienced than you, Jack. A lot."

"That doesn't matter," Jack said, pulling Ianto a little closer. "As long as you're enjoying it, that's the thing."

"Vain, yes, but you've never been selfish with me. Certainly a lot better than most first times."

"And what was your first like?"

Ianto gave a half shrug. "I don't suppose it was a complete disaster, but it wasn't exactly anything special, either."

Jack frowned. "How so?"

"I don't know. Was just… well, I was nearly 19 and sick of not having got up the nerve yet."

Jack felt unaccountably saddened by that. He wished he could get up the nerve to tell Ianto exactly how special he was and that every time should be something special for him. "He was ok with you, though?" Jack asked eventually.

"How'd'you know it was a he?" Ianto asked.

Jack smirked. "All that experience I've had. You're not the only one who picks up details."

"Well, yes, he was."

"That's good."

"What about yours, then?"

Jack laughed nostalgically. "It was fun. Though, in hindsight, I was probably using it as a coping mechanism. Life was… stressful around that time."

"I guess as long as everyone involved is on-board, there are worse ways of coping."

"There really are. Positive human contact is one of the best things for it. Although, an ice cold martini is a close second."

Ianto glanced up at Jack for a moment and wondered if there was ever a time in Jack's life that wasn't stressful, and if that meant that their relationship was really just a mutual, ongoing coping mechanism. Maybe that was all any relationship really came down to in the end.

"Or a hot cup of coffee," Jack added after a moment, leaning down to kiss Ianto and snuggle him close.

No, Ianto thought, it was more than just coping. How or in what way, he wasn't certain. But it was, he had no doubt of that.