Author's Note: As this is my first fan fiction ever, I would like to apologize for anything that isn't quite right or that doesn't quite fit as I'm used to having my own characters that I created. Please rate and review with any comments or constructive criticism (I love constructive criticism as it helps me become a better writer), however, please no flames. I hope you enjoy the story.

Happy Reading,

QuietExplosion

Jack sighed happily as he watched, face propped up on hand, Ianto breathe softly and evenly beside him. Slowly, being careful not to disturb his boyfriend's slumber, he reached over and stroked Ianto's soft face. Ianto reacted by rolling over to face Jack, still asleep. His chest rose and fell as he breathed and his perfect lips remained slightly open. As much as it made Jack feel like a stalker, he loved watching Ianto sleep. During the day, he was always stressed and busy, rarely happy; but at night, all his worries were gone as he slept, usually, soundlessly. Occasionally, a nightmare would slip into his dreams, but Jack would always be there to comfort him and make him forget whatever horror he had seen.

In the main center of the Hub, Jack heard the door open and someone step inside. He sat up in the bed, slid his legs over the edge and rose to see who was upstairs. As he went towards the ladder, he grabbed and put on a pair of pants that lay on a chair, discarded from last night and a wrinkled button-up shirt, which he didn't bother to button. He climbed the ladder as quietly as possible, looking back as he went to make sure he hadn't awoken Ianto. From his office window, he could see who had entered the Hub without alarming them, just in case they were dangerous.

The person he found, however, was the opposite of dangerous, at least to the other members of Torchwood. Though he could only see the back of her head, he would recognize her straight black hair anywhere. He checked his watch to make sure he had not overslept and it wasn't actually eight, when she normally showed up. Jack threw open his door and stepped out into the Hub, meeting Gwen's eyes immediately. "Gwen, what are you doing here?"

"Oh, sorry, did I wake you?"

"No, I was already up. What are you doing here?" he repeated, pulling his shirt closed as he saw her eyes constantly glancing down at his bare chest.

Gwen shifted her weight nervously, "I need somewhere to stay for a few days."

"What's wrong with your apartment?"

"Rhys and I…uh, had a fight."

Jack eyebrows rose in surprise, "He kicked you out?"

"No, no, no! I left."

"You left Rhys?" Jack shouted, and then looked over his shoulder, checking that his shout hadn't woken Ianto.

"Of course not! Just temporarily."

"Don't you have any friends you can stay with?"

"I would rather they didn't know we were fighting."

"What about P.C. Andy?"

Gwen gave Jack a "you've got to be kidding me" look and said, "Jack, Andy's basically in love with me and Rhys knows that. If I stayed with him, Rhys would think I was having an affair."

"And he wouldn't think that about you staying here?"

"He doesn't know you live here."

Jack silently moaned. Gwen knew about Ianto and him, but he doubted if she knew how serious they actually were; that he, too, now practically lived at Torchwood. Not only would it put a damper on their relationship, but recently Gwen and Ianto had not been getting along incredibly well, and Jack was positive it was due to Gwen's infatuation with Jack.

"Are you sure you want to sleep here? In can be quite noisy." Gwen raised her eyebrows, and Jack clarified, highly embarrassed, "with the Rift acting up and Myfanwy."

"And Ianto?" Gwen asked.

"What?" Jack said, trying to cover, "What are you talking about?"

Gwen pointed at something behind Jack and then crossed her arms in triumph. Jack turned around to see Ianto standing at his office door in only a pair of grey sweatpants. "Um…hi, Gwen," Ianto said, crossing his arms in an attempt to cover himself.

"Hello, Ianto."

Jack looked from Ianto to Gwen and then back to Gwen. "You two are really serious now, aren't you?" Gwen asked, her eyebrows rising to hide behind her bangs.

"Yes, Gwen, we are."

"Oh," she said, overly defensive, "I guess it might not be the best idea to stay here, then?"

"Probably—" Jack began, but Ianto stepped forward and placed his hand on his lover's shoulder.

"It's all right, Jack, Gwen can stay. Would you like a cup of coffee?"

"Thank you, Ianto," Gwen said in reply to both offers.

"What are you doing, Ianto?" Jack whispered out of the corner of his mouth.

"She has just as much right as we, well I, do to be here. Anyway, she and Rhys never fight long. She'll be gone again soon."

Ianto lifted his hand from Jack's shoulder and walked away toward the kitchen. Jack couldn't help but stare as the young Welshman went to do his usual coffee duties. Gwen threw the light bag she had carried in on the couch. She then sat beside the bag and crossed her legs. She patted the spot next to her, offering it to Jack. Reluctantly, he took the seat, leaning against the armrest so that there was as much distance as possible between them. Had this been any other time, anytime before Ianto, Jack would be all over Gwen the second she wanted him to, which, by the way she was acting, was right now. But, no. Not while he was with Ianto; never. Ianto was different than any other person he had been with in a long time.

"So it's all right, then, if I stay?"

"Of course. But, if you don't mind my asking, what are you and Rhys fighting about?"

Gwen sighed and Jack, though not looking at her, could feel that she had scooted slightly closer. "Rhys…he doesn't understand this job; the risks and stress and everything. He doesn't understand that there are some things I can't, I never will be able, to do…like have children."

Jack nodded in understanding; this wasn't the first time Rhys and Gwen had a fight over this topic. "He'll realize it isn't a good idea eventually. At least he knows about Torchwood. If he didn't, he really wouldn't understand why you don't want kids."

"But the thing is," Gwen said, twirling her thumbs, "I do want kids, but you know the job."

Jack laughed, "Oh, yes. I do know the job quite well. I've only been here a few decades."

Gwen laughed with him, the first smile since she had arrived spreading across her face. While they laughed together, Ianto reentered with a tray of three coffee mugs. After he had handed each one a cup of his delicious, steaming blend, he sat on the armrest besides Jack. Jack placed his arm around Ianto's waist casually, and Ianto asked, "What are you two laughing about?"

"Nothing," Gwen said.

Over by the desk that used to belong to Tosh, the Rift monitor let out a few beeps. Jack got up and went to check on it. Gwen, innocently enough, asked Ianto, "So, you've been staying here? I guess the job really has become twenty-four seven."

Ianto laughed uneasily.

Gwen leaned in closer and whispered threateningly into his ear, "Don't think I'm out of Jack's mind, Ianto. I still have just as much chance as you do."

Ianto swallowed nervously as he looked over to Jack, who returned the gaze with a carefree smile.